We are excited to share that the Northshore Council PTSA is a proud sponsor of the Northshore School District's 2nd annual Virtual College and Career Night. 2024 Virtual College and Career Night |
Choose 3 Sessions to Attend on |
College & University Sessions
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Career Exploration Sessions
Pre-Recorded Sessions - Watch Now |
Council has maintained a bulk mailing permit available for local PTAs to use, although it hasn't seen much use in recent years. We are conducting a survey to gauge the necessity of renewing the bulk mailing permit or letting it lapse. During the last General Membership meeting, a motion was passed to cancel the bulk mailing permit, with an amendment allowing Council to renew it based on survey results indicating a need from local PTAs. To share your input, please complete the survey here. |
Each mailing must contain no less than 200 identical pieces or 50 pounds. Contents must be the same in each mail piece. No personalization other than name and address can be placed on any piece. Bulk mailings must be properly prepared and presented to a Postal Unit equipped to process Standard Mail.
Northshore Council PTSA is seeking two or more local PTA/PTSA leaders to collaborate in researching and crafting a new Council grant focused on promoting equity within PTAs across the district. This grant will be in addition to our current grant program. Council's Co-VP of Advocacy, Holly M. will be leading the committee. Council would like to appoint members of the committee at its next board meeting on February 05, 2024.
If you are interested in learning more or ready to sign up, please contact Council President, Rachel Fitzgerald.
Celebration of Cultures Event
North Creek High School PTSA
UW Forefront Suicide Prevention for Skyview Middle & North Creek
Spanish-Speaking Parents and Caregivers
For more information about the grants program, visit our Educational Speakers and Community Events Grant Program page.
Do you have an idea for a spring program you would like to bring to the Northshore Community? Maybe it's an educational speaker or a community event? Partner with Northshore Council and apply for a grant! No grant writing experience necessary! Submit Applications by Friday, January 26, 2024. Download Application Here |
Learn more about Northshore PTSA's Educational Speakers & Community Events Grant Program.
Questions? Email [email protected]
The Great PTA Sign-Up Day is January 31, 2024!
Northshore Council's goal is to grow our membership by 100 members in a single day!
By joining a local PTA (find yours here), a member becomes part of the Washington State PTA, the largest volunteer and child advocacy organization in the state. Our future leaders, innovators, and citizens are our children, and our children are given their best chances to succeed when we all work together. Members of the PTA provide a powerful and effective voice for all children. Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime, can join PTA!
Council's Membership page - Find more tips and links to past articles.
WSPTA Membership page - Membership resources and leadership guides available.
Questions?
Contact Council's Membership Co-Chairs, Kimberly Ortiz and Allison Torgesen
Questions? Contact Council's Nominating Committee at [email protected]
Per the 2023-2024 Council Standing Rules:
All Candidates:
- Any position may be held jointly by two (2) people, except the role of Treasurer.
- Nominees must be at least 18 years of age.
- Nominees must be a current member of at least one local PTA that falls within the Northshore Council PTSA membership area.
- Have two years of elected officer experience on Northshore Council PTSA;
- Have served as President of a local PTA for at least one year and have one year of serving in an elected position on Council or higher.
- Have served in PTA a minimum of 2 years, with one year as a local PTA President and one year in a board position at the educational stage that they are going to support.
President: The President has many important jobs including serving as the official contact, communicator and representative of Council. They oversee and coordinate the work of the executive board, preside over meetings, are ex-officio members of all committees (except Nominating Committee) and are designated as an authorized signer for checks, contracts and authorizations for payment. But, most importantly, they work to connect PTAs which in turn helps them support families, schools and the community to work towards overall student success.
1st VP: Must be familiar with the Council president’s duties and responsibilities. Act as an aide to the president and perform the duties of the president in his or her absence. Is in charge of advertising and organizing the Council Grant Program and yearly Awards.
Treasurer: Is the authorized custodian of the funds of the association and receives and disburses all monies in accordance with the budget as approved by the membership.
Secretary: Keeps an accurate record of meetings, which become part of the permanent history of the PTA. Also responsible for taking attendance and monitoring quorum at meetings.
VP of Events: Plans and coordinates Councils yearly events including Presidents and Principals Brunch, Reflections Celebration and Spring Recognition Event.
