Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1251513
" Vice President-Elect, Kim Amen I would not be where I am today without my participation in the Wyoming Education Association (WEA) It was the single greatest professional decision I made. I joined the Association 14 years ago and was active from the beginning. - WEA Vice President Elect, Kim Amen " For new members, tell us a bit about what the Vice President's role within WEA looks like. The Vice President serves as part of the Executive Com- mittee and works to assist the President in addressing the needs of the Association. Should the President be unable to attend a meeting or perform duties, the Vice President fills in for them. They also oversee the mem- bership work. This means that they work with staff and members to not only continue to increase our membership, but also to engage our current members and help them be actively involved in their as- sociation. The Vice President also serves as the alternate to the NEA Board of Directors should the NEA Director be unable to attend. Please share with us a little bit about your experience as WEA Treasurer. I have really loved serving as Treasurer for the past five years. I will miss it. I am extremely proud of my work as treasurer. When I took over this position 5 years ago, WEA's end-of-year financials reflected expenses over reve- nue of more than $300,000. We worked hard and had to make some difficult decisions, but we have been able to bring our budget back in line and this year we presented a zero-balanced budget to Delegate Assembly for the first time in many years. I would not have traded my time as Treasurer for anything. It has had an enormously positive influence on me. I have learned so much and the opportunities that I've been given have made me a much better teacher and advocate for public education. What inspired you to run for Vice President? I love serving on the Executive Committee. The work we do has made me a better teacher, advocate, and person. It is a huge time commitment, but the rewards have been many, and I wanted to continue my service to the WEA. The Vice President position is a great step because that's the position that will allow me to really connect with our members. What will your priorities be when you take your new office? My priorities will be two- fold. To continue to build our membership because there is strength in numbers and power in a unified voice. In addition, I want to really work to engage our current mem- bers. I truly believe that the WEA is only as strong as our locals and so I want to make sure that we work with our local leaders to provide them the support that they need. We have so many members who don't re- alize the opportunities that exist within our association and I want to help change that. What are you most excited about in your new role? I am most excited to be able to be in a position where I will have more opportunities to en- gage with our current members as well as meet new members. What words of wisdom would you share with WEA members to help them get the most out of their mem- bership? When I speak to colleagues about why they should belong to the Association I tell them my story and why I belong. I want them to know that the Association is not just about having someone to advocate for you but it's an opportunity to be involved in something greater than yourself. I tell them that joining the Associ- ation was the single greatest decision I have made in my career. What has being a WEA mem- ber meant to/for you? I would not be where I am to- day without my participation in the Wyoming Education Association (WEA) It was the single greatest professional decision I made. What do you hope to see con- tinue or grow in the Associa- tion? Where do we have room for improvement? I hope to see our member- ship continue to grow. We have made huge progress in this area and I want to see us continue our path. We have spent several years focusing on Early Career Educators and more recently ESP members. I would like to see us work to provide more opportunities for our veteran educators to be involved. What is your best WEA mem- ory/experience? The Global Learning Fellow- ship. I participated in a year- long professional development opportunity and I went to South Africa for a field study. I get teary-eyed when I talk about it even two years later. It made me a better teacher and a better person. See All WEA 2020 Election results on page 22. 7