WEAC-FOX VALLEY 921 W. Association Drive Appleton, WI 54914-7250 (920) 731-1369 Fax: (920) 731-1630 www.weac.org/weacfoxvalley OFFICE HOURS: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Weekdays

OFFICE STAFF: Henry Krokosky Executive Director krokoskyh@weac.org Terri Trimbell

Executive Director trimbellt@weac.org

Debbie Armitage Staff Assistant

armitaged@weac.org Laura McCarthy

Secretary mccarthyl@weac.org

OFFICERS: Kim Jordan, President Corey Otis, Vice-President Chris Dornfeld, Secretary Rose Stipek, Treasurer

Appleton Education Association ● Appleton Paraprofessional Association ● Appleton Secretarial/Clerical Association ● FVTC—Educational Support Personnel Association ● FVTC—Faculty Association ● Little Chute Education Association ●

Neenah Education Association ● Neenah Educational Support Personnel Association ● New London Education Association

Issue 16 February 2008

Will We be Tuned Out? By Corey Otis, WEAC-Fox Valley Vice-President The weather outside is frightful, and the TVGuide makes me spiteful. Instead of watching my favorite office workers pull new practical jokes on each other or laughing at their boss’s latest inept attempts to motivate them, I’m stuck with reality TV and game shows. At least “Lost” is back. I miss my “friends” (not “Friends” – although Rachel is always welcome in my humble abode), and it may be a while before we can catch up again. The effects of the ’07-’08 Writers Strike will be felt for a long time. The Writers Guild of America, which went on strike in November, seeks a reasonable percentage of the revenue derived from DVD sales and internet downloads. They create the content, and they want fair compensation for it. Entertainment producers denied their request, claiming the revenue was needed to cover increasing operational costs. Both sides dug in their heels, and the stalemate began. But a funny thing happened on the way to the WGA picket lines: actors refused to cross them. Even though studios had stockpiled scripts and green-lighted several movies for production during the strike, Screen Actors Guild members refused to work until writers were given a fair settlement. “We really see this fight as our fight,” SAG president Alan Rosenberg told Entertainment Weekly. The solidarity brought Hollywood to a grinding halt. One by one, our favorite shows went into indefinite hiatus. The American public stood up and yelled, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!” But they didn’t yell at the writers. They yelled FOR them. America rightfully blamed the producers and studios for taking new television programs off the air. The producers’ greediness and inflexibility forced the writers to strike and their continued arrogance prolonged the deadlock. David Letterman, after reaching a deal with his writers, called the producers’ alliance a group of “cowards, cutthroats, and weasels.” Not many disagreed with his assessment. Public pressure caused producers to cave one by one.

(Continued on page 2)

CALENDAR

March 11 at 7:00 pm WEAC-FV Board Mtg

March 12 at 9:30 am

Travel Committee Mary’s North

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(Continued from page 1) You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. America only realized the importance of writers once our beloved television programs bit the dust. Must the public education system befall a similar fate in order to gets its due? There’s little doubt some would like to see us on indefinite hiatus. While the powers that be allow an antiquated funding formula, revenue controls and “unqualified” economic offers to deteriorate our schools, politicians push for voucher programs, unnecessary testing and illogical reform programs that punish our students. But if we’re taken off the air, will America yell at us or for us? Through solidarity, perseverance, and determination, we can stay in production. Maybe then America will value public education as much as it values “The Office.” After all, there would be no “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” without us.