VP of Communications: Works to facilitate Northshore Council PTSA communications in order to inform, engage, educate and inspire local PTAs and beyond.
VP of Advocacy: Help to educate local PTA's and disseminate information about current WSPTA and National PTA legislative priorities.
VP of Elementary Support: Act as a conduit of information for local elementary PTAs. Helps to answer questions local PTA's may have and works to recognize and celebrate local PTA's.
VP of Secondary Support: Act as a conduit of information for local secondary (high school and middle school) PTAs. Helps to answer questions local PTA's may have and works to recognize and celebrate local PTA's.
The Nominating Committee is a special committee that holds the key to a successful PTSA. It is responsible for presenting the best-qualified candidates to serve as the elected officers who will lead your PTA next school year.
The nominating committee is a group of 3 PTA members who are elected for the purpose of finding enthusiastic and qualified volunteers to serve on the PTA’s executive committee! The Nominating Committee members must be elected at a general membership meeting at least 30 days before the officer elections. Members of the committee cannot be appointed by the PTA President or the Board of Directors. The PTA president nor the principal may serve on the committee or participate in the committee deliberations.
Every year the executive committee roles on local PTAs are re-elected. This means new PTA officers are entering into leadership every year! Having a nominating committee is the best way to make sure that each volunteer is qualified, excited, and ready to serve. The goal of the committee is to seek the most qualified candidates for each elected position for the next school year (beginning July 1). It is a vital committee because it has the power to shape the nature of your PTA and to set you up for future success. Please note that although an officer may serve two years in a position they must be re-elected every year.
Nominating committee members should:
- Have a strong knowledge of the PTA goals needs and culture.
- Possess tact, integrity, discretion, and the ability to hold their own counsel.
- Demonstrate sound judgment and skill in evaluating potential nominees.
- Have the courage to express their ideas and defend their convictions.
- Represent the diversity that is present in the community and student population.
- May not serve on the nominating committee for more than two consecutive years.
- May not be the President or Principal.
- Must have been a PTA member for at least 15 days preceding the election.
Elect the committee early in the school year so they have time to locate the best candidates! State guidance suggests that the Nominating Committee be elected at the first meeting of the school year. If you have not done that yet, make it a goal to elect the committee at your next General Membership meeting. The nominating committee is discharged from service after the executive officers are declared elected.
What Happens During a Nominating Committee Meeting:
Before a nominating committee can get to work, the President should conduct an orientation with the members to provide with either paper or digital version of:
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- Select a Chair from among the members of the committee.
- Review the roles that need to be filled.
- Review and discuss any potential candidates. The committee must have honest discussions about individuals being considered for nomination.
- Keep their work and information about the candidates confidential, and the group should discuss what confidentiality means.
- Give all candidates the same scrutiny and evaluation.
- Consider recommendations from their PTA community. (Advertise that you are looking for candidates!)
- Ensure that the candidate is eligible for nomination (see below- who can be nominated).
- Check relevant dates and deadlines and set themselves a schedule of goals and meetings that will meet the needs of the PTA.
The chair (or another member) of the nominating committee reports the committees’ recommendations to the membership during a membership meeting. A script of what should be said and how to conduct elections can be found in the Washington State PTA Nominating Committee Handbook.
The candidate should be the person the committee thinks will best fill the role! Additionally, the candidate must:
- Must be a PTA member (of any PTA) for at least 15 days preceding the election. It is the responsibility of the nominating committee to confirm this.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must be willing to attend required PTA training for the position to which he or she will be elected.
- Must be enthusiastic, supportive, and believe in the mission of PTA.
- Should have time for the necessary level of priority and commitment.
- Should have good relationships with people in your community.
- Must be fair, objective, and able to put personal interests aside to the well-being of the PTA.
- Should have previous experience in PTA, though other experience may also be considered.
Additional Things to Consider:
* Candidates who wish to have co-officer positions can be considered together if both candidates agree to prior to the election.
* Individuals should not be nominated by the committee just because someone is interested in or has volunteered for a position. The nominating committee should only nominate candidates whom they believe would be qualified candidates as described above.
* Current officers should be evaluated just as you would any candidate. If the committee finds a more qualified candidate, the committee should nominate the more qualified person. People are not guaranteed a nomination the second year.
