Membership Basics
Why PTA?
Why join PTA? Do you have an answer to this question? If not, take the time to decide why you think joining PTA is important – be ready, someone will ask you that very question. Encourage every member of your PTA Board to also have an answer.
Let’s look at what PTA offers:
- PTA provides an opportunity for involvement by parents, teachers, students, and the community.
- PTA is a resource for issues concerning our children.
- PTA provides timely information from local, State and Federal levels and how we can advocate and influence legislators on behalf of children, families and schools.
- PTA contributes a positive attitude to ensure the best possible education for our children.
- PTA provides a forum for discussion of topics of general concern between school, home and the community.
- PTA offers resources available from the State and National PTA to help the local units and its members.
- PTA is the only organization whose sole focus is the education, health and safety of our children during their educational years.
PTA should be a positive link between school and home. We should be offering the opportunity for involvement in issues concerning our children. Anyone can be a PTA member and when those member’s decisions are guided by a sense of responsibility for all children as well as their own then we all truly become advocates for our future -- our children.
Responsibilities
1. Chairman of the Membership committee, oversee all membership campaign activities and keep an accurate record of PTA members and money collected.
2. Check with your treasurer and make sure dues are being sent into state office on the dues dates of October 31, January 31 and March 31 with a Membership Form. Be sure that your membership number matches the number of dues your treasurer is mailing into the state office. Dues are totaled from National dues = $2.25; State Dues = $1.75 Total of $4.00 for each member of your PTA to state office.
3. Every member should receive a card. Cards are issued only to individual members, never to a Mr. and Mrs. Johnson.
For business memberships, the card will be issued in the business name.
All cards issued for the 2012-2013 year should have a membership expiration date of July 31, 2013 no matter when membership was purchased. In need of more cards please contact your local council or state office. Cards are given each year from the number of the unit’s previous year’s membership total.
4. Maintain an official Membership Roster – Your President, Treasurer and Secretary should always have a current copy. It’s a good idea to be able to track faculty and student members (if PTSA) on your roster.
5. Report at meetings. Ask your president for a “Membership Report” and keep your membership informed of your membership numbers, membership goal, incentives and benefits.
6. Watch for award deadlines. Make sure your PTA unit gets the recognition it deserves!
7. Keep the Membership Procedure book updated. Include what worked, what didn’t and recommendations for next year.
8. Have all materials ready to pass on to successor – Complete membership list, procedure book and files, training information received, copies of any articles in newsletters, emails, sign-up forms, invitation letters and any other communications dealing with membership.
