Question 1 – A Three-Part Question

1. Name the three Founders of PTA

   1. Alice McLellan Birney, Phoebe Apperson Hearst and Selena Sloan Butler

2. What was the date of the first PTA meeting?

   1. February 17, 1897

3. Where was it held?

   1. Washington, D.C.
       

Question 2

• If your PTA/PTSA could go back in time, what would your PTA say to the three PTA Founders?

 Nova Blanche Forman PTA  -  We would tell the founders that their efforts are worth it and we are thankful for their vision for our organization. 

Question 3

• Would you please tell us about a program or fundraiser, whether virtual or in person, supported by your PTA/PTSA. It could be one that is in the planning stages.

Nova Blanche Forman Elementary PTA - This last week, we had Penny Wars. Students battled for their grade levels to get the most points, with each penny worth one point. There's a catch, though. Grade levels can sabotage one another to get an advantage by placing silver coins in the buckets of the grade levels they wish to lose the points. The silver coins are worth negative points (for example, a nickel is worth -5 points). The winners receive a pizza party. The funds are placed within the general budget to further student activities. Our goal was $1,250.00. We far surpassed that at a revenue of nearly $3400.00! I've attached a photo of our day one count...which misled us into thinking the event would be "moderate"....I rolled $300 worth of pennies the next day!  

Question 4

• How has your PTA/PTSA helped the students and staff of your school during this difficult time?

Nova Blanche Forman Elementary PTA  - Our PTA has continually served as a liaison voice between parents and school and political leaders. Not only do we advertise the school's parent training events, but we show up, participate, and present. Furthermore, we help serve as hands-on advocates for issues that affect the education of the children of the families we serve. For example, Davie Road's traffic problems have consistently become so bad that parents are majorly struggling to get their students to school on time. After speaking with several parents (and calling a few for input), I sent an email (representing my official capacity as the PTA President) to the entire Davie Town Council and the mayor outlining our concerns and possible solutions. This has opened a door of communication in this matter in which we are currently involved.  

Question 5

• We all could use some humor. Does your PTA/PTSA have a humorous story to share with us?

So, during Penny Wars, the counting of the coins (and rolling them) just about drove us bonkers. On the last day, we took our pennies to a local credit union where I have an account. The credit union has a free coin sorter/counter for customers. We put in the silver and all was going great. But, when we got to the pennies, the real fun began: the machine began rejecting about 75% of our pennies and spitting them out. We were told to redeposit them into the machine until they were accepted, which we did. This process took forever (literally hours). My fellow PTA board colleague who was with me proposed we ask a manager what's wrong. I told her, "I will but I don't think they like us very much...they keep giving us dirty looks."  "Oh nonsense," she replied.  

So, I found a manager and I said "Excuse me, ma'am, could there be a problem with this machine?" to which she replied "That machine is perfectly fine....what's wrong?" And, I said "Well, it keeps spitting out our pennies."  In a strong non-Floridian accent, she quipped "Well, it's prerberly becoss yurr PeNNies awe DUTTY!" to which my colleague and I stood in amazement with our mouths about to hit the floor.  

After another hour, we couldn't take it any more...we decided to take the pennies to Coinstar and just eat the cost. While we were leaving, the manager came by and said "Oh...livving so Sewnnnn?" To which I quickly replied (without giving it thought) in my own version of the accent, "Yass.....we are tiking awe DUTTY pennies elsewayuh"....My colleage started laughing so hard that she almost had to sit down, which got me tickled. It took us 5 minutes just to compose ourselves and get out of the credit union. We think it may have been the counting delirium....BTW, I'm not sure if I'm allowed back to the credit union...ha"  

Best,  

Chris Canter  

President  

Nova Blanche Forman Elementary PTA