Colorado PTA

Description

Online Membership Data Reporting Becomes OMDR Plus! PTA is in the process of transforming OMDR into OMDR Plus, powered by Just Between Friends. The capabilities of OMDR Plus address the challenges of running a PTA unit on a daily basis and growing it into a strong, meaningful organization. But it also takes the perspective of the individual PTA members, who are trying to manage very busy lives. OMDR Plus provides tools to help run your PTA more effectively but also offers personal tools to help you manage your day-to-day tasks and stay organized, saving time and headaches. Functions that are already available include: A communication system for delivering critical information to parents in the school, both via email and on the web. Parents can use the system to communicate with each other. Directory capabilities that automate the creation of print directories. There are also online directories that are private and very secure, with powerful search capabilities. A method to designate which PTA leaders and volunteers can use which parts of the system – to make sure that you can share the tasks while restricting volunteers to their own area. Personal tools for busy parents, including: 1) a central place for information from all of the groups to which they belong (both school and non-school related), 2) a central place for membership directories and rosters for those groups, 3) reminders of events, deadlines, etc., for all groups, 4) email reminders of important personal events– birthdays, anniversaries, etc., and 6) a tool to track cards and gifts they give and receive. There is no charge to anyone for all of this capability. The cost of development and ongoing support will be borne by National PTA, family friendly companies that support PTA’s mission. In fact, the system is set up to deliver revenue shares to local, state and national PTA units. States and units can begin using the communications, directory and membership management capabilities immediately. To get your unit signed up, simply go to www.justbetweenfriends.com/2008quickstart . You will need your unit’s National PTA id number. Other required and optional information is detailed on the website. For questions on getting started, contact Julia Sheffler at Just Between Friends, jsheffler@justbetweenfriends.net or (412) 561-0500, or Scott Brody at National PTA, sbrody@pta.org . What is Just Between Friends and How Does it Relate to OMDR? JustBetweenFriends (JBF) in its current form starts with an existing set of internet based services, and will soon incorporate the current functionality found in OMDR. The combination of the two is OMDR Plus. Soon, and continually over time, there will be even more capabilities added so that the whole will be far greater than the sum of the two. Currently JBF has several capabilities already in production, including: A very robust communication system for getting out critical information to parents in the school. This communication system has many features, such as automatic reminders that go out via email on a pre-set basis; the ability to easily select which audience should receive which emails (i.e., a specific class, a whole grade, or the entire school) and a way for parents to access the information even when they don’t have email access. Parents can even use the system to easily communicate with each other. An events and announcements section, automatically populated with the content of the reminder emails, giving PTAs and school administrators two ways to reach parents with critical info. Very robust directory capabilities that automate the creation of paper directories, significantly reducing the time and efforts traditionally needed for this task. A unique method in which you can designate which PTA leaders and volunteers can use which parts of the system – to make sure that you can share the tasks while restricting volunteers to their own area. For the members of the unit- and busy parents in general- there are several valuable functions as well, including: 1) having one place to go for information from all of the groups to which they belong (both school and non-school related – such as scouts, sports teams, Indian princesses, band, etc.), 2) having one place to go for membership directories & rosters for all of those groups, 3) reminders of events, deadlines, etc. for school and PTA happenings as well as from the other groups to which they belong, 4) tools to facilitate communications with other parents in the PTA and those other common groups, 5) giving them a way to get email reminders of important personal events in their life – birthdays, anniversaries, etc., 6) giving them a tool to track cards and gifts they give and receive, and 7) giving them a tool to help automate the sending of their holiday cards. For more information on the OMDR and Just Between Friends, please visit www.pta.org . Same difference? Don’t think so… One common question PTA leaders are asked is, “What’s the difference between PTA and PTO Today?” Back by popular demand are responses you can share with local leaders and members. Click here. Partnering with Your School Principal Have you spoken with your principal lately? When you learn what priorities and needs your principal has for the school and share your priorities and offer your help, you build the foundation for long-term success for both your school and your PTA . Consider taking the following actions: Ask your principal to host and speak at a parents’ night. Provide a form for parents to submit questions to the principal. Have them include their contact information, best times to contact them, and preferred methods of communication. The principal can provide the same information to parents. -Invite the principal to take part in developing the PTA’s plan of work. The principal can work with your PTA to set goals for their collaboration for the year. -Make the principal-parent dialog visible. Invite the principal to write an article for your PTA newsletter or listserv. Ask him or her to host coffees or chats. Have a bilingual parent from your PTA to translate as necessary. -Working with the principal, network with community establishments. Ask the principal for a list of priorities regarding services for the school and its families. Then approach hospitals, community centers, banks, libraries and other organizations to get free services or informational sessions for the school. 11-03-06 A PTA Code of Ethics As a PTA volunteer, I realize that I am subject to a code of ethics similar to that which binds the professional in the field in which I work. Like them, I assume certain responsibilities and expect to account for what I do in terms of what I am expected to do: -I will keep confidential matters confidential. -I interpret “volunteer” to mean that I have agreed to work without compensation in money, but having been accepted as a worker, I expect to do my work according to standards, as the paid staff expect to do their work. -I promise to take to my work an attitude of open-mindedness; to be willing to be trained for it; to bring to it interest and attention. -I realize that I may have assets that my co-workers may not have and that I shall use these to enrich the project at which we are working together. -I realize also that I may lack assets that my co-workers have, but I will not let this make me feel inadequate but endeavor to assist in developing teamwork. -I plan to find out how I can best serve the activity for which I have volunteered, and to offer as much as I am sure I can give, but no more. -I realize that I must live up to my promise and therefore, will be careful that my agreement is so simple and clear that it cannot be misunderstood. -I believe that my attitude toward volunteer work should be professional. I believe that I have an obligation to my work, to those who direct it, to my colleagues, to those whom it is done, and to the public.

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