This is my first year as PTO president at my daughter's school. The biggest challenge has not been fundraising or getting volunteers. I have also been complimented on running a tight, yet effective meeting. The greatest challenge has been keeping some members from stepping on the toes of other members.

How do you manage this issue in your PTO? To be more exact, some members take it upon themselves to do things on behalf of the PTO even when others may have already taken up that particular effort. My concern is that I don't want to discourage anyone from helping. Giving new members a meaningful task and having them complete it successfully is tremendously valuable for the present and future of the organization.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Maybe someone out there has some experience using project management software to keep things organized for a PTO. I am looking into basecamphq.com for other reasons right now and I am sure there are many free and cheap solutions to keep organized lists of who is going to do what in various projects. Seems like perhaps getting things written down would help instill that extra direction and limit volunteers doing other volunteers work.

I am finding that when there is a list with a lot of tasks next to someones name, a person will not want to do another persons task but will rather complete their own so they don't have so much on the task list.

Hope that helps.