About WAEE

Board Committees

Management & Finance Committee
The Management and Finance Committees are responsible for monitoring the efficiency and effectiveness of the Association's Board of Directors in conducting meetings and planning programs. These individuals also monitor the finances and budget process of the Association, as well as identify and pursue additional sources of funding to support Association environmental education efforts.

- Maintain updated Board Member Handbook and orientation booklet.
- Recommend & implement efficient methods for Board's productive use of time.
- Supervise and annually evaluate Administrative Assistant position.
- Continually evaluate cooperative venture between headquarters at UWSP and WAEE.
- Monitor and evaluate detailed budget process including budget cycle and accounting procedures.
- Serve in an advisory capacity to conference/workshop committee fundraising members.
- Diversify and stabilize Association funding base and increase its fundraising capabilities.

Elections (subcommittee)
David Eagan, chair
P.O. Box 3020, Madison, WI 53704
W: 608-249-0409
Email: djeagan@wiscmail.wisc.edu 

The elections process is handled by the Management Committee. They annually prepare and conduct all necessary elections to keep the Board functioning.

- Issue a call for nominations in August.
- Complete a list of nominees by November.
- Obtain and publish a brief professional biography of each candidate for election.
- Work with the Administrative Assistant to prepare ballots for printing and mail to all members so they receive it in November. Returned ballots must be postmarked no later than December.
- Count ballots and announce results via the Association web site and newsletter following the elections.

Website & Electronic Newsletter (subcommittee)
The Association website and internal electronic newsletter are managed by volunteers from the membership and Board of Directors. They are responsible for providing relevant, timely information for Association members and others interested in environmental education through the medium of the Internet.

Conference Oversight Committee
The Conference Oversight Committee acts as the liaison between the Board of Directors and the Conference Planning Committee. While the Conference Planning Committee changes for each Association conference/workshop, the Conference Oversight Committee remains relatively stable.

- Identify Conference Planning Chairpersons and committee members.
- Provide assistance in conference/workshop budgeting and grant-seeking.
- Present updated conference/workshop information at Board meetings.
- Work with Membership Committee to organize and hold new member events at Association conferences and workshops.

Membership Committee
The Membership Committee monitors trends in new membership and renewals. It identifies ways to develop stability and services to meet Association needs and strengthen a growing diverse membership.

- Review and adapt procedures to ensure that members keep renewing.
- Increase delivery of benefits and services.
- Increase diversity and size of membership.
- Develop and implement recruitment strategies.
- Work with Conference Committees to organize and hold new member events at Association conferences and workshops.

Awards Committee
WAEE recognizes schools, youth groups, individual students, and educators for outstanding environmental efforts each year. WAEE encourages all members to reach for new heights in environmental education by presenting achievement awards annually. The WAEE Awards program is the responsibility of the Membership Committee to recognize and support outstanding individuals and groups in their contributions to the field of environmental education. Nominating forms are available each year starting with the fall conference. Completed applications are due in April. Contact WAEE for more details.

- Update and prepare award program promotional materials for printing.
- Put out a call for nominations, receive nominations, send application materials to nominees, and organize an ad hoc committee to judge awards.
- Arrange for purchase and engraving of plaques and preparation of other awards.
- Arrange for delegate presentation of awards (fall/winter conferences).
- Coordinate requests for donations.
- Prepare all introductory and follow-up publicity for all awards.
- Maintain award display at the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education.

Networking Committee
The Networking Committee has the responsibility of maintaining connections with the public and for identifying and strengthening relationships with other professional organizations.

- Maintain lists of newspapers, TV stations, and radio stations in the state.
- Maintain a list of other groups and organizations to which WAEE could be publicized.
- Facilitate the use of the WAEE display at state and regional events.
- Write articles on WAEE programs for educational publications.
- Serve in an advisory capacity to conference/workshop committee PR people.
- Serve as liaison between the Board and other professional organizations.

Advocacy Committee
A new committee within the recent history of WAEE, the Advocacy Committee is involved in providing opportunities and tools to enable members to become more active supporters of environmental education. As a nonprofit organization, WAEE is limited in its ability to lobby to influence specific legislation or to support political candidates. However, as Wisconsin's professional environmental education organization, WAEE is striving to develop informational resources so that its members can be informed and encouraged to act on behalf of environmental education. Potential projects include: an online advocacy toolkit, action alerts on hot topics, and professional development for members.