I wouldnt mind if I had a couple not signed up for, but not having any makes me nervous. I just know that is too much for me to handle. Even if I just get a couple I would be happy.
I'm going to ask tonight at our PTO meeting and see what happens.
Cindy<br />
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<br>"People have the right to be stupid, but some abuse the privelege."
Although its great to have your people in place at the end of the previous school year, its not always possible. You can send another memo explaining that programs will be cut without the proper Chairperson and volunteers.
Unfortunately, I know some parents love being a volunteer, but don't want the responsibility of being the lead. They feel they will be blamed if something goes wrong. Others may know that their situation will be changing next year and aren't sure of the amount of time they will have available (returning to work, kids in different schools, suddenly caring for a parent, new baby)
Try and get what you can between now & end of year. Solicit over the summer here and there. And hit up your Kindergarten parents at orientation. Then in September, try and get what you need through December knowing that you may have to send the letter out stating x, y & z are being cancelled this year due to lack of parent involvement & support.
Don't give up yet--you have plenty of time.
Making a positive difference one project at a time <img src=images/smilies/smile.gif>
Are there people you know who have volunteered to help out with each of the programs previously? I'd be making some phone calls to them. Otherwise, going the route onaroll suggest seems harsh, but it does work usually. I think people just sit back and think "Oh, someone else will do that." Well, pretty soon that someone else may have to be you! It's hard to let a program or event go if no one steps forward to chair it, but the alternative is burning out your already hardworking group of volunteers/officers by adding another project to their lists or having an event that just doesn't come off well. Not good either.
You should send home a flyer to all the parents in the school listing all the events that need chairpersons. Make the flyer as sign up form. Also note on it that any event that does not get a chairperson will be cancelled. See what kind of a response you get. Then you can send out another flyer with whatever events have not been taken and stress again that these events will be cancelled.
I would recommend just trying to focus on the events that are planned towards the start of the school year, such as Open House and such. This would give you time to get new membership or talk with some of your active members.
I have found that most members are nervous about taking chair responsibilities. We tried a team approach this year for many events and programs and this seems to have really worked well. In this way you can couple the mentor program (taking an experienced member and pairing them up with a new member) with the team approach. A new member is more likely to step up if it is with their mentor than if it is by themselves.
