Dear Members, Our job at Washington State PTA is two-fold. We advocate at the state level on behalf of our members as directed in the principles, issues, and resolutions that are approved by the membership. We also support, train, and empower the members and volunteer leaders of local and council PTAs to fulfill their mission…

Dear Members, In January, I wrote about a few of Washington State PTA’s nonprofit partners, those organizations that we rely upon for the support and services they provide. This month I will share with you a bit about our vendor partners. Our reliance on our vendor partners is different but no less critical. Our vendor…

Dear Members, Anyone reading this knows that one of our primary jobs at the Washington State PTA is to support the volunteer leaders of local and council PTAs across the state. We are here to provide training, resources, and direct support to make your job as a PTA leader easier. However, our work is very…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…