Partypro101 What are you including in your welcome packet? Our school has never done this. We are definately lacking in parent communication. I would like to do this.
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Thank you for posting that hysterical "Top 10" list. This is exactly the type of light hearted material that seems to catch people's attention. We will be adding this to our "Welcome Back to School Packet" for the upcoming school year. Thanks for sharing!!!
Thank you very much <nsyncmom>. That is actual what I was look for. I also loved the ideas that mum24kids'group came up with. You mentioned that you are a new school opening up in September. Do you have everything in place for Fundraising, do you need any help? I was a fundraiser with my school for two years and this year I am going for President.
Sheesh, the meeting was only an hour and we haven't even formed our group yet, let alone figured out how to solve the problems of the world! [img]tongue.gif[/img]
But, here's a quick list of ideas from phone calls and e-mails and passing conversations from the last few days. Have no idea how effective they will be, but we're willing to give them a shot.
Not in any particular order:
-hire babysitter(s) to watch kids in gym (could use high schoolers looking for community service credits, as well)--just need to find at least one adult over 18 to cover us from the insurance/liability standpoing
-have meetings during times when public transportation is available
-vary dates of meetings so if you can't do Mondays, for example, you're not automatically out
-publish minutes of meetings on website as well as in school, at local library and local community center
-prepare detailed job descriptions for committee chairs including estimated time commitments and what type of person would be best suited for the job (i.e., do you need to be able to be at school during the day for this, or is this a good position for someone who has a full-time regular job; do you need a computer with Internet access or not, etc.) (this is tons of work to develop, but generally believed to be the single best recruiting tool)
-if you ask someone to do something and they turn you down, ask them to refer you to at least two other names of people you can contact and ask
-line up people who would be willing to drive others to and from the meeting
-provide translators during meetings
-provide some materials in other languages
-put posters up in the school announcing the meetings
-get food to the meetings (nothing seems to draw like free food!)
-make it a point to introduce yourself to others you do not know at the meeting, and smile!!
-get listings of new families from the school office on a weekly basis; prepare welcome packets for them and contact them by phone
-provide door prizes from local merchants
-find a way to get the kids excited about the meetings, so they will tell their parents about it
-develop a good e-mail listing of volunteers and use it to publicize last minute needs or regular meetings
-require that each class have a room parent, and use that network to reach out to others, since they are most likely to know the majority of the parents in their respective classes
That's all I have for now. Our school is opening in September, and everyone is pretty pumped right now. So, (unfortunately for you) it will be at least a year before I know how effective any of these measures might be. But they sound like pretty reasonable suggestions. Would be interesting to hear from others who have tried any of this stuff to see what their experience has been.
1. I CAN'T AFFORD IT ~Manzanita PTVO does not require or accept dues. It does not cost a dime to attend. As a matter of fact, we'll provide coffee, punch and dessert. There are some awesome door prizes you could win just for showing up. Odds of winning are better than the lottery...
2. I DON'T KNOW ANYONE THERE ~ We don't know you either, but we'd like to! Come get to know the parents, teachers and volunteers who work with and for your children.
3. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE MEETINGS ARE ~ We generally meet on the 3rd Monday of the month unless there is a holiday or if school is getting out (don't tease me...).
4. I DON'T HAVE TIME**5. I'M TOO TIRED**6. I WORK AT NIGHT ~ Meetings last approximately one hour. There will be coffee. Send Grandma.
7. I CAN'T SAY 'NO' AND I'LL END UP DOING EVERYTHING ~ For the last time, Doing Everything is MY JOB and you can't have it! Look in the mirrow. Practice saying "no...No...NO!" Seriously, we have a great group and everyone pitches in.
8. I DON'T HAVE A BABY SITTER ~ Joshua is a high school student. He is not on drugs. He is good with children and small animals. He works cheap. He has help. We'll pay him.
THERE WILL BE LOTS OF OTHER PARENTS THERE SO YOU WON'T NEED ME ~ PAHLEEEEEESE! If we had a dime for everyone who thought that, we wouldn't need any fund-raisers! We Need and Want YOU!
10. I DON'T KNOW WHAT PTVO STAND FOR... ~ Please come tho your Parent Teacher Volunteer Organization meetings!