WEAC Board of Directors—Jan. 11-12, 2008 By Stephanie Malaney, WEAC Board Representative From NEA NCLB, according to Ron Paige, was never to be unfunded. Spelling said that good teaching teaches to the test and multiple measures of assessment only muddy the water. There is a recommendation for a one time dues collection of $10 that would be voted on at the NEA-RA for election contributions. Health Care Priority Over the last several months the Board has been discussing topics of school funding, health care, professional development and licensure, achievement gaps and membership. For each topic, the Board identified concerns, listed how we would know we are progressing in each area, and come up with position statements. At the January Board meeting we spent additional time distilling the health care issues. Our past discussion had identified 66 areas we saw as measures of our progress and 46 concerns. The distilling process we used was to narrow the number down to a more manageable number. Election 2008 UniServs are working on strategic plans for involvement in the elections. Members were also encouraged to become a delegate for either the Republican or Democratic Conventions. Guy Costello, WEAC Vice President, gave out information on how to participate. This can also be found on the WEAC website. Overview of the Budget The new two-year budget will be presented to the Board of Directors at the February Board meeting. The new budget will have a new look that should be easier to follow and directly tied to the strategic goals and priorities. The budget will report transparency for the three state-option UniServs. The budget projects a $6 increase for each of the next two years, which is less than a 2% increase. When considering the budget, the following were taken into account: declining membership, good stewardship, and department assessments, as well as historical and experience data.

(Continued on page 3)

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WEAC Board Continued... Hybrid Health Plans: HSA, HRA and MERT Fred Evert presented information on these plans. Although Fred never thought he would do a presentation on these topics, it has been considered important for the membership to understand the difference when they bargain their contracts. HSA, Health Saving Account, is an employer’s group health plan where the employer contributes and controls the plan. The money in the account is not portable and benefits end at the end of an employees’ employment. HRA, Health Reimbursement Arrangement, has the employees’ money deposited into an employee-owned account. MERT, Medical Expense Reimbursement Trust, is a WEA Trust medical expense plan where districts make contributions on behalf of employees for post-employment health care expenses. Action Items Charter Document for the WI Technical College System Leadership Council. Affiliation of the Education Support Team of Mauston. Four board members were elected to serve on the Executive Directors Performance Review Committee. Each of the four members represent a region in the state. PAC Endorsement and up to the maximum funding allowable was given to the following candidates: Justice Louis Butler for $8,625 and Judge Burnie Bridge for $2,500. New Faces at WEAC and UniServs Dan Holub was selected to be the Collective Bargaining and Research Manager Kim Noyce replaces Fran McNett as Organizer, Category III Professional working with ESPs. Joe Kiriaki is the new Executive Director for KEA. The IPD Consultant/PDA is currently on hold. Winter Conference will be February 22-24, 2008, at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton.

New Web Page By Debbie Armitage and Laura McCarthy

We have a new web page! It can be viewed at:

http://www.weac.org/weacfoxvalley

Please let us know of any content or formatting issues you may have.

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Wisconsin Education Association Council - Fox Valley Service to Educational Staff by WEAC-Fox Valley, WEAC and NEA

921 West Association Drive • Appleton, WI 54914-7250

Phone: (920) 731-1369 • Fax: (920) 731-1630

TO: The General Membership of WEAC-Fox Valley

FROM: Kim Jordan, President

WEAC-Fox Valley Board of Directors

DATE: February 2008

RE: Dues Rebate

If you are eligible to receive this rebate, fill in your name, building and local association on the WEAC-Fox Valley Dues Rebate Form (opposite page), attach a photocopy of all W-2’s from your District, and send it to your local treasurer:

Appleton Education Association (AEA) – Tara Ellenbecker

Appleton Secretarial/Clerical Association (AS/CA) – Linda Stratton

Appleton Paraprofessional Association (APA) – Vicki Syring

FVTC-Educational Support Personnel Association (FVTC-ESPA) – Bonnie Muhlebach

FVTC-Faculty Association (FVTC-FA) – Brenda Stern

Little Chute Education Association (LCEA) – Shari Kleist

Neenah Education Association (NEA) – Mark Schott

Neenah Educational Support Personnel Association (NESPA) – Debbie Dreher

New London Education Association (NLEA) – Nancy Schreiber-Milheiser

It must be received by your local treasurer no later than April 15th. There will be NO excep-tions to this due date. Any requests received after this date will not be honored.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL INCOME RECEIVED FROM THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING THAT FROM NON-BARGAINING UNIT WORK, IS USED IN DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT ONE QUALIFIES FOR A REBATE. THE FORMULA USED IS THE AMOUNT IN BOX 3 OF YOUR W-2 DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF MONTHS IN THE BARGAINING UNIT.

