STEP UP FOR CHILDREN FIRST BY PROMOTING MEMBERSHIP!

As of Thursday, August 28, 2025, First District PTA had 22,930 members, which is 31% of the way to our year-end goal of 73,000! Please thank your membership teams for their efforts to promote membership in your school communities, and for demonstrating the value of PTA every day.

MEMBERSHIP CHALLENGES

FDPTA Membership Challenges 2025-2026

• The remittance deadlines listed in the membership challenges document are for councils and out-of-council (OOC) units. Councils are responsible for remitting their units’ membership dues to First District PTA by the listed deadlines. Councils may set earlier remittance deadlines for the units in their council to remit to their council in order to qualify for the awards.

• Note: There are 2 challenges for UNITS (both in-council and out-of-council units) that require submission of information via a Google Form. (The other 4 unit challenges do not require any Google Form submission; they will simply be determined by FDPTA receiving the remittance through channels by the deadline.)

• Note: There are 2 challenges for COUNCILS that require submission of information via a Google Form. (The other 5 council challenges do not require any Google Form submission; they will simply be determined by FDPTA receiving the remittance through channels by the deadline.)

California State PTA Membership Challenges 2025-2026

• California State PTA’s theme for 2025-2026 is “Together We…Make A Difference Across California.”

• California State PTA has a goal of increasing membership by 2% in 2025-2026. You can check what that means for your unit on this linked table, showing your unit’s actuals from last year and your 2% and 4% stretch goals for this year.

UPCOMING DEADLINES

Upcoming FDPTA Challenge Deadlines for UNITS

• First Step Award (Google Form submission is required. Due Date: 10/1/25)
• Submit a selfie or pic depicting your membership theme and/or goal. It can be as simple as writing it on a piece of paper and putting your smiling faces behind it! We'll give your unit a shout-out by posting your selfie/pic on First District PTA social media. 

• Trailblazer Award (Due Date: 10/1/25)
• Remit 30 memberships.

Upcoming FDPTA Challenge Deadlines for COUNCILS

• Council First Step Award (Google Form submission is required. Due Date: 10/1/25)
• Submit a selfie or pic depicting your membership theme and/or goal. It can be as simple as writing it on a piece of paper and putting your smiling faces behind it! We’ll give your council a shout-out by posting your selfie/pic on First District PTA social media. 

Upcoming California State PTA Challenge Deadlines for UNITS:

• Together We Plan (Application is required. Due Date: 9/30/25)
• Submit your unit’s 2025–2026 membership theme and goals. We welcome you to include any digital tools or materials you’ve created (flyers, graphics, videos, etc.).
• Every unit that participates will be entered for a chance to be featured in California State PTA’s upcoming Membership Resource Library, helping to inspire PTAs across the state.
• All units that apply on or before the deadline will receive a digital badge and be recognized on California State PTA’s social media.

• Together We Grow Fast (No application is required. Due Date: 10/8/25)
• Can your PTA reach 100 members in the first 100 days of the term? Units that forward at least 100 members by the 100th day of the 2025-2026 PTA term will earn a digital badge and be recognized on California State PTA’s social media, showing your community you’re off to a strong start!

REMINDERS ON First District PTA DEADLINES 

• Councils and ALL Units: Membership challenge deadlines are firm.
• Councils and Out-of-Council Units: If you have missed the deadline for a particular membership challenge, you must still turn in a monthly membership per capita dues remittance by the monthly deadline on the Financial Calendar.
• No members that month? Note “0” on the remittance form.

Yours in Membership Growth,

Jennifer Vargo, VP of Membership

Membership@pta1.org

FINANCIAL OFFICER TASKS

HELLO, PTA FINANCIAL OFFICERS!

As you've undoubtedly figured out by now, PTA treasurers and financial officers have lots to do, especially this time of year! Below is important information and resources to help your PTA finance team start your fiscal year on the right foot.

2025 - 2026 INSURANCE PREMIUMS

The California State PTA Board of Directors has approved the following costs for insurance premiums for this year.

Unit PTAs -- $305   Council PTAs --$210

• Remember, all insurance premium payments must be made directly to our insurance broker, AIM (Association Insurance Management, Inc).
• On or around October 1, the president will receive an email directly from AIM with instructions on how to pay your premiums.
• All insurance payments are due no later than December 20, 2025, or late fees will apply.
• Don’t forget to visit California State PTA’s website to learn more about your PTA insurance coverage and to download the latest copy of the PTA Insurance Guide.

