News & Review

President's Message - Pat Benedict

Summer vacations are over, back-to-school shopping for clothes and supplies is completed, and days spent at the pool and staying up late have ended. Schools are open and the children, teachers, and parents share the excitement of beginning a new school year. We have celebrated our past successes, put aside past failures, and promised ourselves that this year, things will be different. Goals are set, plans are made and preparations are underway to begin this school year in a fresh and exciting way.

I've had the same sense of excitement! This fall brings a new and somewhat formidable challenge into my life as I begin my term as President of the Harford County Council of PTAs. There is much to be done on behalf of the children of this county and having the opportunity to lead the organization that leads the fight for children is a real honor and privilege.

My personal goals are simple ones...to open the lines of communication between HCCPTA and the local units we represent; to help parents become true partners with their school community; and to make our building Principals and school system administrators comfortable and familiar with the workings of the PTA. Simple, but not easy.

It will take a lot of hard work and a true commitment to the public school system. I'm not afraid of hard work and have that commitment, but I hope I'll also have your support and backing as I take on these challenges.

I look foward to seeing you at our general meetings, workshops, forums, and training sessions throughout this year. Please feel free to let any of the dedicated people who have stepped forward to take positions of leadership in the HCCPTA organization know your needs and concerns and, if possible, we will help. This is going to be an exciting time and working together, we can make great strides on behalf of all children.

Our advocacy is the welfare of children. Let's work together and focus our efforts toward a commone goal...success for each and every child attending public schools in Harford County. Simple, but not easy.

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1998 Harford County Teacher of the Year

HCCPTA extends a sincere congratulations to
Mr. Kurt W. Bittle
Visual Arts Teacher at Bel Air High School
The 1998 Harford County Teacher of the Year

Mr. Bittle is currently one of seven finalists for the 1998 Maryland Teacher of the Year. GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS!

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National PTA Reflections

Legislative Forum - Election 98

HCCPTA GETS INVOLVED IN THE ELECTION PROCESS

Article: Cathi Peters

In just a few short minutes, 20 to be exact, several members of our HCCPTA Board of Directors were trained in Voter Registration. In the State of Maryland, in order to register voters, you must be trained every 2 years. Mike O'Hern arranged for our Board members to meet at the Board of Elections and train to register voters.

We followed this training with a voter registration table sponsored by HCCPTA on Saturday, August 8th and Wednesday August 12th at the Harford Mall. We were able to sign 20 new voters and helped several others change their addresses.

HCCPTA is planning to repeat this after the primaries. During the period of August 16th through the Primaries, Maryland does not accept voter registrations because voters were showing up at the primary and were not on the list to vote. It takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks after they receive the application for the Board of Elections to process the application.

If you are interested in participating in a non-partisan way in this year's election, this may be the volunteer position you are looking for. Several PT(S)As are having voter registration tables at their Back to School Nights to go along with "Kids Voting." In just 20 minutes you too could be trained to participate in Voter Registration. For more information contact Mike O'Hern, V.P. Legislation for HCCPTA.

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Tips from the Treasurer

Treasurer's Dos on Dues!

DO	make sure to obtain your membership dues information from the membership chair.
DO	remember to make your dues payment on time.
DO	remember to include a copy of your membership roster when making your payment to State PTA.
DO	remember insurance premiums were due as of August 31. If you have not yet paid the insurance premiums do so immediately.
DO	remember to review and file the completed audit report from last year. DO make any necessary adjustments in your record keeping as may be suggested by the audit report.
DO	begin gathering the necessary paperwork to complete the IRS Form 990 if your PTA's gross receipts were $25,000.00 or more.
DO	remember to complete the new signature cards reflecting the officers approved as signators on the PTA account.
DO	remember that a written financial report must be provided at each meeting (refer to your bylaws).

 

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This page archived on 11/07/99