The Fourth week of April 

Volunteers are Life's Greatest Assets

 It is time to recognize those outstanding volunteers and leaders by nominating them for any of PTACHC Awards. PTACHC offers 3 awards:                         

Joan Dykstra Award is bestowed on an outstanding local PTA who has advocated on behalf of the children and youth in their community.  The advocacy may be at the local school level, county level or state level.  The PTA who receives this recognition will also be awarded $300 to use in their programs.  

PTA Collaboration Award - To honor the work done by parents and teachers together to benefit the students in one or more Howard County schools.  It is hoped that this will encourage more parents to become involved in a positive teaming effort with the teachers in their schools                                                                         

Life Time Membership in MD PTA - to recognize a PTA member, citizen, and/or educator who have made an outstanding contribution to the PTA - beyond the local level - to the Howard County Public School System.  Special Awards of Honorary Life Memberships in the Maryland PTA are given.

The deadline is May 20^th.    Nomination forms are on the website at www.ptachc.org/clocalresources/index.htm  

The following are examples of installation of officers ceremonies should you wish to have a formal installation of your officers. 

INSTALLATION CEREMONY

Newly elected PTA officers may be installed in a ceremony, but this formality is not necessary (Terms of office are designated in the bylaws.) Each local unit may develop its own installation ceremony, if it chooses to have one, or adapt the suggested ceremony below.  Some PTAs recite the PTA Mission or Objects of the PTA as a part of the ceremony, and ask that the past president or someone else devoted to the PTA unit and its members act as the installing officer. 

Three sample installations appear below.

Suggestion #1  

To the Retiring Officers

Will (recite their names) please rise to be recognized? We express our gratitude to you for the devoted, effective service that has marked your tenure as officers, and we urge you to continue your efforts to promote the interests of children and youth. Thank you. Please be seated.

To the Continuing Officers

Will (recite their names) please rise to be recognized? Will you provide ongoing support for the new officers who join you at this time? Answer, "! will." Thank you. Please be seated.

To the New Officers

(Name each new officer and position in turn): Will you individually and together work toward the fulfillment of our objects in the service of children and youth? Answer,"! will."

The present and the future of______________ PTA now rest on your beliefs and abilities, your commitment and powers of implementation, joined to the skills of the officers who will serve with you, and the faith and help of all other members of the association. Will you pledge yourselves to these people, that service? Answer, "! will."

To Audience of PTA Members

Members of__________________ PTA, please rise. Here are your new leaders for the coming year. They will need your encouragement and support. Do you promise them your loyalty and cooperation, in the names of the children of this school community? Answer. "I do."

To the New Officers

With a strong belief in your abilities, with renewed hope for PTA, I now declare you duly installed officers for 20__-20__. 

  Suggestions #2:  Puzzle Installation     (Items needed: A boxed puzzle )

When you assemble a puzzle, if even one piece is missing the puzzle is never right. This organization is like a puzzle, it requires many pieces in order to be complete.

 ________, as treasurer, your piece of the puzzle is a position of trust. Honor this trust by keeping accurate financial records. ( present puzzle piece)

________, as secretary, the recorded history of this organization is in your hands. Be diligent in this task. (present puzzle piece)

_________, as vice president, your piece of the puzzle is to assist and support the president in a consistent manner. ( present puzzle piece)

_________, as a delegate to the PTA Council of Howard County, your piece of the puzzle is to keep our membership informed of issues from the larger community of parents and children.

 There remains in the box many pieces. These are the members and programs of this organization. I place them in the care of__________, as the new president of this organization, protect them and strengthen them. I present to you your newly installed officers for the 200_ -200_ year.

  Suggestions #3       Flower Installation

(Items Needed: Carnations or Roses in the following colors - one each - red, white, pink, yellow, and green)

Will the officers to be installed please come forward?

To the President: You have been chosen to serve the ________PTA as its president. Your duty as presiding officer places you in a position of high responsibility. There can be no greater charge, no higher challenge than that which confronts you. The white flower was chosen to present to you because it denotes purity and your powers as president should have the purest of motives.           

To the Vice President: As Vice President of_______PTA the president will turn to you for help in formulating his/her plans and for moral support. You are to stand ready at any time when
called upon for assistance in anyway. Your flower is red denoting the strength of which we know
you are capable.

To the Secretary: Pink expresses knowledge, which your association will need from you. As secretary of the __ PTA, you must have knowledge of the business transpired at previous meetings and keep accurate minutes of all meetings.

To the Treasurer: Yellow stands for integrity, which we expect of a treasurer. We expect the handling of the monies of________PTA shall be discharged in an accurate and detailed manner, giving a report of our income and expenditures at every meeting.

To the Council Delegates: Green stands for dedication to the mission of PTA.  Your attendance at the monthly Council meetings and reporting back of the issues that we should be advocates for all children we greatly appreciate.

Members of the ______PTA, you have elected these leaders as your officers for the year. They

need your support and encouragement. Do you therefore pledge them your loyalty and willingness to help them carry forward the work of the association? If so, answer "I do".

To the new officers: You have heard the pledge of the members. They have faith in your
leadership. Will you, as officers of the ______PTA, hold the welfare of the children and youth paramount in all that you do? If so, answer, 'I will"

By the power vested in me by the MD PTA, I now declare these officers of the ______PTA duly installed for the year, and I congratulate each of you.                              

CALENDAR