Organize a New PTA
Organizing a New PTA
Who may take the initial steps to organize a PTA?
Anyone may take the first step toward organizing a PTA. If the PTA will be affiliated with a school, the support of the school principal and/or superintendent and several teachers should be enlisted. It is not necessary to align a PTA with a school, though it is the most effective type of unit. It is recommended that a key person contact the Missouri PTA office and request that a Regional Director or other state board member assist in forming the unit.
What are the requirements for organization?
- Be committed to the Purposes, Mission, basic policies and guiding principles of the PTA
- Have at least 10 individuals willing to join
- Submit a set of bylaws for approval to the State PTA office along with at least 10 paid memberships and an application form.
Organizing a PTA/PTSA Unit
Step One:
Contact the Missouri PTA office (email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or toll free phone 800-328-7330) and request an informational packet and the name and contact information for the Regional Director of the Missouri State PTA who is responsible for your area. Read the material in your informational packet carefully before beginning the process. Once you review the informational packet, the Regional Director can assist you in getting prepared for the organizational meeting. Use the checklist to be sure everything is together before sending in the membership application. Remember, the Regional Director or the Vice President of Membership (or other state board member) can be a valuable resource as you go through this process - CALL THEM! Their contact information can be found on the cover letter of your packet.
Step Two:
Set a meeting date and location. Try to pick a date and time that is convenient for as many concerned people as possible. Try to have the meeting in the school building. If that is not possible, choose another central location - a church, a community meeting room, or the school administration building.
Step Three:
Set up temporary committees for special duties. You may think of others, but minimally, these should include:
Bylaws Committee: A bylaws committee of three or more persons should look over the suggested unit bylaws from the Missouri PTA. Articles and sections that have a double star or number symbol are required and must be adopted by all local PTAs and included in their bylaws. Remaining articles should be adjusted to your needs, but must be in harmony with Missouri and National PTA. The committee should prepare copies of the proposed bylaws to be distributed at the organizational meeting.
Publicity Committee: Publicize your meeting. Try to distribute notices to all the parents of children in the school, to the teachers and to anyone else in the community who may be interested. Send a notice to the local paper for publication. Be sure to be clear about the intent of the meeting - a local PTA unit will be organized, bylaws will be presented for adoption and memberships will be sold. Make personal calls to prospective members to explain the reasons for organizing a PTA.
Membership Committee: This group should be prepared to enroll members after the bylaws have been approved. They should prepare a membership form so that accurate records of your members may be kept. Be sure to include address, phone number, children's names and classrooms on your membership form. They should have charter membership cards available. If you know you need more than the limited number provided in this packet, please call the state office well in advance of your meeting. Remember, it is important to submit the state and national portion of your dues as soon as possible along with your bylaws and the completed application.
For More Information...
Call the Missouri PTA office at 1-800-328-7330. The office will contact a regional director to assist you through the steps to form a PTA unit.
ShowMe State PTA
Show Me PTA
Show Me PTA was organized in 1997 as a statewide PTA unit for those persons who support the Purposes and Mission of PTA, but do not have a local unit to join. We invite all who care about the health and welfare of children and support public education to join Show Me PTA.
Membership Benefits
Membership is available without regard to race, color or national origin.
Each member of the Show Me PTA is a member of National PTA and Missouri PTA and entitled to all membership benefits and privileges.
Members are entitled to attend PTA events sponsored by Missouri PTA including the Missouri PTA convention, at which time the annual meeting of Show Me PTA is held.
Dues
Annual dues for Show Me PTA for 2010-2011 member year are $8.75. Click here for membership form
Business memberships are available for $50 to companies and businesses that support the mission of PTA. Your membership includes recognition in Contact, our statewide magazine.
National PTA Delegate are chosen at the Annual Meeting held at the Missouri Annual Convention
How to Join
Submit $8.75 per member or $50 per business to Show Me PTA.
Send to: Missouri PTA
2101 Burlington Ave
Columbia, MO 65202
Questions?
