Oh.. My ...Goodness.
You are all mirroring my life, from being bullied to being the bully.
I am the one who always makes the treasurer explain her budget or insists on voting when an approved budget has been amended (treasurer is an idiot), who stands up to the principal (for overstepping her authority), who tells the alpha females to stop speaking out of turn and to start listening, who makes sure our meetings follow Roberts rules. I am so not afraid of a good fight and I'm not afraid of repercussions. I work 50 hours a week so if I don't get asked to the afternoon Tastefully Simple party, believe me, I'm not any worse for it.

Conversely, I have been harrassed at work by another woman via e-mail regarding the auction we are having. I have an invisible but very important role that I do and was being bullied and undermined so I quit. Long story short, alot of dialog happened, she got her wrists slapped, I have returned to my function and have put all on notice, the next time she

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's with me, she is in for a world of pain. Chairpeople agree.

Yes, it is sad but true that in the real world these small minded people would never make it. And I have said that out loud.

I'm going to go out on a limb, and say that I find LOTS of things about school intimidating. School in general. Whether you're talking to other moms about school or PTO stuff, teachers, or the principal, it's like you have to watch every word. It's a strange place, and it seems as if there are many, many people at the ready to psst psst psst behind your back.

I think it's all tied up with that fact that what you say or do can affect your kid's experience.

To be honest, I've often privately thought "Good thing you're here, you'd never survive out in the real world."

Not that I'd ever say that out loud...

Here's the update--no matter what I say, no matter how I say it--I'm ALWAYS the ******. No matter how messed up the management of our unit, no matter what they do (or don't do)--I'm the jerk for even asking questions. They spin it so that it's my "tone" or "insinuation" that becomes the focus, and because the rest want to stick their heads in the sand or not confront the real issues here I'm villified and they walk away smelling like a rose.

They told out and out LIES in our last meeting concerning management issues, making me look like a jerk. Of course the average member has no idea or is a friend of theirs and goes along with the ruse. Do I point out the lies at our next meeting, and trot out every example of just how inept they are, thus finalizing everyone's opinion that I'm "out to get them," or do I take the "high road?" Here's the kicker--if I were to point out how they aren't following the rules, bylaws and guidelines, and HOW that effects our business and the image of the group, most of the people in the room would just turn around and say that I'm just being a stickler, and "does it really matter?"

The hopeless turn this has all taken really has me questioning if any of this is worth it.

[ 11-17-2005, 09:29 AM: Message edited by: Rockne ]

I'm in Colorado, let the snow melt a little and I'll leave the light on for ya!

It's more than budget stuff.....but too much to talk about here.

Shawn, I'm right there with you. I live for good road trips!!

I've got some free time coming up for a road trip.. Ya need a bully taken care of!!

I think some think that 2 or 3 of us are now, as posted before we've either asked 'Where's the $$$ really go? Isnt there a more effiecient way or Why did the school buy that.

The good thing is we've shown enough that its a good idea to ask questions and maybe find better solutions, than to do the same thing over and over. Change is good (sometimes)