Johnson City TN Council of PTAs

 

 

As Membership Chairman you are charged with the task of both maintaining and increasing membership in your local PTA ---the lifeblood of any local unit.  The primary reason for developing membership is to build an informed team of individuals to work on behalf of all children and youth. An involved PTA is a valuable resource for starting and maintaining programs and projects to benefit children and the community. Extending PTA membership also helps to increase public awareness of the valuable resource the PTA is to parents, educators and those in the community who work to secure a nurturing, healthy environment for children and to build strength in our numbers so that policy makers in all areas, at all levels will hear a strong, unified voice on behalf of children.

 

When collecting dues for membership, it is imperative to be aware that “all dues collected by the local unit for council, state and national PTA must be set aside and not used for any other expense.”

 

Please note that we have made some very important changes to the report forms.  In order to quality for Early Bird awards, at least a portion of your dues must be submitted to the state office by October 15th.  Remember when completing the report forms that we must have Number of Certified Teachers in School, Number of Certified Teachers in PTA, and Number of Students in School in order for your local unit to be considered for certain awards.  This information is not only necessary for award certification, it is also vital to our having consistent reporting records in the state office.

 

Please remember the following key items as you begin your membership drive:

 

Membership Challenge 5% increase – The Tennessee PTA would like to challenge each local unit to increase your 2009-2010 membership by 5% over last year’s membership.

Dues - Dues per person to the National PTA are $1.75 and state dues are $1.00.  You must send $2.75 per member to the state office with reports.  If you are united by a council, please consult your council as to the amount of dues that need to be paid to the council.  Your council will forward the state and national portion of the dues by the designated deadline date

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Membership List - The IRS requires that Tennessee PTA have a list of PTA members for every local unit.  Your membership list can be downloaded from OMDRPlus. When submitting the Additional Membership Report, you need only submit the names of the additional members.

Membership Cards – You are provided cards equal to the amount of last year’s membership.  Additional cards may be requested by contacting your region director, the State Office, or you may contact the Membership Chairman.  Cards are issued for one year and it is recommended that the date be from September to September to give locals the opportunity to finish any business that may be conducted at the beginning of the school year.  Unused cards should be sent back to the state office by March 1st.

Eight Digit Local ID Number – This number can be found on any mailing label you have received from the National PTA.  If you do not have your number or cannot find your number, you may contact the state office at 888-782-5712.  All cards must include the eight digit number to be a valid membership card.
Report Forms – Report forms are due October 15th, December 1st, and March 1st along with membership dues of $2.75 per member (includes State and National portions) and a list of your members. If you belong to a council, check with the council membership chair for the amount of council dues and the date the council needs your reports.  Your reports will be forwarded to the state by the October 15th, December 1st and March 1st deadlines.  Additional members may be reported at any time after the initial report.  You may want to copy this form several times before completing in order to continue reporting.

Most Creative Membership Campaign Report and Council Membership Promotion Report – These forms are on your state Website www.tnpta.org and should be submitted to the state office on or before March 1st.  Don’t forget to brag about how you increased or promoted PTA membership.

Awards – Remember that all membership awards, with the exception of the Early Bird Award, are based on reports received by the March 1st deadline.  Your initial membership report must be received in the State Office by December 1st to qualify for awards.

Need More Membership Information – Each president will receive the National PTA Quick Reference Guides.  This guide includes a complete section devoted to membership with information and handouts for reproducing that can be used to promote the benefits of PTA membership.
Market your PTA.  Encourage all faculty, former presidents, state board members, legislators, grandparents, etc., to join and support public education and the future of Tennessee which rests with our youth.

 

Tennessee PTA Membership Chairman
e-mail:  membership@tnpta.org

 

 

 

 

Attend Tennessee PTA Summer Leadership Training held in your region to obtain membership cards. 
Meet with membership committee and president.
Choose a theme.
Review previous campaign.
Set a goal of at least 5% over last year’s membership.  Also keep in mind the state’s membership challenge.
Select date for starting enrollment.
Plan a year-long calendar of membership activities.
Create or update a list of the unit’s accomplishments during the past two or three years.  Distribute this information with your invitation to join.
Study The Tennessee Membership section on the website www.tnpta.org and the Membership Section of the National PTA Quick Reference Guides.

 

 

Make publicity plans.*
Prepare a Welcome Kit.*
Ask mayor or county/city executive to proclaim PTA membership month.
Plan a membership contest, awards, or challenges for your unit.
Set up a PTA membership booth and information table the first day of school and at Open House.
Use this opportunity to welcome everyone, encourage involvement, and inform them of PTA programs/resources, positions, and advocacy efforts.

