Thanks for all the input! As far as mail, I am at the school far more than any other officer,so I think I will just pop in and check the box to see if I have any. That's easier than making an issue of it.

As far as getting her to be more tactful, I'm hoping if I gently correct her she will get the message. I am learning all about diplomacy! If she continues to do it, I may have to sit down with her and gently tell her what some parents have said to me about her manner. I have a lot of bridge building to do next year!

I'm the VP and was asked if I would check the mail on a weekly basis. No problem, the Pres and I both work fulltime, the Sec. and Treas. are stay at homemoms who drop off and pick up their children everyday. Most of it is "junk" fundraiser stuff, but sometimes something come through that "I" can tell needs to go the the Treas. Everything else I collect and open unless it has our new board members name on it.

P.S. I deal with a lot of mail, advertisment, etc. for other people at work, so it's really simple for me to decide what needs to go where.

Whoever gets the mail opens it because it usually doesn't have a name or has the wrong name, but it is to be given to the correct person immediately. Our school secretary is famous for opening our mail even though it says PTO on it. My last pres didn't even give me my mail when she would get it. It's real fun being a treasurer and trying to explain that you never received the invoice or you would have paid it when they have sent 3.

An agenda for each meeting will help keep things on tract. Do you have one? We've had same ol', same ol' prez for too many years also. No elections, as only a few people bother to show up. She says it is an easy job--sure is, when you are stuck in a rut. I've seen many things that could work better if done differently here. So, I understand your pain.

Oh, on the mail thing. Get used to it. It seems to be some sort of a viral thing in schools--opening some one else's mail. (I mean the staff opening our mail, clearly marked for PTO--not implying we are doing it.--don't want to offend any PTO/A sec's out there.)

[ 09-08-2005, 08:11 AM: Message edited by: Claire Dausey ]

The great thing about our group is that we have never had elections, so we don't have to vote her out next year. At the last meeting of last year, when all of 4 parents were present, I told her I would be happy to step up if she didn't want to be president again. She said she wanted one more year, so if I would be VP, I could have the pres. the following year. So unless she changes her mind or someone else steps up to be pres, I will be. No one ever wants to be on the board. Last year they only had a pres and treasurer, which is why she is having trouble realizing that this year, she actually has a board, and she is not queen of the PTO and able to dictate everything like she did last year.

writermom

I know where you are coming from. I was in your shoes last year. To be honest with you, I prayed everyday that she would quit. It eventually happened. I walked around singing, "Ding, dong, the witch is dead" for a week. I really didn't talk to her unless I had to. I never really tried to save anyone from her because I wanted them to see her as she was and pray that they wouldn't vote for her as president the next year. I do know that I have done tons of repair work for those bridges she burned and I'm not done yet. Just hang in there. Try not to be put off by her and if you find that she has chased everyone away, invite them back to try to vote her out of office.