Enough fundraisers!!!

[chicagodisneyfan]

I love fundraisers!! (I have no kids in school).

Innsbrook wrapping paper is my favorite and I was so excited to order 15 rolls this weekend.

It is cute to support kids.

I buy something from everyone - walkathon, girl scout cookies, candles, pies, its just part of the community.

 

[perkinsrose]

theres too many here. so you apply and they vote in parents. most homes in our area have a stay at home parent or work at home parent and they all want to do it.
this is only my first year in middle school, but from what i hear they went to this systen about 6 years ago because it was becoming chaotic with so many parents. the elementary school had different levels of the PTU so everyone could be involved, so i was there. so now i will volunteer for all the events and next year most likely will be voted in. if not i just continue to volunteer for them.
most schools dont have that problem?

Uhh...no. Maybe its just an effect of Michigan's struggling economy--but I know some areas in metro-Detroit are tending toward duel-income families. Moms are going back to work when they used to stay-at-home. My kids are in a school that have a good amount of stay-at-home moms that volunteer--still seems like they always need more help; especially for during the schoolday/type functions.

When I was teaching and heard from teachers in other districts, sometimes a struggle to get some parents to come to conferences --forget trying to get them to volunteer; especially in grades past K or 1st.

getting voted in thing:

I wonder what the voting-in process is like --hope its not like "we know her" or "I like her, lets vote her in" thing; highschool popularity contest all over again.

 

[imthatgirl]

Uhh...no. Maybe its just an effect of Michigan's struggling economy--but I know some areas in metro-Detroit are tending toward duel-income families. Moms are going back to work when they used to stay-at-home. My kids are in a school that have a good amount of stay-at-home moms that volunteer--still seems like they always need more help; especially for during the schoolday/type functions.

When I was teaching and heard from teachers in other districts, sometimes a struggle to get some parents to come to conferences --forget trying to get them to volunteer; especially in grades past K or 1st.

with 2 parents who work, its really hard to volunteer. so i figure its my duty to volunteer, because im home. im shocked that they cant get parents who dont work to volunteer. and confrences, why would any parent miss those?
i am seeing many parents choosing work at home options. because yes the economy is getting tighter. and actually i lie, im not completely a stay at home mom. i bartend friday and sturday nights, but i say im a stay at home mom, because im home when my kids are in school and after school.

 

[luvmikids]

our school has a beginning of the year walk-a-thon withe the hopes of not having any more fundraisers thru out the year. We set a goal and have a "grand' prize raffle this year is a Wii. We make sure the parents know that if we raise the money we won't have to sell wrapping paper etc! hate that stuff!

 

[pigletforever]

I love fundraisers!! (I have no kids in school).

Innsbrook wrapping paper is my favorite and I was so excited to order 15 rolls this weekend.

It is cute to support kids.

I buy something from everyone - walkathon, girl scout cookies, candles, pies, its just part of the community.

Can I have your email so I can hit you up for wrapping paper sales and Entertainment book Sales? I can email you a link. LOL.

Seriously. My older son was in private school and we did one school fundraiser a year. An auction and dinner/dance that raised 100,000+ a year. Everyone was so glad not to have to do the little crap year round that everyone supported this event.

My younger DS is now in Kindergarten (public school) and we are doing the Entertainment book thing. Then there is the wrapping paper sales, then the cookie dough sales. In addition there will be movie nights, spaghetti dinners, book fairs, carnival night, Adult casino night. It is insane. I have been approached to head up hte wrapping paper sales as well as co chair the Casino night. We definetly don't have enough parents involved.

 

[bjeannep]

Hi All, My DD school runs a year long fundraiser. We sell gift cards, and the school makes a small profit off of each card. What better way to raise money for a school than to purchase something where you are going to be spending money anyways. Here is the link.

http://www.shopwithscrip.com/index.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

If anyone wants some more information, please PM me.

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Ours does the box top, soup labels, and tyson something? all year long.

