September 25, 2020
Hello friends,

Educators have always had the attitude and the ability to make the best of things for their students. Whether that means buying their own supplies or working long hours, you all know how to make it work. Now that the school year is unfolding, a lot of our members are not feeling safe at work and it's getting harder and harder to just "make it work." It has become abundantly clear that no outside agency is going to fix things for us and our organizing is paying off! Unions that have taken action are seeing results!

  • Does staff want to go virtual?
  • Do you need better fitting PPE?
  • Do you need help filing a health and safety grievance?
  • Do you have questions about how you can start a committee to discuss the ever growing workload teachers are facing?

The Region 3 Organizing Committee created Collective Action Against Covid. This training is geared towards the COVID-related issues YOU care about. We are here to help you come up with a plan to organize and build union power that makes a difference in your district! We are excited to have leaders who have done these things, share best practices that you can learn from!

Register for the training HERE.

In Solidarity,
Kristin Lytie
Region 3 Director
HELP GATHER DATA ON THE PANDEMIC'S IMPACT IN OUR SCHOOLS

WEAC /NEA is collecting Wisconsin data on COVID-19 cases to track the impact of the pandemic in our schools. There are already 200 reports filed, and there are likely more. It’s easy to record information using our online form.

NEW:
PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP FOR REGION 3 MEMBERS!

Region 3 now has a PRIVATE GROUP for members only. We are hoping this will serve as a space for members to check in across the region on what their districts are doing, get updates and get to know one another a bit more!
Please be sure to answer all the application questions and your membership will be approved!
**ATTENTION LOCAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS AND VICE PRESIDENTS**

As we all continue to navigate through our jobs and our lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that we continue to communicate and work with each other to find solutions that best fit our needs. 
 
To ensure that your locals are provided with the support that is needed, Region 3 will be holding an All President’s and Vice President’s Meeting on October 14, at 6:00 p.m. The higher the participation, the more meaningful our gathering will be. Please put this event on your calendar and watch for upcoming communications. Please RSVP using this Zoom link: https://weac.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUvc-ypqjwtH9THF-rrlka__TJas_9u04M2. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Please keep that email.
 
The circumstances educational employees are working under are extreme, and our members are incredibly fortunate to have you leading them through this challenging time.
 
Region 3 looks forward to this virtual gathering on October 14 and is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such a dedicated group of individuals.
Winter Recharge,
a day of member-led professional development, is on the horizon!

Saturday, January 30th, we will host a day of workshops and we need you to teach! Have a topic you are passionate about? Know someone that has helped others with a skill? Fill out our application to present a workshop. Last year we had Yoga, Mindfulness in our Classrooms and so much more! Fill out the form HERE.

All facilitators will be given a stipend of $200.
WEAC Join Now ONLINE
Member Sign Up
Easy, fast online feature supports your membership efforts

WEAC online member sign-up, Join Now, is now available to provide a convenient and fast way for educators to become members of our union.

 
In a series of simple screens, educators can enter their information to become a member. This feature is especially useful during one-on-one membership conversations. While the process is entirely online, it is recommended that organizers and leaders stay with educators through the sign-up process to answer any questions that might arise.
For an overview of the Join Now experience, click here.
WEAC
NEA
Region 3 Special Education Networking Meeting

This Special Ed Networking call will be special as it's going to be facilitated by two members from Region 3 who have extensive experience working in Special Ed. Their expertise is sure to take the conversation in a meaningful and thought provoking way!

When: October 19, 2020 @ 4:30 PM
 
Register in advance for this meeting HERE:
 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
EDUCATION SUPPORT PERSONNEL CONNECTION CALL FOR ALL ESP'S
WEAC Region 3 would now like to invite members and potential members to these meetings. This is your opportunity, Region 3 members, to bring a non-member friend. Let's show them the value of union membership!

Region 3 created an ESP Connection Call to check in with one another, keep each other in the loop and plan our next steps. It was discovered that now more than ever ESP staff need to be in contact with each other to discuss what their districts are doing, best practices and how to implement them in their own district. The global pandemic has revealed that schools are the social safety nets for many of our communities and that those safety nets work because you do.

 
Please join us on Monday, November 9th at 4:30 pm via zoom to participate in this important conversation. 
 
 
 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
You are Invited!
WR3's ALL-MEMBER
Weekly Virtual Gathering
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
4:30 - 5:30 pm

Please note that you need to PRE-Register for the meeting by clicking on the link above. Then an email will be sent to you with the login link.
We are doing our best to Zoombomb-proof our meeting!

Agenda:
1) Returning to school.
2) Time for sharing! What's going on in your area?


We look forward to SEEING you!
It's a good idea to log in a few minutes early
to get the audio and video working on your device.
WEAC

Every Wednesday between 6-7 p.m. WEAC members have access to a webinar highlighting relevant teaching and learning topics. This Wednesday's is a National Board Informational Webinar. A complete listing of the webinars and the registration link can be found here.

WEAC's Webinar Wednesday series September 30 will help you capture and upload video to enhance your instruction. The focus is a simple process for capturing, uploading and editing video with a professional look and feel.

Register Now
Building a Balanced Life Registration Now Open
Educators often put the needs of others before themselves. This engaging and interactive opportunity is designed to focus on helping public school employees maintain a healthy life balance. Register here.
Region 3 has added a COVID-19 INFO tab on our webpage: https://region3.weac.org/

Clicking on that tab gives you access to a Google Drive with all kinds of updated information. We have posted a document with links and resources, recordings of virtual gatherings, an Excel version of our survey data, and more.
Political Action
This is an 11.0101(10)(b)(1) communication with WEAC members.  
“Should the Wisconsin Legislature create a nonpartisan procedure for the preparation of legislative and congressional district plans and maps?” That question is on the November 3rd ballot for residents of Brown and Door Counties. It may appear on some municipal ballots as well. 
 
The resounding answer is YES! 
 
That referendum question is on the November 3rd ballot in eleven counties, including Brown and Door. To date, the referendum has passed in all 17 counties that have presented the question to voters. In addition, 55 of the 72 county boards across the state, as well as more than a dozen municipalities, have adopted resolutions in support of a nonpartisan redistricting process.
 
The fact is Wisconsin is one of, if not the most, gerrymandered state in the country. For example, in 2018 the Democrats won every state-side election, with Tony Evers beating Scott Walker 51% - 49%. However, the Republicans won 63 of 99 (64%) of the state’s Assembly seats in that same election. That was a direct result of the last redistricting maps drawn in 2011 by the Republicans. WI needs a redistricting procedure conducted by a neutral body, rather than one created by attorneys and analysts of the party in control, to ensure fair maps for all voters. For more information on the importance of redistricting and fair elections, please see these sources: League of Women Voters of Brown County message and JSOnline article. 
No one has to tell you how crucial this upcoming election is for public education. Moving forward, we need to make sure we elect pro-public education candidates for safe and funded public schools!

If you want to volunteer to get pro-public education candidates elected in Wisconsin check out more information HERE!
Absentee Voting

All voters in Wisconsin can request an absentee ballot be mailed to them for any reason. Voters must be registered before they can request an absentee ballot. Voters may request their absentee ballot in writing. To request an absentee ballot on MyVote.wi.gov click here. You must provide a photo ID with your absentee ballot request, more information on photo ID can be found here.

LOOK HERE to find early voting locations and ballot drop-off locations.
or click on the link to order your sign:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaukvArheNrRSgCsFL1tdbcnMHtaPG-UnlE5wRZYlHOJbUrw/viewform