JULY 2011

VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 6weac.org

GET INVOLVED: ONE EDUCATOR'S

STORYPage 7

Recalls: How we respondJuly, August elections are a way for you to stay active

Page 12weac.org/recall

Political action: A legacyEducator uses union training to engage Congress

Page 2weac.org/heroes

We Are WisconsinStanding strong for our state’s values

Pages 4-5weac.org/activities

Speak out. Stand up.How our union is moving forward

Page 6weac.org

insideandonline

Being united is about standing together to move education forward.

We’re all in it together – to represent our profession, our students and our

public schools.

We’ve started a movement, but to keep the fire alive we must continue to

support each other and stand up for what we value – fairness, opportunity,

strong public schools.

Stay engaged this summer because collective strength is how we will

move forward. Inside this edition you’ll read the stories of members raising

their voices through our union, speaking up for students and schools. You’ll

learn about ways you can get involved, standing up for Wisconsin values.

Visit weac.org to see how you can move education forward – and tell us why it’s

important to stay united.

A lot has happened in the past few weeks to bring massive change to your schools and your profession. An extreme budget full of historic cuts to education has been passed, and Governor Walker’s bill restricting worker rights is now law. How we respond to both will determine the future of public education in Wisconsin.

What does this mean for you and your union?See page 6 for answers on changes to your union membership and contracts. And visit weac.org for much more on how the state budget and anti-worker rights bill affect you.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

LAW NOW IN EFFECT

Proud partner of Wisconsin Athletics

WEAC in Print (ISSN#1531-6831)

is published by the Wisconsin Education

Association Council, an affiliate of the

National Education Association, as a service

to members of its affiliates. WEAC in Print is

published in September, October, November,

December, April and June. Copyrighted 2011

by WEAC, 33 Nob Hill Rd., PO Box 8003,

Madison, WI, 53708-8003, 608-276-7711 or

800-362-8034.

All materials in this periodical may be

reproduced by members for distribution to

students or by WEAC affiliate associations

for their own publications. WEAC dues

include $6.27 for a subscription to WEAC

In Print. Periodical postage paid at

Madison WI and additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send address corrections

to WEAC In Print, P.O. Box 8003,

Madison, WI, 53708

Mary Bell, PresidentBetsy Kippers, Vice PresidentDavid Harswick, Secretary-TreasurerDan Burkhalter, Executive DirectorKim Haas, Communications DirectorBill Hurley, EditorMatthew Call, Assistant EditorLaura DeVries, Graphic Design Specialist

Contributing writer: Bob Moeller e-mail: inprint@weac.org

weac.org | July 2011 3July 2011 | WEACinPrint2

It’s not just in Wisconsin that educators and families this summer will be advocating for public schools. The Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action in Washington, D.C., on July 30 will be putting the “public” back in public schools.

• The rally and march – held in conjunction with local events across the nation – will bring solidarity and support to public education.

• The march and call to action is a direct response to the growing movement to protect public schools and other services.

• To get involved and support the efforts, visit saveourschoolsmarch.org.

Our union is again teaming up with UW Athletics to make public school students a part of home games this upcoming season – putting them on the field, court and ice at football, basketball and hockey games.

This is your chance to highlight a student and give him or her a unique opportunity to be on the field during kickoffs at Camp Randall Stadium, sitting under the basket at the Kohl Center and helping out with hockey shoot-arounds.

To highlight a special student for these events – the Camp Randall selection begins first – visit weac.org and nominate a student today. ■

Building off of the movement you and your colleagues in the education profession created these past few months,

events continue across the state to stand up for Wisconsin values. In addition to public school employees, Wisconsinites are raising their voices against extreme budget cuts and a hostile agenda from elected leaders at the Capitol.

How can you join in? Town hall forums, rallies, demonstrations and other events are being organized all over Wisconsin. In addition to the coalition work of We Are Wisconsin (see next page for details), our union and other groups are holding and participating in informational gatherings, marches and other activities to raise awareness of what’s happening in our state.

Visit weac.org/activities to find an event in your area, and consider starting your own! ■

Rallies, forums and

other events continue

this summer to stand up

for Wisconsin! To join in,

visit weac.org/activities for a list of

events.

Pat Schmidt makes it her duty to get involved in political action – to help students and members

Stay active this summer!

Nominate a student to be a WEAC Kickoff Kid

Meet an Everyday Hero

‘I always tell people, if it wasn’t for the good training from WEAC I wouldn’t have

been able to do any of the things I’ve done.’

Here’s a story about how one WEAC member is Moving Education Forward:

Pat Schmidt likes to joke that she’s held every elected, appointed or volunteer position there is for her union.

“Any office you can hold – I’ve held it,” she said. But it’s her political activism, which has her meeting regularly with a member of Congress, that has had one of the biggest impacts on her life and one she says is a legacy she leaves behind for future Wisconsin students.

Schmidt, who has been an educator and a member of WEAC for 35 years, regularly meets with Congressman Tom Petri, who represents Wisconsin’s 6th District. Talking about everything from teacher evaluation to school funding, Schmidt serves as the voice of educators for someone who makes key decisions affecting education in Wisconsin and across the country.

“It’s been a great experience,” Schmidt said. “I’ve learned a lot about how Congress works.”

Schmidt sees her role in talking to members of Congress as a way to represent the interests of students.

“I don’t have to tell any teacher that’s why we’re here: the students,” she said. “And it seems like sometimes in politics the students get lost in the discussion about education.”

In her various past roles with her local union – and current one on the negotiations team looking to bargain a contract extension – Schmidt has became a vocal advocate for education. And that has her raising her voice against the budget cuts and other anti-

education legislation that has originated from state officials.

Schmidt got into political advocacy through her union, with which she encourages everyone to be involved. She joined to find out what her dues funded,

then she received training to be a local officer, negotiations representative and an effective lobbyist.

“I always tell people, if it wasn’t for the good training from WEAC I wouldn’t have been able to do any of the things I’ve done,” Schmidt said. “When people ask me about ‘What do I get for my union dues’ the first thing I say is that the training I’ve gotten has allowed me to do these things.” ■

PAT SCHMIDT

MUSIC TEACHER

MEMBER OF WEAC AND

WAUTOMA EDUCATION

ASSOCIATION

<<

Talk to anyone who came to Madison this winter and they’ll tell you they felt

inspired having fellow Wisconsinites surrounding them in standing up for our values.

It’s important to remember that we’re not alone in moving our state forward. Nurses, firefighters, police officers, correctional guards, maintenance workers, members of the clergy, community groups and families are standing with us every day.

Here are just some of the stories of those who stand with us:

FarmersMany farming families are on

health insurance assistance such as BadgerCare and will be hurt by Governor Walker’s budget cuts. “This is a strategy gone horribly wrong,” said Michael Berg, a farmer from Blanchardville.

RetireesWalker’s attacks may have started

with state workers, but it’s clear that through his other proposals – including an extreme budget full of cuts to programs and services – everyone in the middle class is being targeted. Thank you to the many retired association members who came out to take a stand for educators across the state.

The clergyReligious leaders across

the state have advocated for middle-class workers and the poor, urging the governor and Legislature to stop the attacks on Wisconsinites. Said Milwaukee Episcopal Bishop Steven A. Miller at a rally at the state Capitol: “Let us stand together for the good of all. Let us be united for a better and fair Wisconsin.”

Police officers and firefighters

Many police officers and firefighters have joined rallies defending rights for public employees – even though those two professions are exempt from Walker’s anti-rights bill. Additionally, in a recent International Association of Fire Fighters publication, the group highlighted firefighters’ opposition to Walker’s attacks

on collective bargaining. Firefighters and police officers from across Wisconsin have demonstrated at the Capitol in solidarity with educators and others. In fact, the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin has filed a lawsuit against Walker’s bill, saying it is damaging to all workers in the state.

We are united. We Are Wisconsin.

A network of organizations and individuals from around the state, We Are Wisconsin represents a wide array of viewpoints from religious leaders, student groups, community groups, labor union members, and many others. WEAC is a part of this coalition of more than 90 organizations, building on shared concerns and enhancing a collective voice for Wisconsin’s values. Participate in the network’s events and learn more by visiting wearewisconsin.org. ■

To watch videos of Wisconsinites standing up for their state, visit youtube.com/weacvideo or use your smartphone to scan this graphic:Standing strong for our state’s values

July 2011 | WEACinPrint weac.org | July 20114 5

We Are Wisconsin

How ourunion is Moving Forward

TANYA LOHR

SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER

MEMBER OF WEAC AND

WEST BEND

EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

<<

July 2011 | WEACinPrint6 weac.org | July 2011 7

I’ve been a public school teacher for 14 years, a wife for eight years, a mother for five years, and a political activist for a grand total of three

months.I’ve spent a lot of time during those three months asking myself why I

waited this long to become politically involved. I grew up in a politically active household. I stayed informed about politics. I always voted. But I felt like being politically active was something that other people did.

