At our April 11th meeting we will be having a roundtable discussion about fundraisers. So, plan to share ideas on fundraisers that work and which ones are too much work. Please invite your fundraising chairmen to this informative discussion. They will learn some of the necessary steps in contract signing, PTA financial procedures and following insurance guidelines and much more.

Per your request, we have scheduled an additional Superintendent's Forum for April 11 at 9:30am in the district board room. Debby Ford, Health Curriculum Specialist from El Toro High School will be educating attendees on high school health prevention lessons. She has agreed to share her paper folding lesson that is supposed to be so moving and educational. Trudy Burrus, Coordinator, Healthy Kids will be sharing the results of the district Healthy Kids survey. This should be even more informative than the last Superintendent's Forum. I hope you will plan to attend or send a representative from your school.

Jackie Wood will be giving a detailed report on the upcoming SVUSD Teacher Recognition Dinner. I'm hoping that by now you have all learned the names of the teacher selected to represent your school this year. I want to encourage each unit to support your teacher and principal at this gala dinner. So please attend the meeting and get all the latest scoop so you won't be missing out on the social event of the year. I look forward to seeing you on April 11th at the Superintendent's Forum and PTA Council meeting. Karen Kirby, President

WHAT TO BRING TO THE APRIL 11 COUNCIL MEETING

• Fourth District PTA Units and Councils Officers List for 2002-2003
• Fundraising ideas and questions for roundtable discussion (and your Fundraising Chair(s))
• Annual Reports are due to Karen Edwards, Council Historian
• Audit Reports are due to Dolores Winchell, Council Auditor

• Apr. 9 SVUSD School Board Mtg. 7pm District Office
• Apr 10 Read SVUSD Teacher of the Year Applications at District Office
• Apr 11 Read SVUSD Teacher of the Year Applications at District Office
• Apr 11 Superintendent’s Forum 9:30 to 11am District Office Health/Part 2
• Apr 11 PTA Council Meeting 7:30pm District Office
• Apr 15 Fourth District PTA Convention Delegates Orientation
• Apr 16 SVUSD School Board Mtg. 7pm District Office
• Apr 20 Asset Building Conference - see www.assetbuilding-soc.org
• Apr 25-28 California State PTA Convention in Los Angeles
• Apr 29 Project HOPE Benefit Jazz Concert, Crazy Horse (Irvine Spectrum) 6-9PM
• May 6-10 SVUSD Teacher Appreciation Week
• May 10 SVUSD Teacher Recognition Dinner
• May 16 Council Meeting and Installation Dinner
• May 23 Superintendent’s Forum 9:30 am District Office
• June 6 Council Leadership Training for officers and chairman at District Office

TEACHER RECOGNITION DINNER
By Jackie Wood

Date: Friday, May 10, 2002
Time: 5:30pm - Cocktail Reception
Dinner: 6:30pm
Dress: Business Attire/Dressy
Cost: $40 per person for PTA members
Place: Laguna Cliffs Marriott, Dana Point

PTA presidents should have received a letter of solicitation in late summer or early fall regarding the event. Invitations should be going out shortly after spring break to PTA presidents for their units. A form will be provided for the names of the attendees along with their meal choice to be returned to the SVUSD office ASAP. You may submit your payment along with the form.

It was a wonderful evening last May that was enjoyed by all in attendance. This year should prove to be even better. It is the hope of the committee that more parents and PTA members will attend.

LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! . CONVENTION UPDATE
By Jackie Wood

It's just about time for convention, which is less than a month away. Today, I received two convention items in the mail - a written confirmation for the hotel room from the Wilshire Grand and the Convention Chronicle from the State PTA. Please look for those in the mail.

You should be putting the finishing touches on your convention to-do list.

Hotel Information
Confirmations were sent out shortly after we reserved our rooms in December. The hotel will send a written confirmation to one of the names on the reservation. All cancellations must be made through Convention Planning, Inc. up to arrival and throughout the convention. You may do so via e-mail to: PTA@conventionplanning.com or FAX at (803) 802-3868.

