Whether I am at a birthday party, browsing mom groups on facebook or even at my own kids schools if I mention “Join PTA” things usually go sideways. Why you ask, because people have such a misconception about just JOINING PTA!
This is my 7th year being on the PTA board at my kid’s school. This year I opted for a smaller board position of membership! With school starting next week I figured this was the perfect time to lay it all out there – WHY SHOULD I JOIN PTA?
**This post may contain amazon affiliate links – meaning I make a small commission if you buy off my links but it costs you NOTHING extra**
First and foremost lets set the mass confusion straight – YOU ARE NOT SIGNING YOUR LIFE AWAY TO VOLUNTEER BY JOINING PTA!! Do you want me to repeat that to you — We won’t be calling you begging for help, you are committed to NOTHING!! Do we want your time if you are available and want to help? Oh course we do but we understand. Believe me, all of our PTA board members at our school are working moms or have newborns or other obligations. We get it, we are real world women too!
You don’t even have to attend the PTA meetings, Holy moly you mean to tell me I am not obligated to do anything just by joining PTA? Yes correct! I will scream it from the roof tops if you want but than I may be classified as one of those crazy PTA moms!
By Signing up for PTA and paying the small membership fee (our school is $7 or $10 for a family membership) YOU ARE HELPING TO SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL!! A portion of each membership goes to the state level for your PTA Membership. After that the school uses the remaining membership money as they see fit to benefit the school, students and teachers!
Here are just a few things your PTA membership helps to cover:
(Keep in mind all schools are different but these are examples from our school)
- Back to school Ice Cream Social (no cost to our families)
- Family Movie Night (No cost to our families to enter)
- Teacher Appreaction Week (Lunches, Coffee Cart, Snacks)
- Family Fitness Night (No cost to our families)
- Internet Safety Classes
- Read & Treat (No cost to our families)
I highly encourage you to Join your PTA, your membership fee makes a big difference as every single one counts to make your child’s school year that much better! These free events that your school puts on are not going to fund themselves! YOUR PTA MEMBERSHIP FEE will!
I know we all have so many darn school supplies to buy, who has any extra money left to Join PTA? Don’t worry you can join PTA anytime, a week after school starts or even a month!
Here are some of my Personal Benefits from Being in PTA:
- I have made awesome friendships with other moms at the school! Come on you ladies know what I am saying when I say “Making Mom Friends is not easy”
- My kids get so excited to see mommy at school! The waves and smiles from not only my kids but their little friends are priceless. I can’t tell you how many times I hear “Hi B’s Mom” in the hallways
- I know I can make a difference, even if just a small difference
As you go to Open House and send those little darling children of yours back to school keep my thoughts in your head when they ask you to Join your school’s PTA/PTO/PTSA!
Until we can change the budgets and systems around your PTA membership is highly needed at each and every school across the country!!
ARE YOU A MEMBER OF YOUR SCHOOL’S PTA? I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
***These are my opinions and my opinions only, not the opinion of state, local or national PTA **
Amanda Ripsam says
Parents to avoid I need to remember that one. My husband keeps telling me to join in on the pta or volunteer at my 10 year olds school and I do help put when asked and I have offered but they usually say thanks we got it. Think it is because I am not on the pta good post thanks for sharing openly about it and I might consider joining this year they do a lot of help for the schools that is for sure.
makeamomsmile says
Yes Join! I don’t know we never tell people “we got it” … because honestly we don’t. we need all the help we can get at our school!
Cierra says
Although my little ones aren’t old enough for school of any kind I most definitely will the same way once they do! If I can do anything to help the school my children attend then I most certainly will try!
Nailil says
I was just inquiring about the PTA at my little’s school. I think it’s an important part of schools, the ladies do so much and it makes a difference. 🙂
Darlene Dee says
Yes! Always join. You can help or not but even the emails keeping me informed are nice. And yeah, I’m a sucker for volunteering but only because I like it and I can. I know everyone cannot.
Faith says
This is great! Involvement at our kids’ schools is a priceless part of their education, like you said, we can make a difference! This article is a great clarification and so well put!
Jamie says
I didn’t know any of that- great info about pta. I’d join but my school is rather small and the pta consists of me and me (I homeschool 😂😂😂- I probably get the same looks as you do when you mention pta).
makeamomsmile says
LOL that made me giggle, me & me
Jiya B says
I loved the way you had explained PTA here. I think some voluntarily work from Parents is a great effort towards school.
Flossie McCowald | SuperMomHacks says
Hm, I get the feeling PTAs work differently where we live? – there is no “membership fee” far as I know, but the parents involved spend hundreds of hours organizing a gazillion fundraisers (I know not because I am one, but because several of the officers are neighbors of mine whose kids wait at the same bus stop as mine), and they ARE expected to go to the monthly meetings. So in our case, the commitment is a very real one of TIME not money, which I don’t have. But I volunteer with each of my kids’ classes weekly (which the others can’t do due to work conflicts) and with Scouts and at church, so it’s all good. I totally appreciate and support what the PTA parents do, but I just can’t add on another volunteer activity. It’s very interesting that where you live, though, it basically means making a donation to pay a small membership dues fee to support – THAT I could handle a lot more easily!
Fairweatherpaddler says
My little one is too young yet for school but when I do, I will really consider joining the PTA. I am guilty of all the preconceptions you mentioned. Parents To Avoid. Must remember that one!
Cori @ Sweet Coralice says
Gosh, I feel so old, lol. My kids are grown now and they were homeschooled their junior and high school years. I don’t remember the local pta at their elementary school having fees. It seems that things these days have more ways to help and activities to do to raise money than they did back then. I’m feeling jipped lol 😂💕
Shannon C. says
If I had kids, I’d probably be all up in the PTA business, haha… I’ll have to show this to my Mom friends to nudge them to get involved in their kids’ schools. 🙂
Tia Cox says
Great job breaking down how people can realistically get involved.
Ophalyn Lee says
I have a boy and he’s only 1 year, But I know time will pass by so fast and he will be attending school. I actually cnt wait to attend PTA’s
Jaclyn says
I just wanted to let you know I nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award 🙂
https://momathrift.com/blogger-recognition-award/
Tanya says
PTA is great, but just wish more parents were able to help out, last year our board sucked. Out of 8 board members we only had 3 that helped out. I myself had to step back and take time for my girls. I am still helping out the PTA board but on my terms
makeamomsmile says
Sometimes taking a step back is needed!!