I agree with JHB. We have a $2 membership. We have a drive early in the year with the understanding that the proceeds are "seed money" for our fundraiser. We usually have close to 100% (one parent per student). However, that doesn't mean every parent joins. My parents have been members every year to get the 100% for my son's class.

Once the membership drive is over, we don't worry about it until next year. We don't check to see if those coming to meetings and voting are "voting" members. Our bylaws state that everyone is a member, but only those paying dues can vote. But who checks?

I have mixed feelings about this topic. Heaven knows I'm pro-PTO and certainly I believe groups should strive to increase participation. Aiming for 100% participation is wonderful, but my doubts come in as to how far to take that.

For my 4th grader, areas/organizations in which I need to be involved, volunteer my time, help with fundraisers include 1) PTO 2) Baseball 3) Basketball 4) Competetive Swimming 5) Math Pentatholon 6) Soccer.

For my 6th grader, orgs would include: PTO, Girlstart, Competetive Swimming (2 teams), and Band.

These are the organizations I'm expected to participate in because my child attends school or plays a sport. (And I'm not talking about just attending a game - but helping with a fundraiser, working a concession stand, agreeing to serve on an advisory board, etc. Many cases, even if the sport only lasts one season, the key volunteers work all year.)

Even parents who are caring and involved just can't do it all. Every single one of these orgs expects me to attend meetings, "sign up", and help in some way. And I should - but I have to set priorities.

Neither of my children care if I join the PTO. It happens to be a priority with me, but if I didn't, and a note came home asking for a donation or assistance, I'd help where I could. I wouldn't feel like I wasn't an involved parent because I made the choice not to join an voluntary organization.

At our school, we do have dues ($5). We have a membership drive at the beginning, complete with a class contest. We do what we can, but once it's over, we don't really worry about memberships or statistics. We serve all our families; notes go home to everyone, we solicit volunteers from family. After the drive is over, we focus on the individual events and activities and getting the participation we need for those.

We are the same as pres88, no dues, only requirement is a child in the school or being a teacher. We don't get everyone of the 300+ families at our meetings, we average about 40. We are happy with that. We count everyone that has offered to help with one of the PTO events as an active member, even if they don't come to meetings. That number is then closer to 100. But anyone is a member, can run a committee and run for office and have a vote as long as they have a child in the school or are a teacher.

I guess we have 100% every year. Our only requirement for membership is you have a student in the school or are a teacher. No dues, everyone has a vote, anyone can run for office.

It is really a shame that we can't get parental participation. Our membership dues are $2.00 per family. To try and increase participation we started something new this year, we are doing a PTO Star Board. For every family that pays their dues, their children get a star on our board. In December, we are putting those stars in a hat and drawing a winner of a gift basket. Still, we have only had 106 families pay. That is far less than 50% of our families.

How about personal letters to the families that have yet to join? Include in the letter that as soon as the class has 100% participation they will receive the ice cream party. It is a shame the lengths we have to go to to get parents to join isn't it?! I have even personally handed out membership forms to anyone who say's "Oh, I never got one".