From Executive Vice President Carol Green    

February 21, 2013

Greetings!

   What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started your term in PTA? This is a great insight you can share with your successor or ask your predecessor. Transitions are what make our organization strong.   

   When a new board can build on the great ideas, activities and successes of the previous board, the organization can grow stronger, new leaders can develop and volunteers can be reinvigorated.   

   Believe it our not - it's transition time.  As we elect new PTA officers in March or early April, the board-elect can set goals, make plans and prepare for the coming term while the current board finishes the programs and activities of the current year. 

   Remember, you are doing your job well if you are building new leaders and stepping back to let them take the reins. Try to think of ways you can share the joy of PTA with more volunteers.    

Carol  

Dr. Randy Ward, San Diego County Office of Education Superintendent, received a $25 million "check" from Karen Fleck, Ninth District PTA president, at the Annual Founders Day Breakfast. The check represents more than one million volunteer hours by PTA volunteers in San Diego County. As a PTA leader, you deserve credit for making us the number one volunteer child advocacy group in San Diego.  

• President Carol Green
• Executive Vice President Darlene Harris
• VP/Director Leadership Services Beth Bacting
• VP/Director Communications Javier Montijo 
• VP/Director Community Concerns Christine Howell
• VP/Director Education/Parent Involvement Brenda Davis 
• VP/Director Health Rebecca Hernandez
• VP/Director Legislation Bey-Ling Sha
• VP/Director Member Services Erin Benhouhou
• Secretary Laura Schumacher
• Treasurer A-Quan Watso
• Auditor Mary Ann Tang
• Historian Danielle Montijo 

Every year, Ninth District PTA presents Honorary Service Awards to individuals and organizations making a difference for children in our community. We honored three outstanding individuals at our Founders Day Annual Meeting:

Debbie Vincent

Continuing Service Award 

Brian Bonner

Continuing Service Award 

Rebecca Hernandez

Honorary Service Award  

GO TO CONVENTION ON AN EMERGING

LEADER GRANT 

  Ninth District PTA wants to assist emerging PTA leaders in attending the 2013 California State PTA Convention in San Jose, May 2-5. We'll award four $300 grants for first-time convention attendees. We're looking for applicants who will learn from the training, participate in the decision-making and contribute to PTA in the future. Deadline to apply is March 1. Apply here. 

The School Smarts Program is coming to Lakeside. School Smarts Parent Academy is a seven-session course to create parent leaders to promote quality education including the

Lindo Park PTA Steering Committee

arts. Lindo Park Elementary held their first parent engagement night with over 100 people in attendance. Kudos to Lindo Park PTA for providing the dinner, plenty of volunteers including a DJ and getting the art project ready to go. Lakeside Farms and Lemon Crest Elementary will be holding their School Smarts parent engagement nights next. Learn more.

National PTA Take your Family to School Week Grant Recipients 

• Eastlake High School PTSA, Sweetwater Secondary Council
• Cadman Elementary PTA, San Diego Unified Council
• Oak Hill Elementary PTA, Escondido Council

California State PTA Grant Recipients 

• San Diego Unified Council PTA - Outreach and translation grant
• Leslie Van Dehaar, Monterey Ridge Elementary, Palomar Council - $500 teacher continuing education scholarship

 Ninth District PTA Program Grant Recipients

• Arroya Vista Charter PTA, Chula Vista Council - "Be Kind" Program
• Casa de Oro Elementary PTA, Mt. Helix Council - Author visits
• Kelly Elementary PTA, Carlsbad Unified Council -  Science Night
• La Paloma Elementary PTA - Accelerated Reading Program
• Language Academy PTA, San Diego Council - "Learning Garden"
• Poway High School PTSA, Palomar Council -"Eye on Art"
• Valley Middle School PTA , Carlsbad Unified Council -"Cyber education"

At this point in the year, your association should have approved your budget. But a budget doesn't give your board authority to spend funds. Funds must be released by the association. Usually this is done as you move through the year, at your association meetings. Plan ahead to see what activities are going to be held and make motions to release funds up to the budgeted amount. It's not recommended to release all the funds at one time. This additional step ensures your association has the funds needed BEFORE you spend it!

   If you have an expense (budgeted or unbudgeted) come up for payment that has not previously been released, the board can vote to pay this expense. However, the expense must be presented to the association for ratification. If the association doesn't ratify the expense, then board members would have to repay those funds. By releasing the funds first, you don't take this risk. The easiest way to think of this is your PTA members (the association) have final say on how PTA funds are spent.

California is one of 43 states that has adopted the Common Core State Standards. As PTA leaders, you can help parents learn more about the Common Core and how they, as parents, can support these new standards at home. To help, National PTA has created 11 parent guides for grades K-8 and 2 high school guides -  in English and Spanish. Each PTA president will receive one set in the next month. Learn more.  

Common Sense Media Parent Education Award

Applications due March 1.

Recognizes PTA units and councils who engage and inform parents and families on digital literacy and citizenship such as privacy or cyberbullying. The award winner will receive $500. Learn More.   

Jan Harp Domene Diversity and Inclusion Award

Applications due March 15 

National PTA award to one local, council, district or state PTA that best demonstrates outstanding achievement in the areas of diversity and inclusion. Learn more. 

Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grants 

Applications due March 15

National PTA matching grants up to $1,000 for student-centered arts education program, with special consideration given to programs that reach large numbers of at-risk students. Learn more.  

School Wellness Recognition Program

Applications due March 31 

Recognizes schools that are making significant improvements in their school environments related to healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco-free lifestyles. Learn more. 

Judi Strang, MATOD Abuse Prevention Chairman

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, but heart disease is preventable and controllable. The five major symptoms of a heart attack are:

• Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or back.
• Feeling weak, light-headed, faint, shortness of breath
• Chest pain, pressure or discomfort
• Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulder
• Sweating

If you think you or someone you know is having a heart attack, call 9-1-1 immediately. Minutes are everything! Learn more. 

The Ronald McDonald House Charities/Hispanic Commitment to Education Resources (HACER) scholarship is now accepting applications from San Diego County students who have at least one parent of Hispanic/Latino heritage. Students with strong academic performance, and a personal drive to excel in college and give back to the community are invited to apply for the $2,500 scholarship. Applications due by March 31, 2013. Learn more.