Open Letter to Michigan PTA Members from the President

Dear Michigan PTA Members;

Michigan PTA has consistently advocated for gun free zones, gun safety and school safety and our positions have not changed. SB 442 attempts to address what has been described as a loophole in the current law which allows for the open carry of firearms in schools. We believe this legislation will not solve the problem, nor benefit the children in Michigan.

SB442 would allow the concealed carrying of guns in our schools and on school property. This bill addresses a gap in the current law, which allows licensed individuals to openly carry weapons in public schools. Individuals who possess a concealed weapon license, under the current law, may openly carry guns in our schools. SB442 would forbid the open carrying of guns in schools while allowing appropriately licensed individuals to carry concealed weapons.

Proponents of this bill contend that this legislation is an acceptable compromise. We believe this view is short-sighted, and may limit the ability to enact better legislation on this issue in the future. Furthermore,

Carrying concealed weapons allows potential threats to our children to enter our schools unseen and unknown.

It invalidates the security protocols already in place in our schools, designed to address known threats.

It gives a shooter the opportunity to enter our schools, without being recognized as a potential threat.

Denies school districts local control in determining what is best for their school community

This bill has passed out of committee, and is sure to move quickly. We urge our members to contact their legislators and the governor’s office. Ask them to not support SB 442, and if it is passed, that Governor Snyder veto it.

Please share this information with your schools and your communities at large. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at president@michiganpta.org or join our conference call on this issue:

Tuesday, November 3 at 7:00 - 7:30 p.m.
To join in the phone conversation, call 1-605-477-3000. Use access code 1032704#.

As members of the largest child advocacy association in our nation, it is our responsibility to speak out on issues affecting our children. Please join me in speaking up for every child with one voice.

Best Regards,

Ruthann Jaquette, President
Michigan PTA

Cleveland Elementary PTA held a Walk a Thon fundraiser on Oct 9th. The kids raised almost $8,800 for the school.

Saturday is the 39th Annual Frost Holiday Craft Show!

Saturday, November 7th

10:00am - 4:00pm

Please come and support Frost PTSA and visit the show! Lunch available for purchase, Bake Sale Fundraiser, and door prizes raffled hourly.

Entry is $3.

Please tell your friends and family...See you there!

The Livonia Warriors FIRST Robotics team is showing the documentary film Slingshot on Friday November 13, 7PM at Stevenson High School. In addition to this film the Warriors will serve concessions and have a gift basket raffle. We also are inviting colleges to come and we will have a little mini college faire.

https://www.tugg.com/events/62379

Movie presentation of SlingShot

SlingShot focuses on FIRST founder, noted inventor Dean Kamen, his fascinating life, and his 15-year quest to solve the world's water crisis. A technological genius with a provocative worldview, Kamen is an inspiration for future scientists. His inventions help people in need and ease suffering. SlingShot is about an indomitable man who just might have enough passion and innovative thinking to create a solution for a crisis affecting billions.

Kamen lives in a house with secret passages, a closet full of denim clothes and a helicopter garage. His latest passion: the SlingShot water purification system created to obliterate half of human illness on the planet. Kamen reminisces about improving home dialysis technology and choosing to forego parenthood while lamenting he has only one lifetime for inventing.

SlingShot is both an inspirational character study and a look at Kamen’s vapor compression distiller from its earliest development through recent trials in rural Ghana and beyond.

Friday, November 13 7:00PM - 9:00PM

at Stevenson High School Auditorium
33500 Six Mile Rd, Livonia, MI, 48152
$10.00 General

The Patriot Inn restaurant will begin lunch hours Tuesday - Friday, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm beginning the week of October 27.

Plan to join them for a Thanksgiving Buffet on Friday November 13. You can drop in for lunch between the hours of 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. Cost is $10/person. Please RSVP to 734-744-2655 x47184

Does the thought of Thanksgiving Dinner make you break out in a cold sweat? Do you dread all of the work that goes into preparing dinner? Let the Patriot Inn take away the stress that comes with Thanksgiving Dinner and let them do the work for you! See the flyers below for more information on how the Patriot Inn staff and students can make your Thanksgiving Dinner a breeze!

Contact Chris Bednarczyk for more information or to place your order (no later than Monday November 16!) at cbednarc@livoniapublicschools.org OR 734-744-2655 x47184

It's back for a second year! The Patriot Inn is inviting PTA officers for an afternoon of cookie baking right before the holidays! There is no cost to participate and this is first come, first served - so sign up now. Bakers just need to show up ready to bake. The Patriot Inn students will do all of the prep work for you! Each baker will leave with several dozen tasty cookies ready to eat. Sign up here:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f48a4af2cab9-christmas

For more information about the Michigan PTA, click here:

www.michiganpta.org

For more information about the National PTA, click here:

www.pta.org