Yup- its an intersting history- our PTA is PTA gung-ho (much to my chagrin)

The Reflections is a good program- it fits with the CA writing standards.

The PTA member benefits are pretty worthless (Borders discount, Kinko's discount, and some Unionized healthcare plan (think self employed insurance) - the online training sessions are OK, the training sessions from State and National (have to be requested- its not a 'HI, thanks for becoming PTA here's your training!!!')

PTA does do a lot of good things but for the amount of money they take in (the lobbying has actually gotten a few things changed but not enough IMO- to many stances and resolutions but no real change- Even at 1.75 WIIFM (what's in it for me??) I'd say not enough.........

I think the system is bassackwards and getting a coherent repsonse to a question from PTA is like talking to a recorded mssg. The website has tons of info for free (although I dont like the way its functionality is- It a terrible web design) and lots if your a member.

hi Tim.. glad to hear it.. that's why I was purposely vague with words like " I guess" and " probably".. it was just a hunch, based on social trends. So, does that mean they were formed by those rare sassy go-getters, like the women in the 1800's and early 1900's who started all the current sororities.. ??? Go sassy pioneers!

RobinD;126762 wrote:
The PTA was probably formed by MEN to help run the business of the schools, as they perceived that at home-women did not have the skills to run the business end of the organization.

Just for the record, this is not the case. You can find the history of the PTA pretty extensively on the PTA web site. While I agree with much of what you said about the current landscape for parent groups, I don't believe at all that the history is as stark as you're painting.

Tim

As Tim suggested go to that link he mentions in his first post, and click on " PTO vs PTA Cover Story... we are a PTO.. in the umpteen years I have been involved at the exec board level, i had NO idea that PTA was that different. I think EVERYONE should take a minute and read that article ( if they don't the differences).

I just can't imagine WHY, in 2007 anyone would still belong to a national PTA unless they, too had a political agenda. It appears that most of the features and benefits for resources are now available to anyone on line, in magazines, and other "public resources". It seems like the significant dues go to pay the salaries of the PTA national HQ's, and fund lobbyists... now whose to say the issues they lobby for are those which most benefit YOUR school??


I think when the PTA's started 100 years ago, and even when they were thriving in the 60's and 70's, I can probably safely guess that 100% of these organizations were run by women, and of those women, probably 99%
of them did not work outside the home. The PTA was probably formed by MEN to help run the business of the schools, as they perceived that at home-women did not have the skills to run the business end of the organization.


Ok, before anyone jumps too high......... I am NOT man-bashing, nor am I implying at home moms didn't have skills ( I am an at home mom).. I am pointing out the roles that men and women played even as late as the 1970's........

Having said all that.. we fast forward to 2007 where just as many women are educated as men, and have as many business skills as men. Our societal roles have shifted dramatically, and with the explosion of communication capabilities, I just don't see how PTA's still even EXIST? WHO pays several hundred in dues , and gets more out of it than, let's say- 2 new overhead projectors for the school????

I am interested to hear from PTA people.. what ARE the benefits in 2007???

Rockne,

Thanks for the information. You have been quite helpful.

Sheryl

Hi Oakey -

The easiest way to protect your funds is to spend them down to at/near zero as you move toward the final vote.

One way to do that is to start setting up the guts of your PTO (get an EIN number and a bank account, for example) while your moving the PTA toward disbandment. That way, you can run your fund*raisers* during that time period as PTO fundraisers. And you can have your fund*spenders* during that same time frame be courtesy of the PTA. That's perfectly acceptable.

Yes, you typically can transfer the PTA (501c3) funds to a new PTO, provided they new PTO is also a 501c3. You could also -- right toward the end of your PTA -- make purchases for your school/kids/teachers that spend down the whole treasury.

I've never seen a group (even groups that don't follow the above advice) lose a penny, though that is often listed by PTA types as a real possibility, when those types are trying to scare the local PTA out of making a move. That said, I still think it's best to avoid even the possibility of an issue by getting that budget down to near zero before formally disbanding. that way, there's nothing even to argue about.

Tim