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| | | Have questions about Senior Party? Don't want to pay a facility cost for Baccalaureate? Come on November 10, 9:30 to 11:00, at the ESC for a discussion about the issues. |
| | | Focus Day is February 26th. Get a seat on the bus NOW! Contact Connie Gerlitz if you want to be where the action is! |
| | | Legislative Roundtable is November 20th, 7:00 pm, at Newcastle Elementary. |
| | | Make first payment to Debra Kumar. |
| | | Find out how to fill out your forms on Oct 29, Lake Washington. |
| | | Next Council meeting Nov 3, 9:30. First up: after school programs/PTA sponsorship. |
| | | Teachers have decided not to vote on the offer that the Bellevue District offered today. No schedule has been set to have a vote.
Schools have been closed six days, and there is no clear end in sight. This is not good for our students or our district. It is time we sent a message to both the BEA and the School District to get this settled, and get schools open. NOW.
Please plan on attending the special School Board meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, September 9th, at 7:30 at the Bellevue School District Office.
This is your opportunity to come together with the community and voice your support for our students. We are not there to yell or disrupt or to confront anyone. We are one community. Join your fellow parents in the parking lot starting at 7:00. We can then proceed to the meeting when it begins. Where a basic black shirt, so we can look like a group (if you want).
Please get out the word to your members through email, phone calls, pony express, whatever it takes. I'd suggest Facebook, but I haven't got a clue how it works. If your children want to join us, they can - this is the PTSA, after all.
PTA takes no position on the issues. That is for the negotiating teams. But we take a very strong position that strikes are bad for kids. They are missing valuable time. We need make sure our voice is heard.
Thanks, and see you tomorrow! |
| | | Our Region 2 director, Audrey Bennett, has a great welcome message on our resource page. Lots of good reminders on getting started. |
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| | | (Revised) Putting your calendar together? Here is the rule of thumb that I have heard: elementary schools get the 1st and 2nd weeks of the month, middle schools get the 3rd week, and high schools get the 4th week. If you send me your meeting dates, I'll enter them on the calendar here. |
| | | Our first Council Meeting, for all Council Officers and Bellevue PTA Local Unit Presidents and voting delegates, is on September 8, at 9:30, at ESC Boardroom. |
| | | We'll be offering four more classes before the year comes to a close: Budget Workshop, Membership Basics, Welcome to PTA, and Standing Rules Workshop. See the Events Calendar for dates, times, and locations. E-vites were sent to officers who should attend. Recipients can easily invite others from inside the e-vites.
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| | | KUDOS TO * Bellevue Children's Academy * Enatai * Phantom Lake * Puesta del Sol * Interlake * Sammamish * These units achieved Platinum Membership Awards for increasing their memberships by 20% over last year’s total, based on memberships enrolled & paid by March 20. |
| | | April's meeting was inadvertently scheduled during the April break, and we couldn't get a room for an alternate date, so there won't be a meeting in April. See you on April 28 for Spring Celebration! Bring your new officers! |
| | | Charities Program Charitable Solicitation Renewals for PTA units that gross over $25,000 per year have been forward to over 400 PTAs.
The deadline for filing is May 31, 2008 but needs to be mailed no later that May 21, 2008. This is to ensure that the Charities Program receives your renewal by the May 31st deadline. Please mail your renewal to: Office of the Secretary of State, Charities Division, PO Box 40234, Olympia WA 98504-0234.
To access the instructions you will need to enter “PTAmember” (case sensitive) for the user name and “leader” for the password.
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| | | The WSPTA Board of Directors has hired Mr. Bill Williams as our new Executive Director. From WSPTA President Laura Bay: "Bill is highly respected among his peers and the larger community, most recently with National School Board Association, WSSDA, and North Thurston School Board. Bill is an attorney and has worked with the state Attorney General’s office, successfully representing the state in cases before
all three divisions of the Washington Court of Appeals, the Washington Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and has twice argued cases before the United States Supreme Court. In 2001 Bill was recognized by then Attorney General Christine Gregoire as a Steward of Justice.
Equally impressive is Bill’s experience as an education leader. Bill has been a member of the North Thurston Public Schools Board of Directors since 1986 and has served four terms as Board President. He served two terms as Chair of the Legislative Committee of the Washington State School Directors
Association (WSSDA) and was WSSDA President in 2001. From 2003 to 2007 he represented the nine states of the Pacific Region on the Board of Directors of the National School Boards Association."
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| | | Kudos to the units in Bellevue that have reached the Gold Level Award level for enrolling 10% more members than last year by January 25th. BELLEVUE CHILDREN'S ACADEMY * EASTGATE * ENATAI * PHANTOM LAKE * SUNSET/PUESTA del SOL * WOODRIDGE * TYEE * INTERLAKE * SAMMAMISH * |
| | | The next membership payment is due to Council Treasurer Janet Suppes on January 25.
