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.

• Request a bulletin board or showcase at your school to display current information about PTA activities.

• 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.

• Include PTA materials in information packets given to teachers and staff at the start of each school year.

• Enlist the support of your principal. A principal’s encouragement to join can go a long way.

• 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: 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.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.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.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.