PTA FINANCE RESOURCES FOR PTA TREASURERS, PRESIDENTS, AND EXECUTIVE BOARDS

At the August 25, 2025, First District PTA association meeting, information was distributed to help with the financial responsibilities of running your PTA. This information is accessible by clicking the links below.

• First District PTA 2025 – 2026 Financial Calendar (Includes important monthly due dates and instructions for council and out-of-council unit treasurers)
• First District PTA 2025 – 2026 Financial Procedures (Includes information about how to submit payments and financial documents to First District PTA, tax filing reminders and due dates [for councils and out-of-council PTAs], and information about raffle permits [all PTAs])
• PTA Compliance and Good Standing: What is it and why is it important? (Discusses PTA financial and tax compliance, provides tools and resources for PTA tax preparation, and answers questions like “Why do PTAs need to be compliant?” and “What is the worst thing that could happen if our PTA is not compliant?”)

If your PTA is in-council, your council treasurer is your resource for all things related to PTA finance!

CONFLICT OF INTEREST/WHISTLEBLOWER FORMS

The IRS requires that every PTA board member complete the Conflict of Interest/Whistleblower Annual Questionnaire each year. The treasurer or secretary must retain the signed Conflict of Interest Form in their files for a minimum of three (3) years.

For your convenience, below is a link to a PDF version of the Conflict of Interest/Whistleblower forms and policies. Please be sure to download these forms and have them completed by your PTA’s executive board members.

• Conflict of Interest/Whistleblower Form and Policies

Louisa Amezcua, Treasurer

treasurer@pta1.org

UPDATING YOUR BYLAWS

Are your bylaws watermarked 2019 or last signed by the state parliamentarian before September 2020 or earlier? It's time to update them to be in good standing with California State PTA.

Bylaws should be reviewed every year and must be updated at least every five years, but they can be amended more frequently. 

A bylaw review committee (generally 3-5 people) is appointed by the president and chaired by the parliamentarian. The committee reviews the existing bylaws and standing rules and suggests amendments or recommends no changes. Amendments may include meeting date changes, the addition or reduction of officers, or dues changes. Even if no changes are recommended, your bylaws should be updated to reflect the most recent version of the bylaws template.

Please check the First District PTA website Bylaws and Parliamentary Procedure section for more detailed instructions to update bylaws. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Lenka Kendall, Parliamentarian

parliamentarian@pta1.org

REFLECTIONS

First District PTA will be offering Reflections trainings in addition to the ones available through California State PTA.

Introduction to Reflections:

Wednesday, September 10:

10 a.m. Zoom

6 p.m. Zoom

Google-Form How-To:

Wednesday, September 17:

10 a.m. Zoom

6 p.m. Zoom

Sign up for California State PTA trainings or view recordings here.

For unit PTA deadlines, please check with your council PTA. Only Councils and Out-of-Council PTAs submit directly to First District PTA.

FINANCIAL REVIEWS

All First District unit and council PTAs must conduct financial reviews twice a year: a Mid-Year Review, covering the first six months of the fiscal year, and a Year-End Review, covering the second half of the fiscal year.

A financial review must also be conducted upon the resignation of the treasurer, financial secretary, any check signer, or when deemed necessary by the executive board.

Upcoming financial review dates:

1. If your fiscal year ends May 31st, your Mid-Year Review will cover June 1 - November 30, and should be complete before winter break;
2. If your fiscal year ends June 30th, your Mid-Year Review will cover July 1 - December 31, and should be complete mid-January.

Items to keep in mind regarding the financial review process:

1. The financial reviewer needs to be appointed by or elected to the Executive Board, per your bylaws.
2. The financial reviewer cannot be related to any of the check signers by blood or marriage, or live in the same household.
3. The financial review must be approved by a review committee, unless the review is conducted by a qualified accountant.
4. The review committee is appointed like any other committee, with the financial reviewer as chair.
5. Check signers may serve on the review committee, as long as non-signers make up the majority of the committee.
6. The completed financial review must be presented to the Executive Board as well as the Association for adoption.

Hint: One item that comes up in reviews is that bank statements must be opened by someone other than a check signer. Units must appoint someone to do this, and the financial reviewer is a logical choice.

California State PTA has resources to answer your financial review questions. Please consult the Financial Review section of the online Toolkit for more information.

If you have any questions about financial reviews, please email me.

Dave Cole, Financial Reviewer

financialreviewer@pta1.org

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