I'm one of those...the "hanger on" who won't let go of her committee. I've chaired our art appreciation committee for 8 years, and will retire after 10 when my youngest leaves this school. During year #3, I tried diligently to recruit a replacement, but people only wanted to help, not lead. After that, I became personally invested in the job and have kept it ever since.

Should new blood lead the committee? Not sure. Have I ever had someone make a suggestion that didn't fit my definition of the committee? Yep. Are people happy with the committee's results? Sure seems so based on feedback from the staff/kids. Is it ok? our 25 committee volunteers seem to think so.

If our bylaws said someone could chair a committee for only 2 years, I would never have devoted so much of myself in the committee and it would have just sustained, not grown. I know the quality has improved - not just the program itself, but my documentation, how to guidelines, and files that I will eventually pass on to my successor because each year I want to make it better. Experience is a valuable asset.

Of course, just as easily I could have dropped the ball on the committee and dragged it down for the last 5 years. But it's my passion and suits my interests well. That said....I wouldn't put a hard-fast rule into the bylaws. Find a way to remove ineffective chairpeople, absolutely. But don't cut off enthusiasm simply because the bylaws say so.

The outgoing board decided to open up ALL positions last year, which was a god-send to us, since we were concerned about people not wanting to "let go".

Our PTO does sign-up sheets each year at the Spring Carnival (for the following year), the Back to School Party, and the Open House. This year we got nearly 100 sign-ups (some were the same people for different things). We exported it from our Volunteer webDatabase, put it into Excel and went through the list and highlighted those people that were the only ones to sign up for something in yellow. Then we sorted by names and highlighted the OTHER things a person signed up for in pink (to differentiate). Then sorted by positions again, anyone who is "pink" will be a "last resort" call if noone else wants to chair the position. This way we're fair and noone gets to run EVERYTHING just because their name is Amy Able and they're always alphabetically on top. [img]smile.gif[/img] Anyone who ran it in the past is automatically "disqualified" as the Primary Chair for this year. They can be Asst Chairs or on the committees, though, so as to pass on their knowledge.

Plus, we went through our "Homeroom Parents" signup sheets (almost every parent signs up for these) and highlighted those who are already chairing another committee as "secondary"s, this lets someone else get involved. We don't want the Board to be running every event plus homeroom parents on top of it! [img]smile.gif[/img]

The new board will be meeting with every new chairperson to go over a set of policies (that we've just drafted) so as to avoid any "confusion" from the "retired chairs". [img]smile.gif[/img]

We always have co-chairs and take as many as want the job no one gets turned away! If you have a couple of co-chairs someone always ends up being a leader anyway. This has never been a problem for us. Parents wanting to do stuff is always great!!

In our group the executive board (officers and three standing committee chairs--or whatever of the three are filled)are supposed to choose from any volunteers. If more than one person steps up to do the job, we vote (bylaws). We're just starting out, so it really hasn't been an issue before, but like I said, I see it coming down the pike! I feel strongly that no one person should have the authority to pick chairs--I myself am not comfortable with one person having that much power, and it could lead to problems down the line if you get a real ninny in that position.

I agree with Bertha--it's not a popularity contest, and truth be told I unfortunately do have a big set of ba**s--that's how I get into trouble so often! My problem is that I seem to bring out the worst in some people, and they in me, so whe this issue came up, I was accused of not being able to be impartial. I beg to differ, because I AM capable of being able to put things to the side if I think it's the best for the group, but whatever. My main concern is making sure the best possible job is done, and some of the others disagreed with me wanting to ask some people to chair a position that another person seems to think is "theirs"--people want me to let it go--that good enough is good enough for now.

While we are on this subject. How do you pick a chair? I think it is in our by laws that the pres picks them. In the past there were no records of committees and the ones I did start when I was pres I just went ahead and chaired them. If I get pres again this year(I've had a year off) I would love to see more committees effectively utilized but I don't really know how. I don't mean to get off topic I was hoping this would tie in with kmamom's post. I could use any helpful advice.

Can you find another job for that person you want to replace? Create one, even? Then steer them strongly towards the new position?

If they just won't step down, see if the new person will co-chair with the old one. Tell the old one that the new one really wants to do this, and you don't want to potentially lose a good volunteer.