Now that I have read my previous post, its laughable how petty I sounded. Guess that will teach me to post when I haven't had time to reflect on my feelings. You hit the nail on the head, I do feel like an outsider. That's it in a nut shell. I have really enjoyed the work I have been able to do and there is satisfaction in knowing that the school and the children are benefitting. I will keep at it and not be so thin-skinned next time. LOL
I have felt this way when I first started--
I came on the same way-- and felt like an outsider--
Keep coming though-- it does get better-- and next year as you are more involved remember how you felt and include a new member, so they don't feel like you did this year
I am a new member to our small school's PTO. I very eagerly got involved after learning that our PTO membership would be affected by a transfer of two grades to another school. Before this, I had no idea that the PTO was hurting for parent membership. I have offered my services in a variety of ways to try to relieve the few members of the burden of planning and executing the spring fundraiser. It seems though, that other than being given the less desireable jobs - such as calling businesses for contributions and setting up the night of the fundraiser, that my new ideas and help are not so welcome. Every new idea I have contributed has been reciprocated with, "Well, last year we did it this way..." When I shared the way I handled getting contributions (ideas that I got from PTO today), I got the feeling that I was being scoffed at. I admit, I'm coming in at the end of the year and I certainly don't want to appear as if I can do things better than what they have been doing. That couldn't be farther from the truth. I just want to help them have a very successful fundraiser. I also want to learn as much as I can because next year I will be a key member. At a meeting we had last week, we were setting the items out for display. Another member and I asked repeatedly what we could do to help. Our inquiries were brushed off and we ended up standing around feeling useless. I also felt that the time I had taken to be there was a waste. I feel that if this is the same feeling that other potential members have had, we are in trouble trying to get our involvement numbers back up. Are there other PTO members out there that have had this problem? How do you handle it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
