We don't have an e-mail address devoted solely to our PTO but, with this group's help and advice, I set up a Yahoo group for the purpose of "getting the word out" about any and everything at the school.
We are a private K3-8 school with about 400 students. I don't know exactly what per cent of the school is on the list, but I would guess about 60%. It has been extremely effective and I will tell you we will NEVER be without it. People have come to depend on receiving the school's newsletter via e-mail. I usually send out 1 or 2 additional e-mails per week. The teachers also receive all this.
It was alot of work to set it up but just take it slow. It's definitely worth it.
Shelly
We use our new address to inform the teachers of upcoming events or remind them of when we are serving lunch for them etc. We also have found it a great way to communicate with the Admin. regarding issues that come up.
We also have uniforms and I hope next year to have parents addresses so we can send reminders and even little blurps of sales or clearance announcments of those precious navy blue pants!
Mainly the Secretary takes care of checking the e-mail and printing messages that need to be shared with the group and correspondence but all the officers have the password and two Admin (they haven't checked the messages but it's a way to keep everyone honest and open.) .
I love it!! No phone tag, lost mmessages, keeps us in touch and much easier to have 4 friends proof read a document!
One more thought...I look forward to next year to sign-up our high school parents, not our biggest audience but most let of as far as the paper announcments! NOTHING reachs them! Even process reports are e-mailed to most! Need to join that ban wagon!
We use our Email account for the same type of things...reminders, mark your calendar dates, etc. We have ours set up according to classrooms...it works out beautifully. It's yet another way of "getting the word out" to parents...you know sometimes, those letters sent home get shoved into desks and backpacks. I send out a weekly e-newsletter to the entire list...and include upcoming events, etc. so that the parents know to look and ask for the flyers and letters. The teachers don't have access to our email list, as it is strictly for PTA use. Haven't heard any complaints from them about it. Have been getting TONS OF RAVES AND THANK YOUS from the parents, and PTA participation has had a 50% increase over last year's....like I said before, it works BEEEAAAAUUUU-TIFULLY!
I set up an email account more to help me than anything. I just used one of the ones from my personal account and set up all of the teachers and parents.
I divided the parent names into groups of the people who signed up to help with different things. I divided the teachers into grades.
I use it to alert certain committees when it is time to put them into action.
I use it to remind teachers and staff of deadlines for the newsletter and such. I also use it to remind of meetings and things like that.
We have an email address and a mailing list. People can email us to make any comments, suggestions, or ask questions.
As for the mailing list....we use it to make announcements and send out reminders. Our principal also uses the email list alot to get out information about anything and everything.
We also use the mailing list as a back up to the phone chain for emergency school closings.
