Tip of the Week – December 2
Special Donation Rules for 2021 If your PTA accepts donations, remind members and other potential donors of the special temporary COVID relief rules in effect for 2021: people who take the standard deduction for their 2021 tax returns may claim an above-the-line deduction of up to $300 for cash donations ($600 for cash donations for…
Category:
Leadership
December 2021 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, Members and leaders of PTA amaze me regularly. You are incredibly dedicated, resourceful, and caring. This has been especially true through the pandemic. Local and council PTAs across the state have stepped up to support their students, families, and communities. You filled the many gaps that opened up when COVID-19 disrupted our lives…
Category:
Leadership
Tip of the Week – November 18
Holiday Gift Giving in a Snap As PTA leaders, you know the value of membership. And you realize that PTA membership is a voice for a child. As a membership organization, our PTAs need members so we, as an association, can accomplish the work we do to advocate for the education, family engagement, safety, health,…
Category:
Leadership
Tip of the Week – November 11
Gift cards, families in need & appreciation gifts With holidays approaching, many PTAs are considering gift cards as community support, recognition, or gifts. For a PTA, using gift cards is not the simple solution many would like it to be – there is a unique set of issues and considerations that need to be addressed before…
Category:
Leadership
Gift Cards, Families in Need, and Appreciation Gifts
Many PTAs have questions around gift cards – whether the cards are for appreciation, or to give out to families in need. Gift cards are a complicated topic, and the IRS has a great deal to say about their use. We’ll summarize some of the most common issues around gift cards here. Gift Cards as…
Category:
Leadership
Tip of the Week – November 4
Manage Your PTA’s Risk by Renewing Your Insurance While not required, it is highly recommended that a PTA review its insurance coverage levels every year. For any PTA with coverage through AIM insurance, your renewal date is November 30. Check your current coverage against what was budgeted for this year and against your goals and…
Category:
Leadership
Tip of the Week – October 28
Easy Ways to be an Advocate Have you ever joined PTA, spoken to your child’s teacher, written a letter to the editor, attended a city council meeting, spoken to your school board, or spoken to any decision-maker? Then you are an advocate! An advocate is someone who speaks up for others. Good advocates share qualities…
Category:
Leadership
Tip of the Week – October 21
4 Reasons for Your PTA to Apply for an Award Organization. Following the directions in the award application helps your PTA organize information and manage best practices. Communication. By being deliberate in accomplishing the requirements in an award application you will find key topics to share with your community. Teamwork. It is likely that the…
Category:
Leadership
October 2021 – Executive Director Message
Dear members, The desire to find balance in our lives has been on my mind quite a bit lately. The hope is that we can find some equilibrium between our families, work, and volunteering. The ideal has been that home and family come first, followed by work and school, and volunteering is third. It comes…
Category:
Leadership
Tip of the Week – October 7
PTA and Elections: Help Educate Your Members When it comes to elections, PTAs can help educate members on the issues that affect the health, education, and welfare of students. Here are three easy ideas for civic engagement all PTAs and councils can do: Candidate Forums– It’s not too late to hold an online candidate forum…
Category:
Leadership