 

 

Send invitation letter to join PTA to parents, teachers, administrators, school board members, county commissioners, etc.
Encourage local businesses to become Corporate/Business Friends of PTA.
Collect and count membership money and distribute cards upon receiving dues.
Keep a record and a list of all members.
Turn in all membership money to treasurer.
Check with your council for due date of report, if applicable.

 

 

Continue membership enrollment -- Recruit! Recruit! Recruit!
Put articles in PTA, school, or community newsletters.
Give list of members to secretary (for your records) and to treasurer (for submitting to state with dues.
Send Initial Membership Report form to the State Office.  The report form must be received in the State Office on or before October 15th.

 

 

Request additional cards, if needed, from the Region Director, State Office or State Membership Chairman.  If affiliated with a council, check with your council membership chairman for additional cards.
Organize a group to make personal contacts, either by visits or phone calls, to all parents, teachers, and community members who have not joined.
Have treasurer submit dues and additional report to State Office.  The report form must be received in the State Office on or before December 1st. 
Inform membership of progress.
Remember Corporate/Business Friends of PTA.

 

 

Give membership report to your PTA at each meeting.
Keep accurate record of membership throughout the year.
Thank parents, teachers and community for their support.
Return excessive amount of membership cards with your Additional Membership Report.  Keep a few extras for additional members.

 

 

Evaluate progress - plan new approaches. 
Begin a second semester membership enrollment.
Plan to honor someone with a Tennessee Life Achievement Award.

 

 

Celebrate the anniversary of Founders Day (February 17, 1897).
Provide the nominating committee with a membership list.Have treasurer submit dues and Final Report for additional members to State Office. Submit dues and final council membership report, if applicable.  All reports must be received in the State Office on or before March 1st. 
Encourage local units to submit the “Creative Membership Campaign” report and encourage councils to submit the membership promotion report.
Review deadline dates for State Membership Awards.

 

 

 

Invite parents of new students to join PTA.
Bring procedure book up-to-date to pass on!
Plan to attend state convention.

 

 

RETURN UNUSED CARDS TO THE STATE OFFICE IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE THIS ALREADY!  You could be held accountable for the cost of the cards.
Attend state convention.
Provide an updated membership list to the secretary and the treasurer at the end of the school year.

 

 

Evaluate the year’s progress and make written recommendations for next year.
Begin planning for next year. 
Publicity: posters, newsletter articles, flyers, radio and TV spots, personal invitation, etc.
Welcome Kit: for parents of new students which includes a letter of welcome, and invitation to join, past accomplishments of the PTA, etc.

REMEMBER: Please do not hesitate to contact your State Membership Chairman and your Council Membership Chairman for any assistance.

BE CREATIVE - TRY SOME OF THESE IDEAS
1. Have students bring real or “adopted grandparents” to school for lunch, a program or a tour of the building on “Grandparents’ Day”.   Enroll Grandparents!
2. Include rewards for membership campaigns such as field trips or a classroom gift of their choice.
3. Invite past presidents to join and honor them at a meeting.  Idea - Founders Day!
4. Develop a sixty-second (or longer) membership skit with two or three members to present at meetings. 
5. Send invitations to join PTA throughout the entire community.  Invite your superintendent, school board members, county commissioners, etc.  Don’t stop asking for members because your major membership enrollment is over.
6. Request a PTA bulletin board or showcase, then use it wisely and keep it up to date.
7. Ask to speak for five or ten minutes at a faculty meeting.  Stay within time allotted, promote the year’s activities, and encourage teacher participation and membership.
8. Plan a contest in cooperation with the teachers at the end of the school year for next August or September, if possible.
9. Include last year’s PTA accomplishments, as well as this year’s goals, in information that goes to parents   at school openings.
10. Have a “Membership Kick-Off Day.”  Alert the local press.
11. Prepare a packet including a letter of welcome, PTA materials, and an invitation to join your PTA and have several copies in the principal’s office or with the school secretary for distribution when a new family comes to register their children.
12. Contact businesses with marquees for possible free publicity.
13. Give a token with each membership such as a school calendar or pen with your PTA’s name on it.
14. On the first day of school, place a flower pot or small pot and an invitation to join PTA on each teacher’s desk.  Don’t forget other staff members, too.
15. Consider placing a basket of apples or fruit in the school office for the school staff after your first big enrollment campaign.  Add a large note thanking the staff for supporting the PTA.
16. Offer babysitting services, free or at a reduced rate to members.  Girl Scouts like to perform this duty as a way to assist them in earning a badge.
17. Buy a rubber stamp for each grade level and stamp the back of each student’s hand with “JOIN PTA”.  Parents will get the message.
18. Have a PTA food fair.  Set it up like a bake sale except PTA membership cards give members a 10% discount.
19. Have a “Parents Day Out” and once a month PTA members may leave children for a free afternoon, staffed by other members on a volunteer, rotating basis.
20. Cut puzzle pieces and as each person joins, add a piece until the picture is completed.  A picture of the school may be used.
21. Show your membership card at each meeting and your name goes in the pot for a door prize drawing.
22. Give children stickers that say “MY PARENTS ATTENDED THE PTA MEETING LAST NIGHT”.
23. Keep a record of volunteer hours and print the hours in newsletters and/or local newspapers, or place a sign in front of the school.
24. Have a “New Parents’ Coffee” for parents of kindergarten and new students to deal with first day trauma and to encourage parents to join PTA.
25. Have an ART FAIR and decorate the school with students’ art work.  This always draws a big crowd and gives a wonderful opportunity for membership promotion.

