CT PTA President's Letter
November, 2000

As my dog and I took a long walk this morning, we thought about possible topics for this president’s letter. The dog was uninspired by the crisp autumn air, leaving me to come up with a bright idea all by myself. Until I stepped into a hole hidden by fallen leaves, I was idea-less, inspiration-less, and clueless. Then the hole (and a twisted ankle) gave me my topic. This month’s letter is comprised of Lessons for Prudent Presidents. I hope they help you avoid the perilous pitfalls and potential problems that can permeate your presidency. And, I promise, the alliteration will cease as soon as my ailing ankle stops swelling.

Predicament #1: The Possessive Principals. Patty Principal allows you to enter her school, interact with her students, and volunteer for her PTA. Peter Principal is in charge of every event, decision, PTA meeting, and dollar spent in his school. Neither Patty nor Peter understand the fundamentals of PTA. Prudent PTA presidents know their PTAs are chartered as independent chapters of a state-wide and national 501 © 3 nonprofit organization. A PTA does not belong to a principal or to a school—it belongs to its dues-paying, card-carrying members. While principals have a great deal of control over a school’s usage, Patty and Peter do not control a PTA’s meetings, agenda, goals, or spending. Think about it. Patty doesn’t tell the basketball coach which player sits on the bench just because the coach uses the gym. And Peter doesn’t tell the troop leader which Boy Scout becomes an Eagle Scout just because the pack meets in the auditorium. Same policy applies to PTA.

Problem #2: The PTA/PTO Predicament. Mary Member wants to know the difference between PTA and a PTO. Prudent presidents are prepared for this perennial question. They explain that PTO has no ties, no support, and no influence outside of an individual school. PTA, on the other hand, is a national and state-wide organization which provides training, materials, support, and networking. From the Annual Resource Guide, to Our Children Magazine; from Leadership Training Conferences to Convention; from www.pta.org to connecticut.pta@snet.net, there is a person and an organization ready to help in any situation. Videos, pamphlets, program kits, speakers, trainers, lobbyists, information--Connecticut PTA and National PTA are there to help all children and any member, including the prudent president. Through the Prudent President, Mary Member finds out that PTA extends beyond the walls or her child’s classroom and beyond the confines of her child’s school with a family of advocates working on behalf of her child and all children.

Predicament #3: The Budget Bonanza. Tricia Treasurer produces her monthly report showing yet another $10,000 brought into the PTA account by Frannie Fundraiser. Tricia will be paying the chocolate company $6000 for its product, leaving the PTA with a profit of $4000. Because $8,000 came through the treasury in sales for tee-shirts (of which the PTA kept $4000), $15,000 came through in wrapping paper sales (of which the PTA kept $7500) and $2000 came through from Fall Festival tickets, this PTA is meeting its income goals. The Prudent President know that all this gross income requires the PTA to file an IRS Form 990. Gross income is any money that flows through a treasury—even if it stays there for only 5 minutes before a check is written to a fundraising company—excepting National and State PTA dues. IRS rules state that it is not profits from PTA fundraisers, but the total amount deposited in the PTA account over the period of a year which determines if a unit files IRS forms. Prudent Presidents know not to mess around with the IRS.

My ankle is better, my dog is asleep, and my alliteration and my letter are at an end. If any of the problems and predicaments above sound familiar, contact us. We are ready to help you. In the meantime, enjoy the holidays and be thankful for great families and great friends. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, thanks for all you do to help all our children.

Deborah Walsh
President, Connecticut PTA

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