Here's my thought, as I am involved with two different PTA/PTO's - I try to get out there as much as possible and meet the parents in the schools. I try to be friendly, introduce myself and make a positive impression on each of the people I meet. I think that way if someone knows me when I ask for help or involvement I will be more likely to get people to jump in. Which one of us doesn't want to help out someone you know when asked?
At one school it's easier to do this as it's small. At the larger school, I will sometimes go at pickup time, and try to meet parents of kids who don't take the bus. There was a school-wide class parent tea at the beginning of the year, and I tried to meet every class parent and say hello and chat.
While I find that it is definitely the same core group of volunteers who take up the lead(or chair) for our events, we have had a really nice turnout of volunteers to help each of our event leaders. I think that part of that might be connected to that personal touch. I then make a point to send a thank you note to each of the volunteers after the event is over.
It's not necessarily making things more "fun", but it is making people feel welcome to participate, and appreciated.
Maybe the difference of opinion is actually just a difference of definition.
My knee-jerk reaction was that the PTO/PTA shouldn't need to make every volunteer situation entertaining ("fun") in some way in order to attract/keep volunteers.
However, perhaps your definition of "fun" is the same definition I use for "pleasant".
To me, a "pleasant" volunteer experience is one that is competently organized with clear goals and a realistic timeframe by a committee/chair who is/are friendly, communicative, decisive, and welcoming to all parents who want to assist. In that type of volunteer environment, parents should feel that their contribution is worthwhile and satisfying.
Perhaps that is what you mean by "fun". If so, we are in agreement.
Hello! I'm working in a grade school with one of my grandchildren going to work with me everyday. They havn't had a pta here for years, (what I've been told) and are talking about starting one here. I was involved in a pta when my oldest daughter went to school and, to be honest with you, was nothing but one big click, which I cannot stand! There were some people who would be nice to your face but talk behind your back, and no matter how much you do, the chosen few always got and took all of the credit, so after my daughter graduated from 8th. grade and we moved to another district, I never got involved again and that's been well over 20 yrs. ago. I would never join again even if I was the only hold out. Now we are a new generation and I'm willing to try again but I believe in treating people the way that I want to be treated and not be taken advantage of.
I have a few thoughts from reading the whoile thread to date:
1. I couldn't disagree more with those who feel like thinking about making it fun for parents is misdirected energy or wrong for a PTO. I think it's a key to long-term success. I find that PTO leaders can make a mistake thinking that all parents are like us or (worse yet) should be like us. Yes, we likely do this work because we can't imagine not doing it (or not being involved with our kids' schools), but the majority of parents are very different than that. Part of the PTO leader's job is to "work on the PTO" by making it as welcoming and effective as it can be for all, while (hopefully) all those volunteers that you attract in wind up doing even more for the kids.
2. One area of fun that i'd caution against is around having too many (or even any) of your meetings at member's homes. I definitely see the fun/comfort aspect of that, but I find it to be a big turn-off/hurdle for new volunteers. As a new volunteer I know where the school is and I've been in the cafeteria/library and it doesn't feel too crazy/intimidating to head down to a 1st meeting and maybe sit in the back. It's significantly more intimidating to have to go to some lady's house who I barely know (and that I may not find) and sit around her dining room table or family room. Veteran volunteers love homes. Newbies don't -- and newbies are a much bigger challenge than veterans.
Some things are better when done with a friend. We try to advertise, bring a friend and share the duty.
We usually have hot coffee and pasteries for envelope stuffing events- with a group of people, you get to talk + connect= laughs!
If someone is stuck doing something alone, the time goes by much slower and its not alot of fun....
I am interested to hear more about what sort of numbers or percentages of parents are involved. We try to make it fun--we are organized, we have snacks, we provide child care (we're an elementary school). But we also have about 8-10, maybe 15 adults, that are typically at a meeting, with a student population of 360 kids.
Should we expect more people to attend? Are we not "fun enough" then?
At our recent Halloween Carnival, we did greatly increase volunteers. And those who do volunteer usually make a point of saying that they had a good time and are glad for the opportunity to help out. But we still struggle mightily with getting those volunteers to step forward. It normally takes a direct face-to-face effort.
