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If Bargaining Certificate Credit is noted in a session below, this session will count towards the WEAC Collective Bargaining Certificate program. The number of hours of credit, as well as which program requirement the session fulfills, is also indicated. There will be an opportunity to enroll in the Bargaining Certificate program at the conference. For further details, please click here or contact Jeff Leverich.
Dare to Think: A NBPTS Thinking and Writing Retreat
Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sunday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
This 1.5 day retreat is designed for current National Board candidates who are finishing up their portfolio entries. Wisconsin National Board Certified Teachers, who are experienced candidate support providers, will facilitate this retreat, and will be on hand to read entries, offer feedback and answer burning questions regarding Packing the Box and How to prepare for the Assessment Exercises. Candidates should bring their laptops, media storage, a copy of their portfolio directions as well as their standards, portfolio entries including entry No. 4, student work samples and all other information needed to complete the NBPTS portfolio process.
Teaching and Learning Leadership (TALL)
Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
The focus will be on creating a WEAC network for communication and action relating to teaching and learning topics, not limited to PI 34 licensure services, school improvement (KEYS), curriculum, instruction and classroom assessment support and teacher leadership. The attendees will also review the training that will be offered to future teaching and learning leaders within each local.
PDP Development and QEI
Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
What is a Professional Development Plan? Why do professional educators as well as initial educators want to renew their licenses with a PDP? How does one begin? Topics will include an overview of the process, the timeline, and
requirements. Participants will have an opportunity to write beginning goal statements and begin developing objectives and activities and will also have a chance to register for the Quality Educator Interactive which is a comprehensive PI 34 support site for WEAC members.
WTCS Current Issues
Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
This all day session has four segments: The morning session will be divided into two segments. First, Ken Germanson, President of the Wisconsin Labor History Society and former staff member with Allied Industrial Workers, will give a presentation on the rich history unions have here in Wisconsin and in the US. Mr. Germanson's presentation will be followed with additional information on the history of both NEA and WEAC, with highlights on the role higher education has played in both organizations. This will be followed by a panel of WTCS leaders, including WTCS President Dan Clancy. Our panel will address current topics of importance in the technical college and answer your questions. The afternoon session will also be divided into two segments. First will be a session on organizing adjunct/part-timers. Despite poor pay, benefits and working conditions, only about 18% of the more than half million adjunct/part-time faculty in the US belong to unions. Joe Berry, author of Reclaiming the Ivory Tower, will discuss the implications of colleges increasing reliance on adjuncts/part-timers faculty and part-time organizing strategies. This session will be followed by the increasingly relevant topic of intellectual property rights in higher education. James Duby, an intellectual property lawyer from East Lansing, MI, will discuss intellectual property law and bargaining strategies concerning intellectual property. Bring your intellectual property-related questions for this expert.
Message, Media, and Public Relations: Communicating Strategically for your Union at the Local, State, and National Level
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
All good PR starts with a good message. Your trainers will demystify the terms and processes associated with message discipline, public opinion research, and media relations, and show you real-life examples of how WEAC leaders and members communicate successfully in ongoing public relations plans and campaigns.
Costing Teacher Contracts
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Good information leads to good strategy in collective bargaining. One of the critical pieces of information bargaining teams need for negotiations is an understanding of the costs of salary, health insurance, and other economic benefit proposals. This session will explain how these costs are determined through an introduction to contract costing methods. In addition to covering the fundamentals, the session will also discuss how negotiation teams can use this information when formulating bargaining strategy. This session will cover costing techniques relevant to teacher contracts and will include QEO and actual costing methods.
Bargaining Certificate Credit: 3.5 hours, Bargaining Skills Core or Elective
Privacy in the Workplace & Introduction to Contract Enforcement
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The first half of this session will focus on the techniques your boss may be using to spy on you, what your employer can legally do, and how you can use collective bargaining to protect yourself. The second half of the session asks "Are you getting what you bargained for?" The best contract in the world is worthless if you do not know how to enforce it. This nuts and bolts training is essential for members, building representatives and local leaders, anyone who wants to make their local stronger. Elements of the grievance process, as well as how to write, file and process a grievance will be the focus of this session.
Bargaining Certificate Credit: 1.75 hours, Bargaining Skills Core or Elective & 1.75 hours Contract Enforcement Core or Elective
Everything You Wanted to Know About Bargaining but Were Afraid to Ask & Bargaining Tax Sheltered Annuity Issues
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Do you have particular questions about bargaining? Here is you chance to ask seasoned WEAC Negotiations Specialists, Research experts and UniServ Directors questions related to any negotiations topic. There will be a prize for the most creative question. The second half of the session asks has your district informed you that new TSA laws are going to limit your TSA choices going forward? Must the District bargain over all of these new IRS regulations? What is the impact on TSA retirement benefits? Why are some of the poorer TSA choices the ones the district wants to make available? Come and learn how to bargain effectively in the wake of these new regulations.
Bargaining Certificate Credit: 3.5 hours, Bargaining Skills Core or Elective
ESP Bargaining Issues
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
This course will focus on issues unique to ESP members: salary schedule classifications, health insurance pro-ration, bargaining goals, overview of the bargaining cycle and common grievance issues. Bring a copy of your contract.
Bargaining Certificate Credit: 3.5 hours, Bargaining Skills Core or Elective
Local Finances and Membership Processing
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Few of us are born ready to serve as treasurers, but everyone can grow into the role. The number of ever changing laws, policies, forms and reports feels overwhelming at first. This course is for Local and UniServ Treasurers to learn how to perform some key skills and get updated on the support services available to be successful in serving your members. Topics will include: membership processing including applicable forms and the use of iMIDAS as well as fiscal topics such as IRS compliance topics, financial reporting and internal controls that should be put in place to safeguard your local unions assets. (This session is repeated in the afternoon.)
Introduction to WEA Trust
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Created by members for members: WEA Trust is dedicated to ensuring that members get the care and information to live better, healthier, and be financially secure. Join us in this session to learn about how WEAC's insurance program can arm you with information to help you maintain and improve your benefit standards. More importantly, learn how the WEA Trust stacks up against commercial companies in terms of value and service. Also learn what is happening on issues such as; long term care, long term disability, and much, much,more...
"Best Practices" for Bargaining & Organizing Members for Action
Saturday, 2:00-5:30 p.m.
What approaches, techniques, and tactics have worked best in gaining favorable settlements through the bargaining process? A panel of experienced local negotiators and UniServ Directors will share the ideas they have found to be successful, and will take your questions. This will be followed by Organizing Members for Action. To bargain a good contract, the local Association must have adequate strength in its relationship with the school board and the community. This can be accomplished through engaging the members and utilizing their combined influence through organizing. Having a strategy is important to your success, and this session will teach you how to map out an effective plan and will provide you with practical ways to communicate with your members and help them organize for successful negotiations.
Bargaining Certificate Credit: 3.5 hours, Bargaining Skills Core or Elective
Identity Theft and Cyber Security: Protect Yourself at Home and Online
Saturday, 2:00-5:30 p.m.
Picture yourself on a busy day. You write a check to the dry cleaner, withdraw money from an ATM, toss out junk mail, call to switch your phone service plan, pay for the tickets you won in an eBay auction and order a few things online before you go to bed. Chances are you do not give any of those transactions a second thought. But identity thieves do. They see your busy day as six opportunities to steal your money, your credit rating and your good name! Come learn ways to minimize your risk at home and online.
Contract Enforcement for ESP's & ESP Leader Roundtable
Saturday, 2:00-5:30 p.m.
