PresidentJim;132890 wrote: The reason I ask is that the issue here seems to be communication.
I agree that this is a communications/impression/spin issue. Completely.
It really doesn't matter what the official definition of a fundraiser or family event is; rather, it matters what your parents feel like they're in.
The good news -- you can help control those impressions.
Some things are clearly fundraisers, and that's fine. But as you've found out, other things -- things that feel totally like service/family events to you -- can be seen several ways. How do you talk about those events? Do you emphasize the free aspects? If the impression is a problem and you're making only $30 on the popcorn, can you make the popcorn free? (you'd likely make up that $30 in increased fundraising earnings once folks start feeling less hit-up by your group). Etcetera.
Use your newsletter and your event flyers and your website to proactively tell people that you're glad to offer so many services and free and fmily events. Talk about those events in that fashion. Repeatedly. Think marketing.
Does your group have a newsletter or website? The reason I ask is that the issue here seems to be communication. We started up both this year and I think it really made the diffenence in this regard. Each newsletter had a section talking about upcoming events or fundraisers and this is the perfect place to explain the difference. For example, when we had our Harvest Party, which was a break even event, I wrote it up as:
The PTO is planning a Harvest
Party for Monday, October 23rd,
from 6-8 pm. There will be
music, fun and games. Look for
the event flyer coming home
soon.
This should get the point across that it is an event and not meant stricy as a fundraiser. One of the other things that we do, for the families that may not be able to afford the event, is provide the teachers with a select quantity of free family passes to the event. They can make it so the child in need "wins" the free entry so that there is no hazing caused by it. We also put a family cap on the entry fee. Say it's $3 per child, we might cap it at $5 per family.
At your first meeting next fall also state it in your budget this is a break even event, or fundraisers etc. We also changed the wording on our flyers that makes a big difference.
Cindy<br />
<br><br />
<br>____________________________________________<br />
<br>"People have the right to be stupid, but some abuse the privelege."
It sort of sounds like your families are being hit in so many directions, I don't know if it is possible but look into scheduling of all fundraisers in you school and see if there is a way it can be spread out.
I also think you need to market what is pto and make sure that you address what the funds are used for, I would also truly look into doing a coupld of free family events that cover everything including snack. Raising money and doing assemblies, and all that stuff is great but make sure your families are having some fun as well.
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
Do you have a disclaimer or something on the bottom of all your memos. If you had one, it may help to distinguish your memos from the school sponsored memos. Ours reads:
This notice is being sent on behalf of the WFS PTO and is not the responsibility of the _(TOWN NAME)_ Board of Education.
Parents know if the memo has this on the bottom, its from the PTO and is not a collection being done by the community action team (teachers doing charity collections) or the district .
Making a positive difference one project at a time <img src=images/smilies/smile.gif>
Our fundraising events are a catalog sale in the late summer early fall (we are a year round school) and a Knowledge A Thon in the winter.
Carnival is in the late fall and we charge 25 cents per ticket with all booths taking one ticket and all food items run 2 tickets. We have pizza etc. Carnival costs alot to put on so while I suppose since we charge it could be looked at as a fundraiser it actually lost about $250 last year. And that was fine as we do not view it as a money source but as a community event.
I looked back at last year's calendar (I am the incoming prez with minimal involvement in the fall) and we actually have 1-2 FREE event each month. We had speakers come in for parent meetings with child care offered, an egg drop event, Muffins with Moms orDonuts with Dad once a quarter, Pizza with Parents once a quarter, we had the Lizard man come with his creepy crawlies etc. We had game night, a bingo, a PB&J dance. These were all free or student council collected canned goods or HBA for the local pantries.
Trivia night is for parents only. I suppose we do look to raise money at this event but it does not go into the PTO fund but the scholarship fund which is not administered by us.
I would like to look into us completely covering the cost of movie night with student council taking over refreshment sales as they have lost a source of income for next year (they used to have ice cream sales at lunch and with new nutrition standards that is being discontinued). Then families could attend with no out of pocket cost if they chose to.
Our fundraisers are for the general budget, we fund ALL assemblies that come to our school, $15K in teacher mini grants and over the years have been able to make some amazing technology purchases because of the parent's generosity.
I hope I have answered all the questions. The suggestions here are wonderful. I really want people to offer continued support. I think they view every request for money as coming from us. And I sat down and listed out all of them, book orders, Market Day and field trip $ requests seem to come home all the time. But none of that is not PTO. Those $ go directly to teachers to fund special projects. I do realize we asked for opinions and this was the only venue offered for this type of feedback so we got it. Lucky us.
Thanks again for all the replies. I'm totally loving this forum and learning alot.
