CT PTA President's Letter
November, 2005

A Thanksgiving Thought
A message from
Suzanna Kern-Massey
CT State PTA President

Make sure to check out November's PTA Bulletin... it contains articles about people helping people. Head O’Meadow School in Newtown is an example of how one PTA unit can spearhead an activity that can have tremendous benefits for needy children in other parts of our country. On page five you read about our CT schools and their outstanding fund drive for young victims of the Tsunami. Their donation will build a 1500-pupil school in Sri Lanka.

Connecticut “stepped up to the plate” and CT PTA members are proud of each and every child, parent and administrator who continue to work for the benefit of all children.

In the past few months CT PTA held Leadership Training Sessions around the state for local unit and council officers as well as any PTA members who wanted to attend. This year PTA trained 136 PTA Representatives. It was exciting to hear all the news that local PTAs shared with us about their schools.

Leadership training also helps each PTA know that they are not alone and many of us have the same frustrations such as funding, insufficient volunteers, etc. Sometimes great ideas come from the town next door. If you were unable to attend and have questions please feel free to call our office. We at CT PTA are here for you and will help you with any questions or problems.

Remember also that you can take e-learning courses on line at the National Website (www.pta.org). Be sure to take a look at these interesting and informative courses. In September several members of the CT PTA Board of Directors and office staff attended the 2005 National PTA Leadership Conference in Buffalo, NY. The theme was “Leadership, Membership, and Diversity: Putting Ideas Into Action.”

Members had the opportunity to attend workshops with PTA representatives from around the Northeast and National PTA. In the next issues of our newsletter we will try to disseminate information from these workshops. As our leaders become more effective, you, the unit and council leaders will also become more effective. PTA is an organization that reaches out to everyone who is interested in the welfare of all children everywhere.

In closing I would like to extend warmest Thanksgiving wishes to each of you and to your families at home and at school. We have been witness to horrific disasters in the past year, some at home in our country and some in far off lands. However, we are all connected and your generosity confirms that. Connecticut PTAs have demonstrated a capacity for helping children and families and I congratulate you for your spirit of giving.