It's Friday again….can you believe how quickly time is flying by? We can't.
 
We hope things are settling in at each of your schools. We met with Superintendent Sanderson with all the other Council Presidents this past week. The bus situation is much improved and they do realize there are still some 'pockets' of problems. The transportation dept. had eliminated 100 buses but they are in process of bringing some of those back to resolve some of the "problem areas". They appreciate everyone's patience. Pinnacle will be up and running next week for everyone to go online and check their individual Middle/High School student's progress.
 
Priority Fair is TUESDAY at Mount Paran North Church of God!!!!  We hope everyone is able to attend. Presidents/VP's and Principals…Please note that we will have the first Break Out session specifically for you in the main room where we all initially meet. After that first session you will be free to attend the second session for one of the following Priority Committees: Legislation & Advocacy, Health & Wellness, Family Engagement (formerly Parent/Family Involvement), Reflections, Diversity & Inclusion, and Environmental Education. (Click here for flyer)
 
So we have coffee/breakfast snack provided by East Side Elementary starting at 9am
 
9:30-10:15 – General Membership Meeting
10:20-11:00 – Workshop Session #1
11:05-11:45- Workshop Session #2
11:45 – 12:00- Wrap up/Questions
Please follow the signs as to where to go (the smaller sanctuary to begin with) and then we will break out to rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
 
We look forward to meeting everyone…DELEGATES…Please bring your Orange Handbook…we will announce changes and you can mark them directly in your book.
 
 Have a Great Weekend!!!
 
Abby Shiffman & Irene Barton
ECCC PTA Co-Presidents
president@ecccpta.org

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LEGISLATION & ADVOCACY:
Advocacy Conference

When and Where?
• September 15, 2010 – 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
• State Capitol, Atlanta
• Download Save the Date flyer

How to Register?
• Online – deadline is September 8, 2010
• Mail in registration form with $25.00 registration fee (includes lunch and materials) no later than September 3, 2010
• On-site registration – $30.00 – lunch provided while supplies last

Who Should Attend?
• Local Unit, Council and District Presidents – You are the most familiar voice and face of your PTA in the school and in the community. Learn who your local and state representatives are and how to reach them. Understand the issues facing schools and families. Find out where important decisions affecting education are made—locally, at the state level or nationally. Be a strong partner with your Legislative Committee Chairperson.
• Legislative Committee Chairs and Members – Whether you’re a veteran at this job or a new recruit, this conference will give you the tools you need to understand the current issues in education in Georgia. With the current budget situation, now more than ever you need to be an informed advocate to be an effective advocate. Learn about the current issues, network with other PTA members to create a louder voice on critical issues, swap ideas and build coalitions across school, district and county lines.
• PTA Members — When we all have the knowledge and training to speak effectively together, our voice is stronger for our children, our schools, our neighborhoods and our communities.
• Students — Advocacy begins at any age. Learn how to raise your voice and make a difference locally, at the state level and nationally.

What Will We Learn?
• Advocacy basics
• Social networking and grassroots advocacy
• Getting results at the local level
• How to talk with legislators
• Election year do’s and don’ts for PTAs
• Engaging non-traditional PTA members
• Where the public education money comes from
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YOUTH SERVICES:

Each year GA PTA organizes educational workshops held at Ridgeview Institute for parents, caregivers, school counselors and interested individuals who are working to raise children in a healthy environment. Click Here  to download a flyer spotlighting the September program addressing children in today'sTechnology World.  Please share this information with your school community and invite them to attend the workshop.
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REFLECTIONS:

Georgia PTA Reflections Chair Dawn Small will be providing Training at our Priority Fair upcoming Tuesday, August 31, at Mt. Paran North Church of God, located on Allgood Road. See attached flyer. There will also be another training at the GA PTA State office, Wednesday, Sept. 8th, beginning at 9:30am. Please go to www.georgiapta.org to sign up for that training if you are unable to attend Priority Fair next week.
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GEORGIA PTA:

Register to Attend:

  
• 990 IRS Form PTA University – To register, email your name and local unit to gapta@bellsouth.net
• Advocacy Conference – Register online or by mail.  Download registration brochure.

Georgia PTA and the Atlanta Braves are teaming up once again to celebrate Family Day on Saturday, September 11, 2010 for a 4:00 PM ballgame against the St. Louis Cardinals.  All PTA members are encouraged to order tickets through their local PTA units.
 
