Are there others who will back you up if you request writting official bylaws for your group? You should suggest an outside person(s) or multi member committee to write them and make sure you base them on other schools so it doesnt end up totally biased to your president you have now. In our by-laws we have a 2 year term limit. I think you could raise the need for by-laws because your school is large and you need guidelines for each office and a way to set up how things will run, including a way to check on what your treasurer/board does with the money---something important for any organization who raises funds!!!! By-laws are a definate must!!!!!!!!!!!! You will be able to raise this concern without pointing any fingers at the President or the board members. Our group just re-wrote our by-laws because our shcool ahs grown so much, I would be happy to help if needed......caryn@scolesfamily.com
I never heard of a president declaring themselves president again without a vote. I would certainly check the by-laws and make sure things are running properly in your group.
Thanks for the advice!! I think the bigger problem is that the Principal and Prez are old friends and neither is willing to address the situations. I also have been told "we don't offically have bylaws". "that it was not necessary as we are all friends". Which in hindsight should have been my first inclination that this was trouble. As for others who have seen these problems? I believe so and the problem is the current President and his family have lived here there whole lives and are very influential in the community so as outsiders (we moved here just before my Son started Kg) we are the trouble makers if we want to challege them. Now I completely understand what it's like to live in a small town and feel like you can tell anyone to do anything (not that it's right). We did have a different Principal in Kg but she was not very good at standing up to these people. I am really at my wits end with how to help and not make things more difficult?
Maybe there isn't anything I can do but, one would think that volunteers would like all the help they can get. I guess some people are so petty that their life revolves around making others miserable.
Agreed, get a copy of the by-laws and get familiar with them!!! They must include some kind of election process and its rules. if not then your group needs by-laws that do to protect everyone!! We have had "situations and problems" in the past and they tend to ruin it for everyone! I am worried about your wife, no one deserves to be under that much stress and frustration in a volunteer position.I dotn wnat her to burn out beofre she even begins! I also hate to have to see her step down and resign especially if you can review the by-laws and run again next year to get these people out of office. It is very very odd how 'power' can seem to go to some peoples heads, amazing how quick they forget we are here for the kids and our school! Are there others who have seen these problems too? What about your principal? Maybe there is a way you can get invloved thru the principals events instead of the PTO's for this year? Good luck to you both!!!
I am very sorry that you are having to go through this and some what know how you feel. I agree that no one can "declare" that they are keeping their position. I would research this and follow through with a new election.
We also had a parent who declared herself "Vice President", even though we currently do not have officers and took it upon herself to allocate funds from a fundraiser to a teacher/club of her choosing without getting an ok from either the principal or myself, the group leader. We found out from the teacher in an email thanking us for being so generous. This was also advertised to the media and put on our event flyers. Seemed like everyone knew except us. By the time we found out, it was too late.
This person also chaired events, one was almost cancelled because she backed out three weeks prior to the event and hadn't planned anything in the two months before and the event was then planned by three other volunteers who stepped in at the last minute and took over, chaired another event and we had to hold emergency meetings to plan the event for her, didn't utilize co-chairs or let them help organize events at all and critizing other volunteers (some of whom were grandparents and worked their behinds off volunteering after a full day at their jobs) and sitting at events chaired by others (who actually did their work) and telling people how "she is going to do things next year" and other petty games.
I also worry about this school year and how this will go. I just keep reminding myself that what we are doing is for the good of the school and the children. Also, "killing her with kindness" helps!! I'm ready! Bring it on!
Just remind your wife no matter what grey clouds they throw her way, she needs to let the sun shine back to them! Good luck!
I would be surprised if the president just had the authority to "declare himself" president in a sense. Since you are a PTA perhaps you can exercise your access into some of those great support systems we hear about and challenge the vote (of course if you do that things will get worse before they get better). If you are a PTO then ask for and review a copy of your bylaws to determine if the proper procedures were followed for office nomination and elections (doesn't sound like it to me but who knows). If so, then really your only recourse is to make this work this year but be the smartest kids on the block reference procedural aspects of Robert's Rules and of your bylaws. Don't tolerate gossipy chit chat and don't allow the President to run over any of you in his/her efforts. If however, they were not followed properly I would volunteer to be in charge of the nomination and election process-get the procedures entered into the by laws and do some long lasting good for your organization so there isn't the opportunity to have this happen again.!
