I think this is one of the most important/practical topics thios forum has seen in quite some time. Great opinions and input.
For those that heard my "8 Habits" keynote at the conferences this year, this topic was the theme throughout.
There's been so much said here, I thought I'd add a couple of comments that refer to various posts above. Forgive me for not cutting and pasting or getting references exactly right:
1. Couldn't agree more that meeting attendance is
not the best measure of group effectiveness. I know of several groups now (led by JHB's group) that have done away with monthly meetings, but which still do great work. Effectiveness is measured by your involvement and environment (are you helping create a special school?) results, not by attendance at your meetings.
2. It takes time, but I believe there are two steps needed for involvement growth long-term. You have to create opportunities that the uninvolved parents will have some attraction to, fun events, family events, free events that some/many will attend. (
www.schoolfamilynights.com
).
Once they come in a single time or several times, those events (and your whole group) has to be really welcoming and appreciative and FUN. If enough folks have a consistently good time and see others having a good time, there's a much higher likelihood of your gaining volunteers and supporters.
People have so many options of where to spend their time. From watching TV at home, to coaching a ball team, to going out with friends, to volunteering with the public library, to yadda, yadda, yadda.
That's what you're competing with. If they get more out of being associated with your group then they do out of the other options -- then you win. If they don't...
3. Finally, things like changing meeting times or revolving meeting times, having the art show in conjunction with your meeting, and door prizes -- there's nothing wrong with them. But I've yet to see those things fundamentally change meeting attendance at a single school. If the group is not fun and welcoming, then those cosmetic changes are a bit like moving the deck chairs on the Titanic.
I talked about this stuff for an hour at all of our conferences; it's much more difficult to try and make the point in a quick forum messgae.
Tim