You've got some interesting ideas. Dances are popular at our school also. We have 8 per year, but the charge is only $5-$6. Until last year, a different school club/organization sponsored each one and that cut down on the sales-type fundraisers from those groups.
This year - with budget cuts - the principal had to earmark the dance ticket revenue for the school. Of course, that's the best part, $900-$2000 revenue per dance with no expenses.
But orgs organizations can still sponsor a dance and handle concessions, novelties, pictures, etc. Our journalism class sponsored the first one and made about $600 selling concessions and glowsticks.
I honestly don't know that the PTO will do any fundraising this year. With so many groups and clubs trying to raise funds, everyone is just sick of it. We may just get by with minimal expenditures, using what's already in the account.
Here's a coupleof middle school fundraisers that we have had success with: We have several dance/game nights for students and we sell a "spirit" t-shirt which becomes the ticket to the event. We sell the tickets for $15, of which, the shirts we can get for $3 each and cost of the event averages $2 per student. So we fundraise $10 per participant. With 900 students, and several dance/game nights, it really adds up. Most parents don't quibble with the price because the events start right after school and they don't pick up their kids until 8pm! School ends here at 4pm. They are highly attended.
A second successful one is selling batteries. Sounds boring, but we raised more than $17,000 in one school year. Everyone needs batteries! I don't know if I can mention the company that we used, but do a search for battery fundraisers and I'm sure you'll find them. Good luck!
Our middle school parents group is definately a "lite" run one. The student council does the fundraisers and then budgets money to different groups including the parents group. It's considered more of an advisory group then a parent teacher organization. The administration keeps us updated at monthly meetings about what's going on and we provide volunteers for different events. There is a volunteer coordinator who collates the volunteer sign up forms and puts the committees together but there are no officers at all.
Since it's only three years, it seems to work out okay. I'm on my third round of middle school and am concentrating more on our High School based Music Parents group. I'm on my sixth year at the high school and am getting this organization to work a little more like I like it.
The Principal hasn't managed to talk anyone into being president but there are 3 or 4 of us willing to help. So I think we'll just have an unofficial "council" and not bother with specific officers.
As I explained, there are so many other groups, this PTO doesn't play a major role. It will probably sponsor one dance, handle teacher appreciation, maybe help coordinate a volunteer database. Some years they've published a directory, but it's a little late to start that - and frankly no one seems to miss it.
I figure 2 or 3 meetings a year could take care of it, keep it from dying out, but not require too much effort.
The group is more "dormant" than "defunct". The principal knows about the account and has no intention of laying claim to those funds. I believe the thought is that either officers will eventually be recruited for this year or else the PTO will come back next year.
If no one steps forward, I'll probably at least take charge of the account, just to protect it. Like you, I'm not looking for a cause this year. I'm sure I will do plenty of volunteer work at school, but it will likely be in other areas. (School dances, athletics, etc.)
If there's no formal organization and no indication that the group is going to reorganize in the near future, then maybe the bylaws take over and the money of this defunct group goes to the school. I know that's how our bylaws read. Even if no one can find the bylaws of your MS PTO, maybe you could approach the principal as a concerned parent and recommend that action. It does seem improper for the money to sit so exposed in an idle account. I'm sure the principal could put it to good use, and with no officers to direct its use, s/he should probably receive it and the account should be closed.
Despite deep involvement in elementary PTO, I have purposefully stayed away from our MS PTO. I found that well over 50% of the fundraising budget is allocated for the performing arts department that services maybe 15% of the students. I think the PTO actually grew out of a booster club for drama. I'm not looking for a "cause" at this time, so rather than stir the pot and try to spread the money more equitably, I'll just concentrate my efforts elsewhere. It's hard, though to sit back when you know things could be better...I hear ya.