We also have a Chik Fil A night where we eat at Chik Fil A once per month and part of the sales go to the school

We also do the Target ID number where part of the sales go to the school.

 

[Erin1700]

Do you have to pay money to join the PTA at your kid's school? You do here and I still have no idea what I would get for "joining" the PTA. Can you not go to the meetings unless you pay? Needless to say, we do not pay the money for that!
We usually pick one fundraiser a year and buy stuff. All the other stuff goes in the trash.

My DH does work for a company where he can sponser our DD's teacher and give money for supplies and the company matches it. So I keep telling myself that is good enough and we don't have to sell the crap. Right?

 

[imthatgirl]

Ours does the box top, soup labels, and tyson something? all year long.

We also have a Chik Fil A night where we eat at Chik Fil A once per month and part of the sales go to the school

We also do the Target ID number where part of the sales go to the school.

i like those ones too. i save hundreds of box tops a year. and our local supermarket, hannafords collects receipts for your school and then donates so much depending how much you spend.

 

[imthatgirl]

Do you have to pay money to join the PTA at your kid's school? You do here and I still have no idea what I would get for "joining" the PTA. Can you not go to the meetings unless you pay? Needless to say, we do not pay the money for that!
We usually pick one fundraiser a year and buy stuff. All the other stuff goes in the trash.

My DH does work for a company where he can sponser our DD's teacher and give money for supplies and the company matches it. So I keep telling myself that is good enough and we don't have to sell the crap. Right?

oh no, cost money to join. no way. i think that would be a sure fire way to get people NOT to join.

 

[allison443]

im always amazed by the level of rudeness on this forum, maybe some people are way too stressed to be on a public forum

like most of the 4th grade parents i signed up for the PTU and was not accepted. most first year parents dont get voted in. by next year after ive volunteered and gotten to know most of the other moms, i will most likely get voted in next year. i dont have the ability to make decisions for them.

Wow, you thought I was rude?
I was just suggesting that you put your many complaints into action to benefit the school. It was not stated in your prior posts that apparently there is a big political component to being accepted as a volunteer at your child's school. I myself have never seen a school where you had to be "voted into" the PTO. Now to be the officers, yes, those are voted in. However, they welcome all parents to help and believe me if someone who wasn't an officer volunteered to run an event they would jump at it. It's unfortunate you can't do the same at your school.
Good luck to everyone this school year.

 

[imthatgirl]

Wow, you thought I was rude?
I was just suggesting that you put your many complaints into action to benefit the school. It was not stated in your prior posts that apparently there is a big political component to being accepted as a volunteer at your child's school. I myself have never seen a school where you had to be "voted into" the PTO. Now to be the officers, yes, those are voted in. However, they welcome all parents to help and believe me if someone who wasn't an officer volunteered to run an event they would jump at it. It's unfortunate you can't do the same at your school.
Good luck to everyone this school year.

yes you were quite rude.

 

[allison443]

by next year after ive volunteered and gotten to know most of the other moms, i will most likely get voted in next year. i dont have the ability to make decisions for them.

Please post next year and let us know what fundraisers your school will be doing. Most people I know including myself would love to get away from the junk catalogs and overpriced wrapping paper fundraisers. (Ours came home yesterday)

Our school does sell scrip-the gift cards the prior poster mentioned. Each family has to purchase $3,500 in scrip over the course of the year. They sell every supermarket, Home Depot, Lowes, Macy's, all the mall stores, all the chain restaurants, movie theaters, etc. It took a while for people to get into the habit of buying the gift cards but this is the fourth year and it's been successful. People like it because they don't put out extra money-they are only spending the same amount they would be spending anyway.

It is not a public school so they are able to make this a requirement. There is an opt-out provision where you can pay a fee instead of buying scrip.

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

We must pay $5 per person to join the PTA. I signed up myself, hubby, and my mom. My sons class has 18 kids, so if they get 18 PTA memberships from his class, his class gets an ice cream party. He's excited.

