PTA can't find new officers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would make the commitment and do it except that our PTA the past few years has been very unwelcoming and not interested in having members participate so many of us gave up. Maybe you need to look at what you are doing as a group if no one is interested. I volunteered a few times this year at PTA things and felt very unwelcome. Its generally the working parents who are doing it so employment isn't the issue, the group of people running it and what they are doing is the issue along with the principal who is nasty.

I hear that a lot and don't believe people anymore when they say this. I've been yelled at by a fellow PTA officer and I still volunteered for the post I was voted into. People expect the teachers and PTA to fawn over them and grovel if they show up to help, but that can't be the case all the time. YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS FOR THE PLAUDITS. YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS FOR YOUR KID ONLY. These are the two things people must understand.

Np, but I agree with the first poster. Second poster, you must have some strange situations at your school and I'm sorry if you are getting just parents wanting shoulder pats but most of us with this problem relate to the first poster-- just unwelcoming and very disorganized. These are probably self perpetuating with the hoggy disorganized pta throw up their hands and say, i'll do it myself! It is really too bad.

The OP sounds like neither of these cases, just a school where everyone is too busy and hoping to freeload or skate through. There are great ideas on here for job sharing.

Oh no, believe me. I have friends in all our area's public schools, and the ones who don't volunteer always say it's "because they don't feel welcome" and "the PTA is so cliquey". When I happen to know these particular PTAs work extremely hard and would really like to have more help!

It's a vicious cycle because the PTA officers in place have no one to replace themselves so they stay for years and get to know each other, and talk to each other, thereby giving others the impression that they exclude others, when in fact they don't, but that's because no one has volunteered to help. See?

There's another thing I've noticed: many parents want to participate in decision-making, without doing the actual work. That's not how it works! So when they ask for more of a say in cultural arts programming, or STEM activities, and complain that the school/PTA (of course they conflate the two) should do X instead of Y, and I reply: "Great! You can apply for the post and if voted in, we will gladly give you free rein" all of a sudden, there's no one They're just "too busy", and it was "just a suggestion".

See, I'm going to dissent here. Your whole post is so off-putting. You don't see how this attitude can turn people off? You clearly don't seem to want to work with people, you want them to conform to what's there. You end up stagnating, and yes, alone.

So there are clearly camps of people who agree with you, and clearly camps of people who feel what I am feeling. Instead of patting YOURSELF on the back for "keeping that ball rolling" don't you think it is in your interest to learn to reach out more and learn how to attract people to help? And I don't mean personal you, but you as the PTA that is chronically understaffed and overwhelmed.

[Anonymous]

See, I'm going to dissent here. Your whole post is so off-putting. You don't see how this attitude can turn people off? You clearly don't seem to want to work with people, you want them to conform to what's there. You end up stagnating, and yes, alone.

So there are clearly camps of people who agree with you, and clearly camps of people who feel what I am feeling. Instead of patting YOURSELF on the back for "keeping that ball rolling" don't you think it is in your interest to learn to reach out more and learn how to attract people to help? And I don't mean personal you, but you as the PTA that is chronically understaffed and overwhelmed.

Not the PP, but if you think "the PTA" is unfriendly and off-putting, then round up your friends and take it over. There is no PTA. There are only whichever parents stepped up that year. Was it you? If not, then it should have been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

See, I'm going to dissent here. Your whole post is so off-putting. You don't see how this attitude can turn people off? You clearly don't seem to want to work with people, you want them to conform to what's there. You end up stagnating, and yes, alone.

So there are clearly camps of people who agree with you, and clearly camps of people who feel what I am feeling. Instead of patting YOURSELF on the back for "keeping that ball rolling" don't you think it is in your interest to learn to reach out more and learn how to attract people to help? And I don't mean personal you, but you as the PTA that is chronically understaffed and overwhelmed.

Not the PP, but if you think "the PTA" is unfriendly and off-putting, then round up your friends and take it over. There is no PTA. There are only whichever parents stepped up that year. Was it you? If not, then it should have been.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would make the commitment and do it except that our PTA the past few years has been very unwelcoming and not interested in having members participate so many of us gave up. Maybe you need to look at what you are doing as a group if no one is interested. I volunteered a few times this year at PTA things and felt very unwelcome. Its generally the working parents who are doing it so employment isn't the issue, the group of people running it and what they are doing is the issue along with the principal who is nasty.

