Thanks Tim for the answer. Do you suppose that a portion of this membership money collected from each school in PTA could be paying for some of these paid positions?
As far as I know, all of the elected officials of both state and national PTA are unpaid volunteers.
The national PTA has a fairly extensive paid staff (60+ folks or thereabouts last I looked) in roles from Executive Director through Public Affairs and Lobbyist right through Customer Service. Most of these folks work from PTA headquarters in downtown Chicago.
Many state PTAs also have paid office staff -- in most cases just a single paid office manager or perhaps just 2 or 3 people. Several of the bigger PTA states have Executive Directors and more elaborate paid staffs.
I just read all the postings.....To those of you who question "What's the big deal about a $3-$4 increase?" Answer these questions honestly regarding your PTA unit. 1. Is your unit utilizing the programs that these dues paid? 2. Do you have workshops that parents/teachers attend? 3. Do all the members know how much money from their dues are going to National and State? 4. What do you think the members would say about that?
5. Have you surveyed teachers in your unit on what PTA has done to help them? 6. Do you really know what they are doing in legislation? Have you gone onto the PTA site, is your school listed, better yet do you have your I.D. number to even get to the information? I was a strong believer of the PTA until I started looking into things and I don't agree with what they do for the amount of money they collect. You have a voice in congress, write letters, any group can band together and be heard. Take a real hard look at what your getting for your money. Also, I'm an advocate for all children too; I don't have to belong to PTA to work for children - keep working with and for them and it's not costing me a penny!
Our unit has just voted to disban from PTA basically for the due increases continuing to go up. We are a small elementary school and we thought that the money which was sent to National and Ohio PTA could better serve our students. Membership dues were $4 this year with membership declining. Switching to a PTO we can now reduce the membership significantly and use this as start-up money for the 2001-2002 shcool year. It was very difficult to disban. A few past officers made it very difficult for us, to the point that State Reps were present at both meetings. In addition to that there are many gray areas regarding disbanning. I will be glad when we get all the paperwork completed and we are officially a PTO. No more money going out of our unit. I have a question: Are the people at the National and State level paid or are they volunteers?
First I would like to thank all of these people for responding! This is valuable information for all of us.I have just finished going the "minutes" of our middle school PTA from 1940 to present. I was looking for a few things to put together as Ohio PTA celebrates its' 100th Anniversary. I wish had the time and space to let you see how this PTA has served the school and community! I truly believe there is plenty of room for both PTA and PTO's. In our district some of our schools have both. I understand the criteria involved in PTA fundraising and activities is limited and therefore why not engage a PTO? In our city we have schools that have a separate PTA to take care of those things PTA cannot manage. From playground equiptment to Music Boosters. There is a place for all of us. In 1947 it was noted that state and national dues together was $1.00. Well, 63 years later I would imagine the price would go up. As with any increase timing will never be right. If an organization comes to you every 3 years for an increase we would say, "figure it out get what you need from us and leave us alone for 10 years." But then when that 10 years would roll around everyone is asking "Why so much?" I also understand the reasoning that some have as to PTA hasn't done anything for me. That is probably so with many members. Unless the workshops, literature, involvement in legislation, health and safety, are taken advantage of then you probably will not see the advantage. It all has to do with how well your district, city and individual units are run. And... We are all just volunteers. That is why there is such disparity between opinions. In our city PTA rallied our community together for Red Cross Blood Drives, hold health fairs, and help with the passage of school levies. Our meetings are information clearing houses with representatives reporting on the school board meetings, city hall meetings,the latest in legislation, and health welfare and safety issues that affect our families. If the PTA you were involved in did not do these things it was not because National did not give them explicit direction, but probably because, again, we are all just volunteers doing the best we can.If this type of activity is not what you are looking for and you would rather build a playground, then start a PTO there's no need to slam PTA.
Sorry so long.
