why do some PTAs have closed meetings during the day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Usually, there is a board meeting and then a separate general meeting. Each board can set the time that is best for them. We've done them at varied times depending on who was on the board and their schedule.

I agree that it sounds like a Board meeting where the President, Secretary, Treasurer and any VPs meeting to go over issues and establish the agenda for the regular membership meeting which should be open to everyone. I caution automatically assuming it's designed to be exclusionary, but you could always ask, politely, of course.

[Anonymous]

Curious here. OP, have you asked if the meetings are going to continue to be in the daytime?

Have you considered volunteering for activities that do not require daytime hours? Have you volunteered with the PTA at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want the meeting moved, why don’t you step up and volunteer for a board position?

We have plenty of FT working parents who serve on the board at our McLean ES. They zoom into the meetings if needed.

Stop trying to find ways to get out of volunteer obligations.

Is there something wrong with you? I want to volunteer, but the meetings are in the middle of the work day. Excuse me that I cannot take an hour out of my work day to zoom into a PTA meeting. It's not an option.

That's for you, but the vast majority of people are able to flex their schedule to take their lunch during a PTA meeting, if they wanted to attend. Obviously shift workers (doctors, nurses, industry) and teachers aren't going to be able to do this, but the majority of office workers are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want the meeting moved, why don’t you step up and volunteer for a board position?

We have plenty of FT working parents who serve on the board at our McLean ES. They zoom into the meetings if needed.

Stop trying to find ways to get out of volunteer obligations.

Is there something wrong with you? I want to volunteer, but the meetings are in the middle of the work day. Excuse me that I cannot take an hour out of my work day to zoom into a PTA meeting. It's not an option.

That's for you, but the vast majority of people are able to flex their schedule to take their lunch during a PTA meeting, if they wanted to attend. Obviously shift workers (doctors, nurses, industry) and teachers aren't going to be able to do this, but the majority of office workers are.

There are many ways to volunteer other than being on the Board. Have you volunteered to help with anything already? Have you been to the general PTA meetings?

[Anonymous]

That's the board meeting, as stated above. If you would like to be on the board simply ask if it can be at a different time or Zoom. It's during the day because typically administration attends the meetings to coordinate calendars, plans, etc. PTAs are always in need of parents to volunteer so I am sure they would zoom you in or try to adjust as necessary if it meant getting another volunteer.

[Anonymous]

Usually general meetings are evenings and board members meet whenever board members are available. Our board is made up of mostly working moms and few at home moms and they meet on weekends or evenings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Usually, there is a board meeting and then a separate general meeting. Each board can set the time that is best for them. We've done them at varied times depending on who was on the board and their schedule.

I agree that it sounds like a Board meeting where the President, Secretary, Treasurer and any VPs meeting to go over issues and establish the agenda for the regular membership meeting which should be open to everyone. I caution automatically assuming it's designed to be exclusionary, but you could always ask, politely, of course.

We invite anyone who wants to come but no one wants to come to the board meetings but this sounds like a board meeting, not the regular meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want the meeting moved, why don’t you step up and volunteer for a board position?

We have plenty of FT working parents who serve on the board at our McLean ES. They zoom into the meetings if needed.

Stop trying to find ways to get out of volunteer obligations.

Is there something wrong with you? I want to volunteer, but the meetings are in the middle of the work day. Excuse me that I cannot take an hour out of my work day to zoom into a PTA meeting. It's not an option.

That's for you, but the vast majority of people are able to flex their schedule to take their lunch during a PTA meeting, if they wanted to attend. Obviously shift workers (doctors, nurses, industry) and teachers aren't going to be able to do this, but the majority of office workers are.

At the beginning of the school year, our board gets together and everyone agrees on a time to meet. This may be best for them.

I know for me, I'd much prefer them during the day as our evenings are full of activities and I have to get my spouse to take off work early to handle what I'd normally do. I'd love day meetings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school is seeking board members for next year, but the board meets every other month during the work day. They're excluding a large population of people who could serve on the board by doing this! Do they not want working parents on their board? I'm unlikely to volunteer at all next year if this is how they feel. Really, really disappointed.

Some parents work in the evenings and can meet only during the day. So, every other month sounds fair to everyone’s schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want the meeting moved, why don’t you step up and volunteer for a board position?

We have plenty of FT working parents who serve on the board at our McLean ES. They zoom into the meetings if needed.

Stop trying to find ways to get out of volunteer obligations.

Is there something wrong with you? I want to volunteer, but the meetings are in the middle of the work day. Excuse me that I cannot take an hour out of my work day to zoom into a PTA meeting. It's not an option.

That's for you, but the vast majority of people are able to flex their schedule to take their lunch during a PTA meeting, if they wanted to attend. Obviously shift workers (doctors, nurses, industry) and teachers aren't going to be able to do this, but the majority of office workers are.

You say "office workers" like every job is the same.