I think what you all described above is a rather natural progression of PTO/PTA leaders. What is unfortunate for some new leaders though, is that not all previous leaders have been so meticulous as you all about documenting the information on what worked and didn't work for many of these events, committees, etc.

Some groups are LOOKING for such information and unfortunately, it is not available to them. I am a big fan of written and documented information and think previous leaders are remiss when they do not provide it to the new leaders.

This is probably the natural ebb and flow of these groups that JHB talked about.

Your new leaders who are not utilizing the information that you all have so meticulously documented, will probably be viewed with frustration when the group that follows them are trying to find some good documentation on what has worked for these event, committees, etc. The group that follows your current new leaders will probably be more meticulous about documenting these details because of their frustration of not having it available to them....ebb and flow.

You all can walk away and know that you did what was in the best interest of those that followed you - yes, it must be frustrating that your hard work isn't being utilized the best that it could be, but not much you can do if it's not truly appreciated. (Not to say that they don't appreciate any of it or that your new leaders aren't doing a good job - it's just so senseless to try to reinvent the wheel.)

You mean, I am not alone?! You guys hit the nail on the head. Yes, I am one who has just about come full circle with my third and final kid on his last year in elementary school. I like the phrase "ebb and flow" because I feel that is exactly what it is...
A comment was made at our last PTO meeting about "cutting the umbilical cord" by one lady, and it made me remember how I felt when my babies went off to school way back then! Everything always has a way of working itself out in the end, and we as "past Presidents" or whatever just need to offer our support and be available for questions to those "newbies". They are on their way to becoming us after all!
Think of it all as an opportunity to reflect back on how much you have grown as a parent, as an individual, by making some of those mistakes and dealing with some of those people, and be grateful that we were all given that opportunity.
We "old pros" already know that our own children have benefitted from that! It's why we did it all for so long.
God Bless All of you for doing what you do at your schools and in your communities!

Oh Critter (a BIG LOL) Exactly everything that you said! JHB you too!

I wonder if this is the cycle of the PT?PTA world?..... the "we can do better than they did attitude", instead of seeing the wisdom and experiences of those who have served before as a golden opportunity to learn what works and what doesn't.

Reinventing the wheel by new people who do not see the veterans as having anything good to share, especially after taking the time and effort to put notes down for the new people coming in. duh.. "we are trying to help you NOT make the same mistakes or avoid a pitfall!" Somehow, I think new chairpeople think that they have all the answers and can do a better job. That is a biggie! It is too bad that all our notes we took (trying to HELP the people coming after us) is most times a waste of time. It seems hind sight is 20-20 here. They, too, will be in the same shoes one day. The predicament is how do we get these newbies to see that it has usually all been done before and we have WISDOM TO SHARE?

I'm at the "Prez" phase, in year 10 of being a PTO Mom. Yea, I see the cycle repeating - we have several new parents as chairpeople who don't think they need to talk to the veterans. They want to recreate the wheel their way, making the same old mistakes. I am a delegator, not a micromanager, so this drives me nuts. I want to give the chairs freedom to take ownership, and just assumed they would read their folders. But I digress. I have two more years after this with a child in elementary school and I see myself following your evolution. Then what?!

Today I was at our elementary school's Breakfast with Santa/Book Fair/Craft Fair today and had to be amused how things have come full circle.

I've been involved with that PTO now for 8 years and this is my last (although I'll be involved with the Middle School one for 3 more years).

Like many of you, I started as a volunteer, took on a committee, and ultimately served as president. I came into leadership on the wave of an embezzlement and we reorganized from the ground up. For a couple of years I lived and breathed "PTO" - spending 20-40 hours PER week on school projects.

Then I started cycling down as past president and this year am "just a volunteer". For the first time I don't attend board meetings (due to a schedule conflict). Half the current officers don't even know who I am. They are dedicated and wonderful. Many are stay-at-home moms. They practically live at the school. Yet they are totally unaware that those outside the core group know nothing about the PTO. The newsletters we used to send out have been abandoned. PTO meetings are "publicized" by a small mention on the monthly school calender. No email reminders, signs, etc. The only real notices regular folks get is when a flyer comes home asking for people to help with something. I miss knowing about the good things the group does, how the money is spent, etc.

I've gone full circle from being an outsider with all kinds of ideas on "how that group ought to do it right" to running the show to semi-involved to once again being something of an outsider.

Don't get me wrong - this group is doing a great job, but it's just interesting to see it from a experienced perspective. Walking into an event and seeing problems re-occuring that we "solved" 5 years aso - but then I'm sure they also organized other parts much better than we did at the time.

It just seems like it's all part of the natural ebb and flow of PTO life. A little sad that some areas of past work didn't last, but comforting that there is a new crop of people to continue the cycle with their own mistakes and successes.

Has anyone else been on the "full tour" like this?

[ 12-04-2004, 04:36 PM: Message edited by: JHB ]