PTA..Beyond the Brownies

Take off the apron!  Put away the mixer! PTA is going beyond the cookies!

Recently Wisconsin PTA has been getting lots of questions about what the difference is between a PTA and other parent groups.  The biggest difference of them all is this - PTA is not about fundraising and cookie baking.  PTA is about being a voice, an advocate for children.

Yes, PTAs do hold fundraisers, and some of those fundraisers might involve cookies, but...that was not the vision of our founders, or the mission of PTA.  The monies PTA raises are to help the PTAs learn how to be better, stronger leaders.  The funding is used to take part in conferences and conventions that will help our members help their schools, their children and the schools and children of parents across Wisconsin and beyond. 

I am always surprised to hear PTA members, officers especially, say that they don't think PTA funds should be used to send people to Leadership Training, Legislative Conferences or Conventions.  Surprised because that is precisely what PTAs should be doing with their money. 

Leadership Trainings will help you to reach out to more members of your community, help you to assist other parents become better parents and better advocates for their children. 

Which leads to the Legislative Conferences which will help to take some of the fear out of that "advocacy" we talk about so often.  Advocating is just a fancy way of saying "talking."  Legislative Conferences will help you to TALK to your teachers, principals, school board members and other elected officials making decisions about your kids! 

And then there is Convention.  Conventions are where PTA gets it's "voice."  Resolutions are brought forward that will allow PTA to speak on behalf of every member as we advocate for those who cannot, the children.  Conventions offer an array of workshops, speakers and exhibitors that can help you with programs, understanding laws impacting your children, learning about scholarships, speakers, grants and so much more that will make you better at what you do with, in and for your family and community.  Even baking better cookies if that's what on the agenda.