Thanks for your input, she will be given any project that she would like as long as she follows the rule. I don't think that the problem is that she is second guessing us. i also agree that it is the PTO's job members to watch over us. i love to hear what the others have to say. The extra money came from the fuendraiser that we had this year we earned xx amount on it and parents were told that the monies from this would go to help pay for the playground. the playground was never put on the budget for the year, it was considered a project and it had it own fundraiser from last year and this year. Now budget was funded by other means. We had more then enough money to support it.

i guess that I need to just learn to live with the idea that she don't like me and that we need to get along for the sake for our school and childeren.

Thank you all

Please note that this is my personal opinion, not knowing both sides of the story and using my own personal experience with our local PTA....

this matter ws not on the budget plans for this year either. Ellie

My question is...where is that $5000 coming from? If the board didn't budget for this, is there actually an extra $5000 sitting in an account?

I don't know what your budget looks like, but in our case, $5000 is 25% of our annual budget, and we don't have that amount of money "just laying around." To make an emergency expense of that size, we would literally have to cut 25% of every line item in our budget.

Our by-laws state nothing about taking a vote if we go over an amount that was already disgust. this matter ws not on the budget plans for this year either Ellie

I would defer to Robert's Rules on this. If your organization voted to approve a budget at the beginning of the year, than you would again have to vote to amend the budget to add a new line item. Being that the general membership usually votes to approve the annual budget, I feel the board is obligated to present any new line items (especially of this size) to the membership for consideration.

As a few other posters stated, we also have a standing rule (approved each year) that the executive board may approve expenditures up to $250 without membership approval. I think we have had to do so one time this year for $35. Having a comprehensive budget helps with this. I think it is a great safeguard for any organization to have in place to ensure fiscal responsibility/accountability.

At this time her thing is that we went over the amount that we said our playground would cost by 5,000.00 Ellie

If she is simply questioning the decision of the board, I believe that is her right as a member and doesn't make her "an out of control parent". You did say that she was great at chairing events, so I am guessing the board is peeved that she is second guessing them. Maybe explaining the circumstances to her and asking her to help come up with ideas on how to avoid this kind of situation in the future would help alleviate the bitterness. If she is truly disrupting the meetings, that is entirely another issue.

Also, don't forget that when someone tapes a meeting, it can be an advantage to both sides of a he said/she said debate. The truth is on the tape!

Again, I'm only going by what I've read and using our PTA as an example. I've learned that being proactive keeps others from being reactive!

Suzi

[ 12-09-2003, 02:16 PM: Message edited by: SFilak ]

Ellie, if she's secretly recording your meetings, elect her secretary next year. If she's going to go through the trouble it might as well benefit the group But honestly, I would give her a project, even if its gardening. Give her some place to really put her energies.

Ellie,
If your bylaws do not address removal of an unruly member, does it refer the matter to Roberts Rules of Order (RRoO)? Most bylaws (like ours) contain a statement that in effect says refer to RRoO for all matters not addressed. Roberts does give guidance on ejecting an individual. It isn't an easy thing, but can be necessary. You might consider adding such procedures to your bylaws.
As for any type of recording, I would think it would be up to the President to ask the membership if they objected. I would think your meetings are open to the public, right? What would be the harm in a tape recording? I don't see why there should be a problem.
If matters continue to denegrate, just call for a privileged motion to adjourn.

No, the principal did not say that but it was brought up.

How do you get an out of control parent to put her engery else where?

If she keeps causing problem can she be band from our meeting?

Also can she tape recored our meetings without our permission?

Where did that question come from? Did your principal threaten this or was it just one of those rumors that seem to generate from nowhere? Please keep in mind that your situation is pretty aggravating with this parent being out of control and added with the stress of the holidays can lead to things that would not normally be said.