Kool aid?! Hey if you want that go down the street and turn left and on the right side a couple of houses in and there is someone who set up shop selling lemonade and kool aid. Here at the " ?" bar we only sell the good stuff!
We need a name for our virtual establishment folks....and a slogan would be nice too..
I think a lot of passionate PTA defenders miss most critics' points on the lobbying issue.
No one has a problem with the existence of a large national group organized to advocate for a cause
AARP does it.
NRA does it.
NARAL does it.
Right-to-Lifers do it.
There are tons of 'em. Several of them huge. Lots of them quite influential.
There's a big difference, though, between PTA and those groups. Every single NARAL member (or 99%) is a passionate believer in a woman's right to choose. Every single NRA member is a passionate believer that second amendment protects their right to own guns. And members of both groups join the groups specifically because the groups' advocacy positions. PTA is so different.
The vast majority of purported PTA members are members because they sent $5 in to their little Johnny or Janey's school. It's a complete disconnect. They couldn't spell National PTA if you spotted them the National. And yet PTA loudly touts its 5.9 million members when lobbying. There's a mis-fit there. And that's what causes PTA's difficulties.
Free advice: PTA should focus *more* on advocacy. Change from a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (where lobbying is limited) to a 501(c)(4) nonprofit (advocacy organization -- Washington PTA has already done this). Embrace the cause. Start getting members the way NRA and NARAL, etc. do -- one at a time, based on passion. (Nice side result : you could charge far more for membership. 5.9 million members at $1.75 is the equivalent of only 500,000 members at $20.) I'd love it. I'd join and be a passionate proponent. Others would, too. Some would not. But 100% of PTA membership would be on board for "the cause". The voice would be way stronger (even with smaller numbers) and there'd be none of the current issues with "who's voice?" or "they don't speak for me" stuff.
This is longer than I wanted, but to summarize: Everyone wants there to be a voice for kids. The problem is in mixing "getting involved with Johnny's school" (which is wonderful, absolutely great in and of itself) and buying into 1) being part of a national advocacy group at all; and 2) that group's actual positions.
shirley temple with extra cherries coming right up! JHB (spiked with a little gin - NOT) Even put a little cutey umbrella in your glass for ya
yo.... stop hogging all the "nuts" and pass them around mykidsmom and scoot over so I can take a load off! Phew... this p/t job as bartending is almost as hard as volunteering at my school.....LOL!
Hey. who is sitting over there in that dark corner booth?.... :eek:
Next round is on me!!! Speaking of which, who is going to San Ramon on April 1? That's where I'll be and I believe they have a real bar to belly up to at the Marriot! The first round is on me!!!
Here at the " ?" bar we only sell the good stuff!