I hear that a lot and don't believe people anymore when they say this. I've been yelled at by a fellow PTA officer and I still volunteered for the post I was voted into. People expect the teachers and PTA to fawn over them and grovel if they show up to help, but that can't be the case all the time. YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS FOR THE PLAUDITS. YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS FOR YOUR KID ONLY. These are the two things people must understand.

Np, but I agree with the first poster. Second poster, you must have some strange situations at your school and I'm sorry if you are getting just parents wanting shoulder pats but most of us with this problem relate to the first poster-- just unwelcoming and very disorganized. These are probably self perpetuating with the hoggy disorganized pta throw up their hands and say, i'll do it myself! It is really too bad.

The OP sounds like neither of these cases, just a school where everyone is too busy and hoping to freeload or skate through. There are great ideas on here for job sharing.

Oh no, believe me. I have friends in all our area's public schools, and the ones who don't volunteer always say it's "because they don't feel welcome" and "the PTA is so cliquey". When I happen to know these particular PTAs work extremely hard and would really like to have more help!

It's a vicious cycle because the PTA officers in place have no one to replace themselves so they stay for years and get to know each other, and talk to each other, thereby giving others the impression that they exclude others, when in fact they don't, but that's because no one has volunteered to help. See?

There's another thing I've noticed: many parents want to participate in decision-making, without doing the actual work. That's not how it works! So when they ask for more of a say in cultural arts programming, or STEM activities, and complain that the school/PTA (of course they conflate the two) should do X instead of Y, and I reply: "Great! You can apply for the post and if voted in, we will gladly give you free rein" all of a sudden, there's no one They're just "too busy", and it was "just a suggestion".

See, I'm going to dissent here. Your whole post is so off-putting. You don't see how this attitude can turn people off? You clearly don't seem to want to work with people, you want them to conform to what's there. You end up stagnating, and yes, alone.

So there are clearly camps of people who agree with you, and clearly camps of people who feel what I am feeling. Instead of patting YOURSELF on the back for "keeping that ball rolling" don't you think it is in your interest to learn to reach out more and learn how to attract people to help? And I don't mean personal you, but you as the PTA that is chronically understaffed and overwhelmed.

In person I’m friendly and welcoming.

This is a thread where I can lament the fact that some people either need their ego stroked; or are too sensitive to deal with a volunteer organization such as a PTA. Every year something is different and things need to be ironed out. We are not trained for these roles, but are people just like you who one day just decide to step up and embrace sometimes open-ended and crazy assignments.

Nobody speaks in those terms at school, not even at closed board meetings. We talk about engaging parents, we have outreach campaigns, coffee invites, presentations to explain what we do, we translate all documents in multiple languages, we have designated liaisons for specific communities within our parent population... we do our very best to explain, engage, befriend, listen and solve.

As a result, we are consistently one of the top achools for number of volunteering hours. However, there are still naysayers, and I have come to the conclusion that there will always be people like you who will find offense and never be happy even when we bend over backward.

[Anonymous]

Our PTA is mostly working parents. Not a lot happens at meetings. It all happens in small groups outside of big meetings and via e-mail coordination, etc. This can make it feel cliquey and unwelcoming to new families or to parents who don't already have a neighborhood or preschool parent network coming in (I know, I was one of them when my oldest daughter started K right after we moved in) but it also makes it possible for working parents with busy schedules to get stuff done. No one will come to a "Fun Fair" meeting at 7pm on Thursday or whatever. But the "chair" and one or two other people will get it done in the nooks and crannies of their schedule. And they will send out a sign-up genius for people to volunteer at the actual event. It's a difficult balancing act for many PTAs - how to get stuff done in the time people can contribute but also be open and welcoming to new members. It's not easy. Honestly, being on the Board is the best way for a new person to get to know lots about the school and the PTA. Most organizations you start out as a minion and slowly gain more of a leadership role but it is hard for PTAs to function that way with people's schedules the way they are now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our PTA is mostly working parents. Not a lot happens at meetings. It all happens in small groups outside of big meetings and via e-mail coordination, etc. This can make it feel cliquey and unwelcoming to new families or to parents who don't already have a neighborhood or preschool parent network coming in (I know, I was one of them when my oldest daughter started K right after we moved in) but it also makes it possible for working parents with busy schedules to get stuff done. No one will come to a "Fun Fair" meeting at 7pm on Thursday or whatever. But the "chair" and one or two other people will get it done in the nooks and crannies of their schedule. And they will send out a sign-up genius for people to volunteer at the actual event. It's a difficult balancing act for many PTAs - how to get stuff done in the time people can contribute but also be open and welcoming to new members. It's not easy. Honestly, being on the Board is the best way for a new person to get to know lots about the school and the PTA. Most organizations you start out as a minion and slowly gain more of a leadership role but it is hard for PTAs to function that way with people's schedules the way they are now.

