Pals is right in that people don't want to tlak in front of the Principal. Our Principal is an member of our organization and of the Executive Council (if she chooses to attent, which she doesn't). We give her an opportunity to present to the organization during the meetings. BUT, she is not in charge or our organization. We have a good working relationship. A definite must.

Hi,,,our group was started in September 2001 after the pta was dissolved.We had no officers and it was pretty well presented that no one wanted officers so our principal ran the group for four months. Of course parent input was really bad and continued to fall . She asked me after a successful holiday shop (first in 6years) if i would run the group, no one objected at the time and yes Im still there. Our principal shows up at every meeting and our group continues to grow..i do believe that sometimes parents wont say as much in front of the principal...so you meet half way. I also know another school in our district also is ran by the principal because no one wants it...im not sure of your whole story and why the reason...but sometimes there is a reason

forthekids,
Do you have bylaws or a charter? Are there any rules in writing as to who does what?

Hi!
This is my third year at this school and we've never had a pres. or vp. The pricipal announces at the first meeting of the year that they(she) runs the pto a little different. I've just been thinking maybe we could get more parent support if she wasn't incharge. Many feel intimidated by her and even I don't always feel comfortable questioning things, so I can't imagine the new kindergarden moms.
Next meeting I may be ruffling feathers we voted to give all teacher $75 each and I was recently asked why the lib. aide wasn't included when the computer aide receieved the money. I hoping it was an oversight, but I think the pricipal gave the treasurer the list of people to be included. I know this is what happen with the book fair profits.
I was just wondering is this is really an odd situation or not.
thanks.

forthekids,
Do you have a quorum to hold a meeting? Are there others that want to be officers of your group?

If you use Roberts rules 10th ed. the order of sucession is Pres, VP, Sect, Treas, general member, etc - by the time you get to the principal youno longer have a qurom so what is the point of holding the meeting. Perhaps in this case because you do not have the other officers the principal is merely helping to keep things together until the partents and teachers get around to it, keeping the organization alive.