January 2018 DCCPTA Newsletter Vol. V
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Reminder, our next general meeting is January 30 at 9:30 am
Cline Auditorium, DCPS School Board Building
1701 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32205
Hospitality begins at 9:00 am
Meeting begins at 9:30 am
(LUNCH and LEARN immediately following, see below for details)
General Meetings are open to ALL PTA Members.
Click
HERE for DCCPTA's entire
2017-2018 General Meeting schedule.
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Lunch will be provided based on RSVPs.
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LUNCH and LEARN -
Human Trafficking
January 30 ,2018
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
(immediately following General Meeting)
Cline Auditorium (DCPS Bldg)
Human trafficking happens close to home…Florida continues to be 3rd in the nation in calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. According to a study of U.S. Department of Justice the average age that a trafficked victim is first used for commercial sex is 12-14. Children are particularly vulnerable to human traffickers. Please join us to learn more about this important human rights issue.
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2017-2018 DCCPTA Officers
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President:
Felita Tutt
1st VP – Programs:
Theresa Rogers
2nd VP – Local Units:
— OPEN —
3rd VP – Leadership:
Anna-Maria Charles
Recording Secretary
: Ann Gipalo
Corresponding Secretary:
Kim Alvarez
Treasurer:
Cathy Guiler
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GIFT CARDS, GIFT CERTIFICATES AND PRE-PAID CARDS
The use of gift cards, gift certificates, and pre-paid cards for any purposes is strongly discouraged due to IRS regulations and accounting control issues. The custom of giving purchased gift cards to members, volunteers, teachers, and students should be discontinued. The IRS issued an opinion that gift cards, prepaid cards, gift certificates, and gift coupons which have a face value on them, are considered cash equivalents. A gift certificate/gift card, as a cash equivalent, would be prohibited by Florida PTA policies on disbursement of funds.
In addition, distributing gift cards and certificates to individuals violates PTA bylaws with regard to individual member benefit. This bylaws wording is mandatory, as it is an IRS requirement for nonprofit classification as a 501(c)(3). Using gift cards as incentives (this applies to door prizes, thank you gifts, etc.) could be considered as compensation by the IRS.
DONATED GIFT CARDS: The IRS does not distinguish whether an organization purchases gift cards/certificates or if they were donated by a company; to the IRS, it is the same. The only times that a donated gift card can be used is (a) in a silent auction or drawing (drawings may not be done on school property)(for more information on drawings, please see pg 34 of Florida PTA Dollar$ and $en$e 2017-2018 and Florida Statute, Section 849.0935), or (b) if the organization uses the donated gift card to purchase items that benefit the organization; not individuals. One example would be to use a donated gift card from Office Depot to purchase supplies to be consumed by the PTA officers or committee chairs. Another example would be to use a donated gift card from a supermarket or restaurant to purchase refreshments for a membership meeting or a PTA program for the students. When gift cards are donated to the PTA, extensive, appropriate, accounting controls must be in place for distribution. Since having gifts cards on hand is the equivalent of having cash on hand.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT GIFT CARDS ARE THE SAME AS CASH. ALL PTA RULES AND REQUIREMENTS DEALING WITH THE RECEIPT AND DISBURSEMENT OF CASH APPLY.
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REMINDER. . . .
Please remember that PTA is a noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan association. Board and membership rosters should be used for
PTA purposes only.
If you choose to participate in any campaign as an individual, do not use your PTA affiliation in conjunction with the activity.
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Learn about the education priorities of key statewide organizations and policymakers, the budget outlook and the latest education priorities from Tallahassee in this no-cost, one-hour webinar open to those interested in Florida education issues.
CLICK HERE
for more information.
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Voter Voice
– Legislative Alerts
*
Sign up for Florida PTA’s Take Action Network to learn more about legislative issues affecting families, schools, and communities and to stay informed on the latest updates from Tallahassee.
*By registering for Florida PTA’s Take Action Network, you will be joining over 300,000 child advocates in Florida that support and speak up for children, (REGISTRATION MUST BE UPDATED YEARLY. – If you have signed up previously, please do so again today!)
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Be sure to attend DCC PTA General Meetings
for more information on
what BILLS and AMENDMENTS to watch!
Legislative Session for 2018
- Runs from January 9, 2018 through March 9, 2018.
- Meetings are being held now.
