I have been on PTA board for 4 years & now I have a unique chance of beig the President of a new Parent Group. I am in the midst of deciding which way to go PTA or PTO. I feel that it does not matter as long as the children benefit. I am a firm believer that parents who become involved with their children's education will enhance their lives tremendously.

I love the PTOtoday.co site. I also like the way the PTA gives a website to PTA's for "free". I have created a website for School#34, where I am the 2nd Vice-president of PTA. I look for all ways I can communicate to the community about what our Schools are doing. I feel that communication
is the key with parent groups whether they are PTO or PTA.
The saddest thing for me to see is the way parents say they have "NO TIME". My response to that is "You don't have 5 minutes to help?" All I want is for all parents to volunteer & see what we are all about.
Isn't that what parent groups are supposed to be about, not for socializing (like a tea party)?

PTAVoice, I have found that the PTA's that are seeking to go PTO have had the unfortunate circumstance of their PTA not functioning as National PTA advocates. When I first began reviewing the posts PTA vs. PTO, I could not understand why anyone would want to change, especially over the $3.00 or so dues that they send to state and national per member.If an individual PTA unit does not use all the resources, training, and programs that PTA has to offer I suppose I too, would question the need for the affiliation. My thoughts then go to, but how could that be? Well any unit is only as good as its leadership. I have heard of PTA and PTO units going belly up very quickly under not so great leadership. Once at that point I would imagine you would consider anything.

I have personally reaped the rewards of participation with the National PTA. We have 15 PTA units in our Council. There are monthly meetings with the Presidents of these units. We share everything from our fundraisers, to our programs/assemblies. Also of great value is membership, and teacher appreciation tips. We all come with our pencils sharpened and our papers full of information to bring back to our schools.

Our council also offers workshops throughout the year for presidents, vice presidents, treasurers, secretaries, membership, bylaws, nominating committees, audits, and many more, to make everyones jobs a little easier. The council board members are always on hand to answer any questions about anything and so are the State Board of Managers. Just a phone call or email away. I take great solice in this.

At our monthly council meetings we here from our Superintendant, and a teacher representative from elementary, middle and high school levels. Reports are also made about any legislation brewing that could effect our students or families and how to take action on those issues, Health Welfare and Safety issues, school board, and there is many times a speaker on other community issues. This information is provided to each unit to report at their meetings.

Each president receives a Resource Manual from both State and National PTA. This manual is priceless as it covers everything from how to chair a meeting to generating volunteers, and all things concerning finances (sample budgets, audits etc..). Very, very useful. All of our officers and members are invited to Council Training, District (several school district attend)Leadership Conferences, Legislaiton Conference, State Convention, and National Convention.

In my correspondance with PTA leaders across the country we are speaking the same language. Yes, we all do things a tad differently but our purpose, and mission is the same. Though I also enjoy my correspondance with PTO's also there are always a million more questions involved and of course issues that we do not face. (I know that all the PTA's have bylaws on record even if they are temporarily lost, they are obtainable at the State level and in each of these bylaws, Robert's Rules of Order is the parliamentary authority, Whew!)

In my own community PTA has been around since the 1920's. It was PTA that led the blood drives during the war, provided the first hot lunches, did the first vision screenings, provide inexpensive strep tests, convinced the city to install school crossing flashers, lobbyed to install crossing gates at the railroad tracks, lobbyed to remove certain commercials from TV. Many of these things started in our community but were brought to the state level through our State PTA. These are just a few things, but well worth the $3.00 dues I pay to keep work like this going.

I am sorry to have rambled on but back to the question of why. If an individual PTA is not using its resources and members are not aware of what that $3.00 actually does. I can see why the switch.

Sorry so long! Best Wishes

I am wondering what research a PTA does when considering going PTO? PTO only means that you aren't PTA. PTO only means that your group still wants or uses a name that associations Parents and Teachers. PTOs are not affliated with one another. PTO Today is a commercial organization operating on the web. They help you find commercial fund-raisers, they offer some other useful information that parallels what NPTA also shares with the public and it's members, and since it is relatively new, I trust the PTO today will continue to grow as a viable resource for groups that have no other avenue to discuss and share the information they need to function. I am just curious, because it will make me a better person, a better PTA representative, to understand, without anger or accusation, why a PTA wants to go "PTO".

A second question would be - as president, are you making this decision on your own? or do you intend to present a motion, with justification, to your membership?

Good Luck.

Hello and thank you for allowing me to visit and remark on this forum.

First, let me say that we will be choosing PTA or PTO this evening.

I have read through most of the responses. Let me point out to "PTA PRES" response (approx. on 1/26/01)....The $1000 the previous person was talking about is....for example, your $1 and $2 dues going to the PTA National and State organizations for a total of $3. In our school, we have 600+ children. That $3 x 600 = $1800. That is a lot to lose if everyone signs up and pay dues! So, if these parents realize that most of their dues goes elsewhere, do you think they will pay dues. INDEED NOT!

PTO seems the way to go. We are in the age of electronic happiness and have many resources out there. Not only the internet sites like PTO Today & others (just do a search on PTO - or even PTA - and see how many listings appear!), but also our friends around the area. Most people I know have children in all localities around here. I know parents who are in PTA and very willing to answer any of my questions. I know parents from PTO willing to do the same.

Just be happy and do what needs to be done for your children AND the SPIRIT of the school your children attend. AND, PLEASE, STOP BICKERING!! Thank you again....

Fredericksburg, VA