Our May meeting was this evening and it was great! The slated president did an amazing job. She was nervous at first but quickly warmed up to the process. She's a natural. And she didn't remove her name from the ballot so I take that as a good sign too!

Our members are terrific. The readily welcomed her as the presiding officer and helped as she made her way through the agenda.

She got quite the mixed bag with cross talking, discussions going off agenda, a couple of contentious issues and new members to welcome. I think her biggest problem was the current president (me!) taking a back seat and keeping her mouth shut!!! As in, it took me awhile to remember that I wasn't running the show. Once I really backed off and let her run with it, she got into her groove and sailed through the meeting.

Thanks, Phil and Renee S for your encouragement!

I also would recommend copying all of your stuff and putting it in a binder for her to refer to when needed. (add what worked and what didn't)Good luck!

Thanks for the encouragement Phil! We meet next Tuesday and my friend is pretty nervous. She'll be great. It's just all about getting that first meeting under your belt!

What an excellent way to smooth a transition!

As current President, you call the meeting to order. The first order of business is to delegate the tasks of presiding officer to the Pres-elect. It is voted on and approved by the membership. It couldn't be cleaner or clearer.

As per our bylaws, I am ineligible to run for a 4th term as president. Our slated (unopposed) president is anxious to get started and will be a wonderful asset to the team. As a standing committee chairman she is currently a voting member. Elections take place in our June meeting. I've recently found out that I am moving out of the area in late June and will not be around to assist in the transition period.

Our bylaws state:

The president shall preside at all PTO Board meetings.

To help the slated president get a feel for the job, I recommended to her and the principal that she be the presiding officer during our May meeting. Both feel it's a good idea. I will be in attendance as well to assist her.

I'd like to call the meeting to order, motion for the members present to recognize her as the presiding officer (with subsequent 2nd and vote) then step back and let her run through the agenda. Voting members will be given one week notice as I set and publish the agenda a week before the meeting.

Any views?