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About PATH
Welcome to the PATH (Parents Advocating Teaching at Home) website. We serve the greater Hickory NC area. All are welcome.
PATH celebrated it 20th anniversary in 2005!
PATH was founded with a vision of embracing all homeschooling families. PATH welcomes diversity. PATH’s primary mission is to continue to serve the homeschooling community by providing all homeschooling families with opportunities to network in Catawba County and the surrounding area. Wishing to preserve the uniqueness of PATH, the philosophy statement of this group cannot be changed. If there are no homeschooling families that desire to preserve and uphold the philosophy of PATH and continue to provide this network, the PATH group will be dissolved.
PATH is an inclusive community of homeschooling families providing support and resources for people who have chosen to educate their families at home. Members have varied backgrounds, as well as varied political and religious beliefs. In PATH we celebrate our differences and treat each other with respect and kindness being sensitive to the diversity that is within the group.
The PATH guidelines as voted on by the members (April 2005) are as follows:
PATH is a group of homeschoolers, advocating individual choice and freedom in education, serving those families who choose to homeschool by networking through activities, events, newsletters and yahoo groups.
All members are encouraged to organize and/or participate in PATH activities that best meet their needs.
For a list of past PATH activities click here.
**PATH was founded with a vision of embracing all homeschooling families. PATH welcomes diversity. PATH’s primary mission is to continue to serve the homeschooling community by providing all homeschooling families with opportunities to network in Catawba County and the surrounding area. Wishing to preserve the uniqueness of PATH, the philosophy statement of this group cannot be changed. If there are no homeschooling families that desire to preserve and uphold the philosophy of PATH and continue to provide this network, the PATH group will be dissolved.**
More about PATH
PATH is an inclusive community of homeschooling families providing support and resources for people who have chosen to educate their families at home. Members have varied backgrounds, as well as varied political and religious beliefs. In PATH we celebrate our differences and treat each other with respect and kindness being sensitive to the diversity that is within the group.
A. Membership
Families who wish to join PATH (Parents Advocating Teaching at Home) must be currently homeschooling or considering homeschooling as a viable educational alternative for their family. Each family that joins the PATH group will pay a yearly membership fee, and must provide the PATH membership coordinator with their name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address, children's names and ages. Although participation in group activities is not required for membership, we encourage all members to share in the responsibilities of the group and group activities so as not to overwhelm other group members. Each family is encouraged to join in or organize the activities they are interested in for their family. For voting purposes, only one member vote shall be counted for each member family.
B. Coordinator Positions
There are several voluntary positions within the PATH group that are necessary for the group to run
smoothly. These positions will be reevaluated yearly. Anyone wanted to volunteer for a coordinator position
or wanting to continue in a coordinator position should bring their name forward at our yearly September
member meeting. If more than one person wants to volunteer for a specific position the members present at
that meeting will vote and a simple majority will elect a coordinator.
1. Web Site Coordinator- Responsible for updating the PATH web site as needed and recruiting volunteers as needed for help.
2. Yahoo Groups Coordinator- Set up yahoo groups as needed for PATH. Edit description and add/delete moderators as necessary
3. Yahoo Group Moderators- Moderate PATH Yahoo list per guidelines set forth in the communications section.
4. Treasurer- Keep an accounting of PATH income and expenditures. File appropriate tax documents if needed. Receive any hard copy applications for membership with checks or money orders. Forward the membership application to the membership coordinator. Oversees Paypal transactions. Presents a treasury report at each member meeting.
5. Secretary- Takes minutes of each PATH member meeting, makes these available to members through the yahoo list and newsletter.
6. PR Coordinator-Coordinates all PATH public relations and membership recruitment efforts. Recruits volunteers as needed for help.
7. Membership Coordinator- Collects all member information, submitted through the web site or forwarded from the treasurer. Organizes it into a membership directory and telephone roster each September. Provides each member with a copy of the directory, telephone roster and membership card within a month of joining. Updates and sends out a telephone roster midyear (January time frame). Provides an updated member list for all meetings. Invites new members to the yahoo lists. Sends, all new members to PATH, a Welcome Packet and list of PATH members that are open to talking and mentoring new members.
