I'm the new VP and I am a computer geek so I am forcing the PTO to come to the year 2004-2005. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Anyway, I've set us up with a BOARD email account on Yahoo that only the board has the username and password to. It's purely for PTO "Business" not chatting, etc. It's the only email address that we list with vendors, NPN, fundraisers, etc. It makes is easier for us to pass things on next year, they'll have everything already set up for the email account.
Plus, I set us up on Yahoo groups, it's our "Email Updates" list that we have parents sign up for from our website, or by email, or on sign-up sheets at EVERY event. I set it up so that you had to be a member to view the contact info, and that you have to be approved before you can be a member. I personally go through the sign-ups and approve or disapprove each person by checking the school directory to make sure they are REALLY a parent of the school. This takes me a whopping 5 minutes a week, and it's FREE. [img]smile.gif[/img] (if you need help setting this up, just ask me "
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.".)
ALSO, I've set us up with a website that I personally do. Again, I'm a computer geek, so I know how, BUT....I GUARANTEE you that you have at least one parent in your school that knows HTML and would love to help you out! Make that person the Website Coordinator! I use a VERY inexpensive webhost (no, I don't get a kick-back, I just love their service) called
www.ms11.net
We bought our domain name through them for $19.95/yr and webspace (we got a ton since we have our volunteer database on there, plus we have a webstore, and a board access to approve site changes/minutes/etc.) for an $11 one time activation fee and $29.95/yr. We got the "Advanced 2" plan that comes with: 50 MB Web Space, 10 GB Bandwidth, 1000 Email Accounts, 1000 FTP Accounts, 1000 Subdomains, 1000 Parked Domains, and MUCH more.
We've advertised our website in the local newspapers, flyers, at every event, the principal announces it, etc. Everywhere people turn they see or hear:
www.medlarviewpto.com
Feel free to check it out! So far, we have had over 2,000 hits (from parents, I'm subtracting out the Board's 35,000 hits!) since I uploaded the pages in July.
We have so much that we are trying to change this year to let people know that we are not the same PTO that's been in charge in the past. We're doing a TON of free events, mixed in with our 1 main fundraiser, the parents don't even notice that some of the fun stuff is actually our smaller fundraisers. [img]smile.gif[/img] They just love coming to them! (Spring Carnival, for example)
Anyway, if anyone needs any help, let me know. I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can. (let's see, I can fit responses into that time between dinner/showers/pto meetings/quality time with the "big kid" (the DH) and breakfast/packing lunches/school volunteering that some less motivated people call SLEEP!) [img]smile.gif[/img]