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WEAC-FOX VALLEY DUES REBATE FORM

NAME ________________________________________________________________________________________________

BUILDING AT WHICH MAIL IS RECEIVED ____________________________________________________________

LOCAL ASSOCIATION ________________________________________________________________________________

FIRST DATE OF WORK IN THE DISTRICT AS A BARGAINING UNIT MEMBER _________________________ (Complete only if newly employed on or after 1/1/07)

A photocopy of all W-2’s from your District must be attached to this form.

QUALIFYING CONSTITUTIONAL LANGUAGE: A bargaining unit member whose W-2 form (Box 3 – Social Security Wages) from his/her district indicates that he/she earned at least $10,500 but less than $21,000 or who averaged at least $875 but less than $1,750 per month for the time employed, if less than one (1) year, shall be eligible for a dues (not WEAC-Fox Valley-PAC) rebate of up to 50% of the dues charged in the previous calendar year PROVIDED THAT HE/SHE IS STILL A WEAC-FOX VALLEY MEMBER AT THE TIME THE REBATE IS REQUESTED.

A bargaining unit member whose W-2 form (Box 3 – Social Security Wages) from his/her district indicates that he/she earned less than $10,500 or who averaged less than $875/month for the time employed, if less than one (1) year, shall be eligible for a dues (not WEAC-Fox Valley PAC) rebate of up to 75% of the dues charged in the previous calendar year PROVIDED THAT HE/SHE IS STILL A WEAC-FOX VALLEY MEMBER AT THE TIME THE REBATE IS REQUESTED.

Bargaining unit members employed for the entire previous calendar year shall be entitled to the maximum rebate of 50% or 75%. Bargaining unit members whose employment commenced during the previous calendar year shall be entitled to a prorated rebate (1/12 of 50% or 75% for each partial/full month employed). The procedure that a bargaining unit member must follow in order to obtain the rebate will be published in the January or February edition of the WEAC-Fox Valley newsletter.

All income reported on the W-2 form(s) from his/her district, including that from non-bargaining unit work, is divided by the number of months as a bargaining unit member to determine whether or not a member qualifies for a rebate.

The maximum rebate amount is calculated as follows: WEAC-Fox Valley Dues for Fiscal 2006-07 (9/1/06-8/31/07): $ 163.00 The pro-rated amount for the period 1/1/07-8/31/07: $ 108.67 WEAC-Fox Valley Dues for Fiscal 2007-08 (9/1/07-8/31/08): $ 163.00 The pro-rated amount for the period 9/1/07-12/31/07: $ 54.33 TOTAL $ 163.00

THEREFORE, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF DUES REBATE FOR CALENDAR 2007 IS:

< $10,500 Earned Earned at least $10,500 but less than $21,000

$163.00 x 75% = $122.25 $163.00 x 50% = $81.50

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOR LOCAL ASSOCIATION TREASURER’S USE ONLY:

Date Rebate Form Received _______

Have Verified That He/She is a Current WEAC-Fox Valley Member _______

Date Rebate Check Sent _______

Check Number _______

Check Amount _______

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By Ken Flood, President of WEAC-Fox Valley Retired

