IS YOUR SCHOOL READY TO ORGANIZE A PTA IN TENNESSEE?  
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE STEPS:

1.  Contact The Tennessee PTA State Office at:
Tennessee PTA,  1905 Acklen Avenue,   Nashville   37212
Phone: 615-383-9740    Fax: 615-383-9741    Toll-free: 1-888-782-5712
Or contact your Region Director.

2.  Conduct a Planning Meeting
  • Ask a state PTA representative to address your planning meeting attendees and to
    provide information and materials about PTA.  The state representative will be helpful
    in making sure that your group meets the eligibility requirements and in explaining the
    necessary procedures for organizing.
  • Identify individuals interested in forming a PTA and set a time and place for a planning
    meeting.
  • Survey your community to find individuals willing to be nominated for office.
  • Form a planning committee from among the attendees at the meeting.  Select a chair
    and a secretary to undertake responsibilities temporarily until officers can be elected.
  • Organize temporary committees such as bylaws, nominations, publicity, and
    hospitality.  Set a date for an organizational meeting to actually form and charter the
    new PTA unit.
  • Prepare a set of proposed bylaws (written by the temporary bylaws committee) to be
    distributed at the meeting.  Work with a state PTA representative who can help you
    follow state PTA guidelines for writing the bylaws.

3.  Publicize the first organizational meeting
Distribute notices of the organizational meeting to all parents, teachers,  school staff,
community members, and  business people.   Also put a notice in the local newspaper and
contact other media sources.  You can also make personal calls to parents, teachers, and
other prospective members and place note in school staff members'  mailboxes to remind
them of the meeting date.

4.  Conduct the first organizational meeting
  • The chair of the planning committee explains the purpose of the meeting and
    introduces speakers who explain the policies and purposes of the PTAs.  Someone
    then moves (makes a motion) to organize.  The PTA is officially established when a
    motion is made, receives a second, and is carried by a majority vote.
  • Distribute and present bylaws.  A member of the temporary bylaws committee reads
    the proposed bylaws and call attention to articles and sections required for all local
    PTA units.  The committee member then moves for the adoption of the proposed
    bylaws.  A majority vote is required for adoption.
  • Hold a short intermission and enroll members.  On payment of dues (amount voted on
    in bylaws), people become charter members of the new PTA.  An accurate list of
    members should be kept and submitted with application.
  • Call for nominating committee report and nominations from the floor.  The chair
    reconvenes the meeting for nominations and elections.  All candidates nominated
    must be members of the PTA and their consent must be obtained before their names
    are submitted for nomination.  The election should be by ballot, unless there is only
    one nominee, in which case the election may be by voice vote.  Officers should be
    voted on one by one.  Only members may vote.
  • Install newly elected officers.  The state, region or council PTA representative would
    be an appropriate person to perform the installation.
  • The newly elected president takes the chair and calls for further business (deciding
    on date of first regular meeting, etc.). and then adjourns the meeting.

5.  Move forward...now that your PTA has formed.

Members of your board of directors will have tasks to carry out:
The Secretary - Send to the state PTA office or designated state PTA officer immediately
following the first organizational meeting:  1.  dues, state and national portions only (and
council where applicable), 2.  bylaws (two copies), 3.  officer's names, addresses and phone
numbers, 4.  list of members covered by dues.

After meeting all criteria set by the state PTA, the new PTA will receive its charter and a new
unit packet to assist newly elected officials in getting their PTA up and running.  You will
receive State PTA materials, National PTA Annual Resource Guide, PTA "Money Matters" (a
financial guide), Membership Cards, Charter Information, Approved Bylaws, Program and
Promotional materials, Convention, Conference, and Workshop Information.

Upon receiving materials:
The President - Call a meeting of the newly elected officers to make plans for operation of
the new PTA and to establish committees and set goals.  The President should also
distribute PTA materials to the appropriate board member.  The Unit Packet is not just for
the president - Don't keep it to yourself!

The Officers - Examine and distribute materials sent by state PTA.  The packet contains a
selection of state and national PTA publications, membership cards, and orientation
materials for new local PTA units.
PLAN
YOUR
MEETINGS!
Serving Tennessee's
Children...Advocating for
everychild.onevoice