Communication.
Sharing the load, especially allowing people to play on their strenghts.
Having a less formal group get together so that members of the board can get to know each other.
Reviewing bylaws, budget, and goals regularly so that everyone stays on track.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
Well...I confronted her on it. She said she just did not want to discourage a new kinder mom, and wanted to reassure her that we would be helping one way or another. I stated that I did not think she had the authority to act like that, and was not being a representative of our PTO body by doing so...Last report is that she went up to school crying etc. I did speak to the principal, who is very frustrated by the different groups that make up the PTO and that not all of them are working together. I am going to do another post asking on what makes your groups successful...Please give me some advise or info! Thanks!!!
I agree with LUV, but going one more step, you need to talk to your pricipal. A playground change is change to the school and must through the principal (as they are responsible for their building) and in some cases the district level too. Considering she wanted the discussion tabled, your pres is stepping on the principal's toes too.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
Unless your bylaws state that the President can make financial descisions for this amount, then you should call her on it. No one person should be able to spend the group's money in such a way. If you don't stop it now, what prevents her from spending every cent the group has on projects that her friends come up with for the year?
I would first of all speak directly with her to find out if what you have heard is true. If it is, I would then tell her that the other members present at the meeting understood that this matter was tabled until the next meeting and will expect to discuss and VOTE on the matter at that time. Check those by-laws too, so you can find out just how much the President is authorized to spend on her own.
Is there any guidance on this one? We had a new kinder mom come to the meeting asking for $500 to help improve the kindergarten playground. After about 20 minutes (seemed longer!!) of discussion, a motion was made, and seconded to pledge the $500 and to cash in some script if needed to provide the money. All votes except for the two people that made the motion were against the pledge. The principal then made a motion to table the matter until January. A few hours later, the PTO president called up this kinder mom and told her that the PTO would give her the money. IS IT OR IS IT NOT WRONG FOR THIS PRESIDENT TO MAKE THIS PROMISE OF MONEY WHEN THE MATTER WAS NOT DECIDED AT THE MEETING? :eek: This is very much an undecided matter, yet the president is making promises to this mom for the $$ without the vote of the body. What would you do, and how would you handle this situation. Many of the parents are very upset that she has done this. :confused: