August 16, 2019
WEAC Region 3 represents public education employees in a large territory stretching from Florence to Port Washington,
and from Menominee to Washington Island.
What's Inside:
  • Summer Organizing and Fall Membership Drives
  • Zone Meetings
  • WR3's UP Connection - Saturday, October 12
  • 2019 Recertification Election Dates
  • Summer Fun
  • NBCT
  • New Teacher Institute
  • ESP Training Opportunities
  • Member Benefits
  • Don't Complain, Organize!
Summer Organizing is in the Homestretch!

Sheboygan EA and Appleton EA have been participating in NEA's Ed Summer over the past three months. They've hired member organizers to talk to potential members and are hosting events to continue the conversations about the value of union membership. These two groups are well on their way to meeting their membership goals for the summer, with the biggest events happening in the next two weeks with new employee orientation opportunities. Eric Rosenquist, an NEA Organizer who is helping with Ed Summer, says it's the most successful year ever in terms of the organizer teams meeting and exceeding membership goals!

Additionally, six Locals (Pulaski, Ashwaubenon, Sevastopol, Sturgeon Bay, Manitowoc and Kohler) attended WR3's Membership Drive Workshop on June 20 and are planning 1-1 conversations and events to meet, greet, and talk to new employees at least three times before school starts. Yes, they'll be asking the new employees to join the union!

There's still time for YOUR LOCAL to get in on the membership drive action. Contact us today to find out how! Or, sign up to attend a WEAC-sponsored workshop below.
WEAC
In our union, we all have a part to play in building membership so we can be the strongest advocates for our students. Attend a membership workshop this summer to plan for back-to-school, professional development and collective action. Check with your region office, or sign up for the state's final workshop in Wausau on August 31 from noon-2 p.m., and you'll be a step ahead when school starts in the fall. 


Zone E Meeting
in Sheboygan

Tuesday, Aug us t 20
4:00 pm
at Rebecca Letter's house
1213 North Avenue

Join Zone E members for a casual get-together and discussion of issues in our area.

Who's in Zone E?
Cedar Grove-Belgium, Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah, Fredonia, Howard's Grove, Kiel, Kohler, New Holstein, Oostburg, Plymouth, Port Washington-Saukville, Random Lake, Sheboygan, and Sheboygan Falls.

Everyone is Welcome!

Email your RSVP (please, so we have enough refreshments!)
Zone A Meeting
at the Cottage

Wednesday, August 21
4:00 pm
15583 Maiden Lake Road, Mountain
(the cottage is a little past the Maiden Lake Supper Club, close to Lakewood)

Join Zone A members for a casual get-together at beautiful Maiden Lake (Kathy Rohde's cottage)!

Who's in Zone A?
Coleman, Crandon, Crivitz, Florence, Goodman-Armstrong, Laona, Lena, Marinette, Niagara, Pembine, Peshtigo, Suring, Wabeno, Wausaukee, White Lake.

Everyone is Welcome! Bring your swimming suit!

Email your RSVP (please, so we have enough refreshments!)
Click on the image for a flyer that you can use to advertise the UP Connection in your Local. Click here to register: https://forms.gle/p9oWt6yaAKrzeiQ7A
Recertification Elections
Even if your Local is NOT recertifying soon, talking about Recertification is a good idea. You can explain why your Local is not participating, that even without recertifying your UNION STILL EXISTS, and you can discuss the potential for holding a CERTIFICATION election in the future.

  • Here is a flyer that describes the process of Certification and Recertification.
  • Here is a flyer called "What You Need to Know About Recertification."

If your Local IS recertifying this year (Locals' decisions about recert are due to WR3 office by September 12) , and voting takes place November 6 - November 26, 2019), holding a 10-minute meeting is a great opportunity for you to have the discussion about what it all means.  
Summer Fun
2019 Annual Family Labor Day Picnic
sponsored by The Greater Green Bay Labor Council

Monday, September 2, 2019
11:00 am - 4:30 pm
Bay Beach Shelters 1 and 2

See Flyer for info on purchasing tickets.

Provide a receipt to Region 3 for ticket purchase and be reimbursed!!!!
Professional Development
National Board Certification Candidate Support

Explore the professional and financial benefits of National Board Certification and the supports your union can provide to National Board candidates. Sessions will be held at the WEAC Region 3 Office, 1136 North Military Ave, Green Bay. We have added the option of joining us via Zoom if you are unable to attend in person! Pre-registration is not required but appreciated - a light dinner will be served.


'Y ou Can Do This! New Teacher Institute'
Open to teachers new to the profession, this daylong institute will provide you with knowledge, skills, and professional connections to be successful in the beginning years of your career. Held at the beautiful Mosquito Hill Nature Center in New London on October 5, the day begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Lunch, snacks, and soft drinks are included. All participants will receive a complimentary copy of Teaching Hacks! by WEAC Member Danielle Carlson. There is no charge for this event; it is open to WEAC members only. Registration is limited to the first 100 registrants, so sign up now !
Breakout sessions include: How to Get Fired; Managing Student Behaviors; Mindfulness for Teachers and ESP; Self-Care for New Teachers; Special Education Law and Violent Students; and Teaching Hacks! Enjoy networking with other new teachers from across the state as you relax in this beautiful and unique space along the Wolf River in central Wisconsin.
NEA Launches ESP Leadership Institute
NEA is excited to announce the launch of the NEA ESP Leadership Institute (NEA ESPLI), formerly known as NEA ESP Leaders for Tomorrow. NEA ESPLI is a powerful leadership development program, grounded in diversity, equity and cultural competence that brings together the overarching NEA Leadership Competencies to train Education Support Professional members to be effective leaders in their associations. ESPLI is designed and collaboratively delivered by ESP members. Find out more and apply now at nea.org/ESPLI .

WEAC ESP Skills Institute is Saturday, September 21 in Madison & Mosinee
Boost Your Knowledge with our Education Support Professionals Skills Institute. Education Support Professionals are invited to attend a one-day workshop designed exclusively for your role in supporting and inspiring students. From strengthening your skills in working with students, to promoting a safe school environment, there are plenty of options to meet your professional needs. Free for WEAC members, $50 for support professionals who have not yet joined.

Member Benefits
Live Webinars Scheduled for August/September
ETF is offering a series of 30-minute, live, interactive webinars designed to increase your understanding of Wisconsin Retirement System benefits. Individuals can also ask questions at the end of these sessions. Visit their webinar page to learn more.
Hello all,

Here at the WR3 office, we're gearing up to hear your complaints about the school year. It's true that we work all summer - mostly on fun organizing projects - but we do get busier when school starts. Why? Because you're back at work and you start complaining about your boss, or about the schedule you've been given, or the lack of resources for your curriculum, or your overload, or __________________ [fill in the blank].

What does complaining accomplish? Some may think it's the start of a conversation and a path to getting stuff done to change the situation. "But, complaining to "let off steam," if you take no action to change the problem, demonstrates something that's poles apart from organizing -- powerlessness ." Complaining can reinforce the idea that we can do nothing to change what's wrong.

The quote above is taken from an article by Ellen David Friedman entitled "Don't Complain, Organize!" in the July 2019 issue of Labor Notes . The article contains great strategies for changing our mindset on the value of complaining and how to turn complaints into action. Click on the title of the article to read it on the Labor Notes website. Or click here for a pdf version. Please read it. Start changing the way you think about complaining.

Peace!
--Kathy Rohde
Uniserv Director
Region 3 WEAC