We recognized our voluteers by donating a book in their families honor to the school library for and allowed the child to be the first person to check that book out for the year. This hepled establish a legacy of book donations to our school and recognizes that families efforts everytime another child checked the book out.

Originally posted by almost used up:
I was all set to respond with,"according to our by-laws, no executive board member can receive remuneration for services rendered to or on behalf of the school through it's general funds".

BUT...
Rach98n makes a very good point, one that I had not thought of before. What is the difference between an PTO paying for services to show to it's apprication to teachers vs. the PTO paying to show it's appreciate an outgoing effective president?

Anyone....?

You rang??? HA! I would hold a dinner (and have) for our staff and teachers to thank them for the work that they do as they are often complained to, yelled at, compained about, questioned, okay folks...some parents don't show very much respect to teachers and worse, the office staff. I will and love to THANK THEM for all the thankless things that they do. Okay, most of it is their job BUT dealing with difficult students and their difficult parents is more than I could handle (I used to work for salesmen!) And what makes a teacher happier than a free lunch or goodies that just brighten their day! That is all the thanks I need.

I have recieved gifts before. I baked an enire castle out of gingerbread for my daughter's 4th grade class to decorate for a class project. The teacher gave me a gift certifcate to a craft store and what did I buy...supplies I needed to make cards to thank volunteers! I don't do everything I do for a reward...a thank you and a smile. THAT, my friend, is priceless. And money I raise for the PTO general fund is for the school, not me. That would be illegal....right?

Our President ended up running and earning a seat on the new parent ran School Board so we "roasted" him! So much fun!
I gave him a Mounds and Almond joy bars because sometimes you feel nuts and other times you won't! A bag of tootie pops to either keep handy for out of line parents, me , OR when HE needed to keep his thoughts to himself! Then I gave him a Power Bar to "Help him power up for those long exective sessions!" A Smart Bar was needed to give him the boost he needs. Now we had a running joke that he can "so highly recommened" because he was voted in without knowing he was nominated! (I do not recommend that!)Okay, so I made a pen with those words printed on a paper and rolled up to fit inside those pens with a clear barrel! He was always borrowing a pen from me too! Now he had his own and to remind him "He came highly recommended!" We also gave him a picture of the three of us, you know so he doesn't forget us when he becomes "big"! The I gave him two pennies. One the Board we hope that you keep your common sense about you and what is more common that the penny. We also want you to always have two cents to give...so here are two pennies so that you will always have "two cents"!

He has already been faced with a few tough issues and his friends are proud and inpressed!

We had our 5th grade graduation today and the ceremony was really wonderful - largely due to the current PTO Board. (I've rotated off this year, so am "just a volunteer".)

Anyway, they also chose to honor a PTO volunteer whose only child is a 5th grader, so this is her last year. The woman wasn't the prez, but an outstanding individual. She's served on the board for years in various capacities and has truly given above and beyond any expectations.

The group bought a beautiful globe for the library with a small plaque honoring her. It was a wonderful idea, and so meaningful. And this wasn't one of your standard "school" globes, but one of the gorgeous deep blue ones with all the vibrant colors. Looks almost like a piece of art.

It was inspiring and so appropriate.

The only tiny "flaw" (with the whole program, actually) was that they really should have provided tissue boxes throughout the room. Lots of happy, sentimental tears...

[ 05-20-2005, 08:53 PM: Message edited by: JHB ]

I just finished my year as President and was surprised with some roses in a beautiful vase but knowing my VP, I bet she paid for it herself--she's just that generous( and can afford it!).
Shelly

I agree that it's a matter of scale and common sense.

We had someone quite awhile back who posted they had a big evening out/restaurant dinner for the Board at the end of each year, paid for by PTO funds. I'd have a hard time with THAT type of expense.

But the occasional small scale thank you gift is something I could support if the group involved wanted to do that. Note - I wouldn't have a problem with another group making that decision, but if I were the president/volunteer being thanked, I wouldn't personally want money spent on ME.

So you have to think about what the recipient would be comfortable with also.

Our school sponsors a volunteer thank you lunch that the principal and teachers host. All the teachers submit names of anyone who helped in anyway - PTO and beyond. They buy lasagne and the teachers make salads and desserts. They give out some type of certificates. One year it was a "check" for a million thank you's. That was cute.

A public thank you, a group lunch, my name on a label in a book donated to the library... Those are the types of recognition I'd tend to favor for myself.