- The nominating committee report is the written report of the candidates given to the membership at least 15 days prior to the election. The report must be dated and signed by all Nominating Committee members. The report should be shared widely with all PTA members as well as the notice of the upcoming election. This report is only a suggested list of candidates for your membership to consider. Your PTA must also allow people to self-nominate for each role as well. Every qualified person has the right to be nominated from the floor or during a self-nominating period if they wants to run for office and is not on the nominating committee’s slate of candidates.
- The nominating committee report is read aloud at the General Membership meeting in which the election is to be held. You can find more information about how to conduct elections in the Washington State PTA Nominating Committee Handbook.
Yes! But the member should recuse themselves from all discussion about their nominations and discussion of other potential nominees for that same position.
What If You Cannot Find a Candidate for a Position?
The committee can leave the position vacant by writing Open on the report. Someone may self-nominate during the election or during the self-nomination period. Additionally, your PTA may appoint a person to fill in until a long-term candidate can be elected.
Here are a couple of ideas to broaden your reach when searching for candidates:
- Be sure to market your PTA! Let your community know what your PTA is doing to support them, the school and the students. The more they know about you, the more likely they will want to join your awesome team.
- Reach out to incoming families! If you are a secondary school, reach out to your feeder school PTA’s to put the word out that you are looking for recommendations for nominations. If you are an elementary school, consider reaching out to families of incoming kindergarteners. There’s no better way to get to know a school and its administration than volunteering for a PTA position!
- Hold an “Open House” type event. Whether virtual or in-person, this type of event is great for introducing people to your PTA and answering questions about PTA elected positions and their function.
- Make a personal ask. Do you know someone who you think would be great? Reach out to them and have a one to one conversation about why you think they would be the perfect fit.
- Advertise your search for candidates EVERYWHERE! Put it on your website, put it in your newsletter, post about it on all your social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc.), send an email directly to your members, or even send snail mail (like a postcard) to your members. If you are looking for a school directory to help you connect to the families in your school, your PTA President can request a copy from our Council Secretary.
What if you STILL can’t find a candidate for a position?
- If there is an open position on your slate of candidates, you can leave that position vacant. At an in-person meeting, the president will ask if there are any nominations from the floor. In the case of a virtual election, there will be a period of time allowed for self nominations prior to the membership meeting that mimic the function of “nominations from the floor”. Someone may step forward.
- Consider whether you have enough time to continue your search. Can you send out another call for recommendations for nominations?
- If a position remains open, it is possible, depending on what is stated in your Standing Rules, for your Board of Directors to appoint a person into that position in the interim. The search for a candidate can continue with the hopes that someone can be elected at the next membership meeting.
- If you have some officers willing to stay on as interim, try again at the beginning of the next school year. People may be willing to jump into something new in September than at the end of a long school year when they’re looking forward to summer break.
Contact your VPs of Support!
Secondary - Jennifer Drury [email protected]
Elementary - Diana Christiansen [email protected]
Connect with Council and other PTA leaders during the next virtual Office Hours.
Thursday, November 9, 2023
12:30PM to 1:30PM.
and
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
6:30pm - 7:30pm
Register for Zoom link: https://bit.ly/FallOfficeHours2023
The Zoom link you receive will be unique to your registration. Please have each person attending register for a Zoom link. Thank you.
If you have questions and need to connect with Council before this, please visit our Contact Page for a list of Council Officers and their emails.
- Each member of your PTA/PTSA should complete this including positions such as the executive committee (aka: elected positions), board members, committee chairs, etc.
Update Leaders in memberplanet
- Requirement of the WSPTA Standards of Affiliation
- Resources and a How to Guide
Enter 25 Members into memberplanet by October 31, 2023
- Any membership received must be entered into memberplanet no more than 30 days after the person joins.
- Membership Updates & Tips to help with your campaign
Update your PTA’s Website
- This is often the first place new families, current members, and those in your school community go to learn about your PTA. Make sure that contact information is up-to-date as well as your calendar and that your front page highlights membership. Learn about the importance of having an online join link.
Hold a General Membership Meeting
- The first Membership Meeting of the year includes important items of business. Check out Council’s blog post with more tips & resources to help plan yours.
Connect with Council
- Council is here to support you! Bookmark our calendar page so you always know when our meetings, meet ups, and office hours are being held. Need support now? Send us an email anytime.
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