8. Welcoming Committee Coordinator-Coordinates all Meet and Greets (2-4 times per year). Advertises this within the community. Organizes welcome packets and the list of PATH members open to contact from new members. Coordinates the curriculum show and tell at the Meet and Greets.
9. PATH Member Meeting Coordinator-Secures date, time and place of meeting with child care option if needed. Organizes the agenda, with member input, for these meetings. Gives at least 2 weeks notice for meetings. Organizes at least 2 meetings per year, more if necessary.
10. Newsletter Editor-Organizes a monthly newsletter with member input. Mails out those newsletters, by USPS, to those paying for that subscription. E mails out an e mail copy for all others. Maintains the newsletter on the newsletter yahoo list.
11. Phone Chain Coordinator-Coordinates a telephone chain for those that sign up. This is for last minute info about event/activity changes etc. Will post about this chain periodically in the newsletter and yahoo group along with contact phone and e mail.
12. Yahoo Group Calendar Coordinator-Updates the yahoo calendar monthly when the newsletter is published to make sure that all events/activities in the newsletter are on the PATH calendar, with yahoo notices set up as necessary.
13. Contact Persons for the PATH web site-
Homeschool Contact Person-receives e mails through the web site concerning PATH membership, new homeschooling etc. And forwards these on to the appropriate person or answers the questions.
Event Contact Person-receives e mails sent through the web site regarding events and activities. Forwards this onto the PATHevents yahoo list for members.
14. Homeschool Information Night Coordinator-Coordinates 2-4 information nights per year. Open to the public, providing information about homeschooling laws in NC, homeschooling methods, curriculum, support groups, etc.
C. Coordinating activities and events:
Coordinating an activity is a great way to get involved in PATH. There are a few simple guidelines for organizing an activity or event that we would like to share with you.
1. Check the database of PATH activities and events found in the database section of the PATHevents yahoo list to see if anyone else is already planning this activity. If not please edit the database to add your name. If someone else is already planning the activity you may consider contacting them and offering your
help.
2. If you are not sure about interest in your activity, you can post your thoughts on the PATHchat list to get more input from other PATH members.
3. Place the specifics on the PATHevents yahoo list and on the PATHevents yahoo calendar with appropriate reminders. Try to plan far enough in advance to place the information into the PATH monthly newsletter. If you need help with this please contact the moderator of the PATHevents yahoo list.
4. Information to include: Title of event/activity. When it is to take place (date and time), where it will be (include directions if necessary), how long it will last, will it be weekly, monthly or a one time event, what ages is it appropriate for (we always encourage activities that include all ages as we strive to keep the family together as much as possible). Please include a good description of the event so that members will have enough information to decide if it will fit their family.
5. Remember the more that members participate in PATH the more we have to offer our families. If you need suggestions of different events and activities, go to the PATH events and activities database on the PATHevents yahoo list and you will find lots of ideas there.
6. To be labeled a PATH event it must be for everyone and not exclude members based on religion, race, marital status, homeschooling method, or lifestyle. We do encourage other activities and do recognize that people of like minds will want to do things together, that is welcome, it just will not be able to have the PATH name attached. For example: Single Homeschooling Parents' Support Night, or Tutoring Afternoon with Saxon Math. Those are great activities but exclude a segment of the PATH population for one reason or another so they do not carry the PATH name.D. Communications
1. Newsletter
The PATH newsletter is a monthly publication distributed via e mail, and also USPS for those who have paid for a subscription when registering with PATH. It is organized, by the newsletter editor, with submissions from the PATH membership. If you have anything you would like to add to the newsletter be sure it gets to the newsletter editor in the format s/he requires by the deadline date each month. Submissions may include but are not restricted to; activities/events for homeschoolers within PATH and the surrounding community, articles and essays related to homeschooling, favorite homeschooling web sites, books, or magazines, information regarding "graduated" PATH members, your children's poems, stories, essays or pictures. Please remember if you are coordinating an event or activity that there is a deadline for the newsletter and submit it in time so that everyone knows about your event. The newsletter editor makes the decision regarding what is included in the newsletter. If anyone has any questions regarding the newsletter or newsletter submissions be sure to mention this to the meeting coordinator so that this can be added to the agenda for the next PATH member meeting, or e mail or call the newsletter editor directly.2. Yahoo lists
The PATH membership has voted to make several Yahoo list options available. This is so that you may tailor your e mail to fit the needs of you and your family. Currently PATH has three yahoo lists.
