Originally posted by kelleyraek:
I was just looking for those type of statistics for my weekly e-mail... You're phenomenal! Have any more???

Then you're going to love our January issue! Several features on why involvement is so important. Keep an eye on it.

Want to subscribe for your own copy? forms.ptotoday.com/store/product.html?id=1021

Tim

Shawn,
THANK YOU FOR THAT LAST POST! I was just looking for those type of statistics for my weekly e-mail... You're phenomenal! Have any more???
Kelley
Madison PTO
Mount Vernon, WA

We usually do 2 books fairs (school weeklong), at the beginning of school to kick off our Books and Beyond Lesiure Reading Program and one in the spring to corrollate(sp?) with a family event/ activities.

As above stick to your guns and ask, ask, ask- we have the same 5-6 that DO EVERYTHING, then a few here and there depending on the event or time of year. Its frustrating but slowly more and more keep volunteering. Keep 'em informed, look for articles about Parent Involvment to add to flyers (this or something similar goes on the bottom of flyers addressed to Dads', Grandfathers', Male Guardian/ Family Members')

• Children are more likely to get mostly A's if their fathers are involved in their schools. Among children in grades 6 through 12, the odds that children get mostly A's increase by 46 percent if fathers are highly involved in their schools and by 21 percent if fathers are moderately involved in their schools, compared with the children of little-involved men.
OR
•According to a 1997 study by the National Center for Education Statistics, children do better in school when their fathers are involved. The study found that children in two-parent families in which the father is highly involved get better grades, enjoy school more, and are less likely to repeat a grade, compared with kids from families in which only mothers are highly involved. In addition, the study found that children do better in school when their fathers take an active role even if their fathers do not live with them.
or this
•Other studies show that fathers’ participation enhances children’s ability to make choices and solve problems. “One of the best predictors of whether kids succeed academically is the father’s involvement,” says James A. Levine, director of the The Fatherhood Project at the Families and Work Institute in New York City. First, says Levine, when a father shows an interest in a child’s schoolwork, the father’s values are clearly communicated to his child. And second, teachers take notice when fathers show up, he says. “The whole support system around the child gets more engaged. Mom is engaged, Dad is engaged, and so is the teacher.”

[ 11-18-2005, 03:14 AM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

We have two book fairs a year too. We coordinate both to occur during the weeks of parent/teacher conferences. It made a huge difference in our sales from years ago when we used to only be open during the school day. We usually don't have too much trouble getting volunteers because we have this core group who just loves working the book fairs. Also, because they are during the conferences, there are parents who are willing to come work a shift before or after their conference so they just make that one trip in to the school.

Have you just tried calling some of the parents you know have always worked the book fairs before? What about getting high schoolers to help during any evening hours you have? We have also used our 5th graders to straighten, keep an eye on things, and help younger children make selections and find prices. That worked because we were open during recesses and the teachers allowed some of the kids to miss a little class. It helped free up the adults to handle the money and any special orders.

Writermom, I'm going to give you my first reaction to your question and it may come across as rude... that's not intended! But you ask: "And how do you handle asking for volunteers for events held a month apart?" Give me a sec while I get my jaw of the floor... If you have problems getting volunteers for things that are an ENTIRE MONTH APART, you've got issues!!! I usually am arranging volunteers for events/activities that fall DAYS (if not hours)APART! This week alone, we had/have our PTO Meeting, Book Fair, a Levy Kickoff function, a Teacher's Potluck DInner, and our annual Pajama Night... plus, all of our on-going projects like CLub Day, scrip, etc. If I had volunteers that were balking at doing things a month apart, we wouldn't be able to function!

Now, from reading your past posts, I know that things aren't going so smoothly for you and your PTO. This is probably just another example of all the problems you've been having. BUT... stick to your guns. Change things a little bit at a time and you'll get the success you deserve. Make volunteering fun and show your volunteers the end results of their time, and soon you'll have too many volunteers signing up!

Good luck with all you do!

Kelley
Madison PTO
Mount Vernon, WA

We usually hold the first book fair during conference week & the 2nd in the spring. I send home a note asking for volunteers with the times needed so they can check off the time they can work. For ex. Mon. Nov. 7
__8:30-10:00
__10:00-11:00
__11:00-12:00
etc....
I will fill in the blanks when I can. Sometimes I have to send home another notice with the time slots I still need filled. Hope this helps.