January 4, 2019
Vol. 3, #4



Hi All,
Region 3's Organizing Committee has pledged to put on  a FREE professional development opportunity for our members on Saturday, January 26, 2019,  at the WR3 office. The conference starts at 9:30 am and ends at 4:30 pm.  Mark your calendars and plan to attend for a Winter ReCharge!

What's on the menu? We already have presenters for "Managing Student Behaviors," geared specifically for our ESP members, and sessions about "Mindfulness," "Google Expeditions," "Classroom Management," "Math is Fun: Games for Students," and  a "Degrees Not Debt" workshop. We've also got some union-centered presentations on building rep training and "Beating Back the Bully Principal" AND A LOT MORE!


Click here for a flyer to help advertise this conference.
Click here for a detailed brochure that describes all the sessions!

REGISTRATION ENDS FRIDAY, JANUARY 18.
This conference will be cancelled without sufficient sign-up.

--Peace
Kathy Rohde
Regional Director 
Non-Renewal Time is Approaching...
Wisconsin State Statute 118.22 governs the renewal and NON-renewal of full-time teacher contracts

This important deadline is approaching: 

For teacher contracts that a District does NOT want to renew for the 2019-20 school year, the school board must notify with a preliminary notice of non-renewal on OR before Tuesday.  April  30, 2019.  This timeline applies regardless of the reason for non-renewal, i.e., performance, economic reasons, declining enrollment, etc. 
A preliminary notice of non-renewal must be voted on and issued by the school board (not an administrator).

Many teachers have already been given some kind of indication that the District is thinking about non-renewal. These teachers may be on a plan of improvement. For teachers under this scrutiny, the preliminary notice of non-renewal may come well before the deadline of April 30th.  Once preliminary notice of non-renewal is given to an educator, they only have five calendar days to request a hearing before the school board.
  • Union members who are fearful of a non-renewal should contact the Region 3 office as soon as possible. 
  • Union leaders and building reps who are working with teachers who may be in danger of non-renewal should contact the Region 3 office as soon as possible. 

Please do not wait until the preliminary notice has already been issued!
Get Your Financial Ducks in A Row!

FREE, 1-hour Financial Planning Sessions

Every 3rd Thursday of the month, a Certified Financial Planner comes to the Region 3 office. Members are entitled to a FREE 1-hour consultation and can make an appointment by calling 800-279-4030.

Thursday doesn't work for you? Why not get started with your financial plan on Saturday, January 26?

WEA Member Benefits consultants will be at our office in Green Bay.  Twelve 1-hour appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis during our Professional Development Workshop.

Attention WEAC Region 3 Members!
Member Benefits Consultants Steve Bader and Mark Resch, from WEA Member Benefits will be onsite to meet with Region 3 Members.

WHAT:   FREE Financial Consultation
WHEN:  Saturday, January 26, 2019 (registration link below)
WHERE:  WEAC Region 3 Office, 1136 N. Military Ave., Green Bay 
This is ideal if you are just getting started, have specific questions, or would like a quick check-in.  Because these are held onsite, it's a convenient way to meet with someone face-to-face to get some general help or guidance.

The Member Benefits Consultants can answer your specific questions on a wide range of financial topics such as:
  • Reasons to start a 403(b) or IRA savings account and how to enroll
  • Wisconsin Retirement System basics
  • Retirement Savings strategies; Pre-tax vs. Roth, 403(b) vs. IRA
  • Investment/Account Fees
  • Budgeting
  • Tips for purchasing personal insurance
Some things to bring along to your consultation include:
  • Recent paycheck stub
  • Recent 403(b) and/or IRA account statements
  • WRS statement
  • Laptop (if available)
  • Other financial information you would like reviewed
Spouses/partners welcome.

Registration is open NOW:
 
Can't make it to a consultation but want to talk to someone? Sign up for a 30-minute phone consultation and speak to a Retirement and Investment Consultant. Find a time and day that's convenient for you at www.weabenefits.com/consults.



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."
 
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. 

