TRAINING BYLAW REQUIREMENTS CLARIFIED
At the 2011 Washington State Convention the delegates approved an amendment to the Uniform Bylaws requiring that all elected executive committee members of each PTA and Council attend training during the PTA year. The amendment required that at least one member of the executive committee attend PTA & the Law, and that all others attend at least one training that “could include, but not be limited to” several specified WSPTA trainings routinely scheduled each year. When the WSPTA Board of Directors discussed this topic at its meeting last weekend some points about the latter requirement were raised that haven’t been widely disseminated. First, training offered through National PTA – including its online offerings availablehere—can count toward satisfaction of the requirement, if the participant submits evidence of having completed the training. In addition, because of the “not limited to” language, PTA or Council officers who have taken training during the current PTA year that they believe is relevant to their PTA positions can submit information about such training to their respective region directors for a determination whether such training satisfies both the letter and spirit of the training bylaw. Of course a number of local units have received onsite training from their region directors and/or service delivery team members, and that training counts as well. Please contact your region director if you have any questions about the Bylaw and your PTA’s compliance.
NEW ONLINE NEWSLETTER IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR BOTH TEACHERS AND PARENTS
Washington State’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) this week announced the debut of an online newsletter called “TEACH.” According to OSPI, the newsletter will highlight opportunities for educators and schools, events and trainings, teaching and learning resources, and features on implementing the Common Core State Standards in Washington classrooms. Even though its focus is on teachers, a review of the first edition indicates that this will also be a valuable resource for parents as well, especially those who want to learn about resources that may be available to their children’s school or school district. For example, the inaugural issue highlights the release of a recently created online resource on dyslexia, with information that is useful to both teachers and parents. You can review the initial issue of the newsletter here, and subscribe to receive it regularly here.
Tacoma Gang Project Parent Survey - closes October 5, 2011
Attached is the Tacoma Gang Project Parent Survey PDF (for those that will not be filled out online) and here is the link to the Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TGA_Parents
I have also attached the Tacoma Gang Project Fact Sheet that explains the project. Another avenue for folks is to visit our website: www.cityoftacoma.org/2011TacomaGangProject.
Please use all three resources as needed AND please distribute widely to your Tacoma parents! The survey will close on 10/5/11.
Melissa Cordeiro
Contract Specialist
Gang Project Coordinator
City of Tacoma
Phone: 253-591-5155
TTY: 253-591-5153
I have also attached the Tacoma Gang Project Fact Sheet that explains the project. Another avenue for folks is to visit our website: www.cityoftacoma.org/2011TacomaGangProject.
Please use all three resources as needed AND please distribute widely to your Tacoma parents! The survey will close on 10/5/11.
Melissa Cordeiro
Contract Specialist
Gang Project Coordinator
City of Tacoma
Phone: 253-591-5155
TTY: 253-591-5153
| tacoma_gang_project_fact_sheet_2011x.pdf |
| community_parents_survey_final.pdf |
Ideas for A Successful Year
from Karen L. Albers Vice President Washington State PTA September 2011
Here are some ideas that may help you have a successful year:
* Membership Roundtables - invite LU membership chairs:
* sharing and training to promote membership efforts in your council
* invite the region outreach chair to discuss ideas to promote/increase culture diversity, increase male, student & teacher involvement, etc
* Advocacy Roundtable - invite LU legislative chairs
* for sharing and training to promote advocacy efforts in your council
* Legislative Assembly issues Q&A
* Candidate Forums - invite all candidates for school board &/or city council
* Region Director elections: hold a candidate forum in the event multiple candidates run for the position of Region Director.
* Legislative Roundtables
* after Legislative Assembly, invite your legislators to discuss the WSPTA top priorities issues
* invite the community to attend
* IRS/WA tax document training - invite LU treasurers
* hold a '990 party' to assist in completion of documents
* Book Fairs/Fundraisers - share successes & lessons learned
* Reflections Roundtable - invite LU Reflections' chairs
* discuss rule changes, share ideas, plan Council Reflections Program
* Programs & Awards
* discuss, encourage, promote WSPTA and NPTA awards
* hold an 'Honor Unit' &/or 'Standards of Excellence' night- encourage and assist LUs participation
* make it fun, creative, advertise as a scrapbooking party, provide examples of previous award recipients.
* Training - examples are endless...
* Nominating Committee, JITLs, NPTAs e-Learning courses, Boardsmanship, Conflict Management, Cultural Competency, Grant Writing
* assist region director to ensure all LU officers receive the applicable training in accordance with WSPTA Uniform Bylaws Article 5 Section 2(a)
* Websites - host a night to create LU websites
* invite a web designer to provide assistance on creating & maintaining a website
* NOTE: there are many free web hosting services (e.g., wix, weebly, google, etc)
* Levy & Bond Workshops
* discuss how LUs can be involved in promoting school levy and bond
* Annual Convention Preparation
* discuss classes, proposed bylaw amendments, resolutions, and WSPTA Nominating Committee Report (this year nominations will include: Finance Officer, Secretary, Leadership Director, Programs Director and three at-large nominating committee members).
