by Dolores Winchell,

Fall Greetings,

Heading into the second month of the school year, you should all be a good part of the way through your membership drive. Please continue to forward per-capita membership dues as you receive them. Because these monies don't belong to the unit, it is not necessary to make a motion to release any of these monies.

YEAR-END AUDITS

By now, you should all have your budgets adopted and goals established and voted on for 2003-04. In addition, you should all have your audits for period ending June 30, 2003, adopted and submitted to Luis Alvarado, our auditor. Keep in mind that the California State PTA is watching compliance closely and threatening to pull charters from PTAs who don't follow basic procedures. Please contact Luis immediately if you are having problems getting your audit completed.

YEAR-END STATMENTS

Each unit needs to prepare and submit a year-end financial statement for fiscal year July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003. This should really already be done, as your budget committee needed this information to plan the current budget. The only difference this year is that council is requesting a copy of this report as a new requirement by Fourth District PTA. This financial report should be a snapshot showing your unit proposed budget with the actuals in the next column and the difference in the final column. This should, of course be reflected for both revenue and expense. FUND RAISING POLICY COMMITTEE
Last month I had the opportunity to represent all PTAs in SVUSD serving as a member of the Fund Raising Policy Committee. There were folks representing all major areas of the district including elementary, intermediate and high school, with both parent volunteers and staff from various levels and locations throughout the district. This committee was asked to develop a draft Board of Education Policy regarding outside group fund-raisers. We met twice in September and came up with a proposed policy that all members of the committee had a voice in drafting. That proposed board policy will be presented for informational purposes at the October 14 school board meeting. It is my understanding that the board will not take a position on adopting the policy that evening as it must be introduced first and then may be voted on at a later meeting. I invite and encourage you all to attend this meeting. SUPERINTENDENT'S FORUM
I am pleased to report that Wednesday, October 29, will be our first Superintendent's Forum at 9:30 AM in the board conference room. This is an opportunity to meet in a small group with the Dr. Gross and lends itself to small group discussion. This is the only gathering that we limit attendance and ask that each unit president personally attend or send a representative. Please do not bring guests, as we have limited seating. We are still mulling over the topic for that forum, so watch your mailbox for an invitation and information to be discussed. UNIT MEETINGS
At last month's meeting I neglected to advise you that in order to comply with my council president responsibilities, I will be attempting to attend at least one unit board/association meeting for every unit this school year. That is one of reasons why I requested your meeting calendars. My attendance is intended to simply support you and your PTA. I do not need to be on the agenda, but would be pleased to briefly describe how council supports your unit. I will contact you in advance to verify if the meeting I would like to attend would work for you. On the same token, if there is a particular meeting you would like me to attend, feel free to contact me so we can discuss. It is really exciting to see the unique differences in our units. You are all doing a wonderful job of leading units who provide enriching programs and activities for the children of SVUSD! GENERAL ASSOCIATION COUNCIL MEETING
This month our council meeting will be held at the district office. Although the meeting will not begin until 7:30 PM, I strongly encourage you to arrive 15 to 30 minutes early to participate in valuable networking with your peers. I was really pleased with the turnout at the September meeting and wish to remind you to please line up, in advance, a replacement to attend the monthly council meeting in the event you cannot. We pass on a lot of information. Last month we distributed membership cards with additional membership benefit perks, including a full discussion of how the new Kinko's PTA relationship works for both units and members.

Support your team by making sure you have a substitute player for every game (meeting)! Please feel free to contact me at president@svpta.org, (949) 458-2109, Fax (949) 458-7884.

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OCTOBER 23 COUNCIL MEETING: SVUSD BOARD ROOM, 7:30 P.M.

