I have been actively involved in the PTA for many years. I enjoy doing things with the children and the teachers and have always been happy to say I am a member of the PTA. However, for the past year I have been really wondering why our schools belong to a National PTA that really does absolutely NOTHING for us. The PTA is supposed to be a national advocate for all of us... what have they done for us?

My school, along with some others in my county, send a lot of money to our National PTA. We have a tight group of parents and teachers here and whenever we have done something for the PTA in the past we all have really banned together.

Now as our school is running out of supplies and some of the teachers are bringing in their home computers and the library can't afford new books, I look at our school PTA's finances and wonder what the heck have we been doing sending our money to the National PTA when we need our money right here.

As apparent as our financial situation is, I am reluctant to bring up disbanning our PTA from the National PTA because of fear of rejection from the other parents and teachers. I have been on the PTA for many years and am good friends with the other members, parents, and staff.

I am looking for a nice way to bring this up without being oppositional. I think people will be stunned to hear me even mentioning this, but given the amount of money we send to the National PTA when we need it so badly seems a bit ludicrous, especially since I can not cite one thing the National PTA has ever done for us.

Does anyone have any suggestions of how I can nicely approach this subject?

Reading over what you just wrote here, I think you just did say it nicely and reasonably. It's a pretty good bet that you aren't the only one having these thoughts. It's something that every PTA I know of talks about at some point or another, even if they don't ultimately decide to leave. I would just say exactly what you just said here. It should be sufficient to get the conversation started, and you can all go from there.

HTH!

~Lisa

I agree w/"OregonTreasurer", I'm sure you're not the only one having those thoughts. I would do some research on the internet PTO vs PTA(start w/this website!) & present it @ a meeting, & let them know why it may be in your PTA's best interest to switch to PTO. It seems like you've been a longtime committed parent, so your presentation should have merit w/ the members. You just have to remember that in all organizations, not everyone is always gonna agree on issues. If you can get them to start thinking about what you could be purchasing @ your school w/(PTA National Dues)then eventually this will lead to getting the Majority Vote. Good luck!!

First - let me make clear I'm simply pro-parent group - whatever "flavor" works for your school is the right choice. That being said, I started out in PTOs, and built at least one from the ground up doing all the right things with establishing 501(c)(3), paying sales tax, figuring out financial practices, etc. We totally invented our structure for ourselves.

Years later when I was part of a PTA and saw the huge amount of resources they make available with state conference, training, procedure books for every officer position, programs already designed, 501(c)(3) already established. Looking back on the amount of effort we put in to "re-invent the wheel", I can't honestly say it was a good choice. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. What worries me even more is that slates of officers who came after weren't necessarily as concerned with all the rules and operating legally and filing state sales tax and the IRS 990 each year. Since there's no upper hierarchy in the PTO structure, there's no accountability for slipping back to a very informal way of doing things.

There's a lot to be said for having all that infrastructure handed to you on a sliver plate AND to know the structure continues after the current crop of officers is gone.

I'm not saying at all to give up the idea of converting to a PTO. It may be exactly the right answer for your group. But be very sure to take a realistic look at what will be offered/ what is missing from both sides. Going PTO means more independence and saving the amount you would have sent off for state/national dues. That may be far more important..

Good luck whatever you do!

I actually broached this subject with our President privately rather than bringing it up in a board meeting. Being my first year in the PTA and the low woman on the totem pole, I was a little nervous about the reaction I would receive from other members.

Turns out the President was wondering about the possibility of a change after finding out TX is raising our dues to $7 per member (including national dues). We have a hard enough time getting people to join at $4!

The subject of changing to a PTO was subsequently brought up in a board meeting and I am not part of a small committee researching the benefits, drawbacks, and complications of disbanding our PTA and starting up a PTO.

I am split at the moment between which would be best. I think think our PTA membership will take a nosedive next year when we are requiring $7 dues and I strongly believe in keeping our money, every cent, within the walls of our school to directly benefit the student body. However, we've been a PTA for the life of the school, our entire district is only PTA, we've already experience some negativity when PTO was brought up, and the threat of audits, seizing assets, and other bullying tactics makes me a little nervous. (Remember I am the newbie and don't want to be blamed for ruining our organization!)

We have a meeting in two days where our little committee will present our findings on how to go about disbanding the PTA, starting a PTO, etc. I expect it will be a tense meeting with lots of heated discussion as we have some who have already let me know they are strongly against it. I'll let you know how it goes!

First, I am a member, volunteer and supporter of our kids PTO's and they do a wonderful job. I am also an original founder and past President of our district-wide, PTA council which focuses on district-wide advocay, policy, etc., we dont' fund raise and do not want to interfere with the fine work the PTO's are already doing in our schools.

It is important to understand the differences. If you are only concerned about raising money that goes 100% back to the school, than supporting the PTA (state and national) might not be the thing for you. However, and it is important to understand the differences, the PTA, once you get beyond the local school level, is largely about advocacy at the district, state and national levels.

The National PTA has a unbelievably experience staff in Washington D.C. and Chicago and a very small portion, I mean very small portion, of your dues do in fact support the expense of running the organization (staff, board meetings, conferences, etc.) It is VERY professionally run association.

I just returned home from the 2009 National PTA Legislative Conference in D.C. and I was skeptical in attending. It blew me away! The level and quality of advocacy work that is going on is tremendous. This might not be your thing but there is a purpose for its work.

This is not a pitch to sell the PTA, rather to point out the major difference which it appears many who are posting here are not taking the time to understand.