A Message from Barb...

Dear PTA Leaders, WOW! Can this school year be nearly finished already? Are you looking forward to summer with the same anticipation as your children? Before we head into summer, though, this is a great time to take a look at the year just completed and determine what worked and what didn’t. Did you accomplish your goals for this year? Be sure to stop to take time and thank all the wonderful volunteers who worked so hard on behalf of children in your school and community. This time of year also presents some housekeeping duties for PTA officers. Be sure to plan for the audit of your books. Plan your goals for the next school year and set your budget for presentation to the general membership. The 2008-2009 Local Unit or Council Registration Form must be filed with the Illinois PTA by May 15th. Even if your officers have remained the same, a new form must be completed. The state PTA database is purged in June of all old information and only information from the newly completed forms is entered. In order to continue to receive materials from the National and Illinois PTA, send in this form now! Both the Local Unit and Council forms were sent to the current presidents in April. These forms are also available on the Illinois PTA web-site: www.illinoispta.org. If your officers change at any time during the year, just submit a new form and mark it “Revised.” Be sure to send in any last minutes dues received by your PTA. Remember that any unused membership cards MUST be returned to the Illinois PTA. (See related article) With many new people taking office in your PTA, training is an important tool to help them work smarter – not harder! Call me to schedule the new “PTA Road to Success” course, which includes information about the basic policies and procedures of PTA as well as duties of officers and some parliamentary procedure. As part of the course, you will also learn about the many resources available to help you do your job. Invite all parents and teachers – not just officers or board members. I also want to thank the local units and their presidents that hosted our district events this year: Brenda Gudino and Home School PTA (Annual Meeting), Tracey Makaris and Garfield PTA (Advanced Course), and Joy Lenon and Rhodes PTA (Healthy Reflections Event). Thanks for being such great partners in PTA! Finally, if you are an outgoing president, please make sure you pass on this newsletter to the incoming president so that he/she can get off to a good start! Barb Miralgio District 28 Director (847) 455-6150 or barb@IllinoisPTADistrict28.org