Livonia PTSA Council Courier
July 2021
Summer is in full swing! Hopefully everyone is enjoying sun, family and friends!
As Andrea mentioned in the June newsletter, I will be taking over as the newsletter chair. Thank you Andrea for all the wonderful newsletters and your hard work over the last two years.
Watch for reminders to submit articles and remember, you get PEP points for submitting articles and pictures!
Enjoy Every Moment of Summer!
Laura Ulaszek
Council Newsletter Chair
Important Information Regarding MemberHub Payments!
From MI PTA regarding Stripe. Council is aware that a couple units have not made the transition from WePay to Stripe. Please do so ASAP!
Several PTA Units have recently tried to send in dues payments using MemberHub, only to have those payments fail. Subsequent attempts have also failed. What is going on?
As you may know, MemberHub has made many changes to their platform recently. One of the biggest changes is the switch from WePay to Stripe. These are financial services which process on-line payments.
If you have used MemberHub successfully in the past to make payments, and now your transactions are failing, please check to see if you have converted to Stripe. If you are still trying to use WePay, your transaction cannot go through.
Here is some information on signing up with Stripe: https://support.memberhub.com/hc/en-us/articles/360049328313-How-to-take-payments-with-MemberHub
If you have converted to Stripe and are still having problems making online payments, please contact Michigan PTA at 734-975-9500 so we can help you.
Thank you!
Michigan PTA
Audit Party 2021!
We had a full house at Frost on Wednesday, July 14th for the audit party. ALL 22 units were on hand to swap books with a fellow school for a fast, easy (and I still say FUN!) way to audit their books and get ready for the coming year! Now that you've completed your audit, you might be asking .... now what? There are a few more things to check off on your to-do list! Please make sure you upload your audit into Memberhub using the Compliance Manager tab. You can also earn some easy PEP points by sending a copy of your audit to pep@livoniaptsacouncil.org.
Looking forward to another great year!
Mandy Gerstenbrand
Livonia PTSA Council President
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At officer training in June, we encouraged units to appoint a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) chair this year. Now that we have a few projects underway at the council level, we would like to focus on how you can make your units more inclusive.
Please consider who might be a good volunteer for this role at your school.
For reference, the slides from my presentation at officer training are now on the council website. They include a number of ideas for what your DEI chair could focus on.
https://livoniaptsacouncil.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/dei-tips-for-your-pta-unit.pdf
I would like to meet with all of the DEI chairs on Tuesday, October 5th. This meeting will be a chance to share ideas and get everyone up to speed. Mark your calendars now and I'll share more details when the time comes.
Thanks for your help in making the PTA mission a reality in our schools.
Debbie Yates
Livonia PTSA Council Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair
Membership
Have you started thinking about next school year's membership drive yet? Do you have a Membership Chairperson yet? How will you recruit new members next year? Will you offer some sort of incentive to become a member? This is the perfect time to start thinking outside the box on how to increase your membership. The above graphic gives excellent reasons why PTA/PTSA membership matters! Pass on to your school's community.
Don't forget to include a line item for Membership as you're planning next year's budget. Be sure to account for funds coming in and out of your account for membership dues.
Livonia PTSA Council requires a one time dues fee by October 28th. You can find the remittance form below. When you submit this payment, please be sure to mail or deliver it to the address on the form. Please DO NOT send it to Central Office. Also, be sure to pay Michigan PTA for all new members by the 28th of every month. This can be done through Memberhub and is only for those members who are new and haven't been paid for yet.
Let's get ready to have an amazing year!
Sara Bennett
Livonia PTSA Council Membership Chair
Now Recruiting Reflections Volunteers
It's that time of year when we start to gather a team of volunteers for the Reflections arts program. Some of last year's volunteers will return, but there will also be some openings, as some people age out and others step aside.
Please start thinking about who might be a good person to lead the Reflections program at your school.
I will host a training session via Zoom for new volunteers on Wednesday, August 11th at 7 p.m.
A Reflections chair's schedule looks like this:
- Fall: Promote the program at your school, answer questions from students/families about the rules
- November: Receive the entries from students, review them to make sure they meet all the rules, turn them in to the council chair, and be available for any communication regarding entries that need attention before judging
- December/January: Share the results of district level judging
- January: Volunteer at the district awards ceremony (if we're allowed to have one this year)
- Spring: Be available for communications with students/families who have state and national level entries
This is a great volunteer opportunity for someone who:
- Loves to encourage students to express themselves through the arts
- Is good at paying attention to details
- Has good communication skills
- Is looking for a volunteer role that doesn't last all year
- Is looking for a volunteer role that doesn't require them to spend a lot of time at the school
Thanks for your help in bringing this program to your students!
Debbie Yates
Livonia PTSA Council Reflections Chair
Let's Talk About P.E.P.!
What is PEP? The PTA/PTSA Excellence Program – better known as PEP – provides PTA/PTSA units with a way to streamline unit requirements and provide a points system for units who complete the required tasks. PEP helps your unit stay in good standing and encourages unit growth and participation. Awards will be presented at the end of the year to the highest achieving units.
Remember, in order to receive PEP points, you must complete the task on time and email PEP (pep@livoniaptsacouncil.org) stating you have completed the task.
The PEP list has changed! With the new school year, will also come with a new PEP Checklist. Several items are the same, but there are some new changes. Please see the downloadable PEP Checklist below for the updates. This can also be found on Livonia PTSA Council's website at https://livoniaptsacouncil.org/work/pep/
What's Due:
Monthly membership dues to MI PTA are due by the 28th of every month. How do you submit? The easiest way is to use MemberHub. Use the Admin Console>PTA>State Payment and send it digitally right now! Or by check made payable to MI PTA and mailed to PO Box 510535 Livonia, MI 48151.
