Alison,
We use anything and everything we can get our hands on! We always get plenty of sample stuff from our catalog fundraiser. We've done reserved parking at the Holiday COncert. WE've done lunch with the principal. And... most popular has been Krispy Kreme donuts!!! Use what you have... my experience has been that people don't really care, they just like to WIN!
Kelley
Madison PTO
Mount Vernon, WA

Thanks for the great ideas! I guess I should've asked what kinds of door prizes you give. Right now I've just got small gift certificates to local stores, but maybe candles, body lotion or something like that would be more fun? Thanks.

We always do something like this, it makes people wonder what they are getting into. Besides the games ahead, you could have them draw a picture, one person starts with one line and then it keeps moving around to form a picture.
You could do a scene, pick a theme like a ocean scene. In a envelope put cards with things you would find in the ocean, they have to draw what is on the card. You glue it all together, and show them they are important piece in the picture!
This year we played the toilet paper game, pass around to, each person takes how much they want. The number of pieces they take is the number of things they need to tell the group about themselves.
You could play the candy game, each person gets the same amount of candy, during the meeting you go around the table, each person tells the group one thing that they have done that they think on one else has. Whoever hasn't done that thing needs to give the person who has a piece of candy. at the end of the night you get to take the candy
Have fun at your meetings...it makes a difference

We do a lot of this type of thing to keep our meetings as light and lively as possible.

First, we always begin with a short version of human bingo... no more than 5 categories so the game never takes more than 5-7 minutes. Examples: FInd someone who is at there first PTO meeting ever!; FInd someone who has been at more that 10 PTO meetings!; Find someone who has a tattoo! etc. First person done wins the first door prize of the evening!

Second, we always have multiple door prizes. Everyone gets one ticket in my bucket for coming to the meeting. Additional tickets can be earned for making motions, seconding, volunteering, or JUST MAKING A GOOD COMMENT! We have a lot of fun with this.... and it helps get people participating!
GOOD LUCK with whatever you try!!!
Kelley
Madison PTO
Mount Vernon, WA

LOGOS

Each person is given a blank name tag. Explain to the group that corporations are recognized by a specific logo or symbol. (McDonalds arches, 3M, Apple Computer's Apple, etc.) They are given 2 minutes to draw their personal logo. This logo should reflect their personality, their interests, major or any thing they would like other people to know about them. Then give the group time to mingle and see what each others logo looks like. When it looks like the entire group has mixed, instruct everybody with a similar logo to form a small group. You may be surprised at how many similarities there are in your group.


Personal Bingo -


The host will need to do a little homework before the meeting to find out a few tidbits about each participant (favorite hobbies, books, vacation spots, number of children, favorite foods, etc). Prepare a bingo card (duplicate the card for all attendees to have the same one) with one tid-bit for each square, and instruct the participants to mingle with the group to identify the person for each square. As the information is uncovered, they ask the participant to sign their corresponding square. Keep moving among the guests until all squares are filled. Rules: only open-ended questions may be used. First person who fills card wins a prize.

How about giving them to the first person to volunteer to chair a committee, the first person to make a motion on an item, the parent with the longest "history" at the school.... You get the idea.