Leigh School PTA Meeting
7 November 2008

Attending: Gillian Irons Kate McConnell, Naeri Nicholls, Kaye Mueller, Selena Grant, Jenine Abarbanel.
Apologies: Ritchie Watson
Matters Arising from last meeting minutes:
  1. PTA IRD status. The issue: deadline of November 30th for PTA to file for charity status, or begin paying GST. The NZPTA, which we are now members of, has sent us a folder of information on what we need to do to maintain our tax free status. Selena has at home. Gillian’s input: she has been attending finance workshop and has been asking about this issue. The advice we’ve been given is to not go down the constitution and status track because we have to pay an auditor, and accountant, which comes out to maybe $1000 a year in costs. And all the money comes under the school accounts, so we wouldn’t have our own checkbook, Fay would write our checks. Kate’s input: On the other hand, if we have more than $30k (? Check this number) income, we would have to pay GST. It would be good to have a constitution to have some guildelines and ethics to follow. So, even if we don’t go for the charity status, it is still worthwhile to have a set constitution. Naeri spoke to NZPTA and they told her something slightly different from what Gillian has heard. An issue is how does our status effect our ability to apply for and receive large grants? Which status would help us most? There is a deadline, we need to have any docs submitted by end of this month. Gillian will find the circulars she has, and get them to Selena. Notes: James re-wrote the preschool constitution, and Kate has done them as well. So we’ll have plenty of experience to bring to the process.
  2. Purchase of the water blaster. We’ve been earning money and not spending money, so vote to buy water blaster put to. Approved. Gillian to bill us for it.
  3. Table for fire station. Done and delivered, but we need to find the account to pay for it.
Upcoming Events:
  1. 25 November, Athletics Day. PTA to put on a lunch. We’ll do healthy burgers with cut fruit, and frozen fruit juice or yogurt in a tube. Kay to call around and recruit help. Kate will organise veggies.
  2. 28 November, Whole school trip to see “The Wiz” in Auckland. PTA to subsidise the bus. Gillian will get us an amount.
  3. Prizegiving. Organise supper, and someone to run the kitchen, make tea and coffee, pitchers of lemonade for the kids. That would be us.
Carnival thoughts:
  1. Where did the money come from? Top 3 earners: Quick fire raffles, Auctions, and Food. Dream team: Cath and Sandy on Auctions, Dan on Food, … we need someone strong to lead point on Quick fires and basket raffles.
  2. Activities: Turf N Surf, many parents would like to participate. Consider making T&S earlier, start of carnival a little later. T&S 8:00-10:00, Carnival start at 10:00 or 10:30.
  3. Organiser: Jenine, with lots of support from everyone else. Contract to be written by Selena outlining her responsibilities and requirements.
  4. Volunteers assigned for most areas now. Jenine to get on the ball for everything else. Jenine continues the “shoulder tap” to get more people on board.
Calendar:
1. Jenine and Kate organised and on it.
Meeting ended at 5:10 pm
Next meeting: November 14, 3:15, to discuss constitution and charity status.
December 8, 3:15 pm, to discuss carnival.