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Contact chair: webmaster [at] planopta.org

Free Web Sites for All Texas PTAs!

Texas PTA is now offering free websites to every PTA in Texas. To get started go to http://ptanetwork.txpta.org. For security purposes, the initial login and password will only be e-mailed to your PTA President. Local, Council, and Area level organizations can all use this service. [ More info … and FAQs ]

Resources:

Podcasting PTA Meetings

The Dallas Morning News shared Highland Park ISD PTA’s podcasting experience. As a result, the webmaster contacted HPISD PTA and asked about the process for sharing audio recordings of PTA meetings. [More podcasting information]

Suggestions of items to include on a PTA web site

More Podcasting Information

he following outlines the steps they use to record and publish audio.

  1. They use iPods with MemoMics (lapel mic) and MicroMemos. The person speaking holds the iPod and wears the lapel mic while speaking. The lapel mic attaches to the MicroMemo. This provides good sound quality. It also uses software the record and play back audio from the meeting or lecture.
  2. After the meeting, sync the iPod with iTunes, the free music player software from Apple. Edit the file in another application (they use Audacity) and convert it to MP3 since everyone can play MP3 on most players.
  3. They have an Apple server that our tech department purchased this year. They load the files on that server. It has a website for each file that is loaded and they link that web URL on their school’s website so parents can open the file on their computer of save the target on their computer for placing on their MP3 devices.

Step 3 is a matter of uploading the file to a web server — wherever the PTA hosts their Web site — and linking to that file. Also, we strongly advise publishing audio from the meetings in a members’ only area of a PTA Web site.

Since TXPTX.org requires login to the members only area and changes yearly, you can use the same ID / password that appears on the back of the membership card. Most Web servers let you protect a directory. Create a “members” directory and protect that with the PTA ID / password.

Another option: Recording meetings with a laptop

An MP3 player involves more because they’re not made to record. So if someone is willing to loan a laptop with recording software and the PTA invests in a decent microphone, it should be easier to record meetings using a laptop. Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) is a free sound editor and recorder. It should work for recording and editing audio. No catch — a benefit of open source software.

http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/gs/gs-micline1.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/480163-REG/ZoomH2H2UltraPortableDigital.html#gotoitemInfo

http://www.wikihow.com/Record-on-an-iPod-for-Free

Free Web Sites for Texas PTAs

Texas PTA is now offering free websites to every PTA in Texas. To get started go to http://ptanetwork.txpta.org. For security purposes, the initial login and password will only be e-mailed to your PTA President. Local, Council, and Area level organizations can all use this service.

Far North Dallas Early Childhood PTA uses this resource for its Web site. If your PTA is using this resource, please let us know so we can share this information and let others see how the site looks.

Q. What’s the rush?

A. Site URL addresses are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Make sure you get .txpta.org before someone else does!

Q. Who is responsible for this?

A. Flowers For Kids, a not for profit organization that offers a unique fresh flower fundraiser, is our sponsor for rollout activities like this e-mail and training. To view their newsletter, click here. The websites are a brand new project of the Texas PTA and we are proud to be the first state PTA to offer such a service. We are also pleased to work with Parent Teacher Network (PTN) who created the software, hosts the sites, and will work with the Texas PTA to provide continuous improvements.

Q. What’s the catch?

A. No catch. Texas PTA conducted an exhaustive search to find the best, simplest to use, and most powerful web building and hosting tool available and then found a way to provide this solution to all Texas member PTAs at no cost to them. Nobody has a better tool for building powerful PTA sites as easily.

Q. Why is it so good?

A. It was built by the “brainiacs” at PTN specifically and exclusively for parent teacher groups, and then it was made better and better over 3 years.

Q. Are there any bugs?

A. For the moment there are a couple of bugs that have been identified. A major update on Monday, August 20th should resolve many of them, and the rest will be fixed soon after.

Q. Will there be any training?

A. This product was chosen in large part because it’s very self-explanatory and intuitive. There are help videos in each section that show you how to use the site-building tools in case they’re needed. However, additional training will be offered for those that want it. Expect to see more information about that soon.

Q. What about sponsors?

A. Any PTA that chooses to may post on their site whatever sponsor info and receive whatever remuneration they like (subject to the usual guidelines regarding advertising vs. sponsorship as found in your Treasurer’s Handbook, of course). There will also be official site sponsors carefully selected by Texas PTA. Revenue from sponsors is what makes these sites possible. Sponsor recognition will always be tasteful and unobtrusive. If a PTA prefers not to have site sponsors they can pay $350 to remove the sponsors annually. That is the amount PTN normally charges for their tool and hosting.

Q. How is this different than any other site building and hosting tool?

A. In addition to the myriad easy-to-use tools and features designed specifically to help a PTA set up and maintain the best site possible, these sites will all be connected to each other via the PTA Network. That means it will be easy for PTA leaders and regular members across the state to share ideas, find neighboring PTAs and associated Council, Region, and Area sites, and network. In addition, all sites will automatically be updated with the most current member benefits from Texas and National PTA. Finally, each site will ultimately be linked to the Texas PTA database which will make sending in forms, lists, applications and other data that much easier.

Q. What does it do?

A. A lot. First of all, it does everything in the easiest and most intuitive way possible. In short:

  • Customize the look of the site to fit your group with custom colors, logo, pictures, etc.
  • Upload and share files, newsletters, forms, etc.
  • Powerful and secure member-directory lets the PTA keep in touch
  • Member-only, board-only, you-name-it-only areas
  • Calendars (Truly great calendars. Create calendar events that allow members to easily schedule themselves to volunteer, more amazing functionality coming soon)
  • Principle’s page, Teachers’ pages, Board Member Pages, etc.
  • Password protected user profiles
  • Broadcast e-mail with pictures, fonts, attachments, etc
  • Just about anything else you can think of, and more functionality is coming!

Did we mention it’s all completely free?

Visit http://ptanetwork.txpta.org for more info and to sign up today!

Updated on May 20, 2008 |