Thank you for all the advice. I did make a phone call and write an email apolozing for just assuming it was ok to go ahead with this event. Everyone responded back the idea was great and they are really into it. I tried to stick to MY agenda at our exec. meeting and it became frustrated when we got off base. That's why I assumed the event was ok. But, I do know keeping communication is the most important. From now on, I will get direct answers on everything.
They did tell me I needed to get a life other than PTO. We all are in this at different levels and I am very committed to everything I do. Oh, live and learn. Thank God for all you you on this site.

I think it's wonderful that you took the initiative to do so much work for the event and I'm sorry that the need for a vote makes you feel like your colleagues do not appreciate the trouble you've gone to. That's frustrating! The idea that everyone needs to get 'on board' is an important one, however, and by asking for a vote maybe the others are just looking for a way to reiterate the fact that they get a say (for future events). Because honestly, I can't imagine anyone voting no on something like this.

One way we hope to make sure everyone on our executive board is clear about what we're doing is by taking minutes of our 'planning' meetings and then emailing out the TO DO items to everyone. That way a)everyone knows what they are responsible for b)everyone knows what everyone else is responsible for and c)everyone knows what projects are of present priority. By doing something like this, your officers might recognize more easily that you ARE planning a boo hoo event, and then they might bring up questions, comments, voting issues earlier on.

Just a thought.

You also want to keep in mind that even if you have the freedom to spend a certain amount of money, you must still have the amdin's approval for events in the school.

I agree. If you brought it up at the meeting and no one spoke against it I don't see the problem. Everyone will be expecting it anyhow. I do have to make alot of "little" decisions on my own but if it involves much money then I take it before the exec board and we decide if we need to take it before the general members.

I gotta agree with ScottMom...the worst thing you can do in most cases is "handle everything". You are the organizations leader, and by that you need to make sure you keep the I's out of Team. Make sure you get buy in and do it in such a way that your plan can change slightly to accommodate other inputs. I always run things through with an email in the "what do you guys think" vein. Usually folks are more than happy to entertain the thoughts, and then don't feel like it is being pushed by "the new guy". Good luck--shake it off and if you want to put an amendment in your bylaws that the pres can authorize up to 100 dollars in expenditures per month (not cumulative) then do it...but, but, but, don't turn this into an individual show...you'll lose everyone.

Though I would never suggest having events without your group's approval-a very quick way to make every feel like they are shut out-if you mentioned it at a meeting, then why wasn't it voted on at that point before you did any work on it? I would suggest, from experience, that when you bring up an idea in the future that a vote is cleared and a plan made at that point. If you want to do whatever you feel, then do it with the principal's approval under your own name, not your group's or you will find that you won't have many friends or maybe even a position left.