Thank you that clarified it beautifully. Now where do I get the PTO kit instead of the NPN kit. Do I just contact you guys again only this time specify PTO kit? Well thank you I will discuss this with my group. I hope this helps end alot of confusion and helps our group become a better organization.
I just want to say the PTO kit has been extremely helpful to our PTO. It has answered so many questions that we needed to know. I wish I had it when I first started researching PTO's and how to become a real organization. But I do have it now and would recommend it. I hope they continue to provide more information on the members only page. I am constantly looking for help. I hope some group will read this and not have to dig around for info. like I did. The kit provided direction not rules. Good Luck to all in this position it's a rocky road !
You do not need an "NPN number" -- that's a member number for the National PTO Network. That's 100% your choice.
What I think you're referring to is an EIN number (for Employer Identification Number) which is an IRS identifier for every unique entity (sort of like a social security number). This is something we think groups should have (and the NPN guide has step-by-steps on how to get it).
As far as:
"But the kit sounds like we have to do the same as with the PTA pay dues and take their by-laws and follow whatever their lead is"
Again, I'm sorry if the info. kit gave that impression, but that's not the way at all. NPN member groups are free to have whatever bylaws they like, free in fact to do whatever they like. Allow me to go back to the AAA (American Automobile Association) analogy -- AAA members get driving tips and maps and discounts on hotels and rental cars,and tire changes at 3AM in the winter. But AAA members can drive any car they want any way they please. And AAA "members" are members as long as they find the benefits worth the $$. As soon as they don't, they can stop paying the member fee, and then they're no longer members. No arduous process for joining AAA or (especially)for leaving. I think NPN and PTA are similarly significantly different.
NPN info kit (and NPN member package) does include talk of bylaws and the like, but only in terms of giving best advice to still-independent groups.
While there are lots of NPN benefits (nice discounts on our Show admissions, free mag subscriptions, members-only resources online, etc.), you can definitely make an "is it worth it for us" decision. If you're looking for parent group insurance, then the answer is almost definitely yes (the discount alone will likely pay for your membership). If not, you need to weigh the rest of the benefits against your needs and the membership price tag (just $179 per year).
But just to repeat -- NPN member groups retain complete independence.
Hope this helps. You can also feel free to call our NPN help line at 800-644-3561 x208, if you have further questions.
Yes; KC like you I usually end up volunteering more than most...LOL. I thank you very much Tim I really needed to see this. We are struggling with an over zealous administrator who would like to take complete control of the group so we are know finding out that this person is giving us partially info so that they might be able to get us to do what they want. When you don't know better someone else who seems to know is usually the person you go to to led you and that is what this person wants to continue. In fact they would like to change the by-laws so that they become a permanent part of the board of directors so that they might be able to led the group in everything. So we were looking for our own info and came across the fact that we do not have an NPN number and need one and that we have never filed taxes which has turned out ok and that we need ins. for our group. So we are starting in the right direction then I would guess. But the kit sounds like we have to do the same as with the PTA pay dues and take their by-laws and follow whatever their lead is. It never mentions or sounds like an individual group working with an association group. That is where the confusion is starting from. You are right we need help but are struggling trying to find any that sounds reasonable without being pushy. We are trying to do our homework and most of the leaders in our school don't want us to change. The superintendent said that the reason they broke away from PTA was all the money that was required of them. For stuff like ins. and bonding and that sort of thing as well as dues. So how does this really differ. The kit even mentions by-laws and such. It is not all that different sounding than the PTA. Please help me figure all this out.
Thanks;
Nat
I'm guessing that you received an NPN membership kit, and I think you're a bit confused (sorry about that). Let me try and help.
There are typically three ways to operate as a parent group. 1) PTA -- which means you're a part of the state and national PTAs; you pay dues to those groups; you follow their bylaws and you get tax exempt status through the PTA. This is usually the most expensive route. 2) PTO done "right". There is no national PTO, but there are a lot of independent parent groups ("PTO" is a catch-all acronym for many different independent local groups like PCC or PTC or HSA, etc.) who dot their i's and cross their t's. It sounds like this is what you're looking for. Typically this means your group becoming a separate legal entity (it's own ID# with IRS, etc.), applying for nonprofit status, getting insured and the like. Those are steps we highly recommend, but you won't find a single book on "why we should do things well." 3. PTOs just kind of doing own thing. These groups -- and there are quite a few of them -- do much the same "stuff" as the others, but they never get around to (or they don't know better) taking some of the official steps. Trouble for these groups comes if/when there's a lawsuit or a theft or if the IRS comes calling. These groups often are ineligible for any kinds of grants because they are not formal nonprofits, etc.
The NPN is a series of benefits (think AAA for parent groups) to help any/all parent groups. Many of those benefits are designed to help groups easily get into #2 above. There are step-by-steps on getting the nonprofit status, for example, as well a quite strong insurance program/discount. That $1200 insurance you mentioned could be far, far less through the NPN.
Your challenge with your membership and administration is education. If the administration says you don't need insurance, ask them to let you speak to the district's insurance rep and get his/her assurance in writing that your group activities and leaders are covered. It's pretty easy for the guy or gal who's tail is not on the line to tell you that you're all set. Same is true of getting nonprofit status or tax id#. The leaders of your group are the folks with their tails on the line on this issue, too. There are strong positive benefits to getting "official" plus the "avoid the negatives" benefits, as well.
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