PTA questions

[Justanopinion]

Okay, so I have some questions for you PTA parents.
My DD is in Pre - K through the school district. Her school is Pre K and K only. So at meet the teacher night I signed up for PTA at the cost of $5 per family. No problem.
So the first of September they send out a fundraiser. Okay, but why haven't we had a meeting or something.
Then they start this Candy Cart fundraiser, selling candy on Friday afternoons.
The second week of this I get a phone call from the President. Could I please come work the candy cart because she can't do it she has to pick up her husband from the airport. Okay, no problem. She had also called 2 other ladies to also work it. So I get there to work it and we are all new. Come to find out the president had worked it by herself the first week.
So last week I have to call her about something. We talk, come to find out she is President over at the middle school also and trying to do fundraisers for the school and the 8th grade graduation dance there. Okay, whatever.
Then comes Tuesday night, FFA puts on a fall festival and sets up booths and other groups can rent booth space for fundraisers also.
Yep, our PTA has a booth but the gym teacher is working it because the President had to work the middle school booth.


So here's my question. Is this lady trying to do it all herself? Why haven't we had a meeting or something? Who decides on these fundraisers?

I have older kids. So I have really learned to let things ride. Don't be a trouble maker. Don't stir things up. Don't ask too many questions. But I'm a SAHM and I really want to get involved in this PTA and feel like I can't because they haven't had meetings and I feel like this lady is running the whole show. WWYD

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[agnes!]

Get a hold of the PTA rules & bylaws. They probably MUST have open/regular meetings, etc or they risk losing their charter from the national group.

And be prepared to be on the Board.

agnes!

 

[aprilgail2]

Why haven't we had a meeting or something? Who decides on these fundraisers?

The fundraisers in our district are decided over the summer by the president, 1st vice president (in charge of fundraising) and the treasurer. If we waited until the school year to decide what fundraisers we are doing we would be in trouble- the budget has to be set over the summer and all fundraisers need to be listed on the budget that is presented in August to the board and then in Sept at the general meeting.

 

[dec5girl]

In our kids' schools the PTA is elected in the spring for the following year and sometimes have meetings in the summer to prepare for the next year. They may have decided on that fundraiser during the summer or even late last spring. But it seems like they would have had a September or October meeting by now.

If I were you I would ask when the meetings are, and where the meeting dates and times are posted, so that you can attend. It is possible they are posted online or somewhere that you may have missed.

Our school had a PTA member that was involved in both schools and she was absolutely doing way too much in my opinion.

 

[mjkacmom]

We have monthly evening meetings, with elected officers, plus about 10 committee heads. A notice goes out in September, and you sign up for committees (different people chair different fundraisers). I'm on the baking committee, so I get emails when I need to drop off some brownies, but I'm also signed up for events, such as bookfair, so I'll get an email around that time from the chair.

 

[Justanopinion]

I have called the school, there has been no meetings yet.

I do think elections were held last spring for officers and fundraisers and what not...but we should have at least had some type of meeting by now. If nothing else to welcome us new parents to the group. Maybe it's just me. But I feel like you should welcome your new parents immediately and make them feel like they are wanted or you are going to end up with parents who feel excluded and won't end up helping in the long run. KWIM?

I think I'll email the school and see what they say.

 

[mamacatnv]

Yep, she is trying to do it all. The school secretary should be able to tell you the meeting schedule, if not call the Pres. and find out.

I have seen this happen way to many times. The PTA complains that no one will volunteer but at the same time some of them are either not very welcoming or are micro managers and either have the take over or I'll just do it myself mentallity.

Before you all get all wound up, I said some, not all

 

[Justanopinion]

Yep, she is trying to do it all. The school secretary should be able to tell you the meeting schedule, if not call the Pres. and find out.

I have seen this happen way to many times. The PTA complains that no one will volunteer but at the same time some of them are either not very welcoming or are micro managers and either have the take over or I'll just do it myself mentallity.

Before you all get all wound up, I said some, not all

In this situation I think you are totally correct. I have already called 3 different times and keep being told they are trying to set up a meeting schedule. But hello, in the meantime, you are scaring off parents who really want to help and doing it all yourself. Part of being President is learning how to delegate, that means giving others things to do. And I think this lady is stretching herself too far. Wish me luck!

 

[allison443]

At my daughter's school, they don't have meetings every month.
The first meeting is the same night at back-to-school night, usually the second week of school, where parents come and meet the teachers. Then they have the meeting in the cafeteria immediately following. They tell us all the plans, events, and fundraisers for the year, and introduce everyone. Also they tell us they welcome volunteers.
The next meeting is October, they usually have a guest speaker about some kind of parenting issue.
Then there are a couple meetings in the spring, one is tied into the bookfair, so parents can attend the bookfair then the meeting, and one is tied into the display of science fair projects, so parents come and see all the projects, then attend the meeting.

