Confused Member, Congratulations for two reasons - realizing a member needs help and then trying to do something for her. There are too many potential reasons for her behavior, from basic shyness to clinical depression, none of which you can solve for her. What you can do is make it easier for her to be involved and for all of your members to be able to work together productively.

Since she really is realtively new after just two years, perhaps pair her up with a mentor, someone who's been around awhile. If she feels like she has someone on her side, who she can discuss ideas with ahead of time and who can help steer her around potential pitfalls, she'll be able to present clear, well thought out ideas.

If it seems that the membership really is rejecting her ideas simply because of the source, maybe you can help guide the discussion in her favor. Surely not all of her ideas are bad but maybe people have just stopped listening.

If she could score one or two real victories and she begins to feel validated, perhaps her confidence will increase and she won't need to rely on emotional ambush to "win".

I second mykidsmom!!!! Crying & threatening to quit when she doesn't get her way....she needs to grow up, stop pouting & throwing tantrums.

I have been involved and attending meeting for ten years now and the meetings we have emotonal parents at were warrented due to issues such as contracts, missapreation of funds, and admin issues that the district brought to the attention of the school. NOT once have a parent cried because their idea for somethign was not recived well.

Confused Member asked for our thoughts and I think this person just wants attention and is going about it in a poor way. If I come off snobby well....okay. But for me think this way is because all I know about this woman is what has been posted. Sure, she could be worse off or have more issues than we will ever know OR she just cries because it works in the TV soaps.

I honestly am shaking my head at your last comment
{The attitude shown on this thread is precisely why PTOs in general do NOT have enough volunteers, members, etc.}
88% of our parents at our school have full time jobs and come into the building for events and conferences...period. I know a few of them and honestly there is know way to know the other 1000+.

The comment also that she threatens to quit if this isn't done or she don't get her way is where I lost any compassion. I would rather she handed over her file and let me ask this mom over here to help. And if that sounds snobby, I'm not sorry, just too busy for moms pouting.

that is precisely the heart of the matter. one would HOPE that people drawn to the post of PTO officer do it for the right reasons, and care about other people, adults and kids alike. sadly, its not always the case.
i speak as one of experince, i was kicked off my PTO, they tried to remove me from all meetings without ever speaking ONCE to me(and i NEVER caused any disturbance whatsoever).
grow up is THE RIGHT MESSAGE.
PTO grow up and treat others fairly, openly , and listen to concerns and whats behind those concerns. we are all human. The PTA has a nice slogan, something like "to handle yourself, use your head, to handle others, use your heart"

I cannot believe this!!! How horribly cold and unfeeling can you people be????!!!???

This is so typical of PTO cliques.....snooty, snotty, and hateful bitchiness, except for AvonMom.

Ironically, "another mom's moccasins" is the featured topic on this main website, and all but one of you are bashing her!!!!!!!!

THE CRYING IS A SYMPTOM -- N-O-T THE PROBLEM!!!!
For crying out loud (no pun intended), why hasn't even ONE of your group approached her after the meeting PRIVATELY and shared a cup of coffee with her??? Perhaps attending the meetings is her only mental health break, and she's at least trying to participate, only to be whacked down.

The attitude shown on this thread is precisely why PTOs in general do NOT have enough volunteers, members, etc.

GROW UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with the two posts above, she is speaking up and for some people that is a huge fear. Heck after being president for four years I still get butterflies before certain meetings and want to cry. Give her credit for that.
I also wonder if she truly needs a friend or someone to listen, a school liasion, counselor, try being a friend, volunteer with her on something or better yet give her a project and let her run with it...you may be suprised at what she can do!