Yes. we all have heard, "It's always the same people helping at each event." I wish I had THE answer. This may help...

I live in a very small town where everyone who is anyone grew up there. We moved in four years ago. I went to every PTO meeting, helped in each of my childrens classes (I have 3 boys)and work a full time job. The PTO pres. has always been a stay at home mom or one who just has a part time job. When they asked people to help out they always said they didn't have time. Now I am the new PTO pres. and have brought many more working moms to help in our school. Everyone knows I work and have 3 kids. It's harder to tell me they have no time. Instead of having two roommoms, some classes have four. They work it out so someone is always at each party, another who can't get time off work calls other parents to bring snacks, another plans the games and so on. Ask,"Can you make it to one of the four parties?"

I have found that working parents will help out if you make it easy for them. We provide a sitter at each PTO meeting and the hospitality commity gets food donations so parents don't have to rush around and feed the family before the meeting. Many PTO's have a pot luck.

The parent who has no time to chair a commity this year might be willing to bring cookies. Anyting to get them involved. Next year she just may find the time to do more.

As I said, I'm new and stupidly excited about parent envolvment. Make sure you don't let parents feel they are helping YOU. It's for their kids too. The more involved a parent is, the more importance is placed on school at home.

Thanks! It is nice to hear other's views and experiences, doesn't make me feel so alone. I too have a small group of friends that basically to all the volunteering. We have lives outside the school also, but we enjoy doing these things because we love our kids and like being involved. I just received the new issue of PTO Today and have enjoyed reading everything. Changes will come slowly. First thing right now is the by-laws they need revision. Our Halloween activity night is coming up at the end of Oct. and I'm a bit disappointed that it turning out to be like a carnival. There are things being taken out that made it fun last year. But I'm not chairing it and I've made my suggestions. Already have my duties for this event to consentrate on. Thanks again for your reply.

You are really not alone! I too have been in my group for 3 years and it gets really tough to hear all the bad stuff. I have, in a weird way, gotta a group of my friends together to help me chair events. I have found we make it fun but we also have a realistic adittude about soccer, homework, babies, pregnancies (can't really make it to an event if your going in for a C-section!) just real stuff that real friends can work with.
Sure we get the ol' 'the same people do everything' and so we invite them to help...they never show....
Unfortunatly there will always be the ones that feel they are wasting their time or nothing is ever done right or (my favorite
and sorry Tim) don't you people have a life outside this school? Otherwise I too have a hard time with the fact that these parents have a hard day still come to the meeting but complain about how they should be home, I want it this way, etc.
The new PTOtoday has a great article with lots a terrific ways to get parents involved and maybe curse some of the negativity.
Stay involved and thank you for being involved!

I found this site about a month ago and I am totally amazed at all the wonderful new things I have learned. I have been actively involved with our PTO for 3 years now. We have a new Pres. and VP this year and we are trying our best to change thing gradually. My mind is reeling with all the neat ideas I have found on this site. Thank you!!

Our group is not a big group and we have difficulty trying to encourage parents to be involved. I have noticed from the last two years the negative attitude that some of our parents have and it is disturbing. They are willing to volunteer but have the "can't do" or "this is too much" attitude. It seems that everytime a good suggestion comes along there are always a few that say "no, that's too much work." It really bothers me because I feel that our group could offer so much more.

I would love to hear some suggestions on how I can help generate the "can do" attitude to the rest of our group. Everyone in here seems to have that "can do" attitude and that is great because it is a good example to our children that we care about them.

Sorry, I guess I should have posted this under the Parent Involvement topic.

[This message has been edited by jojopenny (edited 09-08-2001).]