The members that are entered and paid for by January 25th determines the number of voting delegates your unit can send to the State PTA Convention May 2nd—4th, 2008, and a 10% increase over last years members will give your unit a Gold membership award!
You'll owe $0.75 per member to the Bellevue Council and $6.50 to State and National PTA, so the total per member fee is $7.25 each. It is preferred that you enter members via the internet. You must send in the remittance form, found in the Membership Handbook, with your payment. This can also be found in the online version of the Membership Handbook.
When mailing membership services fees to the Bellevue PTSA Council Treasurer, please include the following:
If your unit uses the WSPTA online membership enrollment process:
LOCAL UNIT REMITTANCE FORM - Two Copies
A CHECK, payable to Bellevue PTSA Council
Or, if not using the online enrollment process:
LOCAL UNIT REMITTANCE FORM: Keep one copy and send in 2 copies
A CHECK, payable to Bellevue PTSA Council
DO NOT MAIL FORMS AND FEES DIRECTLY TO THE WASHINGTON STATE PTA!!!
SEND TO:
Janet Suppes
Treasurer, Bellevue PTSA Council 2.3
14937 SE 60th Street
Bellevue WA 98006
or use the district mail at your school and address to:
BELLEVUE PTSA COUNCIL - ESC
Janet Suppes, Treasurer
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| | | The Bond Committee appreciates your generous financial support. Donations to help run the campaign can be sent to: Bellevue Quality Schools, PO Box 1153, Bellevue, WA 98009-1153.
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| | | Each local unit is asked to make an annual contribution to a joint scholarship fund. The fund is distributed in May/June every year to graduating seniors from the five Bellevue high schools. Each local unit is asked to contribute $200.00, which allows Bellevue PTSA Council to award five $1000 scholarships for four-year colleges. Additional donations are welcome in order to increase scholarships to the students.
Please make checks payable to Bellevue PTSA Council. You'll find a form in "Forms and Tools."
PLEASE MAIL PAYMENT TO THE BELLEVUE PTSA COUNCIL TREASURER
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| | | Congratulations to the following PTAs for 5% increase of the previous year's membership enrolled by October 25, 2007.
Bellevue Children's Academy * Eastgate * Enatai * Interlake * Newport * Phantom Lake * Sammamish * Spiritridge * Tyee * Woodridge
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| | | We are pleased to announce that the top five priority issue listservs are now up and running.
To access all of the group signups, go to the legislation page of the Washington State PTA website. Next, go to 2007-2008 Short Term Platform Resources and then click on “get started”. Finally, pick the issue group that you want to join. You may join any number of groups. Joining will not be immediate, but generally will happen within a couple of days. Staff will need to verify that you are a member, and then input your information. If you have questions about how to sign up, call or email me or contact Melissa at support@wastatepta.org
The addresses for posting messages are:
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| | | Grateful thanks to these units, which have endorsed the Simple Majority Campaign and emailed a note about their support to the Campaign: Bellevue High PTSA * Bellevue PTSA Council * Cherry Crest PTA * Enatai Elementary PTSA * International School PTSA * Newport Heights Elementary * Newport High PTSA * Somerset PTSA * Stevenson PTA * Tillicum Middle PTA * Tyee Middle PTSA.
Be sure to email the campaign if your unit endorses!!
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 | | | If your unit has endorsed the campaign for “Simple Majority” there are a couple of action items to be followed. Please let the campaign know your unit has voted to endorse by emailing a note to info@simplybetterschools.org. If you will also support the campaign through a donation, you may send checks to the address found at www.simplybetterschools.org: People for Our Public Schools
PO Box 21252
Seattle, WA 98111-3252
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| | | Kudos to these units, which have achieved the “Bronze Level” for membership by having 50% of the previous year’s membership enrolled by September 30th: Bellevue Children's Academy * Bennett * Cherry Crest * Clyde Hill * Eastgate * Enatai * Medina * Newport Heights * Phantom Lake * Somerset * Spiritridge * Stevenson * Woodridge * Chinook * Int'l School * Odle * Tyee * Bellevue * Interlake * Newport *Sammamish.
Awesome job, folks! Please be sure to thank your membership chair for this tremendous effort, and let your members know how much you appreciate their involvement!!
The next membership award is Silver, given to units which have a 5% increase from the previous year’s membership paid by October 25th. YOU CAN DO IT!!
· Give teachers/staff members who haven’t joined another form – ask them again to consider joining.
· Have a membership table at your next event!
· Modify the ad that goes into your next newsletter – say something fresh & new.
· Encourage families to purchase more than one membership – That “P” in “PTSA” stands for parents, not just moms! But hey, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and more are welcome, too!
· Check the membership enrollment page of the State website to find out how many members you had last year compared to this year. You may be closer than you think!!
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| | | All Council Meeting dates are in the Events Calendar, below. Click on "More Events" to see all the times & dates in Calendar format. There's also a list under "Minutes." |
| | | Did you know there is great PTA training on line? Visit www.pta.org to find classes on PTA Basics, Grant Writing, Conflict Management, Parilamentary Procedure, and Your PTA Year. Courses are designed to take 30 - 45 minutes.
