Thanks so much! We had our meeting this week and I politely said "I" would be in contact with him and asked for the majority vote on the situation. I did ask her is she was willing to chair the position however, which seemed to cool her off a little.
I explained that the PTO is for the "children" and we have more than enough money if we don't do this fundraiser. This past pres has made savings accounts, a CD account as well as a checking act- which means we have "more than enough money".
I suggest you contact the 'old' company and explain that she is no longer the prez. Introduce yourself. Explain that while you have been happy with their company, that you would like to try something (or someone) new. Invite them to 'pitch' their company for the Spring fundraiser, but tell them you are making no promises. Then, very politely, TELL ,not explain to, the 'old' prez what you have done. EXPLAIN to her that if she wants to run that particular fundraiser, that it will not have the backing of your PTO, that SHE will be responsible for any costs incurred or billed from the old company. My guess is she was getting some sort of deal (kick-back is such a nasty word), and when she realizes she can only lose in this situation, she will back off.
My only other guess is that she feels the company has done so much right for your school, that she hates to see them not get your business. This is how I feel about our fundraising vender. I know that our new prez wants to go with someone else for our Spring sale. She wanted to go with someone else for our Fall sale, but that sale was scheduled before I left office in May (as we have always done). I didn't receive any kickbacks, I just know how much work they did and how successful the sale was. And it was again this year!
You have two scenarios. One of them is probably right. Neither one matters, as it isn't her decision.
I'm a new president this year. We decided on a fall fundraiser and went with another company. (the past 4 years it's always spring and always the same company). Well, bad judgement on my part as it interfered with the classroom fundraisers. Anyway, the past pres found out we weren't doing "her old fundraiser", contacted the company, told him "we were doing it in the spring" and to contact her and her only. Can she do this behind our backs and without a vote?
