Thanks Pals. I really appreciate the advice! It sounds like you have done a great job.

Amy...welcome, welcome, welcome. I have been leader of my group since January 2002, it has been quite the ride.
One thing that I would say to any new leader is take the time to truly learn the way things work in your building, why things are done certain ways, are there policies about certain things...BE WILLING TO LEARN!
Now for some of your other questions...our calendar is often set around district dates, example we have fun nights on conference nights so they are set. Open house night is along with our bookfair, things like that...set your major dates and then fill in. We don;t usually set the meeting dates for the year because something always comes up!
For organization I use a big three ring binder with dividers with each event listed on it, a contract section, a flyer section, volunteer lists section, whats happening section, fundraiser secton, and minutes and agenda section. Keep copies of EVERYTHING, even if you think they are useless keep a copy of it, make a report for every event...on that lists expenses, volunteer count, games, activities, snack (how much bought how much left) any notes to complaints or changes.You will be glad that you keep detail reports!
As far as ideas, this site has been the best thing for me...it has shown me that I am not alone, the sharing and caring is so great that you can learn so much heck I am still learning.
It takes alot of time and you may feel like it comsumes your life but at other times it rewards you.
One last thing is ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THANK YOU...LET THEM KNOW THAT HOUR MATTER...YOU WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT THOSE VOLUNTEERS!!! Good luck and remember when you stop learning you stop growing!!!

Thanks DLF and Renee for the wonderful ideas. It feels great to have a place where you can ask anything and get such super answers!

Listen to the gals above. They give really great advice. The only thing I do different is to list the months and upcoming dates on the bottom of my agenda. In Sep., I list all school months and dates that something is going on and update for each months meeting. That way everyone has a copy and we don't forget something.
i.e.
May;
17- pto meeting
22- lumberjack assembly
23- field day
29- no school

Congrats and Good luck!

Amy--one thing we did that was fun and I got from these boards, is back to school night during our membership drive we set up different "cones" of paper and as grades joined the children got to ring a loud bell and go slap a "scoop" of icecream on the cone. It was fun to watch the cones build up. Our mascot is the bobcat and our motto for our PTO is "We're leavin' our prints all over the place". So this year I think we'll have paw prints in different colors that the kids can place as their parents join. It's a bit gitsy but it is one of those fun things that we do...and incorporates the kids in the process...the bell also helps as a reminder for folks to join....

You may want to put that into your planning process....

dianna

Wow! You all are fast! Thanks for the info. I have my first board meeting tomorrow. The Pres from this year is handing everything over and I have a list of questions ready for her. I am going to get my calendar ready tonight as well, and assemble all the info I have gathered so far.

I think my first order of business will be to get a survey out before the end of the year and work on the back to school packet and back to school night.

Anything else I may be missing?