Welcome to the legions of the over-committed!
No- that is not right- the VERY Special committed people!

Now that you are getting your group started- you will find you have more ideas, than time ti di them all.
start with your goals for the year. Will your focus be on the family (getting everybody more involved in the school?) or helping to improve test scores etc. Whatever your goals are- then make your plans. Have a brainstorming session (very casual) with your board and other interested parents. Make this an open forum to suggest almost anything. Don;t put anything "down". but after the initial ideas are aired, get down to realistics. What can you do- do you have the money? If not how will you fund it? etc.
One of the first things we do every year is a "Boo Hoo" breakfast for incoming K parents. Nothing special just breakfast treats and coffee and Juice on the first day of school. This is free, but we do take the time to invite all of them to join PTA then. We do NOT have volunteer forms out then (they are too upset) but we do have PTA reps floating around, talking up PTA events, and telling these moms (and dads, too) with separation anxiety they can be close to their little ones if they volunteer. Works very well!

My advice would be to start small. Think about having a 'get to know you' pot luck supper over the summer for incoming kindergarteners and new students families. If you are looking for enthusiasm and energy, your best resource is new families. The event could be small, with officers there to talk up the PTO and network. Families could bring a covered dish and dessert to share, PTO could cover cost of paper products and drinks. Have welcome letter available as well as list of committees you need volunteers for.
Best of luck and keep us all posted.

Yes I agree this site is addictive!!! I am having a hard time breaking free. There is just so much positive energy and great ideas. Thank you so much for the words of encourgement. I look forward to seeing your posts of how well things are going for you in your new endevor!!!

I have been VP at pre-k, VP at elementary, Pres at elementary, and briefly secretary at elementary but my new position at a 5/6 center is terrifying me! They just finished their first year. The pres did a good job laying down ground work and I think she will work with me and the rest of the board is the same. That helps me to breathe easier.

The principal is very concerned about lack of parent involvement so today I came up with a few pages that may help. Ha Ha. At the elementary I developed a program that was getting off the ground fairly well. I had the full support of the teachers and parents but then there was that tiny communication problem. I am still trying to work on that.

The best advice I can give you is infromation, information, information. I think the better you inform the more interest you will have even though sometimes it will feel like you are spitting in the wind. Hang in there. One thing I learned fast is that many parents want to be ask, some do not feel comfortable just jumping in.

We are a very rural community too, but are fortunate enough that we have alot of community support. Read through the "donation" post some people have list of large corperations that will donate.

I could go on and on and on, but those are some high points. I know you will get alot of good advice. By the way, this site is very addictive. Tim should put a warning on here.

Feel free to email me: carmieb93ATyahooDOTcom.

Hello to all you COMMITED parents! I am the new PTO president at my children's elementary school and going into this position blindly. I just found this web site and have been glued to my computer for HOURS now! I find that we all have similar complaints. The forums have been so helpful, as well as loaded with many great ideas. The reason that I have posted a new topic is so that you veteran board members could help out us "newbies" by listing short sweet ideas for us to start working on without having to read through every post (although I will continue to read every forum, because I am getting so much out of them).

Here is a little background information on our organization: We are a small community located in the foothills of Northern California (about an hour from Sacramento). We have two elementary schools in our town, ours being the largest with 715 students. Unfortunately over the years the parent participation has diminished in our school and many parents have not been active in or supportive of the PTO. As the new President for the upcoming year one of my main goals is to change that!!!! This year we have a whole new slate of PTO officers and we are hoping that the 4 of us can change the perciption of the PTO in the minds of our parents. Any advice on how to not only get parents to "volunteer", but just "be involved" would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!

On another note.... due to the fact that we are a small community with very little businesses, business owners are only being able to help so much because of every school going to them for help ~ which is understandable. All big businesses only "contribute to those in their area" (most of which are approx. 30 miles from us, so we are out of luck). I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to get any business to help with discounts, donations, or involvement in our school.

Thanks so much for all your input!!! I can tell that this site, these forums and all of you are going to be the key to my success in leading our PTO during the next two years! I look forward to hearing ALL your ideas and input.

[ 05-19-2005, 06:12 PM: Message edited by: Angela Barry ]