December 17, 2021
The Region 3 Office will be closed December 23 to January 3. There will be no newsletter until the new year.
Hello WEAC Region 3 members,

I’m Jackie Baumann and have been serving as the WEAC Region 3 Vice President for the past year and a half and prior to that was Vice President B of the region for several years. As you may have seen in WEAC news this week, Nathan Ugoretz was just elected as the WEAC Secretary/Treasurer. We are very excited for Nathan and the passion he will bring to his new position. Because of this change for Nathan, he had to resign from the WEAC Region 3 President position. I am prepared and excited to take on the role of the WEAC Region 3 President effective immediately. 

I am a 27 year veteran educator in the Pulaski Community School District teaching kindergarten for the past 21 years. I have also held the role Pulaski EA President for the past 10 years and have been active in the union for the majority of my teaching career. I am confident that the work I have done at the local level and at the Region 3 level will help in this new role. I have worked closely with Nathan and the Region 3 directors and know that this transition will be seamless. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our union through membership growth and the work we are doing to build leaders and to engage our members in organizing efforts throughout the region.

If at any time I can be of assistance to you, please reach out to me. My home email address is jr3abaumann@gmail.com. I will always respond within 24 hours. If there is an urgent need, please call the Region 3 office.

I wish you all well as we get closer to this much needed holiday break!

Jackie Baumann
WEAC Region 3 President
Upcoming Events:

January 13, Thursday, NBCT Session, 5PM
 
January 13, Thursday,

January 15, Saturday,

January 18, Tuesday,

January 19, Wednesday,

January 31, Monday,

February 8, Tuesday,
A Message from Nathan Ugoretz
-Former Region 3 President

Due to holding the position of WEAC Secretary-Treasurer, I will be resigning as the president of Region 3. I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to all of the members of Region 3, the Executive Board and the staff of Region 3. A career within public education is rewarding, but it is also incredibly challenging and I am honored to have worked with you all to advocate for our members
who work in this career. I appreciate the help and
support you have given me during my time serving 
on the Region 3 board.

I look forward to continuing to work with you all in the future.

With gratitude and in solidarity,
Nathan Ugoretz 
A Message to Wisconsin Educators

This year has been one of the toughest in our careers. We are doing absolutely everything we possibly can to make this school year successful, supportive, and safe for our students. We are at a breaking point: our students need so much, but there are not enough educators or resources to meet their needs. Impossible demands are driving great educators out of the profession. To keep students learning and schools open in 2022, Wisconsin needs to stabilize the education workforce. 
The solution depends on educators standing together, union strong for 2022. Union strong for safe and healthy schools. Union strong for solutions to the workload crisis and educator shortages. Union strong until every educator has a seat at the table. 
I deeply thank you for what you have done, and what you will continue to do, to be that change in Wisconsin Public Schools. 


By Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, President
Wisconsin Education Association Council
January 18 - Region 3 Roundtable

The next Region 3 Roundtable will focus on creating work life balance. Our one hour meeting will consist of 15 minutes of Veteran leaders sharing best practices on how they have done this in their own life and updates from Local Unions who are tackling the workload issue with their members. The last 45 minutes of the agenda will be our How to Say No workshop.

Register HERE
Count Me In WINNER!!

Congratulations to Kelly Francour of the Marinette Education Association! Kelly’s name was drawn as the winner for WEAC Region 3’s Count Me In Program. Throughout the course of the Count Me In Program, Kelly completed 10 one-on-one conversations with potential members at her district. As her prize, she will be headed to the Labor Notes Conference in Illinois with a fellow Region 3 member of her choice! It is important to recognize that Kelly truly embodies the year-round organizing mentality that Region 3 strives for. Not only did she participate in Count Me In, but she has also participated in WEAC Region 3’s Just One Campaign and WEAC’s Ed Summer Organizing Program. This school year, she has recruited 7 new members to join the Marinette Education Association and serves as Vice President of her Local. She recently joined WEAC Region 3’s Organizing Committee to help us grow even more. We are lucky to have her amongst our ranks!

“All I can say is thank you for this opportunity of a lifetime to attend the Labor Notes Conference in Chicago this summer. I have been teaching for 32 years but being a union member for 32 years has made me a stronger teacher and leader in my district. I look forward to learning new strategies to recruit new members to make our union even stronger. Remember, the Union gives us strength.” – Kelly Francour Marinette EA

Region 3 would also like to acknowledge our other Count Me In participants for their efforts:
Thank you to Kelly Stauss of Sheboygan Education Association, Karla Rastall of Marinette Education Association, and Christopher White of Marinette Education Association for your outreach and efforts!

As always, if you’re interested in growing your Local Education Association, please reach out to your Regional Director for support, resources, or training.
Be part of a special members only opportunity on SATURDAY, JANUARY 15 from 10-11:15 a.m. where we'll get to know U.S. Senate candidates.
During our event, educators will have the chance to ask questions of candidates running for U.S. Senate in small group settings via Zoom. It’s our first event of the important 2022 election cycle, and I hope you’ll take part! Thanks for all you do for students!

This will be like "speed dating" the candidates, not your usual meet and greet and should be fun. Please consider attending.

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.
JANUARY 13 - Region 3/GBEA National Board Support Session
 
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).
 

Teaching and learning is union business and as a benefit of membership, WEAC and the WEA Academy bring our members high quality professional development and timely resources designed by educators. This month, leaders and staff are encouraged to share WEAC professional development opportunities and WEA Academy courses with your members and potential members in your membership outreach.
 
Some of our most popular free offerings to promote include:

See all opportunities HERE.

LIVE WEBINARS
 
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.

Education Advocacy Workshop:
Talking About Teaching

Start spreading the word now about our Education Advocacy Workshop Series in 2022, starting with an interactive and engaging discussion from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, January 26 about top education issues, including the latest research and clear messages for building support.
WEAC

Nominations are being accepted for several prestigious awards to honor union activists, humanitarian activities, education support professionals and teachers, union staff and friends of public education. Find the nomination criteria and online submission form at weac.org/awards. The deadline for all award nominations is February 1. 

This month, we're highlighting two popular resources for educators facing 'critical race theory' attacks from groups seeking to censor lessons and keep students from getting a well-rounded education.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
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