So you just make some kind of deal with the skating rink owner? What kind of discount do you get?
Actually the owner came to our school! They have an entire program they offer schools to encourage a social evening together while the PTO earns $1.25 (200+ skaters $1.50!) per paid skater. Teachers are admited for free. The class with the best attendance earns a pizza party at the rink. With the skate passes kids buy a pass for $2 to be able to skate for a $1 for a 2 hour session. Normally it's $3.75!
The big problem was the person approving my activity had no time to listen, no idea what I was asking, no desire to care, and (I think) saw me as one more person asking for something that day. His lost as this is money we use to support the Seniors joining National Honor Society!
So you just make some kind of deal with the skating rink owner? What kind of discount do you get? We have a local paper we could advertise in if we did anything in the summer. Much more brainstorming from the pres and I we just may have to do that!
Personally I'd rather carry a BIG STICK [img]smile.gif[/img]
For the last six years I have sold summer skate passes for students to get a discount togo roller skating. This year I was told NO. THen I was told, you can sell the passes but we can't allow you to send home the flyers. I could hand them out to parents coming to pick up students, No we decided we don't want you outside afterschool because you cooould cause a traffic problem (I have always been where the kids are dismissed- never by the buses or pick-up lanes) OH YEAH, we don't like the idea of you sitting in the lobby. SO, I did sell a few passes to friends that have day cares (YEAHHH!) otherwise, MAN what a brick wall!
I am lucky that the rink owners want to meet with the school to see how or what can be done and to explain the fundraising they have done for us for six years!
The funny thing is our principal never said we COULDN'T have one, just not when we wanted it. OK--I'm annoyed I can't have it when we want it because it really srews up my budget schedule, but since I have no control over that I let it go. If I was like my fundraising chair and sat around and stewed over every "personal" slight, and the fact that we're not always given our due, I'd be jumping off a bridge by now! I'm all for having the walk-a-thon in October, but boy--are my VP and fundraising chair DEAD set against that! I suggest putting it to a vote of the membership, since they ARE the ones who'll be involved with running it--but they aren't real receptive to that idea either.
Having to always find diplomatic ways to get what I think will work s-cks--every now and then I'd LOVE to be able to bang my shoe on a desk like Krushev did and just get what I want!
I have found that a paper trail is the best way to show what you're worth. For some reason, seeing on a nice spread sheet of what projects you are working on, planning and the outcomes of finished projects make you seem more legitimate.
That kind of information breeds trust. After a while, your principal will learn that there's nothing to worry about and you will find that she trusts you more.
I give updates constantly when I'm working on a project. I'm a pest, but they know I'm doing something productive and generally give me a lot of room to move. Even if it's a verbal report, I have numbers. Concrete numbers make people happier. It shows accountability.
Good luck with your fundraising chair. I remember you thought the walkathon would bring in big money, so I can see where she's coming from. But if you can't do it... oh well. Adjust, adopt, adapt.