Special events for your family to be involved in on this day are:

• Pre-game tailgating party in the Blue Parking lot.  Purchase a Blue Parking pass in advance, bring your food and look for the PTA banner to tailgate with other PTA groups. 
• All participating schools will be involved in the pre-game parade on Turner Field.  Line up starts at 2:30 PM.  Bring your school banners, wear your school colors. REPRESENT your school. 
• One family will be selected to stay on the field to participate in Braves batting practice.
• One individual will be selected to walk out with Bobby Cox to present team lineup card to umpire.
• Free giveaways all day during the game.
• FREE country concert by Montgomery Gentry at the conclusion of the ball game.

Local units you are invited to use this event as a fundraising possibility for your school.  Your school may chose either option below:

• Sell tickets for $5 each and parking passes for $10 and you receive no additional funds OR
• Mark-up tickets to $8 each and parking passes for $10 and you keep $3 per ticket for your PTA programs and projects

Local Unit Braves Ticket Order Form – Your local unit will use this form to order tickets from the Atlanta Braves once you have collected individual orders from your school.
 
Individual Braves Ticket Order Form – Use this form for individual orders.  Note:  This form assumes you are selling tickets for  $8.00 and keeping $3.00 for each ticket sold.
 
If you have any questions, please contact  Pat Giuliani, Georgia PTA Youth Services Chair:
jimpatgiul@aol.com or 404-409-9112

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CCSD:

Cobb Schools Night with the Atlanta Beat & Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football!  Special Cobb Schools ticket pricing for both games!

Please share with your PTA members, families and teachers!

Saturday, August 28 @ 7 pm at the "Cobb Schools Night at the Atlanta Beat!"  We will be celebrating our schools and our Teachers of the Year!  Co-sponsored with Ed Voyles Automotive Group. Please be on hand when Kathleen O'Hara Rose (Elementary TOTY), Lisa Tatum (Middle School TOTY) and Chris James (High School TOTY and District TOTY) receive their key chains from Ed Voyles to the new cars they will receive in November! 

Lewis Elementary & Vaughn Elementary choirs to sing the National Anthem!  Special Cobb Schools Night Tickets start at just $12! 

Join us!  Saturday, September 25 as the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets take on the NC State Wolfpack at Bobby Dodd Stadium in ACC Football Action!  Special Cobb Schools Pricing at only $25! 

Order your tickets today to both these great events!  Ticket order forms can be found on the Cobb Schools Foundation website:

http://cobbschoolsfoundation.org/proj_familynights.htm

Order forms may be printed or posted on your websites.  Please help us spread the word about these fantastic events to benefit our schools!

A portion of the proceeds benefits the Cobb Schools Foundation.  The Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting, rewarding and enhancing the schools, staff and students of Cobb County School District. 

Cobb Schools Foundation

 
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I would like to invite you to attend our Cobb Schools Performing Arts Showcase of Performers on
Monday, August 30th at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre!All elementary and middle school
principals, PTA presidents, and performing arts coordinators have been invited to attend the showcase. 
I hope that you too can join us! See attached form. Anyone can come to the showcase at 7:00pm. 
So feel free to invite anyone that might be interested. (Click here for flyer)

Thanks as always for your support of our schools and our performing arts programs!
Missy,
Supervisor of Performing Arts:
General/Choral Music, Theatre, and Dance
Division of Curriculum & Instruction
Cobb County School District
 
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CCSD School Board Meeting Schedule
(All meetings are at the CCSD Central Office located at 514 Glover Street, Marietta, 30060

Sep. 8, 2010 8:30 a.m. - Public Comments (30-minute limit), Board Meeting to follow
Sep. 23, 2010 6:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. - Executive Session/Public Comments (30-minute limit), Board Meeting to follow
Oct. 13, 2010 8:30 a.m. - Public Comments (30-minute limit)/Board Meeting to follow
Oct. 28, 2010 6:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. - Executive Session/Public Comments (30-minute limit), Board Meeting to follow
Nov. 10, 2010 8:30 a.m. - Public Comments (30-minute limit) Board Meeting to follow
Dec. 9, 2010 6:00 p.m./7:00 p.m. - Executive Session/Public Comments (30-minute limit), Board Meeting to follow

2011 Meeting Schedule
Jan. 12, 2011 8:30 a.m. - Public Comments (30-minute limit), Board Meeting to follow (Note: The Board will set the calendar dates for 2011 at this meeting
 

The 9th District Spring Conference provided some wonderful ideas for the local unit PTAs. Our desire is for you to have access to these ideas and incorporate any you find interesting for promoting your local organizational goals. Please click on the link below to access the PDF version of the document.

