Our by-laws have elections in April with the new board not taking over until after the May meeting.

You might consider trying a different meeting time. Try an after-school meeting with child care or an evening meeting if thats different. Plan an event with a grade to perform and hold a short meeting before the performance. Send out a newsletter to let everyone know what the PTO does for the school like purchasing class items, playground equipment, books or whatever your group has been up to lately. Encourage volunteering to get them interested and so they know they are needed, just make sure to let them know they will not be constantly called to help and they can volunteer the amount of time they are comfortable with. Make sure the leaders of your group do not take over and plan all events, let others in to help. Try a letter to introduce yourselves if you are a new group and you could always include the info on how much better kids do when their parents volunteer! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Our school sends home election forms in April and we vote on new officers at our May PTO meeting.

All of the parents and guardians of our students are automatically members of the PTO as worded in our bylaws. Even though everyone is automatically a member, it is very difficult getting parents involved. Out of 481 students, we only had 14 parents at our first PTO meeting this month and 6 out of that 14 were either PTO officers or teachers. It is so sad that no one wants to get involved but we keep trying. Good luck to you!

You can do it - everyone has a similar roadmap with different forks in the road. Some like the scenic others take the shortcut.

Goodluck- keep us updated please

[ 10-18-2006, 01:13 AM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

Thank you so much. Guess I will need to read the bylaws first. Most schools do hold elections in the spring/end of school. Have no idea why this is held at three months into the school year.

Originally posted by Shawn:
End of school year at all the schools I've been at- depends on bylaws, if any.

PTO memebrship should also be definded by bylaws (i.e. Staff, Parents, Stakeholders, Community)

It might be hard to recruit members until board memebrs are elected, dues are decided on (yes, No or Amount) and what the needs of the school(Mission and Vision of PTO and school) and stakeholders are (parents, families, students and staff)

It wont all come toghether like a wave of the "Great Oz's wand" in a great swoop of smoke and fireworks... Baby steps not giant leaps and bounds of brainstorming, communication and planning then the recruitment, activities, fundraising and other fun and addictive stuff

End of school year at all the schools I've been at- depends on bylaws, if any.

PTO memebrship should also be definded by bylaws (i.e. Staff, Parents, Stakeholders, Community)

It might be hard to recruit members until board memebrs are elected, dues are decided on (yes, No or Amount) and what the needs of the school(Mission and Vision of PTO and school) and stakeholders are (parents, families, students and staff)

It wont all come toghether like a wave of the "Great Oz's wand" in a great swoop of smoke and fireworks... Baby steps not giant leaps and bounds of brainstorming, communication and planning then the recruitment, activities, fundraising and other fun and addictive stuff