We are a low income, at risk school. We choose not to charge dues. The principal who was in place a few years ago when we started was against charging parents to particiapte in their students education. The next left it up to our group, and we all agreed, free. The current one who is new this year asked if we ever charge, as this could be a type of fundraiser. I explained that since we are low income and low parent participation, it just doesn't make since. She also agreed and we are continuing this year free also.
There are several ways to generate money off the bat. Winter is coming so you could try a rummage sale in the school gym. Hold a sock hop and get soda and snacks donated.
Note, my PTA is more restrictive in that certain benefits are only available to members, such as the online services, some discounts, and applying for the Senior scholarship. But even so, anyone can attend a meeting, anyone can participate in an activity or serve as a volunteer. Those roles are not restricted.
So while I respect everyone's opinions, I haven't found any situations where dues were a barrier to being involved.
I've belonged to three parent groups. An elementary PTO that collected minimal dues (like $5), a middle school PTO with no dues, and and high school PTA with $10 pp dues ($3 went to state/national, $7 stays with unit).
I think it's a group by group decision and either situation can work well. In most of our PTO discussions here, paying dues/being a voting member is not a barrier. Once the membership drive is over, all families/parents are included and other than voting/holding office, there's no real difference in whether a family paid to be a member. For us, the initial dues had nothing to do with who could attend meetings, participate, or volunteer. Technically, non-members couldn't vote, but that was non-issue. By the time anything was taken to a general meeting, the issues had been hammered out and it was unanimous.
For us, the beginning of year membership drive was a marketing effort - a chance to promote who we were and what we accomplish. I think it saved us from slipping into the complacency of skipping that step. (If everyone is an automatic member, why showcase the benefits to recruit people?) The contest among classes (to recruit membes) generated enthusiasm and helped the kids understand what the PTO was. So I think it had a very positive purpose beyond collecting a bit funds.
Paid members later got a "free" school directory available to others for a small fee.
If you choose not to charge dues, that's fine as well. But don't skip the step of marketing your organization.
Backing Tim on this one, I can not see putting a price tag on parent involvement no matter how mininmal the amount may be. We have been around for six years and since day one no dues was one requirement our former principal put into place. We also are a low income community.
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
KLK9;137329 wrote: Our school has several dynamics, and one of them is a focus on at risk children. This topic hasn't come up yet in our meetings as we're just getting started and working on our bylaws. But if one of your goals is to do all that is possible to get the at risk parents involved - would you wave dues? Would you wave it across the board? We have zero dollars going in to this school year, so dues would be a quick way to get some funds in, but I fear it would also exclude a large population of our parents/families from being more active and attending meetings, etc.
Thoughts?
Hi KL -
Our research shows that about 50-60% of PTOs do not charge dues. I wish it was 100%.
I'm right with you on your reasoning. Groups tell us all the time that involvement is their #1 challenge, and then they go and put a pricetag on attending meetings and volunteering. And many spend the first month of school (easily the most important time of the year to set impressions with parents) selling, selling, selling memberships. Seems odd and off-strategy to me.
We have never collected dues. Our feeling is that all parents are members of the PTA because they have children in the school. Our focus has been trying to get parents involved in the school so it can be a better place to learn.
What we have done is send a letter to parents at the begining of the year for a $25 donation. In the past, this was in lieu of a big fundraiser. Now that this practice has gotten parents used to the idea of donating to the PTA, we will be starting a true fundraiser next year.