A. PATHevents-This yahoo list is set up for event or activity posting only. This will be information regarding specific events within PATH and the surrounding community. Only posts with the information for events/activities, updates on events/activities or questions regarding the specific event/activity will be posted on this list. No chit-chat about homeschooling or events/activities will go on this list. The PATHevents list will have a calendar section and be updated monthly to reflect all events going on
within PATH and the surrounding community. The PATHevents list will also have a database of PATH events and activities, found in the database section, for contact info regarding events and activities.
B. PATHchat-This list is for discussions about homeschooling issues, legislation, events/activities, homeschooling questions and general support for homeschooling families. This is the list for chit-chat and getting to know the homeschooling families within PATH.
C. PATHdebate-This list is for when you feel the need to get up on your soapbox, and we all have them, and let people know what you think. If you want to blow off steam, do it here. If a discussion on the PATHchat list has gone beyond simple discussion and you wish to continue to converse with a specific person, invite them here, continue as long as you like.A few simple suggestions. Remember that everyone has an opinion and is entitled to their opinion. Please be sensitive to our differences. Remember that people are different in e mail, we cannot see facial expressions and gestures on e mail. Read all e mail as if your best friend is writing it. We want to build a strong homeschooling community and e mail is part of that community.
If an e mail goes off topic for the list it is on the moderator will redirect your e mail and will inform you that it has been posted on another PATH yahoo list. That will be the extent of moderation within PATH. If there are any questions regarding specific lists please e mail the moderator of that list, or let the meeting coordinator know so that your question can be added to the agenda for the next PATH member meeting.
3. Telephone Chain
This is a service set up by a volunteer PATH member. It is for communication of changes in PATH events and activities at the last minute. If you would like to be included in this chain please contact the Telephone Chain Coordinator, you can find his/her contact information in the database of PATH events and activities found in the database section of the PATHevents yahoo list.4. Membership Directory and Telephone Roster
Every member will receive a Directory and Roster when they join PATH. This will have sensitive information regarding member families. Please use this as you need but be careful not to leave it in a public place. It is not to be distributed outside PATH membership and is not for solicitation purposes.E. Meetings
PATH will hold a minimum of 2 meetings per year, one in September and a second in January. Any other meetings will be called when necessary or requested by the PATH membership. The meeting coordinator will be responsible for organizing all PATH meetings with PATH member input. A minimum of 2 weeks notice will be given for each meeting. This notice will be through the PATH newsletter and PATHevents yahoo group. If a PATH newsletter will not be published before a meeting then all members must be notified before the meeting by either a telephone call or a USPS meeting announcement. All agenda items will be published via the PATHevents yahoo list before the meeting. Only member families present at a meeting can vote on agenda items (one vote per member family) and a simple majority raise of hands is required to carry a vote.
To vote on any issues NOT on the agenda, at least 1/3 of voting members must be present at the meeting.
For PATH purposes a member family is defined as parent/s or guardian/s, that have completed a membership registration form and paid the membership fee, and the children they homeschool or are considering homeschooling.
To subscribe to PATH, fill out the form on our Member Registration Page. Go to the Newsletter Page for cost and further information.
We invite you to attend PATH events at any time and visit with the families there. The more support you get, the easier it will be for you and your children.
Click Here for the homeschooling requirements in the state of North Carolina from the Division of Non-Public Education.
