busimom,

Your group decides how it will organize and operate. The important thing is that it is written down and approved by the group. It can be called by-laws, or a Charter, or something else, but it needs to be written down.

As far as whether you should give gifts to outgoing PTO officers, again that is up to the tradition you have set for your group. Frankly, it would depend on your finances at least partially and possibly also depend on how long the person served on the board.

We tend to give small gifts to outgoing officers. Things like a small potted plant or a gift cert to a book store. They are less than $25.

If you don't have written by-laws, you can look at our charter here: www.macarthurschool.com/pto.htm. Click on the link to the Charter on the right hand side of the page.

Where in MA are you? We are in Waltham.

We don't do out-going officer gifts. If you are in need of copies of by-laws......

(edit: Renee: if you have bylaws text on this very issue, perhaps you could just cut and paste that portion of your text here -- editors.)

Unforunately we don't have gifts in our by-laws. It sounded as if she needed a copy of by-laws in general.

[ 01-08-2006, 07:15 PM: Message edited by: Renee S ]

Hi busimom -

Yeah, there are no mandated bylaws for any PTOs in any state. PTOs are independent.

That said, bylaws are a great idea. You can find tons of sample on this site. Try here: www.ptotoday.com/bonusTools.html to start.

And perhaps someone else will have specific bylaw language re: gifts. That could also be done through standing rules.

Tim

I can't personally speak for MA, but I doubt it. These types of things are usually just covered by your groups bylaws or handled by a vote at your meeting.

I am new to our PTO and wondering if MA has any set bylaws. Specifically on gifts for past PTO officers.