We started something new this year to help recognize our volunteers. We have two bulletin boards-one in the front entry and one in the hall to the cafeteria with VIP of the Week. Each week I pull out the names of two volunteers who have been helping in the school or at activities and I put up their picture and a short biography. It lets the kids get to know the people who are in their school making a difference and hopefully shows other parents how easy it is to give some time. Some of the people I have recognized are involved in several community organizations and work outside the home!!! I have heard so many positive comments on the postings and the VIPs who have been chosen are so excited and just so modest-they don't think they're all that special-YEAH, RIGHT!!! For September, we logged over 180 volunteer hours just in the classroom. That was the equivalent of one full-time person each day in the school. That doesn't include the hours put in by the PTO board members who are getting stuff organized for the year. I'm proud!!!!

I agree with NM! Wow what a group!

Encourage your core group to talk to other parents about volunteering. You could even start a phone tree or an e-mail tree. Keep things posted on your bulletin board about the importance of parent involvement and how the parents at the school can contact the volunteer cooridinator. Make sure to get the point across about how everyone matters in your newsletters and webpage.

34 core Parents? 19 at your meeting? And less than 400 students? We would give anything to have those kinds of numbers!!! We are a school of 389 We have our first full Executive Board in who knows how long. And a Core Group of maybe 15 Parents. I am so excited to just have PTO this year!! Lighten up!! I know the work is hard, I did it all on my own this summer. It does pay off though!! Look at all the Kids who know you by so & so's Mom!! You are making a difference, I know we are with our small group!!

Hi,,,Im just totally frustrated and thought this would be a great place to talk. We had our second meeting of the year last night and was pretty disappointed with the turnout of 19 parents. We are a school of 357 families.We have a group of about 34 core volunteers and i have heard some comments that are making me concerned. Our group is just starting our third year and pretty much it has been these people who do all of the work. We have added about six new parents this year which happens to be the number we lost to moving up, moving, etc last june. I heard some comments about how" it is always us" and worry about losing them. I make sure they get thanked personally and by a card. I have child care at our meetings, do a little ice breaker game at each meeting. I constantly give them little treats on occasions such as national parent involvement day. I have a series of silly hats that i mix up and wear to keep the morale up. I know how important it is to keep parents from burning out ...do any of you have any suggestions for keeping the morale up. Our former pTA went through this and it was a horrible situation...one that I dont want our school to see again. suggestions??? Im not sure how long i can keep trying to keep morale up....