STEPPING UP
A CALL TO ACTION
Every year as thousands of San Francisco parents enter the public school selection process for the very first time – the buzz is that Claire Lilienthal is a great school to get into due to (among many other reasons) its consistently high academic performance, and academic enrichment programs which are reliably funded by a successful parent participation program. These young parents come to learn that “parent participation” can mean a high level of volunteerism, and/or additional financial support.
For many years now, Claire Lilienthal has been known for its steady supply of both parent volunteers and parent financial generosity. However in recent years, long-time PTA Board Members and event chairs have noticed a significant decline in volunteerism – particularly for chairmanships and upper rank fundraising event jobs.
While there are no doubt numerous reasons for this, the fact remains that increasingly it has become harder to find volunteers to help make fundraisers like Mayfair and the Auction happen – and happen successfully.
More often than not, the same names are filling the sign-up sheets for these events. But even more significantly, the key volunteers who chair these major events and programs are graduating out of Claire Lilienthal, or are just plain burned out, and there are no successors in sight despite outreach efforts to find and train such people. Admittedly, these outreach efforts could be more organized and effective --- but it takes volunteers to organize that, too.
The bottom line is that the CLPTA needs new people to step forward to run key positions. In particular, we are looking for parents with students in Grades 2 through 5 to step up and begin taking on more volunteer responsibilities.
As parents ourselves – the CLPTA realizes that parents at Madison Campus are juggling lots, often including even younger children. We do NOT expect this group to step up and offer to run a major fundraiser. However, we ARE looking at the longer-term picture --- and are seeking people from these grades who can be mentored now, in order to smoothly transition into key jobs later as their children grow older and more independent.
The CLPTA is extremely grateful to have such a financially generous parent population who gives, even when giving isn’t easy. However, a successful parent participation school doesn’t run on cash donations alone. Volunteers are needed. And they are needed now.
On the back of this letter you will find a list of open positions, and the contact email of the person you can connect with to find out more about the job itself and its estimated time commitment required.
Please, we don’t just need ideas and suggestions for keeping Claire Lilienthal a high achieving school. We need people to make these ideas and suggestions happen. Step up now.
THE CLPTA EXECUTIVE BOARD
Claire's list
help wanted for
pta committee jobs
(for details about job and to volunteer, connect with the “contact” person listed with each position)
Fundraising chair
Contact: Jim Thirtyacre (jim@30acreimaging.com)
Volunteer & Mentoring chair
Contact: Jim Thirtyacre (jim@30acreimaging.com)
PTA Membership/Annual Fund Drive chair
Contact: Jordan Hymowitz and Jim Thirtyacre
(hymowitz1@sbcglobal.net) (jim@30acreimaging.com)
Corporate Underwriting Solicitation chair and team
Contact: Jim Thirtyacre (jim@30acreimaging.com)
Texas Hold’em (Fall Fundraiser) Chair shadow (mentoring)
Contact: John Wong (johnbewwong@gmail.com)
Starlight Auction: Chair shadow (mentoring only)
Contact: MJ Call (mjcallsf@gmail.com)
Starlight Auction: Solicitation and Procurement lead & team
Contact: MJ Call (mjcallsf@gmail.com)
Starlight Auction: Online Auction team members (sales, photos for posting, fulfillment organizers)
Contact: MJ Call, David Fox, Karen Swinski
(mjcallsf@gmail.com, dfox@iwin.com, karenfellowes@sbcglobal.net)
Mayfair Co-Chairs:
Contact: Martina Chapman & Natasha Stevenson
(mec4272@yahoo.com), (nati_stevenson@hotmail.com)
Social Committee Chair
Contact: Jim Thirtyacre (jim@30acreimaging.com)