Our perks are advertised! This is how you get people to join the membership [img]smile.gif[/img] Also in the monthly newsletter before an event there is a small blurp about "PTA Members receive 10% off at Book Fair", etc. We actually get quite a few new members during book fair because they come up to the cash register to buy their books, we ask "are you a PTA member?" if they answer no then we tell them that we asked because members receive 10% off. [img]smile.gif[/img]
PTA Perks was put into effect at our school 4 years ago now. It defiantely works!
Marty in ND
I've been involved in PTOs that occasionally had volunteer drawings, but it was never an incentive used to recruit. It was usually a "thank you" for those who showed up.
Especially at our elementary school Spring Fling. There are a ton of things going on, including several drawings. But sometimes we'd have one little drawing just for volunteers.
lemonrasp, I'm curious to know if you advertise your 'perks' when recruiting volunteers for each event and/or when doing your initial membership drive? Also, do you list all perks all at once up front or just before each event planned gets underway?
We give our volunteers different things at each fundraiser. At Book Fair they receive .50cents off a book for each hour they work. At Carnival, Dinner/Raffle, and Book Bingo they receive a voucher for $1.50 off of food. All of this money then gets transfered from our "Volunteer Appreciation" budget and put into that specific fundraiser. Our PTA members receive "PTA PERKS". T-shirts are $1.00 cheaper for memebers, they receive 10% off book purchases at Book Fair, $1.00 off Dinner tickets, $1.00 off Yearbook, $1.00 off Cookbook. We have a "PTA PERKS" line item in the budget as well so funds get transfered from that to the specific fundraiser. The Chairperson for each fundraiser receives a $10 gift certificate to the Mall.
One year a Pres. did give certain "coupons" off different things based on the hours a volunteer put in at the school per quarter. Of course the PTA Board had the most hours and would receive a few dollars off Carnival tickets or some such thing and that was looked down upon (which I think it rightfully should have been).
When I was President and even as Treasurer I never put my name on any of the Raffle tickets, etc. My children however participate in everything and are eligible to win just like every other student in the school. I never drew the names out at the raffle or for the box tops collection sheets, etc. Always had the Principal do it.
I would be really interested to hear if anyone doing these kinds of incentives has seen their involvement numbers rise significantly. We have had a lot more people sign up to be on committees, but when it comes to actually doing the work, it's still the same faces, plus a handful of newcomers. I don't get the impression that the newcomers are there for the incentive though; they seem to be as hard core as us "old timers."
I'm on the fence. I too, think parents should WANT to be involved, and personally, can't imagine NOT being involved in my kid's education. On the other hand, I NEED HELP!! We have low parent involvement when it comes to our parent group & I feel like I would give my left arm (not my right one-I need that one) if it would get more parents to show up. I had thought about doing raffles etc., but, I guess it really comes down to the fact that if they want to be there, they will be there. If they don't want to be there & they come, your not really going to get a heck of a lot out of them & it will be short lived. I feel like: I'm just as busy as anyone else, but I make the time~a lot of time~to be there because I think it is important. Don't you want the people who also think it is important & don't just want a prize?
Wow! Look at that- I guess I'm not on the fence after all! [img]smile.gif[/img]
