Tip of the Week – September 30
Financial To-Do List to Start the Year The entire board of directors should review PTA budget and monthly financial statements Written financial policies, including for electronic banking and passwords Insurance policy renewal IRS informational filing (990N/990-EZ/990 – filing due November 15) Standards of Affiliation At the first membership meeting, PTA members should Adopt/re-adopt the PTA…
Category:
Leadership
September 2021 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, One of the principles underlying parliamentary procedure in a meeting is that every member present should have an equal voice and vote. This is one of the reasons why I love parliamentary procedure. At its core, it is profoundly democratic. However, there are a few barriers that come with this. Members have to…
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Leadership
August 2021 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, Our Local PTA Specialist, Tatia Vasbinder, assisted with this month’s article. Last month I wrote about purpose, both the purpose of Washington State PTA and my personal purpose. What I missed was the purpose for your local or council PTA. Do you know what that is? The stated purpose of any nonprofit organization…
Category:
Leadership
July 2021 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, I have been thinking about “purpose” quite a bit lately. We are slowly, tentatively releasing the constraints that have held us back in the last year and a half. Much like the new year, it is a time for celebration and reflection. I am grateful for all of the fantastic work we have…
Category:
Leadership
Together we can…be the change – WSPTA President’s Message
Dear Members, I am so honored to have been elected at the convention in May to serve as your WSPTA President for the next two years. I wanted to take a moment before the end of what has truly been an unprecedented school year to acknowledge that many PTAs and families have endured loss and…
Category:
Leadership
Board Retreats
Taking the time to organize and hold a board retreat helps put your new PTA board on the same ship sailing for the same destination of success. Gathering leaders over break can infuse enthusiasm in the incoming board, giving them an opportunity to get to know one another and to think about their positions for…
Category:
Leadership
What should a PTA do if they have been unable to recruit and elect new officers this spring?
This has been a stressful year for families, and it may take some extra time to identify and elect a new board of directors. One question to ask is whether the current board can continue to take responsibility for the PTA until an election can take place? WSPTA Uniform Bylaws (Article 5, Section 6 B)…
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Leadership
May 2021 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, What a year it has been! This month, members of our board of directors end their terms. This incredible group of dedicated volunteers has led us through some of the most challenging years that Washington State PTA has experienced. I know that many of them look forward to well-earned vacations and the chance…
Category:
Leadership
April 2021 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, Spring is the busiest time of the year for the Washington State PTA staff. We are deep into our planning for the annual convention, our biggest event of the year. We also are busy preparing for the leadership transition as volunteer leaders complete their terms, wrap up their records, and prepare their successors.…
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Leadership
WSPTA President’s Power of Connection – March 2021
I recently used the term “PTA Flexible” in a conversation, and someone asked me to explain what that meant. It means that as PTA leaders, we need to be able to change plans quickly and nimbly. For the past year, I think everyone has been living a life of forced flexibility. It’s been exhausting, but…
Category:
Leadership