Our bylaws provide for a two year term of office, although our president only serves generally for one year. We also have a vice president/president elect who becomes president the following year.

Our bylaws also provide for a nominating committee consisting of the past president, the president elect, two existing PTO Board members and three general members of the PTO. We felt like that group would be sufficiently broad to identify interest in Board positions around the school. The past president is the chairperson of the nominating committee. Our elections are in April. The nominating committee generally gets started in February when existing Board members are polled about whether or not they want to stay in their same position for another year (if they are in their first year). If Board members aren't staying in their positions, they have "first dibs" on open postions. We also take volunteers from the Board for the 2 spots on the nominating committee. Then notes go home to all of the parents outlining the open board positions and soliciting volunteers. The nominating committee reviews the requests, makes alot of phone calls and generally puts together a slate that's presented to the Board and general membership for approval in April.

Hi. Does anyone have a flyer or form they sent home to parents asking for nominations? I'm wondering how to solicit nominations.

Hi!

Check your state's Corporations Codes. There should be a section for Non-Profit Corporations. In California, this is what the code says:

5213(c) If the articles or bylaws provide for the election of any
officers by the members, the term of office of the elected officer
shall be one year unless the articles or bylaws provide for a
different term which shall not exceed three years.

This applies to officers of the board of directors. There were no term limits for the other members of the board of directors. The officers should include, President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer.

For PTO's who have incorporated in California, you can find the California Corporations Code at this website. Be sure to scroll down until you find the section for "Non profit Public Benefit Corporations."

I hope this helps!

(Here's the website):
California Corporations Code

Have you tried using a ballot??

LOL Closetwriter! But seriously people staying on for years because no one steps up can be a big problem. We have a nearby school in which the current Prez has been the Prez for 7 years now. She has been stuck in the position because no one will step up to take the role and she does not have the heart to leave them in the lurch. She was president of another school for 3 years before that, so this woman has been a prez between two schools for 10 years in a row now.

She is completely burned out and was begging for someone to take over the job last year, to which no one did. She has one year left and her kid moves on to high school and then she will get her out.

The worst part in this is she is beyond burned out and ineffective. She does the bare minimum now. People complain about her left and right and I tell them right to their faces that it is really unfair. All they want to do is complain but no one wants to step up to the plate. When she was begging them last year for someone to step up not one of them did, but they all have pleanty to say.

What do your PTO by-laws say about elections? Whatever it says is what your PTO should do. If your group doesn't like what it says you can form a committee to change them, but until then you have to go by what is already writen. no matter how fustration or not they may be.