IFT is excited to announce the upcoming 2025 IFT Convention, themed, Inspire. Fight. Transform. In October, delegates from our local unions across the state will gather in Rosemont, Illinois to reconnect, highlight our successes, and do the work of the union. Part of that work will be to set the union's key goals for the next three years. Delegates will also vote on important Convention Resolutions, which reflect our union's values and guide our work.

CONVENTION CALL

(The official Convention Call was mailed to every local president in May.)

DELEGATE REPRESENTATION

Delegate representation is based on the IFT Constitution; Article VIII, Section 4, and ByLaws; Article IV, Section 5. Delegate representation to the IFT Convention shall be determined as follows: one (1) delegate to the IFT Convention may be elected by each affiliated local having a membership of twenty-five (25) or less. For each seventy-five (75) members or major fraction thereof, one (1) additional delegate may be elected. Membership is based on the average per capita tax payments to the IFT for the September 1 through June 30 period immediately preceding the IFT Convention. The IFT President shall notify the Executive Board and the President of each IFT local of the average per capita tax payments of the September 1 to June 30 period immediately preceding the IFT Convention by July 15 of the convention year.

RESOLUTIONS DUE AUGUST 22

All resolutions must be submitted to the IFT Resolutions Committee in proper form.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS DUE SEPTEMBER 3

All constitutional amendments must be submitted to the Executive Board forty-five (45) days prior to the beginning date of the IFT convention.

All proposed resolutions and constitutional amendments are to be emailed to convention@ift-aft.org, or mailed to: Illinois Federation of Teachers, 500 Oakmont Lane, Westmont, IL 60559.

ELECTION CERTIFICATION REPORT (DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES) DUE OCTOBER 4

The Election Certification Report listing all delegates and alternates must be received by the IFT Credentials Committee fourteen (14) days prior to the beginning date of the IFT Convention.

Local Presidents can complete and submit their Delegates and Alternates online. Go to myift.ift-aft.org to log in to your MyIFT account. Select “IFT Convention” and select “Election Certification Report (Delegates and Alternates)”.

NOMINATION PROCESS FOR IFT OFFICER ELECTIONS

The election of IFT President, Secretary-Treasurer, Executive Vice-President and Vice-Presidents will occur at the union’s convention on October 18, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare.

The procedure for nominations is conducted in accordance with the IFT By-Laws, Article II, Section 4 and Article V, Section 1, which reads as follows:

(Article II, Section 4): The Nominating Committee shall (a) in May prior to an IFT Convention, notify members of nomination and election procedures; (b) accept nomination petitions at any time but not later than 10 a.m. on the day of elections at the IFT Convention; (c) validate petitions based on candidate eligibility and delegate signatures; and (d) report qualified nominees to the IFT Convention.

(Article V, Section 1): Nominations for the offices of President, Secretary-Treasurer, Executive Vice-President and forty (40) Vice-Presidents shall be by petition signed by at least ten (10) delegates and presented to the nominating committee no later than 10 a.m. on the day of the election.

The nomination form will be posted on the IFT website, www.ift-aft.org and at your MyIFT account at myift.ift-aft.org.

Questions about the nominations process should be directed to Maureen Shanahan at 630-664-2260 or via email at convention@ift-aft.org.