So, who here is on the PTA?

[cupcakes]

Do you enjoy it? Is it more hassle than it's worth?
Our school's current committee are all leaving and need parents to volunteer for September so I need your feedback!!
TIA

[cupcakes]

anyone?

[SoupDragon]

Not me (although I do programmes and banners for them). I'm all "volunteered out" from the NCT TBH.

[Cam]

Yes but it does depend on the school how much hassle it is.

[cupcakes]

Cam - do you help out or have you an assigned position? (like treasurer)

[lima]

I'm on the PTA - SoupDragon can I ask what's the best way to make a weatherproof 15 ft banner?

[lima]

I'm the secretary BTW Cupcakes

[cupcakes]

could you estimate how many hours per week you devote to it?
What does the secretary do other than take the minutes? (sorry if I'm being dumb but I'd like to know what I'd be volunteering for!)

[jampots]

not any more but I chaired for 3 years and was vice chair for 1 year. Best way to get a weatherproof 15ft banner in my experience is to get a local business (or parent/business at school) to sponsor the purchasing of one.

[Cam]

I have 2 roles, one is called Committee Member (ie not Secretary or Treasurer or Chair) and the other is Class rep. I have a vote and make decisions about where the money raised is going to be spent, etc as well as grafting at all the fundraising events.

[cupcakes]

Yes, I don't mind the grafting but I'm not sure about the responsibilty involved in the other positions [shame]

[lima]

The secretary takes minutes, writes them up and circulates them.

Can also write letters to parents or official letters appying for licences etc, newsletters, do posters, issue agendas prior to meeetings etc.

[jampots]

look through this site

[jampots]

this may also help you if you read up on Trustee responsibilities

[lima]

interesting recent thread on PTAs

[MarsLady]

Great fun. Hard work. The same few do all the work. Great laugh. Worthwhile. Wonderful.

Did 3 years and will do another stint when the DTs are well and truly established there.

[Twiglett]

yes I am

think it depends on how you feel about doing stuff to improve the school your kids go to, or whether you think that is solely the remit of the teachers / LEA / Government

yes of course its hassle, you need to do stuff for the school's benefit but I think its worth it

[cupcakes]

I do want to become more involved with his school - I have helped on a couple of outings but cannot regularly commit to helping in the classroom because of dd.
Those websites look very useful - if a little overwhelming!

[SoupDragon]

Lima, hard board, exterior white gloss (or masonary paint) to coat it with and then black gloss for the lettering

Also, paint it with things like "This Saturday" so you can use it each year for the same event until it falls apart.

[SoupDragon]

Although mine is only 6' long so easier to store!!

[lima]

Thanks SD - I was thinking of doing it in 2 halves - one saying SUMMER FETE and the other with the date and time... to be repainted as appropriate.

someone else suggested using cloth and sewing on lettering........painting sounds quicker

[swedishmum]

Started when dd was in reception and we moved here. Ended up as chair, via being secretary due to no-one else volunteering. Chaired for about 4 years - quite enough - and there are now enough others to take on roles.

[Lucycat]

Went to my first PA last month (doesn't seem to be any teacher involvement, although we have a new head and he has 'plans') dd is in Reception. It seems ok, although I did volunteer myself for the 'Teddy Tombola' at the Summer Fair. the main job seems to be washing and drying millions of teddies!!

My dad was always involved in my school's PTA and I suppose it's a way of being involved in the life of the school - he always said 'you get out of school what you put in......' Very true.

[cutemum]

I've been a P.A committee member for 3 years now, my term is up in Sept. and to be honest my role really invloves helping out at the school fairs and social evenings and of course helping with fundraising it's been really good fun and it's a great way to get to know the teachers. My DD (7) thinks it's great that I'm on the P.A, she gets to go into the school at night to help set up for the fairs etc.!
I agree with Lucycat's dad..
I will definately go back on the P.A when my DS (20months) goes to school.

[HelenTo]

2 years ago, the PTA at my children's school threatened to close if nobody was willing to get involved. I had just been made redundant, reslolved to take a "career break", and asked "What do you need me to do?". The rest is history ... I've been in charge for 2 years now. I would be hard-pushed to do a full time job again and keep up this involvement, but it becomes what you are willing to make of it. I'm rather obsessive. I'm now doing some paid hours at the school as well, so hardly away from the place. I do love it though!! These little charities can do so much good for a school - not only making money, but enhancing the sense of community within the school and acting as a vehicle for informal liaison between parents and staff and an opportunity for parents to get to know eachother. When I started, there were 4 committee members and no-one else ever came to meetings. We now have 10 committee and up to 20 people regularly attending meetings and helping out at events. We also do a monthly coffee morning to get other parents involved - and it's working.

On the legal side, as a committee member, you are a trustee of the charity. Your association will need to be registered with the Charities Commission (I had do do this for my lot) if your takings are more than £1,000 per annum (this limit is due to be revised upwards soon, but I don't think it has yet). DON'T be put off by this - it is designed to protect the trustees as well as the beneficiaries and if your income is less than £10,000 per annum, only a very simple annual return is required. The Charities Commission website is very helpful.

This is a very worth-while thing to get involved in and the more people you can get to support it, the more you can do ... and the less you personally will have to do!

[Posey]

I joined 5 years ago when dd was in the school nursery. Here you can get as involved as little or as much as you like. For instance when I had ds, I took more of a back seat. TBH a lot of PTA's are pleased for help, even if only occasionally. We all have different other commitments, whether working, younger children to juggle, non-available partners to help with the children etc.

In our school, each class has one or more reps that attend meetings and liase with class teacher/other parents.
Then there is a chair, secretary and treasurer.
During the course of the year, we organise cake sales (one per year group), Christmas and summer fairs (our big things and the real money spinners). Then we try and have one other event each term, eg a disco, multicultural evening, quiz night, that sort of thing. Not so much for the money, just a social event.

I am more involved than ever now, having taken this long to get to know all the ins and outs of whats involved.
Generally certain people seem good at certain things, whether they're artistic and therefore good at the posters, publicity type stuff. Others may have "contacts" and be great at getting great raffle prizes off people. We have a couple of mums that don't have a lot of free time but are fantastic face painters so will always do that at the fair.

Sometimes you feel a bit jaded, particularly if you seem to be working so hard and no one seems to notice or care or just take you for granted. When this happened I just took a back seat for a while and now feel refreshed and enthusiastic for joining in again.