Constitution Revision Commission
- Meets through May 2018 (convenes every 20 years) and is made up of 37 commissioners
- Reviews Florida Constitution and proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution
- Approved Amendments are placed on November Ballot and must pass by 60% of vote
- Citizen Guide website:
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The Duval County Council of PTAs
is pleased to offer five (5) $500 scholarships to students graduating from Duval County schools in 2018.
This is a one-time (non-renewable) award of $500. The scholarship is available to high school students who are members of their PTA/PTSAs or the Sunshine State PTA. Student’s full-time enrollment must be at an accredited postsecondary institution. See
https://ope.ed.gov/accreditation
for the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
Applications must be postmarked by April 16, 2018.
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Bylaws Reminder
Please check the front page of your PTA bylaws for approval date. Bylaws are valid for 3 years from that date. To renew your bylaws, download the 2017-2018 form from the
Florida PTA
. Fill it out, get proper signatures, and fax to Florida PTA for approval. (407 240-9577) or scan and email to
compliance@floridapta.org
. Be sure to fill out the bylaws submission form as well.
Remember, any amendments need the vote of the membership following a 30 day notice. Otherwise, simple notification of the membership is all that is required. If you have any questions, contact Betty Marty at
bylaws@dccpta.org
.
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Compliance Requirements Are:
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1) PTA officers must be registered on the Florida PTA website
4) Bylaws must be current They are valid for 3 years from date of approval
5) Council dues must be paid by November 1st
6) State and National portion of membership dues collected must be sent to Florida PTA.
Betty Marty
compliance@dccpta.org
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"
School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
Be sure to check out the SHAC by attending a meeting!
They follow the CDC’s “whole child model” in their work.
SHAC meets every 3
rd
Thursday of the month at noon at
THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health
3563 Philips Highway, Building E – Suite 502.
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MANY THANKS
to the following
PTAs/PTSAs that are in
GOOD STANDING!
(as of 11/17/2017)
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Alimacani Elementary
Douglas Anderson SOTA
Atlantic Beach Elementary
Atlantic Coast High
J.A. Axson
Bartram Springs Elementary
Bayview Elementary
Beauclerc Elementary
Brookview Elementary
R. L. Brown Elementary
Eugene Butler Middle
Chaffee Trail Elementary
Chets Creek Elementary
Crown Point Elementary
Darnell-Cookman High
Englewood Elementary
Finegan Elementary
First Coast High
Fishweir Elementary
Fletcher Middle
Fort Caroline Elementary
GRASP Academy
Greenfield Elementary
Hendricks Avenue Elementary
Holiday Hill Elementary
Hyde Park Elementary
Jacksonville Beach Elementary
Thomas Jefferson Elementary
James Weldon Johnson Middle
Kernan Trail Elementary
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
Kirby Smith Middle
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Lake Forest Elementary
Lake Lucina Elementary
Landmark Middle
Landon College Prep
Robert E. Lee High
Loretto Elementary
Mandarin High
Mandarin Middle
Mayport Elementary
Merrill Road Elementary
Neptune Beach Elementary
Oceanway Elementary
Ortega Elementary
Palm Avenue Exceptional Child Center
Paxon SAS
Pine Forest Elementary
Ribault High
Robinson Elementary
Saint Claire Evans Elementary
San Pablo Elementary
Sandalwood High
Stanton College Prep
Stillwell Middle
Twin Lakes Middle
John Stockton Elementary
Twin Lakes Middle
Ruth Upson Elementary
Venetia Elementary
West Riverside Elementary
Whitehouse Elementary
Woodland Acre Elementary
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2017-2018 Business Partners
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MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS!
Please make sure to check the
DCC PTA website for new partners added throughout the year.
Office Depot has not provided me with a card for members to use for their personal purchases. I will update once (if) it is ever received. I have a discount card that can be used by school staff and teachers and a discount card that can be used by PTA members for school purchases. They are the same for all schools and can be sent and used electronically. Please let me know if you need a copy emailed to your group.
Please get in touch with any questions.
Christina Cummings
904-504-8028
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NEWS YOU CAN USE
E-Cigarette Prevention Program Launches for Middle and High Schools
The CATCH Global Foundation is seeking middle and high schools to participate in a youth e-cigarette prevention program called "
CATCH My Breath
." The program aims to increase students' knowledge of e-cigarettes, nicotine and addiction and help prevent use of e-cigarettes. Schools can sign up to implement the e-cigarette prevention program at
https://catchinfo.org/ enroll/
.
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