Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/618006
Winter 2015 | WEAnews 4 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Kathy Vetter WEA President kvetter@wyoea.org With the upcoming legislative session almost upon us, we need members to serve as Legislative Contact Team members. These are people who are willing to contact their state representative or senator and talk to them about education issues that are being considered in this upcoming legislative session. You are the experts in education and can help them understand what is happening in our schools. If you are interested in being a legislative contact for your Local, please contact your Local president or UniServ Director. Another way to get more involved in your association is to run for a WEA office. The WEA offices that will be on the ballot this year are listed on page 26, and all of the information you need to run for office is on the WEA website: wyoea.org. We will also be electing regional officers from the different regions: members who are willing to step up and represent the members in their region on the WEA Board of Directors. You could be that voice. We will be holding our WEA Delegate Assembly April 7 – 9 in Sheridan. Please contact your Local president if you are interested in representing your Local at WEA Delegate Assembly. It is your opportunity to help set the direction of the Wyoming Education Association for the coming year. It also gives you a chance to learn about education issues in Wyoming and to network with education employees from around the state. As you look ahead to the coming year of 2016, I would like you to consider getting more involved in your Education Association. There are so many different ways in which you can do that! There are also state and cluster delegate positions available for NEA Representative Assembly, which will be held in Washington, DC, this summer over the fourth of July. It is a great way to learn more about the NEA and to meet education employees from all over the U.S. You could represent WEA at the national level as we debate and vote on national education issues and set the course for NEA for the next year. If you are not ready to step up at the regional or state level, maybe you could help out at the local level. Talk to your Local president about serving as a building representative, committee member, or even being part of your local leadership team. The strength of your Local depends on you, so step up, get involved, and make your voice heard. The more you get engaged, the more you will get out of your membership, so consider stepping up and getting more involved at the national, state or local level. We need our voice to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our members and the students that they serve, because together we can succeed.