There have been updates to the local unit bylaws in the last couple of years and the 2013-2014 form is available on our website (www.floridapta.org), under the Running Your PTA tab. If you don't have a copy of your previously approved bylaws, contact info@floridapta.org or your County Council PTA president and a copy can be emailed to you.

It is not a difficult process. A committee (it can be your local unit officers, or a combination of board members and the general membership), would review your current bylaws. After review, if no changes are made, they are presented to your board of directors, for "approval", and then the president and principal (or PTA secretary) sign the bylaws, after completing all "blanks" in the bylaws. At the next general meeting, it is reported "the bylaws were reviewed by [insert group reviewing bylaws] and the bylaws have been submitted to the state for approval.

If changes are made, the updated bylaws MUST be presented and voted on at a general membership meeting, with thirty (30) days prior notice of the presentation. After approval at the general membership meeting (2/3rds vote in the affirmative to approve), the president and principal (or local unit secretary) sign on page 1, and the bylaws are submitted to state for approval.

Your bylaws are your local unit's governing document. As a PTA member, you should know what's in your local unit's bylaws.

Your bylaws can be uploaded at (www.floridapta.org ), under the Running Your PTA tab, and submitted electronically.

VOUCHER FUNDED SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY  

(Article by Mindy Gould, Florida PTA Legislation Chair)  

The Florida Legislature has established, as part of the K-12 public education system, voucher/scholarship programs allowing parents of public school students to seek private school options financed by public tax dollars or tax credits. In 2006, the Florida Supreme Court struck down the state's Opportunity Scholarship program, ruling it violated the state Constitution's "uniformity" clause. In spite of this ruling, other voucher/scholarship programs have prevailed.

CLICK HERE to read more and for Florida PTA's Position.  

The Bystander Effect in Cyberbullying Incidents

When speaking to educators and law enforcement about cyberbullying, one case often referred to is the Kitty Genovese case. Catherine "Kitty" Genovese, a 28-year old woman, was stabbed to death near her home in Queens, N.Y. in 1964. Two weeks after her murder, a newspaper reported that neighbors were fully aware of what was taking place but were unresponsive. Later accounts have disputed the accuracy of this, but this incident led to many social psychologists to begin studying the bystander effect.

The bystander effect occurs when a witness to a crime does not offer help to a victim if there are other people present. In traditional bullying scenarios the bystander effect is more obvious. Someone witnesses a fight after school or hears a classmate verbally threaten someone and does nothing to help. But where are bystanders in a cyberbullying incident and how do they get involved?

Imagine a situation where a hate page on social media is created by a group of teens. They post mean comments and add inappropriate pictures of someone in their class. Then they send the link around to all of their friends. When someone opens this link, but doesn't report it, add any mean comments, or forward it to anyone else, they are acting as a bystander.

What can bystanders do?

Get bystanders involved in cyberbullying in a positive way. Encourage bystanders to take action by:

• Reporting the cyberbullying to the website or app where it's taking place.
• Posting positive comments on the victim's social media profile.
• Telling a trusted adult about the incident.

Bystanders can also support cyberbullying victims offline. They can walk with them in the halls at school or sit with them at lunch. Since cyberbullying incidents often happen between classmates this kind of support at school can make a victim feel safe.

Some bystanders have taken their role as bystander a step further by trying to create a positive online environment for their peers. Minnesota teen Kevin Curwick decided he was tired of his friends being cyberbullied so he created his own Twitter account to only share positive things about his classmates.

Cyberbullying resources NetSmartz, www.netsmartz.org, (educational resources from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) highlights the role of bystanders in the latest round of Internet safety presentations for tweens, teens and parents. In all three recently updated presentations, there is an entire section focused on cyberbullying and the people usually involved in an incident - the bully, the victim and the bystander. The underlying message to focus on for tweens and teens is to be respectful of one another even if they do not like that person.

Bottom line: Encourage tweens and teens to take action when they see cyberbullying instead of just standing by to watch an incident unfold.

Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force   

IMPORTANT REMINDER  

REGARDING THE
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

(Recommendations for Nominees for Florida PTA Officers and Committee Chairs)

by Mindy Gould, Florida PTA Nominating Committee Chair 

The election for Florida PTA officers will be held at the annual Florida PTA Leadership/Convention in July 2014. The officers of the Florida PTA shall consist of the following:  

• President*
• Vice President for Leadership Development
• Vice President for Regions and Councils
• Vice President for Membership Development
• Vice President for Educational Development
• Secretary 
• Treasurer

* Please note that nominations are not in order for the "president" position, as the current president elect automatically becomes president.

is honoring PTA members in Florida with:

Discounted tickets for all of 2014:

 Tickets are only $30.00 each,  OR  $45.00 for the LEGOLAND WATER PARK!

that's less than half the regular price!  

 Click here for ticket information