When are your general membership meetings? Ours are only in the evening these days.
Over the summer we did a lot of new family & back to school events that were well received.
We are also trying to focus on our PTA branding this year. We think some things have historically been unclear to people as to whether it was a school or PTA event and I think we are doing a good job branding the PTA events now.
As a board, we are very clear when we need a volunteer for XYZ to happen, and if no one volunteers, we decide that is something people don’t care about, so it’s ok if we skip it.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t have meetings and all planning events mid morning. You are excluding working parents even though you throw in an occasional evening meeting once every few months.

Stop with the teen like cute inside posts between all of you on the closed FB page. It comes across very immature.

Stop kissing up to teachers. It’s nauseating. And I’m a teacher. Treat them as professionals. That’s why I stay far away from my children’s PTA. I don’t want to be associated with that.

Tell me you are joking.

Break duties down into small, easy to explain tasks. Be willing to train/answer questions about those tasks.

A lot of people don't volunteer because they're unsure of what is expected and the more experienced volunteers only want to help their friends. Unless you are part of the inner clique, you are left to figure it all out for yourself...

So you bring new volunteers in by giving them small, easy to do - stuffing envelopes, putting together goody bags, handing out flyers or whatever.

It comes down to money in many cases. Rather than go to meetings, I just make donations.

I found some of the tasks unnecessary such as making goody bags for events - wasn't really needed.

Goals can be too grandiose "let's completely change the entire district".

People acting like experts on education when they aren't.

Cliquey - not very welcoming.

Anonymous wrote:1. Be sure you provide a welcoming environment. Just because you know lots of people, don't ignore the person who does not seem to know people.
It just takes one bad experience to keep people from returning. You need new people to keep the programs running.
2. Try to have a brief program that is of great interest to parents.
3. Encourage the principal to have teachers attend. When I taught, our principal had it as one of our evaluation factors. I don't think we had to attend every meeting, but we were certainly encouraged to attend.

+1!

I used to be active. I don’t even pay the dues now.

Quit letting the same people run pointless meetings month after month and year after year. I don’t go anymore because I don’t see the point of our group. It’s the same people doing the same thing. They don’t need a national organization affiliation to host an all night grad party and hand out some teacher grants.

What is the farms rate of the school? Over about 40% you are doomed.

If people aren't participating, you're asking too much. Asking too much for that particular school population. Plan fewer events. Plan events that *can happen* with the people who are available/willing ... and adjust it 50% for what you think you can plan on.