Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/437000
WINTER 2014 | WEAnews 4 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Kathy Vetter WEA President kvetter@wyoea.org The start of the 63 rd legislative session is just around the corner. It is important that you introduce yourself to your representative and senator before the session starts. Invite them into your school to see what you do, or invite them to have coffee and get to know them. It is important to form a relationship with them before the session begins and they get busy with all of the day- to-day legislative business. Let them know what is going on in your school and tell them about the wonderful things that are happening there. Don't forget to thank them for all of the time and important work that they will be doing this session. It is also important to get to know the members of the education committees. The legislative education committee assignments for the 63rd legislature are as follows: House Education: John Patton, Sheridan, Chairman; John Freeman, Green River; Hans Hunt, Newcastle; Allen Jaggi, Lyman; David Northrup, Powell; Jerry Paxton, Encampment; Gary Pipparinen, Evanston; Albert Sommers, Pinedale; Mary Throne, Cheyenne. Senate Education: Henry H.R. "Hank" Coe, Cody, Chairman; Jim Anderson, Glenrock; Dan Dockstader, Afton; Stephan Pappas, Cheyenne; Chris Rothfuss, Laramie. These are the people who will be working all of the education bills and need to be experts on education in Wyoming, so help them out by informing them about your experience as an education employee in our state. You are the true experts on education here, so share your expertise with your legislators. You may also want to plan on attending the upcoming Research, Lobbying and Bargaining (RBL) Conference at Little America in Cheyenne on February eighth and ninth. It will be your opportunity to learn more about the lobbying process and also to get information about salaries and benefits around the state. We will be having a legislative reception that Sunday night, and you will also have an opportunity to go to the Capitol that Monday and observe your legislators at work. To register for the RBL Conference, go to the WEA website: wyoea.org. I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season with family and friends.