Wow!! I finally go to the end and I must say that I see alot of emotions out there(many of which I have experienced myself). Last year as President my motto was "Get Involved" and I emphasized the fact that we weren't looking to make the PTO your life, we just need a little of your time as much as you are comfortable with giving. It seemed to help...we had increased attendance at meetings and more volunteers to help with events. Some gave many hours, others only minutes but it all made a difference. I will now be serving my 2nd year(to an ovation that made me cry) and I hope to do even more. I have a wonderful board that is truly dedicated to making our school a better place. We all get along so well because we are all here for the same reason...our kids. We love our children and want the very best for them and we want to share that with all the rest of the kids in this school too. I love every smile, every hug, every "hello, Mrs.----". They make my day! This year I'm going to try something new though. I've changed my motto to "Make it personal" and I'm challenging parents to be involved not just in the PTO but in the school and in their children's education. I've got "study" results quoted on the flyers for registration about how much better kids do in school when parents are active. This has got become less about how many people we have at meetings and more about how many people we have involved with their kids. The PTO is a great way to get involved in your child's education because we sponsor so many programs, but we are just a tool. Make the tool easy to access, fun to use, and give great results and you'll see more "users". I hope this new "marketing strategy" works...I'm optomistic. If parents want to know what's in it for them, tell them to look at that child standing next to them then ask them if he/she is worth the time!

A GREAT FLYER TO SEND HOME TO YOUR PARENT GROUP MEMBERS

WILL YOU BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER-
THE KIND THAT WOULD BE MISSED
OR ARE YOU JUST CONTENTED
THAT YOUR NAME IS ON THE LIST?
DO YOU ATTEND THE MEETINGS
AND MINGLE WITH THE FLOCK
OR DO YOU STAY AT HOME
AND CRITICIZE AND KNOCK?
DO YOU TAKE AN ACTIVE PART
TO HELP THE WORK ALONG
OR ARE YOU SATISFIED TO BE
THE KIND THAT"JUST BELONGS"?
DO YOU HELP PUSH THE CAUSE ALONG
AND MAKE THINGS SORT OF CLICK
OR LEAVE THE WORK TO JUST A FEW
AND TALK ABOUT THE CLIQUE?
THERE'S QUITE A PROGRAM SCHEDULED
THAT YOU MUST HAVE HEARD ABOUT.
AND WE'D BE HONORED VERY MUCH
IF YOU'LL COME AND HELP US OUT.
SO PLEASE COME TO MEETINGS OFTEN
AND HELP WITH HAND AND HEART;
JUST DON'T BE A PASSIVE MEMBER
BUT TAKE AN ACTIVE PART.
THINK THIS OVER,DEAR PARENTS
AND KNOW THE RIGHT FROM WRONG.
WE'D LIKE YOU AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER
AND NOT ONE THAT JUST BELONGS.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

[ 07-31-2002: Message edited by: Rockne ]</p>

hey...I think its a great sign if lots of people come in the beginning, hear what you are about, then help in whatever they can, overtly or in the background...and that they are now confident in our abilities to bring to fruition the things we want for our children. As for why we do this, our officers (I was then Secy, now Prez-am I nuts?? [img]smile.gif[/img] ) "formally" adopted a motto for our PTO which goes on all of our correspondence:
"ITS FOR THE KIDS!"
because isn't that what it's really all about?? [img]smile.gif[/img] ))

I do enjoy this site when I have the time, as you can all relate to...thanks for keeping the replies up!!

A parent at our school gave me some valuable information. She and her husband both work during the day. They decided that they wanted to volunteer at something that involved their children. They chose to volunteer at activities at their church and in scouts. They made a choice. It would be great if they volunteered for the PTSO, but they needed to make a choice. Time is valuable. How many other parents are also making that choice. I don't think we should expect excuses to justify "where they are". I agree with Tim's comment, let's assume the best and go forward.

Thought you guys might injoy a little PTA story a friend shared with me....

My friend Nicole was a new Kindergarten mom, after many flyers coming home about the PTA/involvement decided to attend a meeting. She knew no one but thought that she might want to take the jump and get involved! When she arrived at the school she only saw a few cars. And to her suprise when she entered the building there were only 2 parents and the principal sitting there. The meeting was to start at 6... By 6:15 the meeting had not started and the other parents & principal continued thier conversation... Whta was the topic... Why are more parents not involved!! Nicloe sat there and listened. The president complained, no one helps, the other parent complained... no one attends meetings!! The whole time Nicloe sat there thinking, I am here!!! I am attending the meeting!!! Hey what about me!!! on the way home she thought.. well thats the last PTA meeting I will attend!
You guys all have great points of views!! All schools are different! All PTA are different! We all need to find a way to involve everyparent that takes the jump and wants to help.. no matter how big or how small!!! [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

luvmikids please (from my point of view anyway) do not apologize, you make some good points and Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Chic mom, please don't take offense from that statement for I to am new to this style of PTO, I'm used to parents coming out of the wood work to help, back several years ago lol. As I have stated before times have change since my older children were young. So I am having to learn a whole new way of communicating with the parents of today, those with single families (I know that's hard, I've been there), those with two working (been there too). I know it's hard for so many different reasons to get involved. One thing this forum has taught me is that even though I want parents into the schools, not just at meetings, that there are other ways to be involved. No one at our school had thought to send items home for parents to work on, we did simple surveys, some here have sent me copies of theirs and I have rewritten ours. That is one reason I have come to like this forum so much. A lot of different people from different situations coming together to voice their opinions and offer so much help. I have disagreed with some, agreed with others and have learned a lot, but I try not to take offense, just feel the need sometime to reply and "clarify" "explain" why I believe the way that I do. I think some one stated something to the effect that "We have to take what we have and do the best we can with it". Last year was our "trial and error" year and because of this forum and a lot the opinions and help, I hope next year will be better in a lot of ways. I have seen so many different ideas and opinions on here that if I had other officers to discuss them with we might could come up with a better game plan (so to speak). We all do what we do for whatever reason that may be. I tell my kids just give the best you can, that is what I try to do, sometimes I go over board and do to much, as I'm sure a lot of us do. I tell them also if someone hurts your feelings don't take it to heart, it wasn't intentional, and if it was then brush it off laugh and go on. Life is to short. I look at my older children and realize that everyday. I Think I'm getting old lol. Becoming philosophical or something, anyway have a good time, do what you can and what feels right. When it stops being fun it might be time to take a break.

[ 07-30-2002: Message edited by: PTOmomof5 ]</p>