The PTA forgets that many of our kids have outside activities in the PM so if they are scheduling it in the PM during the week you may not get a good turn out. Many of their kids only do PTA activities so its easier for them. Our PTA activities are pretty poor quality (yes, I did try to get them changed and gave suggestions but they didn't care) so we do them outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

See, I'm going to dissent here. Your whole post is so off-putting. You don't see how this attitude can turn people off? You clearly don't seem to want to work with people, you want them to conform to what's there. You end up stagnating, and yes, alone.

So there are clearly camps of people who agree with you, and clearly camps of people who feel what I am feeling. Instead of patting YOURSELF on the back for "keeping that ball rolling" don't you think it is in your interest to learn to reach out more and learn how to attract people to help? And I don't mean personal you, but you as the PTA that is chronically understaffed and overwhelmed.

Not the PP, but if you think "the PTA" is unfriendly and off-putting, then round up your friends and take it over. There is no PTA. There are only whichever parents stepped up that year. Was it you? If not, then it should have been.

Its not that simple as they only elect their PTA friends and NO ONE wants to deal with the principal on any level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our PTA is mostly working parents. Not a lot happens at meetings. It all happens in small groups outside of big meetings and via e-mail coordination, etc. This can make it feel cliquey and unwelcoming to new families or to parents who don't already have a neighborhood or preschool parent network coming in (I know, I was one of them when my oldest daughter started K right after we moved in) but it also makes it possible for working parents with busy schedules to get stuff done. No one will come to a "Fun Fair" meeting at 7pm on Thursday or whatever. But the "chair" and one or two other people will get it done in the nooks and crannies of their schedule. And they will send out a sign-up genius for people to volunteer at the actual event. It's a difficult balancing act for many PTAs - how to get stuff done in the time people can contribute but also be open and welcoming to new members. It's not easy. Honestly, being on the Board is the best way for a new person to get to know lots about the school and the PTA. Most organizations you start out as a minion and slowly gain more of a leadership role but it is hard for PTAs to function that way with people's schedules the way they are now.

The PTA forgets that many of our kids have outside activities in the PM so if they are scheduling it in the PM during the week you may not get a good turn out. Many of their kids only do PTA activities so its easier for them. Our PTA activities are pretty poor quality (yes, I did try to get them changed and gave suggestions but they didn't care) so we do them outside.

I was talking about when and how the planning/prep happens not when the event is held.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else's school having trouble finding folks to volunteer for PTA positions? Our situation (elementary school) is pretty desperate - "elections" next week and no one on the ballot for President (or even co-President), and various other positions. We're told without a President we basically have to dissolve the PTA. I never thought I would be at a school in this situation, though now that I'm a working parent I understand why no one wants to make this commitment.

Does anyone have experience with creative ways to recruit people and/or how to keep the PTA afloat?

May be some one from Rustin ES can help with answer. I saw some thread talking about 2-3 parents contesting for every position in recently held election for their PTA.

[Anonymous]

Just listening to the bitchiness on this board reminds me why i no longer volunteer for pta. The last time i did i was asked to do a personal errand for another member after working my butt off to put together an event while she sat around gossiping. No thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would make the commitment and do it except that our PTA the past few years has been very unwelcoming and not interested in having members participate so many of us gave up. Maybe you need to look at what you are doing as a group if no one is interested. I volunteered a few times this year at PTA things and felt very unwelcome. Its generally the working parents who are doing it so employment isn't the issue, the group of people running it and what they are doing is the issue along with the principal who is nasty.

