Folks who read here regularly know that I'm a big fan of fundraising less (but better) and getting away from a reputation as "a fundraising group".
And I know that there have been ongoing issues in this school about potentially overboard fundraising.
That said, this doesn't strike me as that bad.
As the parents of young ones just entering new schools, I'd have no problem getting a flyer with spirit wear items to buy. My kids would've been very into that in the 6 months before they got to the school and it would've made them (and us parents) feel like part of things.
If the price was fair (whether the group was making a profit on it or not is irrelevant to me, if the price is fair), then we'd have supported this strongly and considered it a nice step by the group at the school we'd soon be a part of.
I agree--hitting up kindergarten parents even before their kid gets through the door is too much. If it's REALLY about a sense of belonging or being a part of the family you either sell the stuff at cost or just give it to them. No profit in any way should be made in a "welcome to our school" situation. As she said--there's plenty of time coming for that. If the kids' aren't getting anything of worth from this fundraising it's extremely ballsy of this group to do what it's doing. It's bad enough to squeeze every last dime out of your own people--but then to go and spread the cancer elsewhere...?
Unless you're in (or have been in) a situation where fundraising has gone very, very wrong you can't really appreciate the frustration that started this thread. Especially when there is no one to go to to get help!
Fundraising gone wrong is way more than about fundraiser fatigue--it's comes as a packaged deal along with "not getting your money's worth." I posted a while back about my school's group, which is infamous for its fundraising excess. In itself that isn't evil, but when you're supposed to be abiding by the 3/1 rule (3 programs, not services for every 1 fundraiser) and you're not getting anywhere near that you get very angry. Obviously that money must be going somewhere--and if it's not going for programs or things for the kids--what is that money being spent on?
In our school's case it's going directly into our school's bank account. When you're paying taxes to support a public school, and your taxes are going through the roof-- it's infuriating. It's bad enough you have to have the PTO/PTA make up the shortage from the tax dollars for extras or enhancers, but when the money leaves your bank account and then goes into the school's--it's just insult to injury.
I hate to disagree, but your descripion of "raping them for the next nine years and fundraising whores" is a little much, don't you think?
We have fundraisers throughout the year - 2 big ones, scholastic (which we give a nice amount to the library) and another small one. You have to keep in mind, that fundraising is a lot of work. Have you ever chaired a fundraiser? In the end, the money is used for the kids, the teachers and the school. I embrace anytime I can help out to give back for those reasons. As the new President coming in for the next school year, I admit - I am nervous about the fundraising issues, but without them - these extras that are not in the school budget will not be happening. I wonder, does the majority of people know how much money is being given to classes for buses, trips, picnics, assemblies - etc? I plan on showing line items so parents are aware how much this does help.
I think you need to lighten up just a little and take it easy. I don't think there are many PTO's/PTA's out there doing all of this work - just to get over on the kids.
Diana- I'm sure your intensions are good.Having the children feel like they belong is a good thing.Doing it with the right attitude is just as important.However, with this PTA it's all about the money and who they can hit up next. Not the right attitude if you ask me!
Let me explain, my school is a K-5 school, then the kids go over to the K-8 school. This PTA sent their fundraisers over to my school encouraging my 5th graders to purchase a shirt so they have that "sense of belonging" when they go over to the other school. How would they like it if our high school sent over their fundraisers and give the excuse of " well, after all they are coming over to the high school next year. We just want them to have the sense of belonging". Save the lame excuses and keep your fundraisers in your school.It's not like they don't hold spiritwear fundraisers 3 times a year. Plus they do fundraisers every month!
At our school we pride ourselves on the fact that we limit our fundraising activities to 2 major fundraisers and 1 smaller fundraiser per year. This year, since we made the switch from PTA to PTO, we added in 1 extra fundraiser to give us a cushion since we had to spend down our money or the "PTA Police" would've taken it away.
If the PTA actually spent the money on the kids and showed the parents what they were getting for their money, many of us won't mind the constant fundraising. But they have done just about nothing all year. No fieldtrips, maybe 1 assembly if the kids were lucky. They are just about making money, not about giving back to the kids.
It's not about raising money to spend on earmarked programs,their attitude is- it's all about who we can hit up next and how much can we get from them. They are a total disgrace!
Yikes--there is a ton of negative energy in that email. I suspect it is not just the fundraisers that have you this upset. I do have to say that I was thinking of having t-shirts available during our kindergarten walk through as well as PTO membership forms. Not to gouge folks but to give them an opportunity to get the stuff since many people leave for labor day weekend and that is when the school holds open house and our spirit items are available for the adults. I would hope that folks wouldn't see this as me pushing them to get money...but maybe they will. I'll have to consider that....dianna
why dont you just become independent?
sounds like a bad situation. and a no-win one at that. too much politics in pto/pta can make bad bedfellows or bedfelines i guess (hate to be sexist but most active members are women)
