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Florida PTA e-News
January 2019
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I hope your New Year is off to a great start! The New Year always makes me reflect and think about what I want to do better – personally, professionally, and as a child advocate and PTA volunteer leader. Sure, we can set resolutions any time of year, but this is an opportunity to refocus and recharge our efforts.
Let’s make sure that we are addressing and supporting the needs of ALL of OUR children. Are we working to bring equity and opportunity to EVERY child? Are we truly being inclusive by proactively engaging all members of our communities? Are we working to build strength and resiliency in our association by developing leaders that are reflective of the communities we serve?
Do you have a program where planning has stalled? How about a board where different leadership styles or personalities have caused tension? Is there a new challenge that you and your PTA team members would like to take on? The New Year is a chance to start fresh, a time to set or reset goals or to fine-tune your plans.
As we evaluate our progress, let’s remember to always put the best interests of children first. If your team is struggling or isn’t operating on the same page, then now is the perfect time to regroup. Investments in team building and development, any time of the year, will pay dividends by allowing you to focus together on what we do best - engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. So please take time this month to assess your team’s progress and reach out to your Council and State leadership if you need help.
Finally, please continue to share your accomplishments and successes as you work to make every child's potential a reality. These “Mission Moments” are a great inspiration to me and to your fellow PTA volunteers across the state.
With best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year,
Linda Kearschner
President, Florida PTA
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This month we are honored to feature our National PTA President Jim Accomando. Jim has provided us with an in-depth look into how he began his leadership journey and the lessons he has learned along the way. He has also offered very sage advice for those who are considering joining the ranks of National PTA governance. All the best as you lean in on your personal journey!
Carolyn Nelson-Goedert
Florida PTA VP for Leadership Development
#FPTACultivatingLeaders
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Name:
Jim Accomando
Position
:
President, National PTA
1
st
PTA Position:
Volunteer within my son AJ's kindergarten class 19 years ago. I read to his class. The first position with a title was Director of "Art in the Classroom" for grades K-3
Most challenging:
Nineteen years ago, I found myself trying to volunteer in a predominately and historically female run Title 1 elementary school PTA. I remember distinctly, it was myself and another man who recently moved to town from Ohio. He had previous PTA experience, I did not. I was the deer in headlights trying to navigate oncoming traffic. My children were 5 years apart so I knew that I would have an 11-year tenure at this school. The school was literally my back-yard neighbor. The kindergarten playground backed up to my fence and I could hear my son's voice at recess. My wife is a second-grade teacher and I used to teach at the secondary school level, so I knew that if I wanted to continue engaging in my child's education and provide support to our Title 1 school community, I needed a game plan.
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Legislative Conference 2019
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Our Legislative Conference will be held March 24-26.
*Register before February 1st to receive a discounted registration fee of $45*
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Our President-Elect, Jen Martinez, with a few words about attending our Legislative Conference.
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If you need to make hotel accommodations, please
click here for a list of hotels in the area.
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Advocacy Tip of the Month: Read up on your new elected officials!
The 116th Congress is here! Now is a great time to identify and research your elected officials. Visit the
House of Representatives’ website
to look up your Representative by ZIP code and the
Senate’s website
to look up your Senator by state. Many members will have contact information for their Washington D.C. and district offices posted on their website. Want to meet your member of Congress, but wish you were more prepared? Join the Congressional Management Foundation for a webinar, “
What to Expect in a Meeting with a Member of Congress
,” Jan. 31, at 3 p.m. EST. (from National PTA, Advocacy Insider, January 8, 2019)
Government Shutdown...Who Is Impacted?
On Dec. 21, 2018, Congress and the White House failed to reach an agreement over border security and the remaining spending bills which would have averted a partial government shutdown. Nine federal departments are entering the third week of a partial government shutdown, including Agriculture, Justice, Treasury, Commerce, Interior, State, Transportation, Homeland Security and Housing and Urban Development. The Department of Education was funded through September 2019 under a normal appropriation process and therefore is not impacted by the current shutdown.
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"How To Meet With Your Legislator"
What can you expect when meeting with a legislator? Are there protocols and norms in place? Take a look at our "How To Meet With Your Legislator" video for some do's and don't's.