Our school also sells school shirts $5 for childrens sizes and $7 for adults. We like these though becasuse they are cute! lol

 

[mrsmiller]

I haven't read all the post but I would like to clarify that the membership drive (usually 5.00) is not to become a "PTA member " it is a fundraising drive to start up your PTA, you are part of the PTA by attending your child 'school meetings and the membership drive is NOT mandatory, that is different from the elective officers (they have to be voted), also ask to see your school bylaws sometimes schools PTA/PTO have what is called members at large (usually parents volunteer for this positions) as a parent at large you attend the executive board meetings and have more input in what is going on with your PTA/PTO

I've been involved in my kids PTO/PTA since they were in pre-k (elected official and parent at large) and I do not like fundraising but they are a necessary evil , specially that schools are getting less and less funding, I know that the fundraising that schools are doing is important, with the money that we fund raised last year we were able to buy the school stationary bicycles for gym, supplies for the classroom, paid for the graduating classes parties and other things that were needed throughout the year, like paying for children that could not afford class trips and/or uniforms.

It hard to strike a balance but we try, this year I am working on having parents sign a "no fundraising pledge" parents will donate an x amount of money and we promise they will not be bother with any other fundraising, we also want to do things that parent will be more involved and more fun for them to do , (parent talent show --kind of American idol-- the students will be the judges) and we are putting a school newsletter together with advertisement sales., but in every meeting we always ask parents their opinions and ideas on how and what to do for fundraising; we also let parents know in every meeting (treasury report) on what the monies are spent and what do we need


this is a great website to give you more info
http://www.ptotoday.com/index.php


Linnette

 

[imthatgirl]

Please post next year and let us know what fundraisers your school will be doing. Most people I know including myself would love to get away from the junk catalogs and overpriced wrapping paper fundraisers. (Ours came home yesterday)

Our school does sell scrip-the gift cards the prior poster mentioned. Each family has to purchase $3,500 in scrip over the course of the year. They sell every supermarket, Home Depot, Lowes, Macy's, all the mall stores, all the chain restaurants, movie theaters, etc. It took a while for people to get into the habit of buying the gift cards but this is the fourth year and it's been successful. People like it because they don't put out extra money-they are only spending the same amount they would be spending anyway.

It is not a public school so they are able to make this a requirement. There is an opt-out provision where you can pay a fee instead of buying scrip.

if you read through the post you can see the different things that i think schools should do. i dont need to post a year from now, ive already writen it.

 

[melancholywings]

Asking children to solicit goes against my core beliefs. We did GS cookies last year (DH pretty much had to drag me kicking and screaming) and the actual amount the troup got back for each box was so tiny for all the work we all had to put into it. I'd have rather just cut the troupe a check. I distrust the profit the schools are really getting from peddling wares. And I think young children should be removed from the schools monetary concerns, not guilted into little salesmen. Or taken out of class and put into the auditorium and taught how to pitch with gimicky rewards.
I'd rather do box top & soup label drives. Or our PTA last year had a 'race' where you'd send a check in and your child would get a Tshirt and get to run around the next door high school track.

 

[blackforest]

I'm not sure how they went about it, but DD6's school at her Kindergarten screening, had a table with school Crocs. They matched our school colors and had the school name and a picture of our mascot on it. The smallest size was too small for DD6, but I did get a pait for DD13. There were all sizes for kids and adults. I think they were $32.00 or so, however I don't know what the profit was, but they were selling like hot cakes!

 

[bjeannep]

We also do a calendar raffle at Christmas. We sell calendars for $10 each from Thanskgiving to Christmas and for the month of January, you have the opportunity to win anywhere from $50 to $250 depending on the day. Yes, there is selling involved, however, you do have the chance to win multiple times, so your $10 investment could earn you some $$.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I hear you...I have the nuts/qsp forms ready to hand out to my girl scouts at our first meeting. We make sure a small % I am going to suggest a donations if the parents want to do that. I just bought boy scout popcorn and spent $18!! The cookies I dont mind since we make a much better profit.