There has been some confusion around member and non-member registration. Non-member registration is intended for educators who are not from Oregon.

For many years, membership had been tied to conference registration. This is no longer the case for a variety of reasons not worth a lengthy explanation in this e-mail. However, it is still our intent that if you are an Oregon educator, you should become a member of Oregon SHAPE before you register for the conference.

We have tried to make this financially beneficially to you at a cost of $50–as it is cheaper to sign up first as a member and THEN pay the membership rate to attend the conference (you save $5 this way). A cheaper conference is not the only benefit. Being eligible to be a teacher of the year, getting a voice in our elections, access to FREE PD throughout the school year, and a t-shirt, are just some of the other membership benefits. We currently have people looking for ways to add to our membership perks, so there is a real tangible benefit to becoming a member. That is the benefit of being a member-driven organization.

One of the advantages of being the state affiliate to SHAPE America is that we get a seat at the table when important policy discussions take place at the state level regarding physical and health education. Have you heard of the state PE law, SB4 (previously named HB3141)? There are groups in Oregon with PAID lobbyists who are working hard to kill this law, delay implementation or threaten to overload our class sizes to over 100 students per teacher if they are “forced” to implement. We don’t have paid lobbyists–we are just teachers, like you–but, we do get a seat at the table in these conversations because they often want the “classroom perspective.” The first question these groups often ask us is, “How many members does your organization represent anyway?” The only way we are taken seriously is if we have collective strength together.

We want you to know why we feel so strongly about you being an Oregon SHAPE member. YOU MATTER. This organization would cease to exist without you. 

If after all of this we have not convinced you to become a member of Oregon SHAPE, please email us to get the non-member code for registration.

REMINDER: Early Bird Rates End at 11:59 PM Tonight (September 14, 2018)!

Access early bird rates today and join over 100 educators, administrators, and superintendents who have already signed up for the 2018 Oregon SHAPE Conference. Regular Registration opens September 15 and goes until October 11. At this time rates will increase to the following:

• Professional Member of $115 will increase to $160
  
• Non-Member of $170 will increase to $220
  
• Retired $75 (remains the same)
  
• Student $45 (remains the same)

Did you know that we just announced our exciting conference schedule on the website? Check it out here.