UPDATE: Today my loving and wonderful husband went to the school without me knowing. All he wanted to do was get permission to paint the PTO office. When I tendered my resignation, I was told by the secretary that it wasn't necessary for me to finish out my resignation notice or to complete any of the tasks I listed on that resignation. I intended to put a date book together for the new president; paint the office and the new shelves my husband installed; get all the filing done; etc. Stuff like that. Our secretary came down and said that I needed to leave all that stuff to the remaining board members and that my help was unwanted and unneeded. OMG how I cried! Well, the hubby went down and he was shuffled into the principals office where the new pres (who had stepped up from vice pres... and if you've been following this, you know that that is my best friend) was already talking to the principal. Get this: after hearing out my hubby and best friend, not to mention the teachers who had come to my defense yesterday after my resignation was made public, the principal has decided to disband the group. This has been done so that I can continue to work with and at the school without problems from a PTO board who can't get along and takes personal shots at each other. I will continue with the volunteering with/in classrooms, continue to run copy machines, continue to raise funds, etc. It just won't be as a PTO leader. I know it sounds terrible, but it makes me kind of happy to know that people went to bat for me and because the problems on the board couldn't be resolved, there won't be a board. Everything will be the same, except instead of answering to women who don't like me, I just answer to the principal. It is estimated that a new PTO will be formed in a couple years, so it is just for now. OH! The color of the office will be blue...
I just said, "Oh No!" out loud when you said you had resigned. I feel so awful for you. I can't understand how this could have gone so far and just when it looked as though you could work this out...you should have flexed those muscles at least towards the one that fueled the fire.
I'm looking for my replacement right now! This is my last year as council President and I am hoping to move into Region Director next (no big difference since I've been doing that job already) but I am hoping to find someone with passion to replace me. Want to relocate to Nevada and work with me in PTA???? [img]smile.gif[/img]
A couple of years ago I had a board member spend an entire board meeting making snide comments and insulting everything I'd done for the previous two years and it just killed me. I can't imagine how awful it must have been to listen to a whole group of people that you had personally assembled into a team turn on you in such a way. It never ceases to amaze me how cruel some people can be. It's a huge shame that they couldn't have discussed their various problems and issues in a more constructive manner.
Hang in there, keep volunteering and sharing your ideas. BIG HUG to you.
I assure you that this won't slow me down. I make a difference no matter whether I'm serving as an officer or not. Three years ago this would really have gotten me down. Funny, tonight I don't feel upset. I know that everything is in motion, from tough bylaws to the incorporation process. I think the programs for the year are also set, maybe not in stone, but certainly set on solid basing. They have NPN for at least the next year and that is a very good thing.
Looks like I'll be paying my own conference fees come April 1st... that's okay too.
I feel your pain, Metzy. Clearly, I don't know all the nuances of your situation, but any interaction of grown-ups that includes namecalling and bad-mouthing is shameful. I hope you find another way to apply your energy and talents to benefit your community.
I've just come back from the meeting. OMG!!! It started out bad and ended with my resignation.
They (my hand picked board...lol) started by calling me a liar, a cheat, and a thief. I was called a master manipulator and a glory grabber. I was accused of many things; some true, some not true, and some inbetween. I was told by one that she wouldn't work with me anymore, that she didn't respect or like me anymore.
I took it for just more than an hour. I apologized to everyone for any frustration I may have caused them, for any slights they feel I have done to them. I explained that we all brought something great to the table and that I would hate to see this group of officers break down (or break up). I asked did they want to try to work things out, fix things, move on, or did they want to spend more time complaining. Everyone was willing to move on, except one. She started again with the same lines she had used throughout the meeting and once again, everyone jumped on the 'slam the prez' bandwagon.
I then put my things together. Said it was a real shame and resigned.
I was pulled into the principals office just before school got out. Apparently, I "bring a lot to the PTO" and no one wants me to leave, but instead think I should just trade positions with the secretary. That way the treasurer had agreed to stay on. My feeling? Sure, let her decide what my position should be...
There was a time when being prez meant the world to me. Now, it just seems like a big, never-ending headache. No problem because I know how to get rid of a headache...