OP I hope you are able to get involved! It is a shame when new volunteers aren't welcomed.

 

[castleview]

So here's my question. Is this lady trying to do it all herself? Why haven't we had a meeting or something? Who decides on these fundraisers?

It does sound like she is doing too much. I'd find out if there are any meeting (ours are monthly) - the school secretary should be able to tell you that. Our PTO will take any help they can get, so I just can't imagine not using people who are eager to volunteer.

 

[dec5girl]

It could be possible that they are trying to set up a meeting schedule because they were disorganized over the summer. Or perhaps they have a board member who works and they are trying to accomodate her schedule and having a hard time working it out. I was on the board once and I work so we had to change things up a bit.

Speaking of being on the board, I prefer to work on a certain committee or volunteer in the classroom rather than being on the board. I speak from experience, but that's just me and the experience that I had. I hope yours is better.

 

[mickeyboat]

Could you please move to my school district? We need more people like you!

I would recommend calling the President again and making sure she understands how much you would like to get involved and what type of time commitment you are willing to give. I wonder if she ends up doing it all because no one else will step up to help.

Good luck!

Denae

 

[koolaidmoms]

Having been a PTA member and Co-president in the past I have seen some people do crazy things with PTA. Sometimes they try to control it all themselves because they don't know how or won't ask for help.

As a member you are allowed to ask for a copy of your PTA by-laws. Ask the president or other board member (the secretary, treasurer, vp) when the meetings are. Board meetings are open to all. They have to have a minimum of two general membership meetings per year to elect officers, set committees and approve budgets. These are usually held once in the fall and in the spring.

You can also contact your regional council if you can not get anywhere with your school. The regional council has a representative that should be assigned to the school and ask to speak to them. If you go to your regional PTA website you should at minimum be able to send an e-mail to have them contact you.

Keep trying. You want to be involved and you should be. PTA should not be exclusive but rather inclusive of all - Their motto is every child. one voice. It does not mean one person.

 

[brerrabbit]

As the DH of a wife who has served in some capcity on the PTA for the last 14 years I have some opinions. Oh yeah I am also a lifetime member of the Texas State PTA. I was given that for being High School Volenteer of the year award.

Generally only the board meets once a month. General meetings are held only about three times a year and are usually in conjunction with another event. Christmas concerts, Band Concerts, Spring Band Concerts etc. They do that do guareentee a quorum for things that need to be voted on by the general membership. Fundraisers are usually decided upon the summer before by the PTA Board. As far as volenteers go a lot of experienced PTA people have given up long ago and just decided that it's easier to do it themselves. If you are willing to volenteer I can almost promise you you will be asked to be on the board next year. The group of ladies that my DW started with 14 years ago have moved through our district and occupied the majority of the District Council PTA for the last 6 years. It's funny because they all came from the same elementary school in the district and we have 22 other schools but this group has been dedicated and stayed with it over time. The last of the group all have seniors in high school this year and I truely wonder whats going to happen next year as no one is stepping up at this point.

To give an example our District PTA operates the concession stands at our stadium for football games. They will make over $40,000 a year which goes into scholarships and other programs. They ask that each week one school in the district have their PTA come to work the game. It's a lot of work and our home games are usually over 12,000 people. Last year the most any one school sent to work was 5 people. They need 25 at each game. The rest were this group of women along with their kids, their husbands and any other friends they could drag in. Think about it 23 schools in a town of over 80,000 people and we could only get 5 volenteers.

 

[2Kds2K9]

Keep trying to get involved. Yes, it sounds like she's trying to do it all herself, but there are checks and balances that need to be followed that are set forth by the National PTA.

I speak from experience. Our former PTA President, who was president for 4 years and treasurer for 2, was just sentenced for Embezzlement! Yep, she took $180,000 from her friends, neighbors, and school children over a 5-6 year period! (And that was only what could be proven with checks. Lord only knows what she took in cash!)

She was very involved. Attended every function. Collected the cash box and told others, "oh, I'm going to the bank. I'll just count that and make the deposit." She stated over and over that no one wanted to be involved in the PTA Board, but never returned phone calls or e-mails to those who did ask about becoming a board member. She kept it to her friends whom she could just bulldoze over. Yep, she was very good at what she did. But, she was her own worst enemy. She got caught once she convinced everyone that we should change from a PTA to a PTO. Her argument was that we'd save the $2,000 dues every year. She sent a ballot to all the members to vote on this change, but we never saw the results. She just sent out a notice that we were changing. This helped prevent her from turning over the books to the new PTO. BUT, it was the bank that caught her using the account when they knew it should have been closed.

