Scott and Luv are giving you great advice. From an emotional point of view people are going to criticize you because they are not walking in your shoes, or bring exposed to all the things you are. They will make assumptions about things they know nothing about. Don't let that bring you down. Just try to keep everyone in the loop as best you can. You are there to make your school a better place for the kids, good for you! If the parents in the school come to your events and support your fundraisers I would say that is an A+ on your report card. Good luck!
It's a lot to have thrown at you all at once, but if you just follow Scottmom's advice you can get a handle on it all.
I'd make sure to have some copies of the bylaws available at the meeting along with the agenda. Put out a sign in sheet too asking for names and phone numbers so you'll have a kind of starting list of parents who at least cared enough to show up for the meeting.
Do you have a list of all the offices and committees with short descriptions? That might be helpful for the meeting. You might also want to do a quick review of Robert's Rules of Order.
Try to relax and make yourself a list of the things you need to have ready for the meeting. If you are doing the best you can, then that's all people can ask. If they don't like it, then they should get off their duff and help.
Slow down and take a deep breath. 1st, if you are following what your bylaws tell you to do, which it sounds like you are, then you are in good shape. Secondly, emergency meetings aren't always bad, just make sure you make an agenda, or list of matters to be resolved, before the meeting. Thirdly, parent participation in a first year PTO doesn't have to be through the roof. Every group has it's issues. You develop a strategy to try to get more parents involved next year-this doesn't always mean meeting attendance. Look at it like this, it may not be the best way for things to happen, but you have a great opportunity to make a huge difference in your school, but don't forget to breath!
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
I am at a total loss. I was initially the secretary of our PTO. But, our President removed her children from school and then resigned. The vice-president relinquished her right to take over the presidents position and that left me. Per our by-laws our Executive Board must vote the new president in which we did. I need to say this is a brand new school on it's 1st year and we are trying hard to be fair to everyone, but we don't really know a whole lot about the protocol of a PTO. Elections for next year are coming up, which sadly we waited too long to announce therefore an emergency meeting will be put in to place.
Any advice on how to handle this situation would be greatly appreciated. We have parents up in arms and our PTO attendence is pitiful at best. Because of our bylaws I am required to finish out the presidents term so I'm in for another year. Please Help. :confused:
