Hey guys!!
The nominations went out this afternoon and before 9:00 this evening, I got a call saying that I had been nominated for president!! (I think it was one of the teachers)Also the principal said there will be no counting of votes without him and another teacher being present so hopefully things are finally going my way!!Wish me luck!! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Scooby-Doo it sounds like you are being outnumbered by the current president and all of her friends. Have you tried to recruit some parents who you know you would have a good working relationship with to run for the other offices? If you could get a whole new group in it would not only be better for you personally but good for the PTO, school and kids. I have been president for two years and I can't say that it has all been fun. I have had some difficulties with two of the other board members who stick together and can be very nasty at times. I can't count the times I have been ready to quit, but then I think about the kids. Thank goodness I have a great vice president and friend who acts as a buffer. No one has come forward to run for president for next year. I was not going to run because of all of the stress the past two years. The two I mentioned have decided not to run so now I am seriously thinking about running for president again. My vice president plans on staying on if I do and many people are interested in the other positions if we stay. Another two years is a long time. Our principal is not a member of the Executive Board. He pretty much stays out of the dealings of the PTO. He attends meetings and has final say on our events but he has never stopped us from going ahead with our plans. This is his first year at our school. My advice to you is if your heart is really in it (I think it is) and you really want to make a difference for the children of your school go for it. Try to get some alies on the board with you. Isn't it crazy that people can be so self-centered and down-right mean? Our focus should be our kids not some high school popularity contest!!!!! :eek:

Hello, so sorry about the previous posted message. I'm still trying to get things going on the computer end. Well, Well, Well, I have a few things to say about this issue ScoobyDoo. But first, Thanks!, to all those friends out there who wrote back to her. I'm sure we all feel for her and hopefully our suggestions will help! First a little about me. I have been active in my PTO for 5 years. I have been on the Board for 3years, 2 as secretary and 1 as President. I alsways stick up for my friends the volunteers because they are always there when I need them and vice versa! I most certainly do not have all the answers but realize this, everyone has different work ethics even though we don't get paid we all still have to consider ourselves on a Business level. Each position on the board and each person who take on those positions are different. We are elected from our peers into these positions and are expected to make everything run to perfection. What were they thinking? Each of us have a different opinion of what we want to do for our school and our children. But sorry to say Scooby, in your situation, these ladies are taking full advantage of the system the school has come up with and of all of your kindness and your fellow volunteers kindness! We give up our time energy for something we care about to stand in front of the "yuk" ladies (these are the ladies who always show up at the meetings and say, "I dont like that idea", or "we dont need that", or insult the nicer people who work night and day to make things better, US! Bottom line, those ladies will never be satisfied and also just don't have the heart for the job. My advice to you and to anyone else in this position. DON'T BACK DOWN! What ever position you hold if on the board or just a volunteer or parent. Hey Scooby, just think of all the other wonderful parents out there who could be sharing themselves with you and all those kids! DON'T BACK DOWN! Approach them and tell them there are two things to remember, ALWAYS! It's the kids, and the pride we have in your school! If they dont like the situation, tell them to take a breather from the PTO apparently they have turned SOUR! See if their attitudes improve to come back, do they chair alot of stuff? What are they doing there that is such an accomplishment that they stay? Your principal should be doing something about this! They may not think they are involved or they try to stay away from this but they are involved and they better nip it in the bud! I have never have been put in this position, (small stuff) but my goodness dont just sweep it under the rug. What's that old saying about dust bunnies? they multiply and get bigger when your not looking! This is such a gift as parents to hang out with our kids at this age in life. Soon they will be into older grades that do not allow parental help. Why should these ladies take that away from all those other parents? I would like to read some updates as to how things are going. Im not very good on the computer yet, I just hope I can find you all again!

[ 03-08-2002: Message edited by: VNasch ]</p>

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by &lt;ScoobyDoo&gt;:
Hi! I am having yet another problem with our new President. She has managed to offend the only two parents that come to our PTO meetings or volunteer for anything for that matter. How do I handle this situation?? I have the parents calling me, or stopping me at the school to complain. She treats me worse than she does them. She has this little click with the treasurer and the past president, from 3 years ago. They basically feel it is their job to tell people what to do regardless of whether they are rudely interupting a conversation between them and a teacher. They told one parent she had to clean out the popcorn machine that the vice-president used the night before, and it was ten minutes before school was to let out. The parent had been there all afternoon to volunteer for the santa shop.She called me later to complain. (I wasn't there when it happened.) She has informed everyone that she won't be president next year, and the treasurer is moving away. They basically have told me in private that they don't care who they tick off as long as the stuff they need to get done gets done because they won't be here next year. Well, I have been told by many parents that they want me to be president next year and will nominate me, which is the only reason I am taking their stuff. How do I tactfully deal with this situation?? I still have 6 monthes of them being on the board?? We already have no parents coming to the meetings, most of their reasons are because of the president and treasurer. Help!!! :confused: <hr></blockquote>

Well, BES, The principal is on the executive board but I haven't given him the letter yet. I am going to do it tomorrow, after the book fair tonight. I can't be there because I have bronchitis (something I'm sure will be thrown in my face). I was supposed to work there and I didn't want there to be anything going on that might ruin the festivities. Also I was afraid that she might pull something, you never know. My problem with the rest of the executive board is that well...the treasurer is her best buddy and is planning on running for vice-president next year. The vice-president is basically a no show..her son has a medical condition and he is being home-schooled. She hasn't been to a meeting since the first one this year. The old president is already becoming buddies with one of the kindergarten moms and has asked her to run for treasurer. (She hasn't been around long enogh for them to treat her awful.)I just want this to be run the way it was the years before. She (the president)is now charging people for a function that we have offered to pay for every year since it started. She has even taken away the teacher appreciation gifts and staff appreciation gifts. I just feel if the teachers are happy the kids will be happy. And I think she has forgotten we are here for the kids.

It's all so depressing to hear your dilemma newpres. I too have similiar problems at our school. I am the President of the PTO for the second year. Last year was such a joy and great success and this year has been nothing but hurdles and disappointments. For a few months now I have had this feeling that someone(s) undermining all of my efforts this year. I just found out that my intution was right. It is the past president, a lady that I trusted and thought was a very close friend. She has been hiding behind and coaxing a parent that has no problem speaking out and complaining on a regular basis. This parent has been the voice of this past president. It's hard for me not to throw in the towel. I have a good vice president and treasurer, that's why I have stuck with it. We have a small group of parents that nit pick all of the time. They complain constantly to the Principal and Vice Principal and they stay on the phones gossiping and chasing away all of the good parent volunteers. All I keep thinking is just 2 more meetings. :confused: