Originally posted by Roof 6 Pack:

What is so bad though about extending your welcome to Joe public? What were the complaints taht came in?
My feeling- the more the merrier!

Originally posted by Roof 6 Pack:
What is so bad though about extending your welcome to Joe public? What were the complaints taht came in?
My feeling- the more the merrier!

I can see where it could be a problem at election time if someone wanted it to be. Get all your cousins and friends to join the PTO and elect you to an office. Like I've said before, I wish our school had enough interest in PTO for someone to try a coup d'pto. However, if there is a very qualified person that the ten regulars who do most of the work are planning on electing, the whole group can be messed up by this sort of thing.

Our group is open -- all parents/guardians are members. To vote, they need to register. Anyone else with an interest -- neighbors, grandparents, uncles, cousins, can petition to be 'Honorary Members'. Technically, the President can deny membership, so if I saw a bunch of people from the same family, etc who have never been around school asking for membership, I would have to make some calls before granting their requests.

Great link Shawn. love the info it provides!

Bill, if youre in the USA and at a public school, the answer is NO.

Inclusionary practices ie non discrimination and tolerance etc are some of the names of the game in public institutions.

Equally importatn, what would the kids learn, if they see adults excluding/ostracizing certain parties from theri rightful involvement at their school? Is that a lesson you wnat your children to learn.

And the kids of the parents excluded. What are they gonna think/feel.

Nonprofit governance bylaws members

they would be like the PTA -- an 'at-large member' or like some chamber of commerce 'associate' or 'alumni memebers' -- your a part of the PTO but because your not an actual stakeholder of the school you cant vote

[ 08-31-2006, 03:10 AM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

Hmmmm... interesting. We have a small rural school as well, and I have only seen one grandparent in the 7 years I have been involved with PTO. I guess my thought would be make an ammendment to the by laws that states that only teachers and parents/legal guardians can vote or become legal voting members.(so I'm with crew chief) Maybe if you are on payroll(teacher) or a tax paying citizen of your school district you can vote?
Maybe a commomn membership for non-voting participants and a legal membership for voting participation. Problem is, you may offend those who want to participate in the volunteer dept.
What is so bad though about extending your welcome to Joe public? What were the complaints taht came in?
My feeling- the more the merrier!