|
The Connection
1136 N. Military Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54303
920-496-2440
800-472-5582
|
|
December 3, 2021
MEMBERSHIP EDITION, Vol. 6, #4
|
|
Hello friends,
Congrats to everyone on their recertification election results! Every one of our local unions in Region 3 won their elections with a wide margin. Over the past few months we've grown our membership and these election results tell us we are getting stronger as a union. It also tells us the more we talk about the union and the more we increase our visibility, the more educators join us!
A key way to do this is to create an organizing committee within your local union. Right now committees that are interested in increasing membership are forming in Pulaski, Sheboygan, Port Washington-Saukville and Appleton. Your Region 3 Director would be so excited to help your union launch this! We can offer trainings on:
- How to talk about the union
- How to answer tough questions
- Identifying the right people
- Relationship mapping
Or anything else your members want!
Kristin Lytie
Regional Director
WEAC Region 3
|
|
|
Wisconsin K-12 education unions experienced overwhelming success in 2021 recertification elections, achieving a 97 percent success rate among locals that sought to recertify.
“The success rate for unions is higher than ever,” said WEAC President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen. “Wisconsin educators recognize that there is power in numbers. The best way to turn the tide on increasingly massive workloads and plummeting teacher pay is for educators to join their local union. Union membership is directly related to educator voice in our schools and in Wisconsin. Union membership is the answer to stopping the exodus of teachers from the profession.”
The overwhelming success in the elections shows the strong connections educators have with each other within their districts, because relationships and communication are essential to conducting the laborious annual recertification process.
Recertification, which is not required for a local union to exist in a school district, was created at the same time educators were stripped of their right to negotiate with our employers. The process, which requires a higher threshold for success than that to elect the U.S. President, was designed to make it more difficult to form and maintain unions.
“Whether or not a local union sought recertification, that union still exists as a united voice for educators and advocate for students,” Wirtz-Olsen said. “The Wisconsin Education Association Council is extremely proud of all of the hard-working public school educators who are stepping up to demand respect and fair treatment in their profession.”
See all the results by district HERE.
|
|
Appleton Educator Shares Her Experience
Here's a shoutout to Appleton ESL educator and Region 3 member, Chia Vang, for the excellent article on the front page of Appleton's Tuesday edition of the Post Crescent. And, a big thank you to Chia for what she does for students in the Appleton Area School District.
|
|
|
You have an opportunity to keep members in the loop AND respect their time by holding 10-minute meetings! It's also a great time to get feedback from people in the building.
Get out there and BE VISIBLE!
How can we have 10-minute meetings during the pandemic? Now is probably the BEST time to reach out to your members! Facebook live, Google hangouts, Zoom...
|
|
The December 10-Minute Meeting topic:
Recruiting School Board Candidates
No group has more impact on your daily work as public educators than your elected school board. The role school board members have in our schools is gaining widespread attention as political rhetoric ramps up around masks, vaccinations and school curriculum.
Despite Region 3 and the Region 3 PAC encouraging locals to be active in their district's elections, only a handful of locals routinely recruit, screen, and recommend candidates for school board. Let's not waste this opportunity! The 10-Minute Meeting is a great space to ask who your coworkers know in the community that would be a good fit to run for the school board. Who volunteers? Who helps others? Who is respected and trusted? Region 3 can also assist you with identifying candidates and discussing how to ask them.
There will be a lot at stake for our students and our profession, so make your plans for your local to be involved in the April 2022 school board elections.
Important School Board Election Dates:
- Candidates Can Begin Circulating Papers: December 1
- Deadline for Candidates to File Papers: January 4
- Primary Election: Tuesday, February 15
- General Election: Tuesday, April 5
|
|
WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS IN NOVEMBER
23!
We're stronger
every day!
|
|
Notice of Important Upcoming Deadlines
JANUARY 15: Nominations are due by January 15 for WEAC President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, NEA Director, Seat #2, Alternate NEA Director, and Minority Guarantee Representative and Minority Guarantee Representative Alternate to the WEAC Board of Directors to be decided at the Representative Assembly in April. All persons desiring to be candidates for these positions shall file their intention in the office of the Executive Director, P.O. Box 8003, Madison WI 53708-8003. Such notice must be given no later than January 15, 2022. Please contact Ann Caruso for paperwork for filing for these positions. She can be reached at CarusoA@weac.org or 800-362-8034, extension 219.
JANUARY 15: The deadline for submitting proposed changes to WEAC Bylaws, Constitution, standing Rules or Resolutions is January 15. Changes should be submitted to the Office of the WEAC Executive Director, P.O. Box 8003, Madison WI 53708.
|
|
Next Region 3/GBEA National Board Support Session - December 16
WEAC, Region 3 and GBEA have organized ongoing monthly National Board Support for the 2021-2022 cycle. Sessions will be held in person at the WEAC Region 3 office but with a virtual option and facilitated by Sarah Johnston (Marinette) and Ellie Hinz-Radue (Green Bay).
|
|
WEAC Webinar Wednesday
On Wednesday, January 5, be sure to register for Can you Hear Us Now? Using Podcasts to Educate and Entertain. Podcasts provide an excellent way to convey information, as well as engage your student audience with supplemental material beyond the typical class period. Podcasts can be easy and fun to make, enjoyable for your audience, and can be accessed at any time. Learn more about the benefits of using podcasts as well as the logistics behind developing your own podcast.
|
|
Building a Balanced Life
You take care of others. Learn how your union can take care of you in our Educator Wellness course.
|
|
Live Webinars Scheduled for December 2021
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. Here is what others have said about their webinars:
- My participation in the webinar was a first for me, and I just want to compliment you on how easy it was to connect, follow along, and provide questions or requests. Excellent job!"
- "Thanks for having these valuable webinars. The professional but conversational style helped me to understand the presentation as easily as an "in office" meeting. Really appreciate that the presenter fully understands the subject. Wonderful job."
|
|
While there isn’t one perfect retirement formula for everyone, there are some common ingredients that anyone can stir up to build their own recipe for success.
|
|
If you have recently moved, gotten a new phone number or email address, changed schools or banking information, please contact Region 3 staff assistant Debbie Armitage or Sue Clauss. They will be able to make any changes to your records. This information helps us ensure that we are able to stay connected with you.
They can both be reached by phone at 920-496-2440.
|
|
This is an 11.0101(10)(b)(1) communication with WEAC members
|
|
WEAC Region 3
1136 N. Military Ave.
Green Bay, WI 54303.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|