Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1067015
WEA – Retired Leading the Way! By Vickie Swenson Political activism is a major focus area for WEA-R members. This past election, our members were involved in political campaigns across the state. Through our eff orts and those of many other active WEA members, we helped to elect and re-elect some key education-friendly legislators in Wyoming. I had the great pleasure of being involved in the races for House Districts 31 and 32 in Campbell County. A principal/teacher and resource offi cer at Gillette College ran highly visible, and well-run campaigns against republican incumbents. While the two candidates did not win their seats, both campaigns were highly successful in other ways. The WEA gave both candidates full endorsements and provided much needed campaign funds. WEA-R had a part in these campaigns by fi rst gathering the required signatures to place these two candidates on the ballot as Independents. Twelve retired and four active educators mailed over 400 postcards with personal notes to district voters requesting their votes for both candidates. Emails were sent to active and retired educators and education-friendly voters we personally know asking for their support. WEA-R paid for and helped write two newspaper ads and wrote two letters to the editor in support of each candidate. We placed dozens of yard signs. One of our retired members designed and created a campaign website. We went door-to-door for both candidates right up to the Sunday before Election Day. They both received 33% of the vote in their house districts, which is astounding when going up against incumbent republicans in this area. More people voted in both races than the previous election. The amount of votes the candidates received and the voter increase is a great success by itself! Our candidates forced the incumbents to focus on issues that most likely would not have been addressed, including education. Now, the incumbents can be held accountable. For me and other WEA-R involved, this was an exciting couple of months, but our excitement and work to positively aff ect the political landscape for education in Wyoming does not end November 6th. We are inviting all WEA and WEA-R members to attend "SHAPE Wyoming" for lobby training and lobby day in Cheyenne January 27th and 28th. Then, on January 29th, we are encouraging all WEA-R members to attend "WEA-R Activate" at the Cheyenne Red Lion. At this meeting, we will be dovetailing off of what was presented at the WEA Lobby Training and discussing the formation of political action groups. Is there a possibility of a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) at the Wyoming Retirement System? Could be! WEA and WEA-R will be partnering with the Equality State Policy Center to try to make that happen. This will also be discussed during "WEA-R Activate." Last but not least, WEA-R will again work to raise funds through WEA-R donations for Wyoming PACE. Last year, our members raised $5,000 for WEA's Political Action Committee for Education (WEA-PACE). We will discuss how we did that and our plans to raise PACE funds this year. We will be sending all our members an email instructing them how to register for "Shape Wyoming" and "WEA-R Activate." X Member Spotlight 11 WEA-R Activate January 29 - 10:00am-2:00pm 204 West Fox Farm Rd. Cheyenne, WY 82001 Contact vswenson@wyoea.org