Is she totally overwhelmed? Or is this turning into a control freak issue. I would try to help her as much as possible, if she allows that. If not I would bring your concerns up to the rest fo the officers and principal, maybe have a pow wow with all of you together, when I have to do this I get the principal to basically be in charge of it that way you arent pointing fingers. I then will take my stand as president.
She is not above your bylaws and if you are 501 you could push this big time. Like I said I would get the whole bunch together and be positive, start by saying "okay what do we need to do to start this fresh year off?" dont start in with well you didn't do this, and you didn't do that...

As a new pres. and to the PTO works from the inside I can say for myself that this has been a challenge I took on with great misunderstanding. It scares me to death to fail in any way. Esp. in front of people who I will see on a regular basis. Not to mention the fact that my incompetence could reflect back on my children in this school. I am struggling with doing all that is expected due in part that I truly do not have anything to go by from the previous years. Throughout the entire month of Aug. I felt like an ant under a magnifying glass at high noon. I so badly wanted to hang my head and cry and say that's it this is definitely not for me. I thank God that He knows my capabilities better than I do. He sent words and people to encourage me and great ideas to get me into focus. So please HELP this woman she is obviously drowning in an ocean of disbelief, confusion, fear and the inability to ask for help. It is embarassing to go to people when you are taking on something new and admit you do not know what you are doing and you desperately need help. When you enter into a position that requires so much as does PTO it is usually done because one thinks that they can make a differenc. A few ideas and maybe a weak plan is all a person might have and they truly do think it is enough. How hard can it be? It is truly hard when you are clueless and even harder when you are too embarressed to admit that you are. Please be patient and put yourself in her shoes for a moment and say to yourself how would I want someone to approach me if I were where she may be standing in her heart? These things I have written are solely based on my own experience and not what she may or may not be going through I just felt that maybe this would help. I hope it does. Good Luck and God Bless.

I agree with Critter - she's an officer of the group and is bound to the bylaws.

Here's another idea. She could just be scared to death about screwing up. Maybe she lacks the confidence to do it the right way and is covering up her inabilities with false bravado. It could be that she has no idea about bylaws, parliamentary procedure or proper protocol.

I don't know her. I'm just guessing. But whatever the reason, things need to get back on track right away for the sake of the group.

Writermom is right about talking to her first and then soliciting the principal's help. Don't accuse, judge, attack or assume anything. Just meet with her and hope to have some very honest dialog about what needs to be done and who's going to do it. If she feels the support of her team then maybe she'll have the confidence to move forward.

I had a similar problem last year, only we had no bylaws. I spoke diplomatically to our old pres about what we (she) needed to do, offered to help, and even spoke not so diplomatically I am ashamed to say when she continued to not do things, do things late, or and do things half...um...way. Ultimately I just had to wait out the year in silence until she left.

It's the not following bylaws thing that makes me think she does want to be pres, but wants to do it her way. I think if I were you, I would bring up at the next board meeting or regular meeting that bylaws are not being followed and then talk with the principal if that doesn't change things. But you need to try to talk to her honestly and find out what's going on with her and be prepared to offer to help if she needs it. If she's just on a power trip, I can guarantee the group will suffer from it, so nip it in the bud, and get some other parents behind you. Good luck!

She is not above your group's bylaws. Do the bylaws speak to how to remove someone from office? She needs a heart-to-heart to find out if she's having second thoughts about being president. From what you've said, she wants out.

we elected a new president in june. she has blown off our first meeting to get the paperwork and banking changed over. she has done nothing about getting our meeting schedual to the district for the news letter or for our school calender. she has also stated that as president our group would not be following the by-laws. our by-laws do not cover for this. any suggestions on what we can do?