I can certainly echo those previous posts. Hang in there - and keep volunteering. If you want to take over - go for it. There seems to be so few people to come to meetings and/or be an officer - but we have a large group of volunteers that we can count on who never come out to meetings. Our school has 375 students and we had a new LOW of 3 parents at our regular meeting a few months ago (plus the 4 board members and the principal). We are considering alternating our evening meetings with day time because everyone is busy with their kids sports every night. I work, but I think even working moms (and dads) may have a better shot coming for an hour in the day rather than the evening. We'll see what happens this fall. As to decisions outside of meetings, when so few are running the show that is easy to do (right or wrong). Our board makes most of the decisions at board meetings and we bring updates and an item to vote on to the regular meetings. It helps keep the meeting to an hour by clearing out a lot of little topics. Get more involved and you'll see what a difference you can make.

tw move to Indy and be on my PTO!!! We take anyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy help we can get!

I think a lot of PTO problems is there is such a low turn out to meetings and volunteering and its so hard to get parents involved that when someone comes along the PTO does the whole you gotta prove yourself before we take your word. It's so wrong and even sickening that ppl come across like that to new members but it happens. I learned in the beginning not to take anything personal. I wanted to be involved regardless of what anyone thought of me or treated me. Now because I've done a full year of fundraising they are loving all over me. It's a bit 2 faced imo but it happens.

Thank you for your support, keep it coming. The very first meeting I actually volunteered to be the chair of the spring carnville. It was a hugh undertaking, and frustrating. But in the end the kids had a great time. I actually would like to volunteer to be president or co-president next year :eek: Do you think I am nuts yet? I really want to be involved.

I was new this past September, but I just opened my mouth and jumped right in and I was just elected to fill the president position(former pres had to resign due to health issues) We too have only a small membership, we have 700+ parents and only 35 PTA members, of whom only 8(including 4 board members) regularly attend meetings. Our spring fundraiser was decided by a vote of 4 people! But we still plug on, sponsoring Family Fun Events monthly, various fundraisers, fulfilling teacher's wish lists for classroom supplies and equipment.

It's been very frustrating that we don't have more involvement, so I would worship the ground you walk on if you approached me to lend a hand!

Ask questions, figure out what you're good at, and put yourself right in the middle of it all.

It's worth it to see how happy the kids are when our group is able to do things for them.

tw,
The water really is just fine, but you need to make sure you have your life jacket on. I'm sorry your beginning experiences have not been good, stay with it tho', it truly is rewarding to be involved. It is true, it is harder to be involved when working full time, but it is doable. There are evenings and weekends, lots of places to start volunteering, that don't require massive amounts of time. Keep going to meetings and ask or better yet volunteer for things & times that you know you can do, i.e. running a game at the spring fair for an hour, or running the book fair for an hour or two. Ask your child's teacher what you can do to help outside of the class room, cutting out projects at home, calling other parents for food donations for a party, etc. My volunteering started with my oldest son's kindergarten teacher and away I went, now nine years later I'm still involved (with three school's now, elem., middle & high)and still enjoying it.
Here's the rather hard part, THINGS SHOULD NOT BE DECIDED OUTSIDE THE ACTUAL PTO MEETINGS! I'm not sure how you should go about approaching this situation or even if you should just yet? Get to know the parents of the children in your child's class, they may wish to get involved with the PTO too and as the membership grows, more organization will be needed and the problem of "outside decisions" may resolve itself.
At any rate, Please stay involved, it's extremely important to & for your child. The benefits far outway the trials & tribulations of dealing with some adults.
Good Luck & God Bless,
kidsfirst

You know, sounds like your PTO isn't used to someone wanting to help out LOL.

Jump in and tell them you're very interested in helping out and offering suggestions. That's what I had to do and it was like "Oh, there's a new mom" (even though I had been at the school for 3 years LOL).

Explain that you work during the day and could volunteer during the evening.

This year, we've made sure we've done plenty of planning meetings/volunteering during the evenings so that working parents can help out also.

don't give up . . ..JUMP IN, THE WATER IS JUST FINE!!!!