The Connection

As we embark on the 2025-26 school year, I would like to wish you well and thank you for your continued commitment to our union. This past year has shown us how important it is to support our Union as WEAC and NEA members like you have worked tirelessly to advocate for, and to protect public education. When educators are under attack we come out in strength, with unity, and big voices to protect our career and our students’ education. It is going to take each and every one of us to fight back against those that want to eliminate public education and to fight forward for a better world to live in where we embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, and strive for a just society that our families and students can thrive in. This won’t just happen though; we need members like you (and many more) to fight alongside us!

WEAC Region 3 local members are working year-round to increase membership numbers through the Ed Summer program, new hire orientations, winter organizing, and Power of One in the spring. As a member, you can support your local leadership by having conversations with colleagues that have yet to join our union.

I encourage you this school year to become involved in union activities in whatever way you can. It can be as simple as wearing union gear on a particular day of the week along with your union friends or something that requires more time and thought such as getting involved in local issue campaigns or events being offered. If you would like more information about how to become more visible in your school and district, how to work through an issue campaign, or growing your membership, please reach out to your Region 3 director.

Our WEAC Region 3 Executive Committee looks forward to advocating for public education alongside you! Together we can do hard things! Have a great school year!

In solidarity,

Jackie Baumann

President, WEAC Region 3

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Locals throughout Region Three welcomed their newly hired staff and asked them to join our unions. Neenah’s Education Association, welcomed new hires at their convocation event and, for the first time in over a decade, held a luncheon in which WEAC Vice President Kim Schroeder attended. Two new members shared testimonials about why they joined their union. As a result, more new hires joined their union!

Plymouth’s Education Association also held a great coffee and doughnuts breakfast in their high school library. Two new teachers joined on the spot. Oostburg had little or no turnover this year, but appealed to existing staff during their in-service and added a new member.

Chilton also encouraged new hires to join their union with a luncheon on site. Members baked amazing pies and cookies! Leaders will be following up with the good-neighbor program throughout the year to foster mentorship and encourage membership in the coming weeks and months.

Abby Bordak-Raaflaub, PWSEA Co-VP, sharing her reasons for joining the PWSEA. Sheboygan’s association is encouraging membership in a variety of ways including, speaking at the all-staff convocation, trunk-show water bottle welcome, tabling at their back-to-school bash, one-on-one coffee conversations, a new educator social at a local brewery, and food- truck event throughout the months of August and September.

Seymour may be a smaller district, but their recruitment is mighty! They hold a membership density level in the 80%'s so it was no surprise their team turned out to help with the effort to welcome new hires to their union. Their Ed Summer Organizer, Carolyn Reuter has worked tirelessly to reach out to all the district's new hires and make sure they're members of their union!

A successful new hire lunch takes planning and the Appleton EA leadership knocked it out of the park! 20 members and BR's from the Appleton EA volunteered their time to make sure their new hire luncheon was a success. Before the lunch the Ed Summer Organizers modeled the one on one conversation including what it looks and sounds like to make the ask for new educators to join their union. The volunteers then paired off and practiced this themselves. WEAC President Peggy Wirtz Olsen was also there to join in the fun and lend her expertise on these conversations. There were enough volunteers for every table to have an AEA rep to engage new hires in conversation. The planning paid off and the team easily met their summer goal!

The Pulaski Education Association has a strong history of welcoming new hires to their union and this year was no different. Ed Summer Organizers Lindsey Schartner and Brianna Kehoe worked all summer to introduce new hires to their union in Pulaski. Pictured is their Welcome Breakfast, even though it was optional 85% of the new hires attended!

Aaron Sperduto, Pulaski EA President, explains the importance of joining the PEA while discussing their accomplishments and elaborates on how a strong active membership makes those goals happen!

Ed Summer Organizers for the Ashwaubenon EA, Vanessa Talus and Erica Becker, held a lunch for their district's new hires at a centrally located library. The organizers worked with the BR's in every building to invite new hires to enjoy pizza and learn about their union's amazing achievements including an 84% certification rate and a collaborative relationship with their new superintendent. Members shared their aspirations for the upcoming year, new hires asked questions about their profession and many laughs were had.

Our fellow union educator Brett Losey, from NWTC, suffered a terrible loss after a fire destroyed their home. Luckily no one was hurt but the damage was beyond repair. If you can help out the Losey family with a donation of any size, it would be greatly appreciated!

Political Action Rebate: Members may request a refund of their WEAC Region 3 PAC contribution which is used for political activity by writing to WEAC REGION 3, 1136 N. MILITARY AVE, GREEN BAY, WI 54303 between Sept 1 and Oct 30, or within 60 days of joining. This information is published annually. A person’s membership will not be affected by a request for a refund. Once a Member requests a Region 3 PAC rebate, no contributions will be drawn in future membership years unless the Member specifically requests in writing to reinstate said PAC participation.

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WEAC members who use WEAC Savers Club find big savings on health club memberships, weight loss programs and fitness equipment. If your resolution requires traveling, you can find savings on restaurants, water parks, hotels, rental cars and more. That is in addition to savings on everyday items you might have to buy such as school supplies, classroom needs, clothes, and technology.