Our Open House is coming up next week, but before school started, we had a Kindergarten Orientation. I was the last person to talk, and I knew the parents and kids would be antsy to get to the classrooms, so I went for the humorous approach.
I first introduced myself and my board members, then briefly listed upcoming events that we sponsor. I never mentioned fundraising, but instead aimed at parent involvement. Borrowing from comedian Jeff Foxworthy's "You Might Be a Redneck...", I came up with 5 "You Might be A Volunteer..." examples. Here's mine, but I'm sure yall could come up with many more:
1. If you have ever served mashed potatoes onto a plate, you might be a volunteer. (I then told them they could serve lunch at the Grandparents' Day Luncheon or Thanksgiving Luncheon).
2. If you have ever combed hair or straightened a collar, you might be a volunteer (parents help out on Picture Days [img]tongue.gif[/img] to keep the kids in line and make sure they look nice/clean/neat for their individual and class photos).
3. If you have ever built a deer blind, you might be a volunteer (skills used in building a hunting blind could be used to build a carnival booth).
4. If you have ever made Rice Krispie Treats, you might be a volunteer (donations of baked goods are always needed for the carnival Sweet Shoppe & Cake Walk, Staff Birthday Brunches, D.A.R.E. Graduation, etc...).
5. If you have ever run a cash register, you might be a volunteer (PTO volunteers help in the library twice a year for Book Fairs).
Thankfully, this approach went over well, with lots of laughs and some parents realizing that they already have the skills to be a volunteer.
My best advice would be to "keep it short". The parents are likely sitting there eagerly awaiting access to their child's teacher. They will have a limited attention span, so make simple, key points. Handouts can be good, but there's a lot of information overload that first week. Anything you use will need to be sent out again. So whichever way you go, plan for that.
Stress parent involvement and that there's a way EVERYONE can get help. Use use a few practical examples with which they can identify:
**volunteering at school
**working a one hour shift at {whatever event}
**donating XYZ (pick a simple, inexpensive example)
**sending in boxtops from goods in their pantry
DO NOT PICTURE THEM NAKED!! You will often get that advice but I have to advise against that. LOL!
I am VERY partial to power points. You can make them short or long and they are very simple.
Talk about what you have done in the past,that way the new people will not be lost and speak of your goals for this year and you'd like everyone to to be a part of it. Our pres just used the packet we made when she gave the first day talk. Make sure you introduce all the officers and anyone else that may have useful info and can answer questions. Most importantly remember you are all there for the same reason, the kids. No one is going to be judging or critiquing everything you say or do, even if you feel that way.
