Bard School

PTA Standing Committees

Phone-a-Thon Committee

The annual Phone-a-Thon is an annual 3 evening fundraiser where volunteers call BHSEC parents in an organized fashion to explain the school’s needs and solicit financial contributions.  The Committee forms in September and begins its work to attract volunteer callers.  Spanish and Chinese language speakers are required to ensure that households with those languages are also well served.  Volunteers are also needed to prepare and mail the letters that go our after the calls are completed and the pledges are tallied.

Members of this committee form subcommittees for these adhoc purposes:

1. Location reservation and coordination (UFT HQ)
2. Make calls following scripted instructions
3. Data management: data organization, spreadsheet preparation, and form mail merge.
4. Event management: Coverage and shift scheduling,  Volunteer communication
5. Event Communication and Publicity

Knowledge College Committee

Knowledge College is an annual one-day BHSEC showcase event where faculty, parents and outside speakers give seminars to guest attendees. It is a casual event that brings parents into the school as students to experience what BHSEC offers to their students. Topics vary every year ranging from Astronomy, black holes, and white dwarfs, to Socrates, Homer, WWII,  and every thing in between, including Mathematics of Cones, NYC politics, Chinese Herbal Medicine and many more. Members of this committee plan this annual event starting at the beginning of the school year by seeking and signing up speakers and building a varied and current seminar offering. KC has been held continuously every year since 2010.

Members of this committee form subcommittees for these adhoc purposes:

1. Solicit advertisements for the event program,
2. Solicit donations from local businesses,
3. Solicit food donations, buy and serve meals at the Knowledge College Cafe,
4. Event management including check in, ticket sales, name tags and check in lists, classroom assignments, event signage and advertisement.
5. Event expense and revenue accounting and reporting
6. Event advertisement and publicity

• Event Fundraising Goal: $5000-$7000
• Event Date:  First Saturday in February
• Number of volunteers: 25 parents

KC @ BHSECPTA.ORG

Spring Gala Committee

Members of this group are responsible for organizing Bard’s annual spring gala and auction. They begin work in the September and engage a very large number of volunteers sometimes reaching 60 or more.  The Gala is a major fundraising event for the PTA so the committee’s work is very important to supporting the student and school programs and needs.  Several subcommittees form under the Gala committee including:

• Gala management
• Location and Logistics
• Auction
• Ticket Sales and Tracking
• Communication
• Public Relations
• Advertising
• Food and Beverage
• Check-in, Check-out,
• Accounting and Reporting

Gala @ BHSECPTA.ORG

School Hospitality Committee

This group is responsible for organizing the September Welcome Back Potluck for parents and faculty at the first PTA general membership meeting, and two Faculty Appreciation Dinners on the evenings of parent-teacher conferences in the fall and spring.  Food is 99% donated by parents and brought to the school by the students. Many parents also contribute money towards the events so plates, cups, tablecloths, flowers and beverages can be bought. The team plans the food variety and quantity required then communicates and coordinates with parents to fulfill the need.  They also decorate, set up and break down the cafeteria and make sure the events runs smoothly.

Hospitality @ BHSECPTA.ORG

GRANT WRITING

Super important in this economy, this committee needs researchers and connected people to help support the existing programs at BHSEC and develop new sources of financial and in-kind support. Previous grants have funded specific health & fitness programs, science equipment, auditorium renovation  and exchange programs with Turkey and China.  If you don’t have time to help but have information or contacts to share - please contact Becky Plattus at jamealp@aol.com

HEALTH & SAFETY

This committee is comprised of school staff and 2 parent representatives.  The committee works to ensure the safety of BHSEC students and staff in the vicinity of the school.  Please contact Amy Metroka at amy.metroka@bhsec1pta.org