I believe that parents getting involved is priority #1. Occasionally (less often then I'd like) we have too many parent volunteers for a certain project. This year we are trying to eliminate the standing around that happens and that parents often complained about. So my question is, do you turn parents away if you have enough people? If yes how do you try and direct them to things you need people for? If not what do you do with them?

My specific problem is photo day. Historically we get 10 or more parents that day. This year we are doing something new and really only need 2 or 3. The volunteers are also getting free photos. Any suggestions?:confused:

Specifically, for Picture Day, we choose volunteers by lottery. This is explained up front to the parents that sign up to help and the "winners" are notified. This has worked quite well for us, eliminates any "hard feelings" over not being chosen, and we have exactly the number of people we need for things to run smoothly. Hope this helps!

Our office staff asks parents to help out-- that way the parents that are there are parents that the staff know they can count on to show up and actually work their stations.

I would never turn away parents!

But, I am trying to get a hold of FoxMom.

I just used one of your forms - THANK YOU. It was the form for the Fox Trot. I just love the paw print with PTO in it. Where did you get that, how do I get that and can I get that?

Please let me know.
arcara@sbcglobal.net

On the rare occasion that we get too many volunteers, the committee chair will create a waiting list in case someone is a no-show or cancels at the last minute. We still can't accommodate everyone, but at least we've acknowledged their interest.

Hi London-
Do you send out a form with all the volunteer jobs at the beginning of the year? Check out our file exchange for these types of forms:

PTO Today File Exchange

If you lump all the opportunities together on a form, and let people know that there is going to be a lottery if you get more volunteers than you need, then it manages expectations and no one feels shut out. Hopefully, people will check more than one box, so you can make sure you get to let everyone volunteer for something.

BTW, we have the same thing happen with photo day at my kids' school and the PTO said that if there was a lottery, the same person couldn't win 2 years in a row : )

~Lisa