We hold a board meeting about a week before the general meeting. Since almost everyone on the board has small children, we've been havingboard meetings at someone's house so the kids can play. At the board meetings, we discuss what will be on the agenda, and what needs to be done before the general meeting.

I've read that some groups have a board meeting immediately before the general. That wouldn't work for us. We spend that week between meetings talking to the principals and anyone who might have business to discuss at the general meeting. I don't make up the agenda until the night before a meeting so I can make sure everything that needs to be is in it.

I've been on the board for three years and we have never had an emergency meeting, so I don't know what the procedure would be. As president of the organization, I would want full details before the meeting.

I am a current committee chairmen after finishing my co-VP position last year. Our bylaws don't really specify what these meetings should consist of. What should be discussed at a Board Mtg? How should a General Mtg be outlined? When and why should a special/emergency mtg. be called and can it be closed off to only a select few? And can it still be held if proper notice isn't given if only 3 out of 6 have agreed? Do the matters of renewing the current insurance, revising a budget, filing taxes and drawing up the contract of our Art Teacher have to be discussed at any of these meetings or can they be discussed casually over at the coffee house. The current year pres. doesn't want to have to be in school all the time just to disscuss questions and comments that just come up so when and where should these things be discussed. This year to avoid the long 2 1/2 hr Brd mtg. the Pres arranged a "General Meeting" and ONLY the executive board met 30 min. prior. At the general meeting they passed minutes from last school year mtg(which was accidental as I found out) and as last year VP for those min. I questioned the amount of the treas. report written on the min. and was looked down and given a "talking to" by the principal for doing so because I mentioned the words "bounced checks" in front of "Guests". They were trying to pass the minutes and I thought thats when corrections needed to be made. Membership is open to all parents and staff so I looked at these new attending parents as fellow members not "guests". On another end of the craziness the current VP called an emergency meeting inviting ONLY the executive board, Staff Representatives and the libriarian to substitute for the parlimentarian who couldn't make it. The Staff Rep is not part of the executive board with a vote. They are part of the board of directors just like the committee chairmen which were not invited. The are no substitutions for an exec. mbr except to take notes in the absence of a secretary. The President and treasure were not told what the topics of discussion will be even after they asked. These girls are worried, upset and curious. Can procedures or issues be voted and/or discussed behind closed doors and open to only a select few? Things don't feel right and its only the begining of the year. Is our PTO going to fall apart. By putting my sweat and tears into the organ. last year on the exec. brd I would hate to see this unfold but what can I do without making the board feel like I'm stepping on their toes. Chairmen are confused on the direction of the new board and are feeling left out and out of place when the doors are closed. I think even a few members OF the exec. board are confused on the direction of their goals this year. :eek: :confused: