PREZonPAXIL...I so understand!! Last year I attempted to resurrect our school's PTF that had basically been non-existent for years. So another mom and I put together a few easy activities. The beginning of this school year I sent out questionnaires regarding upcoming activities. Although many parents said they could not be actively involved they did sign up to participate in activities. That alone was a huge help!
We have about 75 families and 120 students in our little Christian school and our first PTF meeting we had 5 parents show up.. the second one we had 13!!! I know what its like to be a committee of one but I was so encouraged by the attendance and willingness of these few parents.
I'm stressed to the max alot of the time but it makes me feel so good to know all the great things we can do for our school because of these activities we do AND now I have help!!!
PREZonPAXIL...I so understand!! Last year I attempted to resurrect our school's PTF that had basically been non-existent for years. So another mom and I put together a few easy activities. The beginning of this school year I sent out questionnaires regarding upcoming activities. Although many parents said they could not be actively involved they did sign up to participate in activities. That alone was a huge help!
We have about 75 families and 120 students in our little Christian school and our first PTF meeting we had 5 parents show up.. the second one we had 13!!! I know what its like to be a committee of one but I was so encouraged by the attendance and willingness of these few parents.
I'm stressed to the max alot of the time but it makes me feel so good to know all the great things we can do for our school because of these activities we do AND now I have help!!!
I totally agree. I felt like I was in that same boat this year. But, with all of your helpful advice I have decided that more members will have to step up and chair these committees and that I will no longer solely be responsible for everything. IF I am elected next year that will be my goal. And as hard as it will be, if no one steps up then there may be some things go undone. Yes, my stomach knots up thinking that may happen. But, we have some great members who pitch in everywhere they can. Sometimes, responsibility has to be "forced" a little on them for them to see it's not so bad and they can do it. I know all about that! ha Hopefully, by doing this we will have more willing to step up and be officers. Who knows.
It is crazy that everyone thinks you should single handedly run everything. The compliment to you is that you are eveidently doing such a good job that no one thinks they need to help.
My advice to you would be to pick and choose the things you want to do. Let everyone know that people need to take over doing the items you will no longer be doing or they just will not get done anymore. But you need to stick to your guns! If you cave in then no one will ever help out.
And if no one does pick up the slack in these areas then I would take it as an idication that no one cares about these things anyway!
It is hard to get people to help. This is our first year as a PTO & I had ideas of grandure of how everything was going to be sooooo perfect. But as most places it is always the same people.
I have a couple of questions. Why do you not have other PTO Board members? Do you have bylaws stating positions?
I agree about getting some parents to do things from home. We offer several positions that parents can do from home. Box Tops is one of them. The chairperson picks them up once a month when she picks up her children.
We all over commit. it is so easy to do it. I think parents get used to the fact that things will get done because one of the ones always doing something takes it on. The few of us that work all the time are exhausted.
Our board has decided to say that we can not do everything. We have big hopes and dreams for what we can do as a PTO, but that if we don't get help we will not be able to follow through with everything.
It hurts our bellies to think that something may not get done, but we are hoping that will get others to realize they need to help.
It is such a shame that it happens this way. If every parent pitch in 1 hour a month...imagine the possibilities.
But I am a hopeless dreamer - I believe that it can change. Keep heart!
I am in the same position. We are a small school of only 40 students. Our last meeting we had two non-board members attend, one was a parent and the other was the princple. I don't understand. Keep at it that all we can do.
