PTA charging for events

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In looking at all the equipment that might be needed, five to six wireless headsets; an analog/digital mixer; three to four speakers; a XLR snake; the speaker stands; XLR cables; lectern microphone; we’re easily talking about about eight thousands dollars worth.

That’s excessive. I don’t know how much it would cost but spending $8000 on an elementary school talent show is wildly insane.

And most schools don’t have anything close to that. Maybe a few schools with arts-focused education— but not most schools.

[Anonymous]

I can't recall what our PTA did in elementary, though I think they had a suggested fee and did very little to collect on it. I don't think it's that egregious provided there is a way for families to get in free if needed. I do know at our kids' high school (which has an even higher FARMs rate) you have to pay to go to your kids' band/chorus concerts, recitals, and most sporting events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surely the PTA already has a list of low income families. They should just give tickets to those families free of charge.

That's what our PTA does. The counselor will provide free tickets to families who can't afford an event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For background, Our elementary school population is 30% FARMS (free reduced meals). Our pta plans to host a talent show in the next week or so. They will be requiring tickets to attend this event which cost $5 per adult and $2 per student. If you cannot afford this charge, you must email a mother who works with the pta who sponsors the event and request a free ticket for your family. I personally find this demeaning and am horrified that they are charging entry to this pta event.

I would like to get feedback from DCUM to see what others think. Is this appropriate? Couldn’t this be donation/ pay what you will in order to make it a fundraising event? Thoughts on this?

I don’t think that charging — or singling out people who want to request free tickets is appropriate. Who is participating in the talent show? If it’s students, then the fees are problematic on many levels — including the “solution “ which sounds humiliating.
Why not have the event be free — but sell raffle tickets for a prize or prizes to be announced at the end of the show? You could also have a donation box — specifying what the donations will be used for. (“Help support the school enrichment activities “ or whatever.)

There are so many "compassionate" people on DCUM who have never actually been poor or dealt with poor people. If people want to go, they will ask for a ticket. The PTA needs to cover costs, they have provided an option for people to attend and it is all good. These posters are the same ones who will lament that their school doesn't have after school activities or assemblies, etc. Where do you think the money comes from?

u

Clearly you are one of them.

[Anonymous]

This is one of the reasons I like to volunteer my equipment. The affluent schools certainly don't need my help but most aren't like that. (Though some are pretty engaged. One year the PTA, downcounty, upgraded our morning show camcorder many years ago.) It had to have cost them a pretty penny but since the show is a weekly tradition they felt it was warranted.

The same for anything music-related. We should invest in that stuff whenever possible, because it can only encourage our students to go further. When they see wireless headsets being circulated out for a stage musical you should see their excitement. Or realizing that for once the families can actually hear what's being said on stage. (Either micc'd up or with boundary microphones in place ).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is one of the reasons I like to volunteer my equipment. The affluent schools certainly don't need my help but most aren't like that. (Though some are pretty engaged. One year the PTA, downcounty, upgraded our morning show camcorder many years ago.) It had to have cost them a pretty penny but since the show is a weekly tradition they felt it was warranted.

The same for anything music-related. We should invest in that stuff whenever possible, because it can only encourage our students to go further. When they see wireless headsets being circulated out for a stage musical you should see their excitement. Or realizing that for once the families can actually hear what's being said on stage. (Either micc'd up or with boundary microphones in place ).

That's lovely but not all schools have someone to donate/help. We had nothing and we maybe could fundraise a few thousand a year but some years we had total 1-2K. We had to pay MCPS for the space, and either scramble for donations or often it would come out of the president's pocket (i.e. myself) or others might chip in. So, even with me paying for a bulk of it, I might have gotten some food for free but that was about it.

[Anonymous]

If it’s an event attended by students, it should be free. After all that’s the purpose of the PTA, provide enrichment activities to the student body, adding an artificial barrier to attendance is counterproductive and in poor taste.

You don’t need fancy audio equipment for the PTA, most schools have one for general assemblies, if the PTA doesn’t have money, it has to make it happen with what they have. Events can be organized with a few hundred bucks.

Fundraising should be kept separate from activities, most of our PTA money came from donations not sales, but some schools may not have a strong PTA of affluent parents.

Usually the issue is poor organization and a PTA that is not welcoming to new active members. Also sometimes the money is spend on pet projects with an understanding between PTA president and principal, that don’t benefits the student body at large. I’ve seen PTA paying for counselors, reading specialists etc, which in my view should be avoided.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is one of the reasons I like to volunteer my equipment. The affluent schools certainly don't need my help but most aren't like that. (Though some are pretty engaged. One year the PTA, downcounty, upgraded our morning show camcorder many years ago.) It had to have cost them a pretty penny but since the show is a weekly tradition they felt it was warranted.

The same for anything music-related. We should invest in that stuff whenever possible, because it can only encourage our students to go further. When they see wireless headsets being circulated out for a stage musical you should see their excitement. Or realizing that for once the families can actually hear what's being said on stage. (Either micc'd up or with boundary microphones in place ).

Disagree with this. It’s great that you’re volunteering but PTA is not there to “invest” in stuff. Money is the means, more important is participation of the community.

[Anonymous]

The answer is you donate enough or ask people to donate enough to make it free.