(sorry, this is a long one folks!) We have an elementary yearbook that is put together completely by parent volunteers. The school does not have its own committee to do the yearbook and currently does not want to do so as the pto has put the book together for 18+ years. I have done reseach, polling past committee members, staff that has been around for a long time, and the publishing company that prints the book... not once, no one recalls of any major problems with the books. Of course there was the parent who thought their child wasn't in it enough or unfortunately a child who was inadvertantly left out in a candid shot or the occasional misspelling of a name, but overall the yearbooks have been met with great praise and appreciation by the students, staff and parents.
I do encourage new ideas and suggestions for the book and have never said I know it all, in fact I will admit I know very little, I am just continuing a tradition and organizing a very committed group of parents who want to put out a great yearbook for the school.
So, what is one to do when a parent wants to change the whole game? what I mean is that they want to dictate proceedure, policy and how the committee is run. In particular, they do not want their child in the yearbook. O.K., so they will not be included, end of discussion, period.
Yet, the headache happened when all year, they changed their opinion numerous times on if the student would be or not be, or how, or where... a organizational nightmare for the committee! Then, the parent actually was angry with the school that the committee was told that the student was not to be included... now come on, how are we to know not to include that student?!
I think it best overall to include someone who wants to be proactive and help. This parent is not a volunteer for the committee for the sole reason that she has proven herself not to be able to work with others without causing turmoil (long track record of insults, negative critisims and inappropriate behavior). I think everyone who is involved with volunteer situations knows that it is nearly impossible to include someone who wants to disrupt.
I have to say that we have had the support of the school in our efforts to create this year's book. I am wondering what can be done to avoid another situation like this in the future... it was not fun this year to be constantly changing things, agonizing over if things were meeting the parents most current request (which was presented as a demand). Does anyone have a type of policy regarding yearbooks? I am open to your advise. We are volunteers who are doing our best, we are not getting paid, we do have lives outside of school and I think it not fair to be treated as grunts or have demands thrown at us, most especially from someone who does not offer any constructive help or advise.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, I had a lot to say and I look forward to reading your feedback.
