We have tried both daytime and evening meetings with our group. There is NO DIFFERENCE in attendance numbers for us.

At our first meeting of the year (we do make sure we advertise well) we discuss what time of day and what day of week will work best for people this year. The day and time decided at that meeting is what is used for the school year.

We tend to not have great attendance at meetings, but we do have a great number of parents who pitch in and help with activities.

I feel for you! I'm going to miss the first meeting they are having with me not on the board, it's killin' me! My 3yr olds very first field trip is the same day and time, what a cawink-a-dink. I made the suggestion that we alternate our meeting, to accomadate everyone. But that was one of my many ideas I was pushing to much. Guess we should just accomadate the board members. I wish you the best of luck and hope that your principal sticks up for you!

If the meeting times are a huge issue have you asked about alternating them month to month, one at night, one at noon. I find it hard to believe that this would work at my school...having meetings in the day. I know schools around me that have theirs right after school, get alot of staff but few parents. It depends on who they are trying to target, I would puch the alternative route!

I agree with RobinD and Lucella. I find evenings hard -I have to find a sitter or keep my kids up late (and endure the crabbiness the next day). I'm also going to throw out another idea: are the people running the afternoon meetings also having to do Executive Board meetings in evenings? I find that our general meetings and exec board meetings run on consecutive Tues (exec is last Tues of the month, general is 1st tues of the next month) and it tends to be really tough to do both - so I choose the exec 'cause I find thats were more decisions are actually made.
Maybe you could suggest alternating the meetings: one month afternoons, the next evenings? I know I would jump at the chance to be able to do that arrangement! If not, see if you can attend an exec board meeting (we open ours up to anyone who would like to come) and see if it will be the place for you.

good luck!

I do agree with the original poster that it's most likely that noon is a time when fewer people can attend. However, that's what works for your school, so instead of being frustrated, and trying to stage a coup and work against this group. How about emailing them and say " I really want to get involved, and I can never make those noon meetings, what can I do between THESE hours that would contribute to our school?"

Furthermore, typically the general PTO meetings are not where the decisions are made. At least in our case, our general meetings are committee status reports, and " what's coming up" reports. We do not make major decisions in a general meeting. Everything we do in a meeting is recapped in a monthly newsletter. The irony of people being frustrated that they can't attend these meetings is that they are the least important thing we do all month!!

I agree with Lucella. We have always had our meetings on Wednesday nights, because that is the only night that our building Principal does not have another commitment. I have OFTEN had people complain that our meeting nights should be changed to accommodate THEIR schedules.

We post ALL of our meeting times in August, for the whole school year, and we suggest to people that if these meetings are important enough to them then we suggest that they alter their schedules once a month ( or every other month) to come to the meetings. We also post our meeting minutes in a notebook in the school office, and tell these folks that they are always availble to read, and our phone #'s and emails are posted everywhere.

We also hold " committee" meetings on all days, at all times... and ya know what?? Those complainers ALWAYS have an excuse as to why they can't step up to the plate.. and they always stand back with their hands on their hips and complain we are " cliquey".

How many organizations do you know who will alternate meeting times just to appease a few whiners?? Junior League? Rotary? Chambers of Commerce? School Committee? City Council? Red Cross? I think not. These whiners ( no, orginal poster, I am not referring to you!) need AN EXCUSE for why they aren't involved . We give them all ample opportunity!!!!! phew. I feel better now. sorry for the vent.

I'm going to take the opposite side for just a moment and say, it is easier for me to get away during the day. We hold our meetings in the evening, & while I don't think our attendance would really change much no matter what time we held the meeting, I can see the rationale behind this. No one has to worry about a sitter, there is no rushing around after school to get homework, supper & baths an hour or so earlier. Kids aren't up late waiting for you to get home & then cranky in the morning because they were up late. Just because a meeting is held in the evening, does not mean everyone would have the opportunity to attend any more than if it were held during the day-some people work nights or simply cannot get out in the evening. Also, while it is not convienient for you, this is obviously a proven method for this particular group- it may not work for group. I'm sure if you want to be active in the school, there is plenty of work to go around. Rather than going in demanding a change, perhaps talk to the other parents about what you can do to help. Just because they are stay-at-homes, does not neccesarily mean they are a clique. Once they've gotten to know you & see what a super big help you are, they may be more receptive to talking about a change.
I hope I didn't offend you, just my .02. [img]smile.gif[/img]