Our by-laws discuss special elections to fill vacant offices; of course, you need the old officers to officially resign. We're actually working on amending our by-laws to include officer removal. What do your by-laws say on the issue, and if nothing, what do they say about amending them? (eg, can you amend them in time, with the number of votes you have from the currently-active members?)
Hit up a lot of local businesses to help out with Fun Day-- maybe there's a t-shirt companies that would make up T-shirts for you with the schools name on the front or Fun Day and the company name on the back--- Also try the local colleges for a DJ-- or cable stations-- maybe there's a student that wants to get experience DJing-- or even ask parents if they know anyone with equipment-- you would be surprised who people know--- if nothing else ask for sponsorships of a monetary donation to help pay for the DJ and you will announce their support during the event for their donation-- Good luck!
Thank you all for the additional input. Our April meeting will be quite interesting to say the least. I don't anticipate the current President showing up, so now our biggest challenge is to *find* the money to support Fun Day. The teachers have and run the games (tug-o-war, sack races, etc.) but the PTO sponsors the DJ, inflatables, food, etc. I didn't mention in my OP that there is money "missing" (could be why the prez walked away?!?) and we can't ask the parents to support another fundraiser since, obviously, their kids didn't benefit from the previous one. But I have some ideas on how to reach out to the business community. I'll let you know what happens, because come hell or high water (which usually brings me a flooded basement, LOL) our students WILL have the end-of-year fun they deserve!
Well, most Bylaws indicate the fiscal year and the officer terms coincide with that. For example, with my PTO July 1st is when things become official.
One thing that you do have going for you, from the sound of your message, is a very active and dedicated Treasurer. At least she is showing up to the meetings. Normally the Bylaws indicate that in the absence of the President the authority goes down to the V.P., and if that member is not available, to the Treasurer. Before I got involved in my group the Treasurer actually ran things for about a year and a half.
So, I would recommend that for the remainder of the year, including for your "Fun Day", if the Preident is not there let the Treasurer sign/make the decisions/give the ok. Normally the incoming board would work with the outgoing board during this time, but if they are not available then the incoming needs to take on the tasking in the interrim in the hopes of being able to learn their roles. But as far as the decisions, if the President/V.P. are not there, let the Treasurer give the sign-off with you and your incoming co-President working with her.
Our bylaws state that the new officers start July 1 to June 30. That way you can do things in the summer. We usually meet in July and late August to make sure things are in place before school starts. Our President elect (one of our board positions each year) has stated wanted to meet every other week, instead of once a month for our EC meetings. I think that's a great idea. Right now, (and in the past) we have only met once a month (as an EC) and I find that it would be helpful to keep in contact more often. The meetings would be shorter, that's for sure.
We do have Board meetings (our EC has 11 members, next year 13; board has 22 members) and we also have general meetings, so, we usually have a couple of meetings a month as it is.
We hold our Elections in May and then the new board assumes their roles the following fall. We have 1 board meeting in June with our new members to meet and greet and decide our plans for the fall, upcoming school year.
Our by-laws state that if no one runs against you, then you automatically assume that role--- also if you do not have a person run for a position the president can appoint someone in the fall with the boards approval.
But i don't get your board right now-- how can you walk away in the middle of the school year and do nothing-- not tell anyone, get yourself replaced, whatever-- sounds like you're going to have to do some good PR next year to get your parents back to PTO and coming to meetings-- Good luck!
