Speaking as a former bill collector (but a nice one ), you need to contact each vender as soon as you find out something was ordered. Delaying will make it harder to sort out. I would expect that the advice Michelle B gave is the best way to go if you can't talk to her.

Purchasing something on an account you are not authorized to use or in someone else's name is technically fraud. If it becomes so bad that you deal with a collection department, that's the magic word. "Fraud." You may need to file a police report or the company will do it.

Good luck. And welcome to the forum.

We have something similiar going on, fortunately our former prez isn't making purchases, she's just holding the folders. I personally think it's a control issue in our case. I had a feeling she wasn't going to like handing over her files. We are just stalking her. We went through the same thing with the prez prior to this one. We have a lady that has been involved with the PTO for over 20 years and she helped us figure out what we needed to do.

I think Bertha's suggestion was good, see if you can get help from other that have been involved in the planning stages of events.

Is it possible to have officers sign a contract when that are "sworn in" that says they will hand over all of their position related materials by a certain date?

A few years back when our enitre board up and quite our then prez. never handed over any paperwork. We had to ask the prez. before her to come and help us straighten everything out. Luckly for us she had copies of some of her stuff. She sat down with us for hours and went over everything and helped us start up new books. She made phone calls to get us copies of stuff we needed.

Can you go to the person who was president before the last one?

Sounds like someone seriously needs an intervention here--does anyone know her to get a hold of her?

Hearing this one actually makes me appreciate - - my back-biters and general pains in the a$$!

Why would someone do such a thing? What does she think she is going to gain by this behavior? Why would she think she can just order things and expect us to pay for them?

Those are really good questions and unfortunately, I don't know! Perhaps she is feeling left out (doubtful but maybe) she's bipolar and has gone off her medications....
However, since she is no longer authorized to make these orders on behalf of your group, you are not obligated to pay for them. The businesses recieving the orders just need to be notified these items are not officially authorized and that your group will not pay for them.
In the meantime, perhaps you need to put the word out to other vendors, associates or whoever that they may be contacted and to be aware that she no longer is a authorized person on your board.
We've never had to do this in any of our PTAs but we have had to do this with business associates at my former business.
If it can't be stopped this way, another option is a "cease and desist". It's extreme but it will get across in no uncertain terms that needs to stop this behavior or she could be held liable for the costs.

Hi!

We are in tough Spot here and I am wondering if anyone else has been in a similar position. All of our new officers were sworn in some time ago. Now that school is out the past president has gone MIA without ever having had a converstion with the new Prez. She has also failed to turn over any of the folders and papers from the previous years.

We had a board meeting a week ago and she was supposed to attend and never showed.

Now the new Prez finds out just today that the old prez is ordering things for the school for next year. Some of the items she was able to stop, but one item she special ordered will cost between $800-$900. The new board had already ruled out buying such items after consulting the teachers. The new Prez is going to call her tomorrow and try to put and end to this insanity. It just makes me sick that such a thing is happening.

Why would someone do such a thing? What does she think she is going to gain by this behavior? Why would she think she can just order things and expect us to pay for them?

Any advice? Opinions? Thanks!