Our VP wanted to quit this year and the president talked her out of it.
She's been a wonderful asset for many years. She's going through an ugly divorce right now and just can't do what she used to be able to do.
On one hand, I am glad the president talked her into keeping her title because we want to be there for her through this time. I'd hate for it to be "Well, thanks for the last 6 years of service, see ya!"
In some ways it would have been better if she did resign, because then we could reassign the position. Right how we're spending time going "Sue (not her real name) usually does that. Do you know if she's doing it this year?" (she hasn't been to meetings.) We check, she says she'll do it, but then calls begging off at the last minute because she has court or an issue with something. It's just becoming a real nightmare.
I just resigned from our PTO as vice president last week. I was only on the board for 3 months however, I quickly learned that the politics overshawdowed my primary goal - to be involved in my children's school. I quickly went sideways with the co-president and after several failed attempts at a reconcilliation, I decided it was best for me to remove myself from the group. I'm still chairing two events that I adore, Principal's Lunch and Movie Night. I didn't feel like I quit anything, except the drama-trauma, and now I'm less stressed, and truly enjoying my contribution to my kids' school. Remember, be a volunteer, not a victim!
I'm curious as to why boards have Co-presidents and Co-VP's. I don't feel like you would be putting anyone out if you were to resign. If the position is truly making you ill and causing stress to your family, then of course you should resign and not be bothered by what the board members will think. Family comes first above all else. All last school year I felt stuck in the middle of two sides of board members who didn't see eye to eye at all. I finally had enough and let everyone know that it's time to knock it off. We are all here for the same reason, the kids, and PTA's/PTO's/PTC's are not a place for high school foolishness. There are other ways to volunteer at schools other than residing on the board. Good luck to you.
You are not alone in this I also I'm going through the same kind of things. I've tried for years to get along with other on our board that cause trouble all the time. I did not want to leave with sour grapes, so I made a folder with all of the things I do and a list of what needs to be done. My principal was very supportive and so have the teachers.
Thank you all for your help in this. I will sit down and talk with the co president very soon so as the year does not go on to long before I make a decision. You are right, I should have said no for the start of the 2nd term, however, I thought with the old president leaving that many of the problems would go away and things would run smoother.
No need to be a martyr here. If you can't do it, don't do it. But don't do the laundry list of why not either. Just emphasize that you've realized there is too much on your plate and you need to step back to ensure that your family isn't negatively impacted. There may be some rolled eyes or whatever--but you are helping out with the newsletter and the store. Let someone else take on the job. Yes it does sound like you should have realized this wasn't going to work before you started up with it all again--but that is neither here nor there. No one is going to give you absolution but it does sound like the first person you need to get forgiveness from for your decision is yourself.
