Confession time - At my last school the PTO president signed the charter for the Boy Scouts. As president for three years, I always just signed the papers because "that's how it's always been done". The school never said not to. I never even read the papers I was signing. In retrospect, that seems a tad irresponsible but at the time it just seemed to be a formality. I got the feeling from the boy scout leaders that they didn't really look into it much either and were also just going through the necessary motions.
On a personal level, I am anti-boy scouts due to some of their beliefs and teachings. However, I never took a personal stand on it and just signed for the sake of a peacefule co-existence. It never occured to me to present it as a vote. Also, the girls scouts met at school too and I never was asked to sign for them??????? I don't know if that means they didn't require it or if another group met their need.
I guess if I had to do it over again, I'd read the documents and present it to my team.
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The school probably knows whats its doing and what is best, why not take their lead and adopt the same position? Dont you think, also, that the school might not really like it IF you do go forward? Have you discussed it with the principal? Something to consider, the politics side of things. And, if you have any issues downt the road, sounds like the shcol wont have a sympathetic ear at all. If you work with the school and need their moral or other support, best check with management that they have no objections to what youre doing. Just as a courtesty talk, not that you 'need' thier OK.
Originally posted by zeekaboo: As the charter holder, you are basically 'giving' space to that organization to be able to hold meetings, reviews etc.
If that's really it, then it would seem PTOs are even less right for this role than I thought. What space do PTOs have?
This arrangement has always seemed quite odd to me. The Kiwanis club, the JayCees, the Lions -- all similarly good organizations -- they don't need this kind of chartering relationship. Why Boy Scouts? And why the PTO as charterer?
If it's really just space, couldn't the troop just rent/use space just as dozens of other groups do? Why the legal/legal-sounding "charter"?
I am heavily involved with our local council and troop of the B.S.A. I am also the V.P of our PTO and we hold the charters of both the toop and pack that uses our schools. As the charter holder, you are basically 'giving' space to that organization to be able to hold meetings, reviews etc. Being the charter holder, you may also pull that charter at any time. Given the prior circumstances, I don't blame you one bit for having doubts and fears. Your best bet- contact the local council for your area, explain who you are, what type of organization you are and who wants you to have their charter. Explain to them what happened in years past, and your fears about 'signing on' again. They will help you out, and even perhaps make suggestions for this troop.
I know that with our council, a lot of PTA's are withdrawing the charters for packs and troops in the schools. It has something to do with the PTA's national bylaws. SO it is leaving a lot tof packs/troops without a home.
It should be voted on by the PTO, because it is a groups decision.
I'm a little confused. What exactly is expected of you because you are "holding it's charter". Critters statement would concern me - but again... I'm not clear on your obligations to the Boy Scouts would be.
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I'm not sure exactly where you stand on the PTO-as-chartering-organization idea, but it's more than just a name on a piece of paper. That paper is a legal contract. Your PTO officers should be very sure they know what they are signing and what obligations it exposes them to before they agree. Our PTO withdrew years ago when the officers looked closely and realized they simply couldn't fulfill the obligations nor accept the responsibilities of the charter organization. I think, in the end, the parents formed a new non-profit corporation in the state and had that organization be the legal charter.