For any cancellations at least 72 hours before your arrival date, your deposit will be refunded less a $16.00 processing fee. Cancellations made after 72 hours prior to the arrival date will be charged one night's room and tax and will be deducted from your deposit.

The nightly rate at our hotel is $130 single/double and $20 for each extra person. I will find out what the tax rate and any extra charges that will be assessed by our next council meeting. There is a $12.00 parking fee per day.

Please let me know if you are planning to cancel a room, as we may be able to help out another unit in our council or district that hadn't reserved one.

Convention Orientation

April 15, 2002-10:00am at the Costa Mesa Community Center, 1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa (behind Niketown on Newport Blvd (55 frwy).

Please make sure you have a delegate or representative attend the orientation. I will be handing out the tee shirts that day after the orientation is over. You will also be receiving your printed registration confirmations at the meeting.

Convention Registration

Please confirm that the delegates you registered with us are still planning on attending convention. In addition, it is time to name delegates ABC and D. I did send an email the other day to all unit presidents regarding name changes, so please follow those directions. The names need to be changed with Shelia Hennes, the 4th District Convention Chairperson ASAP. If you miss the deadline, it will have to be done at the convention.

If you are changing names or registering for the first time at the convention, you will need to bring your PTA membership card with you.

Fees for registering at the convention for the first time are as follows:

• Full-time Voting and Non-Voting PTA Members - $120
• Full-time Non-Voting (Non-PTA Members) - $150
• One-Day Non-Voting - $75
• PTA One-Day Exhibits Only - $35
• Non-PTA One-Day Exhibits Only - $65

Checks need to be made payable to the California State PTA.

Parking rate at the convention center is $7.00 with no in and out privileges. Other transportation options include taking Metrolink from Irvine and then the Light Rail.

Our new Council leadership will be attending the convention and will be in charge of organizing some hospitality get-togethers.

Please feel free to email me at PTANGOLF@aol.com with any questions you might have.

A Lexicon of Learning
Education, like all professions, has a specialized vocabulary that parents and others may have a difficult time understanding. The Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, a highly respected professional education organization, has developed an online resource, A Lexicon of Learning, which provides clear definitions of educational terms, such as "authentic assessment" and "Bloom's Taxonomy," in everyday language. ASCD's Lexicon of Learning can be located at http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/menuitem.4247f922ca8c9ecc8c2a9410d3108a0c/.

COUNCIL WEB SITE
Please remember to use the council website when you need information. Encourage your executive board (that's officers and committee chairs) to utilize the information and communications options available. www.svpta.org

INSTALLATION IDEAS
Don’t want the “same old” thing this year when you install your 2002-2003 officers and executive boards? Well, check out these script for this alternative ideas:

Baseball Installation

INSTALLING OFFICER (TO ASSEMBLY): The PTA movement unites parents, teachers, and other citizens of each community in an organization that has for its sole purpose the welfare of society’s greatest asset—its children. And so in forming this team for your organization the first consideration is for the needs and then the results of constructive cooperation. The batting average of the team members is baseball language. We know that—with the cooperation of the team members in the grandstand—all will be well. First there is spring training, through conventions, district conferences, council meetings, and courses in leadership. Then the first game the actual working of the team together. Good sportsmanship, fair play, team work—those are the qualities that lead to a winning score. Definite rules are provided while on the field. These are given in our Objects and policies, to guide us on to victory, and they guided us over all these years. Will you please rise now, while I read the Objects aloud. (All rise while the Objects are read, then are seated.) Will the team gather for a period of instruction, and as I call your names please come forward.

