WEAC-FOX VALLEY 921 W. Association Drive Appleton, WI 54914-7250 (920) 731-1369 Fax: (920) 731-1630 www.weac.org/weacfoxvalley OFFICE STAFF: Henry Krokosky, Exec. Director krokoskyh@weac.org Terri Trimbell, Exec. Director trimbellt@weac.org Debbie Armitage, Staff Assistant armitaged@weac.org Laura McCarthy, Secretary mccarthyl@weac.org OFFICERS: Corey Otis, President Noelle Mudrak, Vice-President Patty Barrette, Secretary Barbara Traynor, Treasurer

Appleton Education Association ● Appleton Paraprofessional Association ● Appleton Secretarial/Clerical Association ● FVTC—Educational Support Personnel Association ● FVTC—Faculty Association ● Little Chute Education Association ●

Neenah Education Association ● Neenah Educational Support Personnel Association ● New London Education Association

October 2009

If You Don’t Have Anything Nice to Say… By Corey Otis, WEAC-Fox Valley President What began as a cordial conversation quickly deteriorated into an ugly partisan battle once we broached that two-word, hot-button topic that seems to have split our beloved country in two - Brett Favre. Everything between us was jovial until our allegiances were revealed: a lifelong (suffering) Vikings fan encountered this green-and-gold-blooded Packers fan late one Saturday night in a Madison business establishment. I should have realized right away. Guys usually have a reason for wearing purple. We traded a couple of good-natured jabs at first, primarily shots across the bow. I mentioned the four Super Bowl losses. He brought up Tony Mandarich. I cracked a “Vikings’ Love Cruise” joke. He mockingly reminisced about Mark Chmura. With each exchange our voices grew louder and vitriol more intense. Before I could drop the “Whizzinator,” the man-in-purple attacked with what in Packer Nation can be considered going nuclear. “Favre sure looks good in that Vikes uniform, doesn’t he?” A low blow, to be certain, but I kept my wits about me, as I was convinced all of Wisconsin depended on my verbal victory. (Did I mention we were on State Street?) In an effort to avoid escalation, I went with an appeal to fear. “You know he tore his biceps,” I said, “and he cracked a rib.” The man-in-purple was stoic. “And he’s 40.” I was affronted by a barrage of defensive rationalizations and Favre-fan talking points, as his responses came quickly and furiously. The Vikings won’t rely on Favre because they have an All-Pro running back and a stellar defense. Favre’s season with the Jets went south because he played hurt. The receivers didn’t run the right routes. Favre had to throw into coverage because the offense needed a kick-start. (I recognized all of his excuses because I used most of them myself from 1992-2007). “Besides, this year will be different,” the man-in-purple declared. “He wants to stick it to all of you ignorant cheeseheads.” Civility was shattered, much like the glass that held my beverage. “You lie!” I screamed above the din as I pointed. Friends separated us and prevented me from turning the man-in-purple black and blue. If he could afford decent health insurance, he may have needed it.

(Continued on page 2)

CALENDAR Oct. 10 @ 8:30 am How to Write PDP

Horizon School Oct. 12 @ 9:30 am

New Retiree Breakfast Bordini Center, Appleton

Oct. 13 @ 6:30 pm WEAC-FV Board Mtg

WEAC-FV Office Oct. 14 @ 9:30 am

Travel Committee, Mary’s Nov. 14 @ 8:30 am PDP Goal Approval WEAC-FV Office

Issue 32 www.weac.org/weacfoxvalley

Issue 32 Propeller page 2 October 2009

Nice to Say (continued) As I tried to cool down, I turned toward the close-captioning on a mounted flat-screen. A CNN commentator was assessing the current state of debate in American politics: “We’re shouting past each other in a way that makes governance very difficult.” He’s absolutely right, I thought. Our absence of reason and decorum not only makes governance difficult, but this boorish behavior separates and divides friends, neighbors, and families. Accepting differences of opinion used to be a part of life, but now it has given way to assumptions, branding and stereotyping. We don’t talk to each other. We talk at each other. Or even yell at each other. The summer town hall meetings about health care, which really weren’t much more than screaming matches, illustrated the damnation of facts and statistics and rational arguments in the face of fear and greed. Questions about funding the reform wilted under chants of “Don’t kill Granny!” Debate over a public option was killed by the “death panel.” Meanwhile, millions of uninsured Americans – including neighbors, relatives, students – wait for the country to cool down and tackle the problem logically and responsibly. Millions more sit on the verge of bankruptcy, one serious illness or injury away from busting their bank accounts. Instead of working together to find a solution, we root for our teams: red vs. blue, conservative vs. liberal, Republican vs. Democrat. But the clock is ticking. And the fans are getting restless. Maybe it’s time for the fans to speak out and get the players and the game back on track. Sheepishly, the man-in-purple walked over, so I gladly bought him a beverage. He reciprocated. We continued this cycle for quite a while. We each apologized and admitted to letting emotions cloud our judgment. Favre only needs to manage the games, I allowed. But he could get injured at any time, the man-in-purple retorted. He couldn’t begrudge a Packers fan for feeling betrayed. And I couldn’t begrudge anyone for accepting $10 million dollars to take another shot at a Super Bowl title? (I’d do it for half that!) Our tête-à-tête finally finished, we raised our glasses – two football fans. Maybe civility isn’t dead, we decided. We celebrated its rebirth with a rousing rendition of “The Bears Still Suck.”

Why we support health care reform

Our health care system is unsustainable. If costs continue at their current rate they will soon exceed starting salaries for some teachers and create a situation where current levels of early retirement benefits become too expensive to maintain. Don’t believe that you will have sufficient individual protection if you can just make it out the door before your retirement benefits are changed. Why? In most cases, benefits for early retirees are linked to those of active employees. Custodians, food service, clericals and teaching assistants have health care costs already exceeding starting and top salaries. They are seeing increased numbers of part-time new hires that are ineligible for insurance. This not only shuts out school employees from health insurance, this will be used by employers to further diminish your benefits and take them away through interest arbitration. What can you do? Call your congressperson and senators and let them know you support health care reform that:

Provides universal coverage Eliminates insurance company discriminatory practices Lowers costs through a strong public option that competes with private insurers Finances reform by taxing those making more than $300,000 per year Allows those who like their plans to keep them

Call Senators Kohl and Feingold toll free at 1-877-702-0976. Take action now!

This publication is an 11.29 communication with WEAC members.

Issue 32 Propeller page 3 October 2009

A Fable By Henry V. Krokosky, WEAC-Fox Valley Executive Director Rosie is sitting at the kitchen table and has just finished writing out checks for her September bills. Although she only makes a meager salary working for the Happy Valley School District, she does have a few dollars left over due to her frugal spending habits and, while savoring her cup of hot chocolate (with a shot of Schnapps to ward off the swine flu), she contemplates what charities should receive her hard-earned dollars. Habitat for Humanity, America’s Second Harvest of Wisconsin and Heifer International win out. As her school district has also been suffering from the effects of revenue controls, Rosie also decides (for the 3rd year) not to submit a timesheet for the $100 she has earned due to supervising various activities at school. She retires for the night, thankful for her blessings, and with a buzz on as the Schnapps bottle slipped when she was pouring the shot. Fast Forward Rosie retires at the end of the school year. She is 57, has 30 years of service in Happy Valley and had an average salary of $50,000 during her last (and highest) three years. Her pension, based upon the formula benefit, comes out to be $25,897.50* per year. Rosie is content until she happens to visit her twin sister, Lolita. Lolita had a parallel career. The only differences were that she worked in the Palm Isle School District, she didn’t drink Schnapps (she preferred Colt 45) and she always submitted her timesheets. Due to the latter, her pension came out to $25,949.30 or $51.80/year more. Moral It’s great to be charitable. However, fully understand the consequences of what you do. What appears to be a simple donation of $300 actually is much, much more. $51.80 per year for the rest of one’s life, not counting the increases ETF normally pays each year. *Math geeks can call me for the calculations that produce these numbers.

PI 34 Licensing Assistance Available

WEAC-Fox Valley has plans to help in various ways with PI 34 licensing. On October 10th, a workshop on writing Professional Development Plans (PDPs) will be held at Horizon School in Appleton from 8:30 to noon. This workshop will help those who will be writing their plans or those who are mentoring an initial educator and want to know more about the process. On November 14th, our UniServ will have a goal approval session at the WEAC-FV office in Appleton. Initial educators who need to have their goals approved before continuing to complete their plans can bring their PDPs to have a peer, an administrator, and someone from higher education look over their plans. If acceptable, the goals can be approved right then and there. If not acceptable, suggestions will be given and the initial educator can alter the plan in order to have it approved. Minor changes can be done at our office, as we will have a few computers available linked to the web. We encourage members to consider using the Quality Educator Interactive (QEI) website to write and store their plans on. The QEI link can be found at our union’s website, WEAC.org. The third offering will be a Department of Public Instruction approved training to allow you to become a reviewer of PDPs. All professional educators should consider this training to support our initial educators as they work to reach the levels of professional or master educator. Some professional educators are also choosing to renew their licenses by writing and completing a PDP. This training will take place on February 20th at the Grand Meridian in Appleton. Registration begins at 7:30 with instruction starting at 8:00. It will end by 3:30. A continental breakfast and a lunch are included. All three of these offerings are free of charge to our members. It is another example of how our union works to support our profession. You can sign up for any or all of these trainings/workshops by calling the office at (920) 731-1369.

Issue 32 Propeller page 4 October 2009

Financial Planning Services Available to WEAC Members

Financial Planning Services

offered by WEAC Member Benefits

Retirement Income Analysis offered by

WEA Trust Member Benefits Description WEAC members may receive financial

planning services by attending a seminar or by scheduling a one-on-one appointment with WEAC CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Bob Moeller. These seminars and appointments provide a forum to discuss financial topics relevant to WEAC members, including best practices for managing their finances and a retirement prospects overview.

The Retirement Income Analysis offered by WEA Trust Member Benefits is a highly focused retirement planning tool designed to help Wisconsin public school employees—including spouse/partner—prepare for retirement.

Designed For

This service is appropriate for members of all ages looking for information and guidance on investments, insurance, college savings, debt management, and retirement savings. This may include a general evaluation of a member’s retirement income sources and overall retirement picture.

The Retirement Income Analysis is suitable for members who plan to retire within 10 years. Members looking for a detailed retirement analysis should consider the Retirement Income Analysis to answer questions such as: When can I retire? Do I have enough money to retire? If not, what do I need to do?

Time Involved

Members may meet individually with Bob Moeller during a one-hour appointment (appointments are limited)—or they may join their colleagues and attend a two-hour seminar held in UniServ offices across the state.

Participating members will receive approximately four hours of face-to-face meeting time and 6 hours of behind-the-scenes analysis time from a Member Benefits’ CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.

Take Aways Members receive a greater understanding of their overall financial picture, information and feedback on topics of special concern, as well as a sense of whether they are “on the right track” with respect to their retirement savings and investments.

The analysis helps members define retirement goals, evaluate their current financial position, and determine whether they are on track to retire. Members receive a personalized written analysis which includes: Wisconsin Retirement System estimate, Social Security estimate, a retirement distribution and cash flow analysis, a tax analysis to help members anticipate future income tax liability, and recommended adjustments to help meet goals.

Issue 32 Propeller page 5 October 2009

Cost No cost. No product sales or commissions associated with this service.

Fee-based service. No product sales or commissions associated with this service. Base Price: $900 WEAC Member Discount ($100)*: $800 WEAC-R Member Discount ($150)*: $750 WEA TSA Trust Subsidy** ($450): $450 WEA TSA Trust Subsidy** + WEAC Member Discount: $350 WEA TSA Trust Subsidy** + WEAC-R Member Discount: $300 *Members are not eligible for both the WEAC Member Discount and the WEAC-R Member Discount. Prices subject to change. **WEA TSA Trust participants may be eligible for a subsidy. Call for details.

Qualifications WEAC Member Benefits Financial Planner Robert Moeller is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, a Registered Investment Advisor, and a Certified Public Accountant.

Retirement Income Consultant Michelle Slawny is a Registered Investment Advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.

Consider This Service if You Seek…

• Feedback on your retirement savings and investment plan. • An overview of retirement income sources, including an estimate of your Wisconsin Retirement System benefits. • Information and advice on insurance, savings, debt, or college funding.

• A detailed analysis of your retirement income needs and resources. • A year-by-year cash flow analysis for your retirement needs. • Information about account distributions and potential tax impacts. • Written recommendations regarding changes to your retirement income goals.

Who to Contact Members interested in scheduling a one-on-one appointment should call 1-800-362-8034. To find out when a seminar will be held in your region, please visit the Member Benefits section of weac.org or call 1-800-362-8034. Members are welcome to bring along a spouse or significant other to the seminars and appointments.

Members interested in learning more about the Retirement Income Analysis should call 1-800-279-4030, Ext. 2513.

WEAC Providing for professional and personal growth and economic welfare of our members. Weac.org

WEA Trust Member Benefits Investment advisory services offered through WEA Financial Advisors, Inc.

Financial Planning Services (continued)

Issue 32 Propeller page 6 October 2009

Travel Tips http://my.athenet.net/~mesh

If you have travel suggestions to share, please email Thomas Kreif at mesh@athenet.net. (Subject “travel”).

The WEAC-Fox Valley Travel Committee has met for the past four years. Committee membership is open to all active and retired members. Our scheduled meetings for the 2009-10 school year are: Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Jan. 13, Feb. 10, Mar. 10, and May 12. All our meetings are scheduled for

Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. at Mary’s North in Appleton.

Travel companies are continuing to offer some of the best package deals because of the economy. In Las Vegas, well-known resorts continue to go for as little as $60 a night. Since Mexico was hit hard by the swine-flu, it will offer some real deals to reestablish the tourist trade. Some are predicting that Mexican hotels will almost pay you to show up. As the economy improves, travel discounts will be decreasing. Use our travel website to investigate and save money. All of the travel advisors agree that cruising options and European travel packages such as cruising on the various European river cruises will be the best buys for the near future. Hank Krokosky sent me a student discount article. Student discounts are available through discount web site www.STAtravel.com. Discount flights are available to college students and students younger than 26 who purchase an STA Travel discount card for $22. Nancy Graham, a member of our committee, highly recommends Myakka River State Park in Florida. It is one of Florida’s oldest and largest state parks. The Myakka River flows through 57 square miles of wetlands, prairies and woodlands. Myakka is popular for hiking, fishing, camping, and wildlife observation. The Internet address is www.myakkariver.org. What makes this park so popular is that there are cabin rentals, family camping areas, and, of course, primitive camping. The cabins are $60 per night for four people and $5 for each additional person up to six persons. Men of the Civilian Conservation Corps built the five palm log cabins in the 1930’s. They have been modernized for lodging with a bathroom. Cabins contain linens, light thermal blankets, kitchen utensils, coffee pot, and microwave oven. When purchasing airfare, some of the lowest-priced tickets are found with airline ticket “consolidators”. These are the outlet malls for airlines. There are flights that the airlines know will not be sold at the published prices, and to avoid fare wars with competitors, they dump these seats with consolidators. Use www.usaca.com to search for consolidators. Although the prices are extremely low, you are at the bottom of the service ladder. I read an interesting set of recommendations from the American Animal Hospital Association, as published by Humana, on what to do if you enjoy traveling with your pet. I suppose that in some cases these same recommendations apply to us humans. Before your trip, you need to call your veterinarian. Pack a copy of your pet’s medical records and take your vet’s phone number along too. Be sure to book hotels/motels and/or campgrounds that welcome pets. Although many vacation spots now have this information on their websites, it is still a good idea to call and double-check. If traveling by train or plane, call ahead to check on regulations and requirements. If your pet is on medication, take plenty for the trip and extra for when you get home. Make sure your pet is wearing an ID tag, or better yet, have a microchip implanted. Your contact information should include the number for a cell phone you will have while traveling. For additional information, visit www.healthypet.com.

Issue 32 Propeller page 7 October 2009

WEAC-Fox Valley Retired Dianne Lang, President

Your WEAC-Fox Valley Retired Executive Board had its first meeting on September 11th and asks that you please mark your calendars and save the dates for the following events:

Monday, October 12, 2009 Annual Retiree Recognition Breakfast, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m., D.J. Bordini Center; we will take last minute reservations

through October 8th

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 Informational Meeting, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.; watch for specific program details and location in the December Propeller Tuesday, April 20, 2010 General Membership Meeting and Program, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.; watch for specific program details and location in the March Propeller Friday, April 30, 2010 WEAC Retired Annual Conference, Sheraton, Madison, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

There are still two vacant at-large positions on the WEAC-Fox Valley Executive Board, one seat that expires in 2010 and another that expires in 2011. We need individuals who retired from a local other than the Appleton Education Association since the AEA has already filled their quota of at-large seats. The time commitment is minimal, and it would be wonderful to have a full Board this year. WEAC-Fox Valley has made a page on their website available to WEAC-Fox Valley Retired. We are beginning to make use of that page and are looking for suggestions for information to post that members would find useful. You can check it out by going to http://www.weac.org/WEACFoxValley/ and clicking on Retired or just add http://www.weac.org/weacfoxvalley/Retired/default.cfm to your favorites list. We are also always looking for ideas for activities, events, and/or programs to offer to our members. If you can help with or have questions about any of the above items, please contact Dianne Lang at dlang@new.rr.com. We’d really like to hear from you!

Issue 32 Propeller page 8 October 2009

Board of Directors Meeting—Sept. 18-19, 2009 By Patty Barrette, WEAC Board Representative The third week of school was an interesting one this year. There was the fact that for the first time this school year, students got to attend class all 5 days; first tests were being given (remind me again why I sometimes give essay tests), my students are beyond the suck-up phase and now have no problem tuning me out when I am giving notes, the students were being counted for finance purposes, and I think I was running permanently 10 minutes behind all week! In Madison, though, it was a time of celebration and encouragement for the future of education in Wisconsin. Now while the third week of school doesn’t appear on the outside to have any connection with the WEAC Board meeting, it really does. Take my point on giving some of our first tests of the year. One of the topics discussed in detail on Saturday morning was the Race to the Top funds that are being made available by the Federal Government. These funds are tied directly to evaluating teacher performance based on student test scores. Now, I have no problem with being evaluated based on my students progress, and neither does WEAC, the problem stems from the idea that this can be used as the only way to evaluate how I am doing. WEAC is continuing to fight to make sure that we are evaluated accurately and appropriately. See www.weac.org for more information on this and other initiatives including the Health Care discussion. My second point deals with my students tuning out my discussions on the Revolutionary War (why would they do that)? Many of us have been doing exactly that when it comes to our fellow educators in Milwaukee. We hear constantly from politicians and the media that the system in Milwaukee is terrible, but this is far from the truth. Milwaukee educators are wonderful people doing the best they can with what they have. The newest proposal is to change the format to having the mayor appoint the school board and superintendent. Not sure what to think? Imagine if it was your district. How would you feel if your board was appointed? What if your mayor was anti-education? Would that change how you view it? Remember--what begins in Milwaukee will eventually spread and affect you as well. Don’t tune them out. When WEAC-Fox Valley sends out a request for help, please consider helping. My third point was about this being the time of the third Friday count for funding purposes. The obvious link to this would be that we did discuss funding, but it was in the form of discussing a draft of Tax Principles at 9:00 Friday night and the health care debate at 8:00 Saturday morning (do you feel for us yet)? It was followed by a celebration of the successes we have achieved this year such as the QEO being repealed and mandatory 5K. The highlight of the celebration was when former WEAC President Stan Johnson acknowledged that for the last 16 years that we have been fighting the QEO, it took a woman (Mary Bell) to be elected President for it to happen! That said, we acknowledge all of the people over the years who have worked long and hard to accomplish what we have accomplished this year. Thank you for all of your hard work. As the day draws to a close, the meeting ends, the Badger Game finishes and the rat race on the highway begins. It was an interesting meeting with lots of information and plans. I want to take this time to thank you for letting me represent you at the state level and to encourage you to seek myself or Amanda Hoff out with any questions you have. Our job is to represent you and to be your link to WEAC. If you would like either of us to speak, or just introduce ourselves, at a local association meeting, please let us know. We would be happy to. Have a great year!

Issue 32 Propeller page 9 October 2009

Try School Express . School Express has a variety of worksheets online that you can print and use in your classes. You can find it at schoolexpress.com. Use What You Already Have. Use newspaper cartoons and cut scalloped edged borders out of them for your blackboard and room. Have them laminated at school. Find old wildlife calendars and use the pictures as posters or borders. Use different color construction paper in back at odd angles to add color and interest. Have your students do a project initially to decorate the room. The students love seeing their work displayed. Laminate their work and stick magnets on the back to use on blackboard. Just Ask. Stores like K‐Mart throw their displays out when they are finished. Family and friends love to help out and are always throwing out things that you could use for your classroom. This includes fish tanks, rugs for reading corner, posters, whatever. Get the word out and you will have tons of stuff. Bookstores & Publishers. Bookstores are always receiving promotional material from different publishers, including posters, etc. One way to spruce up the classroom would be to write to different large publishing companies, such as Little & Brown, Houghton Mifflin, Random House, etc., in care of their children's department. Let them know that you are a teacher and that you would be interested in receiving book materials (posters, etc.) from them. If you include specific authors, you will probably have better luck. More often than not, these companies are more than happy to send you gobs of information. This is also a great way for children to get information for oral book reports. Government Resources. The Consumer Information Catalog has some great free or very cheap stuff. Visit their website at pueblo.gsa.gov/ and click on "Children." There are also other very good publications and kits to be had on the site that might be useful. Paper Samples. Try asking a local fine paper company for samples they don't use. Fine paper companies are the ones who sell paper to printers. They get some terrific artwork on paper samples that kids will like. Also get posters printed on just one side. The back is plain and makes great poster paper for classrooms. Freebies on Web. One site that has teacher freebies (specifically "freebies") is http://freebies.miningco.com/. Business Contributions. Check with wallpaper suppliers for old books. They are great for crafts. Check hospitals, clinics, and surgery centers in your area for their throw aways such as plastic screw top bottles that they get with saline and sterile water in, plastic containers that sponges and other medical supplies come in that they just throw away, and paper towels and drapes that they also throw away if not used. A Brainstorming Session. If you’re doing a unit on "Spring" and need dirt for grass, seeds, and "props" that were flower/garden related, visit a local nursery. Explain what you’re doing, and you may end up with all the supplies you need free of charge! Yard Sales. Design your own "business card" and distribute some at flea markets or garage sales, offering to clean up and haul away the leftovers. You will get lots of supplies and other goodies too. Many of these yard sale throwaways are perfect for craft projects and for gifts and prizes (stuffed animals are always a hit!) to give students. Team up with a partner to haul off the big items, too, selling them to a second‐hand appliance or furniture store. Cash for these items can buy other "schoolish" supplies. Faraway Places. Travel agencies always have extra posters and outdated material that they give away to the local schools. It is great for studying different areas of the country.

