I agree with CC- normally I wouldnt pay if made to join an org. I chose to pay to join (and be a royal pain in the butt) because currently its the only gig in town

blog.guykawasaki.com/2006/09/why_smart_compa.html


The public school system as a State entity must not interfere with people's right of association, which is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (the first of the Bill of Rights). Therefore, it may not require membership in a particular organization as a pre-requisite for taking part in a school function.

Not me. I'd like to see someone try.

For a public school, I wouldn't be able to believe it's allowed. If I were part of a public school community that told me that, you'd better believe that I'd contact some legal counsel.

For a private school, I'm gathering from what I've heard around here that they can create whatever enrollment requirements they choose and you can then choose whether or not you want to send your kids there. If, for example, they say a condition of enrollment is that you pay the $5 parent group membership fee, then I'd assume you have to do that to enroll. I guess that's no different than saying your tuition is higher because a portion of it goes to fund the parent group's activities but, by the way, parents of all enrolled students are then automatically voting members. I guess, as long as it's all fully disclosed prior to enrollment then you do have that choice to make. If the rules change later, I'd look into finding out if it's legal or not.

An association by definition means that folks have to decide to join it. The key is decide. There are some individuals that will negate association with anything they have to pay dues to...it's against their "inalienable rights" mantra...You can make it so painful not to join that more folks will do so (like the fight Shawn has now of paying more for an event if they are a non member vice a member) but the intent of any PTO or PTA is to be inclusive, not exclusive. "Force" somone to "belong to an association" is counterintuitive...your goal should always be with any parent organization to make your organization so attractive because of the things that is offers to enhance the lives of the children that folks are compelled to join. Now--given Maslow's hierchy...if people cannot afford to pay for their electric bill (as some lower income school families deal with) ain't now amount of attraction gonna cause them to pay 7.50 ... even if they have the desire to make their child's life better. They cannot afford such high tier support. But for the mainstream...I really do believe that "if you build it they will come". The philosphy of PTO Today as I understand it...is to consider no dues as the goal to ensure that all parents are welcomed and encouraged to participate by their automatic status as a member. I think about that routinely as I consider the course for my own organization...but am not yet ready to embrace what that would mean for us....

So--can you force someone to belong...well I suspect there is always the opportunity to "make them an offer they can't refuse" but being a Jersey girl, that just isn't the tag I care to wear....

Good luck...
d

After reading all your answers, I come to this question:

Do you think you can force someone to belong to an assocaition?

Was going to try and quote several of the messages above and reply to details of each, but got too complicated...

My take: Important to make a distinction between "volunteering at the school" and "volunteering/joining the PTA." (And all of this presumes a public school setting, as private/Catholics have some different factors in this discussion).

You must pay dues to belong to a PTA. It's a mandated part of the bylaws of every PTA. From there, PTAs can vary. Some require that you must be a member (pay dues) to hold any elected office or chair position. That's fairly common. Some require that you be a member (pay dues) in order to volunteer for any PTA-specific program/effort. Other swill take on any volunteers, but only allow members to vote.

PTOs do not have to charge a membership fee at all. Some choose to. Some choose not to. Those that do charge a membership fee probably act very much like PTAs (maybe have to be a paid member to hold office, vote, etc.).

But the point is alos true that -- in a public school setting -- there should be other ways to volunteer besides joining the PTA. The PTA, as a separate entity -- can demand payment to belong. But the public school should not be able to do that for general volunteering. That said, I have heard of principals who basically outsource all volunteer efforts through the parent group, and therefore -- if the parent group at that school is a PTA -- it's possible that paid membership could be required to volunteer.

That confusing enough for ya? (sorry -- lot of variables)

Tim

oh well, what 'da rules' are ., and what the practice is, are two different thjngs entirely. just like in life in general.

techinically, a public school cant ask a parent to PAY in order to volunteer (they just cant vote, maybe) but as there is no PTO/A police, what each org REALLY does, might very well varie from school to school.