Recently seen on a bumper sticker – You know you are getting older when Happy Hour is a nap. Hopefully those of you in attendance at the WEAC FV–Retired General Membership Meeting on January 16th found the information useful or at least educational, and the socialization welcome and worthwhile. If you think of a topic that you would like on the agenda at a future meeting, please contact a member of the WEAC-FV Retired Board of Directors. My contact information is found in the last paragraph of this article and feedback is always encouraged and welcomed. The response to the self-nomination process for WEAC-FV Retired Board members has not been overwhelming. As a result, some can expect a contact from a current Board member encouraging you to run for the Board. Those of you who held leadership positions in your Active Local are the people that Retired is looking to for some more of your time and effort in keeping Retired going. The Retired chapters are currently the only growing part of the entire organization. The year of 2008 is going to be another BIG election year and the more that Retired can do to help elect senior- and educator-friendly candidates, the better. Almost everything that impacts retirees and education occurs within a political context. If you are like me then your primary concerns are senior and educational issues. As far as senior issues are concerned – WEAC-FV Retired gets a weekly newsletter from the Alliance for Retired Americans and I plan on including bits from that into these monthly articles. The educational issues will be discussed in the various newsletters and magazines that you as a lifetime member should be getting from both the NEA and WEAC. If for some reason you are not getting the NEA and WEAC publications, please let me know – they are part of your dues. Senior issues include the stability of the Social Security and Medicare programs, the cost of prescription drugs, and retirement security. Those are just a short start to the list. Name a senior issue you are interested in and I will try to include something about it in a future article. Use the contact information in the last paragraph. Another reminder is the WEAC Retired Annual Meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in Madison, beginning with registration early on Friday, April 25th. This meeting has a registration fee (probably $25) to cover food, materials, and break-out sessions. There will be door prizes and for a donation to the N.E.A. Political Action Fund, raffle prizes will be offered. You get all of the above, along with the opportunity to socialize and network with other educator retirees from around the State of Wisconsin. At past annual meetings, a good and fulfilling time was had by all. Ask any of the nearly 50 WEAC-FV Retired Chapter members who attended last year’s annual meeting in Appleton. More detailed information about the WEAC-Retired annual meeting will be in your “Keeping in Touch” newsletter along with the pre-registration form, which if used, might offer a break on the registration fee. Plan now to attend April 25th. The “Keeping in Touch” newsletter, also tells you how to get your name on the ballot to be a Retired delegate nominee to the WEAC Representative Assembly on the weekend of May 2-4th. The more involved that you become in your retired organization, the more influence you have on the lives of retired persons, including yourself.

(Continued on page 10)

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WEAC-Fox Valley Travel Committee http://www.athenet.net/~mesh

The above website is for your use. It has many links that you will find useful. Another feature is travel suggestions from our members and committee. If you have a travel suggestion you would like to share,

please email Thomas Kreif at mesh@athenet.net. Please have as subject “travel”, otherwise my computer could treat your email as junk mail.

The WEAC-Fox Valley Travel Committee has met several times. Committee membership is open to all active and retired members. Our next scheduled meetings are: Feb. 13, Mar. 12, and May 14. The meetings are all scheduled for Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. at Mary’s North in Appleton. There were two suggestions in the magazine Budget Travel that I would like to pass along. If an individual is staying in a hotel/motel room with limited drawers or bathroom counter space, set up the ironing board. It normally fits neatly out of the way in most entryways and makes a handy shelf for clothing or other necessities. Although I have mentioned before on how to use Ziplock bags for the easy storage and packing of clothes, there is one travelor who has gone beyond my hints. She makes individually numbered, dated, and labeled Ziplock bags for each place they visit. Each of her packets contains excursion-specific items--such as a downloaded local map, sunscreen, insect repellent, itinerary and proof of reservations, small change for local transportation, a labeled disposable camera, etc. Money Magazine made a suggestion on "Why Boomers Might Want to Travel in Packs". Although there sometimes are cons such as personality conflicts at times, the pros of traveling with friends results in big savings, and more fun -- outweighing any cons. Traveling by group can be much more economical than going alone. The cost of renting a beachfront house on Cape Cod or a villa in Tuscany costs a lot less split three or four ways than one. Vacationing with others can be the key to taking the trip you really want instead of the one you can afford. Market Watch: “Cruising Hawaii may be the ideal way to visit the land Mark Twain called 'the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean' by combining some of the best island experiences with good vacation-dollar values and fewer travel hassles.” Cruising allows total access to islands instead of going the more expensive way of flying to each. In addition, your room travels right along with your luggage. Norwegian Cruise Lines has excellent seven-day trips. NCL has free-style dining which means you can eat when you want to and you do not have to dress up for your meals. The bottom line is that you will easily be getting far more for your vacation dollar than most Americans receive at a single land-based resort, motel, or hotel. As I have mentioned before, one of the best ways to save money is to join several last-minute cruise and tour sites. These deals can be outstanding. Regions for the best deals in the summer usually include itineraries in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii and some times even Alaska. Last minute cruises can get you a great rate on an all-inclusive trip. Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian cruises seem to have a lot of the best offers; however, if you are willing to do a bit of legwork (computer investigation time) go to www.vacationstogo.com. The site can save you up to 75% not only on cruises, but also tours. I have found this to be an outstanding site. October through the first two weeks in December is when you can get the best bang for your dollars (excluding Thanksgiving week). Great rates with fewer people traveling!!

