Here's my letter any bets on a response.. my Cubs and Tribe are out of MLB (Go Tigers?)

Bear with me while I explain my question and my reasons for being totally flabbergasted that this would even take place or happen

I recently attended my first PTA board Mtg at our new school (new board position)- have been in PTA for 15+ yrs not concurrently- some of my children’s schools have had PTO’s)

At the end of the meeting the President was discussing an email, memo or letter received (I’m 40 and sometimes my memory fails me)

A board member of our PTA needed some info on budget, I think (didn’t write down what the question was about) couldn’t reach VP or Pres so after day or so went to PTA website to look for info- couldn’t find on website- then emailed PTA for information- downloadable material- got said info

Now the PTA according to President (lesson on chain of command) member goes to chairman- chairman goes to VP –VP to President- President to District- District to PTA whomever- well the District got ‘in trouble by PTA rolled ‘in trouble to Press via District- who rolled ‘in trouble’ down to Board

Now being a retired Military person – I understand ‘Chain of Command’ quite well but my issues are

1.The Members pay dues and may not necessarily have training on proper procedure and how ‘Chain of command works (this is a volunteer org after all)

2. Using the ‘Chain of Command’ also allows (or the Upper Echelon should have) and ‘Open Door policy to skip steps (Why have a website with contact info? It is volunteers at the bottom)

3. PTA HQ in Chicago has 100+ ‘Paid Staff’ – isn’t that their job to help the PTA’s (along with the District and council, if the have one- or don’t have strong one) that don’t know? Or is it lobbying (I hope not?- Sorry for the dig but I’m disenfranchised now)

4. It’s a volunteer Organization – There should be some sort of structure (or chaos would ensue) I have never seen, heard or whiffed a mention of proper “Chain of Command’ in my years in the PTA (from local, district, state or national)

I have a hard time with Parents (Board Members, District or Council) being scolded (Its hard enough to get involvement – without this) when they’re trying to do the best the can to enhance education with NO formal training, background, or knowledge of proper procedure (and I’m not sure that it ever will be with a lack of time, money and proper materials to train them all to follow procedure in the ‘Real World’.)

I have been Pro-PTA for many years but have slowly been moving towards other ways of involvement- If PTA wasn’t the only thing available and I hadn’t already paid my $5 and taken on a Board Position- I’d have walked out over the utter lack of etiquette, respect and lack of common sense towards our Parents

Thats what bugs me about it- even if the person didnt contact anyone else first- didnt have time for local response- with parents busy schedule- I assumed an open door policy- they shouldnt have made it sound like, "Oh now you've gotten these people in trouble" They're frigging volunteers

Oh, I've already sent them an email (PTA) and it wasnt even me whom did it (this time)

Even a military chain of command has an open door policy to allow you to communicate directly with the head cheese. If you ain't part of the solution, you are a part of the problem and I think in this particular case the actions of the PTA were clearly alienating.

I agree with you, Shawn, that the person who sent the 'memo' was out of line. With zero PTA experience, I've always assumed that one of the huge benefits of membership is the expanded support system available beyond local group level.

Yes, we're all volunteers, have lives outside of parent group work and are not always readily available to answer questions. With their kind of access to information available, I wouldn't hesitate to use it. To think that merely taking advantage of one of PTA's services would result in negativity toward my local team would infuriate me. I'd fire an email right back to this person's superior to make it quite clear that I know what the chain of command is.

Besides as a paying member you're essentially a customer and "The Customer is Always Right."

[ 10-15-2006, 10:03 AM: Message edited by: CrewChief ]

I think I would be upset at the fact that your school is paying the PTA and this is the response that you guys got. Shaun I could not even imagine what you would do if you got the email! Ha ha ha