On September 5, 2017, the International Day of Charity, New York State PTA hosted our first ever Membership Phone-A-Thon. The event was a huge success!

Every NYS PTA region across New York reached out to contacts in their communities via phone calls, emails, texts, Facebook posts, tweets and personal visits, which resulted in 2,854 new members within 24 hours!

On behalf of the NYS PTA Membership team, we would like to personally extend a warm "Welcome Aboard" to our new PTA members and "Welcome Back" to those members who have returned. Your support is what allows us to advocate for every child with one voice.

If you have yet to join a PTA unit, please take a moment and visit www.nyspta.org to learn about NYS PTA and the benefits of membership. Click on "Become a Member Today," and you too can help support the efforts of your local PTA and impact every child in New York.

Can you remember the first whiff of that unmistakable smell when you opened that brand new yellow and green box at the start of the school year? To this day, the scent of fresh crayons brings back fond memories and vivid images of my own school days.

Parents, whether this is your first back-to-school or your last, we share with you the hope that the experience will be the best that it can for each of our children. This is a great time to remember that the best way to help ensure that your child's year will be successful is to become a member of your local PTA!

Click HERE to read President Gracemarie Rozea's entire message.

The 2017 NYS PTA Convention will inspire you to learn, lead and love what you do as part of the largest child advocacy organization in our great state and country!

REGISTRATION IS OPEN

BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM HERE

READ REGISTRATION MATERIALS HERE

Need a reason to come? Watch THIS VIDEO for why!

NYS PTA Resolutions Packet is Available!

Please click HERE to read this important information from the NYS PTA Resolutions Coordinator, so you can help your unit make decisions on these very important policy positions of NYS PTA.

NYS PTA is proud to support Texas PTA's request for assistance for those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Texas PTA launched a Fill the Backpack initiative and will be working closely with local school districts to provide needed supplies for students and teachers. Click HERE to donate.

You can also donate directly to the Texas PTA Disaster Relief Fund, which was established to respond to tragedies that grievously disrupt a school or education system. Click HERE for more.

Further, through September 30, the Lone Star Statewide PTA in Texas will dedicate 100% of local membership proceeds to assist with relief efforts. To join the Lone Star Statewide PTA (school district is "Statewide PTAs" and school is "Lone Star Statewide") click HERE.

As a reminder, PTAs should NOT donate their funds to other organizations, unless the organization is another 501(c)(3) organization with a similar mission to PTA. You can read more about donations on page 28 of the Finance Section of the NYS PTA Resource Guide.

Our thoughts will continue to be with Texas during these times, and thank you for your consideration in supporting those in need.

The search is on for a future National PTA Reflections program theme!

The student who submits the winning entry will receive $100, and their theme will be used to spark creativity during the 2019‐2020 National PTA Reflections Program.

Click HERE for more information and the entry form. The submission deadline is October 19, 2017.

Start planning and saving for college today!

NYS PTA members get 20% off college planning services with College Select.

Click HERE for more information.

6 tactics of a child predator from All Pro Dad

The greatest risk to your child is not riding a bus, but approaching or leaving one from NHTSA

Download: lunchbox notes to help your child build confidence from Understood.org

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to school! I hope the start of the school year has been both smooth and joyous for you and your children.

Click HERE to read more.

Discounts from Ticket Monster Perks (registration required to receive discounts)

As a NYS PTA member, you'll receive a $500 credit at closing on a Citizens Bank purchase or refinance mortgage loan. You can also save 0.125 percentage points off your mortgage interest rate with a Citizens Bank checking account. Find out more HERE.