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October may seem far away, but now is the time to begin to identify your PTA's voting delegates for this year's WSPTA Legislative Assembly so they will be able to register when registration opens. Legislative Assembly will be held remotely through the Whova App on October 21 and October 22, 2023. Registration will open soon!
About Legislative Assembly: The Washington State PTA legislative platform is a two-year platform to mirror the Washington state legislative cycle. On the even-numbered years, the new platform is voted on by members at the legislative assembly in the fall. The top five issues become our short-term platform and consist of our priority issues when advocating throughout the year. Other issues are placed on an “also supported” list. Learn about WSPTA's current legislative priorities and other supported issues. More on Advocacy:
Begin By Following These Initial Steps:
 Need an Incentive to Jump-Start Your 2023-2024 Membership Drive?WSPTA is Hosting a Few Membership Contests. WSPTA Membership Contest: Fall Friendsy – Ask a friend to join PTA!
Membership/Memberplanet Roundtable | September 7 | 6-7:30 pm Due to popular demand, WSPTA is offering a Membership Roundtable. Do you have questions about how to navigate memberplanet? Join Robert Montenegro and WSPTA Membership Director, Jenn Talingo, in walking you through memberplanet and answering any questions you may have. Registration is free! Register for the Membership/memberplanet Roundatable. Additional Membership Resources:
Questions? Contact Council's Membership Co-Chairs, Kimberly Ortiz and Allison Torgesen. Connect with Council and other PTA leaders during the next virtual Office Hours.  This time is designed to support our local PTA/PTSA leaders as you navigate membership, programs, and managing your organization. We hope you will join us! Council will be holding virtual Office Hours on:
Thursday, September 14, 2023 12:30PM to 1:30PM. and Tuesday, September 26, 2023 6:30pm - 7:30pm Register for Zoom link: https://bit.ly/SeptOfficeHours2023 The Zoom link you receive will be unique to your registration. Please have each person attending register for a Zoom link. Thank you. This is the perfect time to connect with Council, ask questions, or even just stop in to say hello! Come to one or both sessions. There is no formal agenda. Stay as long or as little as your schedule permits. If you have questions and need to connect with Council before this, please visit our Contact Page for a list of Council Officers and their emails. *Please see calendar for future Office Hours dates and times. Notice: Self Nominations for Secretary OpenDo you like to keep records and take notes? Do you have good attention to detail? Consider joining Council's 2023-2024 Executive Board! Self Nominate by Thursday, September 7, 2023. Election for Secretary will be held at the General Membership Meeting on Monday, September 18.  Brief Description Secretary: Keeps an accurate record of meetings, which become part of the permanent history of the PTA. Also responsible for taking attendance and monitoring quorum at meetings. Learn more about the secretary role. Full job description here. Complete Self Nomination Form by midnight on Thursday, September 7, 2023. Election will be held at our General Membership Meeting on Monday, September 18, 2023. Qualification Requirements Per the 2022-2023 Council Standing Rules:
Election Information:
If there is a contested position at the close of the self-nomination period on September 7, 2023, we will send out an electronic voting method to Northshore PTA/PTSA presidents and vice-presidents. If no position is contested, we will hold the election by voice vote during our next General Meeting, on Monday, September 18, 2023. Calling all artists! Students in pre-K through 12th grade are invited to participate in the 2023-2024 Reflections art program.
