Thanks Tim and JHB for your comments.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!

mommytlc - another suggestion that often comes up during this particular discussion is to purchase something for the school (often library books) in honor of those you want to aknowledge.

The school benefits from the money spent, but a nice label can be placed inside the book that it was donated to honor the contribution of XZY as volunteer.

As long as there is a line item in the budget and the by laws allow for such expenditures, there is nothing wrong with it. But where I disagree is when you raise funds for the school, and without consent or knowladge, use that money for purposes of gifting. It can get you into hot water. Several years ago, our PTO (through private dontaions from parents and community) brought a teacher from New Mexico to our state and school. She supported our school through our 9-11 losses, and the school wanted to thank her. A parent went forth, without actually asking where the money came from, and contacted the IRS telling them that we had misused funds. We were audited, put under a microscope for three years, and still get occasional leters of 'watching you', even though there actually was no misuse of funds (as later founded by the investigators). It all depends on how your parents concieve the gifts.

Originally posted by zeekaboo:
Misappropriation of funds is a serious crime.

I also don't think these gifts are a good idea. Like others, I think the biggest issue is with "impressions" and PR.

That said, though, this is not a misappropriations/criminal/lawsuit issue. There is nothing legally wrong with spending modest amounts on volunteer appreciation/volunteer building.

In fact, I'm a huge supporter of having a budget for that very purpose. I think it's a wise expenditure in the long-term health and growth of your group (which certainly does help the kids!). Trick is, though, to make sure that appreciation is broad and open -- even going so far as to reward sometime volunteers and reluctant volunteers as much or more as your officers. It's a sort of Prodigal Son thing -- yes, the folks who do the most, the most consistently, for the longest time get the short end of the stick in that equation. Kind of like motherhod and fatherhood (especially motherhood), right? The PTO is our (leaders') baby.

OK -- I'm babbling. But did want to chime in that there is nothing at all criminal about spending modest amounts of PTO money on volunteer appreciation.

Tim

Saying thank you is one thing, gifting is another. Misappropriation of funds is a serious crime. It doe not matter if 'you ' raised the money or not. THe money is there for the children of the school. If parents found out that you were 'paying' the board with gifts with money intended for the youth, it could lead to some nasty feelings, as well as a potential lawsuit. Write a thank you, take them to a movie (on your dollar) or jsut acknowlage them in front of the other parents at a meeting.

I think it is a bad idea. This is not a "Sunshine" issue, it is a personal one. You want to say thank you. Wrte a sincere note, skip the gift. Most people involved in the PTO are not in it for the gifts, they are in it for the kids. Make a donationto the PTO in their names if you must spend money, and make it your money. Write a sincere note of thanks.