By any chance, has anyone talked to this unwelcome volunteer directly? I suggest picking the sweetest person on the Board or in the membrship (who you trust) and asking her to speak to the problem volunteer -- Find out what the problem is. Is the volunteer who is causing so much difficulty angry about something? Sometimes people complain about one thing when it's something else that has upset them. Does she (I'm assuming the problem volunteer is a she, but maybe not?)participate in any positive way, if so can you put her "in charge" of that area so she will keep busy and not cause so much trouble? Is there any way to make the volunteer part of the solution -- for example, can you ask that person to be in charge of putting out good news about your group? That might force her to take a more optimistic outlook.
No easy answers here, unfortunately! It partly depends on why the person is causing so much trouble--without knowing that, it's hard to come up with a good way to deal with it.
I know how difficult it can be to remove an individual. We have a new member on the Board who is clearly violating the policies and by-laws, wanting to run the organization without any experience. This individual is clearly a maverick out of control, spreading terrible rumors about the other board members; she is causing a split in the organization. Although she does not have many followers, she is turning people off to the organization by the tension she has created. My fear is by taking this to a vote it would put our members in the position of taking sides. Do we release documented information that would show how she decieved and controlled the other board member? What about her children at the school and the possible ramifications to them? Isn't there a more discrete method of removing a member?
You will have to take a vote to remove her from her position. You should fix your bylaws to state reasons why someone gets removed from office and what the process is.
Like critter stated there should be rules about required performance and that if a board member does not meet her obligations or is in violation of the bylaws that she can be removed by a vote.
It seems like whatever you do at this point it will be ugly. If she does not want to step down and she does not want to do her job then what it is exactly she wants?
If you want to make a change that isn't in your bylaws then you need to take it to a vote at a meeting.
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
The bylaws are very vague. They don't state anything about performance, except that the VP will assist the P which isn't happening. We have tried to be the bigger people in all this and she is just acting small. We have tried to rewrite the bylaws to make things a little more clear and she refuses to sign them so we feel like we are stuck. She will not step down so we are at wits end. Can someone other than the VP sign in her place if she refuses? Thank you
The easy answer is to check your PTO's bylaws. There should be rules about required performance of an officer. For example, 3 unexcused absences from board meetings might be grounds for being removed from office. If it's not that simple, you'll have to do it the old fashioned way - confront her with your concerns.
