I find it hard to believe that this isn't in your bylaws especially since you are in California. You do need to follow your bylaws. There should be a section under relationship with State and National PTA with a section starting with a "PTA may dissolve and wind up its affairs in the following manner". Generally it states that a resolution to dissolve be adopted and the vote on resolution to be directed to the members. Written and printed notice to be given to each member 30 days prior to the vote. It also will likely include that copies of these notices be sent to the state President within 20-30 days prior to the vote. Our state bylaws also state that a representative from State will be given the opportunity to speak at the meeting.
Then, it will state only those members in good standing as of the date of the vote,(dues paying) may vote at the meeting.
As for who are members and by what date, you have answered that question.
The bylaws state only members in good standing, if your membership expires on June 30th then a meeting held in July would have to have new dues paid for membership.
If you started now and sent the notice now, you can have the meeting prior to the end of the year, not undergo a new membership campaign and still follow your bylaws.
You've hit on one of the great uncovered details in virtually all PTA bylaws. And another reason why I'm geneerally not a fan of charging dues for voting privileges in parent groups. It just creates unnecessary complications and puts up artificial barriers to involvement.
The one thing I wouldn't do is go through a whole new membership campaign for PTA, if my group was strongly considering switching. I'd figure out the yea or nay on switching before taking in another dollar or any new PTA members.
If it was me, I'd go through the process -- the spirit of the rules -- with my existing membership and see what happens. If your parents want to stay PTA, go back to your new year PTA business (starting with membership drive). If your parents vote to go PTO, I'd report to PTA that you had a vote and you've disbanded, etc.
If state PTA objects to that, then I'd say: "OK, well then we have zero members for 2004-2005 (because you wouldn't have undertaken any membership campaign and you'd have no new officers, etc.). You can call us still a PTA if you like and you keep us on your rolls. But there's no activity, no assets, no members, and no dues coming in."
It should work fine. If the parents at your school want to be a PTO, then you can definitely easily be a PTO.
Help me please. We are a year round elementary school. We are changing from PTA to PTO.We know we have to have a meeting to discuss this issue with our parents and vote. My question is our new year for PTA is July. The parents who come to this meeting do they have to be current PTA members? The membership for PTA is for one year. So for the parents who have paid their membership for 2003-2004 their membership is over June 30, 2004, so the parents who come to our discussion will be not be current PTA members. In order for our parents to vote on the PTA PTO issue do they have to be current paid PTA Members? I have checked the California PTA by-laws but this info is not there. Please help me and e-mail me your reponse.....Thanks!!!! :confused:
