Believe me, if I know when and WHERE the meetings are, the whole world will know. :)

OK, all is perfect. Because I do the newsletter and I am going to redo the schools website, I just contacted the PTA directors and told them to add me to their contact list for when all the meetings are happening even committee meetings. I told them that I am trying to get more informed to write for the newsletter and the website.

Firefly--you're doing the newsletter? Wonderful! And if they are still not telling you when and where the meetings are, then I think you can assume there is a problem!

Yes, there's a lot of turnover and people have varying degrees of comfort about asking questions. We make a point of assuming we are all starting from zero in any discussion. Every e-mail I send out assumes that nobody has ever read a previous e-mail. At every meeting, we make sure that we give complete explanations of things a new person wouldn't know.

When a question or issue comes up, start with the assumption that we all want what's best for the kids, familes and staff--if there's conflict, we return to this principle. You'd be amazed how this can simplify your work!

GimmeCoffee... you are right, I AM going into it with a bad attitude. Me, as well as them are volunteering tons of time to try and help the school. I guess I am being snippy because I feel they are not communicating as much as I feel they need to. But who am I?

I have the newsletter now and slowly people are getting used to giving me the info. If I stick with it, I am sure that the info will flow more freely. :) I forget that these volunteer positions turn over constantly and people dont know everyone, and all of that hinders communication.

Positive I will be!! :)

Thanks for the reminder, GimmeCoffee.

Both the school site council members and the PTA are volunteer positions. Clearly, there are days where it feels like no good deed goes unpunished.

Well meaning parents often make sweeping statements and assumptions based on a "clandestine" assumption, yet have never attended one, nor requested a different time.

In addition, we alternate board meetings and general meetings, but anyone is welcome at an executive board meeting, but often we work on nuts and bolts issues there that would bog down a meeting. Parents have become appreciative that the PTA general meetings are now every OTHER month.

Firefly, you are making a lot of assumptions--have you ever asked them how they schedule meetings? If they're not following PTA bylaws or your own standing rules, things need to be changed. Meeting info has to be published, posted, and communicated to members in a way that they will actually receive it. If this isn't happening, ask about it.

As a longtime board member and the person who receives all PTA e-mail inquiries, I can tell you that it will be much appreciated if you approach this question with a positive, inquisitive attitude. I get e-mails from members that feel like accusations, when in fact they are just trying to get clarification on a simple question. Not saying you would do this--but it is time to go looking for information. A smile and a kind word will get you far.

I guess I'm reacting to "these ladies don't have jobs and can get away whenever." I feel like you may be going into this with a lot of assumptions--this one hits close to home for me. EVERY parent is busy, and we give our time willingly to the PTA. It is reasonable to arrange *committee* meetings around our own schedules. *General* meetings need to be carefully scheduled and publicized.

It's just best to assume you are all on the same side going into this inquiry. :) Good luck!

The principal attends every single event. He is awesome! As far as the undisclosed locations. What I think is happening is these 5 women are just coordinating with themselves times, dates, and places around their schedules. Instead they should decide these things in advance and schedule THEIR schedules around them. True these ladies dont have jobs and can get away whenever.

The janitor reason sounds kinda "lame" to me lol. We have always had our meetings at school in the evening. We are only in one room so it's not like the janitor can't do that one first then continiue their job within the rest of the school... bet they are there longer than we are anyway.... Does your prinicpal not show for each meeting anyway? They should or at least the ones at the schools I attend do.

Outside school is acceptable but all general membership meetings need to be announced to the membership. Are they voting and producing minutes at these meetings? Or could they doing committee work, which would be a smaller group of people and not involve voting? This may be what you're seeing at the coffee shop. I really hope so!

Talk to your officers or check the PTA website. If meeting information isn't available, it needs to be. It is a good idea to hold meetings off-site in some circumstances, but again--publicity is key! Generally something like this will require *tons* of notification. It is HARD to get people to come to meetings, as I've said many times. We plan our meetings and publicize the dates from before the first day of school, for the entire year. Time and place are consistent, as we have found this results in better attendance.

There are a few times a year when the general membership must come together and vote in order for your PTA to be operating legally. Ask your officers where you can find information about meetings. And of course, ask what you can do to help. They will be happy to hear from you!

We've never had PTA meetings outside the school. Usuallly, we have them at 9am and 6pm. We alternate so working and non-working parents can attend.
I do have a meeting at my place on Friday but it's just 8-10 ladies getting together to discuss a project we alll signed up to do! We thought we'll all meet up, work out the details, and have fun. Having a PTA meeting away from the school just doesn't sound right!