Council Financial Reviews
The council financial review is more than just a requirement to be checked off a list – it is an opportunity! The council’s financial review is a chance to involve local PTA members in the work of the council with a short volunteer opportunity. This increases the council’s transparency with its members and develops the…
Category:
Governance
The Value of Councils
There are 29 councils in Washington, and 71% of all PTAs in Washington are served by councils. WHY is being in a council important? If a school exists in an area served by a council, it is more likely to have a PTA: 66% of schools served by councils have PTAs, while only 16% of…
Category:
Governance
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Leadership
It’s Time to Form the Budget Committee
Governance. Powered by PTA. The budget committee is chaired by the current treasurer and is responsible for developing the budget for the next fiscal year (July 1-June 30.) Who else should be on the budget committee? Good choices are often the incoming president and treasurer, and outgoing president because they understand your PTA’s past and…
Category:
Governance
Online Financial Review
Thank you to Northshore Council PTSA 6.10 for allowing WSPTA to share their recent blog post on our site. Governance. Powered by PTA. Financial Reviews right now can be an overwhelming prospect. As a treasurer, you want to make sure your review committee can access all documents easily and smoothly with the added difficulty of…
Category:
Governance
Considering an ONLINE Gambling event? THINK AGAIN!
Who doesn’t love a fun basket raffle, cake walk, or hosting a PTA casino night? We know that social distancing has made it a challenge to host live events, but it is important to know that ONLINE gambling in the state of Washington is strictly prohibited and considered a class C felony. How do you…
Category:
Governance
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Leadership
Set Up for Success with Standing Rules
Each local PTA and council has a set of standing rules that members of the board of directors must read and be prepared to follow. Standing rules are a legally binding agreement between a PTA’s board and members about how that individual PTA will be run. Standing rules need to be reviewed by the board…
Category:
Governance
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Leadership
Getting Ready for the First Membership Meeting of the Year
The 2020-21 school year is upon us, and the PTA year is about to get into full swing! Hopefully, your board of directors had a productive summer retreat and is planning a fall membership drive and the first membership meeting of the year. In many areas of Washington, membership meetings will need to be held…
Category:
Governance
New Council SOA and Supporting Local PTAs
The Washington State PTA Standards of Affiliation Agreement 2020-2021 is now available! There have been a few updates this year to make the SOA even better, including an introduction page that has clear instructions, calls out what’s new to the checklists in 2020-21, and offers a number of resources to answer questions and give more…
Category:
Governance
WSPTA Standards of Affiliation for 2020-21
Washington State PTA provides a Standards of Affiliation (SOA) Agreement Checklist to provide support and guidance to local PTAs and councils. The SOA agreement is in place to ensure local PTAs and councils align with WSPTA’s ethics, policies, and principles; maintain good business practices; and comply with applicable federal and state laws. PTAs are encouraged…
Category:
Governance
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Leadership
Financial Reviews During COVID-19
WSPTA bylaws require an annual financial review to be conducted and submitted to the PTA board of directors and membership. However, there is no requirement for the financial review committee to conduct the review in person. If the county where the PTA is located is in Phase 2 or higher and the committee members feel…
Category:
Governance
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Leadership