SMAC PTA Services

Shawnee Mission Area Council Services

What is Area Council?

A council is a group of local PTA units organized under the authority of the state PTA for the purpose of conference, leadership training and coordination of the efforts of such local PTA units.

Shawnee Mission Area Council is a council of 59 PTA units that serve the Shawnee Mission area in working for children and youth. SMAC was first organized with three units in October of 1922.

What is the Function of a Council?

The Council has four major responsibilities:

To strengthen the local units
To develop leadership
To promote membership
To give service to the local school community by undertaking community projects

The council also helps units function competently by giving unit officers and chairmen
opportunities to:

Compare methods of work
Receive suggestions of procedure
Unite in common projects
Cooperate in improving the quality of life of children and youth

The Council cannot legislate to the units in membership. Each unit is autonomous and can do as it wishes within the framework of its own bylaws and within keeping of the Objects of the PTA.

Shawnee Mission Area Council's emphasis is in the following areas:

Information course for newly elected unit Presidents. A course designed to inform presidents of unit, council, state and national PTA work.
School of Instruction. Leadership workshops are conducted by council officers and chairmen, and community leaders for the purpose of assisting unit officers and chairmen to better understand their positions.
There is usually a council officer and a chairman which corresponds to officers and chairmen at the unit level. These chairman frequently conduct workshops and informational sessions designed to enable unit chairmen to function more effectively.
Three to four general meetings dealing with subjects of current interest affecting the schools or the students.

Shawnee Mission Area Council members are available to advise and assist the units in any way possible