PTA Connects November 2010

California State PTA Online Newsletter November 2010

Español Forms PTA Materials PTA Store Students

Read the latest PTA news.

SACRAMENTO UPDATE
Covering legislative issues that affect California's children and youth.

THE COMMUNICATOR
Copy-ready resources to use in your PTA publications and website.

SMARTS
Covering California State PTA's program to promote arts education.

COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE
Beaming news from California State PTA Commissions.

COMING UP

Nominating Committee Election should be held in time to present a slate of officers to the membership 30 days before the election meeting. Check your PTA bylaws for dates. For information, click here.

California State PTA Spotlight Award, applications due in the state office by Feb. 1. For information, click here.

Founders Day,
February 17. For information and program ideas, click here.

Honorary Service Awards raise money for PTA scholarships and grants while honoring a special member, teacher or administrator. For information, click here.

PTA RESOURCES

PTA Program topics

Developing a Program,
start here.

Community Concerns,
start here.

Health, start here.

Getting Ready for College, start here.

Parent Involvement,
start here.

Father Involvement,
start here.

Build Relationships: Working Together - Presidents & Principals,
start here.

Honorary Service Awards raise money for PTA scholarships and grants while honoring a special member, teacher or administrator.
For information,
click here.

Sign up for California State PTA newsletters. Click here.

Join us on Facebook. Just click on the logo above and become a fan.

Join our mailing list.

To read this PTA Connects in Spanish, click here.

November is get-it-in month!

· Your PTA's insurance payment is due this month. The insurance cost for 2011 is $196 for units and $120 for councils. Our incredibly low group insurance plan is one of the many benefits of being a PTA. Insurance runs for a calendar year. As you plan events, be sure all activities are covered, and contact your district PTA and the insurer immediately if an incident occurs at an event.

· PTA insurance covers Workers' Compensation insurance for the first $1,000 of contracted work or payroll, including childcare and babysitting during PTA meetings. Total payments in excess of $1,000 require an additional premium in January 2011; contact your district treasurer with questions. Submit your annual Workers' Compensation form with additional premium, if required, according to your council or district due date.

· Tax and government forms are due 4½ months after your fiscal year ends. Forward copies to council or district PTA. Nonprofits that have not submitted their tax filing forms risk losing their tax exemption and PTA charter, and complicate the tax status of any future PTA at the school, because the exemption is tied to the school address. To simplify tax filings next year, consider subscribing to PTAEZ, online software developed specifically for PTAs that tracks tax-relevant categories. It also makes monthly treasurer reports and annual PTA reports a snap.

· Membership per capita must be in this month to remain in good standing. It should be forwarded through channels promptly throughout the year. A motion is not required to write such checks as it is remitting that portion of dues "not belonging to the unit."

Giving thanks Connected For Kids

The month of Thanksgiving
is a good time to thank your members for their input, their actions and their support. Members add strength to PTA's voice when our volunteers advocate for children. Check last year's list for members who have not rejoined. Thanking them for past support is a great opportunity to invite them back - a personal "ask" is always the most effective! Bring in more members with ideas from the Membership Step by Step Guide and National PTA's Year-Round Membership Marketing Templates and Tools. Past membership e-mail blasts are available online, click here, and look at "Membership Messages" on the right-hand side of the page.

e-Bylaws make updates easy

It's easier than ever to update your unit bylaws through our new, free e-Bylaws system, sponsored by CSM. Click here to apply for a password so you can get started. Units in nearly every council and district in the state are now eligible to use the system.

Put your PTA in the spotlight

The PTA Spotlight Award recognizes the achievements of local units and councils in seven categories. Start planning now and have your application in by Feb. 1, 2011. For information and an application, click here.

This month

National American Indian Heritage Month:
For activities, click here.

Nov. 22-28 is National Family Week.

Nov. 25 is Thanksgiving.

PTA/PTSA checklist

November Be sure your unit has forwarded
remittance of per capita dues.

November Send in annual insurance payment:
$196 units; $120 councils.

November Reflections program underway and
judging plans set.

December Prepare books for midyear audit.

December Plan to elect a nominations committee
in plenty of time to do its work before your

election meeting.

Connect!

California State PTA Connects is sent monthly to unit officers for your use throughout the year. Please feel free to send us ideas and comments to help us be of the most use to you: communications@capta.org.

We love getting and reading your newsletters! Please send them by e-mail, communications@capta.org, or by regular mail:

Vice President, Communications

California State PTA

2327 L Street

Sacramento, CA 95816

The California State PTA Connects newsletter is sent free of charge via the Internet as a service of the California State PTA in the furtherance of its nonprofit and tax-exempt status. Unless otherwise noted, PTAs may reproduce and distribute the materials from the California State PTA website for PTA use without express written permission. California State PTA materials may not be duplicated by any other organization or person without written permission.

California State PTA

Does not exert editorial control over materials that are posted by third parties onto its website, or materials that are e-mailed by third parties to any other persons.
Specifically disclaims any and all liability for any claims or damages that result from postings by third parties.
Does not exert editorial or any other control over content provided by links from the California State PTA website.