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As PTA
members, we create a world for all children when
we stand tall
and speak out for every child; support parents
as they raise
and protect their children; and as we partner with
the
community to shape tomorrow's leaders.
OMDR: Online Membership
Data Reporting
Becomes OMDR Plus!
PTA is in the
process of transforming OMDR into OMDR Plus, powered by Just
Between Friends. The capabilities of OMDR Plus address the
challenges of running a PTA unit on a daily basis and growing
it into a strong, meaningful organization. But it also takes
the perspective of the individual PTA members, who are trying
to manage very busy lives. OMDR Plus provides tools to help
run your PTA more effectively but also offers personal tools
to help you manage your day-to-day tasks and stay organized,
saving time and headaches. Functions that are already
available include:
A communication system for delivering
critical information to parents in the school, both via email
and on the web. Parents can use the system to communicate with
each other.
Directory capabilities that automate the creation
of print directories. There are also online directories that
are private and very secure, with powerful search
capabilities.
A method to designate which PTA leaders and
volunteers can use which parts of the system – to make sure
that you can share the tasks while restricting volunteers to
their own area.
Personal tools for busy parents, including:
1) a central place for information from all of the groups to
which they belong (both school and non-school related), 2) a
central place for membership directories and rosters for those
groups, 3) reminders of events, deadlines, etc., for all
groups, 4) email reminders of important personal events–
birthdays, anniversaries, etc., and 6) a tool to track cards
and gifts they give and receive.
There is no charge to anyone for all of
this capability. The cost of development and ongoing support
will be borne by National PTA, family friendly companies that
support PTA’s mission. In fact, the system is set up to
deliver revenue shares to local, state and national PTA units.
States and units can begin using the
communications, directory and membership management
capabilities immediately. To get your unit signed up, simply
go to www.justbetweenfriends.com/2008quickstart
. You will need your unit’s National PTA id number. Other
required and optional information is detailed on the website.
For questions on getting started, contact Julia Sheffler at
Just Between Friends, jsheffler@justbetweenfriends.net
or (412) 561-0500, or Scott Brody at National PTA, sbrody@pta.org.
What is Just
Between Friends and
How Does it Relate to OMDR?
JustBetweenFriends
(JBF) in its current form starts with an existing set of
internet based services, and will soon incorporate the current
functionality found in OMDR. The combination of the two is
OMDR Plus. Soon, and continually over time, there will be even
more capabilities added so that the whole will be far greater
than the sum of the two.
Currently JBF has several
capabilities already in production, including:
A very robust communication system for getting
out critical information to parents in the school. This
communication system has many features, such as automatic
reminders that go out via email on a pre-set basis; the
ability to easily select which audience should receive which
emails (i.e., a specific class, a whole grade, or the entire
school) and a way for parents to access the information even
when they don’t have email access. Parents can even use the
system to easily communicate with each other.
An events and announcements section,
automatically populated with the content of the reminder
emails, giving PTAs and school administrators two ways to
reach parents with critical info.
Very robust directory capabilities that
automate the creation of paper directories, significantly
reducing the time and efforts traditionally needed for this
task.
A unique method in which you can designate
which PTA leaders and volunteers can use which parts of the
system - to make sure that you can share the tasks while
restricting volunteers to their own area.
For the members of the unit- and busy parents in
general- there are several valuable functions as well,
including: 1) having one place to go for information from all
of the groups to which they belong (both school and non-school
related - such as scouts, sports teams, Indian princesses,
band, etc.), 2) having one place to go for membership
directories & rosters for all of those groups, 3)
reminders of events, deadlines, etc. for school and PTA
happenings as well as from the other groups to which they
belong, 4) tools to facilitate communications with other
parents in the PTA and those other common groups, 5) giving
them a way to get email reminders of important personal events
in their life - birthdays, anniversaries, etc., 6) giving them
a tool to track cards and gifts they give and receive, and 7)
giving them a tool to help automate the sending of their
holiday cards. For more information on the OMDR and Just
Between Friends, please visit www.pta.org.
Same
difference? Don’t think so…
One
common question PTA leaders are asked is, "What's the
difference between PTA and PTO Today?" Back by popular
demand are responses you can share with local leaders and members. Click
here.
Partnering
with Your School Principal
Have you spoken with your
principal lately? When you learn what priorities and needs
your principal has for the school and share your priorities
and offer your help, you build the foundation for long-term
success for both your school and your PTA
.
Consider taking the following actions:
-
Ask your principal
to host and speak at a parents' night. Provide a form
for parents to submit questions to the principal. Have
them include their contact information, best times to
contact them, and preferred methods of communication. The
principal can provide the same information to parents.
-
Invite the principal
to take part in developing the PTA's plan of work. The principal can work with your
PTA
to set goals for their collaboration for the year.
-
Make the
principal-parent dialog visible. Invite the principal
to write an article for your PTA
newsletter or listserv. Ask him or her to host coffees or
chats. Have a bilingual parent from your PTA
to translate as necessary.
