How can we attract more people to our PTO meetings and involve more people in volunteer opportunities?
Posted August 19th, 2006 by PTO Admin
[Originally posted by Kelly Bumgarner]
Over the last two years, I have noticed that attendance at our PTO meetings is somewhat low, and usually consists of the same small group of people. I would like to see attendance increase because the meetings are where we make decisions about what to do for our kids and our school with the money we raise. Are there thing we can do to get you to come and get involved? Ideas we have so far include:
- trying different meeting times
- varying the meeting time
- limiting the meeting to only one hour
- having a specific, well-publicized topic for discussion at each meeting
Are there other things we can try? Which of the above ideas do you think might get you to a meeting and more involved in the PTO?
Comments
First meeting just whizzed by
Thanks to Kelly’s kind but firm hand, and some self-restraint on the part of everyone, the first PTO meeting of this year ended in record time (early, even!). All that and we passed a budget and heard reports as well. Full details of the key reports, and a meeting summary, will begin to appear on Penguin Talk. So don’t be shy!
First meeting just whizzed by
I wonder if people would rather have the PTO meeting notes posted within a day (or two) from the meeting to keep current on the issues? If that is allowed by the PTO Guidelines, I could easily do that each month to start generating discussion from people who are interested, but could not attend.
Raleigh Sadlier
Posting news summaries of the PTO meetings
Raleigh, I think that’s an excellent idea. I don’t mean to make work for you, but I would suggest having it structured more as a news story than as traditional meeting minutes. I was thinking of doing something like that myself, so I could always draft a short piece to lead off the minutes if you wanted. Or if you feel like taking it on, you can write the whole thing and post it.
What to you think?
Steve Norton
parent of Jamie (2) and Alida (1)
PTO info tech co-chair
Virtual meetings
I think most of those alternatives are worth pursuing, though it will be hard to find any one meeting time which works for everyone. I think having particular topics of interest would help prompt people to come check things out and perhaps keep coming back. I also feel that the PTO needs to get the word out more consistently about what we do and why participation is so important.
Lastly, we began setting up this online discussion system (Penguin Talk itself) to make it possible for parents and teachers to discuss issues without having to make it to a meeting or even be talking at the same time. Systems such as this have helped many organizations build a community with fewer in-person meetings, and I hope Penguin Talk can serve the same purpose for Burns Park.
Steve Norton
parent of Jamie (2) and Alida (1)
PTO info tech co-chair