Cindy drop me a line and I will tell you how to not only promote, speakers at your meetinfg and still et everything done efficiently. Our #'s are kicking everyones butt! Meeting attendance, membership(25.00), volunteers and a brand new big budget. take no prisoners and make it happen. Lots of people stuck in their ways and quit when they run into walls.
Ignite a spark in your membership and at your meetings...drop me a line

Mike
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Originally posted by my3strongtikes:
I have an idea of having some parenting workshops after some of the PTO meetings. I was thinking maybe that it would draw more parents in and educate at the same time. Did any of your groups do this and did it work?
Cindy

We found that we got a bigger turnout if we provided childcare/entertainment while the parent meeting was going on, and also if we asked specific parents to bring refreshments or come early to set up chairs and decorate.

Having a veggie tray as well as sweets, a variety of decaf teas and hot water as well as coffee, and giving away a fun door prize (even a single bedding plant or a fancy soap or lotion) caused people to want to attend.

Instead of a drawing, taping a 'winning' paper to the bottom of a chair can be fun - you might want to have several chairs tagged (with back up prizes on hand) in case all the chairs are not filled.

Of course, if your child is going to perform, have his or her schoolwork or artistic achievement displayed, or be recognized in any way - that is a big draw. Emphasizing that 'non-members' are welcome and are eligible for door prizes is always a good idea, too.

Please remember to invite parents of children in special education to all events - sometimes flyers home don't make it into their backpacks. Do you have a telephone tree? That can create a sense of community.

Good luck, and have fun with it!

Pam W
SE of Seatle

Thanks for the input ladies I really appreciate it. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Cindy

Good luck with keeping people after a PTO mtg.
I wanted our individual commitees to meet for 15 minutes or so and that failed. Mom, bolted out to catch Big Brother or American Idol on tv those night. In planning next years PTO mtg. I alternated Tues/Wed. every other month to see if that works. PRIORITIES!!

we tried this our first year, the prinicpal tried to get things with a parenting issue/topic. It didn't work out, about three times a year we may have a school issue/project that we get someone to talk to our group about but that is even pushing it! I think it depends on your families, I mean our group is so oriented to the meetings, getting plans laid out and moving ahead. It is tough to want to stay after wards, the truth is alot of times the families that could use the meetings arent the ones who show up...if you know what I mean. Our school liasion is going to try some this year and it will be interesting to see what happens. good luck...feel out your families and see what they say

[ 08-11-2005, 08:34 PM: Message edited by: pals ]

I have an idea of having some parenting workshops after some of the PTO meetings. I was thinking maybe that it would draw more parents in and educate at the same time. Did any of your groups do this and did it work? If so what were the parent workshops for? I have a few ideas even if I dont do them with the PTO meetings.
I was thing one on internet safety, working with teachers, and just dealing with parenting issues in general. What do you think or is it a waste of time?


Cindy