Yes. In that case you have a horribly shady business person who has no business being in charge of your PTO.
In that case I'd stick to my guns. The purpose is to RAISE money. If having a name brand will do that, then so be it. Sounds like your Prez. Showed her true colors by stating she would not allow her daughter to sign up.
Maybe I should clarify. A few years ago we did a candle sell through a very popular company and had great results. We were considering doing this again when she said she thought we needed to try this other group and when everyone said they prefered a better, more widely known name. She said she wouldn't sign up for it because she couldn't have her daughter selling candles that weren't her products, therfore, putting our group in a rough spot. Besides this, the fundraiseres she has picked for this year, she has signed up for without consulting everyone else and they haven't been the best and we are trying to get back to what works. But in the end, we all felt like her business is holding everyone back.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
I think the first thing that those on this post who disagree with doing the fundraising with a person who owns a company and is a parent in the school or on the board is the following:
1) Why ARE YOU doing a fundraiser?
If you are doing a fundraiser to help kids, school, etc. and someone comes up from within and says, I have a company that does X and will yield a profit to you of $xxxxx.00. Why not? Is it the NOT Invented here syndrome of corporate America creeping in?
2) What is their product/service? Is it illegal/immoral? Probably not, if so why are they on the board in the first place? What is wrong with them getting paid for doing something when you expect to get paid at work every payday don't you?
3) If you have that policy, then it’s clear. The policy may be dead wrong, but it’s your policy, not open for discussion, stick to it. End of problem. If however, you consider that many hard working small businesses depend on just such "breaks", and maybe one of them is yours. However if their products don't fit say no.
4) Let me further say that if you are serious about moving forward, then make the vendor/board member sign a agreement adhering to what ever restrictions you set forth. Sign it put it in the file cabinet and GO make the money.
I think many times we try so hard to build a "policy" without any consideration of the people effected. The Kids. Yes I read one post about the protection of information. That is HIGHLY important, yet you publish a school directory (Vis a vis PTA diretory) and the collective group turns its nose up "fearing" that someone will say FAVORTISM.
And yes, if you open it up to one parent you have to open it up to all.
So what? Who cares?
Do it. You might be surprised at the talent that exists outside your sphere of thinking/meetings. You like policies? Write one that filters ALL fundraisers by a certain STANDARD. If a parent wants to participate (or at least be considered for participation) then they must meet minimum acceptable standards.
Please DO NOT forget WHY PTO exists, the real reason, not the ones we tend to Grandiose in our minds. WE do what we do for the kids. If they need better books, programs, computers, or what ever. Those cost money.
Is your policy MORE valuable than what your children need?
I can understand the groups that have a policy prohibiting running fundraisers associated with members, especially board members. The appearance of conflict -- and the likelihood that many folks will assume the worst -- makes this situation dicey.
If your group decides to allow this type thing, I'd suggest a policy that requires all fundraisers -- especially those associated with members -- be measured by clearly defined objective criteria. Another rule would be that said member/board member would need to be completely removed from the decision process.
If the board member reps a great program that's a perfect fit for your group (as determined by your fundraising committe with member not involved), that's one thing. But the board member's position and relationships should be kept completely out of the decision-making loop.
If the PTO is getting all the profits, and this is clearly known then I don't see the conflict of interest. If it were a stranger offering to do this your group would be appreciative ... just because she'll gain some free advertising is not a valid reason for not doing it.
Are the products a good price? Can another business beat her price? Is the product a good product? This should be the concern. If the price is right and can't be beat for a good product..then do it! If you can get a better deal elsewhere then I would check into it.
I just don't feel it is right. My husband always had his own plant nursery and people would ask about using it as a fundraiser I would just never do it. I dont believe it is right that we would get advertising out of it and there are other businesses out there that wouldnt. our group really tries to stay away from this, our t-shirt sale is a "family business" but they get no profit and beat out all other quotes as well as donated 80 shirts to our kindergarten kids. It is so hard to say no but you might open up a can of worms bigger than you want....
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
