What do you think is the right amount of screen time, each day, for your kids over the summer?
Join the “How much time to let your kids play on computer, xbox, etc.” group.

Do you have some suggestions on how to keep your children learning over the summer?

Would you like share some ideas on how to keep your middle school kids busy this summer?

These are just a few highlights to get you started. You’ll find LOTS more groups, discussions, and Questions and Answers once you jump in. Most importantly, you’ll connect with parents with similar situations. Once you’re in our community be sure to look for me, Lisa Gundlach, and add me as your “friend”. Look forward to seeing you online at the SchoolFamily.com community!

Kudos to this school community for not letting one person’s indiscretion get in the way of working together for the benefit of their children.

From my reading of various public documents, a few key items:

Membership - 5.16 million in 23,094 units.  Membership year earlier = approx. 5.4 million.

Revenue of national PTA = $12.5 million.  Revenue year earlier = $13.2 million. 

Expenses of national PTA = 13.2 million. Expenses year earlier = $13.1 million.

Net realized and unrealized loss on PTA investments (fancy term for stock market losses) in past year = $3.6 million.   (I think everyone who has a 401k knows that pain this past year. Ouch.)  Still a good chunk of assets ($14 million) as safety net even after that loss.

National PTA Employee Count 2009 = 81.  2008 = 73. 

My reading:  Expenses and employee count going up is going to be a tough mix with membership still going down.  It’s been several years now since last national dues increase.  Next increase has to at least be under consideration.  Was surprised that there seemed to be little if any questions re: these financials at the national meeting.

Just came across this article about a school in Dallas, Texas whose PTG formed a subcommittee charged with marketing their school. With several successful programs under their belt and a great attitude, the Gate of Heaven Roman Catholic School has increased enrollment. The group has more great ideas about to keep their school thriving. It just goes to show that hard work and a positive attitude can make all the difference in the world.

Being known as just a fundraising group is far from warm and fuzzy. And it’s really hard to get new volunteers to excitedly sign up to be fundraisers. The opposite is true if you can become known for all your good work and for parent involvement and for your welcoming, fun, supportive atmosphere.

The key to changing that reputation is, first, actually earning the change. You’re doing lots of good work beyond fundraising and you’re welcoming, fun and supportive, right? If so, the rest is just marketing. Are you letting parents know about your good work? All the time? When you donate something to the school, do you publicize that? You could even put a small “proudly donated by the parents of the XYZ PTO” plaque on the item. That’s not bragging — that’s good marketing, and it’s part of your leadership challenge.

We have a great article on effectively marketing your parent group with more tips such as these. Like the companies that put their names on sports arenas, you want your PTO or PTA’s name associated with good work and fun events and results. And you want that association to last all year long.

The tenacity of the elementary school PTA featured in this recent article is admirable. To date they have raised 37K and secured matching grant funding.But what makes it even better is that they are holding a barbecue and silent auction to raise even more money. Why? To replace the gravel on the playground with compressed wood chips — a wheelchair-friendly product that will let their special-needs preschoolers enjoy the playground. That’s going to be one awesome playground.