January 6, 2017
Hello all,

In this time of resolutions, how about we all make a renewed commitment to membership? And by that I mean, taking care of our current members and reaching out to those who have not yet taken advantage of all union membership has to offer. 

Below, you'll read about New London's idea to keep in touch with new employees - - this is a strategy that could be used ANYTIME with both members and potential members. Don't we all need a little pick-me-up many times of the year (not just at the beginning of a school year)? The end of the semester is coming up...hint, hint.

We hope this second edition of "The Connection: Membership Edition" can provide you will ideas about how to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN in the new year. We hope you have a great one!

"The Connection: Membership Edition" is the brainchild of Region 3's Membership and PR Committee: Greg Ubbelohde (New Holstein EA) & Kandace Larsen (Marinette EA) are the co-chairs and welcome new committee members at any time! We all hope you find this once-a-month publication inspiring and helpful!
 
Peace
--Kathy Rohde
Regional Director
Staff Liaison to WR3 Membership / PR Committee
Celebrate Success!
WEAC Region 3 welcomes EIGHT new members in December!
New London Education Association
NLEA executive board member Alicia Korth welcomes new teacher, Sam VanAlstine, to the New London School District.
    
The current membership of NLEA wanted to make sure that each of their 20 new employees had the opportunity to learn about the association and the protections, benefits, and professional development it offers. Current members put together "new member bags" that included WEAC information, new member forms to join, and items to make a new teacher's day go smoothly. NLEA included a water bottle, mints, microwave popcorn, hot chocolate, fancy post-its, and more!  Executive board members personally welcomed each new teacher and shared the bag while inviting them to join the association.
Wausaukee Education Association

The WEA will sponsor Sunday Fundays starting Sunday, January 15th. We will have concessions and sledding on Sundays from 12-2 pm, weather permitting, at the football field. WEAC President Ron Martin will be joining us on January 29th. Stop by for some fun!  

Tip of the Month

 
The Ten-Minute Meeting
All too often we hear, "there's no reason to hold a meeting if there's nothing to report/decide/vote on." Or, we hear, "I'm not sure we have a union because there are never any meetings." But mostly, we hear, "I don't have TIME to go to ANOTHER meeting."
 
Last month, we introduced the 10-minute meeting and the ways it can address all of the above. If you missed it, click on the link below for the details about how the 10-minute meeting works. 
 
This month, let's begin to share ideas about what to talk about in a 10-minute meeting:  
 
 
NEA Benefits
Your membership in your Local union includes memberships to the Region (WEAC Region 3), the state (Wisconsin Education Association Council), and the national (National Education Association) organizations and all provide specific benefits. Did you know your NEA membership includes:
  • Complimentary life insurance and
  • Employment Liability?
Furthermore, the free $1,000 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.

A simple  handout and insurance registration  form explains all the details of these important benefits and could easily be shared in a 10-minute meeting!

Note: A 10-minute meeting about NEA Benefits should be open to everyone - members and potential members alike.
 
 
 
For more details about how the 10-minute meeting works, click here.

Coming next month: more ideas and templates for 10-minute meetings.
 
Progress Towards WR3's +1 Goal

The WEAC Region 3 Executive Committee has adopted a +1 plan for membership for the 2016-17 school year. Our goal is to maintain our membership numbers from last year and ADD one more to the fold. 
 
This month, let's talk about the formula that is used to create the +1 plan. It is illustrated in the box below. In order to increase our membership by 1 in the current membership year (9/1/16-8/31/17) we need to address not only the addition of new members, but also work to prevent the cancellation of our existing members. Based on the example below (which does not yet factor in the addition of Technical College Locals to our membership in 2016-17), WR3 has to sign up at least 333 new members.
 
What is your Local's +1 goal? If you do not have the numbers to plug into the formula below, contact our office.
 
Net Change = Total New Members + Total Cancellations 
 
For example, in the membership year 9/1/15 to 8/31/16, WEAC Region 3:

-116 = 216 + (-332)

WR3 had a loss of 116 members as a result of signing up 216 new members, and losing 332 members who cancelled (or retired, or left education).
 

This monthly  Membership Edition of  The Connection will update you on progress toward our +1 goal and provide you with ideas and strategies for adding your own Local to our +1 status.
Upcoming Membership Events
 
Click HERE to see our Region 3 Calendar. It includes WEAC and Region 3 governance meetings, Professional Development events, and many other workshops, meetings, and events sponsored by our office.
Here's the other stuff:  
 
  • Thursday, January 12 - Northeastern WI Organizing Co-op:  The first meeting will be  at 6:30 p.m.  at the local 400 Plumbers/Steamfitters Union located at 2700 Northridge Drive in Kaukauna.  There will be an optional potluck  5:30-6:15. For more information about this group, contact Rebecca Derenne at
    [email protected].
  • APRIL Listening Project: Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 8. We'll be conducting another Listening Project workshop for TEAMS of Locals to attend and learn how to effectively build a campaign of ACTION.
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WEAC Region 3
800-472-5582
[email protected]
www.region3.weac.org