October 2010 Council Bytes from LTCC of PTAs

October 25 - 32^nd District General Meeting, dinner at 6:15 p.m., meeting begins at 7:00. Willow Creek Center, 26 Mohr Lane, Concord. This is the first of two 32^nd District General Meetings this year, and all Unit Presidents are encouraged to attend. Dinner is free with rsvp to Chris Low at poochcfl@aol.com or (925) 778-0446. Officer Training sessions include Parliamentarian/E-Bylaws, Finance, President, and Dynamite PTA Programs, so bring your Parliamentarian, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Auditor, and Program Chair! This is a great opportunity to learn more about your PTA job and ask all those questions that have come up since school started.
November 1 - Reflections entries due to Council. We are thrilled to report that all LTCC Units have a Reflections Chair this year, and we had a great turnout for our training session. (Thank you, Allison Ridenhour, for your wonderful leadership!) Our schools have done very well in the past and we can't wait to see what our kids submit this year.
November 8 - Association Meeting, 9:30 a.m., Joaquin Moraga Conference Room.

Kathy Ranstrom

LTCC President

Why PTA?

From time to time I'm asked why a Parent Club would choose to become a PTA. Don't they have too many rules that restrict what you can do? The answer is simple: the benefits of being a PTA far outweigh any restrictions. In fact, the rules are there for the protection of children and PTA members and most of them apply to Parent Clubs, too.

Too Many Rules?

The truth about "PTA rules" is that the majority of them come straight from the Internal Revenue Code, the California Corporations Code, and the PTA's insurance policy. Whether a non-profit organization is a Parent Club or a PTA, they are required to follow those rules. Why would the PTA have a rule that you can't have a jump house? Because the insurance policy excludes coverage for injuries caused by jump houses, making individual board members personally liable. Why does the PTA have the 3 to 1 (fundraising to non-fundraising activities) rule? Because the Internal Revenue Code provides that non-profit organizations lose their tax-exempt status if fundraising becomes their primary focus. Yes, there are many, many rules to follow, but very few of them originated with the PTA.

Knowledge is Power (and Peace of Mind)

How does anyone who becomes aware of the myriad rules applicable to non-profits ever sleep at night? Quite easily, if they are a PTA. The PTA is committed to ensuring that its officers and committee chairs are well trained, and offers support in many forms. Training sessions are offered by Las Trampas Creek Council, the 32^nd District, and California PTA. The CA PTA publishes The Toolkit, which contains the rules applicable to PTAs. LTCC board members make sure that units are aware of important deadlines, including insurance and tax deadlines, and are always available to answer questions. If we don't have the answers, we can contact the 32^nd District or CA PTA to get them. Because PTA makes is easy to understand and follow the rules, units can devote more time to what they should be doing: advocating and providing programs for children (yes, and fundraising, too!)

Strength in Numbers

What's the single best reason to become part of the California PTA? It's actually nine million individual reasons. PTA is the strongest voice out there advocating for California's nine million school children. There is nothing more important than taking care of your own children and your own community, but by joining together many voices in many communities we can improve the lives of all children in all communities. Did you ever wonder how Kindergarten became part of the public school system? It started with the PTA. How we got class size reduction in grades K through 3? Another PTA initiative. There are many, many more ways that PTA has impacted the lives of all children and families. So why join PTA? Because your participation in PTA will not only benefit your child and his or her classmates, but every child in California.

Treasurer's Notes

Thank you to those of you who have submitted your unit financial information. If you have not yet done so, please submit two hard copies of 7/1/09 - 6/30/10 year-end financial report and two copies of your current budget.

Many units remitted Early Bird memberships (15 members minimum) and Chairman's Club memberships (50 members) on or before October 15. The first mandatory membership remittance (additional members) is due November 1.

Federal and State tax returns are due November 15. If these will not be finished on time, please be sure that an application for extension of time to file is filed by November 15.

Click here for a complete calendar of due dates and submission information.

Mary Beth Moura

LTCC Treasurer

Every Member an Advocate - Rules to Know

Why advocate?

The third purpose of PTA is "to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth."

One of the California State PTA's core values states: "We believe our responsibility includes advocating for the safety and welfare of all children and the opportunity for a quality education for each child."

PTA and elections:

PTA is nonpartisan and never endorses or opposes any candidate for public office. Doing so will endanger the organization's nonprofit status with the IRS.
PTA does take positions on issues that affect children and youth.
A position adopted by the California State PTA on a statewide measure is the official PTA position for all PTA districts, councils and units.
If CA State PTA has taken a position, local PTA units are strongly encouraged, but not required, to work actively for the PTA position. A PTA unit, council, or district may not take action in opposition to CA State PTA's position.
PTA units, councils and districts are not required to take a vote in order to take action in support of the California State PTA position on any statewide ballot measure.

Some things PTAs can do in election campaigns:

Publicize campaign issues through websites, email, and mailings to members; hold meetings, provide speakers to present PTA positions, write letters to editors of local newspapers.
Encourage community members to register to vote and to vote as important contributions for improving conditions for our children and the future of California.
Organize/Participate in a candidates' forum.
Develop and Publish a candidates' questionnaire.

Some cautions to observe:

Only "fair and impartial" informational materials on issues may be sent home with students or published on public school resources(e.g. school district hosted websites) and only with authorization by the school site administrator (e.g., principal or superintendent) and in compliance with the school district's policy.
Education Code prohibits use of school district resources "for the purpose of urging the support or defeat of any ballot measure or candidate." No one may put up posters, signs, etc. on school property that advocate a position on legislation. However, non-school meetings that are simply held on school property (e.g., PTA meetings) are not governed by Ed Code and therefore you may advocate (including gathering signatures on petitions, signing up volunteers for ballot campaigns, etc.) during PTA meetings even if they are held at school. You may not conduct these activities on school property outside of the meeting (e.g., not in the school office or school drop-off and pick-up, etc.). Example: You may not stand on school property at drop-off/pick-up with a sign saying "Vote Yes on Measure [letter]" but you may be there with a sign that says "Remember to Vote."
Nothing in the law or PTA bylaws prohibits members as individuals from exercising their civic responsibilities in personal and partisan ways, including endorsing candidates or running for office. However, per state PTA bylaws [Section 1.3.3 of the Toolkit], "Current and former PTA officers/board members can't use their title, the name of the PTA or the trademark of PTA in any election venue unless authorized by a vote of the association." Because associations can never vote to endorse candidates, a PTA officer or former officer can't use their PTA designation when endorsing a candidate.

Helpful resources include:

Every Member An Advocate

PTA in California, Special Election Edition (includes PTA election rules, plus Q&A with candidates for State Supt of Public Instruction and candidates for Governor).

Sacramento Update, August 2010 (includes details on support for Props 25 and 24).

Nancy Kendzierski

LTCC VP Legislation