• AUDITOR: _________, your position on the team will be CATCHER, for it is up to you to catch the mistakes in the financial division of the team. At all times be alert.
• PRESIDENT: ________, your position on the team will be that of PITCHER, for it is up to you to to determine how the game is played. The balls or commands as they are thrown can win or lose for your team; so practice and patience are both needed.
• VICE-PRESIDENT: ________, you are the BASEMAN. For, as the other officers or teammates are going about their work, it is up to you to assist them. Should the pitcher need assistance, be ever ready to step in with willing help.
• SECRETARY: ________, LEFT FIELD is your spot. For this game you not only do your part on the team but also record the plays, so that they can be read back and studied. You must keep a record of each game so that new players can benefit by your scores.
• TREASURER: ________, your place is in the RIGHT FIELD. True, it is far from the catcher, but be sure that his watchful eye is ever on you He will help you to guard your position so that your team can come out on top with the correct score financially.
• HISTORIAN: ________, CENTER FIELD is your location, for from that position no play can escape yu. You, too, will keep a record of the plays and the games as your organization goes through a season, with flying colors These records are especially important, The new team formed here on the field of _______school planning for another successful season.
• PARLIAMENTARIAN: ________, you are the UMPIRE of this team. It is up to you to lay down the law justly, to rule on the actions of the games, to guide the players on the right path—for the welfare of all children.
• PRINCIPAL: Now, there is another man on the field, the BASE UMPIRE. Perhaps that spot should be filled by you, ________, our principal. Won’t you joinn our team? From your position in the field you are capable of evaluating the plays to the best advantage of the team and for the benefit of the children in your care. Your advice and encouragement will be needed at all times and, from your store of wisdom and experience, we feel sure that we shall learn much.
• ASSEMBLY: There are still other members of all teams—the MEN ON THE BENCH. These are the officers who have already served. To them our thanks and appreciation.

To the officers: I now declare you duly installed officers in the ________PTA.

Ceremony of Candles Installation

(Elected officers sit on platform behind installing officer or in front row of assembly. At front, center, is a table on which there stands a large, imposing-looking candle in an interesting holder. The candle should be blue, the other gold. As the installing officer addresses each elected officer in turn, he lights a candle in a holder—one of a group on the table—from the main candle, and hands it to him.) Installing officer to assembly: “This candle we see before us symbolizes the influence of the parent-teacher movement since it beginnings _________ years ago Its light has brightened the paths of countless children who, because of us, are happier and better developed physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. Our good deeds will go on shining, lighting the way for those who follow us, for as long as we have in our movement such dedicated leaders as those you have elected… Will the new officers please come forward.”

• To PRESIDENT (lighting the candle and handing it to her): “To you, __________, our president, I give the light of leadership. May you direct and advise us wisely.”
• To 1ST VICE PRESIDENT: “To you, (name), our first vice president, I give the light of thoughtful service and loyalty to our president. You will assist him in all ways and be prepared to take his place when necessary.”
• To 2ND VICE PRESIDENT: “To you, (name), our second vice president, I give the light of understanding. You will direct the work of our committees, strengthening our organization.”
• To recording secretary: “To you, (name), the recording secretary, I give the light of accuracy and good judgement. Your records will furnish precedents for our successors.
• To TREASURER: “To you, (name), the treasurer, I give the light of abundance. You will oversee the funds that we raise and use, and will report on their status—which we hope will always be good.
• To AUDTIOR: “To you, (name), the auditor, I give the light of constancy. You will be responsible for the constant monitoring of our economic health, and we shall rely on your reports.”
• To HISTORIAN: “To you, (name), the historian, I give the candle whose light represents wisdom. You will record our achievements and the names of those who made them possible.”
• To PARLIAMENTARIAN: “To you, (name), the parliamentarian, I give the light of peace. You are the peacemaker. Your knowledge of parliamentary procedure will the machinery of this organization running smoothly.

(Returns front, center, stands behind table but not directly behind lighted candle.) And all of us, like the new officers, can take example from those who preceded us in this work. Let us all so act, that each of us can truly say, with Burton, the English writer, “I light my candle from their torches.” I now declare you duly installed officers of the __________PTA. Congratulations. Go to the LINKS page of our Council web site for links to other Installation ideas. -- MaryAnne Shults, Communications Chairman