We struggled with this one as well since we wanted a fair vote of adoption, but were hesitant to waste the massive amounts of paper it would have taken to send draft copies home for everyone. (We never really considered reading them as I wouldn't want to force anyone to sit thru that. No point PUNISHING the parents for showing up!)
Instead, we sent home a letter explaining the very diligent process the bylaws committee had gone through and the review process involving the Board, stated that copies were available in the office for anyone who wanted to review them, and that adoption of the bylaws would be voted on at the meeting.
IMovePeople,
Thank you for your reply - it helps a lot! I was just thinking of how long and boring a general meeting reviewing bylaws might be. I don't want to scare people off right away. But at the same time they need to hear the bylaws. Thanks for the input. [img]smile.gif[/img]
As a relatively new PTO I can tell you how we handled this - as a group organizing the PTO (not the executive board) we drafted by-laws. It was announced, in advance, that at the ___________ (date about 30 days away) general meeting, the by-laws would be proposed for acceptance by the general membership. Our by-laws state how our board is elected, so at the same meeting nominations for exec board positions were heard and at the following general meeting elections were held. If your bylaws describe elections and you already have a board - just a thought - you may want to put something in there like "beginning the 2003-2004 school year . . . " just a thought - unless of course, you were looking forward to early retirement from the PTO positions.
We are a new PTO preparing bylaws. Once the bylaws are written do they need to be approved or voted on by the general members of the PTO or just approved by the PTO board? If the general members need to approve them how do you handle that process - everyone gets a copy,reads and votes at a general meeting??? Thank you in advance for your time and knowledge!