President's Message

A letter from your Virginia PTA President, Melissa Nehrbass

It is that time of year when transitions in leadership take place. A sincere thank you to all of the leaders that are finishing up terms of service and also a thank you to those of you that have agreed to take on leadership roles. I would like to provide outgoing and incoming leadership a few tips to promote a smooth transition for your PTA.

If you are an outgoing leader make sure you fulfill all duties of your office. It is easy to just pass along paperwork and not complete forms and reports to ensure your PTA fulfills all obligations. It is especially important for outgoing treasurers to make sure the financial records are in order for the audit and reports are ready for filing with the IRS. Outgoing leaders should meet with the incoming leaders to go over duties and all paperwork.

Incoming leaders should start by reading your unit's bylaws. These are the rules for how your unit conducts business and they must be followed. Do not get too bogged down if you discover the bylaws were not followed in the past but don't ignore problems! It is important that your unit put measures into place to ensure bylaws are understood and followed from this point forward.

Incoming presidents should make sure a list of your officers has been turned into the VA PTA office. It is required that all units send in the officer's form by June 15. Also new leader's information should be entered into OMDR. This is how your unit will receive mailings from National PTA and VA PTA. It is important to make sure procedures are being followed to complete the yearly audit. Once the audit is complete and presented to the executive board, new treasurers can take over the bookkeeping. Don't forget to get signatures changed on all PTA accounts. Also make sure all leaders understand the duties of their position. This keeps misunderstandings to a minimum and allows your board to work efficiently.

One of the most important things incoming leadership can do to ensure a successful term is attend leadership training. Many districts around the state hold training in the spring or fall. Most of these are free or at little cost to attendees. Also in July the state will hold the annual Leadership Training Conference at Deep Run High School in Glen Allen (near Richmond). This is a day or a day and a half of comprehensive leadership training at a cost of $35 for attendees (this includes your lunch on Saturday). Please make sure as many of your unit's leaders as possible attend training. Understanding your job, getting practical tips, and networking with other leaders helps everyone do a better job. Leadership training is a legitimate use of PTA funds and also a good investment in the future success of your unit.

Finally it is important to ask questions. Some larger areas of the state have councils, but all areas have districts. Take the time to find out who your council and/or district leaders are and how to contact them. All VA PTA officers and committee chairs are willing to answer questions at any time. Check the website for contact information for the person you think might be able to help you. If that person does not have the answer, they will direct your request to someone that can help. We are here to help you have a successful year.

Lastly if you are an outgoing leader, please stay involved. Your work is appreciated and your experience and knowledge are valuable assets for PTA. We need you!

Thank you all for everything you do to make a difference. You are the difference for our children!

Melissa S. Nehrbass
Virginia PTA President