For the Farmingdale PTA, the weeks preceding the new year were highlighted by a trip to Buffalo for the organization's state convention, an event which inspired several ideas to implement on the local level in 1999.

Eighteen members of the Farmingdale PTA took the annual trip, and they attended workshops on key issues in education. The Farmingdale parents spread out and made the most of talks on topics ranging from the new state learning standards to child safety on the Internet, according to Kathy Dowling, president of Farmingdale PTA.

"I always say, 'I get recommited to the goals and to the missions for parents and kids,' because that's our job. We're their advocates," she said during a recent telephone interview, explaining the enthusiasm sparked by the convention. "I came back with a lot of good ideas for parent workshops that I'd like to see offered in Farmingdale, and everybody seems very receptive to it."

The convention featured over 20 workshops, many of which are directly applicable to Farmingdale parents. One speaker, for example, offered ways to protect children from sexual predators on the Internet. "Interestingly enough, the most used time of the Internet is that key time between when school lets out and when parents come home - that 3, 4, 5 o'clock time," Dowling said, describing new insight gained from the workshop. She added, "That's when all the predators go online." The workshop also described safety features used by parents to protect their children from such dangers. Farmingdale PTA has applied for a collaborative grant with other school districts to fund a similar such Internet safety presentation.

Dowling added that those who attended various other workshops are currently sharing what they learned with other members at regular Farmingdale PTA unit meetings.

In addition to the workshops, local PTA members heard from such movers and shakers in education as State Education Commissioner Richard Mills. "They spoke to the new standards, specifically for parents, and about teachers, students and expectations. They realize there are going to be some pitfalls, but overall, explained the reasons for the changes," said Dowling.

The local PTA members also participated in voting and represented the views of Farmingdale parents.

Dowling noted that the event also provided a crash course in legislation for members. "If you ever want to go for legislation, all you have to do is go to a PTA convention, because you learn legislation so quickly," she said. "It's lively, it's entertaining, it's informative."