I was not implying that you were a bunch of lazy, ignorant people. The fact is, that when many groups disband, a majority of the time (and you can read it any of the posts here in the forum) it's the issue of money and not getting anything for it. Tim acknowledged that in his $1000 example because that is his experience mostly. Occasionally it is because of "issues" that PTA supports (vouchers) or supposedly supports, (PTA's Gay relationship and support- there are individual units that have made bad choices- as far as this PTA person is concerned or states that have passed controversial resolutions, but a lot people believe we support things that we don't)
For example, although one unit in the US passed a resolution that does not support an ammendment to ban gay marriage- we all have the right to pass individual ammendments and we do not have to get permission to pass anything as long as it is not in opposition to a State or National resolution. In this case, National has no position on Gay marriage or homosexuality in general. In our State, we specifically take a position of neutrality on anything that can be divisive to the organization- abortion, homosexuality etc. We neither support or oppose and cannot do either as a PTA. Some states have abstinence only resolutions- Mississippi- for sex education, or whatever. Washington state had a chartered unit that was a Gay unit (it has since disbanded and was the only one of it's kind)
The fact is National isn't lobbying for gay marriage or to make or keep abortion legal, your money isn't going there. And there was mention of PFLAG doing a workshop at convention- The workshop was a focus on bullying prevention- not how to be a gay person and they were given limits as to what they may distribute etc.
The point I am making there, is there are two sides to every story and what one person or website or whatever says about PTA, may or may not be true.
If your opposition is our position against vouchers. Yeah, we don't support them. I lost one of those two units because of that specific issue. It was true and that was that.
Heck, I don't agree 100% with all of the resolutions but I agree with most of it and if I come across as angry, it's because certain people feed off or provide misinformation and inflated "truths" not because they are in opposition to the issues but because it benefits them to do so (eagle forum-the anti women's rights movement website is a perfect example). And please don't think I am referring to you because I don't know your whole story. It's all speculation based on what you have provided, but it doesn't hurt to find out more and get all sides. And maybe you have, maybe you haven't, again, not implying that your lazy or ignorant but just another side to consider or not consider- Heck, I'm only one person and I don't know what your state PTA does but anyhow.
One poster even came here bound and determined to dissolve because of "issues". He talked to someone at State and then decided not only to stay a PTA but he's going to be on the State board now- to affect change. You can read the whole thing here- from his wanting to dissolve right down to the backlash when they didn't-
www.ptotoday.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=000209
Again, I'm not insulting you or your group or any of that. I'm just trying to help you by 1. Giving you a different perspective because if it makes a difference to you- great, if it doesn't- great but you have two sides to draw from before you make a decision. 2. Keep it clean. Do it honestly and you're going to do that now. It does make me angry when people do things that appear to be dishonest, especially when they are role models to children. It came across in my posts and I'm sorry but I am not sorry for how I feel, just like you shouldn't be sorry for how you feel. Your dues don't help us in our state. It isn't going to affect us as much as it will your state PTA. But as a parent and as a person who is passionate about what PTA does, I'd be remiss in not sharing that with you. It doesn't mean you have to listen.