Just a thought and I see the point- It would be the opposite but smae effect of the first idea

I'm going to try to talk them out of it and just make it a flat rate for the event

I can see for spirit wear, dinner tix, action, and maybe admission fees- but I cant for a project where your making an item and there are member and non member costs

I'm really woried about the nonmember who wants to make an item or participate but just doesnt want to join the PTA/PTO

Originally posted by <AbbieNormal>:


I think it should be flat fee (say $10 to participate) and if your not a member you get membership as an added bonus

Careful with this one, because you run the risk of a lot of existing members saying: "Hey, wait a minute!"

Thats what I'm worried about- turning parents off..... I think the board is too focused on the numbers of members as opposed to the number/quality of events/programs

Yes dues are $5- I dont think they're gaining any advantage with membership (even though we are a PTA) - or connecting with parents this way

I dont think there should be a member vs nonmember cost for anything- the group is already fighting a clique issue from years past- they do a good job of addressing where the dues go and the budget and meeting minutes are available to all

I'm just trying to find a tactful way to address my disapproval of this idea

I think it should be flat fee (say $10 to participate) and if your not a member you get membership as an added bonus

We have decent parent volunteerism/participation (plus 250+ members out of 550+ students (so a 1000+ possible estimate)

I too am not a great fan of dues (especially the PTA version) but do like it as a way of raising funds for virtually no cost- that said I prefer </font>

• $5 membership</font>
• $10 for 2 plus tshirt (PTO/PTA/school or pirit wear)</font>
• $20 for 2 plus 2 shirt</font>

i.e.- What's in in it for me type things

I think it would absolutely turn off a lot of parents.

I assume your dues are $5 per year? Is that right? So if you went with this option, then you'd pick up all these members, but would you really have any greater connection with them? What was the advantage?

The goal is to connect with as many parents as you can and build parent involvement and engagement in your school and to build a community of support around the kids and teachers. The goal isn't just to build your membership. (increased PTO membership does not always = increased involvement, especially if the PTO membership is -- sort of -- coerced).

I'm personally not in favor of charging dues at all. ("If getting more parents connected is our biggest challenge, why do we make parents pay to get involved?" is my argument.)

But there is a theory that I understand about dues being a way for parents to make a first step toward supporting the group/school. Thing is, though, that -- even in this second theory where dues are a first step toward support -- your proposed method actually misses that, as folks may well wind up as members. But they certainly haven't really made any step toward support. Worse yet, they'll likely feel put-upon and have a somewhat negative feeling toward your group (making later actual involvement-building efforts more difficult).

Tim

I think it is a way of "sneaking" in PTO membership and if you charge them membership as well as the event fee then why isn't it just the membership fee? As soon as they "join" the event they are a PTO member and it is free. Do you see my arguement. I think that if you charge dues (which many folks do not) that you should be up front about folks joining the PTO with them and not try to slip it in so your numbers of members will go up. We ask folks to join and let them know all their dues are going towards the school structural maintenance. It is then kept in a Sun Fund that we use for remulching, replanting etc. That way no one year of students has to sacrifice any programs if those tasks need accomplishing.
If you do charge dues for membership, then joining should be something folks do outright....truly some people might take offense at your approach and miss the great programs you might be offering. That would be too bad for the children.
Now having said that, we do offer incentives with membership but the items are all also sold for non members at a reasonable price that doesn't equal the membership cost.
Hope all this made sense...
d

Would you find it offensive or not participate if event was run as
</font>

• PTO Member (already paid dues)</font>
• Event cost lets say $5</font>
• Non PTO Member (hasnt paid dues)</font>
• Event cost lets say $10 but you get PTO membership</font>

</font>

• Would you attend if flyer had diff prices for cost?</font>
• Would you be offended?</font>
• Would you still support PTO?</font>