This is exactly what we did. Our membership was unanimous that we wanted to be a PTO. (We weren't using any of the PTA services and spending a fortune on dues.) We basically just used the PTA money on all our normal stuff and didn't have a membership drive for the PTA and basically just declared the PTA dead. When the state came calling a few months later looking for our dues, we told them there were no members and the PTA was shut-down. They said we didn't do it right and we said sorry. And it was all over.
pennbeach;144451 wrote: We are trying to change over to a PTO also and I have to agree that I feel intimidated. I am so confused on how to proceed with it. Our memberships are up on Sept. 30th and we are in the State of NJ. Does this mean that we have to dissolve all our assets before the 30th to avoid the State taking everything?
Hi Penn --
No, it doesn't mean that. There other ways to run that.
I would say that if your group is strongly considering ending your PTA in the near future, then don't have a PTA membership drive right away. If you sell PTA memberships, then you technically should give the state and national share to those PTA higher-ups. But if you don't sell any, then you don't owe anything. So simply don't have that PTA membership drive (and don't add to your PTA treasury either) if/while you're contemplating that change.
Later, if you decide to remain a PTA -- just have your membership drive then. And if you don't, then you can take care of spending down your assets before you make the formal dissolution.
just do it--right;144492 wrote: There is something in their bylaws that says state PTA "gets its say".
A Local PTA considering dissolving its relationship with Texas PTA (and thereby National PTA) shall follow the procedures for dissolution as adopted by the Texas PTA Board of Directors.
That's an awfully generous bylaw in the state PTA's favor, which makes me question its enforceability. It basically says: "you'll follow all the rules we tell you to follow".. with no consideration that those rules could get increasingly onerous/ridiculous.
I maintain my position, which is: follow the reasonable rules as long as the folks you're dealing with are being reasonable. If the expectations/rules are way over the top and/or the state folks are being intimidating and the like, then take the other route (which works as well or better) of just letting the group go dormant. An added benefit of that second route is that it saves already-busy, well-intentioned school volunteers countless hours (and a great deal of agita) that can be used where they are supposed to be used -- for the betterment of kids and the school, as opposed to on petty bureaucratic nonsense.
Boy can I relate! We just went through this last year when we (that means all of our members - not just a few) wanted to dissolve our PTA and move to a PTO. We also felt we were getting very little for our money. Our local and state PTA could not have made it a more nightmare experience. We finally ended up doing exactly what you are suggesting which is just have vote and start the PTO. However, we first did spend any remaining money from the PTA at our school so the PTA organization could not lay claim to it (which they tried to do.) Then we did everything legally to start the PTO and begin fund raising for the new group (yes start a new checking account.) We did not do a PTA drive or hold elections and our group went into "inactive" status. I know this process isn't fun but it was truly one of the best decisions we could have made for our group and we love being a PTO! Hang in there!
There is something in their bylaws that says state PTA "gets its say".
A Local PTA considering dissolving its relationship with Texas PTA (and thereby National PTA) shall follow the procedures for dissolution as adopted by the Texas PTA Board of Directors. These procedures include but are not limited to:
a. a special called meeting of the membership with thirty (30) days notice;
b. a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership, a quorum having been established; and
c. notification of the state president at least forty-five (45) days in advance of such meeting.
