Well, I think JHB put her thinking cap on for all of us. Well thought out!
While I'm not totally computer illiterate, unless I am missing something and am not aware that it can already be done.....I would love to see the pdf files be something that we can copy and paste into Word and then change to suit our own organizations.
1) Provide short articles that can be copied directly into PTO newsletters (with appropriate credit to PTO Today). 2) Offer Power Point templates for basic PTO presentation for start of school (sample=http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/CT101450441033.aspx?av=ZPP000) Side note - don't use PowerPoint 2007. Few of us have it yet. 3) By the way, while I'm thinking of Microsoft stuff (which has an incredible array of clipart, templates, and downloads) why is it you search on PTA, there are a few hits. Not much, just an agenda and minutes. But still, if we search by "PTO", there are zero. We should use the power of this forum and the "Suggest a Template" button to have more PTO options available from Microsoft. 4) Host periodic webinars on topics of interest to parent groups. 5) Provide "pinned" topics in the Forum where we can permanently address some of the common, repeated questions with basic information. 6) Find ways to help school administration better understand the roles of parent groups and how to work with them. (For example: take some of your articles, spin them for that audience, and offer to school administrator publications and sites.) 7) Provide us with citeable statistics and research regarding parent involvement that we can plug into newsletters and presentations. (Not long articles, but short facts.) 8) Have a “legislative watch” section of the magazine/website that follows such issues as Tennessee’s recent legislation regarding school support groups. Hmm...I'll keep thinking.
