Joining the PTA - what puts you off???

[GeeWhizz]

Just curious about other people's opinions of the PTA. Have been on our infant school PTA for about 18 months and would like to encourage more people to join.

We only have 3 parents and it can be tough going organising everything.

So what puts you off joining???

What does the PTA actually do - is it all about fundraising?

It is about fundraising, but some of the events are much appreciated by the children. Like ours runs discos which only cost £1.50 per child and are quite easy for parents to send their kids to. Very popular with the children, and nobody but the PTA could realistically put them on.

I'm really not a PTA type, I don't like fundraising, I work full time, would rather just pay more for things than spend my free time raising small sums of money.

But I have been sucked into our school PTA. Despite not being at all keen. What got/gets me involved is:

1. it's informal, a "Friends of..." rather than a formal committee so you don't have to commit to much.

1. The women in charge are very friendly and welcoming and I like them, they were particularly friendly when we were new to the school, so I tend to say yes when they ask me to do things.

1. And it's a small school and nearly all the parents are working so I can't wriggle out of it by leaving it to SAHPs cos there aren't any.

I'm too knackered and lazy, tbh.

I'd rather give them money and whatnot than get involved in the politics of it all.

Plus the fact that DH works long hours and is often away therefore my attendance at meetings would be sporadic and (probably) irritating to other regular meeting go-ers

I'm not a 'committee' type but am involved with our Friends Assoc for similar reasons outlined by Fennel.

It used to be a formal PTA committee set-up - same faces, set roles. Fundraising for support at school fairs etc also involved (1) cold-calling (I am quite introverted and I would sooner stick pins in my eyes) and (2) 'knowing' local businesses and contacts - which as I worked outside the town I just didn't have.

Things have moved on over the years - far more mums working, new blood coming in. The PTA:

• changed its name to Friends Assoc
• is positively welcoming to all
• there are formal roles (eg treasurer, chair) but you don't have to have one to be involved. You dont have to do the cold-calling etc stuff if you don't want to.
• there are instead opportunities to contribute to specific projects (eg like gardening? tasks/work to do on school garden)
• there is representation across all classes
• there is acceptance that eg giving money/donating stuff instead of your time is fine too

It's really good now

Thanks for all your opinions.

It has been discussed at our last few meetings about stopping the PTA but we were adamant we wanted to continue anyway.

Hopefully with the new intake there will be some parents wanting to join us.

I've been reading this with interest as our school has the same trouble. I'm not sure if our PTA will be able to continue.

The problem is parents with younger children (not yet at schooll) think they are too busy to help and that it should be the ones with older children that do. But parents with older children more than likely have jobs and therefore think they are too busy to help and it should be the 'stay at homers' that do.

I have a 5 year old, 3 year old and a 3 month old, I am a governor of the school and I am the treasurer of the PTA. With everything else in my life I'd prefer to step back from the PTA but unfortunately volunteers to take over are non-existent.

Everyone has busy lives - I feel it would be a shame for the school community to not benefit from the social events the PTA organise, not to mention the funds raised.