submitted by Rhonda Jenkins, Illinois PTA Membership/Marketing Director

It will be here before we know it! In the next month or two your PTA will be hosting a back to school event and inviting parents to join PTA. These are just a few ideas to help you:happy and diverse volunteer group holding sign

When you are giving your speech, smile – show the joy of PTA!

Instead of talking about your fundraisers and how much help you need right off the bat, try highlighting all the accomplishments of your PTA; how your volunteers assist throughout the year. Talk about specific things your PTA does for kids. Can you put together a brief slide show of events from the year before? Make people want to be a part of what you are doing.

Try having fun with a theme:

  • “Love and Joy” theme: You will love PTA and it will bring you joy! Leave chocolate kisses on chairs during your back to school event.
  • “Puzzle” theme – We are stronger when we fit/work together! Leave puzzle pieces on chairs. To take it one step further, have puzzle pieces that make a giant puzzle on the wall.
  • Have each person to join put their name on the puzzle piece. At the end of your evening, put the giant puzzle together on the wall.
  • “Jump In and Join PTA” – the first (pick your own number) to sign up will receive a free jump rope. Very popular with the kids. It also promotes exercise!

Need more ideas? Join Illinois PTA Membership Director, Rhonda Jenkins, for a statewide conference call on Thursday, September 4, 2014, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. We will network and share successful membership drive ideas, discuss questions or issues you may have, or just get to know about membership trends around Illinois. Anyone interested in talking about membership solutions is welcome.

To register, email rjenkins@illinoispta.org with “Statewide Membership Call” in the subject line. A few days before the call I will email you back with the call in information.