I am in kinda the same (in theory) situation. The PTO in my school had run off all interested parents that DID want to participate and they choose their own clique to run everything. Circumstances changed, and after a lot of complaining, I have found myself President of said organization. I have a great executive board that in turn has broader connections in the school and while we are a new group, I think that we will have tremendous support from all – teachers and parents alike. The old group alienated everyone, and it is a pain to mend fences, but in the long run it will be worth it. Get in there and check out what your group has: by-laws, records, and find out what the history of the group is, STAY IN TOUCH WITH THIS MESSAGE BOARD! There are so many GREAT ideas here and everyone is SO willing to help. I lurked here for about 6 months soaking up information. When I became president, I was armed with a lot of info that no one else had and I continually learn every day from ptotoday.com. You are not alone and more than likely there is someone else (if not many) who have had the same issues that you are experiencing. Hang in there and give em heck!
The only bylaws that can really help you are your own groups bylaws. Each groups bylaws are different so you can only prepare yourself by looking at your own. You or someone else needs to ask the group for a copy of them.
Votes do not extend beyond the meeting. The people who attend the meeting are the ones whom get to vote. I understand what your saying, but sending home a vote ballot on things would be such a waste of your time and could turn into a nightmare. The people who go to meetings are (in normal circumstances) the people who care and care to be involved. If you sent home ballots on everything you would have all these people voting on things that they have no clue about and would affect your organization. Sometimes votes can be called due to a discussion that comes up that evening and is not neceserily pre planned. Unless you attend meetings your really not informed of what is going on or the logistics of things.
You may feel the way you do right now due to present and past situations, but I can assure you if you run for office and get the position you want to be productive and accomplish things, not sit around and wait for votes to come back and be counted.
If we know we are going to vote on something we put it in the reminder notice that goes home for that meeting. If you care to vote you show up.
ok here goes, i have been active in the grade school for ten years as i have 3 children, one is left in 4th grade. although i have never held an office i am very active with the fund raisers, and volunteering. i am very frustrated right now. there is a group of officers that have control issues. they are shooting down the teachers for their request. two years ago i asked for a button maker, it is a great child incentive..ie reading books...terrific kid, student of the week. i suggested fun buttons to sell, at the student council bake sales to support the free buttons the teachers or school may give away. everyone loved this idea. the problem is now i cant get the pto to buy any buttons. they used the 500 that came with the button maker. the last fundraiser in oct. i bought buttons, told the pto i would charge 37 cents a button. cost.and they get the rest of profit. they approached me about buying buttons on an as needed basis FROM ME. now mind you this pto has about 5000 dollars right now in the treasurey.
as a result of all this, after speaking to some of the teachers, whom are very upset over all this. i am going to run for office in may.
i want to go in prepared. i need to know where i can find general bylaws to go by.
i want to have this all set up and ready to roll before i ever run for office. i also would like to know how anyone votes on things. what i see now is that whomever is at the meetings are the ones who vote. i dont think this is right, i think the vote should extend beyond the meetings and go home to the parents who may not have been able to make that meeting for a reason. give them a certain time to reply, if their vote isnt in by this time, then it is not counted. after all, if our elderly are not able to get to the polling places, do we not discount their votes? what about people out of town? same thing.
im about to blow this pto group out of the water. i want to be prepared though......please HELP
DEB
