MCCPTA News and Updates                                                    August  2013

Just three and a half weeks before school starts...where DID the summer go!  MCCPTA is just about ready to go back to school, and is gearing up for the 2013-2014 school year with fresh ideas, some new faces, and an abundance of energy and excitement.   

 

Read all about what is being planned in this edition of MCCPTA News and Updates.  And be sure to be among the first to get your PTA membership form in to your school this year!   

   

Janette Gilman

President, Montgomery County Council of PTAs
MCCPTA Fall Leadership Training with a Twist
Whether you are a PT(S)A officer or a member looking to get more active, we invite you to join us at our annual MCCPTA Fall Training, Saturday, September 7, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm at a high school location to be announced shortly. Our Training Co-Chairs Paul Geller and Kellie Schoolar-Reynolds are busy arranging dozens of engaging, information-filled workshops, and are adding a Vendors' Showcase featuring our MCCPTA sponsors and an MCCPTA Committee Fair to the day's events. MCCPTA Fall Training is FREE to all PTA members; lunch is included. CLICK HERE to register.   
 
MCCPTA Fall Training offers classes for EVERY officer position and workshops on a range of topics to get your school year off to a great start. In response to your feedback, we will hold separate workshop sessions for elementary and secondary PTA presidents and vice president, and feature a host of new, highly demanded workshops. On top of valuable, time-saving information, tips, and interaction with organizations and businesses available to work with your PTA, the day also affords the opportunity to network with other local PTA leaders and to get to know the leaders of MCCPTA. CLICK HERE for a schedule and complete list of workshop offerings. 
 
Annual financial training--a requirement for all treasurers and one additional board member from each PT(S)A--will be offered.
MCCPTA Presents! 
Coming the Fall of 2013 in
SUPERCHARGED New Format 
We have BIG NEWS!!!  Okay, it's ENORMOUS NEWS!!!  MCCPTA Presents!, our homegrown monthly Cable TV show, is now SUPERCHARGED!!!  
 
We took it to a secret underground laboratory at an undisclosed location in Montgomery County (okay, MCCPTA Vice President for Programs Paul Geller's basement) and re-imagined the entire concept.  Just wait until you see the many surprises we have in store for you!  It is PTA unlike anything you have ever seen before - fun, informative, entertaining with some new faces, some familiar ones, local celebrities, music, and more!  
 
The first show will be taped live on Tuesday, September 24th, 6:30-7:30 pm in the auditorium of the Carver Educational Services Center, and each 4th Tuesday of the month through April (except December). Mark your calendars now for the hottest (and only) MCCPTA cable TV show we've got!  Stay tuned for more information!
50K in MCCPTA 
With the final tally in for 2012-2013, MCCPTA is proud to announce that we topped our previous year's membership of 46,922 by almost 1,000, finishing the year with a membership of just over 47,900!  You know what that means....this year, together, we are going to strive to reach 50,000 members.  
 
Can we do it?  Shruti Bhatnagar, our MCCPTA Membership and Engagement Chair says, "Yes, we can!"  Presidents, watch for Shruti's tips on the MCCPTA Presidents eList, pass them on to your membership leaders, and please share the practices and ideas that have brought your PT(S)A membership success!  
 
And don't forget, to have members you need to have membership cards.  And to have membership cards, you must send your PT(S)A contact information to Maryland PTA. Any delay will hold up your receipt of cards and you know you want them for Back-to-School events and activities. CLICK HERE for a link to the contact information form (yes,the form says 2012-2013, just change that to 2013-2014, complete, and send to the Maryland PTA office in Glen Burnie).  Thank you!
Clusters Welcome New Faces  

MCCPTA is excited to welcome a host of new cluster coordinators this school year. These volunteers work with our locals on everything from PTA nuts and bolts to advocacy--before the Board of Education, County Council, and our delegates and senators in Annapolis--on behalf of all our students, families, and public schools:    

 

