Critter, to me it does sound like what we do by intent is what a lot of others end up with - mostly just the Board showing up. The advantages we see are 1) just 1 meeting per month for Board members, versus having a a Board meeting and a general meeting and 2) much less stress. We don't go to the trouble of advertising, recruiting speakers, setting up a big meeting space, etc. only to be disappointed.
To compensate, we do deliberately have a large board: 20-30 members depending on how many committees are co-chaired. And most participate all year, even if they are chairing an event long since over. And we work really hard at communicating with the families with lots of flyers, word of mouth, and a monthly newsletter. We have to be very careful not to appear as a clique, so we are constantly sending the message the Board meetings are open to anyone who wants to attend.
As far as teachers, our Principal, Vice Principal and two teacher reps sit on our Board. Three of them were there last night, no extra teachers. But - to be fair, we didn't really recruit them much. They help us in many, many ways so we don't really expect teachers to attend our meetings (except the reps) unless they have PTO business underway.
Food - no, we didn't do any (thank, heavens!) DoorPrizes, not sure, but I think they gave them all away just going round and round until they were gone.
We have monthly meetings and still are averaging about 20-30 in a school of 160. We don't have door prizes and usually don't have programs, but those meetings are never over an hour. Now our executive board meetings are usually 3 hours long, but we get so much work done. I have some parents who have been honest with me and said they don't do meetings...but they will work. Not a problem. Our school has mainly stay at home moms (unless you teach, you can't get a work visa here) so at least one parent can be present during the day. With the current political climate, night meetings aren't always an option. Next year may be different. So keep an open mind and do what is best for your group!
Our PTO prides itself on being the best kept secret in out school!! Sure we start strong with 20-30 at the September meeting, April's meeting had 15 which was HUGE for us but it's a mind puzzle! Last year I was prez and at one meeting the Vice President and I were HTE ONLY ONES THERE! MAN we got stuff done!! lol.
Can I still get my name in the drawing too?? [img]smile.gif[/img]
Yes-we do general meetings, door prizes, childcare during meetings the whole nine yds. Our attendance has also dropped from beginning of year, but unlike you C. we have only one teacher and principal comes to every meeting. Do you hold your meetings during day? We are just sending out a PTA survey to try to find out why interest has declined and if other times of day might be better. We started out w/ @30-- last meeting there were 7 including the board! Whoops! Something has gone wrong. Course this time of year is hard for all. I hope you stay with your group C. even if you aren't Pres! Jealous of you JHB 20 on board and they all actually help?!! We are at a very small school student pop @ 150--that might be it also.
We cut our meetings from 9 to six. Were these 3 people parents and teachers? We had 3 parents and about 12 teachers at our last meeting. We have well over 100 members. After the first meeting it dwindles but we keep it up.
I am resigning as pres. I will hand over the gavel and the ulcers this month but I hope our next prez doesn't give up. Just stay optimistic, some day you may have an overwhelming turn out, but please don't hold your breath.
If anyone gripes about a vote that was made I usually say, "You could've spoke up at the meeting." Not many approach me about that anymore.
About arranging speakers, a community leader came to me and ask if the anti-drug coalition could speak at our last meeting. This was last minute, we scrambled to give info out, even put it in our local paper. (We are = to Mayberry) and he never showed
JHB - When you first posted that you don't have general meetings, I was so surprised. But when I learned that your PTO has a large (20+) board, comprised, I think, of your PTO's officers and committee chairs, I got it. We have monthly general meetings, and we get about the same 15-20 people each month. And wouldn't you know those people happen to be our most active volunteers and committee chairs! I think what your PTO has done is rather clever. By eliminating monthly "general meetings" and replacing them with "board meetings", your group has relieved the basic member of the burden of frequent meetings, while at the same time acknowledging the increased contribution of your most active members by including them in your Executive Board. I wonder if the only difference between our meetings and your is semantics, but I am really intrigued by the concept.
[We don't typically have a program at our monthly meetings - mostly updates on activities and a report from the principal. We finish in less than 90 minutes.]
It's not unlike the following: we are going to eliminate our annual dues ($10), make everyone automatically a member, and then charge $10 for the school directory (which you got by paying your PTO dues in the past). Nothing will really change - just using the power of perception. We will now be INclusive of all families/teachers, not EXclusive. Nice chatting with you. [img]smile.gif[/img]
