Your school sounds like ours 170 students K-8. we are not lucky enough to "run" for an office, we are usually begged until we cave in to do it. 170 students 74 families 26 with a "non-working parent" to help, 16 parents that are our only volunteers...the same ones over and over and over. This is my second year as President and my last. I will be lucky if my marriage survives this year. We own two businesses and TODAY purchased our 3rd rental home, which will be my job to fix up and get ready in 5 weeks....yeah right! I avoid going to the school because when I do I am stuck and end up staying there all day....not because I HAVE to, but because I LOVE IT! I LOVE those kids! I LOVE being able to help at the school. I LOVE organizing functions. I LOVE that I now all of the children and they know me. I LOVE having our school on the front page of the paper because 12 of our girls cut their hair for Locks of Love, or because the 5th grade bought 400 votes at 50 cents each to see their teacher KISS A COW! BUT Real life, no matter how much I push it away, is always there and this year I will concentrate on recruiting new blood into the PTO. This site has given me some super ideas to promote our PTO...the first will be the BOO HOO Party next Thursday, I'm doing it totally for selfish reasons...get them when they are new!!! It is hard to say "No" when the school needs you, and I can see your delima. If you have 7 children and perhaps some little ones at home, I can see where it would be hard to not say, " I have given others enough and now MY family needs me" while at the same time feeling that it is only setting a good example to your kids to show them that when you CAN volunteer you should...
I would think if no one wanted to assume the position, the next qualified canidate with the most experience should take the reigns. This person could serve till a replacement is found or until general elections are held. Even though most bylaws don't address Interim Presidents- I would think that this would be the case. Just like any other job tht people step down from, the organization must continue to function.
We are a very small school, around 100 students K-8. We changed our bylaws a few years ago from being a due paying member to an active mamber to be able to run or hold an office. We have enought trouble getting parents involved with out asking them to pay to do it. An active member is attending at least half of our meetings and helping with at least 2 or more PTO functions. Right now we have our Pres. who is reaching burn out. This is her second year. She served as my vice for my two years as pres. The vice now said she will not hold the pres. office. And may step down if we do not get more help from staff and parents. Our Secretary is now pregnant and may step down later this year. She is not sure. That leaves me as the only other person that is willing to run for any office. As far a treasure yes we would need one. We held our elections in march and I did not run for re-election. By april we had to hold another election because the new treasure had already quit. Our vice was also wanting to quit but was talked into staying.I was re-elected. I had not even had a chance to turn over the books. No one can do it all but it sure feels like it some times.
I stand corrected. As I searched through the elementary bylaws while trying to figure out what we will do for ours I remember changing it from two until whenever. We never thought anyone would want to be in office for four years. The biggest reason we did that is because terms were only two years and there is so much to the treasury it takes about that long just to learn the basics. The revision committee consisted of one parent, myself (officer and parent), treauser (staff member), and two teachers because we couldn't get anyone else to sign up for the revision committee.
Mom of 7, do you have an election or nomination committee? I am going to suggest that we do not put that in our bylaws as I have seen it abused. I think everyone that wants a chance to run should be able to do so without feeling intimadated or left out all together. Our bylaws also stated that a person should give so many days notice, that rarely happened either (while I held office the Pres. quit and I had a VP to quit also). So if you do have a clause like that you may want to casually mention that to your pres so you will have plenty of time to figure out what is best.
We are able to hold an office for 2 years in a row then either run for another office or take off (prefer to still help) then we can run for that office we held a year ago. Our bylaws are this way so no one will get burned out but also so no one gets to comfy and takes advantage of PTO. Not meaning to sound mean but we had a Treasurer take advantage of us before these new bylaws came in to effect. She did the books for 4 yrs did not want anyone to see them because she wasn't doing them. Come to find out the first 2 1/2 years she was to the T on the books but was tired of doing it and did not know how to tell anyone so she did only have of the job.
Also sometimes when you take a break and come back you are refreshed and new ideas.
pals - I hit burn out city 5 months into my first year as pres! ha ha Hopefully, I've got those kinks worked out this time around. We have elections every May. And I plan on not running as President for a 3rd term. But, according to our by-laws I could serve indefinitely if no one else wanted it. :eek: No thanks! I'm all for fresh ideas and faces!
