As a past officer and with another term just now coming to an end I can safely say that the school samsmom is speaking of has no lack of volunteers. My own sister-in-law was going to head up the funfair or a fun carnival and as far as santas workshop...Most parents like it because there kids love it so much. Our problem is..our princible and a few teachers who have lost their love for the kids and teaching. Our school also has another problem...to many mennonite and apolstolic roots. Religion is ruling the decisions that get made in our school. We cant even have a halloween party!! As a past officer and parent of 4 I am feeling the same pain Samsmom is feeling. Our President (now) whos term is ending was crying here about a week ago because the soon to be new president was throwing out yes...(IN THE TRASH) all our fun fair games. These are nice wooden games I know this for a fact because I helped make them. What can we do as a school to insure that everything that is special to the parents and kidders is not thrown away too?
DJ hit my idea. Don't go to them with a petition...go to them with a formed committee. A committee with a chair and a group of parents who are willing to organize the event. Then if they still refuse consider a petition to show support of the committee willing to do the work.
Can I ask what their reasons are for cancelling the events?
We had to cancel our Auction that our middle school has had for 14 years. A lot of people look forward to it, but no one was willing to help. We had past officers that were soarly disappointed we canceled it, yet they had never showed up to a meeting and then after they heard we had cancelled, they turned over the binder of contacts from the previous year...ugh! We had lots of people complain, but when we asked them if they could help, they were too busy. Long story short, three people is not enough to run an auction, period. We had a handful of people willing to help the night of, but that is just not enough.
I guess my suggestion would be go ahead and collect the signatures, but if they are intent on canceling because finding volunteers has been a hassle, you may want to be prepared to tell them that you would take on the effort to staff the volunteers and run the programs.
Lack of volunteers may not be the reason so check and find out what the concern is so you can address it properly. Is it because the past few years the turnout has been lacking? You could take on the effort to find a way to spice it up and bring in more people. Is it because the programs are costing more each year (here, I'm not sure if the intent is to raise funds or at least break even)? Again, be willing to do the research to find a way to ease the costs.
I have started a petition of names and phone numbers of parents against this idea. We want fun fair to be put back on the calendar for the next school year. The new officers want to replace it with a Math night. Fun fair has been a tradition in our school district for over 30 years. But the officers have the support of the principal.They also want to disband Santa's Workshop after this year stating that there are plenty of dollar stores we dont need it any more. But that is not the purpose of Santa's Workshop. We let the some kids that we know dont have the means to shop do so with the profits we make. We have even in the past bought a new winter coat with money from Santa's Workshop for a child that didnt have one. I got my daughter up at 6am the day after Christmas to buy gifts for next year at 75%off not at a dollar store. I am willing to go to the school board with petition but will it do any good. How much power do we have if any? I need help suggestions please!!!!!!!! I am a past V.P. but due to going back to school myself was unable to run as an officer. I regret that BIG TIME NOW :confused:
