mpkmom, I am also in washington state and would love to talk to you directly about pta disbanding laws in Wa State. If you use yahoo im I am armybeans83647 or email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thanks for the information. Actually, we are in California and, unfortunately, our Parliamentarian is the only one with a copy of our current bylaws and has been less than cooperative in sharing it. In any case, this is definitely a choice to disband and change our status from PTA to PTO. I do, however, appreciate your response.

I am in Washington State - not sure where you are -- but accordining to our state bylaws if you are DISSOLVING your unit the Area Council President or Region Director MUST run the meeting - NOT your Board.

However, our attorney has noted that our state bylaws (that all units are required to abide by and use as their bylaws)really do not address a situation if you are CHOOSING to leave PTA (disbanding) and maintaining your separarte corporation (as they are always reminding us -- we ARE a completely separate entity)

If you ARE in Washington state I have some good info that could help you out...

Hi Tim -

You've got most of it right. However, it wasn't a PTA registration system that caused the confusion - it was a school-wide web application for all sorts of things (including PTA membership). Fortunately, we've ironed out all of those gliches and now have a solid membership list.

We did have a "false start" vote that was originally not 2/3 majority in favor of disbanding (short of 2-3 votes). Then, we discovered that a handful (4-5) of the voters were not members and started over again.

Our most recent vote was in February and it was, per PTA procedure, the vote of only our executive board and the outcome was a clear (9 to 3) majority in favor of disbanding.

Now, at our April meeting, we're having our "first" vote of the general membership. Depending on its outcome, there may (or may not) be yet one more vote (per PTA procedure).

While I can only represent my own opinion, recent voting activity (by the board) has shown a leaning toward disbanding. As it's almost solely based on financial considerations, I believe that those who become educated on the facts ($3.75 out of every $10 in membership dues leaves our school and goes to the PTA) may very well agree with the proposed change.

Cheers!
Gaven

Originally posted by Rockne:
I guess I'm still confused.

Here's what I'm hearing. Is it right?

You used the PTA's new online membership tracking system (OMDR) this past fall and there was a good amount of confusion with that.

You somewhat recently had a "should we start the disband process" vote that went through but PTA contested it, claiming that nonmembers voted. (Never minding fact that the member confusion was caused by OMDR).

??? You say this next vote coming up is the third "start the disband process" vote, but i didn't see above where the second one was. What happened with that one?

Now you're having another vote. And then you have to have a final vote in 30 days.

That about right?

I'm having flashbacks to the Godfather and Al Pacino: "Every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in."

It's frustrating because all of this bureaucratic agita just gets in the way of building involvement and creating community at school. You guys are going way above and beyond jumping through all these hoops. If more hoops keep getting put in front of you, I'd stop jumping soon.

Tim

I think it's one person's opinion that the majority wants to go PTO....

I guess I'm still confused.

Here's what I'm hearing. Is it right?

You used a new online membership tracking system this past fall and there was a good amount of confusion with that.

You somewhat recently had a "should we start the disband process" vote that went through but PTA contested it, claiming that nonmembers voted.

??? You say this next vote coming up is the third "start the disband process" vote, but i didn't see above where the second one was. What happened with that one?

Now you're having another vote. And then you have to have a final vote in 30 days.

That about right?

I'm having flashbacks to the Godfather and Al Pacino: "Every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in."

It's frustrating because all of this bureaucratic agita just gets in the way of building involvement and creating community at school. It should be a simpler process.

Tim

[ 04-13-2006, 07:00 AM: Message edited by: Rockne ]