Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1472975
24 This March, WEA hosted our first in-person Delegate Assembly since 2019! Delegates from across the state convened in Cheyenne to shape our constitution, bylaws, and platforms, which guide the Association. The Delegation voted to change the WEA bylaws to now include Region Vice Presidents on the WEA Board of Directors. This change will impact membership and organizing work, as Regional Vice Presidents will now take a more active role on the WEA Membership Committee. With Vice Presidents more heavily focused on membership, Presidents will have more time to attend to advocacy and leadership in locals. Learn more about Membership and Organizing work being done by the Membership Committee on Page 31. To support this change to include Regional Vice Presidents on the Board of Directors, language in WEA's Membership Platform was also amended to focus on membership at a larger, regional level, as opposed to a more granular, local level. The Delegation also voted to adopt a New Business Item (NBI) which outlines that attendees at all WEA events will now be given the option to select preferred pronouns to be included on their name tags. It was also voted by the Delegation to discontinue work on an old business item. This business item directed the WEA President to conduct work to evaluate changes in student needs and behaviors. Because of the scope and nature of this proposed project, the Delegation voted against it with the intent that it be brought forth at the Representative Assembly this July. Along with conducting the business of the Association, delegates made time for a little fun, as well! The Assembly recognized WEA award winners from 2020-2022 at an awards banquet. California Casualty hosted a social, and delegates enjoyed some time together on the dance floor! Congratulations are in order for California Casualty's Shawn Courtney! It was voted unanimously by the body and the WEA Board of Directors that Shawn be inducted as an honorary lifetime member of WEA for his immeasurable support and contributions to the Association and public education. Congratulations, Shawn! Friend of Education 2020 Don Bryant - Worland Mike Lujan - Rawlins 2022 Friday Food Bag Peaches Tyrell Kasey Benish ESP Award 2020 James Mims 2021 Emma Wilson 2022 Mary Wolf Green Apple Award 2020 Noelle Clark Melissa Harris Erin Jackson-Ries 2022 Grace Godfrey Harriett "Liz" Byrd Award 2020 Danelle Moyte 2022 Dirk Andrews WEA Award for Teaching Excellence (formerly NFIE Award) 2020 Kim Amen 2021 Lydia Bustos 2022 Mariah Learned Gold Key Award 2020 Jon Vanoverbeke 2022 Kathy Vetter Congratulations to our WEA Award Winners from 2020-2022! Because we were unable to properly recognize 2020 and 2021 award winners with an awards banquet due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were honored during the awards banquet at the 2022 Delegate Assembly. See photos of all award winners present at the 2022 Awards Banquet at bit.ly/wea-awards-20-22. Congratulations to: Captions from left (top): WEA President Grady Hutcherson leads proceedings on the floor of the 2022 Delegate Assembly. Arapahoe EA President and delegate Jamie LeJambre on the floor. Specialists in Education Association President and delegate Mary Wolf on the floor. WEA-Retired President Vicki Swenson speaks to a new business item on the floor of the 2022 Delegate Assembly. (Bottom): Southeast Region President Mariah Learned accepts the 2022 WEA Award for Teaching Excellence. Pictured here with WEA President Grady Hutcherson.