Main Entry: clique
Pronunciation: 'klEk, 'klik
Function: noun
Etymology: French
: a narrow exclusive circle or group of persons; especially : one held together by common interests, views, or purposes


Ahh that word clique.... a great excuse - that word.

Been there and done that. We have been down that road and worked very hard to eliminate the cliquish atmosphere. But it is a crutch word you see.... " PTO.. they are a big clique. A bunch of stuck up snobs..." Most of the time the people who say that are the ones who are looking for an excuse why they don't get involved. It is too easy to say that a group is a clique. Because, in reality and according to the definition above - it is. If you want to get involved you have to just go in there and do it.

My first experiences with my group was that I sat at a years worth of meetings and said nor did nothing! I started getting involved after awhile because I Wanted to. I eventually served 5 years on the board with 4 of them being Co President and having a great organization. Sure we still heard the word clique, but it was because these people wanted an excuse. Most don't even know you but can be an authority on you and call you a clique.

I think it is safe to say that any board is a clique according to the definition above. But look at the definition's last line. It is not a bad word. People make it that way when they use it as an excuse or crutch for themselves. It is so easy to blame others. Bottom line. Stop whining like a kid and get in there and do something if that is what you really want to do... ( or do you?)

I could go on and on but have to leave my computer and get a day in at the beach since it is our last week of "summer" and it has done nothing but rain... ciao!

The taboo "clique" word. Haven't we all heard that one before. [img]redface.gif[/img] ) Sometimes this is a valid complaint and other times not, I believe. This shall be my sixth year of involvement with our PTO - and I tell you its there!! Many people refuse to attend meetings because of the "cliques". My own friends tell me I am crazy to be a part of PTO because of it. My hopeful solution for this year was to become President and smoke out the cliques! We shall see - good luck to you!

We are a small school, and of course it's always the same parents doing everything. I have only heard the clique word used a couple of times but decided this year to post a large sign that says, "Come on in and be part of the solution". I'm sure there are many parents who would consider us a clique, but I'm also POSITIVE those same parents have never been to a meeting, or helped at an event. Once you do, you find out that it actually is fun in the end.

Everyone in our school is a member of our PSO just by having a student in the school. There is no membership or dues so there is no excuse for everyone not to be involved. This year we are implentation a monetary fee for volutneer hours. Either work or pay up!

Isn't it funny how some people who arent involved with something can call us clicks. I think from experinence that when people first start approaching their parent group they feel they don't fit in. I felt that way for almost four months. Truth of the matter is that we were all at that point in one time. Our group is so diverse with lower to upper class people but when they work together none of that matters. It bothers me to hear that we are a click when people dont know us.I try to mix old with new chair people, mingle with people at family events, and just try to be positive around people.I think no matter what parent groups will ALways be consider clicks. A couple of months ago i was watching primetime tv, there were three shows that had the parent trying to be a part of the pta...well all three portrayed parent groups to be snobs! enough said....hang in there, be positive and doing more family events to show that you are open has worked for us.

When we were accused of being a "clique" we decided to make an effort to add new people in everything we did. When we had an event we would ask 1 old person and 1 new person to co-chair the event together. When we went to pick chairpeople for the following year we made sure there was a nice mix of old and new.

Since we started this we haven't had any complaints, except from the other schools in town because we get more volunteers and have more family programs then ever before!

Encourage everyone to be involved and remember no matter what you do someone is going to accuse you of being a "clique". If lugging large tables in and out of the school building so the kids will have a place to play games for Spring Fling, I am there.

I think the more informed people are and the more they are encouraged to attend events and speak up then they feel differntly about groups that may seemed to have been formed. You could even send out a questionaire or survey to see what you need to do to make people feel that everyone can be involved.