Kathie-

Me too, Me too, I have kept a computer file for 4 years and recorded everything related to a subject that I could. All my meeting agendas, for instance, are in my meeting agenda folder. All my family fun nights for the last 4 years from volunteers to people who showed up for the events with names and phone numbers, the events, contract information, expenditures, costs... 4 years - the whole soup to nuts. I am copying all onto a CD RW for the incoming Co's and will do a back up copy for the treasurer and files.

This is the best source I can leave for the next set of officers and the ones to follow that. Actually, this morning,I just finished updating my "scholarship" folder. I have notes from 2001, 2002, 2003 and now 2004 of the how toos, how the process has gone for the year, every "101" detail.
I still have my bookfairs update, field day, update, volunteer appreciation night updates and I should be D O N E - Done!!!

Here's a timely idea. At our last board meeting we have a meeting with the old board and the new board. We go over all the committees and talk about what worked and what didn't work. This needs to be done before summer amnesia sets in. Doesn't have to be done at the school either, someone's home over lunch works well too.

We also kept an original copy of every single paper that went out from any pta committee to the whole school. This is good for the President as a back up. In addition, every committee chair is given a notebook at the beginning of the school year (or in some cases before school ends) that has fliers, money information and any other pertinent information, like how an event went and what they would do differently. Of course, some chairs do a much better job of taking notes then others. This really helps when we are trying to recruit a new chair and can tell them about the "red notebook".

Over the years I have done a lot of forms and sign up things as well as notices, memo's, etc. Last year I gave the current president a floppy disc with most of that stuff on it so she could just change some of the wording without reinventing the wheel. I'm planning to look through my computer documents again this spring before I leave the school for good and make sure she has everything. Feels good to leave if I know that things that I started can be continued without a lot of effort.

I am going to be a "former" Co President after next Wednesdays elections and still have one child with a year left in our school system. I have and will make my self available at any time my assistance is sought after. I will also still be co -chairing our two bookfairs at both schools (4 in all for the year). I am stepping back slowly, but admit it will be difficult since I have been at "the helm" now for 4+ years....

To me, this sounds like a great idea. One of last year's co-presidents was still in our school and was very helpful. She even chaired on of the toughest committees. I'm up for co-pres this year and would always welcome contructive critism and assistance. We are revising our by-laws and this might be something we could include.

Thanks for the replies...I too think this is something that should be done and stated in the bylaws...When we started this school year we had no help or support of the last years board..they were a very TIGHT group and offered no help just criticism. I am running for prez this term and serve as fundraising coord. now, but know if I dont have the help of our great prez I will be at a loss. The principal has said as soon as this election is over and the new board is appointed that it is the first thing on his list to bring up to the new board...Thanks again...-

For myself and the last president, we were members of the board for one more year after our presidency. It made for a very smooth transition. I was like a parlimentarian because whenever there was a vote, no one but me knew the process. Hopefully, someone was paying attention cause I'm going to be outa there! On to middle school (again!).