March 2012 Volume 76, Issue 5 President’S Message
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March 2012 Volume 76, Issue 5 President’s Message Democracy doesn't have to be unanimous — lively discussion is constructive by Celia Jaffe Is there anyone droning "aye" no matter what is you always agree proposed, then maybe it's time to with? Someone who goose up the conversation a little. has the same taste in Ask some probing questions, in- movies, shares the cluding the rationale behind a pro- same political views, posed event or program: Artículos en español— enjoys the same What do we want this to accom- paginas 10 y 11 food, and wears the same sort of plish? clothing? I hope not! Who wants clones of themselves? When we Is this the best way to do that? hear opinions that differ from our If a concern or dissenting opin- own, it forces us to re-examine our ion is expressed, welcome it with a Inside this issue: views: sincere, "Thank you for your com- ments." It isn't the job of the presi- Does the other person have a PTA Basics: 2 dent or anyone else to change that good point that you hadn't con- Training Workshops person's opinion. Explaining some- sidered? Calendar; Election of 3 thing that was misunderstood might PTA Officers Are you persuaded to modify be in order, but let’s not jump down Administrator’s Dinner; 4 your opinion? the throat of someone who differs Midyear Membership This is why I love split votes and in viewpoint. Reflections Winners 5 full discussion at PTA meetings. It Each person has his or her own means people are really engaged in opinion and a single vote. PTA is a OCDE on English Learn- 6 the process, and they feel comfort- great place to share these thoughts ers able enough in the meeting to voice and use the honest discussion to their convictions. Adolescents; Young 7 enrich the work of our organization. Authors; Secretaries The fable of "The Emperor's New Clothes" is about all of a leader's ad- Advocacy: Initiative, 8 visors saying what the leader wants budget, Leg Conf, Safari to hear instead of what they really Convention highlights 9 think. It takes the lone voice of a and Fourth District dinner peasant child to say what everyone Artículos en español 10-11 else is too cautious to voice. Important CAPTA Con- Back Don't let this happen in your vention Dates PTA! If every vote you hold is a Page 2 Orange Leaves March 2012 Fourth District PTA PTA Leadership Training P President Celia Jaffe A Vice President, Communications T Basics Patty Christiansen Orange Leaves Editor Save the date! Kathleen Fay Fourth District PTA Spring Workshops Orange Leaves Distribution Candi Kern will be held on Wednesday, May 30, ©2012, Fourth District, Orange at National University County, California Congress of By Cathy Lindsey, Fourth District PTA Workshop Chairman Parents, Teachers and Students, Inc. Contents may be reproduced for All incoming unit and council officers and chairmen should attend the private, non-commercial use only, Fourth District PTA workshops, especially if they will not be attending provided credit is given to: training at the California State PTA Convention. Training is invaluable, “Orange Leaves, Fourth whether you are new to your position or an ongoing officer with questions District PTA , CCPTS.” about your job. Workshops are offered both in the morning and the evening on Orange Leaves is published Wednesday, May 30 at National University. The President and Financial nine times per year. morning workshops will be available for Spanish speakers, and Spanish interpretation will be available for all other morning workshops. Fourth District PTA comprises A list of classes offered and the registration form will be out soon and 20 councils in Orange County will be available for download at www.fourthdistrictpta.org. and over 400 unit PTAs. Observe the deadline for pre-registration and make sure that any PTA check has two signatures. Our office is located at Unit and council presidents, please distribute copies of the registration 1520 Brookhollow Dr., #40 form once it is available, and encourage your officers and committee Santa Ana, California 92705-5449 chairmen to attend. Well-trained leaders feel more comfortable in their jobs, perform better, and strengthen the overall work of PTA in your Administrative Assistant schools. Holly Reddy At $10 per person, our workshops are a great value! We look forward Data Administrator to seeing you there. Leticia Keeling Office hours Don’t be caught with last year’s list Monday through Thursday Is your current president’s name and mailing address (email and 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. phone number) correct on the official records of Fourth District PTA? Closed Fridays and all Remember that California State PTA and National PTA information school holidays. must be sent to a home address. Office