Take a deep breath now exhale, repeat.
I'm not a PTO I am a Pres for mu unit PTA. Here is how i would handle the situation.
1st read and KNOW your bylaws.
Look and find out what 1) is required to call a "emergency exec board mtg" Usually a certain # of days are required. When I call these I am only required to give 1 day notice, but I gice 5 and call each Exec Board memeber myself and let them know where,and when.
2) Find out who is on your Executive Committee (usually your officers only) and who is onyour Execuitve Board (might include officers, Prinicpal, past president if both are paid members), and Standing committee chairpersons.
3)Call the mtg- Have an agenda have bylaw copies made up and give them out to each officer. Review them with them, and get this group to communicate- you don't all have to be friends, but you all have to agree to work in the best inerest of your organization.
4) If the past president seems to be extending a hand, extend yours back-She can be a great resource.
5)Find out what is required to have a vote- In our bylaws in an Exec Board vote we need a majority of the Board. That means if we have a total of 15 people on the board it is the majority of those 15, not just who was called and informed of the vote.
6)Now as far as holding merchandise back until checks clear- that is a very good idea- We wait about 12 days before releasing merchandise. return checks are one of the reasons why we do preorders. This allows checks to clear and for us to get repaid on return checks. if someone bounces a check we send them a letter. If no response in 5 days, we make a courtsey phone call advising them that their merchandise will be held the order will not be placed until funds have been replaced. These matters are only done by the Treasurer so as not to embarrass anyone. We also do not let any merchandise go home without the Treasurer saying ok-cks are clear.
7) If you are opposed to something- such as the release of merchandise before cks clear and this is gong on in a meeting- i would ask the secretary to make note that you as officer holding xyz position oppose the decision being made allowing merchandise to be released to parents/students before checks clear. If you make a motion to for this and it is voted down i would again ask the records be noted of your motion. This will protect you in the case something major finacial goes down later on-
8) no one showing up to help out- well no sngle person can row a boat by themselves. As soon as yu find out dates for deliveries etc let the board know that help is needed- DO NOT USE THE "I NEED HELP"- try saying the delivery is coming in and WE need all the help we can get to get these out to OUR students/parents. If no one shows up- i would lock everything up (we have a trailer) and start making phone calls that since there were no volunteers to help except yourself this will have to wait until volunteers are avaialable. (AS dear Abby says no one can take advantage of you unless you give them permission). Have a sign in sheet at each of these events/ and deliveries. this way when membership says "hey where is our stuff" you can explain the merchandise is in, and it is in the process of being sorted, labeld and delivered. but volunteers are needed and pass out a sheet to get recruitment. Then if someone complains you can pull out the sign up and sign in sheets to show how much help you have received during a certian event.

But 1st you all need to meet and get thinggs hased out- As stated below- You do not have to be best buddies, but you must all agree to work in the best interest of your unit.

Good luck and don't forget to always carry a bottle of advil with you..

I am the new PTO president of a small elem. school this year. So far I have been left out of discussions, out voted, and ignored. I have finally hda it. We just finished our fall fundraiser. On turn in day for our orders, no one showed up but me, I sorted, labeled, filed and deposited. In response my other board members sais oh well I was busy or was that today. At our moonthly board meeting only myself and my secretary showed up. At parent pick up day for our fundraiser no one came in either. Last Thursday I got call ed into to the principals office and got reemed for not communicating with my other officers. Today the secretary, myself, and the VP voted to hold checks given for the fundraiser for 2 weeks to allow parents time to ensure funds ( the order forms said not to collect money, but then the ex-president and the principal said not to release merchandise until paid in full). I got a call from my secretary this evening saying that the VP had called her and the treasurer and the VP decided to deposit the checks due to the fact that they could not hold them for 2 weeks.
Parents are begining to think that I am stupid. The principal has decided that I want to do everything by myself, and I have not heard from the treasurer in a treasurer capacity for over a month. She was not there when orders came in or when orders were given out. She has not attended any meetings. And she made the first deposit today.

Should I just resign and let tehm handle it all?
Help me I am getting a really bad headache and it ahs pto written all over it.