All_Business - I responded to your email message. Actually, I responded twice because I forgot to attach the bylaws document the first time......

And the post from <ask around> is good advice. Nearby schools may have similar goals and business practices so their bylaws could be very helpful!

if you have another school in your district, maybe ask their PTO for a cc of their bylaws, if in fact you do have to start from scratch. no point in reinventing the wheel.

Thank you for the input (and I sent you an e-mail)! I have a copy of Robert's Rules but we have not been following them all year. Also, I'll be checking the library and with the principal. I hadn't thought to ask there. Whether we locate the bylaws or redraft (which could have a substantial upside, making it worth the effort), I now know where else to place copies. Thanks again.

First of all, I'd run right out and get a copy of Robert's Rules of Order. My group keeps two copies in the school's library:

The New Robert's Rules of Order: The Classic Manual of Parliamentary Procedure
John Sherman (Editor)

Webster's New World Robert's Rules of Order
Robert McConnell Productions

Our 06/07 President just bought the Sparknotes SparkChart for her binder:

Robert's Rules of Order (SparkCharts)
SparkNotes Editors

It's scary to start from scratch but think of it as an excellent opportunity to draft bylaws specific to your current needs. If you'd like to see just one example of PTO bylaws, I'd be happy to share mine with you. Send an email message to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I'll send them right over. They may not be perfect for your group but may be a good starting place......

It's odd to me to hear how many folks here have never seen their own bylaws either because they're lost or someone won't share them. That's ridiculous. They are a matter of public record. Once you have adopted new bylaws, I would suggest filing copies in the school's library, with the principal and, if your district has one, the district office.

Good luck to you and your co-president!

I am coming in to the co-presidency with another mom, and we've been unable to get a copy of the bylaws. At this point, it appears that there may be NO known copies anywhere. Just how big a deal is this? The board is willing to redraft if necessary, but we'd like to avoid that prospect if at all possible, especially since we're done with general membership meetings for the year and don't want to surprise anyone with new bylaws. We're also concerned because no one seems too familiar with the specific content of the bylaws, although they've been "quoted" (from memory) during meetings. And no, this person has not been able to produce a copy.

Any suggestions about how we should take care of this and what the implications may be are greatly appreciated. Thanks!