I think you should get involved again. Unfortunately, this has happened a lot with our school, people get burned out. It's great to give yourself a break, but if you want a say in the business at hand you need to be present. We have bulletin boards and newsletters that go out monthly with the agendas and minutes so everyone knows what's going on. If we vote on something we let them know before hand, so if anyone has interest they come to that meeting. So many times though, people have their own ideas but don't want to come to the meetings. Unfortunately, if they don't come to put in their two cents, they are unheard. There have been occassions when something was passed months before or even a year before and we have voted it down because something else may have been more important to the group, but if more parents would get involved, show up, then our vote may have gone another way. So stay involved, your voice counts.

I'm facing something a similar delima myself. My VP has reached her term limit (2 years) and right now is SO burned out I hate to ask anything of her! Meantime, I'm getting ready to have a (actually another!) baby and need help! I really enjoyed my term as President but in the same sense our school moved to a new larger site adding 200-250 new families. I have met maybe a handful of these parents.
The one thing I have learned in my 3 years as an officer (2 as Secretary and this year as Prez) everyone has such a different idea on how a PTO/PTA should be ran and the things (programs etc) we ought to provide. I do know I want to stay on as committee chair for a couple committees I started and have done for 3 years. Not because I don't believe anyone else can handle it but because I have gotten to know the people, ins & out, and love doing it! I enjoyed being the Secretary but am REALLY tired of doing the newsletter. Treasurer is out, I've been handling the books this year (no treasurer) and no thanks. VP sounds good but I want to be sure I can live with the Prez for a year! See, you're NOT THE only one! You have to do what is good for you and your family. I have one in school now with one entering kindergarden in the fall and 3 under the age of four at home! You bet I took them into consideration! One more angle, I asked my oldest how she felt about me and the PTO. She likes the fact I am President BUT if I took sometime off she wouldn't be upset. We won't bring up my husband!!! He likes that I'm involved with the school but agrees I need a break.
Okay, that's my $1.25--I'm way past 2 cents!!! Hope I have shed some light. Most important, you need to promise yourself you won't kick yourself later whatever you decide..... [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

I served two years at school as president, then because of serious burnout, I gave up completely. I was tired of being the main one at everything...book fairs, holiday shoppes, the works. I attended every single one as I felt it was my place to be there as president. I left what I felt was a bit of a mess. People had to pull together because I missed a deadline and I just couldn't face anybody for a long time. Now, I seem to have worked through a lot of this and have heard through the grapevine that a major cause of my burnout is considering running for president. I had several parents that complained they couldn't "work for" this person and even some declined board seats because of him being on the board. I devoted this school year to my own children's room. I just felt at the beginning of the year that I couldn't handle the focus of 500+ kids and parents on me. Things have turned around for me and I'd like to have a seat on the board for the next school year. I don't want the responsibility of president, but I would love to be involved with something less "high profile." I think while I was there, a lot of things were accomplished and I know we had approved a couple of major purchases as a board while I was there. These things have now been removed and I don't think that is right either. We told these parents of these purchase approvals when we began the fundraiser and it was put into the budget as an expense, but the current board has decided that is not a priority. (A parent survey had voted among themselves that at least one item was a top priority to them.) Anybody know if once an item is approved to purchase and is in the budget, does the board the following year have the right to go back and say no??
I am really wanting to get back into all this so I know my voice will be heard...and more importantly...I miss the interaction with the children!!! Should I put in for a position...membership, secretary and get back to where my heart wants to be or sit back and let the others run the show? Please give me some advice! I know that so many of us face burnout, I just let it get the better of me. I was down, but hate the thought of being "out" for the remainder of my children's school experience. :confused: :confused: :confused: