Deadline 2/1: #ISTE17 Housing Block for #WEMTA Members

Registration and housing for ISTE 2017 in San Antonio, Texas June 25-28 has opened.

WEMTA, an ISTE Affiliate, applied for a ISTE Housing Block. We were awarded rooms at the Westin Riverwalk for any days/nights from June 23-June 29, 2017. It is 3 blocks (shuttles available) from the convention center. Rate: $209 Single or $219 Double.

Please follow the directions below to reserve a room in the WEMTA Housing Block. The URL below is the only way to reserve one of these rooms. Other hotels are available on the ISTE Housing reservation website.

All online room reservations require a valid credit card with an expiration date of July 2017 or later to process the reservation.  The credit card is required as a guarantee and may be charged one night’s room and tax deposit in advance of your arrival date.

WEMTA’s block link: https://registration.experientevent.com/ShowSTE171/default.aspx?AccessCode=WEMTA

1. Enter arrival and departure dates, enter the number of rooms you wish to book (maximum of ten at a time), then click “Search” to check availability.
2. Select your hotel, confirm your room type and agree to the cancellation policy.
3. Provide a name and contact information for each reservation and click “Next” until you reach the Guarantee page.
4. You will be required to guarantee each reservation with a credit card. NOTE: Your hotel reservation will not be confirmed without providing credit card information.
   

When adding your names, you will be required to guarantee your rooms. No charges are due at this time, the card is only used to hold the rooms.

Important dates to remember

• February 1, 2017 - 4:00 pm CT: Deadline to reserve a room in WEMTA’s Block Housing.  WEMTA’s block of unreserved rooms will be released for general sale.
• April 7, 2017 - 4:00 pm CT: Deadline to cancel or adjust your block reservations without penalty. (Reservations canceled after 4 p.m. CT on April 7 will be assessed a $150 cancellation fee per room.)
• June 2, 2017:  All cancellations, changes and new reservations must be sent directly to the hotel after this date.  Any reservations canceled with the hotel are subject to a hotel cancellation fee according to individual hotel policies.

NOTE: The reservation cancellation fee is in addition to any hotel charges you may incur. If you cancel directly with the hotel, you will still be charged the cancellation fee. You are also subject to your individual hotel’s cancellation policy. Hotel requires cancellation of 72 hours prior to the day of arrival. Failure to arrive on your confirmed arrival date will result in one night’s room & tax charged by the hotel to the credit card provided and your entire reservation will be cancelled.

Primary Election February 21st

Mark February 21st on your calendars!

We have an important primary election coming up in a few weeks with State Superintendent Tony Evers up for re-election. Dodgeville administrator John Humphries and former Beloit Superintendent Lowell Holtz will also be on the ballot in the Feb. 21 primary. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary will advance to the general election on April 4. WEMTA will be sharing information on the candidates in the coming weeks.

Library Legislative Day is also February 21st. If you are attending, you can vote early (two weeks prior to the election ending Friday, February 17) or request an absentee ballot from your municipal clerk's office. More information on absentee voting can be found here.

Honor: Award Deadline Fast Approaching!

Honor (noun): according to Dictionary.com means "a source of credit or distinction; high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank; high public esteem." Does this describe someone you know or yourself?  If you answer this with a "yes" please nominate this person for one of the many WEMTA Awards.  Application deadline is January 13, 2017.  Apply today at http://www.wemta.org/awards/index.cfm

Speaker Vos Provides More Details on 1:1 Funding Proposal

WEMTA Legislative Update:

During a year-end interview with Wisconsin Eye, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos provided a few more details regarding his proposal to provide high school  freshmen with 1:1 learning devices. He says they have changed the proposal, which is included in the Assembly Republicans' Forward Agenda, to instead cover 1:1 technology.  Vos says this would allow schools to use the money in the way that is best for them and gave the examples of hiring instructors to teach computing, expanding broadband or buying laptops.

His full comments can be seen at the 14:06 minute mark of this video: http://www.wiseye.org/Video-Archive/Event-Detail/evhdid/11170

WEMTA Legislative Committee

Register for Library Legislative Day - February 21, 2017!

Dear WEMTA Members,

We are sharing this important invitation from Nick Dimassis of WLA. Please consider attending this important event.

"Many people think politics is all money.  In reality relationships and constituent activity are the true drivers of legislative change.  Fortunately, relationship building is what libraries do best - at Legislative Day and all year 'round."  --Steven Conway, Government Relations Advisor WLA 

WLA looks toward achieving some ambitious legislative goals over the next few years, and it has to start now.  It's all about building relationships with your legislators. 

Register now for Library Legislative Day!

Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at the Madison Concourse Hotel, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM 

You can register online or complete the attached form and submit to the WLA office. 

Program Agenda (subject to change)

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM (Registration & Continental Breakfast)
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM (Briefing Session & Library Champions Awards)
11:00 AM - 12:00 AM (Morning Appointments*)
12:00 AM - 1:30 AM (Lunch-on-your-own)
1:30 AM - 3:30 AM (Afternoon Appointments*) 

*As always, the appointments will be scheduled for attendees by the Legislative Day Committee! 

Also, we have limited rooms being held at the Madison Concourse Hotel. The room rate is $145 plus tax of 14.5%. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly at 800.356.8293. Please identify yourself as part of the WLA Library Legislative Day 2017 when making your reservation. Cut-off date for block rooms is midnight, January 23, 2017.

WEMTA Legislative Committee