marylandmom, thanks so much for your input, since i have put this note on, which was yesterday, so much has happened with our NEW PTO!!! God sent us an angel in the form of an anon donation so are financial woes are lessened!!! and as for the parents, will suggest your suggestions to our board. thanks so much for responding!!!
Trying to overcome a bad experience is tough, but do-able. My PTA is trying to get past several years of "business as usual" and nothing new or exciting. Folks just became dis-interested. This year we are making concerted efforts to target our single and working families, fathers, and yes, poor families (our county is not a "rich one" either.)
We are surveying, finding out how to be more inclusive and convenient. (Having a target audience is key to a successful survey...assemblies, meetings, open house, back to school night etc.) We will then act on the suggestions given to us by the folks we want involved.
To help involve our "struggling" families, we offer $$ breaks on some things for members whose children recieve free or reduced priced meals in school.
Just by letting folks know that our PTA is not a housewife club or for "rich" people or any other type of clique has gone a long way toward encouraging more involvement and participation...but some of our experiments are still just that and we won't know for sure how well they work until the end of the year.
Moving on, we have always been fortunate enough to have fiscally responsible officers in the past, so I am afraid I have no advice to offer you in that regard to your problem. One thing to think about though...what do ptos do when they are just starting out...with no "start up $$" from a previous year? We have all seen lean times...and everyone has to start somewhere.
Perhaps (this is the optimist in me talking now) this is an opportunity for your PTO to "wipe the slate clean", and get rid of the "bad taste" in everyone's mouths. Start fresh and new by reviewing your by laws and make any necessary changes regarding the finances of your group reflective of what you have learned from the outgoing president's actions. Launch a serious campaign letting everyone know that this year is a new year and last year is history...just don't let anyone forget the lessons learned.
help! the new pto was the pto a few yrs ago. the last yrs pto spent all of the budget including the start up money and left bad tastes in EVERYONES mouths. how can the new pto members repair the damage that was done and raise funds? and how can we encourage membership and involvement in an economically challenged area and 90% single family homes? a few yrs ago we did very well but so much has changed!! any suggestions? all are welcome!!! :confused:
