I am a HUGE email fan. I find that emailing has allowed me to establish relationships with folks that I might not have garnered in the past. Our school has 600 students, probably 375 families and we have 250 of those families in our PTO. Each one of them receives emails that offer information, important dates, assembly reviews and chit chat that personalizes the PTO and me to them. It is A TON of work to set up the initial email list and get all the corrections/updates. But the payoff is also huge. We had an assembly today and I was able to run home and tell parents what to discuss with their children. I write TONS of thank you notes...and send surprise notes of appreciation to the principal recognizing when a teacher does something great. We work hard to not be a clique, and advertise the fact that we are not. And I work hard to introduce myself constantly (and unfortunately sometimes more than once) to folks. After I got the position, I sent our introduction notes to the teachers, the superintendent, the other PTO president's and elementary school principals in the area, in the spirit of mutual support of community programs. Get out there and grab hands. You've already won the vote, now you have to win the heart. In the process, you'll be amazed at how many folks will start to volunteer to support things.
Hope this works as a suggestion for you...

d

Amen, closetwriter. All very good points.

I think the key will be to start small and build on success. I am assuming the "bad history of parent groups" is over and they are no longer functioning. Starting a competing group is a bad idea.

But if you are starting fresh, with the encouragement of the Principal, advertiuse for a group meeting to generate ideas about what those willing to participate want to get out of a parent group. You may be surprised by the ideas that are mentioned. Try to consolidate them into a Mission Statement or a Statement of Principles to guide the early activities of the group. You could probably do a lot just this year in coordinating volunteer opportunities in the school without raising funds.

As you begin to grow, and start to consider fundraisers, you will need to define roles and responsbilities more clearly. Write them down and distribute them to the group so expectations are set. Be prepared to change them as you go. Also with fundraisers, you need to ID a TRUSTED person to manage the money, and make sure procedures are in place to keep track of it (the old "Trust by Verify" theory).

One other thing, if the school has a monthly newsletter, try to add an article to it each each month - it saves time rather than having a separate PTO newsletter.

Good luck.

I would start with the principal of the bldg. and ask for a available place to hold a meeting and for his blessings. Don't burn your bridges with this guy!!! Then publicize. Ask for people interested in helping. Inquire if any one has a special talent--i.e. computer wizard, secretarial skills, fundraising skills, accounting. Once officers are in place, keep everyone notified of when/where meetings are. Welcome new-comers. A personal greeting and a handshake might go a long way to wanting them to come back again. Publish a newsletter, either on line or via the backpack express.
Get input from principal of needs/wants. Try to get a teacher or 2 to commit to attending your meetings. Their input at a meeting can shed a whole new light on some issues.
Don't dwell on the problems the previous group had. Move on. The new group may be inheriting problems(i.e. lack of $$$) and attitudes of the past, but remain positive. You are not guilty for what the past idiots did.

Even if you are short on funds, try to put on a family night, something FUN, that will bring positive light your way. Something you can do for little money.

Remember that all the parents are volunteers. Respect them. Scratch your head for ideas, but be open to new ones. Accept the fact, if necessary, that some folks may know more than you. Treat your board and other members with the same respect that you would like to be treated. Don't let your tongue get you in trouble, remain civil. Please and thanks go a long way.

And when/if one of the volunteers "jumps ship" and others follow making it look something like the Titanic going down, and the group is without any support--stop, assess the situation, and take a look around. Micro management can turn off even the most seasoned, loyal volunteers quite fast.

[ 10-18-2005, 09:02 AM: Message edited by: closetwriter ]

If you were in charge of starting a new parent group in a school with a bad history of parent groups, where exactly would you start? How do you make the principal comfortable, superintedent comfortable etc... And keep parents happy too?