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Districts Limit 403(b) Providers What does it mean to you? As a Wisconsin public school employee, you can save for retirement with a 403(b) (sometimes referred to as a tax-sheltered annuity or TSA). A 403(b) is a great way to add to your nest egg and fill any retirement income needs not met by your Wisconsin Retirement System pension and Social Security benefits. New regs impact choice The IRS recently overhauled its 403(b) regulations. To meet new requirements, districts are apt to significantly reduce the number of providers they make available to their employees. This allows districts to clean up their provider lists and eliminate plans that are not in the best interest of employees. Fewer choices can make it easier to enroll, as studies show that too many options can be confusing. You may have already received notice from your district announcing the selected vendors. If your current 403(b) provider is not on the approved list, you will need to choose another provider. How to choose Whether you are looking for a new provider or just getting started with a TSA, ask questions. The stakes are high—this is your financial future we’re talking about—you need to know what’s inside your 403(b) plan. Start by reading Bob Moeller’s article titled “What to look out for with a TSA” from the October 2007 issue of OnWEAC in Print (also available at weac.org). Moeller provides a list of 10 questions to ask any 403(b) provider before you buy. And don’t forget to compare answers from commercial providers to your union-created 403(b) plan offered through WEA Trust Member Benefits—WEA TSA Trust answers can be found at weabenefits.com. Click the Retirement tab, then Why choose us? under TSA in the left-hand navigation. Your nationally recognized 403(b) program The TSA offered by WEA Trust Member Benefits was created by WEAC in 1978 to provide members with low-cost alternatives to other commercial offerings. Participants can choose from 21 mutual funds, including one-decision target retirement funds, and a guaranteed investment option. All selected funds are screened to meet strict criteria for expenses and performance. This program has been nationally recognized as a model 403(b) plan for public school employees. Forbes magazine and the Los Angeles Times praise the WEA TSA Trust for offering a "soundly managed, low-fee program." If you have any questions about the WEA TSA Trust program, call their toll free number at 1-800-279-4030.

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Did You Know… Thirty-three percent of sick days taken by American workers are for poor mental health.

Source: Men’s Health, Dec. 2007

Do you have a child with diabetes? Managing your child’s diabetes can be a strain on your already busy lifestyle. Questions can arise that cannot wait for his or her next doctor’s appointment. But, the WEA Trust offers assistance through a program specifically for parents like you. Kids in Control! will give you the tools you need to manage your child’s diabetes effectively. You’ll work with a registered nurse who will help you develop a program specific to your child’s needs. The nurse will help you:

Navigate the complex healthcare system. Understand what you can do to keep your child healthy. Coordinate your child’s care with school staff. Maximize your WEA Trust health benefits related to diabetes. Work with your health care provider to ensure your child’s care is consistent with

nationally recommended treatment standards. The goal of the program is to provide tools and education which empower you and your child to effectively self-manage their diabetes. The program does not affect your premiums and cannot be used to deny health plan coverage or claims. To participate in the program, call Program Coordinator Brenda Pink at (800)279-4000, ext. 2140 or email her at bpink@weatrust.com

AP Course Audits A College Board audit found that most AP courses meet college-level standards. AP courses are advanced high school courses, taught by high school teachers, that can be used for college credit. The audit also identified thousands of courses that lost the right to identify themselves as part of the AP program. Overall, of the 134,000 AP course syllabi submitted by teachers, 67% were approved on the first review, which included review by college professors. Of the 33% that were not immediately approved, some have been approved. Some 2,081 high schools that had been offering AP did not submit course syllabi to the audit and will no longer offer AP courses. More information on the audits can be found at http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/courseaudit