I remember last fall reading about Scott Walker and thinking “Wow, that guy could really do some damage. I hope someone is going to do something about him.”

And that was the fatal mistake. People, like myself, thought it was someone else’s job to stop Scott Walker. But it’s not someone else’s job to keep government in check. Every single one of us is responsible for this. It’s part of being in a democracy. It’s part of what keeps us a democracy.

I often shake my head at what it took for me to become politically active. It took our governor using the guise of a budget crisis to strip public unions of their bargaining rights for me to realize exactly how important those rights are. It took Draconian cuts to programs like BadgerCare for me to realize how many of my students depend on these programs for survival. And it took a slash in public education funding for me to realize that the end could be near for successful public schools.

So here I am, three months into a new role as political activist. I’ve been to Madison 13 times (I even have a favorite parking spot now). I’ve attended rallies throughout my community, and I was one of the organizers of the Glenn Grothman recall effort. Scott Walker is banking on people like me fading back into the woodwork so he can continue his assault on Wisconsin’s middle class without opposition. It is our job to make sure that this kind of willful silence never happens again.

– Tanya Lohr

‘It is our job to make sure that this kind of willful silence never

happens again.’

MembershipWhile the support and advocacy of our union continues, the law changes the way we pay for membership. If you are working under a contract now, your membership and dues payment continue until the contract is changed or expires. If you are without a contract, you have been – or will be – asked to sign up and continue your benefits under local, state and national representation. To ensure we remain a strong and viable organization we are engaging in a summer organizing campaign; if you are without a contract and haven’t signed up with your union yet you can expect to be contacted by a colleague this summer. Visit weac.org for more about membership and what it means to you.

How does the union law affect my membership?

ContractsIf you have a contract extension, it continues to be in place and its conditions are still valid. If you are without a contract extension, your employer can unilaterally change any working condition covered in the contract (assignment, hours of work, benefits, discipline, etc.). Our union’s next focus is to ask districts to adopt fair employee handbooks clarifying these arrangements. Through our union we will continue to have a voice at the table. Ask your local union leader or UniServ director or visit weac.org for more information.

What can my employer do to my contract?

Responding• We continue to focus on recall elections in July and August (see page 12 for more information). This is our first step

in balancing power to ensure Wisconsin’s legislators advocate for the working people in this state.• WEAC is part of a broad coalition of Wisconsin unions who filed a federal lawsuit arguing that Walker’s bill is

unconstitutional for separating classes of workers. • We continue to draw attention to the impact the state budget’s deep cuts will have on students and our schools.

We need educators to stand up and speak out against these devastating cuts. We need to engage parents and the community to stand up and speak out.

• To get involved and learn more about these actions, visit weac.org.

What is our union doing to fight this?

G E T T I N G I N V O L V E D

For more information on how the collective bargaining bill, state budget, recall elections and WEAC’s membership recruitment campaign affect you, visit weac.org.

weac.org | July 2011 9

MEMBERSHIPWHAT DOES

MEAN TO YOU?

Political action is how we’ve made a difference in education. Using your experience in the classroom and shaping the future of education comes through political action. Through our union you harness the collective strength of educators – and represent your values in what public education should be for students across the state. You are the expert. You are the one who knows best how education policy affects students.

Kindergarten reform, tax credits for school purchases, laws that target bullying – those ideas came from educators in the classroom and are now state laws. As a part of WEAC you are part of a network of professionals creating change in education. Visit weac.org to take action.

ADVOCATING FOR YOU AND YOUR CLASSROOM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTLEGAL SUPPORT

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Affiliation gives you access to key legal services, giving you assurance to do your job. Assistance for members includes issues involving individual employment contracts, non-renewals, licensure, board hearings, and much more.

Through our union, communications and networking resources are at your fingertips.As a union member you are plugged into resources that unite you with your peers and your community. Watch this summer for another edition of Classroom Connections, a free publication for parents that keeps them linked in to what you do in the classroom.

WHAT MATTERS TO YOU?

Visit weac.org to find out more about what’s available to you as a union educator, and let us know how you use your membership. ■

Through our union, professional development is just a step away.Updating your professional development plan, staying current on new instruction methods and technology, and enhancing your teaching credentials are all ways you can engage with colleagues across the state through WEAC. Our union has been a strong supporter of professional development, advocating for and creating programs for educators to improve teaching.

WEAC has been instrumental in promoting and implementing the National Board Certified Teacher program in Wisconsin. The NBCT accreditation process is proven to positively impact student performance. Our union has expanded the NBCT process, bringing a system to Bayfield that has the entire district starting the process to become certified.

