Florida PTA Membership & Program Awards 2014-2015 SPOTLIGHT YOUR PTA! www.floridapta.org / 2014-2015, Section 6, Page 1
Awards Information Award Application Forms will be On-Line After September 1, 2014 NOTE: To apply for ANY and ALL awards payment of membership dues must be sent monthly, as collected, to the state office, with the final membership dues payment no later than May 1st. All membership cards must be accounted for. In order to apply, dues must be paid and received in the state office in order to qualify. Unless noted, Awards will be presented to an Elementary, Secondary PTA/PTSA and a County Council where applicable. All Awards Applications can be found at: www.floridapta.org. ALL AWARD APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY MAY 1ST, 2015 Advocacy Award - This award is given to the PTA units that are promoting and supporting activities that Advocate for students; changing laws, processes or methods to better the lives of every child. These activities must encompass the mission and purpose of PTA. Local Unit Achievement Award - This award is given to PTA units that are successful in setting goals and following through on the unity of action which can best be achieved by following basic procedures. Local Unit Program Award - This award is to recognize good local unit and county council programs that may be duplicated as best practices. The program must be a minimum of thirty minutes and should be issue oriented. Volunteer Award -This award, to recognize PTA volunteer activities, will be given to local PTAs units who report PTA volunteer hours equal to twice the number of their school enrollment. Outstanding Principal of the Year Award - This award is to recognize a school principal who is supportive, helpful, and personally involved in the PTA. Mentor-A-PTA Award - A local unit PTA must adopt another PTA. The PTA must provide a helping hand to the adopted PTA by any of the following means: Training, Leadership, or Financial Support. The purpose is to provide assistance to the adopted PTA in the implementation of the PTA Objects and Goals. Thomas Newsletter Award - This Award will be given to a PTA unit that publishes an outstanding newsletter. Friends of the Environment Award - This award is given for programs that support, promote and that are geared toward protecting the environment. Safety Award - Florida PTA believes there is a need to provide parents and communities with information on keeping children safe, all local units and councils are encouraged to offer effective safety programs and to apply for the outstanding Safety Achievement Award. Literacy Award - This Award is given to PTA units that promote literacy among students, families and the community; support the Media Center with activities that help make students better readers, writers and thinkers; and advance the ideals of learning through the written word. www.floridapta.org / 2014-2015, Section 6, Page 2
Student Awards Information Goals of the Award To generate student involvement in local units and county councils that do not currently have student involvement. To inspire local units and county councils that have student involvement; to improve and enhance their programs. To further the Florida PTA's goal of increasing effective student involvement. Eligibility Each secondary (middle school/junior high and high school) PTSA or county council PTSA in good standing (see Florida PTA Bylaws) may submit one application. Complete the entire application form. The application must be signed by the local unit/council president and a student representative. Be sure to type the nominee's name at the top of each page of the application. Up to four 8-1/2 x 11 pages of additional information may be included. These may include photos, newsletters or other relevant materials. PTSA Recognition Award - This award is given to encourage secondary local units and county councils to transition to a PTSA, and to have defined student representative positions, thus furthering student involvement. Deadline: May 1 Student Advocate Award This award is given to a student on the Local Unit or County Council level who has made significant contributions through Leadership/Service. Deadline: May 1 Student Community Service Award - A PTA must submit an application for a particular group of students, five or more, who have participated in a community service project that they feel is worthy of notice. This group of students does not need to be affiliated directly with the school or the PTA unit applying on their behalf. Deadline: May 1 Student Involvement Award - The purpose of this award is to generate and increase student involvement in secondary local and county councils PTA units. Deadline: May 1 www.floridapta.org / 2014-2015, Section 6, Page 3
The President s Awards There is no Application required for the following Awards. These Awards are selected by the Awards Committee from Local Unit Achievement Award Applications and the Local Unit Program Award Applications. Please submit an Achievement and/or Program Award to be considered. These Awards are presented during Convention/Leadership. The President's Local Unit Achievement Award will be presented to an elementary PTA and secondary PTA for outstanding achievement. The President's Program Award will be presented to an elementary PTA and a secondary PTA and county council for the most outstanding program. The National PTA Award Program! The National PTA also offers numerous award & grant programs for local units to take advantage. Please visit www.pta.org for details on awards, applications and dead- www.floridapta.org / 2014-2015, Section 6, Page 4
Recognition Opportunities Available All Year Florida PTA offers many ways to honor PTA members who make a difference in the life of a child. Applications can be applied for any time during the year and are found at www.floridapta.org. Honorary State Life Membership An Honorary State Life Membership is given for meritorious and outstanding service on behalf of children and youth. For $75 and the Recipient will receive a Certificate, Pin and Wallet ID Card. History Walk of Fame For $100 you can honor someone with a Brick inscribed with the name of someone special that will be added to the Walk of Fame at the Florida PTA State Office, in Orlando. Florida PTA President s Award of Honor Florida PTA has established an award for presentation to individuals for outstanding service to children. This award was created as a means to honor the special people that have made PTA what it is today. Our President s Award of Honor is for recognition of educators, volunteers, students, individuals and/or businesses who make a difference for children. Each special person honored will receive a certificate from Florida PTA and their name will be on display at the Florida PTA State Office in Orlando. For $30, each honoree will receive a certificate from Florida PTA and his/her name will be on display at the Florida PTA State Office. (The recipient must already have a Florida PTA Honorary Life Membership to be eligible.) The net proceeds raised will be divided between the Florida PTA Scholarship Fund and the Florida PTA Building Fund. Visit the National PTA website at www.pta.org for details on their awards, applications and deadlines. www.floridapta.org / 2014-2015, Section 6, Page 5
