Waukesha’s Bill Pierce continued his triple duty responsibilities as secretary/treasurer, program chair and acting executive secretary into the early 1980’s (when Earl Mihlbauer would join as the first full-time executive secretary in 1983).

Ed Chin was appointed the VTAE’s assistant state director for finance in 1983 and fondly related his thoughts on what the Boards Association brought to the VTAE system:

·          Broad local community support for the VTAE system;

·          A statewide perspective to the strong local VTAE system;

·          An effective mechanism for local districts to work together on common issues;

·          Working successfully with the state legislature through the Association’s organization of a coalition to uniformly support key issues; and

·          Cooperatively working with the state board in support of the Wisconsin VTAE system.

The Association particularly found its footing with legislative advocacy, according to Chin.  “When the Boards Association testified before the legislature, they listened.”15

The Association executive committee (soon to become the “board of directors”) negotiated a contract with the VTAE apprenticeship consortium to provide office space and secretarial support to the Association’s executive secretary.16  The offices were located adjacent to the VTAE state office, in Madison’s Hilldale Mall complex.  This arrangement continued until December 16, 1986, when Tama Meili joined the Association as the administrative assistant and office manager.

The Association negotiated with the Fox Valley VTAE district to serve as the organization’s fiscal agent.  Fox Valley would provide accounting services, purchasing, and payroll and personnel services.  Except for purchasing, this important and positive working relationship continues today in 2004.

In spring, 1988, the Association board of directors discontinued the arrangement with the consortium and established a permanent home for the Association.  In July, 1988, the office was relocated to 22 North Carroll Street, on the Capitol Square in Madison.  These new facilities provided close access to the legislature and state agencies, and provided a work and meeting area for district board members, district directors, and state board staff for Capitol interactions.  While the space has been shifted and expanded within this street address, the Association offices remain at 22 North Carroll Street today.

Selecting an Executive Secretary

The organization continued its volunteer management style into the early 1980’s.  Frederick (Fritz) Wenzel, of the Mid-State board, became president of the Association in July, 1982.  He immediately set forth to the members his belief that the Association retain a full-time executive secretary to remain successful.  He stated that a person was needed to manage the Association affairs, organize meetings, work with the state board, interact with the legislature, and to speak for the collective body of district boards.  Wenzel recalls that the idea initially met with skepticism across groups.  The state board did not like the idea, the districts generally thought they could lose power and were concerned about costs, and the district directors themselves had concerns.17