 

 

 

 

A Silver Celebration of Service - Silver Surfer books & toys, 25th anniversary
Plant A Seed, And Watch Our Children - Flowers & Trees Growing
Join the PTA Team - Baseballs & Baseball Fields
PTA Pulls Us Together - Team of people pulling on a rope
Sail Away With PTA - Sailboat
Be A Member Of Our Starting Lineup -  Football players
Discover the Treasures of PTA  - Pirates, “Captain Kidd”
Rock-N-Roll With The PTA - Records, “Elvis”, 50's stuff
Spot Your Pride Today - Join PTA - Leopards, Jungle
Take The Leap  - Tiger (school mascot) leaping
Fly Away With The PTSA -   Airplanes w/school mascot as pilots
Link Up With PTA - Children & Adults “linked”
You Can Make A World of Difference...”  - Globe, Children linked
Rising To New Heights  - Hot Air Balloons
Reaching For The Stars - Rockets, Stars
All Aboard The PTA Express - Train on tracks
The Right Step...For Our Children - Footprints
All Hands On Deck  - Hand prints rising to the top of ships deck
Revved Up For PTA - Race Cars
Building a Better PTA, One Member At A Time - Die cut building blocks
Gaining Yards For PTA  - Football field w/yard lines
PTA - Paint a Brighter Future For Our Children - Paint palette
Start Your Engines...The Race Is On! - Race cards and racing items
Join Your PTA...Enlist Today - Red, white & blue, military/patriotic
Step Ahead With PTA - Footprints
Make The “Magic” Happen - Magic Hat w/rabbit
PTA Membership Sounds Good To Me - Musical notes and instruments
Membership - The Heart Beat of PTA - Heart w/children’s hands
Kids Under Konstruction Building Their Future - Leggo like man with hardhat
Make a Big Splash - Jump into PTA - Whale jumping through ring, fishing poles, etc
PTSA...Can you dig it? - Potted plants, seeds, gloves, and lawn tools
The Hunt For the Pink Panther - Pink panther, pink paw prints
Connecting Communities for the Future - Houses linked like puzzle pieces

 

 

HERE’S AN IDEA. TRY THIS ENVELOPE!!

 

Send out your PTA letter with a pre-printed envelope
for your members to send back.  (Like a bill!) IT WORKS!!!
Person(s) joining PTA (cost of membership $_________ per person):
1. (Mom)__________________________  4. (Staff)______________________________
2. (Dad)___________________________  5. ___________________________________
3. (Student)________________________  6. ___________________________________

Children’s names within this school Homeroom Teacher                                 Grade
1.___________________________________________________________________________________
2.___________________________________________________________________________________
3.___________________________________________________________________________________

 

List all your children and have one child return the envelope with the money.  Each child will receive credit and a prize.

Make checks payable to ___________________ PTA  Total Amount Enclosed $_________

Note:  This envelope must be used in conjunction with the OMDR Plus membership form.  Please include the OMDPlus membership form when you distribute the membership envelope.

 

 

Sample Invitation

Dear Parents:

We cordially invite you to enroll in the ______________________ PTA/PTSA.  Enrollment is only $______ per member. September is membership month and the children in each class will be looking forward to 100% membership, which will entitle them to a 100% banner to hang in their classroom.

The PTA funds from our membership dues have a definite purpose, which is to further the Purposes of parent-teacher work.  As we learn and progress in PTA, we soon recognize that there are many services necessary to have a happy, healthful community.  These can only be obtained through our local, council, state and national organization.  We hope you feel this is a worthwhile association and will support it by joining and helping to make our entire school 100% in PTA membership.

Thank You,

______________________

 

 

 

Dear ______________________,

Welcome to the ________________________PTA/PTSA!  Thank you for joining us as we set out to promote the welfare of our children.  It is good to know that we can work together for your child and all young people. We know you will enjoy the satisfaction of being a part of the perpetual challenge of PTA work. 

