PTO Today

I don''t usually post social stuff but really need to share my story with you guys. Today was to be the first day of buying for our Holiday Shop (we do one preview day-yesterday, two buying days and one night). We have classes sign up for one day, well here in Central New York it decided to snow like NOTHING and we ended up with a snow day.
So thinking that there were suppose to be about 14 classes shopping today I needed a plan "B". I came up with a plan, my principal and I decided to try it. What is that plan? well we decided since we still had all of our merchandise to divide it evenly and hold the shop in two locations. This requires alot of volunteers, and I just have to share that I can not believe the outpouring support that is coming forward to make this happen. I have about 12 moms staying all day and others coming in for anywhere between 2-4 hour shifts. In total 28 people have come forward, is that dedication or what. Are we nuts to hold two shops, we will find out tomorrow...Just sometimes when things seem bleak, there is a silver lining in the clouds. wish us luck!

Funny thing about snow days. We wish for them all year and then they come at the darnedest times!

The elementary (perhaps both of them) is also doing Santa Shop and guess what is supposed to come tomorrow. Yep, snow along with sleet, freezing rain, and all that good stuff. Last I checked it is supposed to hit around lunch time. Fortunately the pres has a good plan B. Good luck! I am glad you have so many people willing to help. The kids love to do their own holiday shopping.

It's an official snow day. Things haven't started here just yet but it is all around us. Snow, ice, you name it. It is supposed to be 19 tonight with high of 32 tomorrow. That doesn't look good. Santa Shop was supposed to be Wed-Fri and Breakfast with Santa Saturday. Bummer. I am sure it will all work out though.

How did things go for you?

We're having a little bit of cold and ice. Not much, but enough to close down most of the schools. Luckily, I don't think we had anything major planned.

Coincidentally, I was invited to a big client appreciation bash last night that one of the hotels hosts annually. The cold weather was moving in, so I knew they'd have tons of cancellations. I decided to stick it out and go. I felt so sorry for them. They planned for 500 people and supposedly budgeted $50,000 for this party!! Last year it was packed. But due to the weather warnings only about 40-60 people attended last night.

They had so much food, a well known band, two other performers, major decorations (think theatre sets), flowers, open bar, lots of door prizes, goodie bags for everyone. All the reps kept joking around and telling people "eat.... eat MORE - it's going to go to waste!"

The drive home was a little icy, but I had fun.

[ 12-08-2005, 01:05 PM: Message edited by: JHB ]

We, too, are having a snow day on what was supposed to be our 2nd Santa Shop day. We were actually going to try and stuff everyone into today for fear of bad weather. The weather hit early this morning instead of this afternoon. I'm hoping we'll go back tomorrow and will be able to finish up. If not, we'll just have to run the shop Monday, possibly Tuesday with an altered schedule.

I couldn't imagine having to pack up that stuff and move it to 2 different places. Yikes!! Hope that goes well for you if that's what you decide to do. Sounds like you have lots of help.

Well here I am just getting home and I made it...running two holiday shops at one time is not something i recommend at all. Although I would have to say that it went very very smooth and we had enough help it was a very long and tiring day. My husband and I went in at 7:00am and set up the second shop down the hall from the first shop, after splitting all the merchandise evenly. By 9:00 when it was to start we were ready.
Having two clasess all day long was hard on the volunteers, they did a great job reaching the standards. when we did get a 10 minute break it was like soooooooooo nice. I made sure to have lots of donuts, coffee, pizza and soda to help feed them.TO be honest I don't think alot of the all dayers even went to the bathroom. Would i do it again...NOT if i didn't have to. we did get alot of compliments that we made it work for all of the kids and that is the important part, now I am going to take a hot shower...the paper work can wait!

Well done, pals. Glad to hear you had lots of help...that's what makes something like successful. All your volunteers will remember "the time we had to run two Holiday Shops simultaneously" and get that good feeling that comes from being part of a solution. That's a great boost for the PTO in an odd, unexpected way. Merry Christmas!

Snow what is that???? All I've had is rain. Just kidding, about the snow. Never seen it in person, just on TV.