pta BE KIND !!

Yecats, great advice. I agree that working the Kindergarten is really important! Each year we have had a strong board member with a child in K, who can act an ambassador for us. It's so important to catch those parents when they have questions, otherwise minor things can quickly become huge rumors, misinformation, etc. Last year a group of parents got really upset with a K teacher, and there was all kinds of parking lot gossip happening. While I wasn't able to completely stop it, I was able to step in and help explain things such as the role of PTA vs. school, and give a little history and perspective. Probably most important, I was able to hear their complaints and redirect some of that energy that was being turned against the teacher. Our principal is great but she tends to shut people down pretty quickly, which can backfire.

If you don't already have one, maybe the PTA can place a bulletin board outside the K classrooms to help parents stay informed. E-mail is also crucial. We have our own list (just members), and the principal has her larger one. She's great about helping us publicize our events and fundraisers.

We have a large percentage of new families in first grade as well, since many use private kindergarden and then transfer in. Again--we work those hallways before and after school, and make sure everyone knows how to find a PTA board member if they have a question. We have PTA t-shirts and fleece vests to wear at events and early in the school year so people can recognize us.

E-mails and surveys are good tools, but I have found that I only get responses from people who have personally met me at least once. Nothing can beat that in-person contact. We have a table at every single school event, and we host several family nights throughout the year to bring everybody together in the school. These are NOT fundraisers, just a chance to build our community and give the kids an opportunity to come to a dance, craft night, movie night, etc.

People will quickly be turned off if their only contact with your PTA is you asking them for money. It is very hard for your general membership to see and understand what all this money is being used for (since they don't attend the meetings where you discuss it!) Make sure you have events on your calendar that are just for fun, and that parents know who paid for it! :)

Sorry, I'm just randomly firing off thoughts here--hope some of it is helpful! :)

Here are a few things we do at our school to get parents organized and informed:

Weekly newsletter home in Friday Folders (yes, we have a group of moms that come in every Friday and stuff folders with PTO notices and other timely information. We get the folders donated by a sponsor and their name appears on the folder...to start this is no small undertaking)
Weekly e-mail on Sunday nights about the coming weeks happenings and events. We have parents sign up for the newsletter at school activities. This is a great tool, paperless and costless and priceless! Our "newsletter lady" is great. All submissions go through the school office for approval to be included.

Send out volunteer sheets in the first month. We have a list of "yearly" programs, people can sign up to be a coordinator or a helper. Coordinators contact volunteers and they meet or assign whatever needs to get done.

The best way to get new parents involved is to welcome in those new kindergarten parents. They are not jaded by the clicks and aren't burnt out yet! We have a new families breakfast (kindergarten and transfers) which is a great place for PTO to meet new families and new families to meet each other.

Good luck, keep up the good work and remember, the kids really do appreciate what we do! Being involved makes all the difference for your children.

Yecats

We are 9 to 10 strong still but we have alot of parents who help but can not show up at meeting and that is okay with me . We all try in our own way . We still have afew who want to run it all and that is not okay with me . I think every parent has something to offer . I go on and do all that I can to welcome parents new and old and try to let everyone know what the PTO is and what we are doing . I strong voice is all you need to get the ball rolling and before you know it you are 15 strong voices. It just kills me that not all the parents feel welcome at the school. We have a few who want the fame and glory for doing it all. I just want the kids to have a great year and parents to feel welcome at all the PTO does. I show up to all that I can but our huge problem is some people never know we are doing anything till we are ready to do it or it is already over . We need to get organized and be better at informing all the parents . We can not just hang a sign in the school door way and depend on that to let people know . But all in all you are right . 9 people can get alot done .

Crissleigh

Don't feel bad about having only 9 people come to your PTO meeting, that is 8 other people plus yourself to get the work done. I know you feel you should have more, but our school has 600 students and an average turn out for PTO is 15 people! That does not mean that we do not have an active parent community, we do, they just don't all make it to meetings! We are fortunate, but what you will likely find is that there are few that do more than their share and many that do little at all.

Yes, part of it is the fear of the unknown, the crazy busy schedules we lead and sadly maybe some clickishness. The best you can keep doing is extending your hand and getting the word out. I'm not sure how your meetings are structured, but sometimes we have guest speakers at our meetings and this brings more parents. If you have a great math or language arts curriculum director or someone that teaches social skills (open circle) invite them to speak at the meeting about the program, get the word out and get more parents there. You need a good "hitch" to get them there. Good luck!