If you have a “brainstorm” of ideas, or even one suggestion, let your PTA know. Your officers can always use a new idea. Feel free to call upon _______________________, the room representative from your child’s room.  Phone:________________. She/he will be happy to help you become acquainted with other parents in your school.  Your PTA President is _____________________.

Thank you for joining!

 

 

 

Dear Parents,

In making up our roster on membership today, We looked and looked and could not find your name in PTA.
We know it was an oversight Instead of being counted out, we want you counted in!

Please join your PTA and help us further the Purposes of parent-teacher work.  We are aiming at a 100% membership enrollment award.  This will mean that we will have as many PTA members in our PTA as children enrolled in our school.  Won’t you support your PTA?

 

Put an “S” In Your School:

Developing a Parent-Teacher-Student Association is not a procedure, although in a few cases, action must be confirmed by paperwork.  “A PTSA is a commitment of the heart; it is an attitude; it is a whole new approach.  It is acceptance of young people as people.”  (O.H. Entwisle, Jr., former member of the National PTA Commission on Leadership Development.)

Young people today are politically aware and socially active at an earlier age than the young people of just a decade ago.  They need vital organizations through which they can direct their efforts to bring about change.  Thinking parents and other adults are groping for an understanding of student unrest and revolt.  When the generations talk together, each discovers that the other side is not all wrong.  Teenagers begin to trust those over thirty; their elders begin to respect those under twenty.

The PTSA is not an answer in itself.  Rather it serves as a means that can lead to solutions – a gathering of people within which individuals can interact effectively to bring about improvements in education and in the lives of youth.  As they work with parents and teachers in PTSA, students who did not know how before, learn how to listen as well as talk, how to understand different points of view, how to analyze problems and consider optional solutions.  In fact, membership increases, not only because students join, but more parents join.  When membership increases, the potential for action increases, too.

To change from PTA to PTSA, or to initiate a PTSA requires only the addition of one word in the bylaws.  Simply add “student” to Parent-Teacher Association.  This change would have to be approved by the general membership, and the process would have to follow the bylaws of the association.  Upon approval by the membership, the amended bylaws would have to be submitted to the Tennessee PTA Bylaws Chairman for approval.

One problem facing PTSAs is that of finding interesting programs that will be well attended and enthusiastically received by both adults and students alike.

 

 

 

 

Are mid-terms necessary? (panel consisting of school board member, administrator, teacher, parent and student)
What to do about hitch-hiking – Should the law be changed?  (panel consisting of State Senator and/or Representative, police officer, parent and student)
Is there a crisis in our classroom?  (panel consisting of school board member, principal, teacher, parent and student)

 

Who is responsible for teaching environment in our schools?
Hindsight and foresight…reflections – good, bad, and indifferent graduating students.
Student Involvement.  What are their rights, privileges and responsibilities?
Is there a generation gap?

 

 

 

The National PTA president traditionally issues an annual membership enrollment proclamation for the month of September.  State PTA usually issues a similar one. The State’s proclamation is issued by the governor.

Greater emphasis and good public relations are achieved if there are local proclamations as well.  Because many units begin enrollment in September or even earlier, it would be appropriate and helpful if the local proclamation named the particular month the unit chooses to emphasize enrollment.  To make it more impressive and involve more people, ask several “VIPs” to proclaim the month, or have several sign a joint proclamation.  Ask such leaders as the mayor, chairman of county commissioners, chairman of city council, superintendent of schools, your school’s principal, and president of the Chamber of Commerce, PTA council president and the local unit president.

Publish the proclamation in newspapers; have it read on radio and/or TV; display copies in the schools, public libraries, store windows, and other public places; read it from the courthouse steps, at public events, school or civic functions and athletic events.

Use the sample form on this website or write one of your own.

Remember that members can be enrolled at any time during the year.  The “Membership Month” at the beginning of the school year will enroll a large number of members and provide the “personnel” to carry out your action program for the year.

 

 

PTA MEMBERSHIP ENROLLMENT EMPHASIS MONTH

 

Whereas, The Purposes of PTA are to promote the welfare of children and youth in the home, school, community, and place of worship; to raise the standards of home life; to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth; to bring into closer relation the home and school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth; and to develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education; and

Whereas, Parents, teachers, students, government officials, community leaders, and all other citizens are needed to provide concerted and sustained efforts if these objectives are to be achieved; and

Whereas, Membership in PTA is a proven method and forum through which to organize and pursue such efforts; therefore be it

Resolved, that I, (name), (title), do hereby proclaim the month of ________________, 20____, as PTA Membership Enrollment Month (City or County) and urge all concerned and interested citizens to join a local PTA unit.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of ______________________ to be affixed.  This, the ______ day of ______________________, 20____.

Signed:______________________________