News You Can Use - January 17, 2018
Useful Information to Support Your PTAs Success
and to Share With Your Community
This message has been sent to all current PTA leaders in our database.
Worker's Comp - Past Due - Need by Jan 19

All units must fill out a Workers' Comp Form. 
Yes, every unit.

Why is it important that we receive your form even if you have not paid someone? It's one of several factors that can impact the future increase in the cost of the insurance premium all PTAs pay.
 
If you have NOT paid someone:
  • The form must still be turned in.
  • It only takes five (5) minutes.
  • All you need to write is "No One Paid" under "Name of Worker" or "Name of Payee". 
  • The form can be signed by the PTA President or Treasurer.
  • Then sign, seal, and deliver to council (in-council units) or Sixth District (out-of-council units).
 
If you have you have paid someone:
  • Please see the NEW detailed instructions for the Workers' Comp form in the Financial Mailing from CAPTA. 
  • Your PTA president should have received a copy in the mail or click here for the full packet. 
  • The Workers' Comp form can be signed by the PTA President or Treasurer. 
  • Units that do not need to pay any additional persons in December, please send your form in now. 
  • If you will still be making a payment in December, please wait to mail the form until the last person is paid. 

Questions: Contact Sixth District Treasurer, Sandee Ruiz at  [email protected]

Parent Ed
Wilcox High School PTSA invites you to
 
IMPACT: Teen Drivers 

Wednesday, January 31, 2018 
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Wilcox High School Theater
Mission City Center for Performing Arts
3250 Monroe Street  [map] 
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Free event
Parents and Students are all welcome

Learn about teen driving requirements and limitations and distracted driving in this day and age of electronic devices.
 
Learn about:
  • Strategies to keep your kids safe on the roads
  • Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) laws 
  • How YOU can help stop the #1 killer of teens in America - reckless and distracted driving

Facts to consider:
  • You need 50 hours of supervised driving experience with an adult to obtain a California driver's license.
  • It takes only 6 hours of supervised behind the wheel experience with a certified driving instructor to get a California driver's license. Yet, a manicurist must complete 400 hours under supervision to be licensed in the state of California.
  • Teen drivers are at the highest risk. The crash rate (per mile driven) for 16 year olds is four times that of adult drivers.
  • Having passengers is a serious distraction for teen drivers. Carrying 3 or more passengers increases the risk of a crash for 16 and 17 year olds three-fold compared to driving alone.
Parent Ed
 
The Smart Talk: Internet Safety

Tuesday, February 6
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm - Light Dinner
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm - Event
Gunderson High School
622 Gaundabert Lane [map]
San Jose
Free
RSVP requested so we have enough food
Sponsored by National PTA and Sixth District PTA

What you hope your kids are doing online isn't always what they're doing. Join Sixth District PTA to learn how you can use "The Smart Talk" to get on the same page with your kids and establish an open conversation about digital safety.


Sixth District's Annual Luncheon
 
Friday, March 2, 2017  
11:30 am to 1:30 pm
David's Restaurant
5151 Stars & Stripes Drive [map]
Santa Clara
RSVP by Monday, Feb 19 (early deadline)
 
This year, our speaker will be Dianna MacDonald, President, California State PTA. She will be speaking on  "Effective Communication, Relationships, and PTA" .
 
Each year, parents, principals, superintendents, school board members and elected officials attend the Sixth District luncheon.  This is an excellent opportunity to hear a wonderful speaker and to meet members of your community and other PTA leaders in Sixth District.
 
For full details and registration form. Sign up today!
 
Questions: Please contact Afia Laiq, VP Organizational Services 

Finding the Best People to Lead Your PTA
 
Most PTA's want to have their nominating committee, find the best nominee for each position, and to have those individuals be a team that will work well together.
 
To help your nominating committee get started with the process, we have resources from CAPTA and Georgia State PTA:
 
 
Nominating Committee First Meeting Agenda
                                   Second Meeting Agenda
                                   Third Meeting Agenda
 
 
 
 

Protect Your PTA from Email-Phishing
 
Both email-phishing scams and crypto ransomware/malware are increasingly common and can have devastating impacts on businesses and non-profit associations of all sizes. As a non-profit association, PTA can be vulnerable to these types of cyber-crimes at all levels and, in fact, we have heard reports of email-phishing scams happening to local leaders (including recently here within the Sixth District area) .
 
