Also, you are what PTA stands for. What you did for membership was above and beyond what anyone should expect. I don't think that the luncheon issue is wide spread. I'm sure your dues were used for the resource books that went to every PTA or to train some new board members.
Better to think of the good.

You know, if you aren't seeing results at the state and council level, there is always National. I have heard of PTAers that aren't that good,(mostly here [img]smile.gif[/img] ) but most that I have come in contact with, feel much like me. Perhaps it's just Nevada but I have met good people from many states in the last year. It's just that the bad ones get the most press!
I'm looking forward to a time when I will see Kma on her state board, I get the feeling that the tide at her school is already starting to shift.
I've met others who are strengthening their PTAs. One poster came on here, determined to dissolve their PTA and instead is joining the state board. (he didn't make a lot of friends here but he's fighting and I know that I won't hear the last of him in PTA)
What your council is doing is coming from state and down it goes but we are going into a new year and there may be new state board members.
In case you have noticed, I have the tenacity of a bulldog.
I lost my local PTA election because of my speaking out (I made some people angry because I challenged things) and became council President instead. They weren't going to keep me down and they weren't going to take from me the ideals that PTA truly stands for. (They will, some have their own agendas, be it free lunches for themselves or just the idea of power but you have to fight the bullies or they win)
I know you don't want to fight, it seems like a lost cause (your state PTA is stupid as my son would say) but maybe if you don't want to fight, you can wait for your time and come back.
Either way, thank you for your passion. Your school will definately benefit no matter what you do.

Once again I want to think everyone here for your support!! This is the BEST parent group site and I felt that way even when I was a dyed in the wool PTA'er.

C. Brooks - You guessed my location and I have read the CJ article.

Michelle - I truly think that the PTA as a whole could learn a lot from you. To answer your question what you quoted from my last post is pretty much a direct quote from our state board. I have heard it many times at district and state training events and meetings.

To those of you who said I should stay and fight and just take back the school PTA. I would if I thought the problem was just my local board and the members there in. But the problem runs deeper than just my local school. What started as a local issue spread to the district and now that I've left the state is getting involved. The message I got from both was that I as president of the group had no right or the authority to tell the members of the board they couldn't have lunches or anything else. As president I was to preside over meetings and if the group voted to have lunch and the motion passed then all was right with the world and I clearly was wrong. The thing is our goal sent down by state PTA was to increase membership this year. To set a good example for the board, as president I signed up 25 members of my family as members and paid the $4 dues for each one myself. I am by no means "well off" but made the sacrfice to give for the greater good. Since 75% of those dues left my school and can only conclude that I bought some PTA officer lunch somewhere. But I degress, the idea of paying dues to volunteer never really set well with me anyway. Starting a group to compte with the PTA is not my goal. What I wanted was to find a way to give back to the school in a real way. What me and those who agree with my view point have descided to do is work wiht our FRC. We have a wonderful lady runs our school's FRC and does amazing things with an ever shrinking budget. Our group is going to go to work under the umbrella of the FRC and the school so our efforts can focus on helping the students and the school. The up side is we don't have to deal with the red tape of starting a group and what we want to see happen: family fun nights, art shows, science fairs, math bowls etc will not only help the students and give families something to do together it can happen quickly and easily.

That, or the posse melloweer was heading up to help <Bertha> could use their talents here!

How about an on-line election. We'll vote them all out!

The issue of costs for "organization lunches" is questionable and I have heard valid reasoning both pro and con. What we do is have monthly meetings and our HSA will provide refreshments for the entire membership (all 12 in attendance) we put out coffee, snacks and a cool drink. At the end of the year we have a volunteer appreciation breakfast that we will just bring in muffins, fruit salad, etc. nothing major. Our HSA will pay for conferences such as character education or in the future NPN Conference.

Sad, my recommendations would be to get this board removed. I would vote them out, it sounds like they are a click that give PTA/PTO/HSA's all over a bad name. Bring these concerns up with the principal and with the general membership. Sounds like what is being done is over the top and taking away from the kids.