Visit weac.org to join your colleagues in professional development opportunities.

KIM HOFFMAN

MUSIC TEACHER

MEMBER OF WEAC AND

ARROWHEAD UNITED TEACHERS

<<

July 2011 | WEACinPrint8

Our union starts with you

Stay connected... stay informed:

For more information about WEAC and the benefits of union membership,

visit weac.org.

twitter.com/WEAC

facebook.com/MyWeac

‘My union stands behind me and supports me so I can focus

on teaching my students.’

O U R P A R T N E R S

In these days of low interest rates, members are always looking for a higher return, and

frequently the talk turns to bond funds. Bond funds have done very well over the past 10 years, but that is no assurance at all that they will continue to do well. This article is designed to help you understand the risks of investment in debt such as bonds.

Bonds are debt. There are corporate, federal government, and municipal bonds. In all of these, you loan your money, receive interest, and when the maturity date comes you get your money back. Corporate bond interest is fully taxed. Fed government interest is not Wisconsin taxed. Municipal government interest is not federal taxed. Generally, bonds are $1,000 bonds. They may sell for more or less than $1,000 depending on current interest rates. When interest rates go up, bond prices go down. The measure of this is called “duration” which is the vocabulary word for the day. Duration is a measure of how much a bond will change in price if interest rates go up or down 1%.

Bond funds have done very well for the past 10 years mostly because interest rates have gone down. Imagine you purchased a 30-year bond 10 years ago when interest rates were 7% for that bond. You invested $1,000 and receive $70 per year for 30 years. Then you get your $1,000 back. Today, 10 years later, you effectively have left a 20-year bond, still paying $70 per year. The going rate on new 20-year bonds is about 5.5%. Suddenly you realize the 7% bond you have is

worth more than $1,000. Recently, for example I looked at a 21-year remaining Disney bond with a 7% coupon selling for $1,250 for a $1,000 bond. That means over the next 20 years you make interest of $70 per year, but lose about $12 per year principal since you will get back only $1,000 on maturity. This increase in price when interest rates went down is called duration change, and the reverse will happen if interest rates go up.

Now, if you buy this Disney bond realizing what will happen over the next 20 years and fully intend to hold it for the 20 years, you don’t care about duration. You’ll get $1,000 back in 20 years plus $70 per year in interest, for a net return, called the “yield to maturity” of about 5.0%. If you understand and are satisfied with a long-term net return of 5.0% per year, investments like this are readily available. Also note that you will pay no annual fund fees to own these.

Bond funds are different. They do not hold bonds for 20 years. They trade frequently. Duration is much more important to you in a bond fund. So are the annual fees.

Vanguard has a lot of bond funds. I researched a few of them, as you can easily do by simply going to vanguard.com, going to the investor screen and clicking on “research” then “Vanguard funds.” You do not have to be a customer to do this.

All Vanguard Bond funds have fees of about 0.25% per year, which is cheap. Here are some examples:

Shopping the bonds market

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (symbol vbmfx): Actually not the total bond market. Limited to investment grade, now 25% corporate, 70% government, 5% foreign government. Current yield: 3%. Average maturity: Seven years; average duration: five years; 4,907 bond issues. Ten-year growth: about 70%. Remember, much of the growth was due to interest rates going down.

Vanguard GNMA Fund (vfiix): All government-guaranteed mortgage securities, AAA-rated. Current yield: 3.16%; average maturity: 5.6 years; average duration: 4.4 years; just 34 huge bond issues. Ten-year growth: 70%. As mortgage rates drop or stay low, so will the yield here.

Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond Index Fund (vbiix): All investment-grade bonds. Current yield: 4.4% ; average maturity: 6.9 years; average duration: five years; 1,181 issues. Ten-year growth: 80%.

Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index (vbltx): Up the most over 10 years (100%) because it holds long-term, high-duration bonds. If interest rates go up, this one will go down the most; 1,133 investment-grade bonds. Current yield: 5.0%; average maturity: 23.4 years; average duration: 12.9 years.

Suggestions: Don’t buy high-duration funds. If you can plan your need for principal over the years, buy investment-grade individual bonds maturing whenever you wish the principal.

Note: all data is as of May 2011 and can change very rapidly.

This article is for informational purposes. ■

Leave a comment and read previous articles

at weac.org/dollars.

July 2011 | WEACinPrint weac.org | July 201110 11

By Bob Moeller – WEAC Member Benefitsmoellerb@weac.org

Take control of your personal financesThis summer...

