1. Each PTA board member should keep a procedure book.

2. Each PTA board member should have a copy of their local unit bylaws. Read and understand them. Red your PTA’s standing rules which should clearly define all board job descriptions. If your PTA does not have standing rules, encourage your president to form a committee to develop some.

3. Each PTA board member should try to learn as much as possible about the responsibilities of their position. Attend Council or Region sponsored workshops, attend Florida PTA sponsored workshops, read the Florida PTA handbook, study the procedure book left by your predecessor and talk with that person if possible, read any materials that pertain to your job sent out to your PTA president in the FPTA Kit of Materials or the NPTA Annual Resource Kit, ask questions of your County Council board members or Region Representative, read NPTA’s Our Children magazine for articles about your position and be familiar with the Objects of PTA found on your PTA membership card. Many resources exist to help chairpersons obtain information on their jobs.

4. Each PTA board member should attend all PTA Board meetings, PTA General meetings, and PTA sponsored activities. Occasionally conflicts occur, but if a PTA board member is willing to support an event by their vote, they should support it by their attendance also.

5. Use survey forms to identify additional PTA members to serve on your committee or help volunteer for an event supported by your committee. Be sure to include volunteers from outside the board and anyone interested on your board. This inclusive step will not only help identify and train new board members, but will also insure that the PTA board members themselves don’t bum out in a year’s time by trying to do all the work themselves. The president is an ex officio member of all committees (except nominating and auditing). Be sure to invite the President to all committee meetings. Thank all those who help.

6. Use your committee to develop a plan of work and have it approved by the PTA board BEFORE any action is taken on those plans. Have your committee meetings prior to board meetings and propose your committee’s recommendation to the board. This prior work and debate by each committee will make your PTA board meetings run smoother and faster.

7. Request that the president place you on the agenda for any meeting that you need to report on your committee’s plan of work. Let them know if you intend on bringing any motions to the board for their consideration.

8. Write newsletter articles pertaining to your committee’s plan of work if your PTA or school publishes a newsletter. Be sure to meet any deadlines.

9. Speak as a PTA board member only by direction of your PTA. Only speak about the PTA position on an issue. Do Not identify yourself as a PTA member or wear PTA name tags while stating your own opinion in a public forum. Also avoid doing these things when speaking on personal issues with teachers or the principal. We all have personal opinions and may express them, but not when identifying ourselves as PTA.

10. All PTA monies go through the treasurer’s books, no matter how small. A board member may not commit funds to any item or project without the approval of the PTA board. Only money raised by the PTA and spent on PTA projects should be run through the PTA treasurer books. Monies spent should be outlined in a budget approved by your general membership.

11. PTA board meetings are closed to the public. Non PTA board members may attend or speak at a PTA board meeting only by a majority vote of the PTA board. Then, a courtesy seat may be extended to a guest for that meeting or part of that meeting. Discussion that takes place in a board meeting should remain private.

12. Be unified as a board. If you vote on the losing side” of a motion, be willing to support the winning side? All disagreements or differences of opinion need to stay within the board meetings. The majority rules.

13. Meetings should be conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised Mainly, an agenda should be followed and motions should be made to approve plans of action, especially those that involve money. This process will help your board avoid many conflicts. The President should conduct the meeting and recognize PTA board members before they speak. This process makes the board meetings run smoothly and quickly.

14. Be polite to school staff. They can really influence your effectiveness within the school. Be sure to follow all school rules and school board policies while working at the school. PTA leaders are looked at as role models. Set a good example!

15. Every PTA board member must be a member of your local unit’s PTA.