WSPTA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINATION RECOMMENDATIONS
December
2 - Deadline Extension
CALL
FOR CONVENTION PRESENTERS
December
31
The WSPTA Leadership Committee is seeking
presenters for the 104th WSPTA Annual Convention. If you are or know a great
presenter with an applicable topic, complete the online form here.
Note: The primary audience for this presentation
will be parents with children in Washington’s public education system.
Presenters will not be compensated for classes or hotel parking.
WSPTA//GAME
DEVELOPMENT COMPETITION
January
9 (Intent to Submit form due)
The WSPTA//Game Development Competition
is a WSPTA STEM-based program that supports student success for students in
grades 9-12. The purpose is to provide an opportunity for students to use their
creative talents by expressing themselves, either individually or in teams, by
creating a computer game. Learn more here.
REFLECTIONS UPDATE
Thank you to everyone that sent in Reflections theme entries. There were so many creative theme this year, it was hard to pick just five to send to National PTA!
Reflections entry deadlines are right around the corner. Many PTA/PTSAs have already submitted entries to their council and councils are hard at work prepping the winners to send to state. All entries must be received to the state office by January 20. Check with your council for deadline to submit to council-level. For PTAs not in a council, contact your region director.
FOCUS
DAY 2017
"Advocacy is not
a one day event,"
Duncan Taylor, WSPTA
Legislative Director
Everyday Advocacy
1. Make an appointment with your
legislators.
3. Connect with other parents,
teachers, and education advocates.
4. Make sure to leave it in writing.
Learn more about Focus Day 2017 here.
ESSA
DRAFT PLAN OUTREACH
February
13 - Deadline Extended
Shape your public
education system for years to come by providing feedback on Washington’s ESSA
draft Consolidated Plan, through the Office
of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
WSPTA was involved in the draft process, and OSPI was one of hundreds of groups
to contribute to the ESSA draft Consolidated Plan, alongside districts,
legislators, education organizations, tribal leaders, and higher education
institutions. Provide feedback here.
WSPTA AS YOUR PTA'S REGISTERED AGENT
All nonprofit
corporations have to interact with government agencies, most commonly the
Washington Secretary of State's office and the Federal Internal Revenue Service
(IRS).
By designating WSPTA
as your agent, your PTA gives those agencies one single point of contact when
they need to get information to or from your PTA. It is not a requirement that
WSPTA be your registered agent, but it is recommended. You may choose to have
an individual named as your registered agent; however, by choosing WSPTA as your
PTA's agent, your PTA won't have to worry about that person moving, taking a
long vacation, or otherwise being unavailable to respond to a notice from one
of the agencies.
For additional
questions or clarification, please contact Tatia,
Local PTA Support, in the state office.
If your PTA prefers
to be its own registered agent, please verify the WSPTA office address is
correct on all submission forms:
Washington State PTA
1304 South Fawcett
Avenue | Suite 300
Tacoma, WA 98402
PTA STORE 2017 PRODUCT IDEAS
Late January is when ShopPTA.com usually adds new
merchandise, as well as discontinue a few items. If you have suggestions for a
new product or something you feel would be useful to local PTAs, please share! Many of the best-selling items
came to the PTA store as a simple suggestion. Share your idea and ShopPTA.com
will research the feasibility of adding to the store.
QUESTION
OF THE WEEK
Question
This is my first time as a treasurer
and am curious if there is anything I need to be doing in the next two months –
besides monthly maintenance – now that the 990 form has been submitted and the
holidays are here?
Answer
Thank you for your question and great
job making sure your PTA’s 990 form was submitted by the 11/15 deadline. This
is the time of year when it is strongly recommended to conduct a mid-year
financial review (December-January). The review involves an examination of the
financial transactions of the PTA, and the procedures used to conduct those
transactions.
To conduct a seamless mid-year
financial review, be sure to have the following materials available:
- Financial Review Checklist
- Financial Review Committee (the
treasurer, although not a member of the review committee, is merely a
resource for the review)
- All treasurer's reports for
current fiscal year
- All bank statements for current
fiscal year (should be signed monthly by non-signer on the account)
- All checks, deposit slips,
receipts, invoices and all other record-keeping materials (checks may be
accessed on bank website)
- Register listing all checks
written and all deposits made
- Minutes of all board and
membership meetings for current fiscal year
- Copies of all contracts and grants
made or received
Source: Treasurer’s
Handbook
