| A new school year brings new students, new | | | | welcome. Ask them personally if they will attend |
| parents, and new leadership to Parent-Teacher | | | | a meeting. It takes just one person |
| Organizations (PTO). The challenge is capitalizing on | | | | acknowledging them by name to make them feel |
| this yearly change and making it work to your | | | | welcome. |
| advantage. | | | | A few simple tools will go a long way in helping to |
| If last year's PTO Board members did a fantastic | | | | increase PTO participation. The first step in |
| job fundraising and maintaining membership, then | | | | connecting with the students and their families is |
| follow in their footsteps. Ask the former President | | | | to collect their contact information early in the |
| to consult and find out what they did to make | | | | school year so that you can reach out to them. |
| the year a success. If on the other hand, parents | | | | Create a school directory and email list. The |
| were less than enthusiastic about the results of | | | | directory allows parents to easily contact each |
| the fundraisers or programs and participation | | | | other and the email list can be used to keep |
| dropped off by year-end, then analyze why and | | | | parents updated on PTO events, issues, and |
| work to rectify the problem areas. | | | | volunteer opportunities. |
| Perhaps the Board appeared disorganized and | | | | Provide parents (and teachers) with information. |
| unable or unwilling to carry out the requests of | | | | Believe it or not, most parents new to a school |
| the members. Remember, the Board is | | | | don't know what the fundraisers are, just by the |
| established to carry out the requests of the PTO | | | | titles you give them. As a PTO Board, do not |
| as a whole. It's a democracy, not a power | | | | assume that anyone knows what the Fall Fair, |
| struggle! Encourage all of the board members to | | | | Holiday Shopping Event, or the Grocery Receipts |
| be great leaders; leaders that the members will | | | | Savings Program is. At the beginning of each |
| want to see succeed. Be honest, consistent, ask | | | | year, distribute a list of all of the PTO programs |
| for suggestions and listen to the answers, work | | | | along with a short description of each one and |
| as hard or harder than you expect your | | | | volunteer opportunities associated with each. |
| members to work, and remember to say "Thank | | | | Provide parents with resources. Parents are more |
| You". | | | | likely to get involved if they feel like they have |
| It's also important that the Board be able to | | | | something to contribute. So give them the |
| follow through and actually implement ideas. Be | | | | resources to decide what types of programs |
| organized. Plan and prepare for each monthly PTO | | | | they would like to see implemented and in what |
| meeting as well as each committee meeting. If | | | | areas they are most likely to get involved. |
| the Board appears disorganized and unable carry | | | | Actually distribute a flyer that lists the resources, |
| out plans, the members will get frustrated and | | | | whether they are books, or websites. PTO Ideas |
| eventually stop attending meetings. | | | | is one website specifically designed for PTOs and |
| With new students, come new parents. Whether | | | | offers thousands of ideas and highly detailed |
| these parents have their first child entering | | | | instructions for implementing fundraisers. |
| kindergarten or they have relocated from another | | | | Remember to make fundraising fun! For your |
| school, they will come with new ideas and a fresh | | | | next fundraiser, try planning it around a theme. |
| outlook. Like any other business, a PTO has to | | | | Children's books are fantastic resources for |
| advertise and recruit new members each year. | | | | coming up with themes! Plan advertising and |
| Parents new to the school can be timid about | | | | activities around the theme and you'll be amazed |
| joining a group of parents that already know each | | | | at what you come up with. |
| other and are familiar with the programs. | | | | And finally, laugh and work together. The PTO can |
| Advertise the PTO and it's goals using flyers and | | | | be a great social outlet. And so much more can |
| signs. And don't underestimate the power of a | | | | be accomplished when we laugh and work |
| simple phone call to make new parents feel | | | | together as a team! |