I have this same problem. I had to become very assertive when the ex president who is now on the events comittee came to me and flat out told me "Well we have done this in the past, no reason to change it. It worked" I had to pull out a smile and tell her "I have new ideas, hence why I ran for president and won, I plan to implement my ideas as per votes at the meetings."
She said I was rough and came off as a rude person. I always remember that my mother told me I will never please everyone I am in front of. Our PTO (which is new this year, and is the first PTO our school has had in the past 3 years) is extremely successful this year. Until I start becoming unsuccessful and not working for the kids she hasn't an argument to stand on.
It can be rough working with other's especially when they think they know way better then you do... but try to keep an open mind at their ideas and ask them to do the same with you.
The next time you have a board meeting, you need to ask the Treasurer in front of the other board members to please go to the bank within the week and handle the changeover of putting your name on the account. Do your bylaws state who is to be on the checking account? If so, point that out. Don't be rude or bossy, just ask him/her to handle it.
As for not knowing the balance in the account, do you not have Treasurer's reports at your meetings? If not, start that process immediately. Every member of your group should have access to financial information. Both groups to which I belong do a Treasurer's report every month at the general meeting. The Treasurer gives the previous month's balance, a brief rundown of monies in and out of the account and the final ending balance.
You can make changes and have your voice heard without sounding like a "jerk". Just be friendly, positive and a bit more assertive when sharing your thoughts and ideas.
Okay, I need some help. How would you handle this situation.
At my school, I'm the PTO president. The VP is the president from a few years past. This current school year, all the officers were new "except" her so we all looked to her for advise. I think that was the first mistake.
She has a way of making her ideas seem like your ideas. Before you know it, you're agreeing to something and thinking, wait, where did that come from.
It's been almost a year and my name is STILL not on the bank account. I mean, c'mon, you couldn't find time in a YEAR to get my name on there? I can't sign checks, I have NO idea what the checking balance is, I have NO idea what the account# is or even who is in control of the checkbook. The VP and the treasurer live right across the street from each other.... how convenient.
I'm just very aggravated. HOW do I run the PTO with my own thoughts and ideas and not come off sounding like a jerk. Oh, did I mention she's also on the school board? I actually think she's not supposed to have an office position being she's on the school board too but what do I know.