* End of Year Awards Ceremony
* Recognize and celebrate LU and Council volunteers for their commitment to children
* Hold the ceremony during a school board meeting
* Community Involvement - Parent/Community Educations
* Invite school district superintendent & school board
* Curriculum
* Levy & Bond Info
* How state budget cuts affect your school district
* Parent/Teacher conferences
* Invite local law enforcement to discuss:
* Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Awareness
* Sexting - What it means? What's the law?
* Gang Violence & Awareness
* Texting & Driving
* Invite local health department:
* Food Handling Card class
* STDs, Teen Pregnancy, HIV/AIDS Awareness
* Virus & Bacteria: Flu, Meningitis, Pneumonia, Whooping Cough, TB, etc
* Head Injuries: Football Concussions &/or Bicycle Helmets, etc
* Healthy Lifestyles - Nutrition & Fitness
What does your council do to engage local units? How do you engage your community? Please share your ideas and programs online. I would like to collect as many ideas as possible to include on the WSPTA website.
Have a terrific year!
Karen L. Albers
Vice President
Washington State PTA
everychild. onevoice.
509.375.5356
"It is important to remember that we cannot become what
we need to be by remaining what we are. We must do
everything we can do as both leaders and members."
* Membership Roundtables - invite LU membership chairs:
* sharing and training to promote membership efforts in your council
* invite the region outreach chair to discuss ideas to promote/increase culture diversity, increase male, student & teacher involvement, etc
* Advocacy Roundtable - invite LU legislative chairs
* for sharing and training to promote advocacy efforts in your council
* Legislative Assembly issues Q&A
* Candidate Forums - invite all candidates for school board &/or city council
* Region Director elections: hold a candidate forum in the event multiple candidates run for the position of Region Director.
* Legislative Roundtables
* after Legislative Assembly, invite your legislators to discuss the WSPTA top priorities issues
* invite the community to attend
* IRS/WA tax document training - invite LU treasurers
* hold a '990 party' to assist in completion of documents
* Book Fairs/Fundraisers - share successes & lessons learned
* Reflections Roundtable - invite LU Reflections' chairs
* discuss rule changes, share ideas, plan Council Reflections Program
* Programs & Awards
* discuss, encourage, promote WSPTA and NPTA awards
* hold an 'Honor Unit' &/or 'Standards of Excellence' night- encourage and assist LUs participation
* make it fun, creative, advertise as a scrapbooking party, provide examples of previous award recipients.
* Training - examples are endless...
* Nominating Committee, JITLs, NPTAs e-Learning courses, Boardsmanship, Conflict Management, Cultural Competency, Grant Writing
* assist region director to ensure all LU officers receive the applicable training in accordance with WSPTA Uniform Bylaws Article 5 Section 2(a)
* Websites - host a night to create LU websites
* invite a web designer to provide assistance on creating & maintaining a website
* NOTE: there are many free web hosting services (e.g., wix, weebly, google, etc)
* Levy & Bond Workshops
* discuss how LUs can be involved in promoting school levy and bond
* Annual Convention Preparation
* discuss classes, proposed bylaw amendments, resolutions, and WSPTA Nominating Committee Report (this year nominations will include: Finance Officer, Secretary, Leadership Director, Programs Director and three at-large nominating committee members).
* End of Year Awards Ceremony
* Recognize and celebrate LU and Council volunteers for their commitment to children
* Hold the ceremony during a school board meeting
* Community Involvement - Parent/Community Educations
* Invite school district superintendent & school board
* Curriculum
* Levy & Bond Info
* How state budget cuts affect your school district
* Parent/Teacher conferences
* Invite local law enforcement to discuss:
* Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Awareness
* Sexting - What it means? What's the law?
* Gang Violence & Awareness
* Texting & Driving
* Invite local health department:
* Food Handling Card class
* STDs, Teen Pregnancy, HIV/AIDS Awareness
* Virus & Bacteria: Flu, Meningitis, Pneumonia, Whooping Cough, TB, etc
* Head Injuries: Football Concussions &/or Bicycle Helmets, etc
* Healthy Lifestyles - Nutrition & Fitness
What does your council do to engage local units? How do you engage your community? Please share your ideas and programs online. I would like to collect as many ideas as possible to include on the WSPTA website.
Have a terrific year!
Karen L. Albers
Vice President
Washington State PTA
everychild. onevoice.
509.375.5356
"It is important to remember that we cannot become what
we need to be by remaining what we are. We must do
everything we can do as both leaders and members."
