President - The President is elected by the local unit members to direct the affairs of the association in cooperation with the other members of the Executive Board, or where applicable, the Executive Committee for a term of office specified in the unit bylaws.

Vice President – A Vice President may be called upon at any time to assume temporarily the place of the president. The President may assign the Vice-President/s various duties, some of which may be defined in the unit Standing Rules or bylaws. Vice-Presidents are required to attend all meetings.  

Recording Secretary – The Recording Secretary is responsible for keeping accurate records of the proceedings of the association and maintaining a permanent file of these recordings. S/he is responsible for bringing a copy of the current membership list, bylaws, previous minutes, and budget reports to each meeting, as well as seeing that the minutes are posted in a timely manner on the district PTA website.

Corresponding Secretary – The Corresponding Secretary is responsible for notifying all members of the PTA Board and membership of upcoming PTA meetings as well as handling all correspondence for the unit. 

Treasurer – The Treasurer, as authorized custodian of the funds of the unit, receives and disburses all monies as prescribed in the unit bylaws or authorized by the action of the unit. The Treasurer should issue a receipt for all monies received.

Immediate Past President – The Immediate Past President is not an officer and is not a member of the Executive Committee.  Check your unit bylaws to see if the Immediate Past President is a member of the Executive Board.

Council Delegates – The Council Delegates are representatives from the elementary, middle, and high schools of South Orangetown Central School District who sit on the PTA Council as a member of the voting body. Council meets once a month to address issues that are pertinent to the entire district, and serves to provide information about the process and policies provided by PTA and how they can support the unit membership.

Committees – A committee can be one of the most productive tools of the PTA. The primary function of a committee is to take on a task, brainstorm and follow through on the set goal. The committee members have a direct impact on the quality and success of the committee. There are two kinds of PTA committees: Standing Committees and Ad Hoc or Special Committees. Standing Committees are committees that perform a continuing function and remain in existence permanently. Ad Hoc or Special Committees are created to accomplish a short-lived goal, activity or project. These committees are dissolved when the job is done. In both cases, the committee members are in need of the valuable assistance of volunteers. Only members of the PTA unit shall be eligible to serve on the Standing Committees. Committee members’ opinions must represent what is good for all students. The Committee Chair or designated representative is required to give a report at the monthly PTA meeting and is responsible for keeping records of committee activities and procedures. All committees listed below are Standing Committees, and their Chairs sit on the Executive Board of their unit. 

Adult Enrichment – The Adult Enrichment [Parent Education] committee organizes programs and speakers that will provide information on a variety of subjects, often reflecting the concerns of the unit membership.  Programs have ranged from effective parenting practices to Internet safety.

After School Enrichment – This SOCES committee is responsible for developing after school enrichment programs for our children.  Responsibilities include selecting the instructors, setting up the registration and monitoring the program. The program has offered courses in arts & crafts, recreational games, karate, basketball, cheerleading, cooking, board games, etc. The Director of this program is paid a stipend through a grant from the town of Orangetown. 

After School Enrichment Treasurer – The treasurer of the After School Enrichment Program is required to keep all records of all monies received and paid out during the course of the year.  Final audit and tax accountability is the treasurer’s responsibility. 

SOCES Children’s Assemblies/SOMS Enrichment Committee – These committees bring visual and performing arts programs to each grade level at SOCES and SOMS during school hours. The committee is responsible for selecting programs in collaboration with the building principal, booking performances, attending performances and completing all required paper work. 

Class Parent Coordinators - The SOCES PTA Class Parent Coordinators Committee functions as a liaison between the PTA, the class parent and the teacher. Duties have included compiling lists with pertinent information, election of a Class Parent using a lottery system, and hosting Class Parent Kindergarten Tea. 

Fundraising – According to National and State PTA guidelines, this committee organizes programs and events to raise money to fund enrichment programs for students, parent education, and PTA leadership training. The committee is responsible for selecting fundraisers, presenting them to the PTA unit, and following through on all aspects of the work of the committee. 

Garden – This committee’s focus is to instill in our children a love and understanding of gardening, the harvesting of healthy foods and being environmentally responsible by working with children in the TZE vegetable garden is emphasized.

Gifted and Talented – These SOCES and SOMS committees provide information and resources for students, parents and teachers about gifted/high ability students as well as organizing regular meetings and/or workshops and presentations by experts in the field of gifted education. 

Health – This committee maintains an ongoing communication with families regarding health issues (physical, mental and emotional well being) at every grade level.  Information provided by the National and NYS PTAs on Health should be made available to families during regular unit meetings, unit newsletters and websites.  Concerns of parents and staff should be addressed by this committee and shared at the unit meetings as well as represented at the district Wellness Committee when applicable.  The work of the committee can include playground facilities, character development, sleep deprivation, recess, drug and alcohol abuse, depression or any issue that falls under the large umbrella of health. 

