Corrections_Today_July_August_2019_Vol.84_No.4

Membership & Customer Service

Dual Chapter Spotlight

Shaping the present and the future The Wisconsin Correctional Association invests heavily in their current and future members

By Toby Formiller

T he Wisconsin Correctional Association (WCA) is a dual membership organization affil- iated with the American Correctional Association. The WCA was orga- nized and incorporated in August 1981 and held the first annual train- ing conference in April 1982 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The WCA hosts annual conferences every fall, and members have the opportunity to attend one-day work- shops that are offered throughout the entire year to earn continuing education units and training hours. As our mission statement says, the WCA provides a focal point for the identification of interests and concerns of corrections as part of the criminal justice system in Wisconsin. The WCA provides an opportunity for active participa- tion in professional development for those employed or interested in corrections in Wisconsin. Our organization provides a forum for the Wisconsin correctional community to have a voice on policy issues at the national level. Our mission is to provide a means for collectively addressing correctional problems as a whole and draw upon common

resources to implement the solutions to these problems for the good of all. Lastly, the WCA’s goal is to provide a mechanism to actively participate in positively impacting the criminal justice system in Wisconsin for those within the system and for the public at large. As the WCA proceeds into the future, our board of directors has made a commitment to develop an organization for the students of Wisconsin, focusing on offering them participation in a credible association and assisting us in de- veloping our future workforce and leaders. Past President Rory Thelen and Education Representative Jim Brace are hard at work spreading our mission statement to the universities and technical schools of Wisconsin. The goal is to have these institu- tions create student chapters for their respective schools. The WCA offers a scholarship program to the members, spouses and/or child of a WCA member. Two scholarships for $1,000 each are available for individuals who are pursuing a career in or related to the field of criminal justice. One $500 scholarship is available for those

pursuing any field of study. There are also five awards that are awarded every year by nomination at the conference. The WCA has a very strong relationship with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and looks forward to the continued relationship with them. Recently, the association met with newly-appointed Depart- ment of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr, as well as members of his executive team, to introduce them to the WCA’s mission and to foster their positive working relationship. Please join us September 15-17 for our annual training conference taking place at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. This year, the WCA will be celebrating its 38 th year. All information on our conference and organization can be found on our website at www.wcatoday.com.

Toby Formiller is the president of the Wisconsin Correctional Association.

76 — July/August 2019 Corrections Today