I encountered the same problem with my group this year. I think some groups are so afraid of change they push away new members. Our group had the attitude that if it worked in the past, it would continue to work. I pushed hard to make people see that we needed to change with the times. The generation of today's parents are completely different, and family values have changed incredibly. Taking the innitiative to change things can be hard, but well worth it. Explain your motives thouroughly. Explain what you are trying to do is bring a fresh perspective to your group.
When I came into our PTO I faced much the same situation no one wanted anything new or different. I have now been PTO President for 2 year and am happy to say we have update and started many new things at our school, but offering ideas is great but I also had to run many new things to get them off the ground. Just keep trying. Good Luck!
I feel for you. Having been on both side, that one is a tough balance - when to rely on past experience and when to try new ideas.
When I was president, every year we faced a new crop of PTO members many coming up with ideas we had already found didn't work. Or coming up with ideas that were great in theory, but we just didn't have the volunteers or time to implement.
And I've been one of those volunteers, suggesting new ideas and being told it wouldn't work or we don't do it that way.
So how do you move forward efficiently but not close the door to new ideas? I wish I had the magic answer.
I can tell you that those who had a complete plan had the most success. "We have this idea, here's how it will work, AND we have someone to be spearhead it and recruit the necessary volunteers."
We used to sell school supplies several years ago, but it was a dreadful experience and our parents just didn't seem to really want that service. So we stopped. And then for several years, every first meeting "Oh - I know - let's sell school supplies!". Someone would explain the history and shoot down the idea. (Which I did also for 2 years.)
Two years ago someone really pushed it AND was willing to do the work, so we tried it again. It was fairly successful and it's now part of yearly activities.
In your situation, with really entrenched alumni, it's going to take a lot of tact and maybe taking baby steps.
I am the newly elected PTO President for a small, 100 year old catholic school in Cincinnati. Being an old parish in an old neighborhood, we have many second and third generation families. I myself am an '83 graduate (GO EAGLES!!) However, I am noticing that the PTO is in a rutt and I think it is from lack of change. Anytime anything new or exciting gets brought to the table, it is immediately met with resistance and I think it is for fear of change (or laziness. . . who knows!) Our By-Laws haven't been amended in 25 years (even then I don't think they were "amended", just retyped!)
My term hasn't even begun and I can already feel the old-timers staring me down.
Anyway, any advice on replies to the comeback of: *begin whining here* "But that's how we've ALWAYS done it!!!"
