As the new Treasurer for the Las Trampas Creek Council. I will be contacting you throughout the year with information and important reminders but feel free to ask questions send suggestions and just share your thoughts.

We already started the year with the increase of our membership remittance which caught us all by surprise and raised a lot of concern. Each unit is dealing with this matter in a different way and I ask all Unit Treasurers, to just do their best in that regard.

Another change this year is on tax filing. Most units now will also be required to file State taxes and the RRF-1 Report. Since I do not have information on which units will be affected by this change please consult a tax specialist.

The beginning of the school year can be very busy and sometimes overwhelming especially for new treasurers, but keeping all of you deadlines on track will prove to be very helpful.

Important dates coming up:

Unit Presidents, Membership Chairs and Executive Board members have just completed back to school membership drives.  Some units choose to distribute PTA cards at their registration events and some choose not to, either way, we hope you were able to increase your membership numbers over last year.  If not, there are still opportunities to encourage membership to your parents through your school's communication resources and fall PTA events.  Let your parents know that their PTA membership fee goes a long way to benefit our children and our schools.

This year units remit $4.90 per member to LTCC Treasurer, Martha Grausz.  Where does it go?  $2.25 goes to National PTA (which reflects an increase of .50 over last year), $1.25 goes to California State PTA, .40 goes to 32nd District and $1.00 goes to Las Trampas Creek Council.  At every level PTA supports children and schools through essential and enrichment programs and advocacy.

Now that school has begun it is essential that you contact teachers and staff and encourage them to join PTA.  Write a letter, include a return envelope and find a convenient place in the office or mailroom for them to drop off their payment.  Remember the "T" in PTA is for teacher and we should aim for 100% participation.

Membership submittal deadlines:

• Ready...Set...Remit is October 1, 2011 (30 memberships)
• First Required Remittance is November 1, 2011 (additional memberships)
• All membership dues collected after the initial membership drive should be submitted monthly
• Final Remittance is June 1, 2012

If you need information, resources or assistance don't hesitate to contact me. 

Eva Santelli

LTCC VP Membership & Leadership

Congratulations to Zevin Acuna, a Burton Valley second-grader (last year) and winner of the National PTA Award of Excellence in June 2011. Click here to view Zevin's award-winning video.