Hi Been there done that-
Would love it if you put your ideas on this thread since there are likely many others out there that could benefit from your creative ideas : )

~Lisa



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We have the same conflict- though not with board members, with general members. Saying that we should vote on literally everything. Every letter, every notice, every note...you name it, she wants a vote- which is not only insanity, but unnecessary. There are executive board seats for a reason and they have the ability to write notices, weed out the unessential mail and materials and present to the entire PTO the necessary information to make informed decisions.

I certainly hope you find the right way to deal with this questionable behavior. Though, your years of experience may not help- it seems she's taking offense to you running it as a profession, as opposed to a parent board.

Sounds like my most challenging board member is moonlighting on your board too!

I have a few creative ways I am currently using to deal with the situation.

Feel free to email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you wish!

Dear President,
It sounds to me like the byLaws need to be rewritten leaving NO areas for discussion. You mentioned the ByLaws were pretty clear as written, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to include more in your ByLaws. Robert's Rules can sometimes be difficult if you aren't used to them. Maybe taking an evening to have an outsider come in and go over Robert's Rules would also help your group (at least the board). Having an outsider come in will eliminate others being able to have harsh feeling towards you! I would suggest looking for a local Toastmaster to help you. Toastmasters are knowledgable and always looking to speak (no charge). I hope this little bit has been helpful! Good Luck

I am a first year president of the parent teacher group at my children's school and a long time member. The membership has bylaws which are fairly simple to understand. I have been dealing with ongoing conflict with another officer regarding the basic management of the group; board decisions vs. member decisions and a slue of other issues which is impeeding group progress. I have extensive background and experience in non-profit management and governance. I have my own understanding of how a fundraising group functions. My difficulty is trying to explain to this officer the basics.
Is there a guide or proceedure manual out there on this topic? I have researched this wesbite and found general and helpful information, but I am still hoping to find more of a guidance document. Parents and teachers bring a lot of talent and volunteerism to the group, but not all have knowledge of Robert's Rules of Order, audits, non-profit legal responsibility...
The more I try to explain, the more argumementitive this officer becomes. This person wants me to seek member and board approval on every small task I am responsible for, how I invite parents to join, the usage of pre-approved start-up funds, and so many other things.
Unfortunately, email loops have become this officer's sounding board for complaints, creating loads of confusion and conflict. I spend a lot of time putting out many small fires and second guessing what I should and shouldn't do in regards to my duties. A simple manual, guide or definition of group functions may help.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
~Andrea