Why did these teachers want only the children to be members? Is this an elementary school or higher? If it's middle or high, and they wanted students to be involved, perhaps you can change your PTO to a PTSO. We have several successful PTSA's here and the children are rather active. an elementary aged child may not understand what you are doing but older children can be a valuable addition to your organization. If this was their intent(not right how they went about it) then maybe it's an option.
I agree that you should try to work together. You're working in the right direction.

Thanks for the great advice.....As for my son running for president(hahaha) I went to our back to school night and was nomanated for president, come to find out only 4 NEW teachers were trying to run the show and change things and the longtime teachers who backed PTO said what they were doing was wrong, so I guess I will be running for president I have all the long time teachers support and votes...I know its alot of work but I guess if you want to make sure things are run right you can't standback and whine you have to step up and do something about it....so now the fun begins...and I also will make sure the by-laws are followed and hopefully these same 4 teachers will be just as willing to help as they were to start changing things (doubtful) but we'll see....thanks

Were are the original by-laws....who would have a copy of the original by-laws that you could look at? Why, to go over and see exactly what you need to ask about " I need to know the excact wording for Section 1 Line 2. Well, my copy says yadda yadda..." Not sure though if you want to do this in a monthly PTO meeting as this kind of thing can and does get ugly. It would be good also to have documented proper procedure for by-law changes. I don't want you to go in the meeting and make the teacher look like a ......."dork" but I want you to be able to let them know you won't be taken and have time to protect your intrerest as a paying member.....

so if the kids are in charge, is your's running for President? [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

Your teachers are out of line. They can not do that. Fees collected for membership are from the parents and teachers of that organization. f you changed the amount it has to be voted on at a meeting with the board there. I would check with the PTO president and hold a meeting if necessary.

Our PTO group is soliciting memberships for our children. When our group started we did by-laws and set them up with the roberts rules of order with the principals help. We asked for parent/adult members to pay 4.00 per year. Today I found out that the teachers changed the by-laws and its our childs membership not the parents, and they do not even have a elected board in place yet. Nomanations will be next week at back to school night.I am so confused as to what PTO the group we started stands for. I can't believe they can ask for a childs membership with no parents on the board, or no parent information on the membership form just the childs name and teacher.And change by-laws with out telling anyone.
I asked the big question to the principal today, What is this and why are the teachers not following the by-laws that were put in place 3 years ago, he didn't tell me they changed the by-laws. I got no answer except he call the teacher and said there might be a problem with the wording and asking for children memberships.Our by-laws explain exatley how to have a membership drive when to have it and voting for board members.As I see it parents will not be members just the children and I know children do not vote or nomenate adults to run a non-profit organization.Am I out of line for questioning this? I know we never ask for a childs membership PTO is a PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION..Help I need some good advice before I go to this back to school night.I am still a paid PTO member and feel I still have the right to know what is going on with this organization I help start for the benifit of all the kids and teachers at the school, it was never organized for teachers to run and ask for childrens membership...HELP