I know every principal is different, I've delt with 3 in my 6 years! It might just be that he thinks you can correct or inform without calling a meeting. Since I have no idea what your bylaws say, I can't tell you what you should do. I can tell you that in the past I have had to make decisions that couldn't wait for a meeting and in those instances, I either verbally or written, made sure everyone was aware of the situation.
I appreciate your need for formality, especially if it is required within your group to keep the peace. Is it possible your principal trusts your judgement, experience, and position and wants to not spend any more time on this matter than necessary? I don't think it's definately about micromanagement but a since of being responsible for the building and all that happens there. If I were the new principal, and knowing what I know about decisions groups can make and think are wonderful, I would want to be present at any meetings just to make sure my butt was covered. Just my 2 cents.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
He was given a copy of the by-laws at the very beginning of school. Three officers and some of the members don't feel he's supportive....he's negative about everything we try to do. I even tried telling him that we raised $23,000 for our school last year, and that our goal this year was to beat that. He's more difficult than ever now.
We don't want to CAUSE any problems, since he's new.......but we don't want to be bullied either.
He gave us "restrictions" about this event and we met those restrictions. We didn't give him a hard time about it either. But when needed to take another vote because a mistake was made and we wanted it corrected officially.....he didn't like it. How do you work with someone that way???
It sounds like you have a new principal who may want to micromanage things for awile until he has a good grasp of how things are working. Is he normally supportive or negative? He may come from a school where the principal had more authority over the parent group and is unfamiliar with your school's setup. Does he have a copy of the bylaws? Or perhaps an interest in swaying the vote on this particular issue?
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."
"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the true perfection of one's character."
why not ask the principal directly, where they find this right to veto, or right to have final say in the matter, or right to not hold a meeting if principal not present, or whatever demand or request they are making to you, stipulated in the bylaws or other.
just say,for our future reference, i wasnt aware, we would like to understand and come to a mutual agreement, can you please show me where this is outlined, and if its not outlined, why are you making this current one-off request, etc etc.
basically, ask for clarification of the WHY for the request, and if its not justfied or otherwise stipulated in the bylaws, you can nicely state why the meeting will go forward and youd be happy to provide the minutes to any one not able to attend.
of course, they do have final say in letting you hold meetings at school, that is their right. so you might have to hold it off grounds, worst case.
If the president finds reason to call a meeting, giving a 3 day notice as the by-laws state, what would give the principal authority to veto the meeting because he's not available? The meeting was to correct a mistake and take another vote, which was under a deadline. We've had meetings in the past that the other principals were not able to attend, but it didn't effect the meeting.
AND if the by-laws do not recognize the principal then where is his place? Does he, quote, "have the final say-so" unquote?????