I don't believe at all that funds should only be used for the classroom.
Volunteer training, free involvement-building events, group management tools, for example, are all things that wouldn't fit that definition, but which are great investments in making your group better -- which winds up being great for the school and the kids in the long run.
That said, I wouldn't support this particular expense. It's too directed to a certain set of volunteers. How do you decide which level of volunteering gets a luncheon out of the deal? Does the spaghetti-cooker at your ziti supper get a luncheon? Does the spring carnival chair get an IPOD?
I'm a huge fan of spending on/investing in appreciation, but it's got to be broad-based and inclusive. If it in any way sets some volunteers above others -- that's a recipe for real image trouble and (perhaps true and definitely damaging) clique claims.
I know our group wouldn't approve of this expenditure either and as a parent who volunteers ALOT, I don't expect anything other than a thank you. Sometimes after a big event we will put out the word that we're all meeting at such and such place to kick back and celebrate. Everyone who helped is welcome and it just feels good to be together relaxing and reflecting on our success. We all pay our own bills.
For our Fall Frolic last year we had one mohter take care of everything, kind of like the chairperson. We as a PTC all chipped in and bought her a $40 cookie bouquet. We used our own money.
I owuld do something like that for her and then let her know that if she wants to do something for her people then that is her responsibilty.
We just had a very successful fall fundraiser (Walkathon) that will raise about $40K. Our school has about 400 kids. The Fall Fundraiser chair wants to take 5-6 of her key people to a thank you lunch using some of the funds that they are collecting from Walk a Thon pledges. I ran this by the board - I'm the President - and they are unanimous in their belief that a thank you card should be enough...the money is to be used in the classroom only. The Fall Fundraiser Chair complained to me all summer that she and her "group" don't feel properly appreciated.
Any ideas on how I convey to her that we are very appreciative of her hard work...but, just don't feel that PTO funds raised for the classroom should be used for a thank you lunch?
Any other thank you ideas?
Oh...thank you for your responses...they are appreciated!
