December 2, 2024

Thank You!

Thank you all for the dedication you've shown throughout this year. Your leadership, hard work, and commitment to our schools and students have made a lasting impact, and we couldn’t be more thankful. As the holiday season approaches, we hope you can take time to relax, recharge, and enjoy some well-deserved time with your loved ones. Looking ahead, we are excited for all that the new year holds, and we know that, with your continued passion and dedication, the best is yet to come.

President’s Checklist

January/February

Elect a Nominating Committee and alternates in accordance with the by-laws.
Ensure that the Parliamentarian provides clear instructions and guidelines to the Nominating Committee.
Form Life Membership committees and open nomination forms.
Plan for the DEI Impact Award which will open in the Spring. https://www.txpta.org/dei-impact-award

Looking ahead: What should you look at before the end of the year?

Review your By-laws and Standing Rules with the Parliamentarian (remember: By-laws and Standing Rules must be updated at least once every 3 years) If changes are deemed necessary, appoint, with the approval of the board, a Bylaws and Standing Rules Review Committee that includes the Parliamentarian as the committee chair.
Meet with your Executive officers and Standing Chairs. How are they doing with their PTA responsibilities? Where do they need help?
Begin explaining to board members how to prepare and organize a binder, flash drive or Google drive for their position that includes a timeline of the work they are doing during the year, their POW, board reports, and other documentation. It's never too early to start preparing for passing information to the next board!

Jyothi Reddy

President, Allen ISD Council of PTAs

president@allenisdcouncilpta.org

Thank you to our current business sponsors!

Want to become a business sponsor for Allen ISD Council of PTAs?

Click here to apply!

Healthy Lifestyles

Healthy Lifestyles Programs: National PTA Programs are easy to host and include steps to plan, promote, and host your event. Programs include: Family Tasting Night, Healthy Hydration, PTA Wellness Fairs, and Tobacco Prevention Campaign.
- Click Here to view available programs
The Waste Works Application will be sent out on December 2, with a deadline of December 20. Checks or gift cards for $400 will be issued in early January.
The Recycled Art Contest will be advertised starting December 9, with entries due January 10 for grades K-12. Theme TBD.
Keep Allen Beautiful Booth at the Holly Jolly Celebration presented by the Credit Union of Texas on Saturday, December 7, from 4 to 8 pm in downtown Allen. Photo Booth, chance to win gift cards and prizes, and lighting of Allen Christmas Tree.
The Rotary Holiday Parade will be on Sunday, December 8, at 2 pm in downtown Allen. Keep Allen Beautiful will invite students who participated in the Arbor Day Poster Contest and last year’s Recycled Art Contest to walk with the Board in the parade.

Please contact: Insiya Patwa, healthylifestyles@allenisdcouncilpta.org for more information or if you have any questions.

Treasurer’s Corner

In-Kind Donations & Gift Cards: Scan the QR code to view guidelines on tracking in-kind donations and gift cards in your PTA’s budget, as required by TX PTA. You’ll also find a sample in-kind donation form and donation receipt acknowledgement. The link was sent to all Treasurers and posted in the Council Treasurer’s Facebook group.

Reconcile all accounts on a monthly basis. At the end of each month, ensure all bank accounts have been reconciled with bank statements. Start the new year knowing that your financial reports have the correct balance.

Clear up outstanding payments and deposits. Before the end of the year, confirm with all Board members, committee chairs, and volunteers that all outstanding fund requests have been submitted and checks have been deposited.

Yearly and quarterly sales tax filings will be due on January 20th. Remember that even if you have not taxable sales, you must complete an informational file.

Questions? Email treasurer@allenisdcouncilpta.org

Membership Updates & Achievements

Allen ISD Council of PTAs Membership: 6248 (86% of last year's membership)

Thank you for helping us earn these membership awards:

- Fall Community Builder Award

- Council on the Move Award

Congratulations to the Early Bird Achievement Award winners:

Allen High School and Lowery Freshman Center PTSA

Bolin Elementary PTA

Boyd Elementary PTA

Green Elementary PTA

Lindsey Elementary PTA

Reed Elementary PTA

Congratulations to the Snappy Increase Award winners:

Allen High School and Lowery Freshman Center PTSA

Bolin Elementary PTA

Boyd Elementary PTA

Green Elementary PTA

Lindsey Elementary PTA

Reed Elementary PTA

Upcoming Award Deadline:

Golden Apple Award - Dec 19

Please remember to fill out the Golden Apple Award form and the Golden Apple Principal 's Verification Form, to earn this award

Navigating the National PTA Dues Increase

Ensure Your PTA is Ready for the Dues Increase

An automatic dues increase of $1 will take effect July 1, 2025 for all PTAs. Council PTA has put together a handy guide to help our local PTAs navigate this change. Early planning is key, so please take a look at this flyer to see if there are any additional steps your PTA needs to take.

Contact the Council parliamentarian, Theresa Ginsburg, with any questions: parliamentarian@allenisdcouncilpta.org

The Allen ISD Council of PTAs is gearing up for our 4th Annual Community Used Book Fair

Mark your calendars: April 24-26, 2025 will be our 4th Annual Community Used Book Fair!

While most planning, promotion & the sale itself happen in the spring, we want you to have the info now, so you can plan your PTA year. To do that, we recently held two information sessions, and will plan for a third in January.

We also are updating info on our council website, providing flyers and other promotional materials there, and are posting our Information Session Presentation there as well.

There are some changes, including the addition of a Bag Sale, so please take a look.

Immediate Used Book Fair Action Items: There are two items we are requesting from each local PTA this fall.

1. Who is your local contact for the Used Book Fair? This is the person we will collaborate and communicate with throughout the year. It can be more than one person.

2. Local PTA Vote: Each PTA must vote on if you are participating, and if you are, what you are doing with the funds. You can choose to keep it or donate it back to Council for Allen ISD Staff grants. Requirements for participation are the same as last year: collecting, sorting and counting books at your campus as well as providing six volunteer hours during the setup or sale.

Questions? Contact our Book Fair Chair Sandra Turner at: bookfair@allenisdcouncilpta.org

Click here to submit your PTA participation vote

Click here to submit your Used Book Fair contact info