StrongDependable Competitive

We are proud to serve you.800.279.4000

The NEA Auto Purchase Program offers members a quick,no-hassle auto buying experience. Members save an average of $4,154 off MSRP* on new cars purchases.

*Prices vary by area Savings off MSRP based on dealer incentives and actual customer transactions as of 3/31/11.

Details and registration at weabenefits.com/superhero

Empower yourself this summer by attending financial seminars.

Be your own $uper Hero!

Use the power of knowledge to help you take control of your financial future.

Whether you are just getting started or looking to find out if and when you can retire, help is here! Free financial seminars from WEA Trust Member Benefits will empower you to be your own $uper Hero.

Seminars run from June 27 through August 18 at various locations around the state. Register online at weabenefits.com/superhero.

Plus, register for Lunch and Learn offerings – an opportunity to learn about the importance of long-term care insurance while enjoying a free box lunch*.

Retirement 101

For those considering retirement, this seminar will provide members with a general understanding of the three main sources of retirement income – Wisconsin Retirement System, Social Security, and personal savings. It will also help you understand the most common roadblocks that prevent a secure retirement. Finally, it will help you understand the different retirement planning solutions available.

This seminar is appropriate for those within 10 years of retirement and will provide you with:

• An overview of the sources of retirement income available to public school employees.

• An understanding of common roadblocks to successful retirement planning.

• A pre-retirement checklist of important things to consider.

• Tools and solutions to help you achieve your retirement goals.

Lunch and Learn: Understanding Long-term Care Insurance

Long-term care has been called “the greatest uninsured financial risk today.” This seminar will answer questions about this important coverage, including:• What long-term care insurance is

and what it covers.• Why neither health insurance

nor Medicare pays for extended personal care.

• How much LTC costs – at home, in assisted living, and in nursing facilities.

• Your options to personalize a policy and tailor it to fit your budget.

Investing 101

Learning the basics of investing is the first step to building an investment strategy. Many never get past this first step because they don’t have the time or are afraid it’s too complicated. If this describes you, this is your chance. Whether you are just starting out or have been investing and want to know more, this one-hour seminar will be a good investment of your time.

You will learn:

• The different asset classes and the role each plays in an investment portfolio.

• How history lessons can help you with long-term investment strategies.

• The importance of diversifying your investments.

• How knowing your risk tolerance can help you sleep at night.

• How to avoid common investment mistakes.

• How fees impact your investment returns.Seminars are free to attend, however if you choose

to invest in the WEA Tax Sheltered Annuity Trust or WEAC IRA program fees will apply. Please consider all expenses prior to investing.

Investments are not guaranteed and may gain or lose value. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Future performance may be lower or higher than past performance.

*A box lunch will be provided for those who pre-register online. Lunch and Learn not available at Madison offerings.

Long-term care insurance products are underwritten by multiple LTC insurers. Program administered by LTCi Marketing Administrators, (LiMA). ■

Recall drives are a way to voice your opinion on those who voted to take away your rights. They are a way to restore the balance of power in the state Senate.

Petitions have been filed to recall nine senators in the state Legislature, six of them against those who sided with Walker against the working people of Wisconsin.

Recall election primaries for Republican senators are set for July 12, with general elections following on August 9. Recall election primaries for Democratic senators will be July 19, with general elections on August 16.

Get involved by finding out about what’s happening in your district. Visit weac.org/recall for more information and ways to get involved.

Be informed. Get involved!

This is an 11.29 communication with WEAC members.

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Here are the six senators up for recall who voted to remove your say in your profession, along with the candidates running against them recommended by your colleagues in the education profession:

• Robert Cowles, Senate District 2 Recommended opponent: Nancy Nusbaum

• Alberta Darling, Senate District 8 Recommended opponent: Sandy Pasch

• Sheila Harsdorf, Senate District 10 Recommended opponent: Shelly Moore

• Randy Hopper, Senate District 18 Recommended opponent: Jessica King

• Dan Kapanke, Senate District 32 Recommended opponent: Jennifer Shilling

• Luther Olsen, Senate District 14 Recommended opponent: Fred Clark

Additionally, 14 members of the state Senate opposed Walker’s attacks on workers, shining a light on the lies and tricks behind the anti-rights bill. Three of those senators who stood up for you are up for recall:

• Jim Holperin, Senate District 12

• Robert Wirch, Senate District 22

• Dave Hansen, Senate District 30

All three are the recommended candidates in their districts.

For more information on recall votes, including links to find your senator, visit weac.org/recall.

IS YOUR SENATOR UP FOR RECALL?

RECALLSENATE RECALLS