Council News Online
Saddleback Valley PTA Council Newsletter
Saddleback Valley PTA Council
25631 Peter A. Hartman Way • Mission Viejo, CA 92691 • www.svpta.org
25631 Peter A. Hartman Way • Mission Viejo, CA 92691 • www.svpta.org
President: Bridget White • Newsletter Editor: MaryAnne Shults
August 2004
President's Message
by Bridget White,
Summer is fast coming to a close, as it whirled by at top speed. The time for implementing our plans for the year has come. I look forward to working with you all. We have a great opportunity to set the tone for our units. Be clear with your goals and purposed budget. With definite goals set everyone knows what they are working toward.
We had a wonderful turn out to the workshop in July, How to Train and Orientate Your Board. Great ideas and questions were shared and discussed. I mailed the packet's to those of you who could not attend. I wish this workshop was available when I was a unit President. We take for granted that everyone will know how our PTA's run, and they don't. This workshop was so valuable to the president's, so they can present a workshop to their PTA to get everyone on the same track, know their jobs, who to contact, when things are due, etc, etc.
As your new Council President I am going to endeavor to keep you informed of what's going on as it is passed to me. It is then your job that this information be passed on to your appropriate Board and Chair members. That may be the hardest thing to do, to keep the information going. Use our website and newsletter. Anyone can go to www.svpta.org and see what's going on, encourage your Board and Chair members to access this website for information and to read our newsletter, or to contact their Council Board members for questions, that's what we are here for.
TOOLKIT, BYLAWS AND REFLECTIONS... OH MY!
You should be getting your Toolkits from the California State PTA in September. You can, and should, go to www.CAPTA.org to see the Toolkit now. Your Reflections Chair may want to access this website to get the new Reflections entry forms and rules so they can get started with their program. The Reflections section, and all applicable forms, are located at http://www.capta.org/sections/programs/reflections.cfm. Please copy sections of the Toolkit that are pertinent and give them to your Board and Chair people. There will be some new forms and information for them included. Give everyone a copy of your units bylaws, many questions people have can be answered from the Toolkit and bylaws.
Our first meeting is Thursday, August 26th, at 6:30 PM, in the board room at the District office. Please bring your unit Board and Association meeting schedule with times and dates. Be sure to read MaryAnne's column regarding updating info on your unit officer/chairmen rosters. This information is for our directory and Council members. If we can contact them directly it will save you a lot of work!
Well, that's it for now. Let's get going and let the fun and adventure begin. Enjoy the last of summer, relax and breath. We have a big exciting year ahead, with new and old friends. We are all volunteering for the same cause, our children and their schools. We have a lot of the same goals, and a lot of good people to share ideas with and to support us. Let me know if you need anything, if I don't know the answer, I'll find out.
AUGUST 26TH, 2004: 6:30 P.M., SVUSD BOARD ROOM
ITEMS TO BRING TO THE MEETING:
1. Unit Board and Association Meeting Schedule for 2004-05 with times and dates.
2. Unit Audit through June 30, 2004.
Thursday, August 19 - Executive Board - Planning Meeting/Dinner - 6:30 PM
Thursday, August 26 - Unit Presidents' Meeting - 6:30 PM
Tuesday, September 7 - School Board Meeting - 7:00 PM, SVUSD Board Room
Thursday, September 9 - First Day of School
Wednesday, September 15 - President/Principal Breakfast - 9:00 AM, SVUSD Board Room
Thursday, September 16 - NO SCHOOL - Fall Recess Day
Thursday, September 23 - Executive Board/Unit President Meeting
Thursday, September 30 - Elementary School, Back-to-School Night (Elem. Minimum Day)
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MEMBERSHIP WORKSHOP
Monday, September 13, 2004 |
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Our goal, as a PTA Council this year, is to help you build "an all-star" team at each and every school site. Your membership chairmen are responsible for helping you "recruit" new and "veteran" members for your team. This season of "drafting" is a time to focus on and include all families at your school. We strive to work together for the benefit of all children in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. Last year we saw many positive results due to the efforts of our PTA units; we expect the same this year. Our PTAs promote a positive school environment for our children to flourish and learn.
The National PTA (founded in 1897) has played an important role in many areas including child labor laws, hot school lunches, early childhood development and Children's Television Act (to improve TV programs) to name a few. Although most members join because they care about their child's school, every member is also a part of a much bigger organization. The National PTA has over 6.2 million members, with 26,000 units in all 50 states! PTA is the largest volunteer organization working exclusively for children. Your PTA leaders set the example for the whole "team" and I am sure they set a climate of inclusiveness. It is important to reach new families at your school or just families that have never joined before. PTA is so MUCH more than "bake sales" - get the word out!
