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At the National PTA Convention, June 9-12 in Orlando Florida, voting Delegates approved a membership dues increase from $1.75 to $2.25 for National PTA dues. Maryland PTA dues remain at $1.50 For each membership card sold, the combine dues to be paid to Maryland PTA/National PTA will be $3.75. Why is a Dues Increase Needed Now? More information from National PTA. Maryland PTA’s Membership Campaign for 2011-2012 "Making a Difference" An old man walked up a shore littered with thousands of starfish, beached and dying after a storm... A young man was picking them up and flinging them back into the ocean... "Why do you bother?" the old man scoffed... "You're not saving enough to make a difference"... The young man picked up another starfish and sent it spinning back into the water. "Made a difference to that one," he said. You make a difference, every day. Maryland PTA is challenging all local units “make a difference” by growing your membership base to support all the wonderful programs your PTAs make available to all children in your school communities. PTA Membership As a PTA leader, you believe in the PTA and would like to see membership increase. But what can you do? First, recognize that there are many people in your community who are important human resources. Know who these individuals are. They may be parents, teachers, teenage mothers and fathers, couples without children, grandparents, senior citizens, community leaders, business people, school board members, or students.
How can you recruit new members? Ask yourself these questions:
Anyone may join a local PTA. They do not need to have children in the school. When PTAs grow their membership base, they are helping to grow future parent leaders. The next time you see another parent from your school community that you do not see at your school’s PTA meetings, take time to personally invite them to attend and become a member of your PTA. Your PTA membership and leadership should reflect the diversity in your school community. Another key way to increase membership in your local unit is to make sure that PTA members know what their membership dues are used for. Don’t just assume that everyone knows. Be sure to post flyers, notices on website and newsletters with all the great activities and programs that the PTA supports in your school. As a reminder for your PTA, please see that dues payments are sent monthly to Maryland PTA. PTA presidents should work with the PTA treasurer to send in monthly payments for dues collected. Maryland PTA reports membership to National PTA by March 31 each year for National PTA convention planning. PTA membership is year round. Memberships are expected to be sold year round with dues collected and reported monthly to Maryland PTA by each PTA unit. Maryland PTA remits $2.25 to National PTA and retains $1.50 in Maryland. It is important that you do not throw away any unused cards. Those unused cards must be sent back to Maryland PTA or your PTA will be charged for the full number of cards mailed to your PTA. Remember that each member of a PTA gets a membership card. All membership is calculated from July 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012. Growth will be determined based on membership reported by March 31, 2012 as computed by Maryland PTA. Remember to use the User ID and Password on the back of your PTA membership card. MARYLAND PTA BYLAWS A local PTA in order to meet the standards of affiliation shall:
Maryland PTA also maintains a website that can help your PTAs assist your school communities. There are levels in which parents, guardians or community members may choose to volunteer within a PTA. It is up to your PTA leadership to be creative and draw members in while letting everyone know they are welcome in your PTA community. PTA is not an exclusive club and membership is open to all year round. Different Ways PTA Members May Serve as Volunteers Level 1- This member may not be able to volunteer in school but is willing to support the PTA as a member and in attending the programs that your PTA will offer this year. These members are also willing to do activities from home such as:
Level 2- These parents may be available to volunteer a few times a year in school. They will assist with at least one PTA program. They will participate in the programs and fundraising programs. Level 3- This member is more likely to be an active volunteer in the school. They are more willing to chair a committee for the PTA and assist in developing and implementing PTA programs. In order to grow your PTA membership, your PTA must actively reach out and include everyone in the activities of your PTA. Every member is a valued member. PTAs should be actively sharing what the benefits of PTA memberships are. Show your members and potential members what your PTA does to benefit your school community. Many locals are doing wonderful things on a consistent basis and your school community should be aware of this. Your PTA leaders should communicate on a regular basis with your PTA members about the volunteer work your PTAs are doing. Join the Maryland PTA Membership Committee: The Maryland PTA Membership Committee is looking for volunteers to assist Maryland PTA with developing membership strategies in conjunction with the National PTA membership plan. Maryland PTA needs committee volunteers to help develop and facilitate the statewide Maryland PTA membership campaign while supporting and assisting local PTAs and councils to recruit and retain members. Committee members would also assist with the Maryland PTA Extension Plan that helps to increase participation by creating new PTA units. If you or someone you know is interested in serving on this Maryland PTA committee, please contact the Maryland PTA office at 410.760.6221 or 800.707.7972. Maryland PTA is on Facebook Why Join the PTA: Benefits of PTA Membership How
