CapeDad,

Has this been discussed with the Chorus teacher? If so, would she, and her students who would be attending, be willing to take on the fundraising. For example, last year our Principal put in and was awarded to present at the National Technology Conference in Atlanta Georgia. The cost of the trip for the four students and their one parent was going to be $1000. Since this was something the Principal wanted we requested that he, and the students, head up at least a portion of the fundraising. They had a "Change for the Future" drive where kids/parents could donate spare change at our upcoming events or in the classrooms. They acquired water jugs froma local water company for the collection. This raised almost 1/2 of the cost. The PTO took on the rest and ran a new fundraiser, a vendor evening, for the rest.

I can see your dilema. Same for me last year as I was going to be escorting my child to Atlanta, and one of the other three parents were PTOers. Of course we had enough non-affected PTOers at the meeting to discuss it properly.

Here's another option... What about propose that a survey be sent home to the parents and include in it the idea that the chorus has been invited to perform in New York and that the PTO is contemplating running a fundraiser to help difer the cost. Ask whether this would be acceptible. This way it is not just going to be the 6 or 8 PTO ers making this decision, but the entire school community and that way you wont end up affecting your group's good name.

Good luck,
PresidentJim

I think that is a great idea. We already have a cash handling item we've been pushing from meeting to meeting. Maybe we can tackle this issue there.

My main challenge is convincing the moms that I am acting in the interest of the group and not being pigheaded. I have been a little too outspoken regarding the amount of fundraising chorus is being allowed to do (too much!), and they think that is effecting my opinion, too.

Hey CapeDad -

Can you table the chorus decision and instead have a discussion/decision on a policy of what your group wants to do "in general" about situations like this? Discussion could be about the money handling (for any group -- chorus, scouts, sports...) only.

Tim

parliparttime;138470 wrote: Your scenario doesn't affect your quorum. You have enough people at the meeting. All those people don't have to vote. It is a member's right to be able NOT to vote!
(A legit vote can take place when you have a quorum attending and only one person votes if a majority is what is needed to pass the motion.)
The ethical (RIGHT) thing to do is to recuse yourself if you have a monetary (or other) interest in the outcome of the vote. You should be doing that anyway in all matters.

All present at this meeting (6/6) are going to be chorus parents. Maybe there's another term for it, but there can't be a vote.

Even if I am lucky enough to get one or two (there are only two) board members there who are not chorus parents, they are not going to want to be making this decision.

As president, I do not want any part of this scenario. Other board members have reasons for wanting PTO involved.

On the one hand, I hope chorus raises enough money for me to travel free to NYC. On the other hand, as president, my opinion is that this decision will jeopardize our 501c3.

I could just rule the motion out of order due to he c of i, but that sends the message to my board that I only want to do things my way. I am in a major catch-22 in a year when I am not sure I want to run this group anymore anyway.

Your scenario doesn't affect your quorum. You have enough people at the meeting. All those people don't have to vote. It is a member's right to be able NOT to vote!
(A legit vote can take place when you have a quorum attending and only one person votes if a majority is what is needed to pass the motion.)
The ethical (RIGHT) thing to do is to recuse yourself if you have a monetary (or other) interest in the outcome of the vote. You should be doing that anyway in all matters.

OK, our board is tackling an issue tomorrow that will likely come to a vote.

It is my opinion that we should not take the action in question, but if the vote is allowed, I am probably going to lose.

The issue involves our school chorus and fund raising to reduce the costs of a trip (optional and far -- airplane, hotel, etc.), and it involves PTO 'only' handling the collection of funds. My main problem with this is that nearly all of the board members have students in the chorus, including me, and as such are likely going to benefit from this trip.

I believe that the correct thing to do is to recuse those likely to go on the trip from the voting, but that kills our quorum.

What do you do when everyone might have a conflict of interest?