The President's Message Announcements Health and Safety Topic The Treasurer's Update PTA Social Network Links Tennessee PTA Convention in Chattanooga! PTA Happenings Prinicpals' Dinner Save the Date County Council Scholarship Information

March 2009
Newsletter

Upcoming Events

• March 1: Local PTA units forms due in to State Office
• March 4: Council Meeting at Board Room, 11:00 AM
  
• March 22: Hotel Reservations Due for PTA Convention
  
• April 2:  Pre-Registration form and money due for Convention
• April 16-18: Tennessee PTA Convention, Chattanooga Convention Center
• May 3: Hamilton County Council Awards Program, Hunter Art Museum, 1:30

IMPORTANT

The March 4th Council Meeting will be about the PTA Convention.

Character Trait

March:
Honesty
Honesty is telling the truth, admitting wrongdoing and being trustworthy and acting with integrity.

PTA Purposes

• To Promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community and the place of worship.
• To Raise the standards of home life.
  
• To Secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
  
• To Bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth. 
• To Develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social and spiritual education.

Links 

Tennessee PTA Web Site

National PTA Web Site

__________________ 
The PTA Link is published by the Hamilton County Council of PTAs, Lee Ann Hammer, Editor and President, and Dwight Hunter, Managing Editor and Third Vice President.  Articles and editorials are welcomed.  Please submit to
Dwight Hunter at dwight.hunter@gmail.com

leeann_hammer@comcast.net

• The March 4 County Council meeting wil discuss the April 2009 Tennessee PTA convention at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
• April 1 is the deadline for Hamilton County PTA units' nominations for principal of the year and for Mary Jo Clark PTA of the Year.
  
• April 2 is the deadline for convention pre-registration.
  
• See the Tennessee PTA convention link and access the pre-registration form at the Chattanooga Marriott Web site.
  

Healthy Eating
Developing healthy eating habits can be beneficial to living a long and healthy life. We as parents need to start these habits at home. What our children become accustom to will most likely be what they continue when they are out on their own. Obesity is very high among our teens. Removing the junk food from snack machines at school and replacing them with healthy foods is only a start.  You can have meals at home as a family. This is a great way to introduce healthy eating and a great time to talk with your children at their day. Communication is always great to have with them. Children model after us so we need to be eating right to set a good example. Involve your children in planning the meals. When grocery-shopping buy fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. This way there are healthy foods for meals and snacks in the home not junk food. Try to give them well-balanced meals. Let’s make 2009 the start for a healthier life for our children and us.

Jane Whited
Hamilton County Council
8th Vice President, Health and Safety

Previous Balance as of January 7, 2009: $11,322.77

Deposits:  $1,031.63
Expenditures: $292.44

Balance as of February 4, 2009: $12,061.96
Submitted by Sherrie Ford, Council Treasurer

National PTA President Jan Harp Domene asks that PTA members resolve to embrace the possibilities of social networking and see the amazing growth in PTA’s online community at Facebook, You Tube, and Twitter. 
National PTA Facebook
National PTA Twitter
National PTA You Tube

“Get on Board” Convention Trivia Question:  How many conferees attended the last PTA convention in Chattanooga? (Answer below)

Workshops are one of the keys to a great convention and made possible by the resources provided from the PTA organization.  Workshopinformation, guest keynote speakers, and networking with other local PTA people from across the state will make your PTA stronger.  There are many workshops for you and your local unit members, board members, principals and guests to attend.  Here is a tentative workshop schedule, so you can start making convention plans.

Thursday, April 16
Workshop Session One
•    Let’s Put the “T” in PTA
•    Tennessee Diploma Project
•    Inhalant Abuse
•    History of PTA
•    When Your Child Needs More Than a Band-aid!
Workshop Session Two    
•    Closing the Achievement Gap
•    Lost in Space: Internet Safety
•    Is Your PTA Protected?
•    Advocacy – Believe in the Power!
•    Is Your School Green?

Friday, April 17
Workshop Session Three
•    Teaching Your Child Financial Responsibility
•    Cornerstones of a Great PTA    
•    Food Fight!
•    Calling All Men: Men Organized to Raise Engagement (M.O.R.E.)
•    Council Leadership 101
Workshop Session Four    
•    Motivating Your Child to Achieve
•    How to Write a Winning Report
•    Preventing Theft in the PTA
•    Outstanding Local Unit
•    Dare to Prepare: Forming a Partnership for Teen Driving Safety

The 96th annual PTA convention is coming to Chattanooga on April 16-18, 2009, Marriott Chattanooga at the Convention Center. Make plans to attend the Tennessee PTA Convention!   
Gail Phillips
Local Arrangement Chair

PTA convention trivia answer:
185

By Dwight Hunter

Tennessee PTA Convention
If you are a PTA officer, board member, committee chairman, committee member, or a PTA member: you should plan to attend the Tennessee PTA Convention to be held at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

Why?  Well, a few years ago, I wondered why I should attend a PTA convention.  After all, I already knew everything about PTA so what could
a convention offer me.  I was wrong.

I learned so much during my first convention, met so many PTA people across the state (and even in my own county), and voted on PTA-related business and officer elections.  I have attended PTA conventions ever since and have kept on learning PTA information and kept on meeting PTA people.

Convention is a worthwhile investment in both time and money.  It is also a legitimate budget item for every PTA unit.  Can’t go to the entire convention: pre-register for one day and experience a PTA convention!
Tennessee PTA Convention, April 16-18, 2009 in Chattanooga