Officers Advisor

October 2011 

Dates to Remember
 

OCTOBER

 

Oct. 24-31

Red Ribbon Week

Oct. 27

Reflections entries display ends at the High Museum

Oct. 28

NPTA Grant application deadline for Take Your Family to School Week

Oct. 31

Gold Membership Award - Target membership dues to state office

 

Community Partnership Award form & partners list due to state office

 

Oak Tree Award form and school staff list due to state office

 

 

NOVEMBER

 

Nov. 2

Selena Sloan Butler Park Dedication

Nov. 4

Reflections Theme Search Deadline

Nov. 9

PTA University - How to Plan & Conduct International Celebrations

Nov. 11

Individual ticket orders due to PTA coordinator for Falcons game

Nov 12

PTA University - Family Engagement Certification Part 1

Nov. 13

PTA Member Discount Day at the High Museum

Nov. 16

PTA University - Family Engagement Certification Part 1

  (Repeat of Nov. 12 PTA University)

Early Registration Deadline for DOE/GA PTA Family Engagement Conference

 

Ridgeview Institute - Parent Workshop - "Depression in Youth"

  What are the warning signs of depression?

Nov. 18

Local Unit deadline for ticket orders for Falcons Family Day

Nov. 30

Silver Membership Award - Target membership dues to state office

 

 

DECEMBER

 

Dec. 2

Reflections Entries Deadline to State Office

 

 

JANUARY

 

Jan. 1

Family Day, Atlanta Falcons vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 

 

FEBRUARY

 

Feb. 1

Late Registration Deadline for DOE/GA PTA Family Engagement Conference

Feb. 12-18

Take Your Family to School Week

Feb. 15

Ridgeview Institute - Parent Workshop - "Eating Disorders"

  Does my child have an eating disorder?

Feb. 16-18

DOE/GA PTA Family Engagement Conference

Feb. 28

PTA Day at the Capitol

 

Monthly Priorities for Officers and Committee Chairs

  

Attention Report Writers

Report Writing PTA University - Saturday, October 29, 2011

The Report Writing PTA University that was originally scheduled for October 15 has been rescheduled for October 29. Register now by emailing the state office at gapta@bellsouth.net. Doors open at 8:30am, workshop starts at 9:00am and ends at noon.

 

Attention PTA/PTSA President

Did you receive President's Mailing #1?  If you did not, you are not listed as the President of your PTA and/or we do not have your mailing address.  This mailing was sent to Presidents only, not those listed as co-presidents.  All future mailings will be sent to Presidents and Co-presidents.  Please update your contact information through our website, click on Change officers/chairs, to be sure you won't miss out on future mailings.

     

Attention PTA/PTSA Treasurers

Does your PTA Fiscal Year End June 30?  If yes, IRS Form 990 must be filed by November 15. 

 

No matter how much revenue your unit brings in, your unit is required by federal law to file a tax return.  Not for profits file Form 990.  Which form do you need?  If your PTA grosses (records) less than $50,000 in PTA income, you can file the e-postcard, 990N, www.irs.gov.  It's easy and can be done in minutes. If your PTA grosses over  $50,000, you must complete Form 990-EZ. 

 

 See our website for Step by Step Instructions for E-filing IRS form 990-N. 

 

2010-2011 Audits were due September 30.  If you have not submitted  the required 2 page PTA Audit/Financial Review forms, do so immediately.  Remember, your PTA must be in Good Standing to participate in Reflections at the state level. 

 

2011 Incorporation Renewal invoices - Presidents and treasurers will soon receive invoices for incorporation renewal fee.  Invoices will be mailed to home addresses the first week of November.  Renewal fee is $50. Complete and tear off the bottom section of the invoice and return with your payment by March 1, 2012 in order to avoid a $25 late fee from the Secretary of State. For additional information or questions regarding incorporation, email the state office at gapta@bellsouth.net.

 

Attention Family Engagement Chairs

Just a few more days to apply for Take Your Family to School Grant.  Up to $1000 for your PTA!   National PTA's Take Your Family to School Week - February 12-18, 2012.  During Take Your Family to School Week, PTAs conduct activities that expand and enhance family engagement in schools across the country. National PTA offers grants of up to $1,000 for PTAs to plan activities during this week that build positive parent-teacher relationships. Applications are due on October 28, 2011 at 5pm (Eastern).  Apply online today at www.PTA.org/familytoschool.

 

Attention Reflections Chairs

Is your PTA/PTSA participating in Reflections? Check with your Council President for submission deadline. If your local unit is not in a Council, entries are due to the State Office December 2. If you have any questions, contact Cindy Austin, caustin@georgiapta.org.  PTAs must be in Good Standing to participate in Reflections at the state level.

 

Attention Membership Chairs

Aim for the Bulls Eye!  Last week, your PTA President received your 2011-2012 membership number, last year's membership plus 2%, to aim for.  Look in the Bulls Eye of the letter and reach that number or beyond!  Keep your eyes on the Bulls Eye by bringing the letter to every Board of Director's meeting, every general membership meeting.  Membership is everybody's job!

Use the Tools

  

Need a copy of your bylaws?  Need logo?  Sales tax exemption letter?  What District?  Council?  Look in your Tool Kit.  Find the information you need in the Local Unit Tool Kit on our website, www.georgiapta.org.  Left vertical bar, second block.Web Browser Graphic

Announcements 
 

Volunteer Sign Up SheetUse JBF to CONNECT

C - Communicate with every family in your school

O - On-line, instant access to your membership database

N - Network with clubs, grade levels, volunteers and staff

N - Newsletters are easy using ready-made templates

E - Earn revenue for your PTA

C - Create paper or on-line directories

T - Tracking tools to measure volunteer participation and hours   

 

The following units recently received revenue checks from JBF:  Little River Elem PTA, Liberty Elem PTA, Henderson Mill Elem PTA, Wynbrooke Elem PTA, New Manchester Elem PTA, Awtrey Middle PTSA, Jacob G. Smith Elem PTA and Jean Childs Young Middle PTA.  You can too! 

 

If your unit isn't using Just Between Friends, you're missing out on so many benefits including the opportunity to earn revenue from Just Between Friends.  It's easy to get started.  Simply visit www.JustBetweenFriends.com/PTAquickstart to enter your unit.  Then, visit www.LearnJBF.com for lots of how-to information and a schedule of training webinars.

 

If you have questions at any time, please visit www.JustBetweenFriends.com and click on "Contact Us" or call 412-561-0600 x 0 and a knowledgeable, friendly Just Between Friends Customer Support Representative will help. 

 

After you've entered your unit, if you have questions about revenue-share, please call 412-561-0500 x 1203.  Don't delay!  Enter your unit today for an opportunity to begin earning revenue-share for the Fall and Spring semester. 

 

Comcast Internet Essentials from National PTA

National PTA® presents a new innovative opportunity from Comcast®. Internet Essentials provides affordable Internet service to households with children who receive free school lunches under the National School Lunch Program.

 

Families who participate in the program will receive the following:

Affordable Internet at $9.95/month + tax. No price increases, activation fees, nor equipment rental fees. A low cost computer, available for $149.99 + tax, and free Internet training.

 

1) ACQUIRE MATERIALS: Assist with the distribution of Internet Essentials information and materials to those you serve. To order these materials, please visit the Internet Essentials Partners Portal to register your PTA® chapter as an Internet Essentials partner.

 

2) HELP SPREAD THE WORD: Actively spread the word and help encourage participation in the Internet Essentials program. For example, you can:

  • Share information about Internet Essentials on by posting on your website, promoting it in newsletters, hanging posters in local club sites, distributing brochures through e-mail distribution or word-of-mouth with board, staff members, and volunteers, and attending local Internet Essentials launch events.
  • Reach out to your local school districts, school principals and other community partners.
  • Use your social media outlets to spread the word to your constituents.
  • Author "Letters to the Editor" in local papers.

3) ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION: Help kids in your schools who you think might qualify for Internet Essentials by signing up at InternetEssentials.com.

Click here to learn more! http://www.pta.org/4766.htm

 

Georgia Natural Gas True Blue Schools Program

When 25 new Georgia Natural Gas customers sign up for service and enroll in the True Blue Schools, designating your school, Georgia Natural Gas will donate $2000 toward a Rachel's Challenge Assembly for your students.  Learn more about the True Blue Schools Program.

Fundraising FAQs

 

When are PTAs tax exempt?

A) On all purchases

B) On PTA supplies

C) On items purchased for resale only

D) All the above

 

The Answer Is.....C

 

 

Read the facts...

When are Local Units tax exempt? If PTAs buy something for resale, it is tax exempt. This includes all fundraising activities and programs. Examples include: Cookie Dough, Wrapping Paper, food items, carnival supplies, etc., being sold as fundraising items. Exemption documentation required is a "Letter of Authorization." Said letter is available through the State of Georgia, Department of Revenue, Administrative Division - Tax Law & Policy.   A letter of exemption should be on file with your treasurer and secretary. All vendors should be made aware of your sales tax exempt status. Do not pay sales tax on purchases for resale (i.e., wrapping paper, etc.)

 

If a local unit buys something for itself, donates something to the school, buys teacher gifts, buys After School Program supplies, buys classroom snacks - it is taxable.

 

If you cannot locate your letter of exemption, please request a new letter by accessing the Local Unit Tool Kit on our website www.georgiapta.org.

 

B-I-N-G-O Night for Family Fun. Can PTAs do that?

Bingo games for which your PTA does not charge participants to play and does not award cash prizes or prizes worth more than $15 per game is considered to be Recreational Bingo. Non-cash prizes cannot be exchanged or redeemed for money. Recreational bingo games are not considered gambling under Georgia law, so your PTA may hold them as often as you like.

 

Other types of bingo are considered gambling and therefore require a permit or license from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

 

Annual Bingo fundraiser - This is a special exception for nonprofit school organizations, and PTAs are included under this exemption. The GBI will issue a one-time permit for one bingo session during the calendar year free of charge. Keep in mind that only one permit will be issued per school or PTA; not to both during the same calendar year. Your PTA must apply for the permit by letter, and you must post the permit in the location where you hold the bingo. Be sure it is written on your official PTA letterhead or school letterhead, if your PTA doesn't have a separate letterhead, and is signed by a PTA officer who has contract-signing authority. The GBI will send you instructions along with your one-time permit. Allow at least two weeks to receive the permit.

 

Please note: The permit will only be issued once between January 1 and December 31, which obviously overlaps two school years. Plan ahead!

 

Leader2Leader

  

At the meeting where the auditors' report is presented by the treasurer, the chair states the question on adopting the auditors' report. The adoption of the auditors' report has the effect of relieving the treasurer of responsibility for the period covered by his report, except in case of fraud.

Submitted by Shiree Lynch, Past President, Georgia PTA

 

Share PTA Do's and Don'ts, best ideas, helpful tips in Leader2Leader.  Email your tips to gapta@bellsouth.net and include your name and local unit. We will acknowledge your PTA efforts.

 

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A grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are on Halloween. 

~Erma Bombeck
 
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