Together We Shape The Future
Think your unit cannot afford to send officers to convention this year?
The truth is, now more than ever, PTA leaders cannot afford to miss convention. Why? Because most of the challenges your unit is currently facing are ones that other units have been or will be dealing with and Missouri PTA has the wxperience to assist you and offer solutions tailored just ofr you.
Conflict resolution, budget, membership, Reflections, and leadership are just a small representation on the topics that we will cover in workshops. If you have questions about a specific issue, there will be someone at convention who can answer it.
Plus, your ideas and input are valuable tools that other units as well as Missouri PTA need to hear! That is what makes convention so valuable-the exchange of ideas!
The members of your PTA deserve to have the most highly trained leaders possible and Missouri PTA’s 2010 conventions promises to give delegates that training as well as support and guidance.
Please plan to join us on October 15-17 in Columbia for our annual convention. If you have any questions, please call the state office or email pattyv@mopta.org
Convention Registrations must be postmarked on or before September 24th.
*taken from CONTACT magazine, September 2010
Feel like a deer in the headlights when it comes to running an effective PTA meeting? Does the mere mention of motions and bylaws send you running for the hills? There is only one way to conduct a smooth and effective meeting – train, train, train. “How To Get Home By Midnight” is a workshop being offered by the Jacomo Unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians at the Hilton Garden Inn in Independence on October 2nd, 2010. This workshop is designed to arm you with the knowledge you need to make those meetings as painless as possible. See the attached flyer for registration information.
by Ava Payne, CONTACT Editor
As much as we hope to avoid or prevent it, sometimes bad things happen in PTA. Someone falls at Muffins with Moms or gets hurt in the bounce house at your carnival. PTA merchandise or property is stolen. A trusted PTA officer embezzles from the unit’s bank account. A parent decides to sue your PTA unit, but also the officers personally. Are you prepared? Just like any business, a PTA is exposed to risks. No one can guarantee that things are going to run smoothly all the time, but there are ways to protect yourselves.
Does your unit or council have insurance? Many companies offer policies that cover against general liability (for example, if someone is injured at a PTA event), medical accident (i.e., injuries that may occur). Companies also offer bonding insurance that covers anyone that you PTA trusts with money, whether it’s an officer, board member, volunteer, or even a courier. Property insurance is available which protects items such as raffle items or fundraising supplies, as well as PTA property, such as popcorn machines, school store supplies, and more.
Also offered is the Directors and Officers Liability insurance that protects officers for any decision-making they do. If someone sues the officers for mismanaging or misrepresenting your group, this policy would pay the legal bills and provide protection for such allegations.
Coverage amounts can vary, depending on your unit/council’s needs. While neither National PTA or Missouri PTA requires units or councils to buy insurance, it’s something to consider.
*Taken from CONTACT magazine, September 2010
National PTA and Facebook announced a formal collaboration to promote responsible and safe Internet use to kids, parents and teachers. Together, National PTA and Facebook will establish a comprehensive program that will provide information, support and news to encourage citizenship online, reduce cyberbullying and advance Internet safety and security.
The partnership is founded on the belief that awareness is essential to supporting safe and responsible Internet use. Thus, in addition to creating comprehensive and engaging resources, PTA and Facebook are committing to aggressively promoting Internet safety information to their respective audiences. National PTA will use its Website, and actively reach out to the 24,000 local PTAs across the country with a goal of reaching every American public school. Facebook wil raise awareness of the resources among the hundreds of millions of parents, teachers and children using its service through an in-kind Facebook commitment equivalent to $1 million and promotion on other parts of the site, including the safety center.
As part of the agreement, both PTA and Facebook are committed to working to shrink the digital divide, be reaching families, regardless of income or race and providing them with tools and resources to keep them digitally smart on-line.
To stay up to date on the initiative visit the PTA’s Facebook page and the Facebook in Education page.
*reprinted from CONTACT magazine, September 2010 – To subscribe to CONTACT magazine visit the MOPTA website
Thank you to all of the PTA units for their support of the Columbia Public Schools bond issue. Whether you made a financial donation, handed out postcards on election day, or posted a Vote Yes sign in your frontyard, your efforts in supporting our schools has been noticed and appreciated. Thanks.
