Originally posted by Shawn:
Any group that calls itself professional and used volunteers then doesnt make info available or does but thinks members dont need to know, dont want to know or are just gonna ask because they care and dont take into account that some are too shy, dont know, just dont are just asking for trouble and their demise due to poor communication, cliqueness. Your model may work but I'd 9 out of 10 would bite the dust
This is a business (sort of) but it is dependant on volunteerss for everything... 1 bad word of mouth or perceived slight is worth than 100 good impressions of your group.
I wouldnt want to bet against those odd or do the math.
You post a ton of useful info here but I beg to disagree here on some bad advise that may be good for others
You are making a lot of assumptions here. My group is all about communication -- of business -- activities being planned, committees forming, volunteer opportunities around school, things up for discussion at meetings, event reports, bulletin boards, thank-you posters listing volunteers, web site. We almost offer too much information. We have a suggestion box and a procedure for getting anything on the agenda.
My question for you (and anyone else!) is where is the line drawn between what is official business and what is not? I learn things about people and school politics every day that I wish I did not know. Am I obligated to share this with everyone in the group just because I am president? I think protecting the privacy of these other members is more important than cluing people in to what is going wrong.
At what point does my VP asking, "do you think we are far enough along on the dance or should I talk to Ms. Chair and see what's up?" become a meeting? If the Treasurer is there? Do we really need to call a meeting for something like that? I don't get what needs to be disclosed from this interaction. I offer my opinion. We may look at the calendar. Maybe we decide to sit down with her, maybe just a check-up e-mail.
When I became pesident of this group, it was incredibly cliquey. It was down to about 4 moms (on a good week) plus the dad who was going to help them out whether they liked it or not. 'Officer' meant that you do everything and wonder why noone is showing up to help poor you get the job done. I was VP for one year in this scenario and it stunk. We were also a school committee, which stunk.
My goal as president was to get more people coming around school every day to see what's happening/more regular volunteers/more members registered than the old PTA (over 5 years before) had members. I have about 30 members to go on that last front, and the other areas have been working out great. We recruit volunteers several different ways to accommodate those who might be shy or who do not have e-mail (tear off flyers and phone list, and posters at school on top of e-mails for registered members.)
Once they have volunteered, they get to know what's up and they do come and ask about things. It's when they start gettting answers about the details of what the president is doing for the holiday shop that day that they usually realize that they don't actually care much for the details. If they do, they are board material for sure.
I did get stuck chairing two things this fall, so organization-building stuff has taken a back seat, but the numbers of people who greet me and my fellow officers and offer to help with things out-of-the blue is up by a factor of ten or more from this time last year (20+). We continue to welcome and draw people in.
Honestly, if there are enough people unhappy with our leadership to get together and vote others in this spring, I will consider that the ultimate success for the group. We have yet to have an initiative from membership for anything. Members do not realize the power that they are given in our bylaws.
