Maryland PTA

100th Annual Convention

Maryland PTA

100 Years in the Making!

July 17- 18, 2015

Crowne Plaza Rockville

3 Research Court

Rockville, Maryland 20850

Maryland PTA

100th Annual Convention

Tentative Agenda

Thursday, July 16, 2015
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm / Pre-Session Emerging Minority Leaders Conference
Friday, July 17, 2015
7:00 am – 3:00 pm / Registration
7:00 am – 1:00 pm / Exhibit Hall Open
7:00 am – 8:00 am / Breakfast
8:00 am – 8:45 am
9:00 am – 10:15 am
10:30 am – 11:45am / Welcome and Convention Overview
Workshop Session I
Workshop Session II
11:45 am – 1:00 pm / Lunch
1:15 pm – 6:00 pm / General Session I
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm / President’s Award Dinner ~~ Tickets must be pre-ordered and paid for with Pre-Registration. Tickets will not be sold on site.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
7:00 am – 2:00 pm / Registration
7:00 am – 10:00 am / Voting Polls Open
7:00 am – 10:00 am / Exhibit Hall Open including the PTA Store
7:00 am – 8:15 am / Breakfast
7:00 am – 8:00 am / Wye Oak Breakfast Meeting
8:00 am – 9:30 am / Workshop Session III
9:45 am – 11:45am / General Session II
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm / Voting Polls Open
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm / Lunch
12:15 pm – 3:15 pm / Exhibit Hall Open including the PTA Store
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm / Workshop Session IV
3:15 pm – 6:00 pm / General Session III
6:30 pm – 7:30pm / 100th Anniversary Celebration Social Hour
8:00pm – 11:00pm / 100th Anniversary Celebration

The Exhibit Hall will be closed during all General Sessions.

Convention Information

  • Register Early

Attending the Maryland PTA Annual Convention is an excellent way to gain and share information with other members from across the state, to participate in the business of the association, and to reaffirm your commitment to the Purposes and Mission of PTA. Convention fees are a legitimate expense for your local PTA unit. You can save money when you register early. Early Bird registration ends June 5, 2015.

  • Consider Becoming a Voting Member

According to the Maryland PTA bylaws, the local PTA President or alternate, two (2) other officers or their alternates, and one (1) delegate for each 50 members of a local PTA Unit having met the standards of affiliation as of March 31, 2015, are entitled to attend as voting delegates to the Convention. Contact your local unit president if you would like to attend as a voting delegate. Credential card packets will be sent to all PTAs that have met the standards of affiliation.

  • Can only voting delegates attend the Convention?

NO! You may attend the workshops and the General Sessions (sitting in the non-voting area), visit the exhibit hall, the PTA Store and participate in all other areas of the convention that do not include voting privileges but you will need to register and receive a badge that allows you access to these events.

  • Select Your Workshops

We will have workshops for New and Returning Presidents, Secretaries, Bylaws, Membership, Reflections, Advocacy and Treasurers, both the mandatory course and more. There will be more workshops available this year and we are working to include a variety of workshops focused on addressing student issues. A complete workshop list a registration will be available soon. As with convention registration, you will be able to sign up for workshops on line in addition to mailing in your registration.

  • Complete the Registration Form

Complete the registration form found in the back of this packet. You may duplicate this form for any additional delegates. Each delegate must complete a separate form. Send the completed forms and registration fees to the Maryland PTA Office by July 3, 2015. Please make a copy of the form as a receipt for your records. Online Registration is available on our website, www.mdpta.org.

  • Include Payment

Special Early Bird Discount! (Due June 5, 2015) / $175.00
Registration (Must be received in the Maryland PTA office by July 3, 2015) / $200.00
Student Registration / $30.00
On-Site Registration / $250.00
Friday Registration only / $150.00
Saturday Registration only / $150.00
100th Anniversary Celebration (with Convention Registration)
Saturday, July 18, 2015 - Individual tickets are $50 and must be purchased separately / $35
Wye Oak Breakfast Meeting / $5
Emerging Minority Leaders Pre-Conference Program
Thursday, July 16, 2015, 12:00 pm – 3:00pm / $35
President’s Award Dinner – July 17, 2015, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm / $40

Any forms received after close of business (4:30pm) July 3, 2015 will not be processed and you will have to register on site at full price. No refunds will be given. If you are unable to attend after registering, you may transfer your registration to another member at no additional charge. Please send your transfer request to the state office in writing.

Hotel Registration

The 2015 Maryland PTA Convention is being held at the:

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Rockville, Maryland

3 Research Court, Rockville, MD 20850

Reservations should be made directly with Crowne Plaza Rockville

or by using the link on the MDPTA website; www.mdpta.org.

You may also call the Crowne Plaza Rockville at (301) 840-0200.

When making reservations mention that you are attending the

Maryland PTA 100th Annual Convention

to receive the convention rate of $117 per night.

Reservations must be made by June 16, 2015. Hotel reservations made after the

June 16, 2015 may be subject to regular rates.

Free parking.

  • Emerging Leaders (EML) Luncheon Thursday, July 16, 2015 12:00pm – 3:00 pm

Join the Maryland PTA EML Luncheon. EML trains new PTA, school and community leaders in the diverse population to effectively advocate for their students. Leaders will learn how to engage ethnically diverse families and underserviced school populations.

  • President’s Awards Dinner Friday, July 17, 2015 7:00pm – 10:00 pm

Join Maryland PTA as we honor our special convention award recipients, membership and reflections winners. Awards will also be presented to our award-winning units along with the presentation of Charters to our New PTAs! The meal tickets MUST be pre-ordered and paid for with your Registration.

  • Wye Oak Saturday, July 18, 2015 7:00am – 8:00 am

Join Wye Oak PTA. The Wye Oak PTA was created to serve anyone who would like to advocate for all children. The membership is open to all and meets once a year at the annual Maryland PTA Convention. Wye Oak focuses on Action Alerts that effect Maryland’s students.

  • 100th Anniversary Celebration Saturday, July 18, 2015 8:00pm – 11:00 pm

Maryland PTA is celebrating 100 years of advocacy for Maryland parents, teachers, and students. Join us as we honor the past and embrace the future of Maryland PTA.

  • Mail or Fax Form to Maryland PTA

Send completed forms, one per person, with registration fees to the Maryland PTA Office. There is no guarantee of admission to workshops. Please register early. Additional forms may be downloaded from www.mdpta.org. Online registration is available until July 3, 2015.

  • PTA Store

The Maryland PTA Store will be open during the Convention for all of your PTA shopping. Pins and PTA shirts will be available for you to purchase for your own use or to use as recognition for volunteers. Method of payment is by cash, check, Visa, MasterCard or Discover. As a reminder, the PTA store is located in the Exhibit Hall and will be closed during General Sessions.

  • Exhibitors

This year's Exhibit Hall will feature vendors showcasing new products, resources, fundraising ideas, technology and education information. Exhibitors will be listed in the Convention Program. The Exhibit Hall will be closed during General Sessions.

  • General Session

General Sessions are meetings of the delegates at the convention. The Convention is the only time of the year for the General Membership to vote on and direct the business of the association. Bylaws, parliamentary procedure and process, keynote speakers, and elections are just a few of the agenda items to be covered. Your participation is welcomed, encouraged, and necessary to the continuing growth of the PTA.

Your attendance at the Convention is your opportunity to be a part of the growth of this organization. To vote on any business concerning the bylaws, or participate in the election process, you must be a voting delegate. When you arrive at the convention, you must present a 2014-2015 PTA membership card and a credential card with identical ID numbers from the same PTA to pick up your voting card.

Credential cards will only be sent to units that were in compliance and good standing by March 31, 2015. According to the Maryland PTA bylaws, Article VII Local PTAs/PTSAs, Section 1:

A local PTA in order meet the standards of affiliation (good standing) shall;

a.  Adhere to the purposes and basic policies of the National and Maryland PTA;

b.  Remit the national and state dues to the Maryland PTA office by dates designated;

c.  Have bylaws approved every three (3) years according to the procedures of Maryland PTA;

d.  Have a minimum of twenty-five (25) members;

e.  Shall submit the names and contact information including phone number, address and e-mail address of all elected officers to the MDPTA office within two (2) weeks of their election.

f.  Remit bonding, liability and directors and officers insurance premiums by the date designated;

g.  Have an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on file with the Maryland PTA;

h.  Maintain its status as a corporation , have as required by MD Non-Profit law, at a minimum a president, secretary and treasurer

i.  Files the appropriate tax forms, by the required dates, with the IRS and submits a copy to the Maryland PTA office within thirty (30) days of filing.

j.  Each local PTA shall submit a copy of its annual financial review, to Maryland PTA within one hundred twenty (120) days following the end of the local’s fiscal year.

k.  Files all appropriate state forms with the appropriate state authorities by the required date and submit a copy to the Maryland PTA office within 30 days of filing.

