If the officers wont sit down like reasonable adults and talk things through to find a solution all agree/vote upon, but rather want to push through their own personal agenda (especially if they ignore their own bylaws or RRO if they are supposed to adhere to them) then the only option (although not an immediate solution) is to vote in someone more open minded and ready to find solutions, at the next vote.

I hope you find a happy medium.PTO is not Parents Take Over like someone above said. But actions such as these do make it sound Pretty Turned Off and thats exactly how such groups lose the suppoort of thier very own constituents/parents, which ultimately hurts the kids they are trying to serve. GOod luck. Make that a BIG pot of coffee and bring donuts or cupcakes to the meeting.

Wam Bam thnakya Ma'am, this is the Nuginator comming atcha with 10,000 decibels and a slice of fresh turkey and pack of Pal Mal, and I mEAN fresh off the farm, its 10 thirty here in Ted town also know as Detroit (Rock City. )
Our next tune is your truly the man with the plan, !!!! em all and let God sort 'em out is the overused and well defined plan of the NUGINATOR

Da da da da da da da
"Well I don't know where they come from
But they sure do come
I hope they're comin' for me
And I don't know how they do it
But they sure do it good
I hope they're doin' it for free

They give me cat scratch fever
Cat scratch fever
" da da da da da da da

PS off the air Ted says form a committee then make sure the Board and members vote

[ 06-06-2006, 04:02 AM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

I agree with mykidsmom about bring up the issue at a meeting. I would like to add that when our school was in a similar situation, no meetings were held, the event was changed because of the principal's wishes and that was that. Having said that, no matter who we talked to, the principal, the staff, the BOE, the newspapers, or tv stations, we have had to wait out that principal's time at our school to get back said event. In our case an event was changed-neither event was of educational nature but community building-and the principal had to pull teeth to get support for the event. It was this move by the principal that got me to run for president and build up better communication with the staff, so I knew I was doing everything possible to make everyone, not just one person, happy at our school. Needless to say, during the principal's reign, countless families and staff have left our school.

Again we have gotten off track.

As I offered before, there has to been a comprimise somewhere in this issue. Mickey Mouse could be your leader and upset that Bugs Bunny has always been the entertainment and the two need to work this out.

This summer months is a great time to put together a plan of improvments for the events that are near and dear to your family AND put aside the petition. Please.

If this situation is going to become outta control it's going to be because ten-twenty parents forgot how to sit down, share a pot of coffee, and work this out like our parents would. I agree this is a huge blow to everything that your school has know forever....forever. But you know, why couldn't there a math game at the fun fair?

I beg everyone to stop obessing over the mention of religion. That is not part of the solution in this case...the issue maybe...but unless we all form a prayer chain and agree on a prayer (RIGHT!!) we need to offer samsmom ideas.

Roberts Rules-
If you need your petition to be put on the agenda for the meeting then that is a good use for it BUT most petition drives (being through the school's; district; political; or city ) have guidlines how many signatures you need and proceedures to make sure you obtained those legally. Really. Getting your voice and others heard in an organized planned format (these games are old so we will do this; middle school kids are an issue so we offer these ideas; etc.) is better than going in kicking and screaming. It may be even better to met outside of the school at a local coffee shop or your favorite spot to just talk this over. Obviously we are dealing with their values and your traditions. (I'm going to say it again) I'm really thinking there has got to be a comprmise in here....even if there are two major committees one planning the traditonal events and the new committee planning a great math night, geesh, can't we work together! These are not Parents Taking Over but Parents Talking Often!!

okay, I'm being like Ted Nuggent and rambleing! Don't know him? hint...old rock "god" that doesn't shut up!

www.robertsrules.com is my favorite offical Robert Rules of Order spot. Even a great Q&A forum.

[ 06-06-2006, 12:44 AM: Message edited by: mykidsmom ]

If your constitution cites RRO , you can find them online, at www.rulesonline.com and they have a search engine to help you find what you need quickly.
If however your constitution doesnt address vote by majority rule, then that is something that maybe should be brought to the table at a future meeting. ie changing the constitution to make it a democractic process when changes are made to any PTOA process, whether its a fundraiser or any big decision.
This is America after all, so why should PTOAs operate in nondemocratic principles, what example does that show the kids we are trying to educate ? Just my 02 cents.

I want them to have to bring it to a vote. The parents should have a say.