What is Membership Library and why do I need it?

The Membership Library Section of the website is a RESOURCE CENTER, primarily designed for the local unit leadership, however any member can have access to the Membership Library information. In the age of technology, the internet offers the Virginia PTA an opportunity to provide information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It complements the work of the Board of Managers, the Office Staff and the National PTA. While print material is still available, when possible, the information is also available on the website for wider distribution and easy access.

Why is it password protected? The PTA is a generous, non-profit organization that has been in operation as a national organization for over 100 years. The PTA is a membership organization, primarily operating on the dues collected from each member. The PTA is managed by an all volunteer network of people from across the country and from across the state in the Virginia PTA. The National PTA and the state PTA operate offices that are manned with paid professionals, however, they are supervised and directed by the volunteer board that is elected by the membership.

The bottom line is that with limited financial resources, the National PTA serves over 6 million members in 27,000 local units and the Virginia PTA serves over 380,000 members in 1200 local units. The work accomplished by the volunteer board to support the local unit efforts is monumental and intended for use by the chartered local units that pay dues every year.

In recent years, other parent groups have organized, sometimes known as PTOs, who want to do the same kind of work as the PTA in most instances but do not see the benefit of paying dues. They have gleaned the PTA information, changed the "A" to an "O" and while may do good work, they are working independently, only in their local school at the benefit of PTA without contributing to the continued success of the PTA.

To protect our assets, we have created a Membership Library section and password protected. We hope that you appreciate this effort to protect your right as a chartered unit of the oldest child advocacy organization in the country.

To obtain the user name and password, you need your Local Unit ID# which should be printed on your membership card by your local unit or contact your local unit president.