AARRRGH! THAT is EXACTLY the kind of thing that is currently going on in our PTA!!! Except with our bunch it's some of the not being able to be bothered, and more they don't want to share the glory!!! They wanted to do the "fun" stuff and planning, and only called on volunteers to do the "grunt" work .When we brought up they were being perceived as cliquey, the VP said that anyone who felt the way was being "childish." I felt like smacking her! We also have a volunteer sheet, which people signed and handed in, only to never get calls, because "no one signed up" --YEAH, RIGHT , or they go down the list alphabetically (meaning the they alphabtize their friends' names), so naturally once they got the people they needed they didn't call anyone else, nor with the next fundraiser did they start where they left off!

Our principal is REALLY giving us a hard time about doing a walk-a-thon this June. She tried to put it off on the superintendent, but we met with him, and he gave us the OK as long as we could organize it so that the kids would be missing as little school time as possible. She always seems to find ways to pee on our parade in other little ways, and just doesn't get up and cheer us or the PTA on all that much. It's depressing.

Hi Allora!

I posted an answer to Chair elections on your other thread.

This problem of willing volunteers not being called to help is one that we and I am sure many others face. It is why people sometimes stop volunteering because it makes them think it is one big clique.

I find that in most cases it is not because it is a clique, but rather people running events defer to people they know as they do not want to call people they don't know.

Last year I had to work our book fair 4 days in a row. Come to find out 75 people signed up to volunteer. The person running the book fair just could not be bothered calling people and just went around asking people she knew to work.

On the first day of school our PTO sends home a volunteer sheet. It lists all the events you can volunteer to work at. The PTO then complies lists to give to each chair person so that they know who they can call to help. If you do something like this you need to get your chairpersons to understand that they really need to reach out to the people who signed up to help them out.

thank you for your input-- Yes our school does fundraising and it is all done by parent volunteers.We do a fashion show, auction and numerous other fundraisers- which brings up another question (I posted it elsewhere on this site) right now these events are run by parents who have stepped up to take on these functions -they do a good job but they don't seem to have room for new parents to volunteer.When the pto does a fundraiser do they elect people to chair a commitee? I feel a pto would help to organize the volunteers so that no parent feels left out.
The people who run the events are always saying that no one wants to volunteer-- but i know that people have filled out vol. forms and were never contacted me included--plus the only chores they are willing to hand out are the crappy jobs-they do not delegate very well.
I am planning on having other parents join me in front of our board and I hope to be able to cover all the benefits that pto can offer--this forum for one! I love this place I can't believe how helpful everybody is !!! I have also taken on the task of redoing our vol. form from a sample i found via this site. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Thanks sooooo much!!

Allora...

Does your school do any fundraising now and if so is it just run through the school?

Since this is a private school there is no telling what the school board has rights to do or not do.

I would try to get as many people as possible to attend the meeting with you. There is power in numbers and it will show them it is more then just one person willing to kick in and form a PTO.

I would also prepare to explain to them in very clear and concise way all the things you wish to accomplish and why you think the school needs your group and how the school and the children will benefit.

Good Luck!

I am glad to hear that I am not the only one with principal problems--My situation is a little bit different we are a private school and right now we do not have a PTO --something that I am working on , although the principal has told me that she does not feel the need for one. She has told me that I need to present this to our school board (which is made up of parents) I am getting ready to meet with them next month and I was wondering if the school board can legally tell us that we can not have a pto. I have not seen the board's by-laws but I have asked for them. I also know that a few years back--some parents attempted a PTO of some sort but it failed due to lack of participation.
Is there anyone out there who can advice me ?

kmamom...I am totally feeling the fustration too! Our Principal has me dealing with the Asst. Princ for the High school whom I have NEVER delt with since I have little ones. Anyho, we have to have our flyers etc appproved also but that I have gotten used to. This part month though I had a flyer coming with info on it how to order passes for a local skate rink. After 5 meetings, I called the rink, they printed the flyers, I brought them to school and NOW he says I can't do what was agreed!!!!!!!!!! [img]redface.gif[/img] 1300 flyers...wasted. Well, I could cut off the bottoms and retype this, copy that....just through this hoop with fire! UGH!
That was just THIS activity! The Seniors Picnic was just cancelled because they think it might rain!

Anyway, hang in there. We have three weeks of school left and my husband has already promised a night out....if I can survive!