Two key statements delivered at appropriate time with appropriate body language and expression.
If the horse you're riding is dead...get off.
Albert Einstein's definition of an idiot is a person who continues to do the same thing but expects different results.
Now...please don't go crazy on me...I use myself as the one I am talking to and how these two quotes affected me, changed my outlook on life, etc....it's always a surefire way to get them laughing and to break the ice on a very touchy subject....
I think this must be a common problem at schools. Everything runs EXACTLY the same way, year after year!! For example, at our school, the kindergarten has NEVER participated in Field Day because TEN years ago they included them and all the children cried because they didn't win, etc. So...they never did it again. Well, it made me sad that my kindergartner was excluded from the fun so I approached his teacher and asked if I could plan a Kindergarten Field Day and GUARANTEED she wouldn't have to do one thing and could veto anything. Well, I planned the whole thing A-Z and with lots of help from room mothers we pulled it off beautifully and the kids LOVED it. So..if you go in prepared, people are willing to try something different.
PMCW
Thanks to all for the responses and support. I would have gotten back to you sooner but I spent the last few weeks in Florida! HA!!! Eat your hearts out.
It'll be interesting to see how things go. I am thinking about doing a Questionaire feel everyone out. I want to ask people things like:
What time would a meeting be more convenient for you? 7:00 or 7:30 and do we really need to have a General Meeting every month? Even December???
Flower Sale. . . This isn't even a true fundraiser for the PTO like it was 20 years ago when I was a student. Now it's just something we do out of habit for the kids. Do we really need to do this? We are just asking parents to send in money for flowers that they'd rather buy cheaper at Wal-mart. If parents think it's something we just HAVE to continue, I wonder it they are willing to chair, organize and work the event.
Christmas Arcade. . . another event that is not a fundraiser, just something done for the kids. But, frankly, after the first few years parents kind of complaing that's it's just the same cheap stuff year after year that they have to send money in for.
*shrugs* I just feel like we spin out wheels on stuff that no one really likes, that costs money, but no one is afraid to stop it.
Keepyour chins up ladies (and gents too) I just ran another new event the other night and had 200 people there! I ran it alone because no one else was interested in the idea but I just did it anyway! It cost nothing to the PTO I got donations and bakers to make things and it was great sometimes change comes from being brave and just going for it even if it means going alone!!! Be Brave!!
