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President's Message

Some of you may remember the nursery rhyme about Old Mother Hubbard. “Old Mother Hubbard, she lived in a shoe, she had so many children, she didn’t know what to do.”

Although she had awful parenting skills, as a PTA leader, I feel this way often about the PTAs (and PTSAs!) in San Diego and Imperial Counties that Ninth District PTA is tasked with supporting. We currently have 308 units, and although that means I have enough days in the year to spend one day with each of them, that doesn’t leave much time for anything else - and most could probably use more than a day of one on one help.

But you can help! First - keep reading this newsletter! There are many resources below! Is your election planned? If it has already happened, please enter officers into myPTEZ.org (search “myPTEZ” on the Leaders website) Are you ready for the dues increase ($1) on July 1st?

(link to document ) The more you know and can help others, the more we can just read about your successes!

Do you feel like you are getting the hang of running a PTA/PTSA? You read the newsletters, you know where resources are on the various PTA websites? Would you be interested in being a “mentor” to other PTA leaders? I assure you, this will help you too! I constantly learn new things talking to PTA leaders. I have always joked that I don’t know more than most, I have just read more of the PTA Toolkit than most.

Shawna Straw

president@ninthdistrictpta.org

Treasurer

Thank you to all the units who have completed all their financial requirements this year. I know November, December, and January are busy times for treasurers as you file taxes, report to the Attorney General, pay insurance and file the Workers’ Compensation reports. I will be contacting units that may not have met these deadlines to support you in completing this work.

So what now? Believe it or not, it is almost time to start planning for the 2025-2026 Budget. Once your 2025-2026 treasurer is elected, they become the budget committee chairperson for the upcoming fiscal year. To help your committee create the new budget, the committee may want to survey students, parents, and staff to elicit feedback about programs and fundraisers from this year. The survey could also ask for suggestions of new programs or fundraisers that could be tried in the upcoming year.

With this survey data, the committee should meet to review the 2024-2025 budget and make decisions about which programs and fundraisers should be utilized for the upcoming year. Just because, “We have always done this,” should not be the guiding force to continue a program or fundraiser that the community does not feel is very successful. I also recommend adding at least one new program this year. Perhaps by adding something new, you will spark more interest from your families to be involved with PTA. Your committee may also want to eliminate a fundraiser that is not generating enough revenue and try something new.

Once your committee has a proposed budget, it should be presented to the executive board for approval and then presented at the last association meeting of 2024-2025 so that your unit is authorized to spend funds at the start of the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The 2025-2026 budget should also be presented at the first association meeting of the year to authorize programs and fundraisers in the fall.

Here is a link to the CAPTA toolkit for budgets!

https://toolkit.capta.org/finance/budgeting/

Deborah Childers, Ninth District PTA Treasurer

treasurer@ninthdistrictpta.org

Apply Now!

Ninth District PTA is offering grants to assist PTA leaders in attending the 2025 California State PTA Convention, scheduled for May 1–4, 2025, at the Ontario Convention Center. These grants aim to enhance leadership development and strengthen PTA involvement across San Diego and Imperial counties.

To learn more please visit www.ninthdistrictpta.org

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Questions? Please contact Anne Emfinger at leadership@ninthdistrictpta.org

Why attend the California State PTA Convention?

California State PTA is made up of over 3,000 units representing over 500,000 members. The Convention is the Annual Meeting where we approve the business of the California State PTA by:

• Electing the Board of Directors (in odd-numbered years)

• Updating and approving the Legislative Platform and Policies

• Reviewing, updating and approving any changes to the California State PTA bylaws

• Reviewing, debating and voting on Resolutions brought forward by our units, councils and districts that guide how the California PTA, its Districts, Councils and Units advocate for children in the future

AND you can renew your commitment to PTA by:

• Spending the weekend collaborating with people who share your passion

• Putting a face to the emails from California State PTA

• Getting inspired by speakers and workshops

• Returning with fresh ideas and being ready to plan the next PTA year!

The California State PTA convention will be held this year in Ontario, CA on May 2-4. Ninth District PTA will be offering partial scholarships (up to $800) to help reduce the cost of attending.

Please contact Denae Senise for more information at evp@ninthdistrictpta.org or convention-chair@ninthdistrictpta.org.

