Our Executive Board voted to set our dues to $0 this year (our Bylaws give us the right to set the dues amount) so all parents and staff are automatically members. We used to give the school directory with paid dues, so this year we are just selling the directory (and a school magnet, notepad, envelopes, and folder) to anyone who wants one. We have gotten very favorable feedback. Eliminates the "club" aura of PTO. Thanks for the idea, Tim.
Even when we had official dues, we didn't really know who was a paid member and who wasn't. I guess I always figured if someone was taking time out of their life to attend a PTO meeting, they probably had paid their dues.
As far as the problem with special interest groups skewing the voting -- that's why a PTO would create a comprehensive budget and approve it at the start of the year. If the members all agree to put in an allocation for Drama Club, then that's been decided up front and there's no issue later when they come for the money. But if the PTO keeps a large bucket of unallocated funds, the PTO will have to deal with individual requests like you described. Some PTO's have a formal "grant" program with guidelines for submitting and reviewing grant requests. That's another approach to controlling willy-nilly funding requests.
I like not having dues (which is per our by-laws) BUT sometimes late in the meeting when a parent keeps beating the issue it would be nice to say "Alright all the card holding members, let's vote if this parent has nothing more to add." (sorry I get grouchy when I haven't eaten and know I should be home tucking in kids)
I have just the reverse issue as venzamom, I have asked to have dues! Been voted down twice! No biggie as the ones that are really into the school volunteer and are very visible.
As far as the dues being a fundrasier, we simply provide a wish list from teachers or ask them to look for sales on school supplies to help out those without. We even have had parents donate all the paper we needed for the year for our newsletter! When I see this much kindness, I tend to think...dues? what dues?
Tim...I LOVE chicken noodle soup!!!!!! [img]smile.gif[/img] :cool:
We do not collect dues and have the line that all parents, guardians and teachers are members. It is hard enough to get volunteers, never mind telling them they have to pay to volunteer.
As for the drama situation, if someone wanted to spend that much money outside the budget, it would have to be advertised so that the vote would take place the following month. In addition, the executive board could make a presentation that the money just is not available based on the budget so unless there is lots of extra money, it could not happen.
We changed our bylaws last year so all parents and faculty are members of our organization. We felt it was important to be more inclusive and now instead of a membership drive we hold a pledge drive. We have raised 30% more money than last year this way (we also did it in a little more professional way).
Anyway, we do voice votes on issues at our meetings but only if the item is on the agenda. If it is something controversial that was brought up during the meeting we would table it or take it to a committee for investigation. It would not be voted on "out of the blue". Of course hardly anybody shows up for our meetings so this isn't generally a problem!
No soup for you! Don't you know that's not allowed?
You make a great point. Do you also have a rule that folks have to be voting members for x number of days before a meeting? Otherwise, couldn't any group come to a meeting, pay their $2 apiece and get things run their way?
I'd rather have an open membership (defined, but free) and then use Robert's Rules to control against sneak attacks. Robert's allows you to have an agenda and stick to it.
Whether you have a paid membership or not, it's well within the rights of you as a leader and your group as a body (heck -- forget rights, it's really a responsibility of you as a leader) to prevent one person from domineering a meeting. Agenda. Time-limited discussions. Making sure that everyone who wants to speak to an issue gets a chance before anyone else gets a second chance. All great Robert's rules for maintaining decorum and getting things done.
Our dues are only $2.00 a year, our by-laws also state that you can wave the $2.00 by volunteering if there is a financial hardship.
I disagree w/Tim (sorry) and do think it is important to have voting members/paying dues.... Here's 1 reason why..
A few years ago several parents & a teacher came to a meeting & proposed we pay for their before school drama club, while I support the arts in school (I was a art/drama major in college) I could not see funding them . The club only included 20 student (we have 450 student at the school)and would cost use several thousand dollars a year to fund. Also the club held auditions & cut kids (there were many broken hearts imagine being 10 yrs. old and being cut from a drama club because of lack of talent) Anyway most of the "drama club" parents never had come to meetings before or had supported our fundraisers they were just there to pass the funding of the club then we would never see them again.
If we did not have offical "members" anyone could come & bring a bunch of friends & propose anything & then if it passed we would be stuck working hard all year to fund it, and they would be gone!
Our group works to help improve the whole school not just 20 kids lives!
By the way the funding of the club did not pass, but this year my daughter is in the drama club & I gladly pay her way & help them fundraise [img]smile.gif[/img] on their own... Just my 2 cents!!