(Continued on page 10)

Cheap, Cheap, Cheap Ideas for Decorating Your Classroom and Obtaining School Supplies Inexpensively

Issue 32 Propeller page 10 October 2009

Cheap, Cheap, Cheap (continued) State Agencies. Call the state departments of agriculture/wildlife resources agency, etc. They frequently have free educational posters, etc. Call or write to education departments in zoos and museums for things they might be able to send you. Ask Parents. You can send a note home with each student asking parents for help with needed items. Also ask at local shops and stores. Very often, they will donate items that aren't selling well. Movie Posters. Try going to the video stores and asking if you can have specific posters when they take them down. They will probably be willing to notify you when you can come get them, and you can get popular posters the kids like. Trade Shows. Keep your eye out for trade expos, job fairs, health fairs, anything of this sort where there will be vendors showcasing their wares and frequent them. These vendors usually have items with their advertising on them that are free for the taking. Retiring Teachers. Lots of teachers are retiring early and setting up totally different businesses and have a huge amount of books, posters, lesson plans, visual aids, etc. to get rid of. Office Supplies. Try places like Office Depot and Office Max for damaged but usable items for school projects. They may donate them for free, word‐of‐mouth advertising. You don't know until you ask. – Adapted from www.stretcher.com/stories

Embarrassing Classroom Moments… WEAC-Fox Valley would like to include in future newsletters your most embarrassing classroom moment. There will be a prize offered to the person submitting the best one! We reserve the right to decide the winner and to condense the verbiage. Submissions can be sent to Laura McCarthy at mccarthyl@weac.org by the 15th of each month.

Membership/Savers’ Club Card The WEAC Membership/Savers’ Club Card is a two-year card that was mailed to members’ home addresses in late August 2008. The card includes each member’s unique ID number. New members will receive a card in 2009. Please do not destroy your card. It serves as your Savers’ Club ID as well as for on-line trainings, admission to the annual WEAC convention, and contains your membership ID number. If you have lost or thrown your card away, you should print out a new one at www.weac.org. Sign-in as a member, click “My Profile” in the upper part of the page, then “Manage my demographic information.”

CONGRATULATIONS! Block Grants have been awarded to:

Neenah Education Association “Get-Together”

NEA Homecoming Parade to show unity with community AEA Fall General Membership Meeting

WEAC-Fox Valley Block Grants serve to help

local associations encourage the involvement of members.

Issue 32 Propeller page 11 October 2009

Destination Retirement! Do you have questions

about retirement? When will I be able to retire?

How much money will I need?

What do I need to do now?

A Retirement Income Analysis offered by WEA Trust Member Benefits will provide clear answers and a road map to your

retirement destination.

Retirement Income Analysis This fee-based service is a comprehensive, tailored retirement planning tool suitable for those within 10 years of retirement. It will help you define your retirement goals, evaluate your financial position today, and determine whether you are on track to meet your goals.

Your Retirement Income Analysis will provide you with: Knowledge of whether you are on course financially. Strategies for preserving your retirement assets. Suggested adjustments to meet your goals. Your Wisconsin Retirement System estimate. Your Social Security estimate. A retirement distribution cash-flow analysis. A tax analysis to help you anticipate your future income tax liability.

This service is provided by an experienced Certified Financial Planner® who:

• Understands retirement benefits available to public school employees.

• Is an expert in coordinating those benefits.

• Has your needs and best interest in mind. Call Michelle, our Retirement Income Consultants, to help you evaluate whether this service is appropriate for you.

800-279-4030, Ext. 2513 weabenefits.com

This Member Benefits service is fee-based with no product sales or commissions attached.

Investment advisory services offered through WEA Financial Advisors, Inc.

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID WI ED. ASSN.

COUNCIL

Wisconsin Education Association Council-Fox Valley 921 West Association Drive Appleton, WI 54914-7250 (920) 731-1369 www.weac.org/weacfoxvalley

MOVED? MARRIED? Please contact the WEAC-Fox Valley office at (920) 731-1369 or email mccarthyl@weac.org so

that we can keep our records current—THANKS!

Turn your clocks back on

November 1, 2009