+1. I feel the same way about PTA. very exclusionary, so no surprise that peoe are not willing to atep up. Also a lot of stupid activities - do we really need to feed all of the teachers 1x a month to "thank" them? Teaching is a job. I don't understand a lot of the make work of the PTA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP: I "think" the current officers have been working the phones and trying to convince people, though I'm not sure (they have certainly sent many emails to the PTA list serve - the only school-wide list serve we have - but I know that there are still many people not on that list). Right now we have "co-presidents", which I thought was legit but maybe it's not... But I hope it is because I don't see any one person agreeing to do it alone.

There has been NO effort by the school principal to highlight this issue or ask for people to engage, which is concerning to me.

I like the idea of reaching out to incoming K parents, though not sure where to get their info and how we would get it done with such little time left.

I am currently signed up to be the MCC-PTA delegate for our school, and I also serve on two PTA committees (including running an event this past year), and both my husband and I volunteer constantly for field trips, class parties, gathering money for teacher gifts, other events. All of this seemed like a sufficient contribution and yet here we are stressing about the possible dissolution of the PTA and what we can do to prevent that.

Send out hard copy flyers in backpacks to reach the people not on the listserve. Obviously bring it up at your PTA meeting next week and try to get people to step up.

Go to the MCCPTA training next Monday and ask them for help. You need to set a drop dead date for your PTA - i.e. if no one steps up by June 15 we will begin the process to dissolve the PTA.


The current board needs to be talking to the Principal about this. Have the Principal/office staff send out a school wide announcement via email. The PTA listserve doesn't reach everyone. Also, isn't there a Vice President that can take over as the President for next year? Also as for the co-president thing, I didn't think it was against the PTA bylaws, just that it's discouraged. We had co-presidents for a very long time and it worked great.
That process is outlined in your bylaws. As MCCPTA delegate, you should have a copy of them. If you don't, ask your current president (legally there can be only one). Find out who is listed with the MDPTA as president.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else's school having trouble finding folks to volunteer for PTA positions? Our situation (elementary school) is pretty desperate - "elections" next week and no one on the ballot for President (or even co-President), and various other positions. We're told without a President we basically have to dissolve the PTA. I never thought I would be at a school in this situation, though now that I'm a working parent I understand why no one wants to make this commitment.

Does anyone have experience with creative ways to recruit people and/or how to keep the PTA afloat?

May be some one from Rustin ES can help with answer. I saw some thread talking about 2-3 parents contesting for every position in recently held election for their PTA.

May be you are talking about this post,

----------------------------------------------

Rustin PTA elections:

President - 2 candidates
VP Programs - 2 candidates
VP Membership - 3 candidates
VP Communication - 3 candidates
VP Fundraising - 2 candidates; 1 withdrew just before the vote to run uncontested in another position
Treasurer - 1 candidate
Secretary - 1 candidate
Delegate - 2 positions, 2 candidates

This is what engaged parent leadership looks like.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/60/728867.page

--------------------------------------------------

[Anonymous]

Parents on PTA boards have their kids in after school activities just like everyone else, not just school activities.

They also work full time.

They schedule meetings at 7pm.

They email a lot and work from home so that parents aren’t forced out at night to attend too many meetings.

It seems to me that there is one disgruntled poster here trying to trash PTAs. He or she should volunteer for a post instead!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would make the commitment and do it except that our PTA the past few years has been very unwelcoming and not interested in having members participate so many of us gave up. Maybe you need to look at what you are doing as a group if no one is interested. I volunteered a few times this year at PTA things and felt very unwelcome. Its generally the working parents who are doing it so employment isn't the issue, the group of people running it and what they are doing is the issue along with the principal who is nasty.

+1. I feel the same way about PTA. very exclusionary, so no surprise that peoe are not willing to atep up. Also a lot of stupid activities - do we really need to feed all of the teachers 1x a month to "thank" them? Teaching is a job. I don't understand a lot of the make work of the PTA.

Our school between teacher appreciation and end of year asked for a crazy amount of donations. Every few days they were asking for something else. They have a huge surplus of money they are not spending. Just get the food catered and see if a parent owns a food business to get a discount or reach out to local places.