When I was a newbie, change was needed and I was one of the moms with ideas and this site for info. NOW I'm embrassing a new President with new ideas and a fresh look on old problems I can't work out on my own...or shouldn't.
military-mom, I'm sure you ment this in fun but it's taken me awhile to warm up to it. It would be like saying "You military moms... " I wouldn't though because I married an Air Force brat and I learned how to iron from my mother-in-law. HA!
no, I don't have any other "types" to add. Frankly, I think that there is a reason people don't get involved in PTO's: because other people come up with "names" and "types"...!
A LEADER answers questions patiently because there is a "rhyme and reason" for doing certain things. A LEADER directs those persons into roles that will utilize their unique abilities, as demonstrated by their questions. A LEADER explains why certain things are done, and respects when/if others figure out how to do it another way (and doesn't take it personally!).
If you're running a PTO and someone else chimes in with ideas about how to do it better, consider that he or she may have been a part of another PTO who has just been honored as Parent Group of the Year!
I experienced this type of person last year, and it quickly became my habit to honor that person's excitement with a task! One mom called me to express her disappointment in the lack of activities to introduce new families to the school. I asked her to fill a board position that was needing an appointment.
Have someone else who says all the old is bad? Remind her/him of the gifts that accomplishment brought.
My biggest problem was having board members who wanted to be board members but never made the meetings and didn't do anything you asked. I'm not sure what I would call them, but it probably wouldn't be nice!
While I think we should remember that evolution and change are critcal to the existence of a PTO, particular in bringing new officers onboard, I believe the new officers need to respect the efforts of previous years and not condemn them. My only problem with our newbie prez is that he has never even been involved in the PTO but chooses to constantly condemn the efforts and progress made in the past 2 years.
Change and new ideas is good, but only when one has truly analyzed the past and gleaned all those things that were good and all those things that can stand improvement.
Some newbies CAN be a pain, worse than the "know-it- alls" are the THINK-they-know-it-alls! While I'm sure on some level they mean well, some people could definitely use pointers on how to get their point across!
Actually, I found most of my problems came from the "old guard" -or the "That's the way we've ALWAYS done it" (NOT that's what I'm saying you are)! Having been on both sides of the fence I know both points of view. It's aggravating to have your EVERY move scrutinized when you're in charge, especially when you DO know what you're doing, but having a PTA board that is VERY resistant to new ideas and doing things more effectively is equally as maddening!
" I wouldn't though because I married an Air Force brat and I learned how to iron from my mother-in-law. HA! 
