I myself found myself in that predicament this past year when some people thought I was trying to do it all myself and that I was controllable...blah...blah. Well, it's not that it's just that I too am organized. I work full time and work for executives that I have to keep them organized as well. This has helped to see things with a wider perspective stay in tune. Don't give up. Ask your teachers which parents they can target and and to ask them if they will be interesting in helping that might work. Some parents maybe to shy but let them staple, copy and they will slowly come around as they get to know you better. Keep you chin up and smile everytime you go into the school.
Poohsmom,
Gossip and hearsay...Give me a break!! Does it ever end? I would call your 'officers' personally (with a big smile) and open the communication line asking them what you can help them with. Tell them that you did contact them in the summer but they must not have gotten the message (maybe they didn't) therefore you started assuming they had changed their mind and no longer wanted to help. Don't dwell on it. Whoever your 'friend' is that told you what they had said should stop gossiping! Look at how you felt after they told to you that you were the topic of conversation. Who's to say that it was even correct.
I have experienced this type of behavior recently myself. I suggest that at the end of each meeting - go over all action items and confirm a due date for completion or at least updating.
Then, send out your meeting minutes, complete with action items to all Board members. Try to break up big projects between a couple of people - one relies on the other to complete their tasks before moving on. This makes people accountable. If someone choses not to complete or update on their action item - 1st ask for clarification & if need be - do it yourself, knowing you can back up your actions(even if it just to yourself) with the minutes.
Don't waste your time or energy trying to defend your actions to anyone - actions will speak louder than words.
From my point of view, it sounds like you need another Exec. Board meeting. Our exec. board is quite new, so we met three different times over the summer. I really think it helped us become more of a team. We accomplished lots, but also had lots of fun & did some "gabbing". I think all of those things are important. It seems pretty clear that your group is not yet a team. We also have our recording sect'y take minutes at these mtgs. That way there is a record of who agreed to do what...
I'm afraid I also take a very different view of other people's opinions. Unless I hear something DIRECTLY from someone, I try not to pay much attention to it. If I think there's a possibility it could be true, I make an excuse to call the person. I have some chit-chat and try to get to the topic indirectly.
As far as things not being done on time, make sure your messages to them state that you are concerned about the project and they should call you ASAP or the project may need to be cancelled.
Hey Poohsmom!
Keep your chin up! I too care so much in what happens in my childrens lives and at school. I just try to surround myself at school with people that I know and trust. You can only do so much though. Just try to do your best but remember that YOUR family comes first, so don't stress yourself out about things that you can not control. If something has to get cancelled because of people won't help, then that is too bad for them. All you can do is all that YOU can do!! I try to do as much as I can for MY kids classes so I am involved with THEM. And that is all that matters any way is you, your children and the time that they get to spend with you. When others see you trying your best maybe they will finally get the hint that all of this time that we spend is really for our children. Good Luck! Pennye
Hang in there....I go through the same thing. I am continually asking for volunteers to do something and rarely get anyone to do it, so I end up doing it and looking like a "hog". Of course, one of the biggest complainers about the booster club and all we do, and me in particular, is someone who has never even joined. It seems like this is always the case. Just hang in there and do what you do best. Remember, it is for the children, and the heck with the backstabbers and critics.
