May 6, 2022
MEMBERSHIP EDITION, Vol. 6, #9
Hello-

Did you know there’s a space to meet with other union members from neighboring districts - a space where you can share information about salaries, COVID-19 stipends, and strategies for meet & confer? Sounds pretty great, right?

The space I’m talking about is your Zone meetings. Each Zone has a Zone Leader that assists with scheduling zone meetings and creating the meeting agendas. WEAC Region 3 is split up into seven different geographical zones:

Zone A
Karla Rastall (Marinette EA)

Zone B
Natalie Buhl (West DePere EA)

Zone C
Melissa Anderson (New London EA)

Zone D North
JamieLynn Teska (Southern Door) jlp.teska@gmail.com

Zone D South
Aaron Juhl (Chilton EA)

Zone E
Rebecca Letter (Sheboygan EA)

Zone F
Gary Brilowski (FVTC-ESPA)
brilo68@yahoo.com
Upcoming Events:

May 12, Thursday, Region 3 Roundtable, 4:30PM
 
May 14, Saturday, Region 3 RA, 10AM

May 19, Thursday, Organizing Committee Meeting, 5PM

June 8, Wednesday, WR3 Executive Committee Meeting, 5PM
If you are unable to attend Zone meetings due to your schedule or because you are not in a leadership role, the Region 3 Roundtable and the WEAC Region 3 Members-Only Facebook Page are additional spaces to hear from union members from around WEAC Region 3. As the school year is winding down, I encourage you to make that extra effort by attending a zone meeting or reaching out to your Zone leader. We are stronger together and we are stronger when we stay connected. 

Erin Karsten
Regional Director
WEAC Region 3
The Ten Minute Meeting
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? Facebook live, Google hangouts, Zoom, after-school ...
The May 10-Minute Meeting topic:

Check Those Contracts

As districts begin issuing contracts for the 2022-23 school year, be sure to check for changes in contract language by comparing it with your contract for the 2021-22 school year. Lately, we’ve been seeing districts sneak new language into contracts that could diminish the rights of teachers and certified staff, including added layoff language. At your 10-minute meeting, be sure to emphasize that union members should hold off on signing their contracts until they’ve had the chance to review it for changes. If you notice changes in your contract language or your district does not issue a contract by the May 15 deadline, please contact your director at WEAC Region 3 as you may be able to self-renew. 
WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS IN APRIL

9!

We're stronger
every day!
Join Early at No Extra Cost
WEAC EARLY ENROLLMENT
 
When you become a member of your local association, WEAC and NEA,
by completing an early enrollment membership form, you pay nothing
until September 1 and immediately receive:
 
  • $1 million in coverage under the Educator Employment Liability (EEL) insurance to protect you if a student or parent sues you during the course of employment
  • Discounts and savings through NEA Member Benefits (www.neamb.com)
  • Savings through WEA Member Benefits (www.weabenefits.com)
 
At the start of the school year, you will enjoy the full benefits of membership
including:
 
  • Representation through your local and region in employment disputes
  • Eligibility for assistance through the WEAC Legal Services Program in matters related to your employment
  • Access to the Attorney Referral Program designed to make sure that every NEA member in participating state affiliates has access to affordable legal advice
 
Through the Just One campaign last year, we were able to quadruple the number of new members we normally recruit with Early Enrollment! Given it's success, we are continuing this program.
 
Members who successfully recruit new members through Early Enrollment will be entered to win up to ten $50 gift cards. Participants will receive weekly email updates containing wins and best practices from around the Region! The union members listed above have signed up as participants - those in green have successfully recruited one new member and have been entered to win one of several $50 gift cards!
 
Early Enrollment lets potential members join the union now and pay no dues until September. This of course excludes people seeking representation, but it does give people a great opportunity to attend union events, workshops and learn more about your unique union culture!
 
Learn more HERE. 
The Region 3 Roundtable is the spot to learn what's happening in districts around the Region. It's a spot for brainstorming, a little bragging and more importantly, getting to know your fellow union leaders from around the Region. In May we'll be talking about the goals local unions want to start planning for! Click the pic above to register now!
Are you retiring this year? Do you know someone who is retiring this year?
 
The WEAC membership year is September 1st through August 31st, and even though you are "leaving" active employment in June, there is an obligation to continue paying dues through the end of August.
 
Not only does this commitment to membership support your active colleagues, it provides you with access to union resources and support to ensure you are treated fairly and that your employer upholds its commitments related to your retirement. 
 
Here are some resources to share with the newest class of retirees:  
 
Retiree Resources 
 
  • Cancellation of your current WEAC membership requires a signed letter sent to the Membership Department. Here is a sample letter that can be mailed to the address on the letter or scanned and emailed to membership@weac.org. This letter MUST include the date and your signature!
  • Retirees should consider enrolling in WEAC-Retired. Membership can be a one-time payment. Here is a brochure detailing the benefits and an enrollment form.

Term life insurance offered through NEA can be increased at a very competitive rate and remains in place as long as you are an active or retired member. If you would like to review this and other member benefits afforded to WEAC & NEA members, please visit www.weac.org/memberbenefits. 
New! Video Series Helps Members Apply for Retirement

Are you thinking about your future retirement from WRS employment? Check out their new three-part video series describing the process of applying for your benefits. And if you’re getting ready to retire soon, here are some helpful tips for requesting an estimate and scheduling a retirement appointment.
Wisconsin Lifetime License Background Check

Wis. Admin Code s. PI 34.041 requires educators who hold a valid Lifetime license to submit a request to the department to have a new background check conducted and to confirm employment status at least once every five years. The request shall be made between January 1 and June 30 of the fifth year since the individual's last background check.  If your most recent background check was in 2017, you are due to submit an application to DPI in order to maintain your Lifetime license.  You must submit this application to DPI by June 30, 2022, to maintain your Lifetime license.  
 
Follow the Application Directions for Background Check to Maintain Lifetime License to submit your background check HERE .
This summer is bringing a much needed opportunity to breathe, finally. With all that educators have endured over the past two years, this summer is the time to refill our cups and take steps to ensure they stay filled throughout this upcoming school year. During this four-hour retreat in New London, Wisconsin, you’ll get to choose from multiple activities to relax and restore in a beautiful nature sanctuary. You’ll also learn tips, tricks, and strategies to add to your toolbox to keep your well-being supported all year long. Finally, time will be taken to set meaningful intentions and strong plans to ensure you’re not finding yourself burned out this school year.
 
Join others for a special summer retreat to help you restore and prepare for your best year of teaching.
 

More information can be found here.

Register now for WEAC's Leadership Academy July 25-27 in De Pere. The WEAC Equity Ambassadors program will run during the same time frame at that location.
The Wisconsin Association of School Nurses cordially invites you to join them on Wednesday, May 11th--School Nurse Day--to honor and celebrate Wisconsin School Nurses. 

You are invited to attend the webinar: A Day in the Life: A Photo Essay of the Wisconsin School Nurses and the COVID-19 Pandemic

This webinar will provide a “behind the scenes” look into the health rooms of eleven Wisconsin schools. Using words and photographs, a light will shine on the remarkable and often invisible work of school nurses and provide the public with a better understanding of the physical and emotional toll the pandemic has had on school nurses.
WEAC Region 3 Representative Assembly
May 14, 2022
 
The WEAC Region 3 RA will be held Saturday, May 14. The RA will be held at the WR3 office, with the option to attend virtually via Zoom.
 
Delegates to the RA will be electing the following positions to the WR3 Executive Committee: President, Vice President, ESP Member-at-Large, and Zone Leaders. To determine which Zone your local is in, please click HERE. To view the duties of each, please click HERE. In order to be elected to one of these positions, nominees must be a local delegate to the WR3 RA. Send nominations to region3@weac.org.
 
Local Presidents received an email from WEAC Region 3 regarding delegate registration. If your local still plans to register delegates, please email WEAC Region 3 at region3@weac.org.
 
Once Region 3 receives delegate certifications, a registration link will be emailed to all certified delegates. 
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. 
 
Debbie can be reached through email at ArmitageD@WEAC.org. 
 
Sue can be reached at ClaussS@weac.org.
This is an 11.0101(10)(b)(1) communication with WEAC members