We're a very small school and we only started our PTO last year. We started with a policy of everyone is a PTO member but we asked for voluntary dues with a suggested contribution of $10. This helped us start up our checking account and fund our first activities. We'll probably keep it going unless parents tell us it's a real barrier to membership.
our dues is a request for a $15.00 donation on our membership sign up form. we do not make it a mandatory fee for membership. most people do pay but not all. this way we don't have to worry about those who can't afford it but still want to be involved. currently there are no perks that come with membership except alot of hard work. next year we are planning to put out a roster and calendar that will be distributed at the beginning of the year and we are starting monthly newsletters the beginning this March however membership will not be required to receive these.
lisa [img]smile.gif[/img]
With 3 kids, I am a member of three PTO's, each of which charge $10 dues per family. At each school, you get a school directory and "note to school" pad with your paid dues. Joining the PTO is the only way you get a directory; yes....many people pay their dues for that reason only. Since our directory publication cost is minimal, the dues money is a fundraiser for our PTOs. Even if we didn't have the directories, I would still want to charge a modest amount for dues.
I believe paying dues demonstrates a commitment to the cause. People who view themselves as "members" because they took action to join (i.e. pay dues) are more likely to participate in and support the activities of the organization. Our preschool parent group has no dues, and only a handful of people ever participate. It proves that having no dues is not going to increase participation.
All of our students (approx. 400) take home fundraising materials. I think most families realize that while they may not wish to be "members", the money they help raise pays for field trips, assemblies, supplies, etc. that their children would not ordinarily receive.
As to the dues debate, I have come up with a compromise regarding the wording in our new by laws. A door will be left open for charging them (or NOT charging them) but the board will have to agree on an amount annually and the funds must be earmarked. Thus, we won't have to amend our by laws every time there's a change in dues. While I have a philosophical problem with charging dues (for membership that has no direct benefits and it is exclusionary) I can deal with it if the money goes to a specific item/effort. I want to avoid the perception that we are always asking for money. I KNOW we are about so much more than that.
For a lot of working families, paying dues $5 for a family membership, is the only way they get to help out. We live in a small town, and most people work 1-2 hours away, they never make it to a meeting or to help out during school functions. By having dues, I have heard, they feel that they are helping out. They are part of the PTO.
This may sound bad, but if we can't get their time, atleast we can put their money to good use.
