Becoming a PTA member opens up leadership opportunities, and builds skills in communication and advocacy strategies. Members who are willing to get involved are a valuable resource for starting and maintaining programs and projects to benefit children, youth, and the community.

Enrolling members in the PTA is a year-long activity that is carried out by a membership committee. The primary reason for developing membership in the PTA is to build an informed team of individuals to work on behalf of all children and youth. The committee plans, implements, and evaluates the membership campaign following the guidelines of the National PTA and California State PTA.

In addition to increasing enrollment, the campaign can (1) make the public aware of the resources that the PTA offers to parents, educators, and members of the community who work, in large and small ways, to secure a nurturing, healthy environment for children, and (2) strengthen the PTA voice so that policy makers in all areas, at all levels will hear a strong, unified message on behalf of children, youth, and families.

To utilize the full extent of membership resources, consult the National PTA Annual Resources for PTAs for descriptions of partnerships, leadership development, legislative influence, and national resources.

Memberships

Any individual who subscribes to the Purposes and basic policies of the PTA becomes a member upon payment of dues to a PTA or PTSA unit. Each member receives an official membership card from the unit. The membership card issued shows that the dues paid to the unit include membership in the California State PTA and National PTA and expires on October 31 annually.

Each PTA is separate from any other PTA and gives special services to a specific group of children. Members having children in more than one school may pay dues to support the PTA or youth in each child's school. (Article VII, Section 4 California State PTA Bylaws 8.1, 347)

All members of the California State PTA belong to:

• A unit;
• A council (if applicable);
• A district PTA (if applicable);
• California State PTA; and
• National PTA.

Membership Dues

Annual membership dues include per capita dues to the council (if in council), district PTA, California State PTA, and National PTA. The remaining portion stays in the unit. Dues may differ in amount in each PTA.

The portion of dues paid to a unit that is specified in the bylaws as due the council (if in council), district PTA, California State PTA and National PTA, known as "per capita dues," does not belong to the unit but must be forwarded through channels at the completion of the enrollment month and by the first of each month thereafter. Once membership per capita has been sent by the unit through channels, dues cannot be refunded to an individual member.

The unit, council and district PTA will be notified by the California State PTA office by February 15 if per capita dues have not been received. To remain in good standing, a unit must remit, through channels, the required per capita membership and insurance, in time to be postmarked by the district PTA, no later than March 31.

Membership totals are determined by the amount of per capita dues forwarded through channels to the California State PTA office between April 1 and March 31. Per capita dues received in the California State PTA office by mail after March 31, but postmarked no later than March 31, will be counted in the current year's total. Those who become members of an established PTA unit after March 31 need to join again at the next annual enrollment to maintain their membership.

If per capita dues are not received by March 31, the unit is delinquent. If per capita dues are still not paid by July 1, the unit's charter shall be withdrawn by vote of the California State PTA Board of Managers at its summer meeting.

Student Memberships

Since 1958, when the National PTA authorized the use of the name PTSA (Parent-Teacher- Student Association), many units and state congresses have recognized the importance of student membership by formally changing their names to PTSA. The opportunity for youth participation in PTA is limitless. The unit can tap into this potential by giving students a voice and working with them on their concerns (Involving Students 3.6, 90).

If a PTA unit wants to include a student member dues structure, the amended bylaws must be forwarded to the California State PTA parliamentarian for approval.

If students are enrolled as members:

• The amount of per capita dues forwarded must be per person;
• Each student member must receive a membership card; and
• Student members' per capita dues cannot be subsidized by the unit.

Amended Bylaws for Local PTA/PTSA Units must conform to the model following:

Students, upon payment of full membership dues, have all membership privileges and responsibilities.

Article IV Membership and Dues,Section 4

Each adult member of the association shall pay annual per capita dues of _________($_____)per adult member to the association.

Each student member of the association shall pay annual per capita dues of _________($_____) per student member to the association.

***a.Such annual dues shall include the portion of one dollar and seventy-five cents ($1.75) per member payable to the National PTA.

***b.Such annual dues shall include the portion of one dollar and twenty-five cents ($1.25) per member payable to the California State PTA.

c.Such annual dues shall include the portion of __________($______)per member payable to ____________District PTA.

d.Such annual dues shall include the portion of __________($______)per member payable to _________________________________Council.

e.The remainder shall constitute the local portion of each member 's dues and shall remain in this PTA.

Family Memberships

The California State PTA does not encourage, but rather discourages, multiple and/or family memberships. The concept of group memberships (e.g., family memberships) must include the payment of per capita dues and a membership card issued to each member.

Charter Memberships

Charter members of a PTA are those who are present and pay their dues or whose dues are submitted at the meeting to organize a new PTA. Only charter members who pay dues at an organizational meeting held after March 31 are enti-tled to a new membership card at the time of the next annual enrollment without further payment of dues upon proof of their charter membership.

What Dues Provide

THE UNIT LEVEL

Administrative Reimbursement: Officers, Chairmen
Convention Delegates
Emergency Student Assistance
Hospitality
Insurance
Newsletters, Web site, print and electronic notices
Organization Expenses
Parent Education, Study Groups
Program Booklets
Publications
Reimbursement: officers, chairmen
School-Student Projects

THE COUNCIL LEVEL

Administrative Reimbursement: Officers, Chairmen
Community Projects
Convention Delegates
Directory
Emergency Student Assistance
Hospitality
Leadership Training
Materials
Newsletters, Web site, print and electronic notices
Publications
Reimbursement: Officers, Chairs
Workshops

THE DISTRICT PTA LEVEL

Administrative Reimbursement: Officers, Chairmen
Commissioners
Convention Delegates
Directory
Emergency Student Assistance
Hospitality
Leadership Training and Projects
Programs
Newsletter,Web site, print and electronic notices
Publications
Reimbursement: Officers, Chairs
Workshops and Conferences

THE STATE PTA LEVEL

Administrative Reimbursement: Officers, Chairmen
California State PTA Convention
California State PTA Offices in Los Angeles and Sacramento
California State PTA Toolkit
Electronic notices and communications
National PTA Convention Delegates
Newsletter (PTA in California)
Publications and Supplies
Reimbursement: officers, chairmen, legislation advocates, commissioners
Service mailing
Special Projects
www.capta.org

THE NATIONAL PTA LEVEL

Administrative Reimbursement: Officers, Chairmen
Electronic notices and communications
Field Services
Legislative Office: Washington, D.C.
Magazine (Our Children)
National PTA Convention
National PTA Headquarters: Chicago
Reimbursement: officers, chairs and legislative committee
Resources/Publications
Special Projects
www.pta.org

OMDR WEBINARS
Welcome to PTA's online seminars (webinars) for the Online Membership Data Reporting system. These sessions will take no more than 45 minutes, and will give you a guided tour of Online Membership Data Reporting system and how to use it.

Many of the materials in this Web site are available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. The Acrobat reader is a free download from Adobe Software.