Creating a Website

Communicating with Members<= /b>

Websites and Newsletters

Some tip= s and ideas for your communication vehicles. = To add your ideas/suggestions to this document, send an email to me at Audrey_Ann@comcast.net.

Creating a Website

If you don’t have a pa= rent with HTML skills, you can easily get on line with a website like the one Council has. Our Webmaster Ru= ss More can get you set up. If y= ou can save a Word document, you can handle this website. You can post documents, offer a calendar, and create announcements. If you’re interested, Russ ca= n be reached at wrmore@microsoft.com= .

If you have a parent with HT= ML skills, it’s highly recommended that you find web hosting separate fr= om the BSD website for your PTSA website.

Links!

Is your PTA’s web site listed on our Council web page? Let me know if it’s missing. Our list is at www.bellevueptsa= council.org under “Lists.”

And please let me know the n= ame of your webmaster, if appropriate.

You may also want to notify = the BSD that you have a site: webmaster@bsd405.org

What goes on a PTA website?

Obviously your unit will post whatever works best for YOU - but here are some suggestions.

·        Membership form!!

·        A way for people to sign up to volunteer

·        A way for people to ask a question or tell you what's missing on your website.

·        Standing Rules - be sure your tax ID number is removed.

·        Names of officers & contact info

·        Link to your school's web site, the Washington State PTA, National PTA, www.bellevueptsacouncil.org

·        A calendar of events/activities

·        Dictionary of terms (see newportptsa.org or interlakeptsa.org under “Activities”)

·        Strive to offer information that changes infrequently o= n your web site to keep maintenance time low!

Newsletters

Your PTSA newsletter is a gr= eat way to share information with members (and non-members!! Great place to print the membership form!) Costs are somewhat low= when you use the BSD copy center and even lower if you can find a parent to dona= te copying.

I LOVE to get your newsletter! Many of you have = a list of people other than parents who get your newsletter – non-custodial parents, neighborhood businesses, etc… Please add me to this list. Send a copy to “Bellevue PTSA Council President” at the ESC via inter-district mail.

Another group that wants your newsletter – other schools in your zone!! It’s very helpful for a news= letter editor to see how other schools deliver similar content. Please consider sending a copy of = your newsletter to “PTA President” or “PTA Newsletter Editor&#= 8221; at other schools in your area. These can also be sent via inter-district mail.

Translations

Many units have found parent= s to translate their entire newsletter!! How cool is that? What= a marvelous way to reach our diverse population. How do you find a translator?=

·        Classroom teachers can help you identify parents who might be bi-lingual.<= /span>

·        Put the job of “translator” on your PTA volunteer form.<= /span>

·        If you can’t find someone willing to translate the entire newsletter each time, consider translating one item per newsletter. It can be easier to find a person = to translate a few paragraphs than the whole document!

What goes into a newsletter?

The Convention class on “Newsletters” began with an interesting exercise. The instructor asked us to state o= ne thing we put into our newsletters. I thought we’d be done after 8 or 9 people. Not so. Everyone in the class was able to = offer a unique suggestion. HereR= 17;s what I was able to scribble down: