August 2009 |
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You may have noticed a few new things around PTA lately. And I'm not just talking about my installation as the first ever male national president—though I am deeply honored that you've chosen me to lead this amazing association. This moment is historic because it has never been more obvious that our schools need more than just stimulus dollars to get back on track. They need families, educators, and community leaders working together so that children can finally get an education that's appropriate for the 21st century. America's kids—whether in urban areas, rural towns, military bases abroad, or anywhere in between—need more parents involved; they need neighbors to step up and participate in their education; they need our elected leaders to provide healthy, safe, and technologically-advanced schools for them to learn in; and they PTA to help bring all these individuals together. Our nation's history is full of big, bold advances for children that PTA made possible—and now I'm asking you to help PTA write another such chapter. You are already committed to our important mission. Please help me bring even more people into our school communities so that our PTA can truly be America's PTA. Charles J. "Chuck" Saylors Kit Registration (Still) Required All PTAs—local, council, district, and region—must register to receive the free Official PTA Kit. Units can access the kit registration form through the personalized URL sent via e-mail and postcard or by going to http://www.pta.org/ptakit_register/. The national PTA Information Center is available to help units register and can be reached at (800) 307-4782. Help ensure that all your units get their kits. Use all state communications vehicles to spread the word about the kit registration process: the state PTA website, newsletters, leadership trainings, convention, school visits, and more. Through OMDR, states can see which units have registered for their kits, when they would like them sent, and to what address. Please follow up with units that have not yet registered. Help units get their kits in time to go back to school! Learn more about the kit contents and registration process at PTA.org/OfficialKit. Remember, kits ordered or shipped after October 1 will incur a handling cost.
PTA’s New PSA Campaign National PTA® is proud to announce the launch of the PTA Gateway Public Service Announcement (PSA) Campaign—hitting televisions, radios, and Web pages as children and families head back to school. Read More and Preview the PSAs In July, the PTA Gateway PSAs were delivered to select markets nationwide: 800 television, 500 cable, and 1,250 radio stations, with Web banners placed on more than 1,300 major portals. The PSAs direct people to contact the national PTA office, but you to may receive calls from parents and school leaders interested in joining or starting a PTA. Soon, you and your local units will be able to send these PTA PSAs to additional television and radio stations, with your state or local contact information. We are working on the Web portal for ordering the PSAs now. That portal will include the list of stations receiving the PSAs in the national campaign, station contact information for markets across the nation, resources on how to reach out to media gatekeepers, and reports on PSA airtime. Preview the television PSAs—“Homework” and “Swing”—on PTA’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/nationalpta, and add all three PSA formats to your promotional plans for the year. "Homework" "Swing" Watch PTA.org/GatewayPSAs for updates. 
Let’s Fight Flu Together! As of July 30, over 2,000 local PTA units were in the process of registering their influenza vaccination clinic for their school. Our goal is to reach 7,500 local units – and your support is needed! PTAs and other school organizations can host a flu vaccination clinic starting in late September through January. Units are encouraged to talk with their PTA boards and school administration now to choose a date that is most convenient for families and community members to attend. Please encourage your local units to host a clinic to keep everyone healthy this flu season. For more information, go to pta.org/flushotclinics. For newsletter articles, webinars for your state specifically, materials, and more, contact Annie Krysl, Outreach Manager, at akrysl@pta.org. Great Member Benefits for PTA Members State leaders, encourage your local units to promote the myriad of discounts and fundraising opportunities offered to PTA members. The companies providing these benefits include:
See below for current opportunities from PTA Rewards Card, T-Mobile, and MetLife. 
Save hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a year while simultaneously supporting your PTA! Introducing the PTA Rewards Card…the world’s largest discount program. Loyalty Access Solutions has partnered with PTA to offer all PTA members an opportunity to save money throughout the year. PTA members can get discounts on more than 250,000 retail offers, including from over 400 of the world’s most recognizable brand names! Save up to 50% at thousands of:
In addition, the PTA Rewards Card is a powerful way to fundraise throughout the year with very little effort by your local PTA. In fact, it’s as easy as referring a friend or sending an e-mail. To learn more, or to get your PTA Rewards Card, visit http://www.ptarewardscard.org/. As a way to launch the PTA Rewards Card Program, every card that is purchased receives a chance to win $10,000 for your local PTA! 40 Years of Creativity – PTA Reflections
Encourage all units to take part in the 2009–2010 program. Direct units to PTAreflections.org for the national rules and forms, customizable fliers and posters, and, new this year, a Local Arts Chair Guide on how to run the Reflections Program. There’s an entire section of the site for states, too. Just select “How to Begin.”
