We had the same thing happen last year with our unit----My suggestion is at yor executive Board meeting call her on it. It is going to be tough and she will get defensive (it ll be a natural reaction), but don't take anything personally. remind her that this is the organization's money not her or yours and every person who paid their dues is entitled to a vote and to be made aware of what is proposed. There will be hard feelings, but if you don;t put a stop to it, it will get much worse ,and do you want to be linked to this person once word gets out.Trust me when she leave office and others get to see the books and what has happened it will get out. Plus I will bet that you are not the only one who will feel this way and once someone brings it up, more people will join in. I am speaking from experience because I was the one who was in your shoes. Do the right thing and your conscience will be clear and people will respect and know they can trust you. Otherwise if you don't and people find out you knew all along, and knew it was wrong and did nothing you will be labled as not trustworthy. i don't regret my decison and I'll tell you since I took office people have been fully supportive nad the attitude that our unit used to receive has done a complete reversal. People know that they will be advised of what is going on with me and my board in place. Our unit went from a unit that was labeled a click to a unit that is overwhelming now with new faces volunterring to help out and get involved.
I am the Prez this year and have been an officer 2 more. I have been involved in many activities outside the PTO but have have been recognized as the "PTO Prez has helped with" which has me really mad as I would like to be know as ME not just PTO.
I don't spend the PTO's money without a vote nor do I put the name on without a vote but I feel if I want to help with the graduation for high school, ribbon cutting for our new school, and internet safety classes I don't need the PTO's permission as a Mom volunteering.
If she is helping with a dance and none of the PTO's money is involved what is the big deal? I really don't mean to sound rude but I look at it I need something outside of PTO so when I'm done I have something to fall back on to stay involved.
If the issue going deeper than this you really need to talk to the entire team to get the facts straight---I have done this MANY times!
Thats a hard one.. Have you talked to the princible of the school about this situation? If you feel so strongly about no votes being taken maybe you need to find your Bylaws and start using them. If you have no Bylaws maybe you need to put a bug in the ear of some parents in your school. Im sure the parents will be interested to know where the money they help raise for your school goes, and they will help get bylaws in place.Please understand that if you start ruffeling feathers your president is going to get very angry... just be prepared. If she feels control is being taken away ..you maybe in for alot of gossip.. mom4
Sorry for not giving out more information, that was my first posting on any website and I am not familiar with the protocol.
The event is a fall dance for the 4,5, and 6 grade classes at the elementary school. There are going to be chaperone's provided by the volunteer committee, food provided by the hospitality committee, and it will be located in the pre-school cafeteria. Tickets will be sold, so it is acting as a fundraiser and where the money is going I have no clue. It is being broadcast as The First Annual Fall Dance sponsored by our group name.
From what I understand at this point is that a mother of a child in one of these grades came to the President with the idea and they both went forward with it.
As I mentioned we have other issues of the President not wanting to put her ideas to vote, just going through with them, so I would like to put some sort of end to it at this time instead of waiting. I would also like to mention that we do not have a Vice President, and the Treasurer is not participating in any decision making (she is a close friend of the President so she is OK with whatever the Pres says)so it is the President and myself conducting the business of the PTO.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>have just recently found out that the organization is sponsoring an event that was not even discussed among the officers, not to mention voted on by the members of the PTO.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Tell us more about this event. Are you financially supporting it? Are you expected to provide staffing for the event? Are you providing the facility for the event?
Certainly, the president should not be making decisions on their own about how the name of the organization will be used. But the appropriate response depends a lot on the level of committment your sponsorship entails.
If a shopping center contained within our school boundaries wanted to list us a sponsoring organization for their "Safe Halloween Trick-or-Treat", then I might be upset but would just worry about the issue going forward. By the same token, if a community group was holding an event in the school gym, and using our name as a sponsor to gain access to the building, I would feel much the same way.
However, if organization funds are being used, then we have a whole different kettle of fish. If the organization is being asked to staff the event, then your president has no right to unilaterally make that committment.
I am the secretary of a parent organization, and have just recently found out that the organization is sponsoring an event that was not even discussed among the officers, not to mention voted on by the members of the PTO. This is our second year as an official organization, so we are still in a learning process. In the past the the Pres. attitude has been that we decide and tell them what we are doing instead of getting input. I disagree! The parents attend because they want to have a say. It is not a dictatorship. From this website I have gathered lots of important information, and was hoping that someone could give me their opinion on how they would handle such a situation.