If you feel like you're in a rut, why not try the 10-minute meeting?

For more details about how the 10-minute meeting works, click  here.

For previous 10-minute meeting topics:

The January 10-Minute Meeting topic: Retirement!


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 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. Here is a link to life insurance information:  https://www.neamb.com/products/life-insurance
  • For questions about other retiree benefits, members should call the Region 3 office at 1-800-472-5582 and consult with a regional director.

Retiree Corner

WEAC-Fox Valley Retired invites all Region 3 retirees to attend their first 2019 meeting January 23rd starting at 9:30 a.m. and ending at approximately 11:30 a.m.
 
Location:  
 
DJ Bordini Center
5 Systems Drive
Appleton, WI
(located across the street from
Fox Valley Technical College on Bluemound Drive)
 
It will begin with a few breakfast snacks and time to socialize. At about 10 a.m., introductions will be done and then a speaker will be presented. Brenda Echeverria from WEA Member Benefits will give some suggestions about ways to handle your retirement money. WEA Member Benefits recently began offering a personal account for post-tax dollar money and offers five different options as to how you'd like your money managed, from conservative to aggressive. Brenda will answer questions from the group and can stick around for a little time after the meeting for those who want to stop by and chat.
 
If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Kim Jordan at skjordan1010@gmail.com. We need to have an idea of how many materials to have available and the amount of food to order.

-Kim Jordan, WEAC-Fox Valley Retired President

Celebrate Success!



WEAC Region 3 welcomes 

 9   new members in December


Help us Grow!

BUILD YOUR FUTURE!

Add to Your Local's Strength
and
Plan for Your Personal Financial Future!

If you sign up 3 new members in your Local Association, you can earn $250 toward an individual financial planning session with WEA Member Benefits.

Deadline: April 15, 2019 

Click  HERE for the flyer and application form.
Click  HERE for a brochure that details WEA Member Benefits fee-based financial consultations.



Kids Gala

kids_welcome.jpg

Tony Evers' inaugural festivities put focus on children with three 'kids' galas'

In the days leading up to the ceremony in the state Capitol where Evers and Lt. Gov.-elect Mandela Barnes will be sworn into office, the Evers team will hold three "kids' galas" in Madison, Milwaukee and Madison. 

The children's events will feature "face painting, a DJ, bubbles, balloon twisting, and much more," according to promotions. Single tickets are available for $5 each, with a set for a family of four available for $15. Children age two and under can attend for free. (Click links below to purchase tickets.)

Madison Kids' Gala
Saturday, January 5, 2019
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Madison Children's Museum
100 North Hamilton Street, Madison, WI 53703 
Milwaukee Kids' Gala
Saturday, January 5, 2019
3:00 PM  - 5:00 PM
Discovery World
500 North Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53202


Appleton Kids' Gala
Sunday, January 6, 2019
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
400 West College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54911

More Professional Development



In Green Bay at the Region 3 office
on Wednesday, February 20th!

"Join your colleagues across the state for this blended learning opportunity examining the science of happiness. This unique course focuses on character strengths, positive emotion, resilience, purpose, positive relationships, and creativity. When educators model qualities of compassion, gratitude and mindfulness, and integrate them into lesson plans, we increase students' joy and engagement while contributing to a healthy classroom environment."

Check the calendar for statewide
professional development events, including other dates/venues for "The Science of Happiness."


Region 3/GBEA National Board Support Syllabus

WEAC, Region 3 and GBEA have organized  ongoing monthly National Board Support for the 2018-2019 cycle . Generally, the first portion of the session will feature a presentation on a  topic or issue and the second portion of the session will be reserved for working with  candidate concerns and questions. Sessions will be held at the WEAC Region 3 Office, 1136 N. Military  Ave., Green Bay. We have added the option of joining us via Zoom if you are unable to attend in  person! Pre-registration is not required but appreciated - light dinner will be served.


Click here for dates and ZOOM info.

WEAC Region 3
800-472-5582
rohdek@weac.org
www.region3.weac.org