Question: Switcing from PTA to PTO - when can I start selling membership?

We are dissolving our PTA and starting a PTO. We have the EIN # and bylaws have been written. When we have our first meeting to adopt the bylaws and elect the officers WHO will be voting? When can we sell membership so they can have a vote? I'm a little confused!

Asked by Anonymous

Answers:

Advice from PTO Today

Craig writes:
You hold a general meeting to adopt your bylaws -- anyone in your target group can attend and vote (parents of children in the school). Once your bylaws are in place, you can start selling memberships, if that's what you decide to do. Just as a side note, we recommend against charging for membership, if possible. We've always felt it sends a very mixed message to tell people you really want them to be involved, but they have to pay for the privilege. On the other hand, it can be very powerful to say if you have a child in the school, you're a member of the parent group -- and thus automatically have a vested interest in it.