I love you Michelle. And I love what you do.

I had absolutely no intention in getting into ANY of this but at the same time, those of you who know me fairly well by now, KNOW I can't resist a good debate. I'd probably stop breathing before I walked away from one. But my only intention was to rectify the story (at 1st) about Coke and the PTA, and a brief comment on I know this isn't a PTA site, and I don't care! I choose to come here anyway.
Then Tim responded (and still stinging from a deleted post that PALS eluded to...) I lashed out at because he downplayed a valid concern (to me, in my opinion) He responded, I responded, yada yada, then it was done. Enter lurking...and the comment that the PTA people were just being petty and that we have nothing to offer because we are PTA to anyone who's PTO.

It's been hard to be a non-dissolving PTA poster here from time to time. I get posts and topics deleted more frequently than non-PTA people do, (things that I think are very relavent to us as parents) but I get to hear about Metzy's wonderful ideas, or pals leading the way to parent involvement in her district, or the terrific idea of a hot dog dinner membership drive or KMA's constant work to blend her two groups and it's worth it. But sometimes I think some people forget that even though we are PTA, we are here for the same reasons, we care just as much and we work our butts off with the same common goals. We have the same problems, embezzelment, power struggles, administration, cliques, etc. We deserve just as much respect as anyone else and we don't always agree with the negative picture of PTA that occasionally gets painted. And if you don't think I am "vocal" with PTA people, think again. You can only imagine what our state meetings are like. Some agree, some disagree. Often times I'm on the opposing side and I am a challenge to the "that's the way we've always done it" crowd.

So bottom line, we are all concerned individuals, even those of us who proudly wear the PTA nametag.

I do want to play!!!! I know not everyone will agree with me 100% of the time - as well as I won't agree with some 100% of the time. But that is what makes life interesting - doesn't it?

Looks like TheMetzyMom said what I was thinking - and in a much nicer way.

In my son's school is the PTO from Hell - and there are suppose to be some changes in the new school year. I am waiting to see - and if the changes do take place - I will register and probally be more of a pain to some than you might want.

I have read a TON of great ideas here and cannot wait to either suggest or implement in my son's school - I have already passed some on to my wife - she is a teacher in the same school.

So pass the popcorn and look out!!

We could all be called "PG"s... Parent Groups. Some PGs CHOOSE to send their money to a business called National PTA and some choose to send their money to PTOtoday NPG. Both groups provide great information and perks such as low cost insurance. Both organizations help smaller groups work better within their schools and communities. Both have their pros and cons.

In Tim's defense, every school can receive a free monthly copy of PTOtoday Magazine. Everyone is welcome to visit this site, free of charge and voice their opinions and ideas. Sure, there are other free sites, but this is the one I CHOOSE.

Most of life is making choices. CHOOSE to come here with your ideas and opinions or don't. It isn't part of helping children to come here and ream a guy for running a business that you can CHOOSE to use or CHOOSE not to use. It seems kind of senseless to me to argue about how much money Tim is making or not making. Who would dare to go onto a PTA site and do the same thing? OMG! I hope people have better sense...lol... Does that change the fact that higher ranking PTA officials aren't paid? Of course they are. Does it make what they do any less important? Of course not.

CHOOSE to send your money wherever you like. As long as you are happy with what you're getting for your dollar, that should be enough. There really isn't any reason to go to someone else's site and complain that you don't get a break on their stuff (I suppose I could go to the PTA site and try to get them to give me some breaks because I support NPN ((or rather they support me)), but what would that accomplish? It would be a complete waste of my time... and theirs.

With the beginning of school right around the corner I know I have better things to do than rag on Tim. Don't you?

PS - hey lurking, come out and play. You don't have to be shy. It's not like we all have to agree on everything.

Log on - come on, you know you want to.

Backhoed, I don't think there's any way I would be treasurer after all those articles. I'd be so stressed out about making sure everything is perfect.

I spoke with one chairperson at our school about treasury problems on her event. She said that there was a $500 difference between her "books" and the amount they reaaly earned. Her comment was that it was expected to misplace $100-200, but $500 was too much. :eek: !

I would go insane if every chairperson felt that $100-$200 more or less isn't a problem. We have sooo many events - maybe 30. If all 30 "misplaced" $200, that would be $6000! That would be enough to put someone in the Blog!

I don't really think everyone agrees with what she said, but even a few is too many.

What a huge headache. It makes being silent auction/carnival/community event chairperson sound easy.