News & Updates

Movie Copyrights and Licensing

 

 

Many PTAs hold movie nights at their schools, not knowing that use of copyrighted materials outside of the privacy of a home setting has been a copyright law violation since 1970. Movie studios have had a royalty compliance procedure in place for many years. Most major studios have made copyright compliance less expensive and simpler by appointing a licensing agent to help with copyright enforcement.

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is dedicated to preventing film and
video piracy in all its forms, including illegal downloading, and unauthorized public
performances. The MPAA and its member companies can go to court to ensure copyrights are
not violated, and fines can be imposed upon violators.

Unless the school itself has a license from an agency, the PTA cannot borrow movies from a
public library, bring movies from home, or rent movies from a video store to show at school.
Ownership of a movie and the right to use it publicly are two separate issues. The copyright
holder retains exclusive public performance rights. Video stores cannot provide legal
permission for showing movies outside the home. Also, public libraries cannot pass on
copyright compliance to anyone. Only the licensing agency or the movie studios themselves
can do so.

Read More »Movie Copyrights and Licensing

Back To School Responsibilities for PTA’s


It’s back-to-school season, and a key to getting a great start to a new school year is to ensure that the end-of-the-year responsibilities were fulfilled.

  • Has your outgoing treasurer completed the financial year-end report?  This report will be essential in completing tax-filing requirements that all nonprofits, including PTAs, must file 5.5 months after the close of your fiscal year.
  • Have the required PTA officers – president, treasurer and secretary – been elected?  Be sure to share their contact information with your council and/or district PTA so they receive support, resources and information.

Another essential component for the new school year is to make sure your PTA is in compliance with its bylaws.

Read More »Back To School Responsibilities for PTA’s

PROGRAMS – HOW TO’S

Organizing a great program for your school community starts with a planning committee. That way, you can brainstorm ideas, set goals and propose activities together.

With a committee, you can also tap into everyone’s different talents to divide up the tasks, both large and small, involved in running a successful program.

Arrange for the committee to meet early in the school year to prepare an outline for your program or event with suggested activities and projected costs.

Consider using the Event Planning Worksheet template as a checklist to stay on track with your program’s timeline, preparations and expenses.

Read More »PROGRAMS – HOW TO’S

PTA Budget

The budget is a financial representation of the activities and operations a PTA expects to conduct during a specified time period. The budget estimates income and expenses for the fiscal year and must be presented to the association for approval… Read More »PTA Budget