Email-phishing scams are typically fraudulent email messages appearing to come from legitimate enterprises (e.g., your PTA treasurer or president, your Internet service provider, your bank). 
  • These messages usually direct you to a spoofed website or otherwise get you to divulge private information such as bank account information or account passwords. 
  • The perpetrators then use this private information to commit identity theft or trick you to wire money.
 
Information to keep in mind:
  • As a reminder, PTA policy states that payments can only be made by a check with two signatures. 
  • If you get an email from a fellow PTA officer asking to wire funds, do not send money. 
  • Establish communication "backchannels" such as text message or phone calls to verify the authenticity of the request. 
  • Additionally, remember to keep your personal and PTA computer systems and firewalls up-to-date to minimize the potential for viruses to inflect your system with malware.
  • New financial procedures for electronic funds transfers and bank bill pay services have been approved by CAPTA. The "Authorization for Payment via EFT/Bank Bill Pay Services" must also be pre-approved and be signed by two authorized check signers before any transfer/transaction may be initiated. Updated information on this new policy (for EFT's and bank bill pay services) and the new form will be available shortly in the online Toolkit. (2017-18 CAPTA Financial Mailing sent to presidents included information).

 

Additional Resources:
 
Questions, please contact your council treasurer or Sandee Ruiz, Sixth District PTA treasurer.

When Should My Nominating Committee be Elected?
 
Elections of your 2018-2019 officers should be held in March or during the first two weeks of April. Your unit bylaws will specify which month and week your Annual Association Meeting must be held.
 
The election of the nominating committee should take place at an association meeting at least two (2) months prior to the Annual Association Meeting.
 
For some of you, your Nominating Committees will be elected this week or next!

Once elected, it will be the job of the elected nominating committee to find the nominees for the 2017-18 PTA Board.
 

PTA Calendar of Essential Requirements
January 2018 -

  • Treasurers and secretaries turn over financials and minutes to auditor
  • Nominating Committee Needs to be Elected [Info] [Toolkit]
  • CAPTA Legislation Conference is January 22 - 23
  • Founder's Day - Start planning now for February
               Info
  • Insurance Premium - $228 for units
  • Fiduciary Agreements - Info and Form
  • Connect with volunteers signed up for winter/spring activities
Previous Issues

Jan 10 - Protect Your PTA from Email-Phishing
      - Reflections Reception - Within Reach - Jan 11
      - Worker's Comp - Past Due - Need by Jan 19
      - Do 1 Thing Monthly - Jan - Make a Plan

Jan 3 - Does Your PTA Need Additional Bonding Insurance?
      - Reflections Reception - "Within Reach"
      - Sixth District PTA Office Opens Jan 9
      - When Should My Nominating Committee Be Elected?
      - PTA Calendar of Essential Requirements - January

Dec 20 - Wishing You a Wonderful Holiday Break
       - Silicon Valley Reads 2018
       - Reflections Reception "Within Reach"
       - Does Your PTA Need Additional Bonding Insurance
       - Sixth District PTA Office will be Closed for the Holidays
       - Got Convention in Your PTA Budget?
       - Registration Now Open for 2018 CA State PTA Legislation Conference

Dec 13 - Scholarships for HS Seniors
      - Sixth District Office will be closed for the Holidays
      - Reminder: Additional Bonding Insurance Deadline
      - Still Looking for a Gift

Dec 6 - Does Your PTA Give Money to Your Teachers
      - Reflections Reception - "Within Reach"
      - Save the Dates - Winter/Spring
      - FYI - Simply Shared
           - No Joking Matter: Words and Disability
           - Benefits of classified-to-teacher program already felt
           - State boards next challenge: how to measure school climate
      - Do 1 Thing: First Aid


Feel free to forward this e-newsletter to any and all PTA officers, members and other interested persons, and encourage them to   join our mailing list.      
 
As always, you are encouraged to send us your suggestions for articles and additional information you would find useful. Thanks!  
 
Questions? Comments? Contact
Wendy Akers-Ghose, eNews Editor, Sixth District PTA
Amin Fazal, VP Communications, Sixth District PTA
Vandana Kaushal, President, Sixth District PTA
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