For our spring carnival this year, another parent and I suggested offering an advance value package that included game tickets(which we have always used) and coupons for food and drink. Our families loved it! We sold over $1000 in advance packages--parents saved a little money buying in advance, it gave us a little better handle on the amount of food and drink needed, reduced the amount of cash handled by the "restaurant" staff, and saved people from having to carry cash with them that evening or giving money to their kids to buy stuff(they just handed them their tickets and coupons). We will definitely do it again and I think will probably have even more sales next time. Getting all that cash in advance is nice too because we could cover some of our expenses up front.
As for the lollipop tree: traditional things like that can become something that kids look forward too. As for liability-are they worried that someone will run with a lollipop in their mouth and choke? You can do that with a bite of hotdog too-going to ban those? Oh, and don't give pencil as prizes, someone might fall on one and put an eye out. Seriously though, let them cancel it. If it was something that the kids look forward to each year, they'll regret it because they will hear about it all night long!!
It sounds like you've got a tough group to belong to. Use your experiences and new position to make sure things change next year. Get out there and start personally inviting people to get involved! Good luck!
Hi, I am new to this board and PTO in general. My only child is in Kindergarten so this is my first year in the school. I have come to all the meetings and have shouldered a lot of responsibilities. I am the only parent who regularly comes to meetings. Who am I kidding? I'm the only one to come at all. I am doing the school carnival this year and have no help organizing it. Not even the board members stood up to offer to help out. I have kept them informed every step of the way. Thaey've acted like they could care less. They say do what you want. It's your show, just tell us when you need $. OK, so last night I informed them of a change I'd like to make. I want to do a buy tickets for food approach to the kitchen, popcorn, games, etc. They freaked out on me! I thought it would make things a lot easier for the kitchen and popcorn stations and even the person selling the balloons. Just use tickets for all of it. I asked around and the teachers are in support of it and the parents I've asked support it as well. When I say "they" I mean the board members. The president thought it was offensive to ask a parent to buy tickets for food like a child. He asked me if I understand that I said No, I don't. There are many functions where you have to buy a ticket to get the food. I'm trying to make things easier. I thought about just giving in and giving them what they want but the kitchen workers all say it would make things easier for them. I just can't give it up. If I did then I don't see the point of me being a part of this if I'm not willing to stand up in order to effect change. Something is obviously very wrong here when there are 500 kids and I'm the only parent who shows up. Last night I was elected VP for the new year and was encouraged to think instead about taking the president position. I declined that and took VP. They also voted to not give candy as prizes and do away with the lollipop tree. I felt like it was a witch hunt. I felt like standing up and screaming, "I'm not a witch!" They said that candy was a liability and didn't even want to let me sell it in the kitchen. If we are going to go that far the whole Carnival is a liability. Anything could happen. This was getting crazy! The lollipop tree has been here for 25+ yrs and I'm getting persecuted for all of this. It was a terrible experience. Maybe this is why parents don't show up!
