Thank You both for your kind words and suggestions. It's kind of funny how this has affected me. At first I was upset about the particulars, like the accusation that I wasn't following the bylaws to a 'T'. Now I know that the real reason I am upset is because a member of the board didn't think they could come talk to me. I hand picked these women because they each bring something to the table that no one else does. A strong sense of honesty, a great sense of organizational skills, an ability to speak smoothly in the face of anger, etc. I just never figured on what has happened.
I should say that each of the women I picked and got elected are fantastic women. They are all smart, hard working, honest, school/student loving people. I admire them all greatly. I read somewhere that a smart leader surrounds themselves with the smartest people possible. That is what I have done. It's funny to most that I can plan and execute an event for 800 but can't hold on to a $10 receipt from Walmart... funny, sad, but it's true. This is why I chose the women I did. One of the gals is amazing in how she can keep me organized receipt wise... which is why it shocked me to be called into the principals office.
Monday I will go in with an open mind. One of my great, great friends suggested that while I am good at heart, sometimes I come off very hard. I guess that is true, as most of us know from these boards. I may have some self-examinating to do because I don't want the 'way it looks' to be considered by anyone as the 'way it is'.
Boy, just shows that if you're going to take on these jobs you have to have a thick skin, huh? I'm sorry this happened, but I think it's best to try to look at the "bright side" (????). This gives you the perfect opportunity to open discussions with your group. I'd be upfront about the conversation with the principal, and that you understand that there has been a complaint. Forget that you know who the culprit is -- you could be wrong, and it doesn't matter anyway. Just say that there has been this complaint, and suggest that it's up to your entire group to resolve and to determine the best way to deal with such concerns -- after all, if there was a complaint about you, there can/will be complaints in the future about others.
And shame on that principal for not insisting that the complainant go directly to you!
Hi! It may be better that you act like you don't know who it is? Having that meeting with your officers is the first step. It is sad that someone did this to you. They threw a stone at you and hid their hands.
I think I would start by saying that you need to have a very candid and honest conversation with them regarding what happened. I would say that I am not hurt that someone disagrees with me, but that I am hurt that someone could not talk to me and had to involve the principal. Why not ask each and every one of them to tell you something they wish you or the group did differently. Wear your toughest skin and begin with someone you know is not the culprit. You will have to try and be as open minded as you can.
If during this meeting if the person does not admit that they were the one who went to the principal and come clean about what their issues are then I would really be mad. Because then what is their point? Do they want to resolve or change something or do they just want to make you look bad with the principal for whatever reason? Then I would be sure to tell the principal that you spoke with them and no one spoke out about said issues. That at least should make them lose credibility.
Good Luck! It is really sad that an officer did this to you.
I was called by our principal to come in and discuss 'concerns'.
I tried to figure out what those concerns might be for the rest of the day and far into the night. Were teachers unhappy? Were students unhappy? Who would have ominous sounding 'concerns'?
Turns out, it is at least one of my fellow officers... It seems that I don't listen and follow enough of someone's ideas. It seems that someone (at least one) feels that I am not following the bylaws to the T - funny to hear considering I was the one who drafted them and all the officers, the school admin, and teachers and parents at our first meeting unanimously approved them... We were supposed to spend the time between meetings determining which rules in the bylaws were too tough (and they are tough - make no mistake - following a two year embezzlement). We have gone over the rules here and there, we know which ones we are going to reword, which ones have to be amended. This would have all been discussed this upcoming Monday at our Officers Meeting... but someone decided to go to the principal the week prior...
As for ideas... the only idea that I haven't taken into consideration is not turning in a couple receipts for bottled water that I bought and use for volunteers throughout the day. I got a smoking deal (buy one case-get two free) on some bottled water and put it in our office. I like to have it on hand, and don't feel that our group should necessarily have to pay for it because I do most of the drinking of it anyway. I seriously can't think of any ideas that anyone else has had that haven't come to fruit.
On Monday, I will be meeting with the other officers. I will be open minded and not quick to judge, but I have to admit that I am perplexed as to how to address the issue in a non-confrontational manner (especially since I know who made the complaint). I don't want to be confrontational, but I don't want to cry either. This is rather painful to find out that at least one of my fellow officers doesn't feel like she can talk to me.