Taken from NEA Higher Education Advocate-Dec. 2007

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How Cold Is Too Cold? Within the return of winter to our fair city, temperatures have and will continue to plunge to freezing levels. When schools and other large buildings experience several days of sub-zero temperatures, heating systems strain to keep rooms warm. Classrooms frequently feel too cold. What can be done? Wisconsin Administrative Code, Chapter 64, states that “[T]he heating system shall be designed to maintain a temperature of not less than… 67 degrees Fahrenheit for classrooms and offices in schools and other places of instruction.” Staff who experience heating problems in District classrooms or offices should immediately contact their building administrator and custodian for assistance. Whether the heating systems are insufficient, improperly installed or simply old cannot excuse schools/offices being too cold. The cost of energy is of concern to us all, but MMSD, like every other school district in Wisconsin, is experiencing financial problems because of the state-imposed revenue controls. Surely these impact funds for heating fuel, so energy must be used wisely. However, students and staff are entitled to a proper learning and working environment. Let’s hope this is one more reminder for Governor Doyle to return control of schools to local school boards, by doing away with the revenue controls. Members seeking the Union’s assistance should contact Eve Degen at degene@madisonteachers.org.

WEAC-Fox Valley Retired (Continued from page 6) If you are interested in any of the elected positions in any of the retired organizations, please take the opportunity to nominate yourself. We no longer belong to a schoolhouse full of colleagues to encourage and support us. In Retired you need to show your own interest by nominating yourself to the ballot. I know that for some of you self–nomination seems very strange and different, but let’s face it, if you don’t support yourself then who knows that you are interested. For more detailed information about any mentioned activity or anything else about WEAC-Fox Valley Retired, please e-mail me at keflood@aol.com (put WEAC-FV Retired on the subject line so I don’t delete your important e-mail) or telephone the UniServ Office at (920)731-1369 and leave a message. Since I am retired I have no scheduled office hours, but I will get back to you.

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Celebrate a Year of Reading! Looking to celebrate reading all year long? NEA’s Read Across America’s 2008 Resource Calendar and toolkit, with art by well known children’s illustrators, is available now on the NEA website. You’ll also find posters, tips on Read Across America Day events, and links to keep reading on the radar throughout the year. Limited print quantities are available for order. The latest study shows that students read 7% less than they used to, and they didn’t read that much before. Help reverse the trend and celebrate reading in your class!

Taken from Capital Area UniServ-North Directions-Dec. 2007

FREE STUFF! The following websites offer free stuff for teachers:

http://www.mysavings.com/free-stuff-freebies/other-teacher-freebies/

http://www.mysavings.com/free-stuff/School-Aid/3886/

‘Random Acts of Fitness’ Starter Kit Creative Classroom Pack Braille Bug Alphabet Card

Australian Dinosaur Story Poster Science Fair Kit, etc.

On Saturday, December 10th, 2007, the Appleton Paraprofessional Association volunteered their time to be bell ringers at ten different locations throughout Appleton. Many of the same participants volunteered last year. Last year was the first year the association took part in the Salvation Army project. The response was so overwhelming that the group wanted to partake in the activity again. All members that gave of their time reported the experience to be very rewarding. Because helping others is what the Appleton Paraprofessional Association does daily in their jobs, bell ringing for the Salvation Army will probably become an annual activity.

The weather was cold, but the hearts were warm.

Cindy Heegeman, Ann Mayer and Pam Cornell of the

Appleton Paraprofessional Association

If you have an article or editorial that you would like to share with the WEAC-Fox Valley membership via The Propeller, please feel free to forward it to Laura McCarthy at mccarthyl@weac.org or send it to the

WEAC-Fox Valley office, Attn: Propeller.

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID WI ED. ASSN.

COUNCIL

Wisconsin Education Association Council-Fox Valley 921 West Association Drive Appleton, WI 54914-7250 (920) 731-1369 www.weac.org/weacfoxvalley

Our 2007/2008 goal is to Activate, and Support and Serve the members of WEAC-Fox Valley.