Can You Honor That Special Volunteer Every year, PTAs around the state begin to think of ways to honor that one special volunteer. You all know the one; they give countless hours, are there when ever you need them, and look for nothing in return. How will you say “Thank you for your outstanding service to our children”? Give the award of a lifetime. Give the Maryland PTA Honorary Life Membership Award, which supports the Maryland PTA Scholarship Fund. The Honorary Life Membership Award is the highest honor Maryland PTA can bestow to the person who daily lives out his or her commitment to children. Recognize and thank that special person you know who goes above and beyond for all children and youth. The recipient of the Honorary Life Membership Award will receive a certificate of recognition and a congratulatory letter from the Maryland PTA president. The award will be sent according to the direction on the application and a sample press release will be provided for use in your local media. The $50.00 fee ($5.00 for processing) for presenting the Honorary Life Membership Award supports the Maryland PTA Scholarship Fund. Since the early 1950’s, Maryland PTA has designated that the fees received for the Honorary Life Membership Award be used to support the fund. The scholarships provide the opportunity for seniors across the state, who wish to pursue a career in education, a chance to make their dreams a reality. If every local/council honored one member each year, Maryland PTA would have the potential of awarding over $40,000.00 in scholarship money. GIVE THE AWARD OF A LIFETIME AND SUPPORT THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND. PRESENT AN HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP TO THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE IN YOUR PTA. Grow your Membership with Just Between Friends Just Between Friends, the official PTA communications and membership management system, can help your unit grow membership and engage parents in your school community to be more involved in your unit’s activities. It’s easy – use Just Between Friends to communicate with your entire school community; earn revenue share; and manage your membership. And, Just Between Friends is a FREE, private, secure system! Benefits to your Unit Communicate – send emails, with attachments and automatic reminders, to your entire school community to keep them updated and get them involved. Plus, your unit can earn revenue just by sending emails through JBF! Manage Membership – easily enter members, print membership cards and develop membership rosters. Create Directories – JBF is the simplest way to create online or print directories. Benefits to your Parents Just Between Friends is an easy way for parents to manage their family’s participation in your unit’s activities as well as their other group activities. Personal Household Page -- When a parent accepts an invitation to join your unit’s communications group, they have a private personal online page showing all of their family’s events, deadlines and activities related to your unit and other group activities. Customizable Directory -- No more looking for different directories to find people. With JBF’s customizable directory, parents can keep their school directories and personal contacts all in one place. Customizable Calendar – When your unit emails events and deadlines to parents, the events and deadlines will automatically be posted to the household’s calendar. Plus, parents can post personal items to their calendar.
NEW -- m.JBFnow.com -- access your private secure JBF account via your web-enabled smart phone! Enter your Unit Today If your unit isn’t using Just Between Friends, it’s easy to get started. Simply visit www.JustBetweenFriends.com/PTAquickstart to enter your unit. Then, visit www.LearnJBF.com for lots of how-to information. If you have questions, please visit www.JustBetweenFriends.com and click on “Contact Us” or call 412-561-0600 x 0 and a knowledgeable, friendly Just Between Friends Customer Support Representative will help.
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To access the new bylaws template and mandatory updates to the local bylaws, please scroll down to access Members Only. Your user name and password can be found on the back of your membership card. Please let us know what information you would like to see included in this area. Send an email to Office@mdpta.org or fax to 410-760-6344 to the state office, attn: Webmaster Thank you for your imput to this site! |