WORKSHOP INFORMATION

Workshop Session 1
Friday, July 17, 2015 9:00 – 10:15 am

101 The Leader in You! – PRESIDENT’S BASICS ~ This workshop will provide the Nuts and Bolts of being a PTA president. Some topics will include leading a meeting, managing committees, supporting your school, managing conflict and more. Understanding the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Directors are key to making sure your PTAis successful! This workshop can be for any PTA leader (vice presidents are encourages to attend.) Presenter: Elizabeth Ysla Leight, President Elect, Maryland PTA

102 It’s Not Your Money! - TREASURERS 101 ~ Maintaining a fiscally responsible PTA is imperative. This workshop will cover the basic responsibilities that every Treasurer needs to know even if you have accounting experience. You will learn not only what you need to do but why it is important to do it. This workshop will cover the basics from your role in developing the budget, reporting that budget, and maintaining that budget during the year. Additional financial discussion may occur depending upon experience level of the attendees. Please note that this workshop will not satisfy your bylaw’s requirement for mandatory training. Presenter: Bruce Butz, Treasurer, Maryland PTA

103 The Record Keeper! - SECRETARY’S BASICS ~ One of the most important position in your PTA is that of Secretary. Secretaries maintain all documents for the PTA. Secretaries hold the key to vital communication between the Board of Directors and the general membership. Learn about the responsibilities of the recording and corresponding secretaries. This workshop will also discuss the benefits of social media. Presenter: Latisha Corey, Secretary, MDPTA

104 Don’t Get Trapped! - NAVIGATING THE 504/IEP MAZE ~ What do you do when your child is not being successful in the classroom after interventions? How can you work with the school to best determine your child's needs? How can you be a collaborative part of your child's educational team instead of the "parent across the table?" What do you do if you and the school disagree on aplan of action?Pam Bukowski,president of the Anne Arundel County council of PTAs, a Speech -Language Pathologist from Anne Arundel County, parent of six children,and parent-student advocate, will introduce the processes and provide you with resources available at the local, state and federal levels.Parents should feel empowered as part of an 504 or IEP team, not intimidated.You will learn how to counter "educational-ese" with a common sense approach. Presenter: Pamela Bukowski, President AACCPTA

105 Council Leadership! – BRIDGING THE GAP ~ Council Presidents and BODs discuss why a council is important to a local unit and how to leverage the relationship between the council and the local units. Presenter: Jayne Lee, VP Councils, Maryland PTA


Workshop Session 2

Friday, July 17, 2015 10:30 – 11:45 am

201 Emerging Leaders Overview ~ Connecting to Diverse and Underrepresented Families. ~ What is diversity today in schools? What does it mean to be inclusive? Learn how to engage ethnically diverse families and under-served school populations through bridge-building techniques. Learn successful strategies and best practices are working in schools today. Learn how your PTA and school can become more inclusive and address the needs of specialized school communities, parents, military families, etc.

202 Forms, Forms and More Forms! ~Mandatory Financial Training ~ This training is required for all treasurerswhose new term begins July 1and at least one otherboard member to satisfy one of the requirements as stipulated in your bylaws. A review of the current required state and federal tax forms necessary to maintain a compliant local PTA unit will be presented. You will also learn about the role of incorporation and what it means to be a 501(c)3 organization. Presenter: Bruce Butz, Treasurer, Maryland PTA

203 The Rules that Govern! - BYLAWS ~ Bylaws are the operating guide for all units. Learn the purpose of your bylaws and how they will assist you in effectively operating your PTA. Participants will review the bylaws template and discuss the process involved in writing and amending bylaws in an effective manner. Presenter: Michael Sedgwick, Bylaws Chair, Maryland PTA