Keys to a Successful Public Relations Committee
The Public Relations Committee establishes the public relations goals for the PTA for the current school year and, in coordination with the Membership Chair, implements the membership campaign and evaluates its success. The elected public relations individual serves as the head of the Public Relations Committee. As the committee chair, responsibilities will include obtaining public relations plans from each board member in charge of specific programs or events for the PTA, including things such as the membership campaign, PTA sponsored meetings, Reflections, carnivals, Red Ribbon week, book fairs, and any other PTA activity. The Public Relations Chair and committee may help these board members create their public relations plan for the year. The Public Relations Committee will establish a public relations timeline for implementing its membership campaign for the year.
The Membership Chair should serve on the Public Relations Committee. The public relations plan should be based on input from the president, the PTA board, the Membership Chair, and commissioners, as well as needs assessments from your PTA membership. The Public Relations Committee should proactively communicate events and programs throughout the year. Social media is a great tool to get the word out about events and programs.
Forming a Public Relations Committee:
Committee Size
- Size varies depending on the size of your PTA, publicity channels, and needs of the local, council, region, or Utah PTA.
- A successful Public Relations Committee is not a committee of one.
- Most Public Relations Committees include from four to eight regular members.
Committee Composition
- The Public Relations Committee Chair will be the elected public relations representative.
- A local PTA public relations representative should include parents, teachers, principal, and the PTA president.
- Local PTSA committees should include at least one student.
- The membership representative should be included.
- Community liaisons and consultants may be asked to be a part of your Public Relations Committee.