-
Working with the
principal, network with community establishments. Ask
the principal for a list of priorities regarding services
for the school and its families. Then approach hospitals,
community centers, banks, libraries and other
organizations to get free services or informational
sessions for the school. 11-03-06
A
PTA Code of Ethics
As a PTA
volunteer, I realize that I am subject to a code of ethics
similar to that which binds the professional in the field in
which I work. Like them, I assume certain responsibilities and
expect to account for what I do in terms of what I am expected
to do:
-
I
will keep confidential matters confidential.
-
I
interpret “volunteer” to mean that I have agreed to
work without compensation in money, but having been
accepted as a worker, I expect to do my work according to
standards, as the paid staff expect to do their work.
-
I
promise to take to my work an attitude of open-mindedness;
to be willing to be trained for it; to bring to it
interest and attention.
-
I
realize that I may have assets that my co-workers may not
have and that I shall use these to enrich the project at
which we are working together.
-
I
realize also that I may lack assets that my co-workers
have, but I will not let this make me feel inadequate but
endeavor to assist in developing teamwork.
-
I
plan to find out how I can best serve the activity for
which I have volunteered, and to offer as much as I am
sure I can give, but no more.
-
I
realize that I must live up to my promise and therefore,
will be careful that my agreement is so simple and clear
that it cannot be misunderstood.
-
I
believe that my attitude toward volunteer work should be
professional. I believe that I have an obligation to my
work, to those who direct it, to my colleagues, to those
whom it is done, and to the public.
~Author
Unknown~1993 10/21/06
Have You Asked Anyone to Join PTA
Today?
Attracting new members and retaining
current ones are among the most important duties of a PTA. A
thriving membership doesn’t just happen; it requires good
planning and year-round attention. Now that school is back in
session, PTAs everywhere are celebrating September as PTA
Membership Month by recruiting members at school events and in
the community.
PTAs should be
encourage continued membership recruitment efforts throughout
the year. Every PTA event is an opportunity to recruit new
members, and every volunteer is a potential PTA member or
supporter! Successful membership drives are essential for
bringing new volunteers and excitement to our local members,
but membership efforts need to continue past September.
Remember, the number one reason that people don’t join is
that they were never asked.
Don’t forget to take advantage
of PTA’s human resources either. Field service
representatives, extension liaisons, and minority outreach
specialists are available to assist in reaching your
membership goals.
You and PTA Make the Difference: Here's Proof
Out of the schools in listed in the annual Newsweek list of the 100 Best High Schools in America, nearly half of them have PTAs or PTSAs! In addition, there are PTAs at the number 1 ranked school (Talented and Gifted Magnet in Dallas, Texas), and PTA schools make up about half of the top 20 schools. Considering that less than 25% of all schools in the United States (and many, many fewer high schools) have a PTA, these are great statistics!
This very recent and extremely relevant correlation of top schools with PTAs is compelling information for you as a leader. You can use this information as you talk with principals, school boards, decision makers, and fellow parents about the importance of family involvement, particularly at the high school level. You can also open your Building Successful Partnerships presentations with these points.
Spread the word to your current PTA members that they are making a difference! Share the message that every child can benefit from the presence of a PTA at their school. PTA is the best way to strengthen the school, and keep families and community leaders connected in support of education. Keep up the great work of PTA.
The "T" in PTA stands for teachers
Sometimes we forget that the "T" in PTA stands for teachers.
Teachers and school staff members are crucial partners in
our children's success. Encouraging them to join your PTA
should be a focus of your membership campaign.
Here are some ideas for getting them involved:
-
Arrange to provide a breakfast for teachers prior to the start of the school year. Use this breakfast as an opportunity to talk to the teachers about the value and importance of joining your PTA.
-
Award teachers and staff with a party or lunch when 100% teacher and staff membership is reached.
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Request a bulletin board or showcase at your school to display current information about PTA activities.
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Use back to school nights as an opportunity to speak with both teachers and parents about the importance of joining PTA. Prepare a short presentation. Be sure to have the permission of your principal.
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Include PTA materials in information packets given to teachers and staff at the start of each school year.
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Enlist the support of your principal. A principal's encouragement to join can go a long way.
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Print out personal invitations asking teachers and staff to join and include a membership envelope. Remind them that for the cost of a few coffees at Starbucks they can support our national organization of more than six million members!
Some other ideas:
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Parent Involvement is what PTA does best and it's the law. Remind teachers and staff that PTA helps them to fulfill the Parent Involvement mandate of No Child Left Behind.
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Get to know your teachers. Sometimes teachers or staff may be reluctant to join because of a prior bad experience with PTA. Apologize for whatever may have happened and talk to them about how PTA's work benefits not only the children but the teachers as well.
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The teachers and staff expect to be asked to join. If they expect it and you don't ask, they might feel they are not needed or welcomed. Remember to ask.
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Remind teachers and staff that PTA is more than a local fundraising group for their school. It is an organization focused on the education, safety, and well-being of children.
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