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]

I use yahoo as well. The only problem is that if you need to send more than 100, you have to wait an hour to send another 100. The only way around it is to go into their groups mode and it basically gives any information out to anyone who reads yahoo if they go into your group area. Otherwise, it has been good to me.

I have used my family email address for emails when I was a chair. I had a few emails about the event, but no real issues.

I then realized our particular ISP allows us up to 5 usernames. I am planning to set one up for use with only PTO stuff so it isn't getting mixed in with all of my usual mail. It also will keep DH from opening, & moving it into a PTO folder without my realizing it's there. LOL!

I think that we need to start utilizing this method of communication. How great to be able to let parents know about meetings & events without stuffing backpacks. It also has a much easier two way communication than the typical flyer home.
(Not to mention CHEAPER than a copier/copies)!

I hear ya on the school website. It may be great for the administrative side, but the individual school info - could use some more. . . Unfortunately, it's controlled by the school and although we asked about updating - including more - PTO info, it hasn't happened :confused:

Thanks C. Brooks I missed coming here too!

How many really needs to see emails? If you had a person designated you could put those who wanted to be contacted in the address book and forward everything that needed to be shared.

I was thinking about this issue the most. Last time there was a Yahoo account, the VP was the "keeper" and the school admin were not real happy with that. I really don't see why the PTO Board (or just the Pres and Secr.) with two key school admin to have a password. I did hear how some messages were just terrible yet were else can a "gal" go to air out or vent everyday things that happen or issues taht may arise or even better parking lot rumors! UGH! That alone would be awesome!

Now I heard sometimes an e-mail can be thought of as a legal document and that is were the school may have more concerns.

I love this idea, just have to work out how to "sell" it to the school admin....remember, we are actually a comittee of the school board.

WEBSITE- We pay $30 a year for Myschoolsonline and it is worth every penny. I don't have to know HTML and it's really user friendly. It looks nice also and unlike geocities, doesn't have a server traffic limit.
There is also a free website for non-profits but it is limited, only one content page and you have to use html code. It's at www.orgsites.com

E-MAIL-I utilize my personal address for PTA units and friends. I have several public addresses that I set up under yahoo. (One is our website contact address because it is so public. The other is my web address that I use here and anywhere else public)
No one has abused my home e-mail. Other contacts aside from spammers don't abuse my public ones.

I use Yahoo. I am the only one that does it but would love to have some help. I try to put pics of events on there and just general info, favorite links, and the officers names. I want to have some documents linked to it but it is complicated. One of my classmates tried to explain html codes to me but I am a computer dummy. Hardly anyone looks at it anyhow, but at least WE have a webpage and the other elementary don't. [img]tongue.gif[/img] If you want to take a look it is www.geocities/kyrockpto. It needs some work because I've been having some technical problems and this week is finals for me, the webpage will have to wait.

A group sounds interesting, but thats another thing I really don't understand. I am a computer dummy.