Prepare Your Mid-Year Membership Campaign
Did you know?
- PTAs that run more than one campaign a year have, on average, 20 percent more members.
- Nationwide, approximately 18 percent of PTA members join in January and February
- Running membership campaigns more frequently reminds your members that membership is everyone's business, especially if you weave membership into programs, activities and general PTA work, too.
- January is not too late for parents to make a real impact on their children's education.
- Ask your PTA board to explain to potential members what your PTA does for the children of your community.
- Determine whether your PTA/PTSA is meeting the needs of your members and community.
- Align your goals with the needs and interests of your members and community.
- Make sure you have the support of your principal and school staff
Membership growth is a sign that your PTA is a vital and relevant organization that is making a difference in your community. If your PTA is an effective, respected and fun association, people will be eager to join.
Tips for getting started
- Spread the word about your PTA and emphasize the benefits of PTA membership.
- Position your PTA as part of America's No. 1 parent involvement organization.
- Invite parents and community members to join your PTA
Answer the question, "Why should I be a member of your PTA?"
- Advertise your PTA through newsletters, magazines, newspapers, websites and marquee signs.
- Place posters and fliers on school and community bulletin boards and windows (with permission)
- Hand out stickers, brochures and fliers at PTA and school events.
- Inform PTA members and potential members of special events.
- Tell your school community about the new opportunities to get involved in the new year.
- Send membership forms and fliers home with report cards and school reminders.
- Design a visual representation of your growing membership (e.g. a celebration wall to which party favors with new-member names can be added, a cardboard or illustrated tree to which leaves for new members can be added, a jar to which beans, marbles or ping-pong balls can be added) for display in your school.
- Ask people to join your PTA - don't wait for them to offer. Have all the sign-up materials close at hand.
- Set up your membership table at every PTA and school event. Maintain a current list of members in case people forget whether they have already joined.
- Publish a list of PTA members in your newsletter.
- Regularly include articles about membership and a clip-out membership form in your newsletter.
- Publish your current membership count in your newsletter. Check it against your goal often.
