To ensure you see the full content, please click '[Message Clipped] View Entire Message' at the bottom of this email.

Ninth District PTA Program Grants 2025-2026

The Ninth District PTA is offering Program Grants to unit and council PTAs/PTSAs to implement programs or events that support the PTA’s mission statement and goals. Please apply - it’s easier than you think! The Ninth District PTA Grant Program is partially funded with the $1 per member dues forwarded through channels. Grants are available for programs in the following areas at the unit and council levels: Advocacy, Health and Welfare, Parent/student education, and Parent/student involvement. Ninth District PTA grants are a one-time funding source and individual awards will not exceed $750. If you are thinking “if we just had an extra $750 we could try this new program,” now is the time to act! Funds must be used or returned by May 31, 2026. All requested paperwork must be completed and included for an application to be considered. The PTA applying for the grant must have association approval for the program. Examples of recent programs that have been funded: Art night for students and families, furnishings for a mental health “chill space” open to all students, supply closet for toiletries and clothing open to all students, 8-week program on World Music, school garden or orchard, and student lunch clubs.

The deadline for grant applications is noon on Tuesday, October 21st, 2025. Please submit the application to the Ninth District PTA via email to communityconcerns@ninthdistrictpta.org OR online via Google Forms by going to this link: https://forms.gle/kEq2WQYBLnEnBxAT9. You may also print and mail your application and supporting documents to the Ninth District office at 6401 Linda Vista Rd, Annex A, San Diego CA 92111 to be received by Oct 21st. Ninth District PTA will not consider applications received after the deadline. You may print the application that follows to send by mail.

Grant recipients must:

• Submit a report detailing the project’s initial goals, outcomes, expense report, photos (and video if possible,) AND any remaining funds no later than May 31, 2026.

The Ninth District PTA Grant Committee will select grant recipients and the decision of the committee is final. Ninth District PTA will notify each grant award recipient by October 31, 2025. Grant recipient names will be included in the Ninth District PTA Annual Meeting/Founders’ Day program.

Criteria

• Your PTA/PTSA must be in Good Standing; i.e., required officers, minimum number of membership dues paid and insurance paid. The due date for insurance falls after the grant application deadline this year. We recommend that you pay your insurance as soon as the insurance payment portal opens and via ACH for immediate credit. If the insurance is not paid by the due date, the Ninth District PTA will request the PTA to return the grant funds.

• The PTA applying for the grant must sponsor the program or event

• Only one completed application will be accepted from each unit or council

• No payment of salaries or purchase of equipment will be considered

• No grants will be awarded for Grad Night or Disaster Preparedness materials

• Honoraria for program speakers may be listed as grant expenses

• New programs/events, high percentage of students or community served, and financial need to be given strong consideration by the committee

If you have any questions, please contact Betsy Mueller at communityconcerns@ninthdistrictpta.org or 619-838-1500.

Ninth District PTA Program Grants Application 2025-2026

National PTA Membership Dues Increase & Bylaws

If the association has agreed to absorb the additional $1.00 increase, it is not necessary to amend and submit the bylaws. The adjustment below should be noted in the current bylaws.

With membership approval, it is also permitted to increase your dues by just $1.00 to cover the National PTA increase. Using the example below, the only action required is to line out the ten dollars ($10.00) and write in eleven dollars ($11.00). Bylaws do not need to be submitted for review if the increase is passed along to members by only $1.00.

If the association wants to increase the membership dues beyond the $1.00, the bylaws must be submitted to the council, if in council, or district for review. This increase cannot be implemented until the bylaws have been signed and returned by the state parliamentarian.

The following example shows how to make this adjustment.

SECTION 4.

a. Each member of this association shall pay annual dues of _________ten______________ dollars and  ______________________ cents ($_10.00) per member (also means per capita) to the association.

b. The annual dues shall be allocated as follows:

        Three                           ($3.25)

***1. Two dollars and twenty-five cents ($2.25)* of each member’s annual dues is payable to National PTA.

*Proviso: For the period of July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, the dues will be two dollars and

 twenty-five cents ($2.25), and will increase to three dollars and twenty-five cents ($3.25) on

 July 1, 2025.

***2. Two dollars ($2.00) of each member’s annual dues is payable to California State PTA.

3. ____________One________ dollars and ___________________________ cents ($ __1.00_ ) of

 each member’s annual dues is payable to____________________Ninth___________________

 District.

4. _______________________ dollars and __twenty-five______________ cents ($ _0.25_____ ) of

 each member’s annual dues is payable to______________Happy Valley____________ Council.

5. Each association shall remit to the council per capita dues of __________six_______ dollars

 and ____________fifty____________________ cents ($ _6.50_ ) annually.

-- by Jemima Dutra (Vice President, Membership Director) & Sue King (Parliamentarian)

membership@ninthdistrictpta.org & parliamentarian@ninthdistrictpta.org

Running a Great Meeting

Efficient meetings are the launching pad for PTA action. At meetings, members set goals, choose programs, and decide how to make their voice heard in the community.

The president chairs all meetings of the membership and the executive board. The key to conducting productive meetings is to be well prepared. Before the meeting, the president sets the stage for the launch by preparing the agenda, contacting everyone who has a report to give and making sure that materials and arrangements are complete for each item on the agenda.

At the meeting, chairing requires skills in relating to people with various backgrounds and different points of view. Consider these suggestions for working with others:

• Encourage all members to join the discussion. Listen respectfully and ask clarifying questions.
• Without stating your own opinions, point out areas of agreement between speakers. Help the group see issues in terms of what is best for students and what will help accomplish the goals of PTA.
• Encourage positive action. Urge members to concentrate on learning the facts and deciding what can be done.

Recognize that it is not the chairman’s job to please all members all of the time. It is the chairman’s job to keep the meeting running smoothly. Keep a sense of humor and a friendly attitude. The president who learns to manage meetings well improves the PTA’s ability to have not only a successful launch, but to achieve its mission.

California State PTA Toolkit, Link to page R10 Sample Agenda

-- by Sue King (Parliamentarian)

parliamentarian@ninthdistrictpta.org