I'm impressed - only 1 fundraiser? The 3 we are currently planning include: 5k run/walk, casino night and the big "50/50". Would you mind telling me about the one fundraiser you are planning and if you are going to solicit the $100. donation from families or merely suggest it for those who are interested? Thanks!

we actually are mixing up our fundraisers this year, we sent home a letter in June just saying how excited we are about offering families different opportunities, that we felt that we needed to mix things up so we can continue our success... and reaffirmed that we will continue with our family fun nights but with anew twist. If you sound excited about it then they will be able to pikc up on that. Yes you can have doubt but you know what, what is the worse that can happen...you go back to the old way. You learn by experience and hey maybe it will be better than ever...introduce your PTO that night as the PTO with a whole new look!

I am new too, and trying to change the damaged reputation of the past. I am trying to use the stay focused and be positive approach. Don't bash the last board though. Word gets out fast. Everyone knows someone so just focus on the present and future. Can't change the past happening either. I will focus on effective communications between parent and teacher and giving the kids a great time this year. We are hoping to do only 1 large fundraiser that was the demand of a survey I sent out last year. We will stress our budget goal for making 23K and telling the parents at the 1st mtg. that the fundraiser with their support and generousity should be able to do this. Also, some want to give a flat donation of 100.00 and that is great too. If need be, we will need another fundraiser, but we are hoping this should do it.
Look forward to trying it. Get them before holiday shopping though!

With the start of the school year fast approaching, my co-pres and I are trying to finalize the agenda for our first meeting. Not only is this our first meeting as co-presidents, we also are going to try to introduce a whole new outlook on fundraising. Traditionally, the first meeting is by far the best attended meeting so we want to seize the opportunity to promote our ideas to the most people. We want to step back from the sell, sell, sell theme that has dominated the past years and downsize to only 3 large fundraisers that don't include selling. Has anyone else been in this situation and how did you convince everyone that just because "it's always been done this way" doesn't mean it's been done the best way. We feel that either we will reel everyone in on the first night or alienate everyone the first night. Any suggestions to help sway the masses?