Last year we had the same problem (no one wanting to run). The then presidents hosted a breakfast at one of their homes. The current board had to attend and be able to answer any potential person's questions. This was a very casual morning, children were welcome, and alliviated many anxieties. They filled the slate and had officers to elect by the next PTO meeting.
I read on another post about having the past president being an advisor to the new one. Perhaps this could help, even if it is "unoffically" done. After all - no one wants to see all the effort of the past years go to waste. You may also want to remind the families what they will be missing if their is no group...assemblies, field trips, new equipment, kid's social events.
I, too, agree with LUVMYKIDS' approach. Our PTO is facing empty officer position if people don't step forward. I put out a notice that if we don't have people wanting to run the organization then we'd suspend it's activities (I don't want to disband because of all the work that went into legalizing everything) until more people come along to pick it up and run with it. We're halfway to having a full slate.
I agree with LovMyKids. That can be one way to go. Talk to some of the Parents that you think would be interested, but are nervous. See if you can get enough Parents involved, Then you Parents can change the negative side of your PTO. It will take alot of work, but it is worth it for the Students. Maybe when Parents see that a change is going to happen with alot of new people, maybe more when join.
Be honest and straight forward with your parents and staff and simply tell them that people are needed to run the organization and if a group is not found by (set a date), the organization will be considered defunct. If that doesn't get responses then you will know that unfortunately no one cares enough to keep things running.
If you get responses that sound like there are parents who don't want the group to go away but aren't sure they're willing to take on a big repsonsibility, propose a committee to meet this summer a few times and make plans for the next school year. Ask that anyone who joins this committee make an effort to reach out to others and personally ask them to get involved. Sooner or later there will be individuals who will step forward from the group and take charge.
After a difficult two years, our PTO finds itself without a slate of officers for next year. 2 years ago our treasurer was convicted of mishandling over 10K worth of our funds...those funds were returned. Last year I ran for the office of Pres. It was a contentious election as there were no bylaws in place and the "old guard" wanted to part of new officers. After being elected (the election was oddly reminiscent of Florida 2000 - ballot tampering, etc...) I set about establishing some bylaws that were ultimately approved. For the first half of the year I had to work with a V.P. who played both sides of the fence...she was part of the "old guard" and worked hard to make things difficult for anyone who tried to bring about change (me).
Because this individual chose to run for our school board, the newspaper ran a piece on her questionable criminal background (of which I was aware) and thus, the "old guard" discovered that I wasn't the bad guy I had been made out to be. The V.P. left our school. Since then communication and cooperation have improved slightly.
Now the problem. I'm not serving as president next year. The only offices that are ready to go for next year are Tres. and Member at Large. Our bylaws stated that we'd set up a nominating committee. No one would serve on the committee. So, the principal and I put our heads together and came up with a list of possibilities. I have contacted nearly 2 dozen individuals. No one wants to be an officer.
My term will end with the end of the school year. We have a returning Treasurer and a Member At Large for next year and that's it.
I guess at this point I feel the PTO should be disbanded and the principal should establish committees to take over their role. The group is so factious that nothing is working. I attempted to establish "standing" committees this year, but out of a school of 325, I typically had 3 people come to committee meetings (usually the officers).
Folks don't want to get involved because many have witnessed the antics of the group over the last two years. Many have seen what happens when a new person comes in with new ideas. They've seen my efforts to establish by-laws and work with committees. Parents are not interested, given their busy schedules, in getting involved with a core group of people who are negative and unwilling to change. I've even rotated meeting times to draw in different groups of people...of course that went over REAL big with the select group of complainers.
