January 2014 Delegates Assembly 
Our first Delegates Assembly (DA) of 2014 will take place Tuesday, January 28, at 7:30 PM in the Carver Auditorium. We invite delegates--and interested PTA members--to come early that evening; at 6:30 PM, MCCPTA Presents! will feature Superintendent Joshua Starr. 

Beyond our DA meetings, I ask each of you to attend one or more advocacy events in the weeks ahead. We need you and your community members with us in Annapolis, in Rockville, and at forums throughout the county to make the priorities of PTA and our school communities seen and heard by our elected officials.

A crowd in Annapolis, and Board of Education, County Council, County Executive, and Maryland General Assembly hearings and forums packed with PTA speakers and supporters unified in one voice is what it will take to get our kids the education they deserve. We can make it happen for them. Let's do it. 
President, Montgomery County Council of PTAs
Featured Business
At this session, we expect to debate and vote on our MCCPTA Legislative Platform introduced last month, get updated on advocacy work and plans, including the status of efforts to cancel MSA testing, discuss the status of Standards of Continuing Affiliation (SoCA) requirements, hear presentations from the Gifted Child and Outreach Events committees, and announce the winner of Membership Challenge #3.
School Construction Task Force
To maintain momentum and build a PTA "reserve force" to push for funding for school construction, MCCPTA is standing up a School Construction Task Force. Membership in the task force is open to all PTA members; MCCPTA will be reaching out specifically to schools with the most pressing capacity and modernization needs, and asking their PTA presidents to name at least two volunteers to serve. Task force members will:
  • Be available to testify at or to attend one or two hearings in Annapolis or Rockville to support our school construction funding request;and 
  • Be the focal points for communicating with their school communities on opportunities to support school construction funding, including advertising advocacy events and efforts to show our support via social media and letter writing campaigns.
Amy Bryan, a PTSA leader from Robert Frost Middle School, has agreed to chair this task force; she will be working with the leaders of our CIP, Legislative, and Student Involvement committees as well as our Vice President for Legislation, to promote this effort. If you'd like to join the task force, email Amy directly by CLICKING HERE.   
MCCPTA Operating Budget Forum: 
We Want Your Input Now
MCCPTA will be hosting our annual Operating Budget Forum after the February Delegates Assembly on Tuesday, February 25.  Most members of the Board of Education, several County Councilmembers (Berliner, Reimer), and Superintendent Starr already have confirmed their attendance; County Executive Leggett, the remaining member of the BOE, and several other County Councilmembers also have tentatively reserved the night for us.
 
This year we will provide panelists questions in advance; we will draw those questions from member input.  Please submit ideas to our MCCPTA FORUM INBOX by Friday, February 7; please feel free to share this email address with your school communities. 
MCCPTA Committees: 
Meet Our Chairs, Learn Our Work
Did you know that MCCPTA has many active committees engaged in a broad range of work? Again this month, MCCPTA committee chairs will introduce themselves and the work of their committees:
MCCPTA works on a broad range of issues through our committees; we hope one will be a match for your interest or maybe the interests of members of your PT(S)A. You may be surprised by all that's happening here in PTA in Montgomery County!
Delegate Cards...and Blue Books
MCCPTA delegate cards will be required to vote at the January Delegates Assembly (DA); sorry, there are no exceptions. Cards have been sent via the Pony to PTAs and PTSAs at their school for all units from which MCCPTA membership dues for a minimum of 25 members were received. Membership dues are sent to both Maryland PTA for state and national dues and to MCCPTA for county dues.  
 
And not only were delegate cards sent to units that paid MCCPTA dues, the MCCPTA Blue Book, or directory, including copies for the president, delegates, and principal, along with a revised timeline for PTA leaders, was mailed to your school.  
 
Delegates: If you do not yet have a card, check with your president and treasurer, and make sure they sent in dues to MCCPTA. If unsure, contact Pam Loebach, our MCCPTA office administrator, to check.  If dues to MCCPTA have been paid, cards were sent; please ask them for yours.
MCCPTA Membership Challenge #3
The personalized tablecloth has been ordered and should be on its way just in time to be unfurled and presented to the winner of Membership Challenge #3 at our January Delegates Assembly.  If your unit was one of the almost 70 that already has grown by at least 13 members, and dues to MCCPTA were sent by 12/31/13, you could be bringing this unique PTA prize home to your school!   
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 
301.208.0111
office@mccpta.com 


Upcoming Dates

MCCPTA Presents!
Dr. Joshua Starr 
Tuesday, January  28
6:30-7:25pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

  

January Delegates Assembly
Tuesday, January 28
7:30-9:30pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center
 
Montgomery County Council CIP Hearings
Early February Dates TBD
 
Maryland PTA Night in Annapolis 
MARK YOU CALENDAR
BRING YOUR STUDENT(S)! 
Thursday, February 13
6-9pm
Lowe House Office Building
6 Bladen Street, Annapolis
 
February Delegates Assembly
Tuesday, February 25
6:30-7:25pm
NOTE TIME CHANGE
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center
 
MCCPTA Operating Budget Forum
Tuesday, February 25
7:30-9:00pm
Auditorium, Carver Educational Services Center

 

  

  

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