PTA Take Your Family to School Week and the $1,897 Awards Is it on your calendar? PTA Take Your Family to School Week is February 7-13, 2010. Encourage PTAs to partner with schools in engaging parents in their children’s education during this special week. Once again, through the support of PTA Proud National Sponsor AXA Foundation, the PTA national office will award $1,897 to 32 PTAs planning events for Take Your Family to School Week. Applications will be due Friday, November 6, 2009. Tell units to check their mailboxes at the start of October for the latest Take Your Family to School Week information, including stories from last year’s award recipients. Watch for updates to the website, including the online award application, the end of September. You are welcome to adapt this article for inclusion in your newsletters and website. See “Can I Reprint This?” (below) for more information on using PTA articles.
PTA Grants Increase Arts Opportunities for Students This spring, more than 260 units applied for PTA’s Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grants - a testament to both the importance and struggle of the arts in schools. This year’s winning PTAs come from California, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state. Read More The Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grants are matching grants of up to $1,000 awarded to local PTAs for student-centered arts education programs, particularly programs that reach large numbers of students whose environmental, familial, and/or socioeconomic situation may affect their academic success or ability to learn.
PTA youth from across the nation will be asked to share their ideas, experiences, and voice with PTA staff and Youth Involvement Committee members in October for a Youth Focus Group. This is an opportunity for PTA to explore current youth programming and learn from our youth about current trends and issues. We are asking each state to identify 2-3 diverse and engaging youth who would be willing to participate in an online forum during the month of October. Youth that are interested in participating should apply, using the following link: https://ptaspeakers.wufoo.com/forms/pta-youth-focus-group-2009-application/ Online applications are due by to PTA by September 15. Preferred applicant criteria:
Can I Reprint This? PTAs are welcome to reprint PTA-authored newsletter articles from PTA Partners in Leadership, PTA Local Leader News, and PTA Parent in their publications. Both state and local PTAs may reprint National PTA articles for PTA purposes, so long as they include proper attribution. All reprinted PTA articles must include the following credit line: Reprinted with permission from National PTA. When appropriate, also include the publication title and date to educate readers about the PTA resources available. For example, when reprinting a PTA Local Leader News article in your state newsletter or website, the credit line would read: Reprinted with permission from National PTA, PTA Local Leader News, July 29, 2009, http://pta.org/2180.asp. The credit line for a reprinted PTA Parent article might read: Reprinted with permission from National PTA, PTA Parent, August 5, 2009. Sign up at PTA.org. Please note: To reprint articles from non-PTA sources, you must seek permission from the author or originating organization. These articles will have either a byline with attribution at the beginning of the article or a “reprinted with permission” statement at the end, or both. PTA Members! You can personalize your device with the new T-Mobile MyTouch 3G by choosing various device colors, customizing your home screen with your personalized apps, pics and much much more! All PTA members will receive the following special promotions on the following devices for new activations:
In addition T-Mobile offers Special Savings for PTA Members!
*PRICES ABOVE ARE NET OF ALL INSTANT/MAIL-IN REBATES To take advantage of these and other special offers, please call 1-866-464-8662 and mention promo code 9788TMOFAV. If you are already a T-Mobile customer, please call 1-877-453-8824 to receive the PTA discount or walk into any T-Mobile store across the US! Don’t forget to mention your “Local PTA Unit Number” as a reference. Member Benefits Provider Message Quality Insurance + Special Group Rates = Peace of Mind 
Are you getting the right insurance at the right price? When was the last time you checked? Great news, MetLife has built an online resource for PTA members—making it for you to learn more about insurance. The MetLife Insurance Microsite for PTA members features:
Take just a few seconds and find out more about MetLife Auto & Home. Visit the MetLife Insurance Microsite for PTA members or call a MetLife insurance specialist at 1-800-888-2308 (mention promotion code BMG). MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates, with administrative home offices at 700 Quaker Lane Warwick, RI 02886.
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The PTA Reflections Program
