Focus Newsletter for the first week of September   

WELCOME TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR !

   FIRST PTA COUNCIL MEETING

Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008

7:30 pm at Dept. of Education, Route 108

PTA Presidents and Council Delegates are reminded that the first PTA Council meeting is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 3rd.   See you there!  :)

General Meeting Dates

At the last general meeting in June, the outgoing executive board announced that the Council meetings would be changed to Wednesday's because the BOE rooms were not going to be available on the first Monday of the month. 

 When the new officers convened in July, they decided that most delegates were elected with the understanding that the general meetings are on the first Monday of the month.  So it has been arranged that except for the Sept. meeting, the PTA Council meetings will be on the traditional first Monday of the month at the ARL building Room 37B.  This is right next door to the BOE.  For the specific dates, go to the Events Calendar on this website. 

The school calendar had gone to print and could not be changed.  Please scratch off the first Wed. of the month in Oct. - June and write in PTAC on the first Monday of each month except for Nov. which we will meet on the second Monday of the month due to no school for students that first Monday.  We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.  

An Ounce of Prevention - PTA Council is Here to Serve Local School PTAs

 The purpose of PTA Council is to serve all local  PTAs in improving the effectiveness of their child advocacy efforts. Among other things, PTA Council is a source of guidance and information. While a local school PTA’s bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order (parliamentary procedure manual) provide guidance, sometimes PTAs may not find the answers to questions that arise in those two documents. The good news is that PTA Council is available to answer your questions and concerns. If you have questions about procedures in running meetings, elections, information on where to find information you are looking for, or concerns about anything in your PTA and you need to know if the PTA is on the right track, ask PTA Council for assistance. PTA Council cannot help your PTA if we don’t know about your questions or concerns. Ask before those concerns or questions create big PTA problems for you.

 You are welcome to call the PTA Council Office in Faulkner Ridge Center, and talk to Jane, the PTA Office Administrator, or email (ptachc@gmail.com) the office. Jane will be glad to answer your question or direct you to where to find the answer to your question.  

 The PTA Council maintains  an office in the Faulkner Ridge Center of the HCPSS School System. 

Community Advisory Council to the Board of Education

The Community Advisory Council (CAC) to the Board of Education is seeking at-large members for the 2008-2009 school year. The CAC is a group of citizens and representatives from local PTA’s that serves in an advisory capacity to the elected school board. The CAC sponsors educational programming for members and provides them with the opportunity to study and have input into curriculum, education policy, redistricting, and budget. The committee generally meets at 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month in the Board Room at the Department of Education in Ellicott City. At-large members serve a two-year term. For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 410-313-6682.

 Treasurer’s checklist for September

1.      Present the Financial Review (audit review) and Fiscal Year End Report to the general membership. 

2.      Present new Budget for approval by the general membership. The budget must be approved by the general membership and therefore you may want to publicize the budget before your meeting so members can preview it. 

3.        Send a copy of your audit report and budget to the PTA Council office via email (ptachc@gmail.com) , fax (410-740-1207) or the interschool pony (ask the school secretary how to send through the interschool pony to PTACHC at Faulkner Ridge).  (This is required of local units per MDPTA bylaws)

4.      Begin preparing IRS Form 990  

 President's Checklist for September

1.      Make sure all officers and chairs have a procedure book. (this is simply a working notebook to keep all information in one place). In the notebook should be a copy of your bylaws, officer contact list, copy of committee work plans, minutes, reports, etc. and any other items for that particular office or committee.

2.      Are your bylaws up to date?  If they are due for the tri-annual review, contact PTACHC office for a      bylaws template.   If you need a copy of your bylaws, contact the office. 

3.      Launch Membership Drive immediately.  Aim to increase your membership by at least 25 members!

4.      Present the Proposed Budget for adoption by vote at your first general membership meeting.

5.      Present the Financial Review at your first general membership meeting.

6.      Inform everyone of the year's calendar of events, PTA goals, and activities

7.      Educate the community on the education capital budget process.  Poll the membership to testify on behalf of the PTA at budget hearing. Public hearing on the FY09 Capital Budget will be held on Sept. 20 at 7:30 pm.

  WATCH Comcast TV95/Verizon 42 for The Parent Teacher Connection

The Parent Teacher Connection is shown on Comcast Channel 95/Verizon 42.  The show, airs on Wednesday at 7and 10 pm, Saturday at noon and 7 pm, and Sunday at 5 pm.  The Parent Teacher Connection highlights issues and events of interest related to Howard County schools.

All Board of Education meetings are televised live and rebroadcast during the week.  For the schedule of all HCPSS Cable TV shows, go to: http://www.hcpss.org/news/cabletv.shtml.  

CALENDAR 

Sept. 3           PTACHC General Meeting at 7:30 pm at BOE              

After the Sept. meeting, all Council meetings will be held at the ARL (next door to the BOE, 10920 Route 108

Sept. 24        Reflection Chair meeting 7 pm at Faulkner Ridge

Oct. 6             PTACHC General membership meeting at the ARL

Oct. 11           Coffee and Conversation with BOE 9:00 am - 11 am at River Hill    

                        High Cafeteria

Oct. 16           BOE meets with PTA Presidents and CAC

Oct. 29           PTACHC Sharing Session/ Workshop at Faulkner Ridge Center,           

                       10598 Marble Faun Lane Time: 7 pm - 9:30 pm  

2nd Monday Nov. 10       PTACHC General membership meeting meets at the ARL

Nov. 14/15  MD PTA Fall Convention  for info www.mdpta.org 

Dec. 1            PTACHC General Membership meeting at ARL 7:30 pm

         Thank you for being an advocate for every child with one voice.          
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