So what grade is this mom in? LOL. Here is another idea. Our sub teachers have a Confict Resolution training during their training day. I was going to do this for our group but due to outside personal issues I had to cancel and since our few volunteers got along so well I didn't reschedule. One of my good friends is a sub teacher and she says there are some very fun exercises in it. Our guidance counselor was going to set this up for us. Maybe that is another way you can go.
I really like JHB's idea too. Now just getting people to read it.
Hi everyone...Thanks for all of the support...today's comments were worse than yesterday's..UGH!! However I have received the go ahead from my principal to defend myself and the group if need be. I will not stoop low as this person, I love JHB"S no one ever called and will use this. I always have stuff in the newsletter and my principal always put us on the very first page..alot of times we are before her column. Two weeks ago I wrote up about being a new year, our spring events and it's never to late to get involved!! I think I will come up with something just reflecting on all of these comments I received on this post. I figured the worse I can do is make someone else mad...isnt volunteering GREAT!!!!I also have a meetingw ith the principal tomorrow and I think im going to atke all these bitter feelings and make it into real positive energy,,,,watch out!!!
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
I think these are all great ideas, but have you all noticed that since caller ID came into play, people are not using answering machines. I swear when they see my name, they don't answer the phones! I'm starting to get a complex....
I'm a little late on the subject but here is what I do. When ppl sign up to help out with fundraising I require their email and phone number. Everyone that signs up at the beginning of the year...we meet once a month. Usually all I need is those ppl to help out so I don't have a problem. If the fundraiser is something large like a carnival we assign a game to each room and the room mom needs to cover that game for help. The week before the carnival we send out a notice with each room who is to cover what and what time. Anything smaller then a carnival but larger then my group wehre we have to go out to other parents I send a notice out to ask for help, have them email me back (otherwise they call me non-stop) then a week before the event I call them to confirm, if an ans machine picks up I leave a msg and ask them to return my call by the next night, if not I keep trying until I get ahold of them. If i don't, i put them in my unconfirmed catagory. If I have a good size amt I have floaters/backup ppl that will come in just in case. I've actually had someone tell me I'm not allowing ppl to volunteer and my response is this. I have to have control over that simply being everything put into it. If they don't show the first time and they don't bother to email me or contact me whatever way to let me know then I'm not going to count on them, if ppl don't like it pretty much they can get over themselves because until someone wants to step up and help me organize volunteers it's going to be my way. (can u tell i'm anally organized hahahah) I hope this helps
Good message JHB! I would also take this one step further. At your next meeting, before anything else is said, speak to the fact that it has been brought to your attention that people sometimes feel left out of the PTO activities and that you want it to be very clear that a volunteer will never be turned away. Incorporate the message that JHB posted above! Then...go on with your meeting and let it go. You have publicly addressed the issue and placed an open invitation on the table to all members. From then on it is just someone stirring the pot and you don't need to take it personally! :cool:
Have you considered adding a generic article to your newsletter (if you have one)? When I was president, we took all the steps you mentioned (okay, I admit we forget to send the limo) and still had some people say "no one ever called" them to help.
In one issue of the newsletter we published the following. It was not intended to single anyone out or be negative in any way, just to remind people "hey, we are all volunteers here, so jump right in." It got a good response. You'd probably want to target your message a little differently, but it might be helpful.
NO ONE EVER CALLED
Members of the PTO sometimes hear a parent say that they filled out the volunteer form, but “no one ever called†to ask them to do anything.
Please understand that the PTO Committee Chairs and Officers are also volunteers doing the best they can on top of jobs, PTO, soccer practice, homework, and a million other parental commitments. The volunteer forms are VERY important. Sometimes a project is big enough that we do go down the list and call people on the phone. That’s only one way we contact you. Notes go home in backpacks, sign-up sheets are posted, helpers are recruited verbally, and notices appear in this newsletter. All of these are “calls†asking for help. And we appreciate every single response!
