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Does anyone have succes in EVENING PTA meetings?
The last 2 presidents weren't so keen about evening meetings, neither was the last school principal. However, we did hold 1 mtg in the evening this year and I noticed that at least two new people attended and I personally shook their hand and introduced myself to them. Since I am only vp this year, I didn't take up the chance to write a thank you card to those women for showing up. However, next year as president, I will personally write out cards to women in the first mtg. But, I'd like to how to continue a good turn out for evening mtgs by being creative.
Many thanks..
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Shannon on -
Hi there,
I too am a new President this year. We ALWAYS have evening meetings. Generally, we have our meetings (4 per year) before each of these: Back to School Night, HSA and Reflections Winners, Family Night Assembly and Open House. Our principal is very kind and always promotes the PTA. We make them quick. However, we still BARELY make the quorum on most nights. Sad to say. This year, unsure of what I will do to promote as well. I have heard some really good ideas about the door prize and those types of things. I also see that we barely get the Board Meeting quorum as well. I was thinking of approaching some businesses for gift certs. especially for that purpose.
Also, if you serve light refreshments, this is a crowd pleaser as well. Good Luck.
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Permalink Reply by Shirley L. on -
We always have refreshments at every meeting. We hold meetings monthly not every quarter. I want to say that your quarterly mtgs prevent creating relationships because you don't see the parents for another 3 months - that's a long time! Perhaps you need to hold mtgs more often to generate a larger turnout. This year we scheduled two evenings meetings, plus two social mixers in the evening as well which is strictly just getting together to chit chat and meeting new faces for 2 hours, plus refreshments and we are welcoming children. I hope this will foster face to face relationships and get more parents to volunteer in our events which can sometimes be taxing. Our mtgs are at least an hour, but no more than an hour and half. We have usually about 20 women at each meeting but I would like to see that grow. I will continue the prizes which are prizes that bring the parents back to our own events such as a free tix to our next movie night. Wishing you the best...
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Permalink Reply by Carissa Dollar on -
We hold monthly board meetings that are open to the general membership if they would like to attend. Generally it is just the board, the principal, the teacher rep and MAYBE a couple of committee chairs. A couple of meetings per year we might have one or two parents show up for these.
We hold 4 "association meetings" before evening events where the general membership is always included. this is where we do things like pass the budget, hold elections, etc. We typically have no problem making our quorum with these. When you have it tied to a family event that the kids want to go to, it really helps.
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Permalink Reply by Carissa Dollar on
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We do all of our meetings in the evenings. The only things that we do before school are usually "donuts with dads" and maybe a "coffee with the principal" so those are not business meetings.
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Permalink Reply by Jayne Woodyard on -
We are a middle school. We have evening meetings, not a great attendance, but our Administration team is great in supporting/promoting our PTSA. We have our meetings in conjunction with quarterly student recogpnitions. Parents are invited via mail to see their child honored as a 'student of the month' thus we have a fairly good turn-out.
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Permalink Reply by Brenda Drummer Martin on -
You all touched on some key points, brevity being key. Parents will spread the word when they are out of the meeting in 45 minutes or less with no rambling. Our big draw is having the children at our primary school to perform. Our school is set up as "Families" which is comprised of a few different classes and grades. Many of the parents/grandparents, etc whose children are performing (sing/dance) tend to attend those meetings the most. The next quarter, is a different "School Family" performing such as the "Zoo Crew":) We also give snow cone or pizza parties to the class with the most adults signed in, but now we announce all the presenting classes as winners and provide the treat to all of them.
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Permalink Reply by Lissette Cortina on -
With the current economy you will find more and more parents will not be able to attend the morning meetings and want to have evening events in order to stay involved. A family dinner night it a great way to have a meeting in the evenings and still be sure that parents can attend without having to worry about making arrangements for dinner or spending too much on an unhealthy fast food meal. An inexpensive pasta or pizza night is a great idea and you can combine that with your meeting. It can be a way for families to come together at the table and also stay in touch with the PTA.
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Permalink Reply by Olivia Hudson on -
I have found that a PTA meeting in the evening should be held 10 minutes prior to a well-attended event such as the Winter Musicale, or (in our school) the dinner celebrating black history month. We have tons of turnout for the meeting, because the folks are there to see their child perform or to eat. PTA general meetings don't have to take but 10 or so minutes. Keeps it short and sweet.
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Permalink Reply by Debbie Jakubowski on
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Our elementary school has monthly meetings and alternates each month between morning and evening times.
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Permalink Reply by Carrie Schor on -
Wow! I think it's crazy to only have day meetings! My son's elementary school has about 1/2 day and 1/2 evening, which excludes many people that work out of the home during the day. The people that don't prefer the day meetings. The middle school only has evening meetings. I think the best way to bring parents in is to involve their children - have a class sponsor the meeting - give some sort of presentation at the meeting. When we have our Reflections meeting, it is one of the most crowded because the parents want to see their child get a certificate.
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Permalink Reply by Jayna Kahler on -
I love this idea, I am the President of a middle school PTSA and this is my first year. I hear thought that no one really shows, so this idea has helped alot. Thank you!!!
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Permalink Reply by Delia Troy on -
We also do a mix- some in the morning and evening.
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