Best Ideas/National Standards

Congratulations to the following Margie Hatfield Scholarship winners:

Robert B. – Sprayberry High School

Pranay U. – Wheeler High School

Bryant M. – Kell High School

Catherine C. – Walton High School

Hannah B. – Lassiter High School

Kylie A. – Pope High School

To view the East Cobber Article, click here. We are proud of our students and encourage a good education foundation for their future. Thank you for your service and dedication for our community!

LU Presidents, ECCC PTA BOD's, and others,
 
The end of the school year is here…hard to believe. This is your last official day as a Local Unit President, unless you are continuing next year. Please continue to check our website for updates. We will try and keep it up to date throughout the summer.

Please let your incoming President know that we hope to have our dates finally set by mid June at the latest. President's night will be included in that and most likely will be in August and not in July.
 
Thank you to all of you for a wonderful year for ECCC PTA of Educating, Communicating, Connecting with the Community!
 
We have had a little difficulties with the survey site…so it will be up soon and will send out the link once running properly!!!
 
We hope to see many of you at CLT June 25 & 26. Remember, this is where you will also receive your new Membership Cards for the 2010-11 school year! You must designate one person to pick them up. If you do not, I am sure we, ECCC PTA, will be picking them up and contacting your incoming President we have them!
 
Please make sure your Secretary has input your New Officers for 2010-2011. You will all be receiving new Bylaws electronically from GA PTA since we changed our name. So please make sure that information has been input.
 
Our new ECCC PTA Officers are as follows:
Abby Shiffman & Irene Barton, Co-Presidents
Pamela Kent & Stephanie Daniels, Co-VPs
Lynne Cherrington, Secretary
Laurie Rashidi-Yazd, Treasurer
Karen Hallacy, Parliamentarian
Amie Fann, Advisor/Past President
 
It has been our pleasure to serve you this year,
 
Amie Fann & Abby Shiffman, Co-Presidents
ECCC PTA, 2009-2010
 
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Legislation & Advocacy: Cobb County Commission Chairman & District 3 Commissioner Forum, Wednesday, May 26th, East Cobb Government Center, doors open at 6:30 with Forum starting at 7pm. See Flyer.
 
Some races may be determined in the PRIMARY, which is July 20th: Board of Education Post 4, Commissioner Districts 1 & 3  click here to view July's Candidates
 
HOT OFF THE PRESS: Please click on the words and you will also find the current list to date (today 5/21/10) of those running for Georgia House, Senate and Statewide elections. Please realize that this list will change. Those who are in other parties or running as Independents do not have to file until the end of June. So more will be added to the list of those running!
 
Please keep checking the Georgia PTA website for updates….we will send out over the summer as we find out to the New LUP and Legislative Chairs. LU=Last Updated.
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Youth Services: Please click on the link for the Sandy Plains Summer 2010 document about Drivers Education discounts for PTA Members
 
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Georgia PTA:
Thank you, PTA!
 
On behalf of the Georgia PTA Board of Directors, THANK YOU for all you have done this year on behalf of the children and youth of your school community.  You have unselfishly shared your valuable time and special talents because you realized the importance of our PTA Mission. 
 
If you are a returning officer, rest up and get ready for another exciting PTA year by registering for Convention Leadership Training, the Road to PTA Success.   There is no other time and place like this for gaining the knowledge, information and skills you need as a PTA leader.  
 
If you are not a returning officer, we have plenty to offer you too.   Join us as we celebrate local unit, council and district achievements, honor outstanding school nurses and educators, and hear motivating speakers and workshop leaders.  Your time to learn and celebrate! 
 
Register for Convention Leadership Training by June 4 for discounted rate.  The on site registration fee is $125.00.

When: June 25-26, 2010
Where: Georgia International Convention Center, College Park
Delegate Hotel: New Spring Hill Suites at the GICC, Phone – 770.907.8880
Basic Registration Fee and Parking: $85.00 per person
Complete Registration Package: Includes registration, parking, Friday and Saturday lunch, and Banquet dinner – $150.00
 
Go to www.georgiapta.org/convention.html for more information or to register today! 
 
Don't forget about the Student Summit, Saturday, June 26 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.  This is a great opportunity for high school students to learn about advocacy, education and career opportunities.  Please encourage your high school students to register.  The registration fee is $25.00 and includes lunch and materials. 
 
With deep appreciation and sincere thanks,
Georgia PTA
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Save the Date for Young Audiences SHOWCASE – August 21

Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 21 as we SHOWCASE our Young Audiences artists in Decatur, GA.

This is an OPEN event for all counties in Georgia — as you're invited to see Young Audiences artists in action through live performances, artist-led workshops and other arts activities for families and children.

More details to follow, including an official artist line up and activity information.