Hi unregistered -

What kind of trouble? I'm always curious. It's usually the same stuff, but once in a while I hear a new doozy.

By the way, yes you will be fine doing what you're thinking. Spend down all the dollars, don't have elections or a membership drive... and your PTA will be done (for all intents and purposes).

Tim

We are facing many of the same concerns. PTA is given us all kinds of trouble with the disbanding process. Why? We have all these folks that want no part of it! I have 99% signing a petition but have no intentions to show up at a meeting to vote. We are looking at just letting the PTA remain idle if they won't let us disband and starting up the PTO. We off and running!

Thanks for everyones input and help....I am growing with y'all on a daily basis....Again I thank you.

Back on the prez for 10 years thing?! This is not sometning I am seeking...I just asked the question if it were possible...No One, I mean No ONE has even nominated, hinted at, with an interest, or had a passing thought to run for Prez. the last 3 years...Maybe that will change?! And hopefully it will. It just seems the Parent organization had been stale for so long and now the last three years, membership is up, meeting attendance is up, involvement is up, and $$$ is up. I want to contribute by doing other things and maybe chair a committee or two but if no one else steps up then what??? Same exec board now 2 years running no opposition.

Agree with everything you say there, Kathie. Refreshingly practical. Thanks.

Tim

Tim-
I did not mean to start a "should" fest. It probably would have been best to say "if you are considering this change prior to the end of the school year".
I agree- you do not need to start a membership drive to disband a PTA. However, that said, it is best to let your state PTA know you are doing it(officially disbanding) so they can get you off of their roles.

It would be nice to let your membership know (PTA/PTO or whatever) know of your group's intentions as well. After all the parent group does not belong to the board it belongs to the membership.
This could be done via a mailing.
Ideally the membership should have a say in changing over- but this can be accomplished with an acclamation vote. But this time of year it is impractical- so in a mailing you could encourage the members to return a ballot- yes or no.
Most probably will not care- but as I said before it is THEIR group.

That is why if your group is contemplating a change from one group name to another to do this when your officers are elected. If that is not possible ( as you pointed out), then go ahead and do it- but it probably would be best to point out the change (and the reasons why) at your first meeting, or better yet in a newsletter or letter to the parents of your school (sent home in the first day packet) when you ask them to join your new group.

I did not mean to ruffle anyone's feathers.
I agree Michael seems to have done everything correctly. it would be good to keep the parents of the school (your potential members next year) informed. That's all.

Hi Kathie -

A lot of your "musts" are actually "we'd like you to's".

With this group and many groups, those steps you laid out don't make practical sense. For the sake of discussion, let's set up a couple of facts for a general scenario:

1. It's mid-June. Last meeting of the year has already been held.

2. In general discussions, it's become clear that 95%+ of the active membership supports a change-over to PTO.

3. This year's memberships expire in July.

Would you recommend that the group call special meetings over the summer solely for the purpose of dissolution? Building likely not open. If group -- like most -- has trouble getting attendees at an October meeting, well....

If the group waits, would you recommend conducting a PTA-based membership drive and then immediately starting the dissolution process in September? That seems crazy, no?

This kind of scenario is really common. We get our highest number of phone calls on changing over at this time of year; I got 9 last week. I'm a fan of the spirit of the rules, especially when the letter of the rules have big holes. This summertime issue is a big hole.

The spirit of the rules is to make sure your membership has the say on the changeover and to make sure your PTA funds get used for their PTA purpose (the kids and the school). The "30 days for this" and "30 days for that" and certainly the notification to state and invite to speak are "want to haves" of the state PTA, not "must haves" of the local.

The beginning of the school year is such an important time for setting the stage for a great involvement year. Being forced to spend any focus on this behind-the-scenes PTO/PTA stuff at that key time of year -- solely because the technicalities seem to force us to -- would hurt involvement and the kids. None of us want that, I'm sure.

I make that case for any group. And for Michael B's group, it's even more clear. The PTA as it existed is already dormant. Hasn't paid dues; the PTO has already been set up; new bank account; no funds in the PTA. Do you seriously think they should restart a dead PTA just to disband it? Who does that help? No one.

Tim