to ask you if you're on the PTA/organising committee of anything?

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

If you are, why do you do it?
If you're not, why not?

We are trying to recruit more people and don't know how else to appeal.

I found I'm more likely to volunteer if it is for a specific time slot on a stall say, as MidniteScribbler describes.

We use this website to schedule our volunteers, they sign up on line and it emails them a couple of days beforehand to remind them of their slot. www.volunteerspot.com/?mobile=disable

Nope.

Fear of bitchiness and cliquiness

Inability to leave ebf baby in the evening

Not wishing to be involved in pressuring parents who can't afford it to donate money in a way that singles out the children of those who don't donate.

General shyness and being terrified.

I volunteer loads with all sorts of organisations and I'm on 2 committees but nothing at school.

Mostly because PTA types just seem such hard work. Maybe I'm projecting but they all seem to have the star pupil, top of the class, best at sport and music etc. And they need to tell you about it all the time. In the other committees I'm on, we're from all walks of life but we have the committee's subject in common. For school things, the parents are also from all walks of life and it's the children who are the only common link, which seems to bring out the worst in people.

Also, it seems to me that the school itself finds the PTA a PITA!

I am very good at doing a specific job when asked though. Ask me to come and sell raffle tickets I'll be there. I'm not getting involved in the squabbles though.

I also try holding the meeting in the local bar on occasion, cocktails help tremendously

DH is a volunteer administrator at the children's former (French) primary school. He's been doing it 9 years and he initially accepted because he liked the person who asked, and saw it as good for his CV (he was doing his french accountancy exams at the time). Our children left the school long ago and now he only does it because in a deprived town, finding other parents with the skills, time and willingness is impossible!

So, if your school has any foreign born parents, try asking them. They may be too shy to volunteer if their english isn't perfect.