Is it safe to assume that "audits" (and I quote specifically because a true independent audit is time consuming, expensive and likely out of the reach of PTO budgets) from parent volunteers and/or Audit Committees satisfy the requirements of AIM Bonding insurance?

We form an audit committee every year. It will always consist of Outgoing Treasurer, Incoming Treasurer, Incoming President and outside person(s) as per our By-laws. The audit is usually done in mid-July after the final June bank statements come in. After the audit, the incoming treasurer/president takes possession of the books and the outgoing treasurer has a final general ledger of all the line items to perform the tax return. Our check require 2 signatures and this is also taken care of the day after the audit. The Outgoing Treasurer is responsible for filing hte 990 return to the IRS no later than November 1. We have a number of members who were either former treasurers or have accounting background so this is usually not a problem to get a volunteer or two.

Let me give you some words of encouragement. Last year was my first year as a PTO officer. I ended up feeling like you because of another officer's way of handling things. Can't tell you how many times I was going to just go to the school the next day and quit. Things got way too personal and I just felt like I didn't have to be a PTO officer to be a help with my kids or the school. Anyway, with lots and lots of encouragement from teachers that saw what was going on, I stuck it out and with the way elections turned out, next year looks to be headed in a very positive direction. The best advice I can give you is to stand for your beliefs and do what you feel in your heart is right. You will find that those 10 steps backwards get less and less until you are finally going forward.

As far as the treasurer's report goes. It sounds to me like this person may not know what they are doing and has been "winging" it. I don't understand how she has been getting away with NOT giving a report with a previous month's ending balance, all transactions for the month and a current balance. I agree with the others. Best of luck with this situation.

Thank you WFS, luvmykids and critter for helping. I am new to this and do not know where I stand and what it is I can do. I have many of the same beliefs about the items that have been mention but we just took office June 1st. I have found that there are a lot of thing that need to be fixed.

I have gotten very discouraged because I was so excited about taking office and planning so many fun activities and next years fundraisers; now I have a MESS to clean. When I say MESS that does not explain have the problems that are going on. I would just like to say thank you again I am new to PTO and this message board has helped with many of the questions that I have. I hope I can get all these issues resolved and do the "job" that I thought I was getting myself into. I am trying to be positive but it is hard when every time I have taken 1 step forward I get pushed back 10. Thanks for letting me vent, I am feeling better already.

mommyto - we also have a comprehensive treasurer's report each month. There should be at least 2, prefereably 3 authorized signers on the account, and every check, no matter how small, should be signed by 2 of the signers. To me, a treasurer who hides the books is a BIG RED FLAG. Not necessarily that she is doing anything illegal, but perhaps she is a poor record-keeper and is embarrassed that anyone should see. Plus if she's been in the job a long time, she's probably gotten sloppy because she knows the job so well (too well).

Your treasurer is flat out wrong when she tells you that you can't see financial info. You, and every member of your organization has the right to see any financial documentation they wish. Whose money does she think it is anyway!? She may be doing a very thorough job, but you can't prove that until she opens the books as she is obligated to do.

mommyto, our treasurer's monthly reports shows the balance in the account as of the last meeting, all transactions in and out of the account since then and the ending(current) balance. Tell your treasurer that's what you expect on your group's report from now on.

Sounds like you not only need to get someone else on the account(we have the President and the Treasurer), but you need to have some written financial controls. There is another posting going on currently about a Treasurers' resignation and Critter has some great info relating to financial controls in that post.