Florida PTA (FPTA) has recently gone through some very exciting changes. After a recent vacancy in the position of Executive Director of the FPTA, the executive committee determined that the state office of Florida PTA would benefit with an experienced PTA leader. Therefore, the Executive Committee has asked Jean Hovey to take on the role of the Florida PTA Executive Director. In accordance with the bylaws of FPTA, an officer cannot benefit financially from FPTA, so Jean Hovey has stepped down as our President to accept this position as Executive Director.

With this change, per the Florida PTA Bylaws, as the elected Vice President for Leadership, I have assumed the role of President of Florida PTA for the remainder of the current term. It gives me great pleasure to continue with the plans of the current board and ensure a smooth transition into the leadership of our President Elect Eileen Segal.

By now you should have received your "Save the Date" card for the 2012 Florida PTA Annual Leadership/Convention Conference on July 13-15th at the Innisbrook Resort in Tarpon Springs. This card will be your only printed contact about the conference so make sure your contact information is correct in the state office.

Coming up March 6-8th is the 2012 National PTA Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. This year Florida will be well represented in both attendance and presenters. Leaders from both Duval and Pinellas County will have members of their Common Core State Standards committee present workshops at the conference. If you have the chance, join us and learn about Child Advocacy on the National level.  

Thanks for all you do for children.   If I can answer any questions, please contact me.

Your President,

Charles Derexson

Are you ready to conduct your Election meeting coming up in April / May??

Here are a few helpful tips to run your election meeting smoothly.

1. Credentials - Make sure you have your current bylaws for your local unit. It will tell you how many members are needed for a quorum. ( Article VIII: General Membership Meetings Section 4) Have members sign a roster and show their card. Also have on hand a current membership list in case someone forgets their card. Hand each voting member a piece of colored paper so that you can distinguish members voting and non-members. You can seat non-voting members on one side of the room.
2. Tellers- Before the meeting begins, select at least three tellers. A good idea is to have not all board members.
3. If there is more than one member running for a position, a ballot vote is needed. Ballots should be only distributed to voting members who have a colored piece of paper.
4. Voting Procedures- The elections should be listed under special orders on the agenda.

• Presiding officer calls on the nominating committee chair to read the slate.   
• Following the reading of the slate, the presiding officer says "Jane Doe has been nominated for president. Are there further nominations for that office from the floor?"

Most PTAs are engaging parents and their community by sending emails and spreading the word through social media networks like Facebook, Twitter and Google+.  Now, Just Between Friends, the official membership management and communications system for PTA provides social sharing buttons in notices that are sent via JBF. 

Turn on the buttons when you send notices so your entire community can help you spread news about public events, deadlines and announcements for your PTA.  Parents just click on the sharing buttons whenever they see your information in JBF.  Imagine how quickly you'll be able to recruit volunteers; increase meeting attendance; and get sponsors when you send emails through JBF, and parents share your news through their social media networks! 

Turning on the social sharing buttons is easy -- just check the box to allow public sharing when you communicate via Just Between Friends. If you're not already using JBF, your PTA is missing out on this and other features to help you strengthen your PTA, including an opportunity to earn revenue. 

It's easy to get started.  Simply  CLICK HERE to read More!

The procedure to update bylaws is as follows:

A committee is formed to review your current bylaws.

If there are no changes:

A new (current version) bylaws form is completed, signed by the President and Principal (or designee), dated and then mailed to the state office, with appropriate copies.

Also, at the next general meeting, a report needs to be made that the committee reviewed the bylaws, no changes were made, and the bylaws were sent to state for approval.

If there are changes to the bylaws:

Complete a new (current version) bylaws form, and present to your board for review and then it goes to the general membership to vote on.  

Please note: 30 days prior notice must be given to your membership of any proposed bylaws changes. Notification of the changes and the meeting date and time, can be done via email, posting at school, in newsletter or other methods used by PTA to get information to members.

At the general meeting, the bylaws are voted on, and if approved, signed by the President and Principal (or designee), dated and mailed to the state office, with appropriate copies.

If you have any questions, let us know. Email: info@floridapta.org or presidentelect@floridapta.org.