We don't require attendance at board meetings. Most of the parents on our board work full time or part time. We e-mail ideas back and forth the week before a board meeting, then set the agenda accordingly. Some of our best ideas have come from board members who rarely come to meetings. If you have great participation at your school you probably don't need to be as flexible. We are always in need of volunteers, so last year's president suggested we lighten up on the attendance issue, and it has actually increased participation in other ways. We have a voice mail system in our school district where every family has access. We do PTO votes in person or using the voice mail.
I do believe strongly that if someone makes a commitment, they should be expected to live up to it. However, the commitment required should be reasonable for that position. Also, in a volunteer organization, you must ask yourself, "What is the main objective?" The Officers should have their responsibilities regarding attendance stated in your by-laws and be more stringent than regular members of other board members. Is the lack of attendance a problem for conducting meetings? We have some excellent volunteers who can take charge of an event but do not wish to come to meetings. It depends on their project, but I'm willing to take what they offer as long as they communicate well with the Board. We try to be accommodating for all interests and time constraints by having different positions available. Sometimes, having co-chairs in that instance might help. It also makes a difference if someone else is willing to take their place.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by PTOMoMinFL:
[QB]Do any of your organizations require that members attend AT LEAST a certain number of board meetings each year?
/QB]<hr></blockquote>
Our by-laws state that if any Executive Board member misses 3 consectutive meetings, that position can be considered vacant. However, that doesn't help to much when you need the help. It is pretty clear within our organization that as a Board Member you are expected to be at each meeting so that there are enough people to have a quorum...People have missed for whatever reason, but it is always something that couldn't be avoided and they certainly come to the next one. We did have to call our Ways & Means-elect position vacant this year, and were fortunate to have a new mom willing to fill in.
Our PTO is made up of 5 executive officers and about 15 other parents who chair various committees. We also include the Principal, ERT, Bookkeeper, and one teacher from each grade level. Here is my question...Do any of your organizations require that members attend AT LEAST a certain number of board meetings each year?
We hold our meetings on the first Monday of each month (from Sep to May) and one in summer (to prepare for orientation). Everyone who volunteers to serve on the board knows when the meetings are, but some just NEVER come to the meetings. They help out and are great workers, but by not attending board meetings, they don't get an input into what we are doing.
Second question...if we require that parents attend a certain number of meetings each year, don't we also have to put that requirement on teacher members?
