I was so glad to see so many have the same feelings I have. Relief, yet sadness. As always, when I needed to hear a friendly PTO voice, I came to the right place. Two years ago I came to this forum with PTO problems & found help & encouragement. I had just become pres. of a PTO that was $7500 in debt (due to theft) and $62 in the bank with only 2 officers...me & the treasurer. Now after 2 years we are debt free & have $4100 in our account. Hard work does pay off. How hard it is to turn this over, I know how all of you feel. Thanks for all of your help over the last 2 years!!- Me
I'm done! Our new officers took over at the end of this week's meeting, and I think I've wrapped up most of our outstanding business. I got the final newsletter out today, and I'll finish the End-of-Year Survey this weekend for distribution Monday. There are a few odds and ends, but it's definitely downhill from here.
It feels great! The new officers will do a fine job, and I'll still be on the Board and will probably help chair a committee. Working at the district level interests me, and I've been invited to serve on the district's Academic Advisory Committee. So that will be something new.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>KC, how long do you think it will be before you're PTO president at the new school?!?!<hr></blockquote>
Well, I can't be it next year, and then there will only be two more years at this school before my younger daughter graduates out. I'll be very active, but I doubt that I'll ever be president.
And the truth is, I don't know that it would be a good thing. I really do love the school we are leaving, and it has been a great six years. I remember when I totaled my first convertible, and bought a replacement -- I never loved that second car the way I did the first one. As it is, I already realize that I won't earn a lot of gold stars if I begin every sentence "well, at Pawnee..."
However, for four of the next five years I'll have a child at the middle school. And I was already asked if I wanted to be president THERE next year. (And then we'll have seven years at the high school...)
Tonight is our last board meeting. I'm officially it until June 30, but I'll hand over the gavel tonight and most of what remains for me is organizing my stuff to hand off.
My co-President and I may not have been the best chief executives the group has ever had. But with the closing of the other school, and the resignations of the previously elected co-Presidents, we were thrust into a difficult situation in a difficult way. We survived, and others must have thought we did okay, as we both received honorary lifetime membership awards.
I would have liked to serve another term. However, early in the school year we bought a new house in a new elementary drawing area. Our district has an open transfer policy, but we made the decision to go to the other school next year. It was a tough decision to leave the school we love, and my daughter had to make her choice early so I could tell the nominating committee.
...I'm getting teary eyed sitting here typing this...lucky for me that my Dad never subscribed to that "men don't cry stuff", because I'm a sap...
Anyway, for all the melancholy I feel about leaving, I also feel great enthusiasm about what will happen next year. Our co-Presidents for next year are full of exciting, great, new ideas. They've already gored a couple of sacred cows, and they're ready to host a BBQ! This year was mostly about the two communities learning to get along; next year is going to be the first great year of synergy!
And the new school I'm going to? I promise to play nice...
Today is my LAST day as president!! Elections were last week. Our May Board meeting is tonight, and I'll be happily handing the reins over to the new president at the end. We are getting a new pres and vice pres, both of whom who have been active Board members, so I'm sure they will do a great job. The other 3 officers are serving again, so that lends some continuity. We have some shuffling of committee chair positions, and a couple key ones remaining open - but I'm resisting the pull to take one of those.
It's been a great two years, and I've learned so much. It's really been incredible, but I'm also ready to move on. It's interesting to see how things are changing. Liability is such a huge issue. The schools are struggling with how much control they need to exert over parent organizations and the district is leaning towards taking over the administration of PTO bank accounts. (A move I could support if it is just the administration and the PTO still controls how the funds are used.)
I see things very differently now that I've worked so closely with the school, teachers, parents, and children. For every issue, there are at least 3 or 4 (valid) ways to look at it.
It's been a great experience, but now I'm ready to be "Past President"!!
