MCCPTA News and Updates                                             September  2013

Welcome to the 2013-2014 year!  Nothing better than catching up with friends, seeing class lists, and gazing at freshly mounted bulletin boards...and having the kids head off to school, too!

 

MCCPTA is all set for a year of advocacy, engagement, and growth, and we want to be sure every one of our county's PT(S)As is ready. Join us on Saturday, September 7th for MCCPTA Fall Training; read more below or just CLICK HERE now to register. 

 

Hope your children, you, and your PT(S)As got off to a great start. All the best for a year in which you will make a difference!     

   

Janette Gilman

President, Montgomery County Council of PTAs
MCCPTA Fall Training this Saturday September 7 @ Blair
If 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 Leadership Training, Saturday, September 7, 9:45am - 3:30pm at Blair High School. The day includes three sessions packed with dozens of engaging, information-filled workshops led by experience facilitators and a Vendors' Showcase featuring many of our MCCPTA sponsors. MCCPTA Fall Training is FREE to all Montgomery County PTA members; lunch is included. You are welcome to come for a session or two or stay the whole day. Please CLICK HERE to register. 
 
MCCPTA Fall Training offers classes for EVERY officer position and other 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 number of new, frequently requested workshops. 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! 
New Year, Wildly New Approach
MCCPTA Presents! returns Tuesday, September 24, 6:30-7:25pm, in the Auditorium at the Carver Educational Services Center with a revised format and feel. MCCPTA Vice President for Programs Paul Geller has given our longstanding programs a new twist...a really new twist. Join us for the unveiling of the new format; it will be MCCPTA programs unlike anything you have ever seen before - informative and entertaining, with some new faces, some familiar ones, maybe even some local celebrities, music, and more!  
 
MCCPTA Delegates: Try to get to Carver early so you can join us for this inaugural MCCPTA Presents! program ahead of our kick-off Delegates Assembly that evening; the Delegates Assembly starts at 7:30pm.  Come check it out! 
50K in MCCPTA 
MCCPTA ended last year with a membership of just over 47,900; this year, together, we are aiming to top 50,000 members. If every PT(S)A maintains or grows its membership, we will surely meet and exceed that goal.   
 
Can we do it? Yes, we can! If you need tips, join us, or have a membership leader or member of your local unit join us, at MCCPTA Fall Training. There is a workshop during each session throughout the day on membership and/or engagement. Attend one or all; we guarantee that if you implement something you learn, you will grow. And if you need help, our Membership and Engagement Chair, Shruti Bhatnagar, and our Multicultural Awareness Co-Chairs, Frances Frost and Antonio Hernandez-Cardoso are just an email away.       
 
And don't forget, to have members you need to have membership cards.  And to have cards, you must send your PT(S)A contact information to Maryland PTA. CLICK HERE for a link to the page on which you can download the Maryland PTA contact information form.  Complete the form and send via mail or scan the form and fax or email to the Maryland PTA office in Glen Burnie and your membership cards will be on their way. Thank you!
Clusters Add More New Faces  

MCCPTA is excited to welcome an additional three cluster coordinators this school year; our latest leaders were confirmed at the MCCPTA Board of Directors meeting on August 29. MCCPTA cluster coordinators 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.  A hearty and heartfelt welcome to:    

 

Paul Geller, Sherwood

Meredith Shankle, Gaithersburg

Carol Shivers, Paint Branch

 

Contact information for all our cluster coordinators, committee chairs, and Board members can be found by CLICKING HERE. A few cluster coordinator and committee chair positions are still available; if you might be interested or would like more information, please contact the Area Vice President responsible for your cluster or MCCPTA Vice President for Educational Issues Shebra Evans.   
Cultural Arts Showcases
The Cultural Arts Showcases are the perfect opportunity for PTA representatives to preview a sampling of performances already approved for our students' educational enrichment by the MCPS Superintendent's Committee for Performances. These acts are available to be contracted by your PT(S)A as part of your student enrichment work. The showcases are sponsored by Big Learning, a Champion Sponsor of MCCPTA (formerly MCCPTA-EPI, Inc.).

When:
Friday, September 27, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Monday, October 7, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Tuesday, October 15, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Friday, October 18, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Where:
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center, 
850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville

There is no charge and all are welcome--including the best critics, your children--to come enjoy the variety of 15-minute performances by very talented artists. For more information, contact MCCPTA Cultural Arts Chair Priscilla Peterson.
Stay Connected and Informed on PTA and MCCPTA Issues
MCCPTA offers multiple ways for local PT(S)A leaders and members to stay up to date on PTA and MCCPTA news and events. In addition to this newsletter, we invite you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter, visit our MCCPTA website, or join our Yahoo e-lists (or "listserves").

Regular Updates and All the Basics You Need
Please ensure your key leadership has joined this, our Constant Contact, mailing list to receive monthly updates and news. Event information as well as Legislative updates will also be distributed via this mailing list. To enable others to join, forward this email and they can click and join, or send them to our MCCPTA website where they can join at the envelope icon.

MCCPTA.org For All Your PT(S)As Needs
Go to our MCCPTA website to find officer and leader toolkits and resources--including complete information on Standards of Continuing Affiliation (SoCA) requirements--to help you run your PT(S)A.  Our website also includes a calendar of upcoming MCCPTA events, MCCPTA and local PT(S)A contact information, and MCCPTA Board, Committee, and Delegates webpages. MCCPTA.org is a one-stop resource to help our local PT(S)As and their leaders, and to inform you and your school community on the work MCCPTA is doing on behalf of our students, families, and public schools.

Other Email Resources Specific to Your Needs
Additional MCCPTA Yahoo Groups are available to meet your needs and interests. Click on the subject to send your subscription request; MCCPTA eLists are moderated by MCCPTA committee chairs and/or officers:
 
CIP (Capital Improvement Program)

Click on the subject to send your subscription request. Contact e-Communications Chair Deb Lang if you have any questions.

News Feeds (and Pictures) on MCCPTA and Local PTA 
If you are already chatting on Facebook or following folks on Twitter, we invite you as well to Like Us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter.  Reminders, tips, and LOTS of photos are constantly shared and updated on our social media sites; don't miss out!

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


MCCPTA Fall Training
Saturday, September 7
9:45am-3:30pm

MCCPTA Presents! 
That's Incredible
Tuesday, September 24
6:30-7:25pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

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

Cultural Arts Showcase
Friday, September 27
9am-2pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

Cultural Arts Showcase
Monday, October 7
9am-2pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

Cultural Arts Showcase
Tuesday, October 15
9am-2pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

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

MCCPTA Presents!
Tuesday, October 22
6:30-7:25pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center
 
October Delegates Assembly
Tuesday, October 22
7:30-9:30pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

MCCPTA-MCPS CIP Forum
Monday, November 4
7:30-9pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center



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