8 would be 3 more than we ever had... dlf right the Events and programs are the main focus... attendance at mtgs are icing on the cake.

Talk, talk, talk (listen, listen, listen) to as many parent as possible... a few other threads have similar question... Get to know your parents first then suggest volunteer or events..

and have contact info and regular info going out... If you have enough resources reach out in gender specific or introducing cultural activities to get that percentage going (Dads, Grandparents, Guardians, etc)

[ 09-02-2006, 04:05 AM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

Critter, I like your advice. When my child first started school I wanted to get involved, but no one knew when the meetings were or what to do. When you did show up for an event there was no direction or you had to wait around waiting for the chairperson to offer some or be told we don't need you. It was frustrating and needless to say our familes gave up. I gave up. It was pointless and you felt unwanted. Finally the cycle has been broken. We have become a family friendly PTG. We thank our volunteers, we make sure we are prepared for them, we help new chairpeople know who to contact and where to make copies and what procedures they have to follow. We have finally realized as well that Parent Meetings are not for everyone and we keep the meeting minutes on our website to keep parents informed and encourage them to contact us with any questions, concerns or suggestion they might have on items discussed. We are even trying monthly scheduled meetings for this school year -- the third Tuesday of every month. This might help parents plan and increase our turn out. We did get alot of grief about monthly meetings from our prior board. They said we will only get 8 people at every meeting. My feeling are well then 8 it will be. We want our parents to know their board is approachable and supportive and that we want and need their input. I'm praying for a positive PTG school year. We are all in this together. Wish us luck!

In my experience in PTO, I've heard--like many of you--all the excuses why people don't get involved in their school:

1. I don't have time..and its corrollary: I can't be at the school during the day
2. I hate meetings
3. No one ever asked me
4. It's always the same people; outsiders not welcome
5. I don't know how to get involved

and the more subtle, unspoken reasons:

6. I'm not comfortable in the school environment
7. I don't feel welcome
8. I'm not the PTO type

and maybe the biggest obstacle of all:

9. I don't want to get sucked into the black hole of volunteerism

I agree with DLF, you need to take the focus off meeting attendance. Meetings are for planning events or socializing amongst the most hard-core committed volunteers. You have, as we all do, hundreds of other parents who are never going to be that committed, but can still connect with your school and your PTO. The key is to focus on and celebrate involvement and participation. And...to make it EASY to get involved! Eliminate the excuses and communicate all the ways your PTO makes it easy to feel a part of the school:

1. No time? That's ok, we only ask for one hour, or two hours or just come to our event. And if you want to help out, there are ways you can do that in the evening, from home, etc.
2. Hate meetings? No problem, you dont' have to come to a single meeting to be part of our school/PTO - mean it!
3. No one's asked you? Personal invitation, reach out one on one, offer a specific way to get involved, not just a vague, general request.
4/7. Not welcome? Use nametags, greet new faces, remember and use names, be sincere
5. Don't know how to get involved? Publish a specific list of opportunities (with time required), but remember simply coming to a PTO family event is a form of involvement and often the first step to more significant volunteerism. Provide email, phone #, specific names to contact.
6. Not comfortable? Provide school maps, teacher lists, translators, nametags; get principal, teachers, and secretaries on board to make volunteers feel special and welcome.
8. Not the PTO "type" - stress there are loads of ways for parents to be engaged in your school, not just by PTO membership or attendance at PTO meetings.
9. Black Hole? Promise your parents that they can get involved as little or as much as they want. And mean it. Celebrate even small contributions. Keep good records of volunteerism. Spread the work around.

Plan an easy, low cost event like a Movie Night. Pay attendtion to who comes, who seems especially interested in the event, and who might be willing to sell concessions or take tickets (easy, low risk jobs) at the next Movie NIght.

It might take some time, but when you're starting with such a low level of volunteerism, even a few more active participants is a bonus. Be careful not to be overzealous or sound too desparate - both extremes can scare off potential volunteers. Just sincere. Make it easy, and say thanks. Good luck!

Three4Me is a great program to help with that for sure. I'd recommend it fully.

We have a similar problem with parent involvement, and had planned to do 3 for me this year. One of my board members pointed out that for someone never involved before, three could seem like a lot of hours. So we are asking parents to pledge one hour. If all parents, or even half, do this, we will still have a lot of volunteers.

I got my current board members, as well as our funraising coordinator, by simply asking personally. I was very clear on what the job entailed, how much time it would take, etc. People like to think they are important (and they are!) and by asking someone personally, rather than in a generic flyer asking for volunteers, you make people feel important and are more likely to get people.

We have a lot of new events planned for this year, and I plan to be out front, very visible, talking one on one with a lot of people. That's not a confortable role for me, but it gives me a chance to grow as a person, too. If we can't get the volunteers, those events will have to be canceled--and the people hurt by this will be the kids. So emphasize that--make sure people know we are all doing this for the kids. Most people will gladly give one hour for their kids, I think.

But it's not just about volunteering either. People don't want to feel that they are just your work horse, so give people some responsibility and decision making abilities. I think you will be surprised by the number of people who will relish and enjoy this kind of position--and you've got potential future leaders in the making.

Building a community can take more than just a year though, especially if people have a bad perception of your group, so don't give up. Stay positive, no matter how hard that is, and take the advice of the smart folks on this board. I bet you'll have a great group in a year from now if you keep on working at it.

I never thought of it that way either. I would much rather have the parents involved in the events and classrooms than coming to the meetings. That seems so obvious but I never thought of it that way.
D--you should become a PTO consultant and travel the country!