Tips to put your PTA Awards Application on TOP! 1. Appoint an Awards Chair and make sure they receive all the relevant Awards information needed to become familiar with all Awards that are offered. Read carefully and follow all directions. Some applications will be rejected if directions are not followed. Pay special attention to page limits. 2. Fill in all blanks completely. 3. Please provide the correct local unit name as it is listed on your approved Bylaws.. 4. Give an appropriate title for all awards. 5. Tell everything your local unit has done. Do not think that any activity is unimportant. 6. Explain everything in the most brief and simple terms. 7. REMEMBER DEADLINES! Late applications will not be accepted. 8. Start at the beginning of the year and keep a history (log) of everything your PTA does. This will make it much easier to fill out the application at the end of the year. You will discover that your PTA did much more during the year than you realized. 9. Include all requested application information. 10. Be creative and submit your applications at any time after the event is completed; don t miss the May 1 st deadline. REMEMBER... When applying for awards your dues must be sent monthly, as collected, to the state office, with the final payment of membership dues and unused cards received on or before (this means received in the State Office) May 1st and Bylaws must have been updated and approved by State Office within last 3 years! www.floridapta.org / 2014-2015, Section 6, Page 6
Membership Awards Information Award Application Forms will be On-Line After September 1, 2014 NOTE: To apply for ANY and ALL awards payment of membership dues must be sent monthly, as collected, to the state office, with the final membership dues payment and no later than May 1st. This means all dues are received in the state office before applying. Also all unused membership cards must be accounted for. There is a form available online to request additional cards, or for the return of unused cards. Unless noted, Membership Awards will be presented to an Elementary and Secondary PTA/PTSA when applicable. All award applications will be available online and the deadline to apply for ALL membership awards is May 1, 2015. PLEASE NOTE: To receive an award, you must complete the online submission form for EACH award. Acorn Award - An Acorn Award Certificate will be given to the local PTA that has a majority of its faculty as members but, for some reason, cannot achieve 100%. Community Membership Award - In order to bring into closer relations the school and community, i.e., places of worship, businesses, community leaders, etc., this award will be given to those PTAs that recruit twenty-five members from the community in addition to parents who also serve in community leadership positions. Early Bird Award - An award will be given to each local PTA submitting an application and remittance form for state and national dues for 100% membership or any amount over last year's membership: Golden Early Bird Award Eligible for this award if you have 100% membership dues paid and received in the Florida PTA Office on or before October 1, 2014. Silver Early Bird Award Eligible for this award if you have 100% membership dues paid and received in the Florida PTA Office on or before November 1, 2014. Bronze Early Bird Award Eligible for this award if you have 100% membership dues paid and received in the Florida PTA Office on or before December 1, 2014. 100% Faculty Membership Award - This includes principals, deans, teachers, librarians/media specialists, counselors, and all of the school based faculty and administrators of the school. Faculty membership dues must be paid to the state office before March 31st to qualify for this award. Celebrate Membership Award (f/k/a 100% Membership Award) - PTA membership equal to the number of families represented in the school, on day five of the new school year, can earn this certificate. These are the guidelines for determining 100% membership award if school cannot supply number of families with children involved: 75% of students for K-5 (6 year schools) 75% of students for K-8 (7-9 year schools) 80% of students for 3-4 year schools 85% of students for 2 year schools 95% of students for single grade centers BYLAWS MUST BE UPDATED AND APPROVED BY THE FLORIDA PTA STATE OFFICE WITHIN THREE YEARS. www.floridapta.org / 2014-2015, Section 6, Page 7
Deadline to apply for all awards is May 1, 2015. Grandparent Silver/Gold Membership Award - PTAs that recruit ten to twenty-four members who are grandparents of students attending that particular school will receive a Grandparent Silver Membership Award. Those PTAs that recruit twenty-five or more grandparent members will receive the Grandparent Gold Membership Award. Our Founders Cared Award - Any local unit that has five past presidents from their unit that are members can apply for this award. Spotlight on Men Award (F/K/A Supermen Award) This award rewards those units who focus on ways to engage the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, mentors, business partners, etc. To qualify for this award, any local unit in good standing must increase their male membership by 25 persons. -- No Applications Required For The Following Membership Awards The President's Membership Award will be presented to an elementary PTA and a secondary PTA that will have earned Local Unit Achievement Awards this year and show the highest numerical increases in individual memberships over the previous year. Membership must be reported and dues must be received in the state office before May 1 to qualify. Membership Plus Award will be given to one elementary and one secondary PTA/PTSA that has shown the highest numerical increase in individual memberships over the previous year. This is the only membership award that will be given with a cash prize of twenty-five dollars. Certificates will be awarded to those local PTAs that achieve any of the following: 1. Increase its membership by at least 25% over the previous year. 2. Has the highest percentage increase in membership over the previous year. 3. Has 1,000 or more members. 4. Has attained 100% membership for the last four years or more. Special Membership Incentive Awards Every year the Membership Committee offers Special Incentive Awards to reward increased local unit memberships. Information will be communicated to local units when published. www.floridapta.org / 2014-2015, Section 6, Page 8