Founders Day - Overview

Every year your Northshore PTSA Council holds a Founders Day Celebration to remember those who started our wonderful organization. Details about this year's event will be posted here when they are final.

PTA 101

Hello, everyone. Are you sitting comfortably? Good – it’s time for PTA 101!

What is now known as the PTA began in 1897 when two women, Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst, felt that something had to be done to improve the lives of children in this country. (Think about it: two women advocating social change in an era when women didn’t even have the vote and social activism was frowned upon – wow!) These two women however, were committed to their cause and the National Congress of Mothers was founded. The first meeting of this fledgling organization was held on February 17, 1897 and drew an attendance of over 2,000. Attendees included mothers and fathers, legislators, teachers, laborers and many others from all walks of life.

Over the next few years, and through hard work and perseverance, many of the founders’ goals were achieved: the creation of kindergarten classes, child labor laws, a public health service, hot lunch programs and childhood immunization.

In 1911, Selena Sloan Butler organized the first National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers, and in 1919 many local chapters of this group joined together to form the Georgia Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers. Working closely with each other for decades to improve the conditions in schools for children as well as for teachers, the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers and the Congress of Mothers merged in 1970 to become the current National PTA.

It’s appropriate then that in February we celebrate our founders. It’s also appropriate that February brings Focus Day around the US, a day when PTA members throughout the nation meet with their legislators and legislative staff.

Each year, we invite all local units who in turn invite their board members, depending on the budget they have set aside for this event. It has been customary for the local unit to pay for its school principal(s). Principals will receive their own invitation, but the local unit usually checks with them to send in the RSVP and check.

It has always been a big hit during the year as it allows you to get out and kick up your heels for some fun with other PTA members. We always have some kind of theme, and many do dress up accordingly, but all are welcome to come as you are. You may be enjoying barbeque in your western attire, sipping tropical drinks in your muu muu, or dressed to the NINES for an elegant evening.

Our Program is generally a light one; we have background music and entertainment, a brief speaker, maybe a few rival games between the schools, our Council President(s) say a few words and then the Big Award. We hand out the Northshore PTSA Council Golden Acorn award, to one or more volunteer(s), who have gone above and beyond at our Council level.

STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS REGARDING THE 2008-2009 EVENT!