Look, I have to reiterate I doubt anyone here on this forum takes the VOLUNTEER JOB to get a gift at the end of their service.

Before our current officers took over their positions as officers were leaving they received Gift Certificates to restaurants from the PTO funds. It was something the previous president did without asking for anybody elses thoughts. When we took over we all agreed that we did not volunteer for this to receive a Gift Certificate for our work. We felt that any money raised should be for the school and not the volunteers. WE considered putting it in the bylaws that no PTO money should be used for gifts for officers when they leave.
Hind sight is 20/20. Most new officers have no idea how much work goes into helping out everyone elses children (via being an officer on your PTO). Granted some PTO's have more help with a larger volunteer base and some have very little leaving the officers to get blindsided with "holding it all together" as well as dealing with the "idiots out there who are always there to chime in on what you are doing wrong but never do step up and lend a hand".

I guarantee all of us here do it for the right reasons and not the "gift card or whatever" at the end. HOWEVER, WE ARe NOt MARTYRS, but human beings and if we can thank everyone else for a job well done,(teachers, volunteer helpers, etc... there is abolutely no reason not to accept a small gift - SMALL GIFT - of thanks at the end, it is offered. Be gracious and humble and accept a small token. But please don't preach like you are a martyr, which is what it sounds like.

As for changing your bylaws to reflect your personal feelings, I can't help but feel that is wrong. I am pretty sure most bylaws (if done correctly) have a clause about officers not recieving monetary compensation or loans from the organization or words to that affect.

I know this sounds like a tirade (sp) but I guess, we all have to agree to disagree on this subject...

Wish I knew about this website a month ago. I am a new pres and I thought it would be nice to purchase something small for the outgoing exec. board. WEll, it was shot down, so I bought something from me to her and it was greatly appreciated. I figured, everyone, likes a pat on the back for all the work we do.

I found a gift for our executive board that is personal yet practical and seems to please everyone: a T-shirt!
Personalize it with the name of your PTA/PTO group and you'll see that they can't wait to wear it! I was able to order some for $6 each from the national PTA website--they were gray heather, with PTA--every child, one voice imprinted on them.

You can add your school mascot, multiple colors, their name, (or "Amy's mom"), a photo, and just about anything else you'd like.

Our girls wear their shirts any time they're in the school-- to book fairs, ball games, fundraisers, Market Day, even meetings!
It's kinda neat cause the teachers and principal know immediately why they are in the school--even if they don't know them by name! And it's a good way to start a conversation.
It's a good incentive to join, knowing that you might be the lucky one who is rewarded with a free t-shirt. It may not be a good reason to join, but it's a reason.

And they are not just passed out to everyone--it's treated like a certificate of appreciation for a job well done.

I'm BIG into thank you's and that's what I did. I wrote out 35 thank you cards that were our PTO cards that I did on powerpoint and then printed off on Michael's cheap note cards and sent a note to each volunteer. Also our teachers threw us a very nice breakfast and then at the end I bought our outgoing President a nice key chain engraved with PTO President andt he year. It cost 35 dollars and everyone chipped in to pay me back. I also spent the time to recognize the president and key people in our newsletter and website and made a bit of a "speech" on the outgoing president's accomplishments. Did I particularly like her or care for her way of doing things - nope - in fact she had sent a note to me the week before chewing me out, but we are a new PTO and I think it is important to recognize when folks step forward and this is A LOT of work. So my words not only made her feel good..they made the members feel good about their organization.
Hope this helps
Dianna

WOW! that is quite a statement about not spending PTA funds on outgoing members and putting in bylaws. there is a clause that states Board positions are not paid, funded, etc. saying that, we have a President's budget and I used it last year to purchased 5 stadium chairs with our school and PTA logo on them. I did appreciation drawings each meeting date and the ones that got them, LOVED them. The President's budget was used in the past for an end of year luncheon. Instead of using it for food, i used to say thanks for making a difference for the kids and taking their family time to attend planning meetings, required (Board and Unit) meetings. Again, the team loved it.