Are you getting what you bargained for? The best contract in the world is worthless if you do not know how to enforce it. This nuts and bolts training is essential for members, building representatives and local leaders, anyone who wants to make their local stronger. Elements of the grievance process, as well as how to write, file and process a grievance will be the focus of this session. The second half of this session will be a roundtable with your ESP NEA Directors open to discuss those issues of particular importance at the national, state, and local levels. This is a unique opportunity to express your views directly and get up-to-date information for your members.
Bargaining Certificate Credit: 1.75 hours, Bargaining Skills Core or Elective & 1.75 hours Contract Enforcement Core or Elective
Local Finances and Membership Processing
Saturday, 2:00-5:30 p.m.
(This is a repeat of the morning session.) Few of us are born ready to serve as treasurers, but everyone can grow into the role. The number of ever changing laws, policies, forms and reports feels overwhelming at first. This course is for Local and UniServ Treasurers to learn how to perform some key skills and get updated on the support services available to be successful in serving your members. Topics will include: membership processing including applicable forms and the use of iMIDAS as well as fiscal topics such as IRS compliance topics, financial reporting and internal controls that should be put in place to safeguard your local unions assets.
Bargaining and School Finance
Saturday, 2:00-5:30 p.m.
This session will cover important indicators of school district fiscal health that negotiators need to assess before entering bargaining or arbitration, including total allowable revenues, fund 10 reserves, enrollment, and complete annual school costs per member. Other relevant issues including revenue controls and school taxation will be discussed.
Bargaining Certificate Credit: 3.5 hours, Bargaining Skills Core or Elective
Securing Your Post-Employment Dollars
Saturday, 2:00-5:30 p.m.
One of the challenges facing members is funding the cost of health insurance after retirement. Many members are shocked at the cost of premiums once they leave employment and become responsible for paying their own health insurance bills. School districts and local unions often bargain some employer-paid health insurance for retirees. The WEA Trust is working to create a benefit plan that will provide retirees with a vehicle in which to invest their post-employment dollars. Join us to learn about what the Trust is planning to do and why it is important for your future.
Bargaining Insurance Plan and Design Issues & Bargaining Post-Employment Insurance & Retirement Benefits
Saturday, 2:00-5:30 p.m.
It is not all about just deductibles anymore. Do you really know just what to bargain inside your insurance plans? The employer wants an insurance concession, if so what is the impact long term? What does it cost to upgrade various benefits? Are your group insurance benefits up to date or have you neglected benefits that are costing your members money? If you change to a higher deductible drug card what is the real cost to your members? Attend so that you find out what you did not know that you needed to know about group insurance benefits. The second half of the session is designed to update you on contract retirement issues. Should you GASP at GASB? What do you say when they tell you they cannot afford what you now have? What about age caps? Two tier proposals? Medicare Part D? HRA, TSA and other funding options will be discussed along with post retirement cafeteria alternatives. Bring a copy of your contract and/or proposals.
Bargaining Certificate Credit: 3.5 hours, Bargaining Skills Core or Elective
Savings: Keys to Success & Understanding WI Retirement Systems (WRS) - Your State Pension Plan
Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The first half of this seminar is designed to teach members of all ages the basics of retirement planning. You will learn how to determine your retirement income needs, what income sources are available to you, how to reduce investment product fees, and how to properly diversify your investment dollars. You will also learn the advantages of the different savings plans, including Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, TSA or 403(b), and deferred compensation. The second half will focus on the WRS, the state pension plan, which will be a source of retirement income for most Wisconsin public school employees like you. How much do you know about this important benefit? Whether you just started your career or are nearing the end of it, there is something for you. Learn to:
Read/interpret your pension statement; Calculate your WRS pension benefit; Choose an appropriate annuity option; Purchase forfeited service; and Determine whether you will have a retirement income gap.
Why is Healthcare so Expensive?
Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Join us to learn the answers to many of the perpetual questions regarding health care: Why is it so expensive? Whether we are paying for more advanced medical technology -- think of going from a $200 x-ray to a $1,000 MRI -- or for heavily advertised new prescription drugs that are hardly more effective than existing drugs, there are a myriad of reasons why we are paying more for medical care in this nation. The fact is that health care costs are going up faster than costs for all other goods and services and faster than salary increases. Members can learn about the reasons behind rising health care costs and what decisions they can make to impact their health care costs and the costs to their school districts.
2007-2009 Teacher Bargaining Update & Bargaining PI-34
Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Have you ever wondered what is happening with collective bargaining for teachers in other school districts? What issues and challenges are they confronting? What kinds of settlements are they getting? If so, this workshop is for you. This session will provide an update on negotiation trends for the 2007-09 teacher bargaining cycle. It will include information on settlements to date, and will specifically highlight trends in early retirement and health insurance. Have you had trouble coming up with ideas on how to address PI34 compensation for your local association? This session will provide some options to consider for your local bargaining team as you try to address PI34 and alternative compensation. Participants will be provided specific examples of alternative compensation and will have an opportunity to discuss and explore different compensation models.
Bargaining Certificate Credit: 3.5 hours, Bargaining Skills Core or Elective
Education and Economic Development & Developing an Effective Message for the Media and the Public
Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
This session will examine the relationship between education and economic development. A growing body of research suggests that investing in education is one of the best strategies we have for promoting economic growth. Too often education employees are told that their work is somehow a detriment to society--that their pay and benefits harm the economy. learn how to present information and talk to members and the public about bargaining issues. This section will provide you with ideas and materials to help build a more effective local communication strategy.This thinking arises more from ideology than economic research. Few individuals, in fact, do as much to promote the overall economy as do education employees. We will explore some of the ways that education benefits the economy in this section.
Bargaining Certificate Credit: 3.5 hours, Bargaining Skills Core or Elective
Response to Intervention
Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Every classroom could have special education students making this topic valuable for every educator. Explore the differences between state and federal special education law. Learn the changes in federal law and how they affect your rights and responsibilities in dealing with special education students. Be prepared for "when" not "if" you will be challenged to meet the needs of special education students.
21st Century Local
Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
This session is designed for members proficient in computer skills. The first half of this session is an overview of the various electronic tools available to locals and UniServs including templates, access to documents online, survey options and more. The second half will be an introduction to the breadth of electronic tools that are optional now or just over the horizon that would improve reaching members including podcasts, blogs, social networking sites and others.
Do You Know Your Score?
Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
When you apply for credit - whether for a credit card, a car loan, or a mortgage - lenders want to know what risk they'd take by loaning money to you. FICO® scores are the credit scores most lenders use to determine your credit risk. You have three FICO scores, one for each of the three credit bureaus. Each score is based on information the credit bureau keeps on file about you. Your scores affect both how much and what loan terms (interest rate, etc.) lenders will offer you at any given time. Learn how your score is determined and how to take steps to improve your scores to help you qualify for better rates with lenders.
Basic Computer Skills
Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Even if you use a computer every day the complexity of today's hardware, software, networks and options can be mind boggling. Our personal computers can be just as intimidating. This session will start with the basics and provide information that will increase your ability to get the most from your computer both personally and as a tool for effective association work. If you want to know how to: defend against viruses and other threats, organize internet search results, manage your email, handle photos and other documents and much more then sign up for this practical and informative session. This session qualifies for ESP Certificate credit.
Costing ESP Contracts
Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Good information leads to good strategy in collective bargaining. One of the critical pieces of information bargaining teams need for negotiations is an understanding of the costs of salary, health insurance, and other economic benefit proposals. This session will explain how these costs are determined through an introduction to contract costing methods. In addition to covering the fundamentals, this session will also cover how negotiation teams can use this information when formulating bargaining strategy. This session will cover costing methods relevant to ESP contracts.
Bargaining Certificate Credit: 3.5 hours, Bargaining Skills Core or Elective