I agree with Tina, you need to concentrate on your family needs. If there aren't enough parents who care enough to step up and take on some of the work, then so be it. Will the world end if there are no fundraisers? Doubt it. Sometimes I think that those handful of people who seem to take on everything get taken for granted by the masses. They see that it's all getting done and is running beautifully so why do I need to help. Simply take on what you can get done without stressing yourself or negelecting your family. If anyone complains, politely tell them that there are just not enough helpers to run all the programs and ask them if they would be willing to take on a project. Some will tell you "no" and some will say "yes". We have broken down a lot of our stuff into committees, so that instead of one person trying to put an event together there are 3 or 4. It makes it easier on everyone and people are more likely to sign up when they feel like they will be sharing the burden. I wish you a great year. Hang in there and remember that you can always vent here!!

First of all, THANK YOU!!! Sounds like it's a couple words you haven't heard in awhile!!

This is the kind of behavor from adults that just makes me want to ask.....I better not, I'm afraid I won't keep it rated "G". I have been in your shoes (my fifth was born in April of 2002 and I was stupid enough to bring the PTO books to balance from my hospital bed!) this is alot of stress and unneeded burden to put on yourself. I was lucky and had great pregnancies but that year she (DOC)watched my blood pressure and suger levels and considered me high risk....and I had a great pregancy! Now, if you are like me, to walk away right now is more than you want to do because you don't want to let anyone down BUT your beautiful baby needs you too.
What happened to me was I was Prez and had a great VP, it was a treasurer and secretary we needed. Actually the secretary lasted two...three months and left because her divorce was "too much right now". After 9/11 my VP went into such a terrible depression I was basically alone. Please, listen to me when I tell you I wish I had had better support.

Surely you met some great parents in all your volunteering last year that would be willing to help you. CHairmen!!! Let your officers look bad on their own and ask for all the chairs you need to do all you want to do. Plus, if your Prez walked away with paperwork it's fun to see who knows or remembers things. In that sense, can you call the vendor(company) and let them know what happened and you need new paperwork?

In the meantime you need to talk to your husband
and decided how much you can handle......you actually have a beautiful reason to leave and you can always jump back in in a few years.

I wish you the best and an easy pregnacy.....

Tina, 2 girls and 3 boys [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 08-09-2003, 12:13 AM: Message edited by: mykidsmom ]

Can you contact the would be president? Maybe the secretary has her new address or phone number. Her kids records would have to be mailed somewhere. In the meantime contact the fundraiser and get copies of the contract to see if you can get out of the fundraiser until you can establish some leadership. Maybe if you explain what has happened they will let you out of the fundraiser. Maybe you could offer to have the fundraiser at a later date once the pto got back on its feet. What do your bylaws state as to who is responsible if no one wants to be an officer? Why won't the old president help you?

so here's the deal. Last year I was just a member of the PTA...I helped organize the fund raiser, teacher appreciation luncheon and little goodie bags for the entire staff including the bus drivers and aids, helped organize, set up and take down and everything in between for the spring carnival,(baked and decorated 12 of those wilton cakes for a cake walk) my husband and I took all the pictures for the yearbook and put the yearbook together, and just in general was at the school all the time helping out in the office or running off copies of something. The president last year would call me if she needed anything and I would do my best. She confronted me about being an officer this year and I really cringed at the idea...I am not a public speaker, I don't give orders well at all, and generally don't like people relying on me because outside of school, I do have a lot going on. Towards the end of the year, she finally admitted they were desperate...I agreed to the position of vice-pres. only because she said I would mainely stand in the shadows of the pres, I wouldn't handle the money, and I would not have to speak publicly. That being said, I just found out the president quit over the summer and moved, and the secretary and treasurer got jobs and don't have a lot of time for PTA anymore. The secretary found me after school yesterday and basically told me I would have to do all the work cause no one else has time. The would-be president took all the paperwork with her when she moved including all the fundraiser stuff that we are supposed to kick off on the 18th. The president from last year was at the school this morning when I took the kids and told me (rather rudely) that this wasn't her job anymore and if I can't handle it, the principal needs to find someone that can. Well NO, I can't handle it by myself, my husband can't drive for a week because of a torn cornea, besides my two kids at school, I have two young ones at home with me and I am 19 weeks pregnant with #5, I have girl scouts and boy scouts and all the running around you have with kids. But I'll try.

They haven't found a new pres. no one wants to be involved at this school...out of 300+ members last years, there was at most only 10 people that actually had anything to do with helping. The principal is power hungry and if things aren't done her way, they aren't done at all.
I have no idea where to start. I need to get together something about joining PTA and then the fundraiser kick off...which I told them not to do because the lady went back on her original deal from last year and now we have to meet a quota to get profit. I told them we should just call her back and tell her it wasn't worth it (and it would show some backbone on the PTA's part about not letting people walk all over us) but they want to do it still. There is another fundraiser in Sept.
I have no paper work at all from last year. It all is with the would be president. No organization at all, and I am ready to quit. Any advice?

thanks