I'm kind of on the fence about email voting. We have had to do it between meetings on a couple of occasions, but they were both for changing event dates, and never with the stipulation that "no message was taken as a YES vote." That is just plumb crazy, if you ask me!
Sounds like the president needs to be reminded that she is to represent the assembly (pto members who vote) and the decisions they make. Sounds like the president needs to be put in her place. What do the other executive officers think? A lot of presidents take on too much authority. It is in our bylaws that the executive board must have a meeting if any business falls between a reg pto meeting. Also sounds like this is something that can wait till the next meeting. I would go to the principal with your concerns.
Good luck.
THank you all so very much!!!!! I was so opposed to the email vote because I felt it left so much room for error and trouble! And as I have began to check further into it, only a hand full of parents received this email.
This amount was not approved in a meeting to be spent, however, it was discussed, and by that the pres. felt like she had the right to spend it. Even though there was no actual approval. It's all a bit scary!!!! THANK YOU so much!!
Melissa Constantine
Visitor
18 years 5 months ago#103307by Melissa Constantine
The only time we have ever done an email vote was whether or to do a Chuck E. Cheese night or not. And that was only because we had to give them an answer before our next meeting. But, with something as large as a $1400 issue, I would say absolutely not! It sounds to me that she is trying to sneak something past someone (or everyone).
Do your bylaws mention anything about budget? Ours, and I think the standard is, that if it's budgeted for, you don't need to take a vote. If it's something not budgeted for at all you need an executive board vote of approval whether to bring it before the membership. Then it's the majority vote of the membership. Sometimes, depending on the purchase, this can take more than one meeting. If someone has questions or concerns, they can request the vote be postponed until the questions are answered.
If it's just that the amount is over budget (say, your budget is $1000 and the item will cost $1400), then you need to only get the extra $400 approved. I think the standard is if it's under $100 over budget, it's up to the board, but if it's over $100 over budget, it's up to the membership.
Confused yet?
Hope this helps!
