Michelle B, I really appreciate your response to me. I think I am going to contact the PTA Council President in the district. I may do it anonymously, but I may not. I'm not afraid of the PTA President at all. She knows that I am interested in the position, and if not me, then I see some other perfectly qualified presidents to be on the board as VP already. I asked the pres yesterday if she's training a certain person for the presidency and she talked around the topic. The reason she is president for so long is that over the years, she has said that when nominations come up, if no one runs or wants the position, she'd take it again. So technically in the by-laws that's fine. But the nominating committee never looked for anyone else because they were comfortable with keeping her all that time. Well now, that's all changing.

We do have sign up sheets for events and chairpeople for those events, but it seems a lot of them are the same people and I'm trying to slowly change that a bit. Getting more people involved, talking to people outside my immediate group of mom friends that I see every day. I'm getting to know people and making them feel important, wanted and needed. No matter how much or how little they can do.

I like the idea of the e-mail database. I would like to have a sign-in sheet at every meeting to see who is attending often, and have their e-mail address signed up too. I will bring it up at the next pre-meeting and do it for our next PTA Meeting in November. Thanks for all your help and insight. I will e-mail you for that template and see if it's any different from ours. Thanks again.

First, do you have a copy of your bylaws? There should be term limits for the elected officers in them. (Most PTA bylaws are pretty uniform and the standard term limit is two consecutive terms)
If so, how is it that this person has remained the President for so long? Have you had elections?
Secondly, many groups get that clique reputation, sometimes it's not warranted and is an excuse that people can use when they really just don't want to be involved but don't want anyone to know it, but other times it is. If there is a true clique in place, the best thing that I have seen done is by inviting and getting more people involved to broaden the group. (More chairs, more volunteers)
As the secretary, you are every bit as much of this board and every bit as important. You are not their lackey. I was in exactly your position three years ago. (Secretary of the bad group etc)
now, I'm the council President into my second year. Keep working on your friends and find one that is willing to be in charge and get him/her ready to run for the office.
Stay vocal, and don't be afraid to push them for change. If you have a council President (or county) get in touch with them for some guidance. You can get their information from your state PTA office.
Changing the dynamics and the reputation of this group is not going to happen overnight. It will take time but with persistence, it will happen and they will respect you for your efforts.
Design a volunteer sign-up sheet, in fact, I'll e-mail you one that I have as a template. E-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I can get it over to you. You can tell your board you're going to work as a volunteer coordinator and organize the volunteers.
Set up an e-mail database of your membership. E-mail them updates of the meeting, agendas, etc. They'll start to recognize your name and feel more comfortable with you.
There's a lot more but you can start there. I look forward to hearing from you.

I hope I spelled Clicky right, but here's my situation. Been in the school for 3 years now and have another child just come in. Was very involved with chairing events etc. Now that the little one is in school all day I got on the PTA board as secretary. They have a reputation for being clicky. President is in office for over 5 years now. I'm trying to change that clicky persona with some of my other friends who won't join and participate because of the clicky reputation. The rest of the board just thinks that people who say they're clicky are just wrong. I tried to explain to them that some people need to be asked to volunteer. Not all of us are outgoing. Now I almost feel like an outsider and just copy lady. So I need help trying to get rid of that clicky reputation and get rid of the 5 year president. Thanks.