Update--Education for All...SUCCESS?!

So...apparently you can just go online type in a few (literally) things and get yourself and EIN (Employee Identification Number), which is what is needed by the bank to open an account that would allow me to use the name of my scholarship. Who knew that I would've wasted so much time and energy over something that could've possibly been resolved months ago with a mere 5 min., online, application. Thank goodness for Google...it saved the day. At least I think...one more trip to the Bank will tell the whole story...

Education for All--another setback

I shared my vision with PTA this past week. My goal was that they'd be willing to jump on board and help with some procedural things--namely to be a name we could use for people to write checks to when making a donation. I walked in this Monday morning to this disappointing response.

Yes, I did some research and the PTA Board discussed it as well. We feel we need to pass on running this through PTA, at least for this year. Maybe with some more documented procedures and policies we can relook at it next year.



Questions/Comments/Concerns:

This endeavor does not fit with the mission of the PTA. It is not a PTA sponsored program or student activity. It sets a good example and is educationally based, but it doesn't provide a direct benefit to the students as a whole.
Is this a personal endeavor or is it a Pullman sponsored event? Is it something that could be run through the school itself? We know the school has strict guidelines on what can be advertised for and participated in (do it for one, do it for all). Does this fit those parameters?
Each time the PTA accepts a donation and it is deposited in the bank account, it is considered PTA money and we take on any possible tax liability/implications associated with it, including the possibility of bounced checks and any fees associated with them.
It is a great idea and a worthwhile cause, but since it is not PTA-based, we feel we cannot take this on at this point.

I guess I look into making this a true non-profit and registering it with the state...honestly though, right now I just want to donate the money that we have to someone and be done with it all. Ugh!

Anna 7 1/2 mos...Alix 11, going on 16

Here's some recent pix of anna and alix...my 2 beauties!


Anna's off


She's up


success!!

Will someone please post bail already!

Peace out.

Male Perm

What people won't do for a friend. Here is a story about two friends of mine from HS. A great story of friendship standing the test of time and distance, and then becoming bonded even stronger by one very unlikely source--the male perm

Education for All Report

well, it is conference day (ugh!) and i put out the education for all information in the lobby. I honestly will be thrilled if even one person stops and reads it ;) Hopefully the info will get posted to our school's website as well. I will go to PTA to talk to them about using their account for people to write checks to...and then hopefully get forms out to parents at the end of Feb, with donations due by end of march. Stay tuned!

Hello Everyone

hi everyone, it's anna. I just turned 7 mos so I thought it was about time to start blogging. I have learned to do a lot of cool things the past month, but mommy thinks I am growing up too fast. sometimes I see her get tears in her eyes when she looks at me. I know she is excited for all my new tricks, but I also know that she will miss all the baby things I used to do (even though I thought laying around and "cuddling" was kind of boring.) I am ready to get out into the world and be a mover and a shaker...hopefully mommy and daddy can keep up!! I'm not one to brag, but just this month

*I got really good at sitting up by myself...and can now even sometimes bring myself from tummy to sitting.
*I learned to crawl...I started kind of slow, but I am super fast now!
*I can pull myself to standing on just about anything. My favorite place to stand is my musical table and my crib, but if there's something to grab onto I can get up (unless I bump my head and start to cry instead.) Mommy thought this was cute at first, but now I think she gets annoyed when it's time to go to bed and I want to play the crib stand up game. (I personally think it funny the way she has to keep coming in to put me back down...ha, ha...who's in charge now?!)
*I can cruise around furniture, slowly but surely. Usually I'd rather just hang around my musical table (did I mention it's my favorite?!) but if I'm motivated enough I can move around to get other places too. Mommy once said that she can see the wheels turning in my head when it comes time for me to reach and turn to get to my next spot. Sometimes I'm not sure if I can make it, but luckily I'm a daredevil so I go for it anyway. By the way, did you know it hurts when you fall backwards and hit your head? OUCH!
*I can wave...mommy knows this trick (she's seen me do it several times when someone comes into view and says hi to me), but daddy isn't quite so convinced. Kelly (my daycare mom) has seen it though, so the girls win this fight...again! I think I'm going to keep this one a secret for a while, but soon enough I'll let everyone see.
*I can stand unassisted for short periods of time...when they can trick me into standing still long enough. Usually I'd rather be bouncing, walking, or standing at my musical table.

Boy, I've come a long way in one short month...I wonder what tricks I'll learn this next month?

Good talking to you all. Hopefully I'll learn to do some of my signs soon enough, that way when I see you in person I can at least say hello and tell you the important things (like I want "more".)

Lots of love,
anna

here I go...watch what I do next


I'm on my way up...watch out you crazy doggie!


And success!! (see I don't even need two hands anymore.)


These are just me being cute:

On again, off again

Education for All is in the "off again" mode until I can make it to a PTA meeting to pitch them the idea of allowing us to collect the money under their name and then have them cut the checks for us. I'm hoping they say yes, but the meeting isn't until mid-february...so no getting letters out to families this week :( That means no drawing by the end of the month...and so on. Disappointing...just when I thought all systems were a GO for getting this operation up and running. Dumb bank!

Arrrrghhh...

Who knew it would be so hard to try to give away some money for a good cause?! First, we can't have a raffle...it's gambling. Then I can't open a bank acct. under my scholarship's name (b/c I'm not a business). I can either apply for an EIN (employee identification number) with the state (I can't imagine that's easy)...or I can open an account under my name, meaning people would have to write out donation checks to me...and I can only imagine that most would not feel comfortable with this (heck, even I don't feel comfortable with this!) My principal didn't seem like it would be an option for him to have the school open an account, so I went from trying to launch this donation drive next week, to waiting (again) to figure it all out. Perhaps I can talk PTA into taking this on...with my help...so they can create a line item for it and dole out the money from their acct once funds are received. Plus that way they could carry on if I have to go to another school next year. I guess I don't know what other choices I have right now.

I am super bummed. As much as I'm excited to raise money for this cause, I am just as excited to stop planning and start doing. I didn't realize how much would have to be put into all of of this...how disappointing if people don't buy into it.

One good thing. I've already received several donations from wonderful people who support my cause. Thankfully they were kind enough to leave their checks blank... I only hope that my school community supports this cause as well. I know it's important to me, but I desperately want it to be important to them too.