Dear Members, Did you hear it? That loud bang? The one that came from Olympia when PTA descended upon the capitol? If you did not hear it, I am sorry you missed it. We had over 100 advocates attend our Focus Day and share their perspectives with our state legislature. Since we were snowed out…

Dear Members, Happy New Year! Wow, it’s 2020. I can hardly believe it. I have been a lifelong fan of science fiction and grew up on Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein. In the annals of science fiction, these are the years when space operas play out, the years when robots have either enslaved us all…

Dear Members, This time of year, thoughts turn to those who have less and what we can do to help. Individually, we make donations and volunteer our time. Working with and through the PTA, we systemically help those in need. Our advocacy mission serves all of the children in our state, ensuring that those in…

Dear Members, Wow – what a month! The 2019-2020 Strategic Plan Listening Tour got off to a great start in September. I was absolutely delighted to participate in four region conference and hold Listening Tour sessions. So far I have met so many members and heard so many stories. Some stories were heartbreaking and others…

Dear Members, It’s the end of August and we have hit the ground running. There is so very much to do this time of year! Families are engaged in the annual “back to school” ritual, preparing children and youth for school. PTAs are gearing up membership drives and planning their events and activities for the year. WSPTA Region Directors and other…

Dear Members, One of the messages I have heard repeatedly when I started working with the Washington State PTA seven months ago was how quiet it gets in the summer time. The story goes that with the end of the school year we stop hearing from you, the leaders and other members of the PTAs…

Dear Members, It has been a busy month for us at the Washington State PTA office. After wrapping up the Convention we dived right into preparations for the various meetings and retreats we will be holding over the summer to prepare for the 2019-2020 year. New volunteer leaders will be forfeiting part of their summer…

Dear Members, What a contrast a month makes. Spring seemed to hit like a brick this month with temperatures in Western Washington jumping from the 40s to over 70 within a week. It has been a great opportunity to spend time in the yard, cleaning up the mess left by the winter storms, and pulling…

Dear Members, What a stormy month February has been! It was reported that the Puget Sound Region was hit with four snowstorms in a row. It had quite an impact on families, schools, and our kids. It also took a toll on the Washington State PTA staff and volunteers, slowing us all down a bit.…