Reflections is a National PTA arts recognition program that helps students explore their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence, and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful not only in school but in life. Students must create original works of art in response to a theme -- this year's theme is "I am Hopeful because…." Students will submit their completed works of art in one, or all, of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts. Stay tuned for Reflections Roundtables to ask questions, get ideas on how to promote Reflections at your school, and more. Questions? Contact Council's Reflections Chairs, Jasmine Lee Fry and Foram Shah. For more information about the Reflections program, please visit our Reflections Program page.  "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." - Helen Keller In May 2023, over a dozen Northshore parents and community members voted to form a new organization and to apply for PTA affiliation. Washington State PTA has approved their application and the Steering Committee is working over the summer to get the organizational needs in place and ready for their Charter Meeting. The new, district-wide organization will be known as the Northshore Special Education Community PTSA, or NSEC PTSA. Their purpose is to enrich the lives of students with disabilities in NSD by providing Special Education focused resources and supports for our community, including students, families, teachers, and specialists. Be a Charter Member! The opportunity to join the NSEC PTSA as a Charter Member opened on August 10th, 2023, and will close on September 21st, the date of their Charter Meeting. They need a minimum of 25 Charter Members to create the new PTSA. Join as a charter member today! Save the Date: NSEC PTSA Charter Meeting will be held on September 21, 2023 at 7pm, when they will vote in the first leadership team. Questions? Want to know how to get involved? Watch for upcoming posts on Facebook or email nsecptsacharter@gmail.com.   In preparation of your Fall membership drives, verify your online join link clear, and easy to find on the front page of your website. An online join link is a valuable tool for PTAs to use to help people easily become members of their local PTA.
BONUS: Council is also helping with easy access by including all of your online join links on our website here! Please take a few minutes to check the links for your school. Need to update a link? Email communications@northshorecouncilptsa.org. Have a question about membership? Contact Council's Membership Co-chairs, Kimberly Ortiz & Allison Torgesen at membership@northshorecouncilptsa.org.
Council meetings will build your PTA knowledge, give you the opportunity to network with other PTA, school district and community leaders, and they can be a lot of fun, too. Each PTA may send up to 4 voting representatives - but we encourage ALL who are interested to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!
Questions? Email Council President, Rachel Fitzgerald at president@northshorecouncilptsa.org. Save the Date - View calendar of future meeting dates.  The 2022-2023 school year is underway and Northshore Council PTSA leaders are looking forward to another amazing year or PTA! We would like to start this year off by introducing you to Council’s President: Rachel Fitzgerald.  A little bit about me: My name is Rachel Fitzgerald. I've got 3 kiddos; a 7th grader at Leota Middle School, a 9th grader at Innovation Lab High School, and my oldest who graduated in 2022 from Woodinville High School. I have been an active volunteer at my local schools since my oldest started Kindergarten and this will be my 7th year serving in a leadership role on a PTA. I am honored to be returning for my 2nd year as Council President. Previously, I have served as Council’s VP of Communications as well as president for both my local elementary, middle school, and even the high school music boosters. I am excited and look forward to continuing to support our local leaders and serving the NSD community this year! Council leaders know first-hand how many curveballs were thrown our way – as community leaders and as parents – over the last few years. And we have continually been amazed at our local leaders for overcoming obstacles, creating community, supporting students and schools, and showing everyone exactly what it means to be #PTAFlexible. We know this year will continue to show growth among our PTA membership and the programs and supports Northshore PTAs provide for their communities. We also know that it’s not always easy to do it alone. Which is why we want to let you know that Council is always here for you. Our mission as your Northshore PTSA Council is to support the work you do at the local PTA level. We have many resources that can help you navigate the day-to-day PTA work, as well as the unexpected, including: • Many position specific Facebook groups for Northshore PTA leaders to make connections and ask questions; • Office Hours & Roundtables so that we can share and learn from one another; • A bi-weekly newsletter, website, Facebook, and Instagram to help keep you informed; • Trainings so you can learn how to run your non-profit and become a stronger PTA leader; • Meetings to share information and connect you with district and community leaders; • Grants to support your PTA’s next educational speaker or community event; and, of course; • Personalized, one-on-one support - we’re just an email or zoom meeting away! Our 2023-2024 Council team is ready to help you continue to do amazing things for our students, families, schools, and communities.  Wishing you a fantastic school year!
Rachel Fitzgerald President, Northshore Council PTSA 6.10 president@northshorecouncilptsa.org |
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