California State PTA’s online membership system makes joining and renewing PTA membership at the local level easier for parents, families and community members. With COVID 19 PTA’s have been struggling with Membership. Totem makes it simpler to promote membership and easier to Join with a click of a button. In addition, membership dues pass through the councils and districts directly.
Signing up for Totem
- Invite your leaders—you can request your invitation using this link – https://bit.ly/totemsignup
- Once on the platform you can invite other leaders – http://bit.ly/eMembershipInvite
- You can also deactivate any leaders who are not current leaders – http://bit.ly/eMembershipManage
- Confirm your PTA/PTSA information specifically your Dues amount (pre filled information is from California State PTA records, but should be confirmed by local leaders)
- Connect your bank account – http://bit.ly/eMembershipBanking
- Authenticate the bank account (If the treasurer signed your PTA up then the President authenticates, if the President signed up then the Treasurer authenticates — or other two officers)
- Personalize your site – http://bit.ly/eMembershipBranding
Once these steps are completed, the PTA is activated and receives an email and so does the council (if in council), the district and the e-membership team at California State PTA
Ideas of promoting Membership using Totem:
Once you have a membership link — share it — far and wide. Make sure you ASK people to join. Sharing and email works best with a specific call to action. Here are things you can do to supercharge your membership:
- Be the first to use electronic membership to join your PTA — and share with the built in social sharing links in your membership dashboard
- Send the link to your board and get them all to set the example — and then have them share and tell their friends to join. This is a great opportunity for your board to understand the electronic membership system and to help spread the word around your community
- Send your membership link to your whole school community including all your past PTA members. Ask your principal, ASB advisor or other school official to include the link in the next all school notice or newsletter
- Include the link in your newsletter and let everyone know how fast and easy it is to join
- Ask your principal/assistant principal to include the link in messages to parents with a personal ask to join their school PTA
- Post the link on your website with a colorful button. Bright colors like yellow and orange are great to attract attention
- Post the link on your social media telling people you joined and how easy it was — and ask them to join and spread the word. Use #JoinPTA and #PTA4Kids in all your social sharing.