I like that idea! In a perfect world we would be able to get along but some people are just sour grapes! I have decided to just work around her and not let her be in charge of anything by herself. I will look for someone to co-chair each fundraising event and we'll just make do. There may be some people who beleive that I am making all the mistakes but there are enough people who know I working hard and taking this job seriously. I am staying positive!
Thank you for all sharing your thoughts!

Any chance you can get her a co-chair? Someone that is efficient but doesn't like the limelight? Or, back to Dave's idea and tell her that it just doesn't seem to be working out, and maybe she can help out with something that's a little less stressful for her. (Well, that's not exactly what he said.) or stick a house for sale sign in her front yard....

Oh trust me I have tried to be sympathetic to her situation; She is the lead chairperson for fundraising and I give her the floor to discuss the fundraiers but she doesn't stay on topic and then starts to take over the whole meeting. I've gently redirected her back to just fundraising but it seems it's never good enough unless she has full control.At the meeting she says she is on top of everything and the next day she calls me to say she can't do it or she won't be there! Everytime she drops the ball I've explained that she is very busy and she is focusing her attention on the next fundraiser. I have always tried to "save face" for her but she keeps needling me. I agree, I need to take the high road for the organization but I can't allow her to start something and not finish it either!And I am tired of cleaning up her mess and when it involves money ...that's a whole other issue.
HELP!

Perhaps a frank discussion would help. You could explain that to make your Parents organization work, everyone needs to work together. Try to be honest without accusing her of sabotage. If she stops thinking of you as the enemy, your problem would be solved. I like the Golden Rule instead of firing volunteers because they no longer please - as another poster suggested. And if that doesn't work, try to get her into the committee mode instead of one person chairing and doing everything. Luvmykids suggestion of committee reports is also good. It will make her accountable and maybe she misses the limelight. Doing the reports will underline that she is chairing something. This is my first year of not being President and it is a little strange having someone else in charge. Not bad, mind you, but a little strange. good luck!

Thank you very much for all the advice. I guess I am just having a hard time with "firing a volunteer" how will that look? Since she was the past president it feels like I should keep her on board yet she has shown herself to malicious.It seems like it is a lose-lose proposition if I allow her to stay she will mess things up and then say "this new president doesn't know what she is doing-last year when I was in charge everything went so smoothly" or I dismiss her from her duties and then doesn't it look like I am power hungry and unappreciative of her years of service.
People who really know me wouldn't believe that but since this year we are a combined school, half the parents don't know me.

I do the fundraising for my son's school so I know how important it is to be at the events and every little thing scheduled around it. As far as the making plans around her schedule then not showing up....if this has happened once chalk it up as understandable, if this continously happens next time let her fall on her hind end and not help her out she'll learn real fast to show up when she needs to be showing up. As far as her asking for help then complaining you are messing up....its her 'job' to keep the planning in line and unless you are the only person volunteering I'm sure everyone else is aware she doesn't have her fact straight. Now about the missing money........this is what I do, whenever the actual money aspect comes into the events the only person that counts the money or even touches the money is our treasurer, at carnivals when we need help collecting money we have the treasurer at the ticket sales the entire time. This way I don't have to touch the money and nothing gets messed up. I'm horrible at math so I asked the treasurer to do this and she was more then happy to help me out. My advice to you is not to pick up behind her, let her fall down she'll either leave real fast or fix herself straight.