I am a newly elected president of my daughters PTO board. What do I do first, I am already feeling a little nervous of my position and it isnt even July. I need some help, on how to start out the new school year. All of our fundraising has been booked from the past president. Need ideas----please........... :eek:

Our PTO is also newly elected and the prior administration refuses to share their notes and forms. Can anyone give advise?

First of all - welcome! Please don't let this make you feel intimidated - you were elected, enough people right there with you have the confidence in you to have voted for you and you will do a great job!

Next - if you haven't already, read the by-laws. If you have already read them - do it again and again until you are comfortable with them. (Our by-laws state that exec board members hand over their notebooks to newly elected people as soon as practical after elections - if yours don't say something like this, perhaps one of your first acts as president would be to change the by-laws so that future board members don't feel like you do right now.) A primer in Robert's Rules wouldn't hurt.

Final suggestion - get your board together to discuss the upcoming year and break down the responsibilities. Up to you whether or not you invite the principal to this meeting - we have a great relationship with ours and invite him to everything, but again, that's up to you. Be it over lunch, tea, or something a little stronger - just make an effort to all get together and put a calendar together. (I suggest each of you bringing your own calendar as well as a blank one so you can fill in who will do what.) While you say the schedule has been completed by last year's administration - you can probably, depending on your by-laws and your district, add in a few things to make this "your year". Don't let your life be dictated by "it's always been that way".

I lied, that wasn't my last suggestion - the last one is to HAVE FUN! This task can be time consuming and all-encompassing at times, don't forget bubble baths relieve stress (there's even a scent at Bath & Body Works called stress relief that was invented just for PTO board members and chairs!) use them, and US, often!

Good luck.

Another suggestion would be just to read everything! Read all relative posts on this site and check out your state site. If there isnt a PTO state site, just go to your state PTA site. The info is mostly generic and can apply to any PTA or PTO organization. You will learn alot by just going through new (as well as old) posts.

Definitely have a meeting. Might I suggest a Pool Party!! Have a short informal meeting, then have fun! Get to know one another. It will make your working relationship better. When school starts up I would also suggest a survey. Send one to parents as well as faculty. What did they like about the previous admin, and what changes would they like to see. You could add specifics, such as "Do you want more family fun events" "Do you want less fundraising", etc. As for teachers, ask them what they want the PTO to do for them (do they need software, gym equpt, etc.)

Good luck--and Enjoy!
Lisa @ Tx

I am a newly elected PTO President as well. I asked our last president if he had anything for me. He said no, just a copy of the By-laws and gave me the stack of information to file with the IRS for tax exemption status. Fortunately, I was on the board last year so I have some history. It has made it a bit easier for me. We are having our first meeting as a new board next week. I have an agenda typed up - with lots of stuff on it as we are in the beginning of budgeting. I don't want to spend a lot of time going around in circles. I am working hard to keep a great relationship going with staff and the principal. They can make your life awful if you don't get along. Politics is not a dirty word!

Our last president did a good job. I am simply anal and want folks turning up to meetings well prepared. Also, I know exactly what needs to be discussed at the meeting. Everyone will have some time to think about the issues at hand and come prepared to discuss them. They will either hate me or love me. We will see.

Just one more suggestion to add to the great ones posted...My first year as President, the board got together a couple times over the summer to discuss just about everything. We spent that time creating our budget, and really getting to know each other(and some alone time without the kids). It was a great thing to do and once school started we were all on the same page and ready to go. We have found that tackling all the big stuff before school starts helps tremendously, it is awful being overwhelmed that hectic time of the year. I also include all of the board members in everything we do...we work great as a team. Good luck on your first year...You'll do great