From pta.org, click on "Leadership Resources" and then on "Leadership Training." |
| | | You can help determine which issues will get the most attention from WSPTA during the 2008 legislative session! The 2007 Legislative Assembly Issue Survey is now available on the State PTA website www.wastatepta.org for you to download, alter to your needs, and print for your local community. |
| | | We need a South Zone Vice President. This person will assist the PTA presidents in the South Zone schools with general PTA questions. You might organize a gathering of PTA leaders over the summer or help them coordinate their various calendars. Anyone who has ever served as a PTA officer would be an excellent candidate for this job.
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| | | Be sure to adopt your Standing Rules at your September meeting. Alterations can be made at any time during the year.
This month, appoint an Awards Chair, who can obtain a binder and begin inserting the minutes showing budget approval, adoption of the Standing Rules, and nominations & elections; a copy of your Financial Review report; and a list of Convention attendees. |
| | | A few tips as you set your schedule for the 2007-2008 school year:
• Contact your school secretary for a "Building Use Form." This tells the custodians when to have a room open for you and how the furniture will be arranged.
• The PTSA Council established a convention many years ago that can help PTSA units in your zone avoid conflicts:
• Elementary PTSA’s schedule meetings and PTSA activities in Weeks 1 and 2 of the month.
• Middle PTSA’s schedule meetings and activities in Week 3 of the month.
• High School PTSA’s schedule meetings and activities in Week 4 of the month.
Publish and distribute your meeting schedule!
• Email it!
• Post it to your web site!
• Hang it on the PTSA Bulletin Board at your school!
• Put a copy in your Fall Packet!
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| | | Leadership Academy - Crystal Award: Scott Allen
Honor Units - Bronze Level: Cherry Crest Elementary PTSA 2.3.25
Standards of Excellence - Silver Level: Cherry Crest Elem. PTSA 2.3.25
100% Membership Award: International School, Somerset, and Cherry Crest
Council Membership Awards - 100% Active PTAs in Council: Bellevue PTSA Council 2.3
PTAs Taking Significant Action - 1st place (tie): Cherry Crest Elementary / Curriculum Enhancement and
Stillwater Elementary / Art Docent
2nd place: Newport / “Making the Move to Newport”
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| | | Congratulations to our 2007-2008 Officers!!
President - Connie Gerlitz * * Executive VP - John Stokes * * Leadership VP - Audrey Bennett * * Programs VP - Dennis Gerlitz * * Legislative - Eric Matson * * Secretary - Pat Voelker and Cindy Hastings * * Treasurer - Janet Suppes * * North Area Vice President - Karen Campbell * * South Area Vice President - OPEN * * East Area Vice President - Rita Frost * * West Area Vice President - OPEN
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| | | Kudos to Cherry Crest, Somerset, and the International School for earning the Award for 100% Membership!! GREAT WORK!!
PS - Our Council has 100% membership, too. Every BSD school has an active PTSA. |
| | | Levy Campaign contributions can be made annually to Bellevue Quality Schools, PO Box 1153, Bellevue, WA 98009-1153. |
| | | Welcome to the Bellevue PTSA Council! The attached document provides some info of interest to all new officers.
Please be sure to give your email address to Council President Audrey Bennett by emailing Audrey_Ann@comcast.net. |
| | | 2007-08 Calendar:
First day of school: September 4, 2007
Winter Break: December 19, 2007 - January 1, 2008
Mid-Winter Break: February 18 - 22, 2008
Spring Break: April 7 - 11, 2008
Last day of school: June 19, 2008
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| | | The application for our two Council Scholarships, the Council Scholarship & the Alice Hurd Scholarship, is now available! Scholarships will be given to recipients from each high school. Applications are due no later than 6:00 P.M. on April 10. |
| | | A note from our Leg Chair, Dennis Gerlitz: This is our last major effort of the year. The first was Legislative Assembly in October. I'm begging, urging, pleading, wishing you will encourage all of the members in your local unit to attend this function.
We are on the cusp of being able to make serious change. This effort needs your attention & attendance if at all possible. My personal goal is to have 4 members from each of our locals in Olympia. This challenge might impossible but I refuse to give up. I hope you share with me the the understanding how critical the situation.
If only the local Legislative Chair goes (some of your are Presidents having no chair) can come it will be huge. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do everything within your ability to personally attend attempting to get at least one other from your local to join you. Perhaps a third will then follow. If you get this out by kid mail, your own personal email list, snail mail or your local newsletter perhaps you'll "snag" a fourth party...nevergiveup, nevergiveup, nevergiveup,neveregiveup.....................Dennis |
| | | If you need help getting a Bellevue School PTSA website up and running and have someone ready to maintain it, please contact wrmore@hotmail.com . I can add you your own domain to our council server relatively cheap and get you and running quickly. |