megley3;131196 wrote: Organizations under PTA do not have to file 501(c)3 they automatically fall under the National PTAs umbrella. Why would you want to spend $350. to $1000 to start a PTO when you spend nothing to start a PTA. Why is PTO so highly rated over PTA?
Hi megley --
The $500 fee is a one-time fee vs the annual (each year) dues assessment (average = $1,000) of being a PTA. Key difference. Hard to say that it costs nothing to start a PTA. (As an aside, some PTOs do not file for a 501c3 and operate as quasi-extensions of their schools, which is another option.)
Organizations under PTA do not have to file 501(c)3 they automatically fall under the National PTAs umbrella. Why would you want to spend $350. to $1000 to start a PTO when you spend nothing to start a PTA. Why is PTO so highly rated over PTA?
PTAer;131040 wrote:
RE: vested interest, isn't a non-PTA more likely to become a PTO Today customer than a PTA? As such, don't you have an interest in every PTA being a PTO so they're more likely to purchase your products and services? I'm no PTO expert so correct me if I'm wrong.
Actually, not really. Our revenues largely come from advertisers and sponsors, not from groups. The participation rates in our many programs (users for the website, School Family Nights, 2 Hour Power, the Lowe's grant program, PTO Manager software) roughly mirror the overall split between PTOs and PTAs. A ton of PTAs participate in virtually every program we offer. And, of course, our print magazine goes to all groups, regardless of acronym.
to the first poster here, my 02: PTAs and PTOs are only as good as the leaders are, and channging one letter (or making it a 'free' parent group, as are most PTOs) will not change the culture of the group or the involvement.
Getting or voting in the right officers is WAY more important than having be an O instead of an A at the end. Of course, its alwsays nice when the kids benefit from all the monies raised (and some of it isnt lost to a state or natl membership fee) but at the end of the day, either group can be effective and super, if youve got the right attitude leaders.
Thanks for the response, and for adding your title to your sign-off. I never said having it in the header was deceptive, just people (like me) might not notice it there so you might want to add it to your sign-off for newbies (like me), which you did. It's redundant, but transparent.
RE: vested interest, isn't a non-PTA more likely to become a PTO Today customer than a PTA? As such, don't you have an interest in every PTA being a PTO so they're more likely to purchase your products and services? I'm no PTO expert so correct me if I'm wrong.
As for the way volunteers get treated, I agree that volunteers deserve a balanced response. I've never encountered the falling sky approach personally, though I would expect a PTA staffer to have a lot more knowledge about the upside of staying PTA just as you seem to have the inverse perspective. My opinion is that neither of us could be called unbiased.
