Gee, what a great idea, to appreciate your volunteers! Our school has never done that. to someone who has organized staff/faculty appreciation events, fundraisers, class activities, you name it, it would feel so good!
Last year, we voted to eliminate our dues so EVERY parent is considered a member of our PTO, whether they think they are or not. This eliminates the awkwardness that can creep up when some volunteers are perceived as "PTO" and others as "classroom".
In the spring, we host our own Volunteer Appreciation Reception in conjunction with our June meeting. We send specific invitations to the committee chairmen (along with a personal thank-you note), but for everyone else, we let them decide if they qualify as a volunteer. It's virtually impossible to keep track of all the parents who help in our school, and we don't want to overlook anyone, so the general invite is open to everyone.
Kendra- PTO President just meant since the sec didn't consider her a volunteer she wanted to know when she would get paid.
For the last few year our PTO has had a luncheon/appreciation for ALL volunteers. It has been done different ways. This year there was a potluck, I am still getting gripes from that and this time I didn't have ANYTHING to do with it.
We have 2 older ladies and a lady with no children who volunteer and a few that really doesn't believe in being involved with the PTO due to religous reasons but they are a benefit to our school.
The first year I was pres I set up a volunteer program to keep track of volunteers, I got a list of Character Counts Volunteers from the principal, and I went room to room to make sure I wouldn't leave anyone out. I had a luncheon at a local resturant. Believe it or not it was much cheaper than the fruit and veggie trays we ordered the next year.
HI I justed wanted to say WOW! Volunteer Appreciation Luncheons- WOW! Our school does not do much for the volunteers - the room mothers get a mug with some candy in it and that is it. I think it would be great to have a luncheon for our volunteers. Out of the 25+ classrooms I'm not sure how many room volunteers there are . But as for volunteers for our P.T.O. stuff (ex. Secret Santa shop or Bookfair) we only have a few that come and it is the same ones year after year. Please let me know how to get one started at our school. Like I said before we don't have many volunteers for P.T.O. but the ones we do have are always there for us. On to another thought PTO President said something about picking up a paycheck - do you get paid for PTO or do you work for the school. I'm kind of lost at that statement - This comming school year will be my first year to hold a actual office. It would be great to find out new and exciting things.
Apparently, it's time to mend some fences and find out what the real issues are. Looks like it is up to you to start this process. Funny thing about this is even though the faces change from year to year, you are held accountable for the actions of those that have gone before because you are a part of the PTA/PTO.
They deliberately snubbed you. Point made. If you didn't know before, you know now.
The question is, now that you know, what will you do with it? Their actions aren't adult by any means but you can be part of the problem or part of the solution and by being part of the solution, you are bigger than them. Perhaps you can pull them back up to eye level.
Like Bertha says, it will take time but remember, those that come after you will be held accountable for your actions. You can start to try to make it better now and really try to address their issues. Give them respect when doing this, even if they aren't big enough to give it back and even if they don't deserve it. Someone may just be waiting for the first gesture.
I hope it gets better. I really do.
It breaks my heart to hear this. I can say "been there, done that" something very similar happened to our school about four years ago. It's taken us about three years to repair and rebuild, but you can do it and come out stronger.
We throw ourselves a volunteer luncheon every year. We go to a local resturant and have a great time. This year for the very first time the teachers made the desserts and sent them to the resturant before any of us got there. What a suprise it was. It's taken time but they really do appreciate all we do for them! I can only hope the same for you and your PTO.