phone number When CAPTA or National PTA sends a mailing regarding current 714-241-0495 events (such as membership, Reflections, convention registration, or FAX number other official business), does it reach the correct person in a timely 714-241-0497 manner? Línea telefónica en español If your president, secretary, or treasurer has been replaced, have you (714) 540-1575 sent a revised officer list to Fourth District PTA? E-mail address If you answered ―No‖ to any of these questions, it is time to email an [email protected] update to: [email protected]. Website - Leticia Keeling www.fourthdistrictpta.org Fourth District PTA Data Administrator March 2012 Orange Leaves Page 3 All about elections FOURTH DISTRICT PTA By Beverly Berryman Fourth District PTA Parliamentarian CALENDAR Over the past few months, as unit parliamentarians have been working to March update the bylaws, I have been asked to clarify when a unit should be conduct- 12 Executive Committee Meeting, ing their elections. There is no generic 9:30am at Fourth District office answer to this question and it is up to the unit to establish the election month, although there are some things to consider. 15 CP Roundtable, 9:30am at Fourth Per California State PTA Policies, elections must be held on or before District PTA office; bring member- the second week of April. If a unit were to hold its election meeting later ship, mid-year council audits. than the second week in April, then the president-elect would not have Sacramento Safari Orientation, time to register for the California State PTA Convention and make travel 16 9:30am at Fountain Valley School plans—and even if there were time, the association would possibly incur District Board Room much higher costs, both for registration and for any necessary plane fare. Article V- Section 9 of the bylaws state that the president-elect is entitled 19 OC Arts presents Randy Nelson to be a delegate at convention; if the election is too late, this would make 10:00am at Segerstrom Hall, Costa it difficult for the president-elect to attend, putting the unit in violation of Mesa its bylaws. 22 Annual Meeting & Administra- Now that you know when your unit should conduct the election, here tor’s Dinner at The Turnip Rose, are some simple steps to help with the election process: CM; 5:30pm General Meeting; The president presides over this meeting and the election is held un- 6:15pm Registration & Reception; der ―New Business.‖ 6:45pm dinner & program. The president calls upon the parliamentarian to read the sections of 26- Sacramento Safari the bylaws pertaining to nominations and elections. 27 Embassy Suites, Sacramento The chairman of the nominating committee is called upon to read the report of the nominating committee, which lists the proposed slate of April officers. The president then restates the slate of nominees and asks each one 17 CAPTA Convention Orientation, to stand. 9:30 a.m., Fountain Valley School At this time the president will ask for nominations from the floor. District Office, 10055 Slater Ave., Fountain Valley. For all registered Only members of the PTA unit or council may nominate and vote at convention delegates to learn this annual meeting. about what to expect at convention and pick up materials & Fourth The president then conducts the election even if he/she is a nominee District PTA convention t-shirt. for office. If there is only one nominee for each office, the election can be held by voice vote. If any member requests a ballot vote for 19 District Board Meeting at OCDE 9:30am CP Roundtable; 10:30am any office, the request must be recognized and voted upon without Executive Board. DUE: Member- debate. A ballot vote is also conducted when there are two or more ship envelope orders for 2012-13; nominees for an office. membership remittance and district This annual meeting is also the time for your unit or council to elect convention fees. convention delegates, one of whom should be the president-elect. 27 Advocacy Roundtable, 9:30am at The completed officer list should be forwarded to the council and Fountain Valley School District district as soon as possible after the election. Board Room. Please refer to the California State PTA Toolkit for a full script for the president, as well as procedures for the ballot vote and a contested election. Page 4 Orange Leaves March 2012 Fourth District PTA General Meeting & Midyear membership Administrators Dinner By Su Craig, Membership PTA del Cuarto Distrito If you think that one membership drive per year is enough, here are some facts to Cena de los Administradores consider: PTAs that run more than one cam- Thursday, March 22, 2012/ Jueves, 22 de marzo paign a year have, on average, 20 percent more members! Nationwide, approximately The Turnip Rose at the Grand Newport Plaza 18 percent of PTA members join in January and February.