We have had the opposite problem - items that get addressed to people at home sometimes go astray, if officers change, or - heaven forbid - someone moves!
When you consider the "important" pieces of mail (key fundraiser companies, State
Comptroller, bank statements, Office of Secretary of State, IRS, etc.), the consistency of using the same address year after year is much easier for us than assuring everyone has a change of address notification after each election cycle.
We, too are a 501(c)(3), but sending everything to the school works well. We have designated bin into which the school secretary places all PTO mail. There are have officer mail folders nearby, and specific PTO officers are responsible for mail sorting each day. (My day used to be Thursday.) That person sorts the mail from the PTO bin into the officer folders.
Like many things, I don't know that there is a "wrong" and "right" answer. It's just important to consider all the angles and pick a solution that works for your group.
A side issue-if you use a home address for PTO business, prepare to get inundated with fundraising and other junk mail at your house. I made the mistake of using my home address at the first PTO conference (in the exhibit area). My home mail volume doubled. Live and learn!
It's in our bylaws that every check over $200 needs two signatures, but as it is our bank requires it anyway since we're a nonprofit. It could be annoying, but we are allowed to (and do) have up to four authorized signers. This person who says the "real world" says one person controls the PTO account must be living in a different dimension than the rest of us!
Since our group isn't a "school" group -- we're independent -- we try to have none of our "outside" mail go there. As Bertha said--too many variables to go into missing mail. As it is I had problems this week when the post office delivered something addressed to my home there (the name of our group has the name of the school in it, so the postman obviously didn't look to closely at the entire address--especially since my name and home address were right below that line!), and NO ONE from the school noticed and notified me AND put it in the wrong mail slot to boot. I also just found stuff from MARCH that never got to my group--guess someone cleaned out their desk!
when stuff gets sent to our school for the PTA, it goes into the PTA box where many hands go in and out on a daily basis. Things are taken out, whether on purpose or by mistake, we have had important papers missing and mail opened up . When it comes to the bank state its not for everyones eyes and should not be sent to our school.
Our one saving grace is that we do have an audit committee going over the books every other month.
I agree with Kidsfirst. The policy should be that the President (or another designated officer besides Treasurer) open the bank statement each month, review it, and forward to the treasurer. But it should be mailed to the school.
Howdy Folks!
In my opinion the best possible address for the PTO and all of it's financial papers would be the school address itself. Who's to say the Pres. isn't going to hide something any more than the Treas. might? Just my 2 cents.
Critter, Love the idea of having the bank statements mailed to the Prez. What a simple great great idea!!!Guess I'll be going to the bank asap to change the mailing address.THANKS
