The world saw a lot of firsts in 1924: the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City; the first-ever Winter Olympics; and the first glimpse at the treasures of King Tut’s tomb. And in Dallas, 1924 marked the very first meeting of the Rosemont Early Childhood PTA, which, according to president Becky Moffett, is still going strong today with 200 active members.
Moffett, a Dallas mom of two (Lauren, 6, and Benjamin, 3) who has been leading the group since May 2009, says the RECPTA’s aim is to support its mommy members as well as the community, specifically Rosemont Elementary School, a Dallas ISD campus in her North Oak Cliff neighborhood.
In the spring, we support Rosemont Elementary’s arts program by having a silent and live auction. In the past five years, we’ve been able to raise around $100,000. This has allowed Rosemont, a Dallas ISD public school in our area, to build an amphitheater and an outdoor reading area, provide an in-house drama teacher and acquire art supplies, musical instruments for the orchestra and countless other items to benefit students.
We start off every school year with a Popsicle Party for moms with babies. We then have a kick-off party for all members. We also have weekly playgroups, mom’s nights out, monthly meetings, a monthly newsletter, a fall and spring retreat and a cookie swap around the holidays. There are various other monthly events like a Swim Party at the end of the year. The RECPTA also has a Sunshine Committee that helps coordinate meals for all our new mommies.
I love the adult social interaction. I have made so many friends, some of whom I am as close to as my family. Along with my adult friendships through the group, my kids now have a circle of friends. Most of these friends have been in our lives since my eldest, Lauren, who is now 6, was 6 months old. We still have play dates and sleepovers, and we do kid swaps and car pools.
New members can join by going to our Web site, downloading the membership form and mailing it in. We are also in the process of putting an online membership form together where the member would pay through PayPal. We welcome all members, but we encourage moms to find an organization close to where they live that may be a good fit. Dues are paid once a year; current members pay $35, and alumnae pay $20 (alumnae must have been in the group at least four years and have a child who is at least 7 years old). dc