*If you have any outstanding memberships that need to be paid, PLEASE do so now!*
Please review the new PEP Checklist as there are several items due prior to Oct. 1.
1) Submit signed copy of Bylaws Acknowledgment form before Oct. 1 (500 pts)
2) Submit signed copy of Financial Best Practices form before Oct. 1 (500 pts)
3) Submit Advocacy Chair contact info before Oct. 1 (100 pts)
4) Submit Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair contact info before Oct. 1 (100 pts)
5) Submit Reflections Chair contact info before Oct. 1 (100 pts)
6) Submit Flat Fee Membership Dues to Council before Oct. 28 (500 pts)
Other upcoming ways to earn PEP points:
Attend Michigan PTA's virtual Convention Aug. 5-8th. (100 pts per person)
Let's have a great PEP Year!
Sara Bennett
PEP Chair
Council's Unit Spotlight
Webster Elementary
Webster's PTA has a history of hosting playdates throughout the summer and we have been doing just that. These are great ways for incoming families to meet new friends, ask questions, get acclimated to the playground and see some familiar faces. Current families also love to attend to catch up with past classmates whom they have missed over the summer.
We hosted our first in late June which only lasted about 20 minutes before a huge downpour had us all running for our cars. Our second playdate in July had much better weather which allowed us to stay and visit for over two hours. Both of these playdates had turnouts of at least 40 people, which was amazing! Mrs. Boka, Webster principal, was able to come out and visit during the second playdate which made everyone smile. We were also able to witness some incoming students come in so shy and hiding behind parents and by the time it was done they were happily playing with new friends and leaving mom in the dust! We are looking forward to our final summer playdate in August.
Sarah Pelletier, Webster PTA
MI PTA 103rd Annual Convention Registration Is Now Open!
You are now able to register for Michigan PTA's 103rd Annual Convention. It will be taking place August 5th - 8th and will be virtual once again this year. They have a lot planned and several Council members will be attending. We highly encourage all units to have at least one member attend. A lot of good information can be gained from attending convention. You can use the link below for registration. The cost is $20.
New Dates for 2021-2022! Put These On Your Calendar NOW!
Please note that these dates and times could be subject to change due to any change in COVID - 19 regulations. We will inform all units of any updates or changes as soon as possible.
2021
8/5 - 8/8 - Michigan PTA 103rd Annual Convention | Virtual Convention
8/18 - LPTSA Council Executive Board Meeting | 6 - 7 p.m. | TBD
9/15 - LPTSA Council Executive Board Meeting | 6 - 7 p.m. | TBD
9/15 - LPTSA Council General Meeting | 7 - 8 p.m. | TBD
TBD - Council Meet & Greet | TBD | TBD
11/17 - LPTSA Council Executive Board Meeting | 6 - 7 p.m. | TBD
11/17 - LPTSA Council Workshop | 7 - 8 p.m. | TBD
2022
1/15 - LPTSA Council Chili Cook Off | TBD | TBD
1/19 - LPTSA Council Executive Board Meeting | 6 - 7 p.m. | TBD
1/19 - LPTSA Council General Meeting | 7 - 8 p.m. | TBD
TBD - Reflections Celebration | TBD | TBD
2/16 - Founders' Day Celebration | 6:00 pm | Vista Tech Center
TBD - Bus Driver Appreciation Event
3/16 - LPTSA Council Executive Board Meeting | 6 - 7 p.m. | TBD
3/16 - LPTSA Council Workshop | 7 - 8 p.m. | TBD
4/20 - LPTSA Council Executive Board Meeting | 6 - 7 p.m. | TBD
4/20 - LPTSA Council General Meeting (Elections) | 7 - 8 p.m. | TBD
TBD - YMAD Celebration | TBD | TBD
5/18 - LPTSA Council Officer's Training | 6 - 8 p.m. | TBD
6/15 - LPTSA Council Executive Board Meeting | 6 - 7 p.m. | TBD
7/20 - LPTSA Council Audit Party | 6 - 8 p.m. | TBD
Have You Joined Us On Facebook?
If you are a PTA/PTSA officer or committee chair, please make sure to join our group for important information, discussions, and more! A lot of great information is shared on this closed group page. It's also a great way to network with other units, share ideas, and ask for help.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/541318689333449/
Also, like our Livonia PTSA Council Page: https://www.facebook.com/LivoniaPTSACouncil
Getting Connected to MI PTA And National PTA
Michigan PTA Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/everychildonevoice
National PTA Website : https://www.pta.org/
National PTA Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/ParentTeacherAssociation
National PTA Blog: https://onevoice.pta.org/
About us...
The Livonia PTSA Council is a group of 22 local PTA/PTSA Units within the Livonia Public Schools District. The Council is organized under the authority of the Michigan PTA for the purpose of promoting conferences, communications, leadership development and coordination of the efforts of the local units.
Interested in joining Council? There are chair opportunities available! Contact President Mandy Gerstenbrand at mandy.gerstenbrand@livoniaptsacouncil.org
Email: newsletter@livoniaptsacouncil.org
Website: www.livoniaptsacouncil.org
Location: 15125 Farmington Road, Livonia, MI, USA
Phone: .
Facebook: facebook.com/LivoniaPTSACouncil
Twitter: @LivoniaPTSAC