What to Expect from the 2023 Business Meeting?

The Oklahoma Public Employees Association 2023 Business Meeting is just around the corner and we wanted to give you a brief rundown on what to expect if you plan to attend either in person or virtually!  The Business Meeting will be held on August 26, 2023, from 9:00 until the end of business.  Members can attend the event in person or via Zoom with a provided link.  If you would like to attend, you can RSVP for the Meeting by using the button below!

Members must RSVP to be eligible to attend.  RSVPs will be accepted until August 14, 2023.  When registering, you can choose to attend in person or online.  Remember, you must select either the in-person or Zoom option while RSVPing and you must be a member prior to August 1, 2023 to be eligible to attend.  For those unable to attend, the meeting will be recorded via Zoom and available for members to review. 

The meeting will open with introductions of the Board of Directors, OPEA Political Action Committee Trustees (OPEAPAC), and staff by President Rita Heath.  President Heath will then offer opening remarks before moving on to the business of the day.  This will primarily be to review reports from the Election Committee regarding the Board of Directors and to discuss new Platform Planks before putting them to a vote of the full membership.  These planks will be used to determine the remainder of the 2023-24 Legislative Agenda.  Planks can be submitted until August 13, 2023. 

The OPEA member who submitted the plank must attend the meeting in person at the OPEA offices in Oklahoma City to present their plank or the plank will be introduced by a member of the Board of Directors.  This is to ensure that the person presenting the plank before the attendees can clearly discuss the need for the plank and its impact on state employees. 

Attending members, both in person and via Zoom, can debate, amend, and ask questions. A detailed order for this process will be provided at the meeting and online but will follow this format:

1. The member or Board Director will be recognized to introduce and explain the reason for their proposed plank
2. The President will ask if there are questions regarding the plank
3. If there are no questions/no further questions, the President will ask if there are proposed amendments
   1. If there are proposed amendments, the Presenter can accept the amendment and the plank is then eligible for further questions
   1. If the presenter rejects amendments, debate and a vote must be held.
      1. If there is debate, 5 minutes for the amendment and 5 minutes against will be set out.  Attendees are eligible to debate on either side so long as they do not exceed their allotted time.  A vote will then be taken on the amendment.  The plank is then returned to further questions either as introduced or as amended.
4. If there are no amendments or no further amendments, the President will then ask if there will be a debate on the plank.  If there will be, 5 minutes will be set aside for the plank and 5 minutes against the plank.  Members choosing to debate will be allotted time. 
5. Upon the close of the debate, the plank will then be eligible for online voting. 

We will not be voting to approve or deny planks at the business meeting. Voting will be held online at the OPEA website and begin no later than 5 pm on August 29, 2023, through September 12, 2023.  This is to allow for the majority of the OPEA membership the right to vote on proposed planks. 

After all planks have been discussed and moved forward to voting, closing remarks will be offered by President Heath and the meeting will conclude.  Approved planks will be announced shortly after the close of voting on September 12, 2023. 

OPEA Business Meeting will be live via Zoom and recorded for review.

We look forward to seeing everyone and hope you can attend the 2023 Business Meeting!  If you have any questions, please contact the OPEA office at 405-524-6764 or email info@opea.org