Well, while I understand the responses above mine, I have to say that I don't totally agree. I think that it is up to the old Prez to purchase (or not purchase as the case may be...lol) flowers or what-have-you out of his/her own pocket as a personal Thank You to his/her fellow officers. Last year, as in-coming prez, I did a nice flower pot w/speech for the outgoing prez, thanking her for all her work, dedication, time and effort. I paid for it myself. She paid for, and gave, a wild flower bouquet to each of her officers (Veep, Treasurer and Secretary). AS FOR RETIRING TEACHERS: I think anyone who gives their life to the teaching of our children deserves at least a small token. Especially if they were active in the PTO/PTA. We give them small Christmas gifts, we give them Teacher Appreciation gifts and we have no problem justifying those, so why is a retiring token a problem? Do I think PTO/PTA should give them a gold watch? Not just no, but hell no. Do I think they deserve a card and a coffee mug that says "Gone Fishing" (or whatever their hobby), by all means YES. It is more than common courtesy, it is your group's personal Thank You for years of low pay, back aches, head aches, not enough classroom supplies, children who talked back, parents who talked back (lol), recess duty, wiping snotty or bloody noses, deciphering bad handwriting, hours of after-school work, AIMS and Stanford 9 tests... You get the picture. If you can justify staff Christmas gifts and Teacher Appreciation gifts, how can you not justify a small retirement gift? I mean Christmas comes every year, as does Teacher Appreciation. Retirement comes one time. I say spring for the $3.00 mug and $2.00 card.
Just my opinion...
