PTA Meetings in the Pub? Really?

[AwkwardMary]

It seems inappropriate to me...our PTA is trying to recruite more members as it's traditionally seen as a bit cliquey so their idea of trying to make more parents join is to call an evening meeting in a particularly hard to get to pub in the evening.

I dont mind going to PTA meetings maybe half an hour before school picck up..but I dont want to go to some out of the way pub an hour befoe the DCs bedtime.

Is it me or is this a silly idea? The clique who oranised it happen to use this pub as their base for socialising...it feels like they've thought..."HOw can we get more parents invoved and not think we're cliquey?" and then come up with the idea of inviting us into their inner sanctum.

AIBU to say "Can't you do a meeting in school hours or just after?"

I think the pub's a great idea, you can have a few drinks to relax and get to know everyone in an easy environment. People come up with their best ideas in the pub

When I was chair at primary, I used to have them at my house with lots of wine and crisps.

I'm pretty sure our PTA meetings are held in a local coffee/bar lounge. Not yet been able to get to one, but I think it's a great idea!

tbh your objection seems to be that this doesn't suit you. The pta needs to think of how it can get the most parents involved and not just what suits you.

And why is the pub particularly hard to get to?

Another here who thinks it's a great idea. Any time or place that hopefully gets more people involved can only be a good thing.

We used to have ours in a pub when I was on pta when ds 1&2 were at school, it worked well, they were always evening meetings anyway after 7.30 so saved the caretaker staying late too. And we could all have a fag as it was the olden days.

Have just joined pta now ds3 has started reception (different school) couldn't be more different. Meetings in the afternoon before pick up time. Even as a sahm this is a pita. Odd group they are too, don't believe such things as opinions are allowed on this lot. Office staff run it, make arrangements and meetings are just to dish out jobs. Gone off on a tangent now. Apologies.

I think it's a good idea. Difficult if you work in the evening op but daytime meetings are difficult for those who work in the day too. Can't please everyone.

I also think it's good to have it away from the school, it gives the pta its individuality which I think it often needs. It is a charity raising money for the school, not a part of the school iyswim.

i think it's a great idea, and i think pubs are more welcoming than people's houses (if you don't know the people). only issue i can see is if there's a large muslim population in the school, as they may be uncomfortable in a pub if they are against alcohol on religious grounds.

I think all meetings should be held in a pub

We tried it for a few meetings on the basis that people might not want to come to the house of someone they don't know, so the local pub (nearly opposite school) seemed worth a try.
Didn't do any good and we reverted to my house.
We are now considering different times (9am when kids just dropped off, 2-3pm before end of school, or at end of school).
Ours is a bit desparate at the moment and anything we can do to get people involved is worth doing IMO.

I'm a sahm and I'd rather go to one in the evening than take my rampaging toddler to one that takes place in the day

We didn't even get tea at our PTA meetings!

This might sound a silly suggestion, but what about alternating the meetings, ie, evening meeting, possibly in the pub, afternoon or lunchtime meeting, possibly at the school.

Ours used to be in a pub and we had a great turnout. Then they moved to mornings after drop off in the local coffee shop. I believe this also has a great turnout but I now have a job and can't go to any PTA meetings. As such my involvement has ended.

The best thing would be to alternate between times and venues I reckon. That way you hit the most people you can.

And apart from anything else, surely it's got a very valid social purpose to it? Meetings should be fun and when the business is over it's great to be able to have a drink and a chat so, YABU.

The problem with alternating the meetings is that you might not get the key people - secretary, chair, treasurer at every meeting.

Sounds like a great idea to me. It would make me think about joining!

We always hold them in the pub.. reason being most SAHP can make evenings.. most working parents can make evenings.. so best option for attendance.. plus the pub is cheerful and the school hall is grim!

Day time meets exclude many people except the hardcore 'school mothers' and if they have small children in tow are likely to be unproductive and after many years of trying different things we have always found the pub and (usually) food.. helps:)

I did the PTA for a few years and some of that hardcore clique were TERRIFYING

When my DDs were at school the PTA meetings were always in the evenings at both the primary and secondary schools. Usually at the schools but occasionally in a pub.

Ours are always held in the first floor function room of a local pub. No pressure to drink alcohol and also if the head can't make it, no one else has to worry about holding keys to the school.

We alternate between evenings and school hours, we have some people who can't make school hours because of work (or at least we can't get everyone at the same time/day) and one or two who can't make evenings because of lack of babysitting. The teachers can't come to the ones within school hours either (although the HT does come when possible). Our evening ones start at school and move to the pub afterwards, anyone is free to come to one or both parts of the meeting.

Yabu. All the best meetings happen in pubs. I'm on 2 committees for local riding clubs. One happens in the pub, with a couple of drinks, loads of banter and is basically a right laugh and a nice social event. The other one is held in alternate committee members homes, and is frankly a bit stilted and boring. People tend to be more at ease in the pub, it's just one of those things

My dds primary school has held the odd meeting in the local hotel lobby bar when they can't get into the school for meetings. They meet in the evening too. Nobody has ever raised an eyebrow, most people have a quick drink or soft drink.

Would work for me.
Lots of local committees use the pub dining room. Its basicly a free meeting room, warmer than the village hall and no one has to "do" refreshments or tidy away chairs and tables afterwards.

Evening PTA meetings allow parents who work during the day to attend and get involved. I suspect a well run PTA needs a mix of evening and daytime meetings to suit all. Pub may be ideal for day time meetings as I should imagine school hall would be in use.

Our primary school do a mix of daytime meetings and 7pm ones, usually in a bar somewhere. Like others have said they can not please everyone. To be honest I have never heard of a PTA only doing daytime meetings.

YABU
our best PTA meeting ever was the skittles night in the pub
closely followed by the one at the chairs house where the wine ran out at 1am
and then the regular ones in the other pub
PTA business closed 9pm, last person left

late