lc-- thanks for sharing that! great perspective.

thanks, Rose

It's all in the perspective - perhaps the "rich" people need help in some of the areas you are good in and you need help in some of the areas that they are good in - don't give up - everyone needs to learn to work together. It's good for kids to see..........

wow. first time i have been on this site looking for help. did not find the "rants" very informative.

Sometimes it helps to just think for a moment what it would be like to be in the other person's shoes. We all have our own perspectives and there's value in what each of us is sharing about our PTO experiences.

Funny- your child benefits from the group of people that you despise.. uhmmm I find that is how it is all over today - its the people who "give" who are thrownunder the bus (your comment of "queen bees").

I have spent an enormous amount of time over the last 15 years with parents like yourself. Its not a matter of "liking or not liking" but its your attitude that they are uncomfortable around. Its great you helped out - most do not even offer (because they say, I don't have time or money) but your attitude that makes people who can help financially NOT WANT TO. Share your discomfort (if you feel that way) you will be surprised that most really don't care what you have - we just want your time and support and some gratitude that "others" are willing to supply financially so "kids" who are less fortunate can particiapte.

Don't forget, when you get your nose out of whack - so do your kids (they end up feeling they are entitled to "get" things from others). Just becasue you THINK they all have extra money to give - doesn't mean its not with out a sacrifce.

I am a single working mother but will not allow my status to stop me from helping out in my daughters' school. Back in June, I joined a committee that was going to host a fundraiser to support afterschool enrichment programs for our children(with at risk and low income kids being first served). At the first meeting the outgoing chair asked for someone to organize the team. No one volunteered. So I took it on.
Over the next few months, I organized meetings(which few attended), gave updates(which few responded to) and generally tried to corral things. I went to the former chairs for help.
A few days another parent sent out a "We need to move on this" email(Well,duh, no kidding...I have been singing that tune since last summer) and offered to create an agenda for the next meeting. Um, ok. So she sails in last night and talks about how she spoke to this person and that person...people whom she obviously knows socially, people who should have been contacting me.
The meeting came and attendance was higher than ever and this other chick ran things. I did not say a single word for the first ten minutes, I was so darned mad. I loosened up toward the end of the meeting because, hey, the event is for our kids...but you know what?
I think these other mothers had an issue with taking direction from a person from my socioeconomic group. I work hard but am poor. These women are married and have money. I am not saying they are bad people but we have very,very different lives(Example..one of the ladies was going on about how she spends hundreds of dollars on Christmas greens each year..I am wondering how I am going to fix my car). Still, I was the one who volunteered to oversee things when no one else wanted to. I was the one saying(in July) "Hey, we should not postpone til September because Christmas comes fast). Anyway, sorry to vent, but I find it really annoying.
What is ironic is that this event benefits kids like my own..who have received scholarships to participate..and yet the people in my group will not give me the time of day because I don't have money like they do:/

UPDATE: Well, I thought I would give an update. The event went well, raising over 4K. I ended up doing PR and did some well received radio spots(kept secret from the queen bees so that I wouldn't be pushed out of the way again) and newspaper pieces. Prom Queen emailed with the name of the next chairperson(um...ok) and inviting us all out for a drink to debrief. I begged off. Let them figure out PR for themselves...
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