Juliet Jack Banerjee, Magruder 
Craig Brown, B-CC 
Nate Conroy, Northwood 
Jennifer Cross-Lozano, Watkins Mill 
Alaina Dahlin, Damascus
Debra Egan, Walter Johnson 
Bill Enright, Quince Orchard 
Ann Gallagher, Whitman 
Carol Gangnath, Rockville 
David Griffith, Northwest 
Julie Grimes, Northwood 
Leslie Jacobs, Churchill 
Revonne, Johnson Northwest 
Liz King, Walter Johnson 
Victoria McCarthy, Einstein 
Christina McWilson, Springbrook 
Cheryl Minus, Blake 
Richard Nichols, Kennedy 
Regenia Ramsey-Outlaw, Paint Branch 
Brian Roberts, Quince Orchard 
Hollie Taylor, Blake 
Tida Violante, Richard Montgomery 
Patricia Warren-Hickey, Churchill 
Caroline Wilkins, Northwood 
Stephen Wilson, Clarksburg

Contact information for all our cluster coordinators and Board members can be found by CLICKING HERE. A few cluster coordinator positions are still available; if you might be interested or would like more information, please contact the Area Vice President responsible for your cluster.   
Fresh Approaches to Maximize Our Impact and Our Voice 
PTA is at its most effective when our leaders and members work collaboratively with their school communities and drawn on the strengths, perspectives, and resources of PTA to bring out the potential in every child. MCCPTA will be mounting reinvigorated efforts this year to engage all in our school communities, and intentionally focusing on areas that maximize the contribution of local and county PTA to our students, families, and public education. Here are just a few examples: 
 
The MCCPTA Multicultural Awareness Committee together with our Membership and Engagement Committee will be looking to draw in a broader range of parents, staff, and students through coordinated outreach and new programs. For starters, MCCPTA will be supporting the attendance of MCCPTA and local PTA leaders at the National PTA Emerging Minority Leaders Conference, October 11-13, in Crystal City, Virginia. If you are interested in potentially receiving an MCCPTA stipend for this event, contact MCCPTA Vice President for Administration Frances Frost. 
 
Our MCCPTA Curriculum Committee will be working with our Vice President of Educational Issues and other MCCPTA committees to explore ways PTA can help close the achievement gap, keep our communities apprised of and involved in the implementation of Common Core, and continue our longstanding work to support whole child education.
 
Our Vice President for Legislation Lynne Harris already has launched a vigorous push to get each cluster to get to know their elected officials through informal gatherings, and she will serve as the MCCPTA "hub" to coordinate our CIP, operating budget, and legislative priorities at the Montgomery County and State of Maryland levels. This coordinated approach to legislative affairs and advocacy--including early outreach--is designed to maximize the harmony, consistency, and, ultimately, the influence and impact of our voice. 
PTA Logo

 
MCCPTA Officers  

President 
Janette Gilman

VP for Educational Issues 
Shebra Evans

Vice President for Administration 
Frances Frost

Vice President for Programs  
Paul Geller

Vice President for Legislation
Lynne Harris

Treasurer  
Susan Burkinshaw

Recording Secretary -
Board of Directors 
Karen Collishaw

Recording Secretary - Delegates Assembly 
Kellie Schoolar-Reynolds
 
MCCPTA Office
Office Administrator
Pamela Loebach 
301.208.0111
 

Upcoming Dates

MCPS Back-to-School Fair
Saturday, August 24
11am-2pm
Carver Educational Services Center
COME VISIT THE MCCPTA BOOTH!

Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, August 29
7:30pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

MCCPTA Fall Training
Saturday, September 7
9:30am-3:30pm
MCPS High School (TBD)

MCCPTA Presents! TBD
Tuesday, September 24
6:30-7:30pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

September Delegates Assembly
Tuesday, September 24
7:30-9pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

Cultural Arts Showcase
Friday, September 27
9am-3pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

Cultural Arts Showcase
Monday, October 7
9am-3pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

Cultural Arts Showcase
Tuesday, October 15
9am-3pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

Cultural Arts Showcase
Friday, October 18
9am-3pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center


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