I know the prospect of making improvements to your PTO or PTA is scary. So much needs doing. And you're just a volunteer. Your kids and spouse would like you to actually be home once in a while, too, right?

That's why one of my key recommendations for parent group leaders is to think small. You don't have to create the perfect PTO tomorrow. Or ever. But you'll be surprised at the impact you can have (and the credit your PTO will receive) from small changes.

Can your group continue with its current good work while taking on just one of these resolutions for the second half of the school year? All of these can have a powerful effect on how your group is perceived (which, frankly, will make nearly all of your other goals easier to achieve):

1. Create a better (nicer looking, more fun, more helpful) newsletter for your families. (Check out "Newsletter Communication Tips" for some insight.)


2. Start doing introductions at every meeting and making a special point of helping your less-regular participants feel more part of the core. (This is a central theme of a column I wrote on breaking the clique mold a few years back.)


3. Turn something you usually charge for into a freebie as a thank-you to parents for all their support.

That's three simple ideas from me, but feel free to try your own. Just remember to look for simple wins rather than massive changes that will scare just about everyone away. Good luck!

p.s. -- Want to share some ideas live with our PTO Today team? Join us for a Facebook "live chat" this Thursday, Jan. 27, from 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern time. Our editor in chief, Craig Bystrynski, our community manager, Lisa Gundlach, and I will all be there to answer questions and discuss all the joys and pains of this crazy PTO and PTA world of ours. Hope to see you!