How we got over 100 parents to the meeting? I wish I could tell you we had a magic wand, but I think we just did ordinary stuff. For this first meeting we sent home an "invitation" (on regular copier paper) a week before the meeting. On this flier we put a preorder form for a Chick-fil-a Dinner ($5 and $1 going to the PTO). The orders had to be in on Friday before the Tuesday meeting. Dinner was from 6:00 - 6:30 pm and the meeting was from 6:30 - 7:30. We got 23 orders for Dinner. Besides the regular first meeting business(budget and introductions of the committee chairs), the principal explained the schools new International Baccalaureate / Primary Years Program. We also took a survey at the meeting asking the parents what night of the week and what time was best to hold these meetings. Also on the survey we gave everyone a choice of 5 possible expenditure options if we made more money than we budgeted. One last thing, we put a banner at both car drop off locations reminding parents of the meeting. I guess our PTO should feel really good about where we are, but I still feel we have parents that want to get involved and are lost in the shuffle. I would love more ideas on meetings and drumming up excitement!
HOLY COW!!!! You want to know how to attendance to grow after the first meeting and you have over 100 to begin with? HOLY COW!!!!
In all the meanderings I've done thru the "pages" of this incredible website, this truly has got to be a first. Most are happy to get attendance over the 20 or 30 mark.
Everyone, and I do mean everyone, is going to want to know your secret to success.
Oh, and your question about dues? Look at what you have and what you do (income/expenses), if it balances and everyones happy, leave it. From my shoes, doesn't look like anyone is being scared away.
How in the world did you get over 100 parents to attend? We had our first meeting last night and we had the board (about 10) plus 3 new members. We have 650 student! I know that meetings are not a priority for parents; many of our parents vounteer around the school, so I try not to get discouraged when they chose to stay home with their family or attend their child's soccer game instead of coming to a meeting. We are a small (but growing) "family" of volunteers. We enjoy it and I think with our new board members it will be a great year. Last year we hit 100% members! Yahoo! But this year it may be hard to follow in their footsteps. We do have 100% membership from the teachers. They are a great support. And we are lucky that our principal supports us too, cause she knows that we help however we can. Whether we go read a book in the class or help buy new books for the library. We help the school get all those "nice things" that the school district cannot afford.
OK...enough. Good luck to all the new board members!
Lisa @ Tx
Our PTO does not charge any dues. About 38% of our school receives free or reduced lunches, and about 40% are bused in from another part of the city. We have about 500 students and have approximately 260 parents that are active in some way.(It could be as simple as sending in food for our techer treat days) We still struggle with our PTO general meeting attendance, but got off to a great start in September with 106 parents in attendance. We find that number drops off at each meeting throughout the year. How do you grow that attendance instead?
Zerenia,
Our pto is also a title-1 school and about the same number of members.
We dont charge dues.
Previous leaders thought is was a discouraging factor to getting more parents involved.
whether that has improved membership is probly debatable.
This year we have a new set of members and are struggling to implement some bylaws but are find it difficult. do you have a set that works for your small pto??? [img]smile.gif[/img] thanx for any impute
toni [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]
We also have a sponsorship drive in the fall and anyone who donates to the drive becomes a voting member. Technically, our bylaws state $5.00 or more, but I don't enforce this minimum. Everyone is welcome at the meetings, members and non members. We use the honor system when votes are taken. We currently have 120 plus families who are members.
