Advocacy
Advocacy is at the core of PTA activity – at the state level and at the National Level. From universal kindergarten to a juvenile justice system – National PTA advocates have been at the heart of our nation’s greatest advances for youth. Michigan PTA advocates to ensure that parent’s voices are heard and that issues related to the health, education and well-being of all children do not go unnoticed. It is our goal to empower and encourage parents to speak to their legislators and the community on behalf of their children.
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Call for Resolutions
A Message From Mary DeYoung-Smith
Michigan PTA Vice President for Children's Advocacy
Michigan PTA resolutions seek to address problems, situations or concerns that affect children and youth statewide and that require statewide action to be resolved. Resolutions that receive approval from the delegates at the Michigan PTA convention each year become part of the Michigan PTA’s legislative agenda. This is the voice of our membership – to persuade legislators and government officials to enact PTA’s positions into law.
A resolution is an original main motion, which because of its importance, length, or complexity, is submitted in writing. Resolutions call for action by the Michigan PTA or its constituent bodies (councils or local units).
All Units, Councils and members are welcome to submit resolutions. Resolutions must be received in the Michigan PTA office by December 31, 2011. Resolutions submitted will be reviewed by the Michigan PTA Resolutions Committee.
For specifics on submitting a resolution, read below. |
Why Write a Resolution?
by Sue Bellows, Michigan PTSA Past President
One might very well ask, “What is so important about Resolutions?” Resolutions give our PTA a voice. “A voice for what?” Resolutions include everything from Safe Routes to Schools, to Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, to Firearm Locks. Both the Michigan PTA and National PTA have Resolution Books, which hold all of the Resolutions that have been adopted, rescinded, reinforced, accomplished or retired. In every case, once our governing body, which is the State or National Convention, adopts a Resolution, your Michigan PTA or National PTA can then speak with legislators, intelligently, about those issues.
It is vital that our local units and councils feel the importance of their input. If there is an issue in an area of our state that is causing a concern, odds are that it may be a concern elsewhere. When the scope of an issue is of statewide concern (meaning that it is something that is not just of a concern in one area), local units and councils should do the research on data that supports a stand on that issue, and then use the very easy Writing A Resolution guide available from Michigan PTA to submit their Resolution.
The most important thing to remember is that our local units and councils are a valuable part of the Michigan PTA’s ability to advocate on behalf our members. They help us to identify and act on issues that impact our children’s health, education and welfare.
Your voice is our voice…”everychild.onevoice”.
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Rally For Our Children!
May 12, 2011
Steps of the Capitol, Lansing
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