This year leaders from across California will come together in Riverside for the 121st annual California State PTA Convention. For three days in May we convene to do the business of the association, attend workshops and network. If you have never been to our convention before, here are some things you can look forward to, and if you have attended before, here are a few things you don’t want to miss!
General Meetings: We have four general meetings where we do the business of the association. We are motivated by Celia Jaffe, our State President; we learn about the state of our association from Sherry Griffith, our Executive Director; and we are inspired by the successes of our Reflections winners. We vote on resolutions, position statements, bylaw revisions, and in odd-numbered years we elect our Board of Directors. There is also time in our meetings to hear from the state Teacher of the Year or other experts who share their passion for working with children and families. It is hugely important to attend all of the general meetings so you can be there to debate, discuss, and cast your vote on the business of the association.
Workshops: Every day there is a wide variety of workshops to attend. We always have training for core officers including president, secretary, and the finance officers, but we offer so much more than that! We have workshops on membership strategies, family engagement, important topics in health, education, and parenting, advocacy, communications and so much more. Some workshops are presented by PTA leaders, while others have experts from around the state as featured speakers. We also have two different formats for our workshops: presentations and table talks. Both formats offer unique opportunities to learn from experts, PTA leaders, and convention goers — you won’t want to miss a single session!
Vendor Hall: This year we will have two vendor halls full of businesses who want to help support your PTA. There will be yearbook companies, fundraising programs, book fair providers, and lots more. There are also booths for PTAez, TOTEM, and AIM Insurance, where you can ask your questions directly to the reps from the companies. Many of the vendors will have giveaways, opportunity drawings, and information to share that you can take back to your unit. Be sure to bring a bag to carry things and your camera, as there are lots of good photo opportunities in the vendor hall.
Your participation in convention allows you to help guide the direction of California State PTA for years to come. Your vote on resolutions, bylaw changes and in elections shapes the advocacy and leadership efforts of our organization. You also strengthen your unit by bringing back new vendors, new ideas, and new resources to share with your board and the families at your site. We all know that training makes for a more successful year for your board as well, and we provide that for you at convention.
There are so many benefits to attending convention, but one of the most important is that you realize that you are not alone. You get to spend three days learning from leaders just like you across the state who face the same challenges and believe in the same mission. You are able to network with unit, council, district, and state leaders who are working hard in our schools, creating a better experience for our students just like you. Convention is a time to get re-inspired and revitalized, so make sure you are there!!!
We will be sharing lots more about convention in the coming weeks and months on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. While registration for convention doesn’t open until March, you can stay up-to-date on convention news by visiting https://capta.org/programs-events/convention/.
We will see you in Riverside from May 15-17, 2020!
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