Contact 573-445-4161
Welcome to Missouri PTA
PTA is a grassroots organization made up of parents, teachers and others around the state who have a special interest in children, families and schools. PTA membership is as diverse as Missouri is in cultures, education levels and parenting skills. By joining a PTA, a member automatically becomes part of the largest child-advocacy organization in the state — over 40,000 strong across Missouri.
Studies have proven that membership in PTA provides your child and other children around you with a greater chance of achieving in school. As a PTA member, you are more likely to be an informed, involved parent. These are dangerous times for children. More than ever, it is important for parents to learn ways to keep children safe, trouble free and involved in school. PTA is the best place to gain that knowledge.
Benefits of Membership
MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR
June/July
• Consider attending the National PTA Convention. It will provide you with valuable information and training to successfully meet your goals.
• Meet with your membership committee and president to adopt a membership theme and plan the campaign.
• Review your MO PTA Tool Kit for a listing of program resources and promotion ideas. Be sure to ask your president for the Membership pages from the Tool Kit if they are not given to you.
• Prepare your membership budget for the year.
• Start approaching local businesses to join as PTA Business Members and/or work with you to provide membership discounts.
• Start a Membership Procedure book if your predecessor didn’t or review your passed on information for ideas on what works for your school
August/September/October
• Make sure all officers and chairmen are members. Set an example by being the first member of your PTA unit.
• Use dates of special MO PTA, National PTA, and community events to organize and plan PTA activities.
• Have a membership table at all school functions – open house, registrations and volunteer meetings. Have a table with information about PTA’s programs, activities, positions, advocacy efforts and membership.
• Include PTA information and sign-up forms in “Back-to-School” packets and/or send letters of invitation home with all students for their families to join PTA.
• Invite each faculty member to join at a staff in-service or a “Back-to-School” luncheon (with Principal’s permission).
• Record membership and remit all dues money on the first of each month along with a Dues Remittance Form to the state office.
• Have a membership table at your first PTA meeting. Use this opportunity to welcome everyone and encourage their support and involvement. Inform them of your plans and programs for the upcoming year.
• Include articles in your PTA newsletters about your membership drive.
• Contact area businesses about membership opportunities with your PTA.
• Make sure you have the opportunity to earn the Missouri PTA Early Bird award by submitting your first membership dues to the state by September 26th.
• Plan to attend MO PTA Convention in October! Be prepared to listen and share ideas with PTA members from around Missouri!
November/December
• Share the ideas you gathered at the Missouri PTA Convention and put them into action for your PTA.
• Make contact with all parents, teachers and community members who have not joined. Send an email or a personal invitation. Look at last year’s membership roster and contact those that haven’t rejoined.
• Continue to have a membership table at each school function – be visible!
• Inform members of the progress toward the membership goal.
• Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful. Let your members know how much their membership means to children and youth.
• Plan an activity to kick off the second half of your membership drive in January. Then enjoy the winter break and come back refreshed and renewed!
January/February
• Continue to ask new members to join your PTA.
• Be sure to include PTA information and sign-up forms in “New Student” packets. Send a personal note to parent’s of new students, letting them know of upcoming PTA events and ask them to join.
• Try adding a new membership discount at a local business.
• Plan an activity for National PTA’s Founders Day (February 17th)
• Continue to check National PTA and Missouri PTA websites for new ideas.
March/April/May
• Make sure you get all those new dues postmarked by March 1st!
• Apply for those much deserved membership awards and celebrate your accomplishments!
• Plan to attend Leadership Conference in the Spring.
• Review and update the membership roster.
• If your school has a spring Kindergarten enrollment or round-up for in-coming, next year, Kindergartners, set up a PTA Membership table and provide your PTA information to those new parents. Invite them to an upcoming PTA activity and ask them join PTA to get a jump on the next year.
• Update membership records and the Procedure Book for your successor. Include your final membership numbers and the original goal, awards applied for, a roster of your committee members, evaluation of your successes, recommendations and any important materials to carry out the work of the committee.
• Include an end of the year article for your newsletter about your unit’s success and include a “THANK YOU” to each and every PTA member!