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Message from Gracemarie Rozea, NYS PTA President
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Have you ever pulled out of a parking space without looking back first, even if just a little bit? Most of us can probably admit to having done that at some point. If you have and you were lucky, you may have gotten off easy. No accident - just the blaring of a horn and some undesirable hand gestures directed your way.
Looking back is a necessity before setting a car into reverse, and doing so is equally as important when considering options for the future.
Click HERE to read more.
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Help Your PTA Earn a Membership Award
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Kelly Short, Membership Coordinator
You Can Help Your Unit Earn New Membership Awards
They say the "Early Bird catches the worm," but our "Wise Owls" truly know what they have earned. The earlier we join our voices together, the more impact we will have for every child, with one voice. Your child and every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and we need your help!
 "Hoo's" ready to earn the 1st Membership Award Badge for the September/October Early Bird?
Your unit needs to register and pay dues for members representing at least 60% of your unit's Membership Goal (located on your unit portal) by October 31 (State Dues must be received, not postmarked, in the state office by October 31).
All units who earn the Early Bird Award Badge will be entered into a drawing for five PTA swag giveaways! Remember to check nyspta.org to see if your unit earned their badge, and if they were lucky enough to win the PTA swag!
New Membership Resources
Membership ToolKit with awesome new marketing materials like the new
Youth (Student) Membership flyer and Male Engagement Membership Recruitment flyer
Redesigned Dues Payment Form
Fun new program Monthly Membership Awards
Unit Portal Step by Step How to Videos
Portal Login Information Page
Click HERE for great National PTA resources, like the Back-to-School Kit and Parent Guides to Student Success.
Did You Receive Your Membership eCard?
Some members have reported the system email that included their membership eCard link ended up in their SPAM or JUNK mail folder. If you are missing the email with your eCard link, please contact your unit.
Unit Officers - you can easily resend eCards from the Membership Portal. Click on View next to the member's name on the Current Year Membership List report, and then click the Resend Card button.
Have You Joined Your PTA This Year?
If you have yet to join or renew your PTA membership, please "Become a Member Today," and you too can help support the efforts of your local PTA and impact every child in New York. #DoGoodThingsForKids
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Get Ready to Take Action!
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Susanne Smoller, Legislation Coordinator
Advocacy Tools to Help You
 PTA is the largest advocacy organization for children, youth and families in the country. NYS PTA is building on incredible advocacy efforts from last year.
In our continued commitment to support local advocacy, our 2017-2018 NYS Advocacy Calendar has new and easy advocacy ideas!
Check out Advocacy Newsbriefs, the advocacy newsletter that highlights current trends in wellness, education, family engagement, and local advocacy events. Read the September issue HERE.
SAVE THE DATE! NYS PTA will host a Legislative Summit and Lobby Day in Albany on February 11-12, 2018.
If you are attending the NYS PTA Convention in Niagara Falls on November 3-5, please join workshop #302, "Post Convention Advocacy Planning", Sunday at 10 am. We will go through steps to advocate for positions voted on by delegates at Convention. To view current positions, check out Where We Stand.
Any questions on advocacy or legislative issues, please contact me at legislation@nyspta.org.
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Get Out The Vote!
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Judy Van Haaren, 1st Vice President
 National Voter Registration Day is September 26, 2017. National PTA has a wealth of information on this topic HERE.
Both National and NYS PTA encourage PTA members to engage with your community about registering to vote and the significance of the voting process. You can also visit nonprofitvote.org to learn more about voter engagement activities in your community.
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And the PARP Winner is ...
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Stephanie Avidon, PARP Specialist
Congratulations to Dodge Elementary School PTA (Western Region) for receiving the 2017 NYS PARP Award for their program "Super Dodgers!"
Congratulations to the following Regional PARP Winners:
Garden City PTA (Nassau Region) "Blast Off to Reading"
Huth Road Elementary School PTA (Niagara Region) "Exploring galaxies of ideas. Launch into a book and read."
Perkins School PTA (Genesee Valley Region) "Start a New Adventure Every Time You Open a Book"
Rensselaer Park Elementary School PTA (Northeastern Region) "Reading Road Trip"
Tamarac Elementary School PTA (Suffolk Region) "Rock & Read PARP Tour"
Click HERE to read more about Dodge Elementary School's winning PARP program.
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Resolutions: Are You Prepared?
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Lisa Christoffel, Resolutions Coordinator
 Before you know it, it will be time to head to Niagara Falls for the 121st New York State PTA Convention on November 3-5.
If you have attended Convention before, you know that it's an incredible weekend not to be missed. If you are considering attending for the first time, take the plunge!
You will participate firsthand in the business of NYS PTA and be an integral part of our advocacy efforts as we consider proposed resolutions for 2017.
Click HERE to read more. Click HERE for the proposed resolutions packet.
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Amending NYS PTA Bylaws at Convention
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 One of the highlights of Convention is to review and vote on changes to NYS PTA's bylaws. We invite you to review these changes before Convention, so you can vote to adopt and/or amend them at Convention.
Click HERE to review our proposed bylaws amendments.
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Health and Wellness
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Sleep: It's Not Just for Babies
Anne Ehrlich, Health Specialist
Now that summer vacation has ended, children need to get back to healthy sleep habits.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids age 6-12 need 9-12 hours of sleep each night. Our teenagers need 8-10 hours, no matter what they tell us.
American Academy of Pediatrics studies show that adequate, regular, uninterrupted sleep improves "attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life and mental and physical health." Poor sleep can cause injury risk, obesity and depression.
For adults, the Centers for Disease Control reports that not getting enough sleep puts you at increased risk of diabetes, obesity, depression and cardiovascular disease, including stroke.
Get your beauty sleep! Be healthy!
Keep Your Kids Safe at School
Lucille Vitale, Wellness Coordinator
School is back in session and that means a million things for every parent to think about how to keep their children safe. Whether it is their first day of kindergarten or they are seniors in high school preparing to graduate, we worry about our children starting a new school year and what potential obstacles the new year might bring. Keeping our kids safe should be on the top of your "to do" list and should be a priority to every parent and caregiver.
Here are some tips to help keep your kids and teens safe both in school and traveling to school. Hope you have a wonderful and safe start to your new school year that lasts the whole year!
CDC: Back to School for Teens
CDC: Back to School Resources
CDC: School Starts Soon-Is Your Child Fully Vaccinated?
DMV.org: Safe Driving Tips For Teenage Drivers
National Safety Council: Back to School Safety Checklist
National Safety Council: Buses are the Safest Mode of Transportation for School Children
Walk and Bike to School Day
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Another School Year
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Joyce Cattani, Special Education Specialist
 It's the beginning of another school year and for most of us, there are a lot of things we need to do.
It is a return to old routines in anticipation of a new school year. For parents of children with special needs it means all of that and more.
Here are some tips to help you not just survive, but thrive!
Click HERE to read more.
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