flmom...Hi Ive been in charge of our PTO for a year and have toyed with speakers/programs. I have tried a few spaekers..topics included child stress, healthy habits for kids, report card issues, the importance of reading. mostly parent oriented tips on our children. The principal thought that it would increase attendance but infact it went the other way. Ive had parents tell me they aren't giving up thier night to hear about things they alreday know. basically if it's not about my child they rather not be there. I have parents that come to every meeting except when we have a speaker. So for our group it doesnt work maybe for your school it will. It extends our meetings by like a half hour. For the rest of the year I have no speakers scheduled, what i have replaced "empty" time with is afun activity like one meeting we all had to draw a card that was labeled with a underwater item, what was on your card you had to draw. they do it doing the meeting while listening and at the end i glued it all together to make a big picture...the meaning...that everyone of us is such an imporatnt part of the scene. Right now I am having all volunteers make a paper quilt square that will be pieced together for a volunteer"quilt". They love doing that stuff and it lightens up the meetings alot ! There's alot of fun stuff like that we do !

Having tentatively decided to run for Pres. of our PTA, one of my biggest challenges looks like it will be increasing membership and meeting attendance. I know many PTAs present speakers at their meetings, so I was wondering,

1)Do you feel a program brings more people to your meetings?
2)What types of programs do you present?
3)How much longer does a program make your meetings last?
4)Have I lost my mind?