Annual Conference Call For Speaking Proposals


The deadline for submitting session proposals for the 2019 Annual Conference is March 27.

CALPELRA's Annual Conference Program Committee invites you to submit proposals to present at CALPELRA's 2019 Annual Conference. Consistent with CALPELRA's goal of providing its members with the highest quality professional development opportunities, the Program Committee encourages CALPELRA members, practitioners, and attorneys to submit proposals for Conference sessions on the best practices for successful labor relations and employment law leaders and problem solvers.

The Conference

CALPELRA's Annual Conference offers a unique opportunity for labor relations and human resources professionals to listen to, interact with, and learn from California's leading labor relations experts, including practitioners and attorneys. The Conference provides an interactive forum for sharing the experiences of professionals with diverse knowledge, skills, and abilities in hands-on training sessions. Held in Monterey, California, the Annual Conference is the training conference of choice among California's labor relations and human resources professionals. During its 44 year history, the Conference is consistently well-attended, in 2018 by over 1,400 individuals representing agencies from all corners of the state.

The 2019 Annual Conference will be held the week of November 18 - 22 in Monterey, California.

The Audience

Your presentation will reach an audience of public agencies at all levels of government throughout California, including CALPELRA's membership base of over 1,300 individuals. CALPELRA members and Conference participants work in city, county, and state government, transit agencies, state colleges and universities, trial courts, special districts, and school districts. They are a diverse group, but they share a common interest in learning more about employee relations, bargaining, human resources, and other activities involving public employees, unions, and associations.

Session Topics

CALPELRA's Annual Conference offers a wide variety of session topics of interest to public sector labor relations and human resources professionals, including educational and skill-building presentations that discuss new and critical issues and that encourage audience interaction and participation.

The Annual Conference Program Committee is especially interested in proposed sessions that will best prepare CALPELRA's members and Conference participants for the challenges and opportunities public agencies are facing, including:

  • Pension costs, pension reform, and pension plan disparity;

  • Potential future recessions;

  • The impact of changing workplace demographics;

  • The evolution of workplace expectations;

  • Organizational effectiveness;

  • Employee engagement;

  • Effective communication with employees;

  • Technology;

  • Union relevancy and activism; and

  • Other current topics you identify.

Selection Criteria

CALPELRA welcomes presentation proposals from individuals or groups, CALPELRA members or practitioners.

In making program recommendations to the Board of Directors, the Program Committee will consider the educational value of each proposed session, the expertise of the proposed speakers, the experience of the proposed speakers, the proposed speakers' demonstrated ability to attract an audience, and the proposed speakers' past Conference evaluations. You must clearly identify each proposed speaker in your presentation proposals. Your proposed speakers must be available on Wednesday, November 20 through Friday, November 22, 2019.

Although CALPELRA will receive 150 - 200 proposed sessions in response to its Call For Speaking Proposals, CALPELRA will offer between 60 - 70 sessions per Conference. Please make your session proposals as complete and detailed as possible, and with enough interesting elements to appeal to CALPELRA members and Conference participants.

The Annual Conference Program Committee will work with you to tailor your session titles and descriptions to CALPELRA's program needs. The Program Committee reserves the right to establish session titles and/or modify session descriptions, and/or request that presenters address specific concepts during a presentation. CALPELRA may also assign sessions to specific learning tracks.

While the Program Committee selects Conference presentations independently of CALPELRA's sponsor/exhibitor program, CALPELRA may consider speakers' past and current contributions (time and/or money) to CALPELRA. Program sessions may not include sales or product promotions.

Proposals Deadline: March 27, 2019

CALPELRA issued the 2019 Call For Speaking Proposals on January 15, 2019. The deadline for submitting session proposals for the 2019 Annual Conference is March 27. The Program Committee will give first preference to proposals submitted on or before the deadline; proposals submitted after the deadline may be considered.

Please complete the on-line Call For Speaking Proposals form to submit your proposals. Only proposals submitted via the on-line Call For Speaking Proposals form will be considered; please do not e-mail, mail, or fax submissions. Please follow the instructions on the Call For Speaking Proposals form to be sure you complete the process and your proposal is submitted.