I would also bring it to the group and address it with the board - it's not just your problem it's the PTO's problem.

Either the board will back you or they won't. If they don't then maybe there's little you can do - it is a board decision. But if they do then you can lay down the law on what her role is and how it's going to work while your president.

Either way you'll get some sort of result by the end of the meeting.

I guess I would call a meeting putting it all out there and tell everyone who is a chair that their responsibility is to your group and following through with what the group decides and if that can not be done, then they will be relieved of their duties. Also, make it abundantly clear that contracts are to be cosigned with the president after getting the groups yea vote and nothing less will be tolerated. I know your upset and it's very easy to get worked up but this is the point when you need to show how level headed you are by openly addressing this issue with the group instead of sneaking around and playing members off each other like you said this person has done.

I say, lets tie them up and lock them in a closet until the event is over!

Since this is the last fundraising event for the year, we can get away with it. Then we all vote her out.

She won't be involved next year because she's going to be running your PTA. And if that happens, I'm staying far away from that school and switching my daughter to the other middle school in town!

I guess I should have made this more clear--the woman quitting isn't just going to "help"--she still thinks she'll be directing the event chair to do things the way they want rather than the way the board and members want it. The event chair seems to be doing whatever the fundraising chair wants rather than what the board and members want.

It's a ~~a-thon. Two reasons this is still going on: the fundraising chair is like a dog with a bone and refuses to let go. She just can't understand that even though she may feel strongly one way or another about something, that she is not the final word in decision making. I don't even have that power--and I'm the president!! The second reason is that she is now apparently avoiding contact, so we've been having to hold off on a meeting to "clear the air," so to speak. Push is coming to shove, and I dread the inevitable fall-out. This woman lives for drama.

Hopefully the contract is a moot point--now it's about specific decisions she wants to make concerning the event that the executive board doesn't agree with--our biggest problems are: how committee members are chosen (she wants to choose just people her and the event chair know), how many get to help (goes hand in hand with choosing friends--the board feels this is a big event and we should welcome anyone who wants to help and that this is not a place for political "handouts"--there's enough room for everyone to play a part here) and a biggie is she wants to use per lap sponsorships (board and general members have stated strong disapproval-- too much work and too time consuming--want flat donations with prizes for most donors).

Believe me--we've been struggling to figure out the motivating factor here. This woman defies reason. The fundraising chair definitely has it in her head that it's some sort of power struggle between myself and her, and she doesn't seem to get it's really her against the board and regular members--not just me. My gut feeling--she's normally anal retentive and hates anything which is not done "the way it's always been done" so she's unsure of herself and the person she picked. We've never done this type of event before, so she wanted the company to run the event so that they could take the blame should things go bad. Unfortunately she can't admit that she made a bad decision, and is looking for any sort of fight to distract us from the poor decisions she's made. The whole thing is ludicrous at this point, and the executive board has had it. We wanted this group to be fun and welcoming, and the fundraising chair and the event chair (who was hand-chosen by the fundraising chair before we were consulted--she's a crony of the fundraising chair)are making this into a polarized situation. It wouldn't be such a big deal except we have to meet with that ever-so-delightful principal of ours, and I want everyone to be on the same page before we go in. The last thing I want the principal to see is any infighting.

[ 02-14-2005, 01:14 AM: Message edited by: kmamom ]

Well That depends on what the co-chairs position is. Ultimately I would say excellent if I knew the co chair could be trusted to do what they are supposed to do.

My big question here is why is this still going on with this person? Can your board not remove her from chairing the event/fundraiser? Or cancel whatever it is and replace it with something else?

Also why can't you contact the vendor or whomever it is she wants to sign the contract with and tell them what your position is? I'd make it abundantly clear to them that the board does not want this and that if this woman signs a contract with them that they are on their own as your organization will not be liable or bound to the contract as she has no authority to sign it.

Anyway what is in it for her? What is her motivation? If this thing is as bad as you say it is then why is she so hell bent on doing it?
Can you give any specifics on what this fundraiser or event is?

Here's one for you...

What do you do when a chair says about an event,

"If I can't do it [my way], then I'll resign from my position and continue to run things with the co-chair anyway." :confused: The implication being that she thinks she'll still have authority to do whatever she wants, even if it's against the board's and members' wishes.

[ 02-14-2005, 01:13 AM: Message edited by: kmamom ]