Today’s PTA – Not Your Mom’s Cookie Club

PTA leaders are sometimes asked. “Why are PTA meetings so boring? We came tonight for the bingo game – not this business.”

PTAs have a legal requirement to conduct our business in a transparent way. Members must be notified of meetings so that members can be a part of the decision-making process. Additionally, the executive board must receive the approval from the members for all programs and projects.

Many PTAs fundraise raising lots of money. Members have a role in how the money is budgeted, raised, and spent. Members have the opportunity to see and approve how these funds will be spent to better the educational process for all students. This oversight ensures that the funds are right where they belong.

Meetings can be streamlined. Agendas and minutes can be distributed to members prior to the meeting. Treasurer’s reports can be printed and distributed to members prior to the start of the meeting. Board members should have their reports concise with motions and recommendations for the desired programs and projects ready for members’ consideration.

While boring to some, these meeting procedures provide protection for elected and appointed officers and committee chairs and members.

Sue King

Secretary@ninthdistrictpta.org

Presidents, Follow this Script for Easy Elections

Elections are easy to run if you know what to say. As president, you are expected to run the election for your PTA officers. Check your bylaws for the date of your election. It’s usually in March or April. Here's an easy to follow script if you have but one nominee for each office.

Membership Chairs and Treasurers

Make sure you are keeping up with your dues by

remitting all *manual memberships to your Council or

to Ninth District if you are considered Out of Council

Here are some tips to help:

 Keep track of your monthly income from your

Totem Members which should be the portion of

the dues that only your unit is supposed to keep.

 Keep track of your monthly income for *manual

members. This is the full amount of your

membership dues, and you must remit the portion

of dues not belonging to you. A good habit to have

is to remit the portions of the dues each month.

You can enter your manual members into the system if you want, but this is only a tool for you to use. They are not members until the

funds are remitted.

You can contact your Council Membership Chair or

Ninth District PTA for out of council units.

*Manual memberships are any members that you receive money

through any channel besides Totem. This could be PayPal,

Square, Cash, Check, etc.

Lori Fentress, member.services@ninthdistrictpta.org

California State PTA-Membership Dues Increase Webinar

Effective July 1, 2025, the National PTA dues portion will increase to $3.25 per member, a $1.00 increase from the previous rate of $2.25, as approved by the voting body at the 2024 National PTA Virtual Convention.

Join California State PTA on Thursday, March 27th from 7:00pm-8:30pm to learn about the options your PTA must vote on and ask questions about the dues increase.

Save the Date!🍩

Ninth District PTAs Summer Leadership Conference

📅 Saturday, June 7, 2025

📍 Location:

Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice,

University of San Diego

5555 Marian Way (Underground Parking Structure)

San Diego, CA 92110

Enjoy a day filled with workshops, registration, meals, and exhibitors—all in one sweet location! More details to come soon!

Historian

History buffs, assemble! It's time to chronicle our collective PTA dedication! Historians, unleash your inner archivists and gather those volunteer hours from your boards. Every PTA moment counts, from meetings to grocery runs, emails to phone chats—if it's PTA, it's history in the making! Unit Historians, send your tallied hours to your Council Historians (or Presidents, if they're MIA). Council leaders, compile your unit totals, add your board's dedication, and zip those numbers to the Ninth District PTA Historian by May 1, 2025. Remember, we're capturing hours from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025—so a little projection magic is fine! Let's showcase our amazing commitment!

Questions? Dive into the past (and future) with Sonya Vargas historian@ninthdistrictpta.org

Historian Resources

Fillable pdf Historian Report

Volunteer Tally Sheet

Building Community and Fostering Inclusion: Vista Unified Special Education PTA's Impactful Activities

The Vista Unified Special Education PTA has been doing an amazing job of connecting students and families through a range of activities, including Teen Hangouts, Play Dates, and Family Art Night. These events are fantastic opportunities to strengthen the community and promote inclusion for all.

Want to be featured in our next newsletter or social media?

So many of our Units and Councils are doing great things in their communities! Share with us some images and a short blurb about what positive things your PTA/PTSA is doing for a chance to be featured in our next newsletter or social media. Email Jemima Dutra, Ninth District PTA Communications Director at communications@ninthdistrictpta.org

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