ITEMS TO BRING TO THE MEETING:

Document, # of copies, Council Folder

1. Annual Financial Report (2 copies) - (1) President and (1) Treasurer
2. Early Bird & Chairman's Club Remittance of Per Capita Dues - check with Remittance Form - Treasurer (form available on website)
3. Association Approved Goals for 2003-04 School Year - President
4. Items for Incentive Chart - VP

Items Previously Requested:

1. Unit Board and Association Meeting Schedule for 2003-04 w/times and dates - President
2. Adopted, signed audits (2 copies) - Auditor
3. Approved Annual Budget (2 copies) - (1) President/ (1) Treasurer

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"What does education often do? It makes a straight cut ditch of a free meandering brook."
-Henry David Thoreau

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS...

Wednesday, Oct. 1 Fourth District Workshops
Thursday, Oct. 2 Fourth District Workshops
Monday, Oct. 6 Fall Recess Day
Tuesday, Oct. 7 Election Day
Wednesday, Oct. 8 Walk to School Day
Thursday, Oct. 9 High School Back To School Night
Tuesday, Oct. 14 School Board Meeting, SVUSD Board Room - 7:00 PM
Week of Oct. 20 - 24 Red Ribbon Week
Thursday, Oct. 23 PTA Council Meeting, SVUSD Board Room - 7:30 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 29 Superintendent's Forum, SVUSD Board Conference Room - 9:30 AM
Friday, Oct. 31 Staff Development - Non school day for students

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Thinking Ahead About Your Audit

By Sandy Blumberg, Fourth District PTA Auditor, as published in the October 2003 issue of "Orange Leaves".

Remember, this year audits are being collected and accounted for, much like your dues and insurance. In order to ensure an audit is performed and in on time, be thinking about what you need to have from the treasurer. I suggest you talk with your treasurer very early on to establish the criteria you will be using. Set up a time frame for receiving the materials you will need and the date you will return them. Most PTAs (units, councils and districts) perform audits in December during the holiday break and have them completed very early in January. Units should check with their councils to find out when they will be collecting audits. With a little bit of planning, audits are less stressful and a great way to make sure things are A-OK!

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Saddleback Valley PTA Incentive Chart 2003/ 2004

Just a reminder that besides the monthly prizes we give out at the meetings, these are the following ways to earn tickets for the grand prize. The executive board knows everything you do at your school is important. This is just a way to make it fun!

• Attend monthly meetings (or send board member) - 10 tickets each
• Appoint Legislative Rep. - 10 tickets
• Attend school board meetings -5 tickets (please e-mail me to let me know)
• Attend convention -10 tickets
• Attend Sacramento Safari - 10 tickets
• Attend council/ district workshops- 5 tickets
• Bring board member to council meeting -3 tickets
• Attend Superintendent's Forum 5 - tickets each

The following must be turned in on time to receive 1 ticket each

• Officer list
• Meeting schedule
• Budget
• Membership money (earlybird award)
• Turn in both audit reports (one ticket each)
• Turn in insurance payment
• Submit annual reports
• Submit annual financial report (new this year)
• Additional ways to earn tickets (1 each)
• Hold a Family Fun Night
• Have Parent Ed night
• Fill out awards applications/ and or grants
• Complete Bylaws update
• Hold Reflections program
• Turn in a fundraiser evaluation
• Turn in program evaluation
• Attend legislative roundtables
• Visit our legislator's offices
• Increase in membership over 2% or 22 people (5 tickets)
• Turn in newsletters monthly for contest
• Had School Readiness program

Please e-mail me at vp@svpta.org with any questions.
Karen Edwards

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HISPANIC OUTREACH INITIATIVE RESOURCE KIT

National PTA launched its Hispanic Outreach Initiative early in 2003, with overwhelmingly positive responses. To help your PTA replicate this mentor-protege program in your state, we have developed a Hispanic Outreach Initiative resource kit for PTAs. While this initiative focuses on developing Hispanic leaders and increasing Hispanic membership, it can also be used as a model to reach out to all groups within your state. For your kit, go to: www.pta.org/members/planning/expanding/diverse.asp

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By Bridget White,
Reflections Chairman

Looks like we are going to have a very fun time this year. I am looking forward to seeing what the children will do with their projects. Thank you to all of you new and returning Reflections chair people. It is a lot of work, but it is all worth it when you see what our children can do. It is truly inspiring.

National PTA believes all children deserve a quality arts education and encourages students to pursue artistic expression through participation in its annual arts Reflections Program. The program offers students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition.

Each year, the Reflections Program challenges students to create art that supports a specific theme. Themes are selected from thousands of ideas submitted by students to the National PTA's Reflections Program Theme Search. The theme for the 2003-2004 season is " I'm really happy when..."

A great learning experience
When children express themselves Participating in the Reflections Program is an opportunity for students to explore and learn about various art forms. It does not matter whether an entry created for the Reflections Program has been created as a classroom assignment or independently at home. Artistic exploration and expression enhance and develop intellectual, social, and physical skills. Creating art is a valuable learning process.

The program is designed to enhance rather than replace a quality arts education. It provides opportunities for students to express themselves and to receive positive recognition for National PTA's Reflections their artistic efforts. Parents, teachers, and community members all play a critical role in fostering a positive learning environment for children.

The Reflections Program is structured for PTAs to recognize students at the local, council, district, state, and national levels. Entries are first judged at the local level, where selected works, are chosen to represent the PTA at each subsequent level-council, district, or state-depending on each state PTA's structure. Once entries reach the state level, the state PTA may select entries to submit to the National PTA. Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit are recognized at the annual National PTA Convention and are displayed as a part of the program's traveling exhibit.

A lot of information is already in place for you. It is in the California State Toolkit; please get a copy of the Reflections portion from your president (there is an update to it from the summer mailing). Read your packet thoroughly. Note rules that may have been added or taken away, deadlines, and new forms. There is Reflections information on the Council website (www.svpta.org/reflections.html) and additional forms are posted on (www.svpta.org/forms.html).

We had a great workshop last month. I sent workshop packets with the presidents for those Reflections chair people that did not attend. Please give me a call with any questions. You can contact me at 949-766-0778, or e-mail at reflections@svpta.org. I want this to be a great program this year and I look forward to working with you all. The children's entries are due to me at Council level on Thursday, November 20. You can bring or send them with your president to the Council meeting at 10:00 a.m. at Rancho Canada Elementary School.

Fourth District PTA Recognition and Honors
Awards will be given at an awards reception that will take place at the opening of a show of the works that make it to the Fourth district level, on January 10, 2004. The show will be open again on January 17 for public viewing at the Legacy Art Gallery, Santora Arts Building located at 207 N. Broadway, Lower Level, Suite B7A in the Artists Village in Santa Ana (phone: 714.558.0387). Directions to the Legacy Art Gallery: Take the 5 frwy North and exit 1st Street to the left. Make a right turn on Broadway and make a right turn on 3rd St. There are two parking lots and one parking structure there; or, take the 5 frwy south and exit Broadway continue south to 3rd St and turn left to parking areas.

Thank you again. I hope you have fun with the program.

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Finding That Elusive Legislation Chair

In terms of your PTA making a difference, the Legislation Chair could be the most influential position on your PTA Board but it is often the most difficult to fill.

The past president of the Washington State PTA stated:

"The position of Legislation Chair is an important one to fill, but often left for last to fill as we recruit board members. I know the right person for the job is in your community, just waiting to be asked."

Who are they? They might be:

• A "retired" past PTA president,
• A vocal parent at the school, who needs to direct their passion in a positive direction,
• A working parent, who can't be at school during the day but wants to be involved,
• Someone who is active in politics in other areas of their life,
• Someone who doesn't know much about legislation but is willing to learn,
• Someone who is new to the school who was Legislative Chair at their last PTA.

They may not know that position exists. Make sure you promote the position of Legislative Chair in your Publications and at your meetings."

Personal contact is the most effective method of reaching people. That is why I would be willing to speak at your PTA General Membership Meetings. I would briefly talk about PTA Legislation and what I plan to do to assist PTA Legislation Chairs.

I would be available to answer questions and hopefully come away with the name of someone at your PTA who wants to make a difference in a big way.

Dennis Walsh, Legislative Rep, legislative@svpta.org

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