MEMBERSHIP THEMES:
Start your membership drive off with a catchy theme. Prepare a bulletin board display where parents, students and teachers can visually see your membership goals. Don't forget to encourage your teachers and staff to join. You may also want to ask you local city elected officials, local business people or friends of your school. Some themes are:
• Be Part of the Production - Join the Cast
• Strike it Rich With PTA
• Get Roped Into PTA (Western Theme)
• Sea-ing is Believing (Ocean theme)
• Grow With Us (Gardening Theme)
• Complete Our Puzzle, Join PTA - Where Everybody Fits (Puzzle pieces were used)
I would love to hear what theme you are using - I am sure many of your units are very creative! Accurate record keeping is a must in regards to membership. If this is a challenge for you, ask someone in your unit who is good with numbers to help! If your unit allows for family memberships, you need to review your bylaws to verify exactly how many members that represents (many units have indicated that a family membership represents two members. When you track the name and number of members, it is important that you list two names and count two members.) You must remit $3.85 for each member who joins PTA. Please call me if you have any questions regarding this matter.
In order to be eligible for a California State PTA Creative Membership Award, you must meet all the above membership deadlines. This application is sent directly to the State office by February 1, 2005. Check your Toolkit for an application.
IMPORTANT DUE DATES
Early Bird Award (15 members min) - Council Meeting on September 23, 2004
Chairman's Club (50 members +) - Council Meeting on October 28, 2004
Final Membership Remittance - Council Meeting on February 24, 2005
Please remember that I am here to help you and your Membership Chairmen. Please let me know how I can assist you. It is the goal of the Saddleback Valley PTA Council to support you at the unit level in every way possible.
Attention Presidents and Auditors:
As specified by your unit bylaws, all units must complete a year-end audit. Our last fiscal year ran from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004. Therefore, your audit must be completed by your first board meeting (most units have a board meeting in August). For new Auditors, you should refer to the California State PTA Toolkit. Under the "Finance Section" you will find complete step-by-step procedures. If you do not have this publication, it is available from the California State PTA website at www.capta.org/sections/communication/toolkit.cfm
By way of "motion", the final completed audit needs to be adopted by your association at a general unit meeting. The adoption date must be indicated on the audit. A signed copy is attached to the meeting minutes and filed with your Secretary. Two additional copies of your adopted audit need to be submitted to me by our September 23, 2004 meeting (or they can be mailed to Julie Schwarz at 26936 Falling Leaf Drive, Laguna Hills, CA 92653).
Please feel free to with any questions or concerns.
By MaryAnne Shults, Communications Chairman,
First, I want to thank all of you who so graciously submitted your unit rosters using the Word and/or Excel forms that were distributed in the spring.
By this time, most of you have already met with your boards, reviewed your budget recommendations and are ready to roll. Many of you had several officer and/or committee chair positions vacant in the spring, or you did not have information such as email addresses or mailing addresses.
Because most of the council's communication is handled via email and/or telephone, it is very important that we have that information for the unit counterparts.
Please be sure to update your most current unit roster and if you need a copy of your electronic roster file, let me know and I'll be happy to send it to you (please advise if you need Word, Excel or if there is another format you prefer. Thank so much for all your cooperation and we'll see you soon!
2004-2005 Meeting Schedule
UNIT PRESIDENT / EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS FOR 2004-2005
| Thursday, August 26 | 6:30 PM | Unit Presidents | SVUSD Board Room |
| Wednesday, September 15 | 9:00 AM | President/Principal Breakfast | SVUSD Board Room |
| Thursday, September 23 | 8:45 AM 10:00 AM |
Executive Board General Meeting |
Rancho Canada Elem. |
| Thursday, October 28 | 6:00 PM 7:30 PM |
Executive Board General Meeting |
SVUSD Board Room |
| Thursday, November 18 | 8:45 AM 10:00 AM |
Executive Board General Meeting |
Rancho Canada Elem. |
| December - No Meeting | |||
| Thursday, January 27 | 8:45 AM 10:00 AM |
Executive Board General Meeting |
Rancho Canada Elem. |
| Thursday, February 24 | 6:00 PM 7:30 PM |
Executive Board General Meeting |
SVUSD Board Room |
| Thursday, March 24 | 8:45 AM 10:00 AM |
Executive Board General Meeting |
Rancho Canada Elem. |
| Monday, April 25 (tentative) |
6:00 PM 7:30 PM |
Executive Board General Meeting |
SVUSD Board Room |
| Thursday, May 19 | 6:30 PM | End-of-year dinner meeting (incoming & outgoing presidents) |
TBA |
| Thursday, June 2 | 6:00 PM | Officer Training Workshops | SVUSD Board Room |
All the morning meetings are at Rancho Canada Elementary School, at 21801 Winding Way, Lake Forest. (Major cross streets are Lake Forest and Trabuco). All the night meetings are in the SVUSD Board Room.
(From National PTA Weekly - ptanews@list.pta.org)
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• Step one: Each student gets a free personalized school ID card every year, for as long as he or she attends the school. The cards are customized with the student's photo and important personal data, plus the school's name, address, and phone number in school colors.
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I Am Small But Significant.
I, If Used, Create Confidence In Leadership.
I Give Proper Directions For Procedure.
I Should Be Known By Everyone Because
I Help All To Understand The Rules Of The Unit.
I Hope I'm Able To Attend Every Meeting.
I Should Be Safe, But Present.
I Am Praised For My Efficiency.
I Want To Serve My Organization By Being Used.
I Am Young, Never More Than Two (2) Years Old.
What Am I?
I AM YOUR BYLAWS
