<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>My big question is, do they actually have the power to take things that our PTA purchased? <hr></blockquote>

Short Answer: YES! There are rules about how you go about disbanding a PTA, and if you don't follow those rules you may regret it.

The PTA attempts to write their rules so that any disbanding group must turn over all their assets, including any money in the bank. There is a way around this, which is for your PTA to dispose of all assets prior to disbanding. There are a number of people here who have been through this process, and I'm sure they will be willing to help you through it.

But for right now, you may want to consider having your officers and board members remit their dues to the PTA for this year. Tell the district council you're sorry (even if you aren't), make the token gestures necessary to regain your standing, and plan carefully for your next attempt to go over the wall.

It is also worth noting the PTAs stance on this is not totally unreasonable. From their position, your unit benefitted from the value of the PTA name while acquiring those assets. Is it fair for you to keep those assets while refusing to continue to support the state and national efforts of the PTA? [That's a rhetorical question]

Our PTA has decided to change to a PTO, mainly because we, as many other groups here, feel that we should keep all funds in our own school, rather than supporting the political views of the state and national PTA.

I first received a call from our district PTA president, requesting officer names/addresses for this school year. I told her that we had decided not to continue as a PTA, and she became very cold, told me that we should have informed her that we were considering that, and that we hadn't followed the procedures outlined by the national PTA. (I looked in my guidebook, but couldn't find any procedures for disbanding).

I received a very strongly worded letter today, from our PTA district secretary, telling me of all the mistakes we had made, and informing me that we are no longer part of their insurance program (even though we're paid through Dec.), and demanding that I contact her by December 1 to arrange for her to pick up our PTA property, including:
--All PTA minutes
--All financial records-bank statements, check registers, unused checks (paid for by our PTA), and final audit.
--All PTA publications
--Unused membership cards (again, paid for by our PTA)
--An inventory of porperty belonging to our PTA, and when we would deliver those items to them. This specifically included items like coffeepots, copy machines, etc.

My big question is, do they actually have the power to take things that our PTA purchased? Has anyone else had these strongarm tactics used against them? Can I ignore her request?

Thanks,
Linda Sharp