I dont think any group starts out to be exclusive

that said its up to the membership to decide whats acceptable

Your core target group for membership (these people have a vested interest in the school -- Stakeholders

• Parents (Guardians eta al)
• Grandparents
• Extended relatives
• Teachers /Admin et al

Your target group for volunteers - non board positions (ie chairs, volunteers) Now some of these can be Members, Associate, Honorary, Student

• Parents (Guardians eta al)
• Grandparents
• Extended relatives
• Teachers /Admin et al
• HS/ MS/ College students needing Community Service credits
• Everyone else with a pulse

I for one would be leary of an adult with no connection/stakeholdership in the school (ie no niece, nephew etc) Close extended family would be OK

As for students HS, Middle School or otherwise - some kind of Student membership (or a volunteer) would be the way to go IMO (no students on executive board or having full membership privledges)

You take all the members you can get, etc but I think some (especially the PTA) think that the amount of memebrs (ie XYZ has 200 and WXY has 300 - so WXY gets a shiny badge, certificate and their name on National website- for what BIG DEAL?)

Its about quality not quantity (although quantity is sweet)

All our schools in our town have bylaws that read that you must have a child at the school. It is to prevent someone from outside the school for being involved. Although when the bylaws were written years ago, we didn't have the security issues we do now, it comes into play in a large way now. You have to question why an outside parent would want to be involved with a school where they don't have any connections. In your case, you have a niece & nephew that will be present, but not everyone can spread themselves that thin (assuming you will be involved in middle school as well)

I believe when it was written, it was because there were parents that started when their kids were there and then never left. They became a problem since they didn't want anything to change, but they weren't changing with the times. So it was written so that only those that had a vested interest would be involved.

It states in our bylaws that only parents or guardians that have a child in our school can be a member of our PTO. I would certainly hurry to amend your group's bylaws. They are lucky to have you!

We allow for something called and 'Honorary Membership' which means you don't have kds at the school or work there, but you have requested membership. They have to state a reason, and then the president accepts them as members. All of our honorary members so far are grandparents.

I've been reading through the boards this afternoon and a few times I saw mention that only parents of school kids and employees are eligible for parent group membership? I also saw this as I was researching bylaws.

Personally, I would not want to be so limited in who can be a member. Granted, a flag may go up for certain individuals. But, if our group was limited, I couldn't be involved in two years when my son moves onto middle school. I still have a niece and a nephew coming up in a few years and feel an obligation...and desire....to continue until they move on (can't seem to inspire their parents to get aboard the volunteer train) I AM considering that we include in our new bylaws that there has to be some connection to a school aged child, whether it be grandchildren or other relative.

I'm wondering what membership requirements are at your schools?