Ok, I'm too late for your meeting last night, but please let us know how it went! What worked, what didn't? I agree that it's important to provide an agenda-inadvance if you can so people know what to expect. Also, be sure to put the end time in the notice for the meeting as well as the start time, then STICK TO IT. People really want to know when they will be able to leave, whether because they have babysitters or anything else. Also, keep the agenda pretty short. It seems like a long agenda really "turns off" our parents, even if the end time indicates only 1 1/2 - 2 hrs. for the meeting-I guess it just LOOKS long! I also think it's important for the agenda to have some details on it so that people really know what to expect.

We've not had any fundraisers. The by-laws are already in place. We worked out our budget at last months PTO board meeting. Everything that has been decided/done has been by the President (me), VP, Treasurer, Secretary and the Principal. I would love any advice on how to make tonights first general meeting welcoming and successful.

Well ~ what you do tonight at the meeting really depends on what you've done so far during this school year. Have you passed a budget for the year, bylaws, had any fundraisers?? You'll need a current financial statement and an agenda for sure.

I'm a new PTO president and have spent the last 3 months learning what is expected of me. I'm going to run my first general PTO meeting tonight and am not real sure what to do. Last years PTO ran things very differently and did not get a new board in place prior to the start of school, so we have had a lot of catching up to do! I'm not sure who will be there tonight, how many, etc. Help!