Whose Money is it?
Andrew Estep Dear Members, As we slowly recover from the pandemic, a few bright spots shine. One that is shining through is that many PTAs have much larger bank balances than they had in the past. For some, that seems to be a luxury and not a problem. It can, however, be a problem. Charitable…
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From the Executive Director
Andrew Estep Dear Members, For me, July means Independence Day, barbecues, picnics, and vacations. It also means enjoying friends, family, and community. We get to go to baseball games, enjoy 16+ hours of daylight (in Washington), and celebrate our good fortune to be Americans. I was talking with a college-age student yesterday. Her family had…
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Executive Director Annual Report
The last three years have been difficult, but the worst is behind us. The good news is we hit bottom and are heading up. We have much, much better times ahead of us. Washington State PTA is a reasonably barebones operation. We have 4 employees at the office, support from a handful of contractors, and…
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Leadership
April 2023 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, Those volunteer leaders who pay close attention to our newsletters may have noticed that we tried something new last fall and then did it again this month. Any ideas? Here’s a hint, it had to do with money. Give up? Fair enough. We published articles on resource development, better known among local and…
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Leadership
March 2023 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, Those who have been on their annual treks to warmth and sunshine, know that there has been very little of it. Many vacation plans have gone awry with the storm that blew in off the Pacific coast. So much for big plans! At a conference in 1957, President Eisenhower said, “Plans are worthless,…
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Leadership
January 2023 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, What a difference a vacation makes! I love our holiday break. It is an opportunity for proper rest. So much of our little world also takes a break at the end of the year. We can return to PTA knowing that work has not accumulated much during our absence. That annual break always…
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Leadership
October 2022 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, I love to plan. When I started my journey with nonprofit work in the mid-1990s, I was fortunate to be sent to facilitator training. There I learned the value and wisdom that comes from effective group processes. Collaboration is key to creating good strategic plans. We start developing our strategic plan with an…
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Leadership
September 2022 – Executive Director Message
Dear Member, PTA is, first and foremost, an advocacy organization. In 1897, mothers across the country marched on Washington, D.C., to advocate for children. As a result, our organization was founded as the National Congress of Mothers that year. Over the last 125 years, PTA has led the fight to improve the lives of all…
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Leadership
July 2022 – Executive Director Message
Dear Member, As I was waiting at the airport to fly to D.C. for the National PTA Hill Day and Convention last month, an announcement came over the intercom. “There will be no internet access on the flight to D.C.; you might want to download movies now.” My first reaction was frustration since I planned…
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Leadership
May 2022 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, As a Washington State PTA member, you can take advantage of various discounts for goods and services. Our Member Discounts webpage lists the opportunities available to you. The options include vacation activities, supplies and shipping, and a few personal products. If you want to save some money for your next family vacation or…
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Leadership