We started printing the agenda on the back of the flyer that announced the meeting - to let parents know what was up for discussion. We also opened the floor for "audience participation" (topics have to be submitted to a board member prior to the meeting). This really got people excited since they had the opportunity to voice their own opinions. We had gotten feedback that people felt they had nothing to contribute and all decisions had already been made. Our attendance jumped to 46, a new record!
Liza Hennessy
Vice President
Loon Lake Elementary

Don't you need to have 'X' number of parents in attendance in order to vote on the budget, minutes, fundraisers,etc...Attendance has always been an issue for us too,we have over 360 families and we reduced our quorum from 25 to 9 and still cannot get the numbers to come in. So, my question is doesn't every group need a set quorum to conduct business? As far as volunteers go, those number seem to be dwindling too.

Our school has about 600 Middle School students and the last PTO meeting we had 4 people show up. We have tried having a band concert (parent's left as soon as their kid got finished playing), free food (I had plenty of left overs), and many other things. However, when it comes time to chaperone a dance I usually have about 10 parents show up that I don't know are coming. This is what really matters to me, the kids get to have their fun safely. I would love to have 100 people at every meeting, but I am happy that I have enough to work events.

Originally posted by Wens:
I'm not sure just having people attend meetings is important. What's important is getting people to volunteer. Don't you think??

I agree wholeheartedly Wens.
We have never had much attendance and until this year, our volunteers consisted of the same people. But we started the Three for Me program this year and what a difference!! www.three4me.com
Our principal just commented this week that she has never seen so many parents in the school.
So what if 6 or 7 of us make all the decisions? We put ourselves out there and if parents and teachers don't want to come to meetings, then there isn't a thing we can do about it. Like our President says, we'll only run the programs we can do them well. If I have a parent comment to me about how they would like to see this or that, or why wasn't this done, I remind them of our next meeting date and tell them we would love to hear what they have to say. I agree with another poster who said, if you aren't there making the decisions and to vote, then you can't complain.
I can also tell you this. Our first year, we had the board and at most three other people in attendance. But we just kept plugging along, doing what we do best, and letting people know through newsletters, programs, events, and newspaper articles. This year, we are averaging about 10 people, not including the board. So, if in my last year (three years away [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) our attendance shoots to 25 people, then all is good.

[ 12-04-2005, 10:42 PM: Message edited by: Debbie Ball-Odeh ]

We are trying to build attendance as well. It seems the same peole are alwawys doing the same things. Other people have requested that they would like to help out as well but don't know how since it seemed in the past only the board made the desions. On top of that we will be losing alot of these people as their kids go onto middle school and we need to "train" new and upcoming parents. We have just started monthly general meetings. I'm happy with the new 6 people we have coming. They have enthusiasm and great ideas and are glad to be able to get inovlved. Also, we give out prizes the Firday before our meetings to the children of the parents who attend the meetings. The kids receive their choice of a book and a king size candy bar and school logo pencil. They get it at a special table at lunch time. They have a gift certificate that has their name on it that they turn in. The whole lunch room sees it and it is starting to create a buzz. kids are starting to ask their parents to come to the next meeting. Last month we had two new parents show up.

I had the same frustration as we have had three meetings thus far this year. However, I started looking at my sign-in sheets. Then, I looked at the figures. P is for parents, T is for Teacher. On the T side, I have 80% participation (which is still not optimal but the best I can do). On the P side, we have 452 students and have a 0.042% participation rate. So, what did I realize at our second meeting? That I was trying to please the wrong group! Why should I break my back for these people who are never going to join, never come to a meeting, never participate in any shape or fashion, for what??? I saw the enthusiasm at the second meeting from the teachers/staff and it drastically changed my perspective. Now, I don't forget the parents who did join but I make the teacher/class feel special. I called it a "trickle down" effect. If I buy new music equipment for the school, school supplies where they feel short, apply for grants to help out with playground equipment, our organization will receive the publicity, mention in classroom newsletters, mention in the announcements, and maybe it will filter down to the parent level. Even at the third meeting held last Tuesday, we have 47 teacher/staff and 5 parents but did I care? NO!! But, I make sure of those five parents, some of who were members and are active participants, I write short letters, do certificates, etc. FOCUS ON THE GROUP THAT MATTERS. We're supposed to build a bridge but not break our back doing it.