Not saying that your PTA president is doing this. But if she is so busy, the books could be sloppy. It's your money too! You need to get involved, help, and ask lots of questions.

Good luck!

 

[kldmom2000]

I'm the PTO secretary @ our elementary school. Your school should have elected officers consisting of at least:

1 President
1 Vice President (or co-president)
Treasurer
Secretary
Principal who oversees it all

The PTO/PTA bylaws should be available to you to see what each person's job is. It sounds as though the President is trying to do it all in your school's case.

We have a meeting every month that all parents are invited to attend. We take votes on any and all school fundraisers/family nights/etc....

The co-presidents delegate out duties to any willing participants (ie. bake sale table, fundraisers, etc)

You can get a lot of information too from www.ptotoday.com

Good luck!!!!

I think the fact that she's trying to do 2 different school

 

[dec5girl]

Keep trying to get involved. Yes, it sounds like she's trying to do it all herself, but there are checks and balances that need to be followed that are set forth by the National PTA.

I speak from experience. Our former PTA President, who was president for 4 years and treasurer for 2, was just sentenced for Embezzlement! Yep, she took $180,000 from her friends, neighbors, and school children over a 5-6 year period! (And that was only what could be proven with checks. Lord only knows what she took in cash!)

She was very involved. Attended every function. Collected the cash box and told others, "oh, I'm going to the bank. I'll just count that and make the deposit." She stated over and over that no one wanted to be involved in the PTA Board, but never returned phone calls or e-mails to those who did ask about becoming a board member. She kept it to her friends whom she could just bulldoze over. Yep, she was very good at what she did. But, she was her own worst enemy. She got caught once she convinced everyone that we should change from a PTA to a PTO. Her argument was that we'd save the $2,000 dues every year. She sent a ballot to all the members to vote on this change, but we never saw the results. She just sent out a notice that we were changing. This helped prevent her from turning over the books to the new PTO. BUT, it was the bank that caught her using the account when they knew it should have been closed.

Not saying that your PTA president is doing this. But if she is so busy, the books could be sloppy. It's your money too! You need to get involved, help, and ask lots of questions.

Good luck!

This is exactly what I'm talking about.....I'll say no more! I just volunteer in the classroom now after this experience.

 

[delilah]

Yep, she is trying to do it all. The school secretary should be able to tell you the meeting schedule, if not call the Pres. and find out.

I have seen this happen way to many times. The PTA complains that no one will volunteer but at the same time some of them are either not very welcoming or are micro managers and either have the take over or I'll just do it myself mentallity.

Before you all get all wound up, I said some, not all

Our school's parent teacher organization is very cliquish, as well. This is really too bad, because it really discourages new people from contributing. Our organization isn't called a PTA, but has a different name, because ours is a Catholic school. It is irritating to me, because I am a member of school commission, which is a Catholic school thing, and also on the Parish Council. My husband and I both do lots of things for the school and parish. He is the cub scout leader for my son's den. He was the chairman of the games tent at the parish festival. I do garden/landscaping work at the Church and School. We both do other activities in and around the school and church--too many to enumerate here. But, for the first several years my son was in school, the parent teacher organization meetings were held Tuesday evening, which is cub scout night, and the evening that I am on call (I also work full time as a family physician, which is also time consuming). So, neither of us went to those particular meetings. Would you believe that in the convoluted world of those in the parent teacher organization, this made us unworthy to be members of the school commission/parish council? Well, this year the meetings were changed to Wednesday, so, I can attend. I signed up for a committee, and have yet to be contacted. The meeting wasn't much to talk about either. Oh well, I'll do what I can.

 

[happily single]

I;m envoius of your PTA's. Our PTO has 3-4 regular members INCLUDING teachers. So the President is the one who usually is doing everything. We do ask for volunteers and will end up with 4-8 volunteers for any given event. We have monthly meetings with the 3-4 of us, but we do send our reminder notices (in fact I have to send them out tonight). Our meeting is also on the monthly calendar that is sent home. We have them on Tuesdays at 6:30. This year we are experimenting with having them right after school every other month,t he only problem is 2 of the members can't make it because they work.

Unfortunately we had a new member "step in" and has since become President because the former President is also the treasurer .and has too much on her plate. ANyhow this new President is unfriendly, uncooperative and has decided that he, YUP HE, can do it all himself. If next week's meeting doesn't go well I'm resigning. Sorry to rant, but I needed to say it outloud!