Lisa,
Just remember, the good will overcome the bad and your positive attitude will rise to the top and the negative attitude of others will float to the bottom.

People will be happy to see you, the happy smiling, positive person that wants all the best for their kids and does all to make those kids happy, and their teachers happy.

Keep smiling, welcoming others to be a part of the changes that are happenng, and helping them to find a place to feel that they are important and belong to a great family of parents, teachers and students!

You can make a difference and we believe in you!

Lisa, I very much want to hear from you and learn how things go. I feel we all grow and expand ourselves through our volunteer work. However, this site is where we can get support when we are feeling alone in the wilderness!

Lisa, I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience. I have enjoyed your insight and wisdom. I too, was very committed to a volunteer organization and then ended up backing off. It was hard, but probably the best thing for me. I found that some people are so vested for the moment they can't see the big picture. They had problems with recommendations that had vision. After I left, I saw some of those recommendations(my recommednations I had to defend) being implemented as the ideas of the very ones who resented them so much. I think it just takes time for people to absorb insightful ideas and actually put them into action. It also takes selflessness to go outside of your own plan. I didn't have the patience, and it was time to invest my skills elsewhere.

I have found a current place where others seek my skills and appreciate my effort. This too, can change. It's the nature of volunteer work. As I told a very enthusiastic Kindergarten parent working on a project, "Be careful of putting your heart and soul into it. Give it your all, but know that it may not be continued. You do what you can when it is your time because it is what you want to do. Others will have their time." Perhaps it not your time, right now. I find I become much more flexible and tolerant when I'm not in the middle of it.

My advice, stay involved because it's where you want to be. Be realistic about what you can accomplish, and amazingly, time can heal many wounds (and antagonist can show their true colors).

Thank you both for your kind words and excellent wisdom. I totally agree with both of you. My husband said the same thing as you have cmdd. It makes her life miserable to see me there, and eventually she will show her true colors. It can't come soon enough for me.
vp3kids- I remember advising you not to resign last month. Well, look at us now.
I totally plan on staying now, thanks to this forum and all of your words of encouragement and understanding. Is it okay if I continue to vent my frustrations to all of you?

Lisa, I am so sorry you are having a hard time. I am truly amazed at the ability of one person to cause such a circle of negativity! (I almost resigned myself this past week) Your willingness to give it a month shouts out how committed you are. I will be keeping everything crossed that this woman finds someone else to make miserable and you find support surrounding you. I will not even begin to advise you on resigning...how can I when those of us who are in the "trenches", know what a toll it takes on not only us, but our families? Just know you have support many of us here on this site and I am behind you whatever you do.

Lisa, I am so sorry to read about this and hear how many others this happens to. Just remember, this happens to all of us (that helps keep me going). Lies and the people who spread them will eventually show their true colors. Stick to your guns and if it is any consolation - your staying put will keep your nemesis unhappy as well. It really is a shame that some people cannot work with others for the best interest of all of our kids. Advice: give the person enough rope and they will hang themselves. Be the better person and do not talk to others about this person(s) just bring up things (or better yet,have someone else bring them up)at meetings that you want done differently and make the majority vote on it. There is your protection. Remember, this is all temporary and will all be over and behind us in due time. Hang in there.