From Executive Vice President  Carol Green  

September 6, 2012

Greetings!       

The back-to-school season is upon us. Actually, our official school start dates in San Diego and Imperial counties are spread out from mid-July to after Labor Day, but September still represents the start of the new season - just check out the ads for new clothes and school supplies.  But for me the new school year is a fresh start where anything is possible - new friends, new projects, better grades and different activities.

As a PTA leader, I'm eternally optimistic. I think this is the year I will get everyone involved.  The year we will solve the big problem.  The year we will make a difference in the lives of the children in our community.  And despite the current state of the budget in California or the school district or the school, I think this will be the year we fix this.

I hope you share my optimism and I hope you do something about it.   Here are three things you can do to make this the best year ever:

1. Join your PTA or PTSA (and ask all your family and friends to do the same). The larger our membership, the louder our voice.
2.  Get involved at the level you can.  If everyone does what they can, no one will be stuck doing too much.
3.  Vote in November with our mission in mind. The PTA supports and opposes many initiatives based on research and information and how the initiatives align with our mission.  Do a little homework and share your information with friends.  Throughout our history, PTA has taken the lead in changing laws to protect children and families.  

Enjoy the year ahead.  It's sure to hold a few surprises.  Here's to the best year ever!

Carol    

Membership chairs, by now you should have your first batch of our new membership cards. If you don't have them yet, contact your Council president or call the Ninth District PTA office at 858-268-8077. We now have a template to make printing them a cinch! Learn more. 

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 from your Council or the Ninth District PTA office.

• Every PTA must file an RRF-1. This is a new requirement for units. It can be filed on-line and you may need to pay a fee if you earned more than $25,000 last fiscal year.

• 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.    

• Every PTA must file a 199 or 199N with the Franchise Tax Board. Missing this requirement could result in a penalty assessment ($800!) and loss of non-profit status from the State of California.

If you need help, contact your Council or click here for some helpful filing tips from California State PTA.  

One of the benefits of being a PTA is our low-cost comprehensive insurance. Pay your 2013 insurance early to keep your PTA in good standing and avoid late fees.  Here is an invoice for your treasurer. Check with your council for insurance due dates. 

The California State PTA has adopted Professional Governance Standards and encourages all local PTA Executive Boards to review and adopt the standards. While your PTA's bylaws and standing rules form the framework for your organization, adherence to professional standards such as confidentiality, respect, openness to new ideas will help you govern responsibly. You can read all the standards in the Professional Governance Standards brochure.  

     After adopting the standards, your PTA may complete and submit the form in the brochure to California State PTA and receive a certificate and wallet cards for your board. The Ninth District PTA District Board adopted these standards at our August 2012 meeting.

If you want to be part of the campaign to make our schools a priority again, come to our next Prop 38 speaker training. You'll learn all about the Prop 38 education initiative and how it will invest in an entire generation of California students from early childhood education to high school. Then we'll show you how to take that positive message to the media, your local school board and the community groups in your neighborhood. Small-group training sessions are being offered throughout September. If you want to be a Prop 38 Speaker, please email me ASAP.  

Encourage creativity in your students! Reflections is a National PTA program celebrating the arts. The 2012-13 theme is "The Magic of a Moment".

Young artists can interpret through writing literature, illustrating visual arts, putting movement in dance choreography, producing a film, photographing their interpretation or composing music. PTA Reflections starts at the unit level and judged pieces advance through their Council, District and State PTAs to National PTA Reflections where student artists from around the country are recognized for their outstanding creativity. All PTA/PTSA units in good standing are encouraged to participate.

   This year an exciting new division was introduced - the Special Artist Division. This is a non-graded division limited to students whose physical, cognitive or mental health challenges meet the guidelines in the American Disabilities Act.

    Come to a free Reflections training session (morning or evening) for units and councils on September 19th to learn how to bring Reflections to your students. Learn more. 

Will your PTA unit commit to doing at least one healthy school fundraiser this year?

Consider these numbers for a typical candy bar fundraiser for students in an average 6th grade of 97 students selling 50 candy bars per box totaling 4,850 candy bars containing a total of: 44,862 teaspoons of sugar; 27,887 teaspoons of fat; which is 1,940,000 calories which becomes 554 pounds of body fat. There are healthier fundraiser alternatives. Learn more.