Local Unit Meetup: Awesomeness Attracts Awesomeness
How often do you think about other local PTA units in Maine (outside your town)? Until I was part of the Maine State PTA, I honestly didn't give it much thought. In Sanford there are three elementary PTAs (and one middle school), and two of them had been combined when I first joined. Further, Sanford presidents gathered a couple times a year to share ideas and celebrate the school year. We held joint events like the Teachers v. First Responders Basketball game, but didn't really talk much to PTAs outside Sanford.
As Maine State PTA President, one of my goals is to connect with local units outside my home town. You'd be surprised how many PTAs are clustered locally (within an hour's drive) and how connecting with them can help you on your PTA journey (if only by gathering all that awesomeness in one room)!
This past Friday, I met with Kennebunk Elementary PTA President Kacy Fallon at Sanford's Frannie's Mini Donuts for some coffee. Kacy had contacted Maine State PTA for advice about the ethics of KEPTA holding a volunteer appreciation dinner in celebration of PTA Appreciation Day (Saturday, September 26th). Although this event was ultimately cancelled, the ethics were sound (vetted by myself at the state level and National PTA's field service-- FYI it is important to celebrate yourselves within reason and recruit more members to help reach our goals), and Kacy and I decided to meet for coffee and a chat. I was even able to make KEPTA some buttons/badges to give to volunteers as a thank you!
But more than that, something amazing happened... as we met in this local donut shop, we found ourselves surrounded by other PTA members from nearby units. Wells PTA Member (and Treasurer candidate) Shelley Toomey was having a breakfast playdate with another (relatively new) mother. KEPTA member Anna Martin who was in the area visiting a friend, happened to want some donuts and was pleasantly surprised that we happened to be there. It was like our conversations were magnetic, pulling in awesome PTA peeps within our orbit! That or Frannie's Mini Donuts are just that good....
Okay, okay... two things can be true. :)
Comments