I have to agree that the amount of people at a meeting does not make your PTO successful. We only have a handful at our meetings but we have about 100 chairpeople and many more volunteers for each event. People are very busy these days between work and kids and activities we don't require tham to attend to run something its the boards job to make sure things are running smoothly! We consider ourselves very successful even with our small meetings!

Good luck Imove! Congratulations!

Though I knew it was coming (does that sound like dread?) last night I was officially nominated to be next year's pres. I am SERIOUSLY considering quarterly meetings - IF THAT for general PTO meetings. I would much rather have the committees meet and do what they need to do - and know that the board will do everything we can. I'd like to see us doing more work than talking about it all the time . . . . that's just me. We'll see how it all plays out in the long run.

Our PTA had woefully small numbers attending the meetings-the executive board of about 8 including the principal and VP, and even they wouldn't all show up sometimes-- for a looong time. It started out as parent apathy, but later turned into the "clique" issue.

I agree with MichelleB that part of the problem is everyones' too hectic lifestyles. I admittedly didn't go for years though because I was too intimidated by the "clique." It's unnerving even for the most well-adjusted person to walk in a room full of people you don't know, and then be ignored by them--even if you bring a friend. Then a friend of mine got involved with some of the activities, she got me involved, then it sort of turned into the old Clairol commercial ("and then she told..."! Not that we have a huge turn-out every meeting, but it IS getting better (about 20-25 on a regular basis).

I'm finding from our PTA, and from the volunteer group I've organized in our school, that participation relies on people actually caring about what happens in the school and feeling that what they have to say matters. Too often I've heard people say, "Why should I bother going? "They" have their minds already made up, and nothing I say will change anything anyhow." I'd like to see more education of the masses concerning the benefits and fun of being "involved" AND also gently reminding people that they really SHOULD be involved. It's just too easy to be lazy, and I speak from experience!

That really doesn't answer your question though, does it?! I'd say you could try being more vocal, literally! Talk to people, make sure they know the meeting can be more than just R's Rules. I bring coffee and donuts, and while that doesn't lure people, it does make those there happy. I also good-naturedly harass people I know, and encourage those I don't know, to come--I try to emphasize that it's a very friendly group of people, and that they shouldn't feel intimidated. The PTO TOday article about groups being cliques makes a good point--even if you're not a clique, you have to ACTIVELY strive to make sure people know you're not. That article also had good tips about running meetings. I also tell everyone involved to make a friend come with them to the next meeting. That old Clairol commercial does make a point!

I have noticed that meeting attendance does not gauge the success of your PTA. Many of our schools have 400+ members and only get a handful of parents attending the meetings. But when it really counts, we had more volunteers than you can shake a stick at at my school. (100+ for our jog-a-thon)
Parents are so much busier now. We have many working mothers, two working parents households, grandparents/caregivers, and on top of that, we have soccer, baseball, scouts, etc. Add to that heavier homework loads (some so different and difficult that parents have to study to help them) So they may not be at the meetings. If they are active elsewhere, then they are comfortable with what you are doing. The only meeting we had where there was more than 15 people was when we voted on where the additional fundraising funds were going to go - $15,000 surplus above budget, 75 parents showed up to vote, that is still from a membership of 500 and the very next meeting had 10 people. We have babysitters, we offer food, we've had speakers and had the kids perform (kids performing does bring out the biggest crowd but many leave after the performance), we've had meetings at 6:30, alternating 3:30 to 6:30, one meeting a month, two meetings a month, daytime meetings, potlucks, a christmas party, door prizes, even the lure of the very hot topic of rezoning. I have 30 units under me and no matter how many members they have (5-500), they all have the same question, how do we get more to attend the meetings? Perhaps, we have to concede that we can't.

We have the same problem, 700+ parents and only 35 members. Our PTA now has one full school year under its belt, and we have some ideas for next year.
Currently, we meet the third Thursday evening of each month, alternating between the libraries at both schools we serve. We offer free pizza and beverage, a free childcare, but still have LOW attendance.

So, next year we will try having at least 2 meetings right after school starts. We have no bussing, so parents are already at the school to drop off their kids. We are also in a rural area where alot of parents don't want to drive back into town an hour or so after getting home.

We are also expanding the childcare in that it won't just be kids running around the gym or drawing some pictures. We hope to implement planned activities: movies, arts and crafts, magic shows, etc. If we can get the kids excited to come to the activity, then maybe the parents will follow.

We have also spent about $50 and created a PTA Treasure Box, filled with cool pencils, feathers on top, bendable, pinwheels on top(all from Oriental trading) and each kid gets one with encouragement to take it to use at school and let other kids know that they got it free at the PTA meeting.

Hopefully, this will get attendance up to 20! LOL