Hospitality – One of the most important committees on every unit level because it is the work of this committee to make every person who attends a PTA unit meeting feel welcomed and included.  Providing refreshments is one aspect, but welcoming people as they come into the meeting, providing name tags and facilitating introductions of new members to old are all possible means of creating an inclusive PTA unit.  These efforts are especially important in the beginning of the year, during Meet the Teacher Night and encouraging new members to keep engaged in PTA.

Legislation – PTA is the largest grass roots organization promoting the welfare of children and youth. The legislative representative keeps the unit informed of current government issues regarding children with concern to PTA’s effective participation in local, state, and national government. The representative presents (once a year) a legislative slate from the State PTA to be voted on by our association. The representative then goes to the State Convention and participates in the state election and votes representing their respective SOCSD PTA unit. 

Membership – The primary purpose of this committee is to promote and encourage membership in the PTA unit by developing and implementing creative membership campaigns. A yearly calendar of activities, beginning with a September membership launch, arranging for membership tables and volunteers at each meeting, school event, or activity to sign up new members, collect dues, maintain an up to date list of all the members and deliver all membership cards and directories.  Membership is responsible for keeping the membership list updated and available at every unit meeting, ensuring that all unit officers, delegates to Council and committee chairs are current members of the unit in which they serve, and meeting deadlines for the reporting and payment of dues.

Newspaper/Newsletter – This committee is responsible for publishing a newsletter regularly that informs and educates readers on aspects of PTA objectives, aims and goals. The newsletter is a vital link between home and school.  It contains information on what’s happening in our district and it is run within state PTA guidelines.  The committee chair sets a publishing calendar with the president, and the president approves final copy of the newsletter.

Parents as Reading Partners – This committee sponsors reading programs to help foster the love of reading in children by encouraging parents to read to their children for fifteen minutes a day.  The chair should attend the annual PTA PARP Conference.

Reading is Fundamental (RIF) – This SOCES committee coordinates book distributions three times a year in each SOCES building, with the aid of a federal grant from the RIF organization. The committee is composed of three persons who coordinate all activities for their respective building (WOS, TZE, CL) from selection of books to enlisting volunteers to be on hand the day of the distribution.  Children are invited to self-select books at each distribution, which they are allowed to keep. The obligations of the RIF committee members include motivational activities to go along with each distribution. It is the responsibility of the Chair to submit all paperwork, including the end-of-year report to RIF.

Reflections Program – The National PTA developed the Reflections Program in 1969, to interest children, parents, teachers, and communities in the arts.  The Reflections Program and Themes Search are open to all students who attend a school where there is a PTA/PTSA/SEPTA in good standing. There is a new theme each year, and six categories: literature, visual arts, photography, dance choreography, film/video and musical composition. The committee organizes the program by sending notices of the theme and encouraging participation to all students.  The theme for 2009 is “Beauty is…”

Scholarship – This TZHS PTSA committee is responsible for fundraising scholarship money from private contributions and each SOCSD PTA unit, awarding scholarships to graduating seniors.

School Board Reporter – The School Board Reporter attends school board meetings and reports back to the unit on the issues addressed at the BOE meetings. 

School Photos – This committee assists the photographer by sending notices to parents, organizing the children on picture day and distributing the completed photo packages.  

School Store – Parent volunteers operate the school store, and stocks supplies for students available at regularly scheduled times throughout the year. Responsibilities include shopping for merchandise, telephoning volunteers, setting up schedules and sending out notices. The PTA uses profits from sales to fund programs for students.

School Store Treasurer – This position entails recording the transaction of purchases and sales as well as ordering supplies and submitting bills for payment. A periodic deposit of moneys from sales is required. 

Special Events – This committee organizes events ranging from Family Fun Nights, to School Dances and Basketball games with SOCSD staff. 

Teacher Liaison – This is a member of the school staff who is a PTA member of that school’s PTA unit and attends PTA meetings so that our units can partner more effectively with our respective schools.

Term of Office -- Whether an elected officer or an appointed chairperson, terms of office are for periods of ONE (1) year unless stated differently in your unit bylaws.   One can serve a maximum of TWO (2) consecutive years in an office or as chair of the same committee.   It is the responsibility of the chair to mentor new members of your committee so that they can take over the chair when your two years have elapsed.

Volunteer Coordinator – Volunteers offer their services to the PTA.  Anyone can volunteer to help the PTA or our schools.  The Coordinator is responsible for soliciting member volunteers for a variety of tasks.