All About Givebacks: Our New Database System
This summer, WSPTA will transition away from memberplanet and toward a new statewide membership database powered by Givebacks, formerly MemberHub. We’re excited that Givebacks specializes in serving PTAs and know this change will make member management, communications, and fundraising easier for our local leaders. You can learn more about our transition timeline by visiting Givebacks’s…
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Membership
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News
Ask WSPTA: Can we fundraise for teachers’ professional development?
Here’s a great question we received recently in the WSPTA Support inbox: “Is it appropriate for PTAs to fund or fundraise for the cost of teachers’ professional development?” And here’s the answer, courtesy of WSPTA Finance Officer Liz Nord: I am going to start with districts/WA state should be paying for teacher professional development. But we…
Category:
Governance
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Leadership
Ask WSPTA: Advocacy vs. Lobbying
What’s the difference between advocacy and lobbying? Advocacy is the act of speaking for, in support of, or to plead a cause on behalf of others. For example, PTAs advocate when they inform members or decision-makers on a topic of concern. Lobbying is attempting to influence a specific decision. For example, an activity is lobbying when it involves asking…
And that’s a wrap!
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org The second year of the 64th Legislature adjourned about 6:45 PM on Thursday, March 7th, after a record-setting number of bills were pre-filed and introduced on January 8th and a super-fast 60 days of session. Legislators also added more spending for the 2024 supplemental operating, capital, and transportation budgets, passed many…
Category:
Advocacy
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Legislative
It’s the final countdown
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Friday, March 1st was the final deadline by which bills had to pass out of the opposite chamber to remain under consideration this session. Many bills were amended in the opposite chamber, which means they will return to their “house of origin” for concurrence, dispute, or conference committee. Typically, conference committees…
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Uncategorized
2024 Bill Status Reports
Each week, WSPTA Legislative Consultant Marie Sullivan assembles a list of bills and upcoming events that are associated with our legislative priorities. We will update this page regularly during the 2024 Legislative Session with Marie’s updates. Reports will be updated every Monday morning. Week 1 – January 8 to January 12 Week 2 – January…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
March Checklist for Running Your PTA
Ongoing Tasks Attend any board and membership meetings Read meeting minutes and offer corrections Prepare reports for board and membership meetings Get educated: take advantage of in-person and online training opportunities Be familiar with your responsibilities and fulfill them Review and ask questions about monthly financial report Actively engage in a plan for membership growth…
Category:
Leadership
March Checklist for Councils Supporting Local PTAs
Ongoing Tasks Offer support to local PTAs who may be struggling with any of the SOA requirements. Encourage local PTAs in their membership campaigns. Work with your region director to support any local PTAs with fewer than 25 members. Work with your region director to support any local PTAs on the “no president list”. Remind…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA Testifies: Parental Rights and Public Education
Advocacy in Action! WSPTA President Angela Steck shared comments on Initiative 2081, concerning parental rights relating to public school education, at the joint meeting of the House Education and Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committees on Wednesday, February 28. Angela noted that WSPTA had a long history of supporting the health, safety, and welfare…
Category:
Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA’s Leadership Service Award is a tool for leadership development
Washington State PTA is a volunteer organization. The differences we make in the lives of children are because of volunteers committed to being a voice for every child. In gratitude for the many hours of service and training put in by volunteers, the WSPTA Board of Directors created a leadership program to recognize and acknowledge…