I am a returning president (of one year) to our schools PTO and I would also like to know what to put into member packets to hand out. I have a few more questions also... I see many people talking about membership fees... How much do you charge a person to join and have a PTO membership? My school currently charges $1.00 per person. This is just one way to raise a little money. Also, for Critter, I would like some of the forms for treasurer. I am a new memeber to PTOtoday and would like all the help I can get for my PTO.
Just my two cents, but last year when I took the helm of our PTO, membership had been in the dumps for a very long time. I simply sent home a letter introducing myself and the other officers, letting people know that I was new, with new ideas and was looking forward to hearing their ideas as well. As much as I hate to say it, sometimes just a change in leadership is enough to get people to come back, enough to encourage new and old parents alike. The biggest help in a bigger membership? Free Child Care during the meeting did it for us. I also added an Open Forum to our agenda. That went a long way for a lot of people. We added snacks and drinks for both the adults and the child care area. We've always had door prizes, but they were advertised better last year, and there was something to entice everyone, male and female alike. Teacher rewards also work nicely (the teacher with the most parents in attendance-the teacher too of course- won a prize and the class got ice cream). You can do this on a bigger scale, by rewarding ice cream parties to any class with 10 or more parents in attendance (and teacher too of course).
I was just checking out a PTO website that I think you might be interested in: wildcatpto.org.
Check out their download section. There are several forms you might want to use.
As far as meetings go, might I suggest free food and door prizes. Ask you local Walmart or other chain to donate donuts, coffee, etc. You can also ask local restaurants, movie theaters for donations. Then put something under several of the chairs to signify "you've won a gift certificate to the movies!". etc.
I would definitely encourage a survey of parents. Ask them what they liked/disliked about the previous PTO. You might want to also add what the PTO would do for the school. Perhaps the school needs library books, or computer software. Tell the parents you want to accomplish a,b,c with your fundraising efforts. Ask the teachers as well, what is on their "wishlist" for next year. Also tell them of other benefits: Parent education classes, money management seminars, Spring Carnival, Family Fun nights. Ask them how they would like to help. Are they good at making flyers? Or asking for donations? Or organizing events? Then put them in touch with that committee (or they "become" that committee).
Keep in mind that most people want to know WIIFM (whats in it for me). So if you look at it from that standpoint when you send home info, it might increase membership.
Thumbs up for all the enthusiasm that seems to be flowing out of ya'll. I recently sent Amy my compilation of membership themes that I've been sharing with presidents and membership chairmen over the past year. If any of you other enthusiastic folks think you might be interested in the themes collection, just email me (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and I'll send it to you too.
I have just become prez. of a school that had a PTO click, with alot of negitive feeling about PTO. So as an outsider I have to build membership and get people involved. I have suggested a Welcome PTO Tea to get more people involved. They staff at the school are as excited as I am to start a new tradition. The past PTO has had trouble getting members so we are fighting a up hill battle this year. I hope that the Tea will establish a warm friendly feeling.
Another idea we live in a large flower growing area and I have suggested that we get flowers donated for the first day of school to give to every Kinder parent with a little note that says something like thought you could use a smile today, from the PTO. Want to build from the ground up so to speak! I could use some of your ideas to get people to come to meetings.
