What is General Council?
General Council is the supreme governing body for SEIU Local 503, meeting every two years to discuss and adopt a budget, and through the submission of resolutions, discuss and adopt policies and goals that affect the union.
How will the event take place this year?
General Council will once again be presented in a Hybrid Format, with most of the regular program available virtually as well as in person. That means delegates who are unable to attend in person will still be able to engage in the business of General Council live, see and hear the same speakers and panels and other events from the comfort of their computer, tablet or other device. Workshops will be presented before General Council officially starts and will only be available in-person.The final schedule of events, workshops and more details will be posted here as we get closer to the date.
What amenities will be available at the event?
Great meals, wellness rooms, activities for families who need a day program and the opportunity to interact with your fellow delegates! We will have translation services available as well.
Wear your SEIU colors proudly and get your swag at our Purple Store!
The Purple Store will be open Friday, August 2 – Sunday, August 4 on site at General Council
Do I Qualify for Lodging?
The SEIU Local 503 Board of Directors passed an exemption to the lodging policy for General Council. If a delegate lives more than 10 miles* from the location of General Council then they are exempt from the standard SEIU 503 Lodging Requirement for distance and are therefore eligible for lodging at the hotel(s) secured for the event.
*Delegates living on Hayden Island or in Washington State will be eligible for lodging because of potential traffic conflicts.
[Map showing 10-mile radius from event location]
How does lodging work for General Council?
Lodging is provided in accordance with the SEIU Local 503 Administrative Policies and Procedures. Lodging is provided for one-half (1/2) the double room rate for each individual who is authorized for lodging. So, delegates attending are assumed to be sharing their room with another SEIU member. Delegates attending with their dependents and a dependent care provider will be eligible for a single room in accordance with the dependent care program outlined below.
Attendees can request a single room for themselves and will be billed the difference between the cost of the single room and one-half (1/2) the double room rate ($128 + tax per night is anticipated cost for individuals requesting a single room). If you have a documented reason that makes you eligible for an exemption from the room share policy, those requests will be approved on a case-by-case basis. Please use this link for more details and to submit a request.
Hotel check-out on Sunday is at 11:00 AM; delegates/families may bring their luggage with them or may leave their luggage with our luggage check room. We do not recommend leaving luggage in your car throughout the day.
Confirmation Details for In-Person Attendees
How do I get to General Council?
This year’s event will be held at the Portland Hilton Downtown (921 SW Sixth Ave, Portland, OR 97204).
- From the South:
- Take I-5 North
- Take the ramp on the left for I-405 North/US-26 West and Head toward Beaverton
- At Exit 2A, Head right on the ramp for Salmon St. Toward Providence Park
- Turn Left on 6th Ave
- Turn Left on Taylor St
- Turn Left on Broadway St and park in the Loading Zone Area
- From the East:
- Take I-84 West
- Take the ramp on the left for I-5 South and head towards Salem
- Keep straight to get onto SW Washington St.
- Turn Left onto SW Broadway and park in the Loading Zone Area
- From the West:
- Take US-26 East
- At Exit 74, head right on the ramp toward Market Street
- Keep Straight to get onto SW Market St
- Turn Left onto SW 10th Ave
- Turn Right onto SW Yamhill St
- Turn Right onto SW Broadway St and park in the Loading Zone Area
Luggage and Parking:
Upon arriving at the Portland Hilton Downtown, attendees should temporarily park by the Hotel along Broadway Street (Red box on map below). We will have SEIU volunteers ready to help unload luggage into the back lobby area. Volunteers will stay with attendees’ luggage while they go to park their vehicle.
Parking for General Council will be in the Garage at 5th & Taylor next to the Duniway Hotel (Blue Box on map below). Follow the pink dotted line on the map to get to the parking garage. Do not leave any valuables, luggage or anything visible in your vehicle.
- Drive down Broadway and turn Left on Salmon Street.
- Continue two blocks and turn left on 5th Street.
- Continue one block and turn left on Taylor Street. The Parking Garage Entrance will be on the Right side of the street halfway down the block. If you pass the Duniway Hotel you have gone too far.
Charges for Parking in the Garage will be charged to your hotel room at the Hilton Downtown. Members who live locally and are not staying at the hotel will also be able to get their parking validated by picking up a parking pass at the Event Check-In/Help Desk. After parking your car in the designated lot, follow the green line to reach the entrance of the hotel on foot.
Hotel Check-In Details:
Lodging Confirmations will be sent out from the union no later than July 29. When you arrive, please use your first and last name to check into the hotel room. You should not be asked for a credit card at check-in. You should not be asked to provide the hotel with your credit card. If there is a discrepancy with the hotel and what you believe is your lodging status, please visit us at our SEIU lodging check in table so we can address the discrepancy.
Those that are lodging on site should not bill any items to their room other than parking charges. Should any other items be charged to your room (ie. Meals, snacks, drinks, movies) you will be billed back for the charges. If you are in a shared room with another member and notice your roommate is billing items to your room, please visit the SEIU event check-in desk to help us identify the appropriate person to bill for these charges. You can also notify us to issues by emailing us at orders@seiu503.org if that is more convenient.
After checking into the hotel, please go to the Plaza Level Floor to find our Event Check-In Area. There will be multiple tables to visit as part of the check-in process to ensure everyone has all of the materials and other support information for the weekend. After Checking-In, please visit the partner tables on the Plaza Level. These tables will change throughout the event with different partners, so check back each day to see what groups are new!
