I was a little too kind to this treasurer on an earily post. If she has no records of any kind except bank statements, she doesn't know what she's doing. She is not qualified to be your treasurer and should be removed from office for failure to perform. She is in over her head, and is taking unethical advantage of her position. It may be because no one taught her how to do the job or because she's unfamiliar with financial controls and accounting. Or she may be a crook. It's past time to worry about her feelings, or your principal's feelings. This is about $$ owned by your students.

Seize the checkbook and whatever records she has. Balance the checkbook and start over. Set up some strict financial controls. Tell everyone (lie [img]smile.gif[/img] ) that the bank now requires two signatures on every check, and enforce it. Don't write another check without a paper trail including two written authorizations,a receipt/invoice, and a supporting form (check in Useful Resources here on this website for some sample forms). Don't make another deposit without two trusted members counting the money and signing off. And get started developing a budget for next year.

Sure, we are ALL volunteers, but that's no excuse for sloppy financial management. Someone out there appreciates the sensative nature of money handling. Find her and train her!

Unfortuneatly, there is nothing in our bylaws about termination of officers. The only think that might pertain would be: Only members in good standing of the organizations shall be eligible to participate in its business meetings, or to serve in any of its elective or appointive positions.
Our bank told us that they could not enforce two signatures on checks so the presidents just made that a request but the treasurer has never followed through with it.

About last years books: How can anyone do an audit if there are NO records other that bank statements?

Cellular....What do the by-laws say about termination of officers?? We actually spell it out:
"PTO Board Members may be terminated for failing to uphold the duties and ethics of their office or other extenuating circumstances which may bring discredit or show negatively on the PTO, the school or the school district".

Our Executive Committee (which we're still working on) would have to vote unanimously to terminate.

Your by-laws should spell all that out for you. If they don't, I've unfortuneatly uncovered another problem for you.

Talk to the bank, if your checks require two signatures and they're accepting checks without two signatures, then you can hold them liable for those checks.

Your final option would be to hire an attorney and charge your Treasurer with fraud. There's alot of that going on by some of the articles I've seen in here.

Best of luck and keep us posted.

Jeff
ColumbusPTO
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When is her position up for reelection? If you aren't the only one concerned about it, then talk to the members who are about her following the rules or acking her to resign. I've always said that bylaws are like a speed limit, if someone doesn't stand behind them then what's the point.

The treasurer in question does whatever she wants. Including spending money over the budget without approval and not getting two signers on checks as requested by the President. At the last meeting she was told about getting approval before spending and to read the bylaws. She said she has a copy of the bylaws but has never read them even after many meetings with dicussions of the bylaws. How do we get her to abide by them or leave?

Your Treasurer should be writing a financial statement for every event so anyone can see what makes money and what loses. This was not done by the Treasurer before me and has caused a rough year by all trying to figure out everything by what events to run and how much chili or donuts to buy. If the treasurer isn't keeping track of the money, then what have they been doing?