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Mission Moments - Pasco County Council
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Thank you so much Sanders Memorial Elementary PTA for your incredible support of your 3P (Pairing Pasco PTAs) pairing with Hudson Elementary PTA! These photos show just some of the amazing support given in the last two weeks! Special thank you shout out to SMES PTA President Sheila Williams for going over and above making all this happen, even picking up additional food donations from Rushe Middle School to ensure enough for HES families!!! Thank you to Rushe for helping all our children!!!!
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PTA Founders Day is February 17th and is a reminder of the substantial role that PTA has played locally, regionally, and nationally in supporting parent involvement and working on behalf of all children and families. We invite you to commemorate this day by giving back to PTA by using
this form
. Learn more about
Founders Day by visiting the
National PTA website.
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Florida PTA recommends a Mid Year Budget review. The initial step is to prepare a Budget to Actual report. This enables you to see where the money has been spent [or not] and whether any recommendations need to made to the general membership in the form of proposed budget amendments. These proposed changes are required to be approved at a general meeting. Remember the board has a fiduciary duty to operate within the budget approved by its membership.
Some reasons for amending the budget include:
-The fundraiser exceeded expectations with higher income. This needs to be reflected in a new proposed amended budget. Then you will need to figure out what budget line items[s] you want to increase as a result.
-The fundraiser did not meet expectations due to a lower income. This needs to be reflected in a new proposed amended budget. Then you will need to figure out what budget line items[s] you want to decrease as a result and whether another source of income needs to be budgeted to meet your needs.
-The PTA/PTSA wants to add a program that is not in the initial budget. This needs to be reflected in a new proposed amended budget. Then you will need to figure out what budget line items[s] you want to decrease as a result and/or whether another source of income needs to be budgeted to meet your needs.
-The PTA/PTSA has decided to remove a program and does not need that line item anymore. This needs to be reflected in a new proposed amended budget. Then you will need to figure out what budget line items[s] you want to increase as a result and/or whether another program needs to be budgeted to meet your needs.
-The PTA/PTSA exceeded expenses on a program. This needs to be reflected in a new proposed amended budget. Then you will need to figure out what budget line items[s] you want to decrease as a result and whether another source of income needs to be budgeted to meet your needs.
Remember you can contact me anytime regarding your financial issues.
Karen Mazzola
Florida PTA Treasurer
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Do you ever stop and think about “why” you joined PTA? Was it because someone asked you? Was it because your kid started school and you wanted to make sure you stayed involved or could keep an eye on what was going on? Was it simply because you wanted to make a difference?
Whatever the reason, we all have a “why”. Over the next several months, the Regions and Councils Commission will be sharing each of our “whys” with you through our weekly Wednesday Facebook post. We hope that you will reflect on your own personal PTA journey and share your “why” with us. Send them to
vp.regionscouncils@floridapta.org. We would like to include those in future newsletters.
We are all part of the same community. We are all here to support children. Sometimes it takes an ask to show that we are not so different after all. Each of us is truly here for every child.
Jessica Summers
VP for Regions and Councils
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Scholarships - Deadline is February 1st!
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Florida PTA is pleased to offer four (4) non-renewable scholarships to graduating seniors. The four are in the areas of traditional college, community college, fine arts schools, or technical/vocational schools. If you have a graduating senior or run a PTSA in a local high school, please share this information and check our website for the scholarship application and requirements.
Due to an extraordinary fundraising year last year, we will be able to offer additional scholarships based on the criteria above. The Scholarship Committee has also voted and planned for an additional scholarship to be awarded to a student with disabilities (SWD) or a student with a specific learning disability (SLD). The committee will need to verify with the student’s guidance counselor about the IEP or 504 Plans for any applicants. All children are our children and we want to encourage every student’s desire to continue their education.
The application deadline is February 1, 2019
, please share this information and apply online to the
Florida PTA website
. We look forward to receiving your applications and please feel free to contact the chair, Robin DeVault, at
scholarship@floridapta.org.
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2019 Leadership Convention
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Please listen as our VP of Leadership Development, Carolyn Nelson-Goedert, gives some insight into why you would benefit from attending our Leadership Convention in July.
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Thank You To Our Sponsors
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