Technology & Interpretation for General Council:
This year we will again be hosting a General Council App! This tool will help both in-person and virtual attendees navigate the event and connect with each other. You will receive a separate email in the days prior to General Council with instructions on how to download the app and use it. If you have any trouble with the app we will have staff available onsite to assist you.
This year we will be working with a new company to provide universal interpretation for attendees. All attendees will be issued a transmitter to listen to all program in your chosen language. These devices will need to be returned on Sunday at the end of programming.
The conference platform we will be using for interpretation will have an online platform for slides and other presentations. We encourage members to bring their own smart tablet/device/computer to view these materials up close. Members will be able to log into the platform on their own devices to see the presentation in their own language. Members who primarily speak a language other than English, who do not have an iPad or other smart device can borrow one for the duration of the conference. These iPads will need to be returned at the end of the event.
Workshops at General Council:
Workshop will start at 1 PM on Thursday and take place on the Grand Ballroom Level. Please arrive early enough to check in on Thursday before going to a workshop.
You can view the workshop descriptions here: https://seiu503.org/who-we-are/member-leadership/general-council/general-council-2024/general-council-2024-workshops/
Meals & Dietary Support:
Meals will start with our Welcome Reception on Thursday evening at 5:30 PM. Thursday Lunch will be provided for Board Members during the board meeting and for staff and volunteers who are helping with final set up of the venue.
Meals will be buffet for most functions. Menu items will be labeled and list dietary concerns. We will have alternate options when necessary for those who have indicated dietary restrictions. If you have any concerns regarding your specific dietary needs, please see our staff at the help desk for additional support.
Health & Safety at General Council:
While we are excited to see all of you in person, we do want to recognize that COVID and other summer colds are not something that we want to share amongst our attendees. If you feel ill in the days leading up to General Council we encourage you to stay home. We can change your registration to be that of a virtual attendee so you can still take part in the program and governance sessions of General Council. If you start to feel ill, please email us at orders@seiu503.org to request that your registration be changed to a virtual attendee. Thank you for helping us keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible.
Resolutions & Early Voting:
Voting on the Early Resolutions is currently underway. You should have received a separate email with your voting information. If you have not received this information yet and would like the information re-sent, please call the Member Assistance Center at 844-503-SEIU (7348) for assistance.
Links to all resolutions under consideration this year can be found on our General Council website: https://seiu503.org/who-we-are/member-leadership/general-council/general-council-2024/
If you requested a paper copy of resolutions, those will be available for pick up at General Council as part of the check-in process.
Thank you again for your commitment to the governance of our union and we look forward to seeing you in just a couple weeks!
Confirmation Details for Virtual Attendees
How will I connect with the General Council Sessions?
As a virtual attendee, you can access and participate in General Council workshop and information sessions, delegate orientations, and general and committee meetings through the General Council event app.
Please download the General Council event app on your computer or smart device: (Link Coming Soon)
Through the app, you will be able to engage in the business of General Council live, see and hear the same speakers and panels and other events from the comfort of your computer, tablet, or other device. This is also how staff will notify you about event updates and changes to meeting links.
How do I ask a question or speak about a topic under discussion?
Please message the host in the meeting chat. The host will coordinate with our on-site team to ensure you can ask your question and contribute to the discussion.
General Chatter will be turned off for all sessions so delegates can focus on the discussion happening during the session.
Voting in General Council for Virtual Attendees:
Delegates attending in person will be issued a voting device during their check in process to utilize during the event. Delegates attending virtually will join via a website. Full details will be added to the website soon, please check back soon for more information.
How do I access the event app?
Instructions to access the app will be provided closer to the General Council Event Dates.
Resolutions & Early Voting:
Voting on the Early Resolutions is currently underway. You should have received a separate email with your voting information. If you have not received this information yet and would like the information re-sent, please call the Member Assistance Center at 844-503-SEIU (7348) for assistance.
Links to all resolutions under consideration this year can be found on our General Council website: https://seiu503.org/who-we-are/member-leadership/general-council/general-council-2024/
If you requested a paper copy of resolutions, these were mailed on Friday, July 19 with your swag box and should arrive this week.
Dependent Care Day Program 2024
Delegates with dependents* under the age of 16 or any age that require care and are the responsibility of the delegate must be accompanied by an adult (18 or older) who can serve as the caregiver for the dependents during the event.
We want your dependents to enjoy themselves while you engage in the business of your Union and have put together a day program to encourage them to have fun. Family members and Caregivers will be able to join their delegates for meal functions. Dependents and caregivers will receive a voucher to subsidize activity fees on Friday and Saturday.
*Dependents are defined in the AP&Ps as individuals who are minors or are of any age, live with the delegate and are also the responsibility of the delegate.
Recommended Activities: (Note: These are pages hosted by other websites not affiliated with SEIU 503. These sites feature activities for families to do in Portland. SEIU is not responsible for any mis-information that may be on these pages).
If you would like additional assistance finding out about an activity in Portland please see our Dependent Care desk in the Check-In Room at General Council.
Portland with Kids: 50 Best Things to do in Portland, OR (Mommypoppins.com)
20 Fun Things to do in Portland with Kids (familydestinationsguide.com)
Near Me Now App: The Official Guide to Portland (travelportland.com)