From President   

Karen Fleck

August 1, 2012

Greetings!       

   I'm energized from a short summer break and excited to begin the 2012-13 school year with you -- our local unit and council off icers.  

   Ninth District PTA encompasses all of San Diego and Imperial County which includes more than 370 PTAs just like yours.  Well in truth, none of them are just like yours. Each PTA is unique and special and some quite different from the next.

  Our Ninth District officers take the great ideas they learn from you and the rest of the California State PTA and share it with other PTAs as they train and counsel new officers. For our 350 units in councils, make the most of getting to know the officers in your local PTAs and councils so you too can share and learn and grow.  

   We want you to start the year confident in your new PTA positions and hope we provide the tools you need to not only do the business of the organization (budgets, minutes, tax filings...) but that you thrive in the mission of our organization:  make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

   Let us know how we can serve you better and feel free to share the contents of our Observer e-newsletter with your officers and your families.  

     Welcome back to the new school year!

Karen 

The key to a strong PTA is members. Come learn how to conduct a strong PTA campaign to increase membership at your school. Beth Bacting, our VP of Member Services, will lead the training. You have two session to choose from:

• Wednesday, August 8 -7:00 pm to 8:30 pm 
• Thursday, August 23 -10 am to 11:30 am 

Both trainings will be held at the San Diego County Office of Education. Pick the date that works best for you. All trainings are free!  RSVP. 

Every person who joins the PTA receives a membership card, signifying they are a member of not only your unit, but State and National PTA. Membership cards are free to your unit. You'll receive a starting supply of membership cards based on how many members you had this year. The cards will be higher quality, more colorful and include more information. Each card will have a unique ID number and members may activate their cards and receive valuable coupons.   

California State PTA has a new membership envelope. It's more colorful, easier to fill out, and has strong marketing messages. Envelopes cost $3 per 100 and are available at the Ninth District PTA office.

• Every PTA must either have or apply for a Charitable Trust number by the end of September. Click here for information on how to apply, or contact your Council or Ninth District for help.  

• Every PTA must file either a 990-N, 990-EZ or 990 with the IRS. Failure to do so on time may result in the PTA losing its tax exempt status. This has already happened to many PTAs in the state. It's a long process requiring lots of paperwork and reinstatement fees. Make sure PTA member dollars don't have to pay for this unnecessary expense and headache for the volunteers.  

• Every PTA must file a 199 or 199N for 2010-11 AND 2011-12 Missing this requirement could result in a penalty assessment ($800!) and loss of non-profit status from the State of California.

You can use PTA funds to pay a tax preparer. However, the IRS 990-N and California 199-N e-postcards are easy and only take a few minutes to file online. 

Reflections art program students whose physical, cognitive or mental health challenges meet the guidelines in the American with Disabilities Act can enter Reflections in a new division called "Special Artist." This is a non-graded division.  Learn More. 

As Ninth District parliamentarian, Angela will review your bylaws and send them up to State PTA for signature. Angela began her PTA career as a kindergarten room rep, then served as Carlton Oaks Elementary PTA president. She moved up to Tierra Del Sol Council and served as president for two years. Angela has a Business Administration degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder and enjoyed a career in sports and event marketing before becoming a full-time mom. She lives in Santee with her two kids, ages 11 and 9. Contact Angela at parliamentarian@ninthdistrictpta.org. 

We have a great theme - Every Child, One Voice. Now we have a great song. The National PTA mission theme song "Every Child, One Voice" - performed by Jon Christopher Davis and Annagrey at the 2012 PTA Convention in San Jose - is available at. Take a Listen!  

5210 Every Day! is a campaign to reduce childhood obesity in San Diego County. Here's what it stands for:

• 5 or more servings of fruits & vegetables
• 2 hours or less recreational screen time (Keep TV/computer out of bedroom. No screen time under age 2) 
• 1 hour or more of physical activity
• 0 sugary drinks, more water and low fat milk

Every parent should know the code. Get the word out to your school community. The campaign includes a video, posters, brochures for schools throughout San Diego County. Learn more.