Aibu to think the chair of the PTA is on a power trip?

[User3billion]

Newly appointed chair of PTA & I think she's lost the memo about what her role entails & indeed the whole purpose of a PTA.

She sent a letter using a frankly ridiculous font saying how amazing the PTA are, how they value parental involvement listed all the current members job titles and so on, fair enough.

Then at the most recent meeting she (allegedly) told the members that whatever was said "at the table" remained there & that nothing discussed within the meeting was anything to do with anyone beyond the committee. She went on to say that anyone found discussing anything with any other parents would be asked to stand down from the committee.

Aibu to think she's batshit & the whole point of the PTA is to engage parents beyond the committee to increase fundraising opportunities. And that the only things being discussed around the table should be fundraising & therefore nothing confidential?!

and actually, whilst I do appreciate the hard work the PTA puts in to organising, if they weren't so rude, judgmental and unwelcoming, there would be another 100+ parents willing to do more!

I decided to join the PTA once. Oh my goodness talk about intense. I had the audacity to make a tiny comment about the Christmas party (I forget what but fairly innocuous). I was greeted by the vice chair practically yelling at me "that's not how we do it!!"

I never went back. Then happily ignored all the pleas for help and "we are doing xyz for your child" letters. They constantly moaned about nobody helping.

They could have tried chilling out a bit of being nice.

A former member of our PTA discussed details of our finances with a friend of hers who was one of our sponsors. We then lost that sponsorship because the person in question thought we had too much money. Months later the pre-school was running at a loss and has now had to close permanently.

To be fair, in our school the committee meetings are private and confidential, the association is open to all however and we send out regular updates

I think £250.00 is a fair price.

She hardly 'takes up your time' if you aren't even on the committee. You obviously don't like the woman regardless of what she is or isn't doing with the PTA.
A reliable source, I can't roll my eyes hard enough!
To be honest your aggressive manner would be reason enough for you not to be invited to join the PTA where I am, because you sound like a complete PIA!
As for you list of things you volunteer for... How is that relevant at all to the PTA, you sound jealous that she has the 'power' that you crave.

All PTA Chairs are power hungry
We gave up our big corporate careers when we had children so this is the only outlet for our megalomania. It’s why we do it, that and making sure our child gets to be Mary in The Nativity.

Well it rather depends on what is being discussed. WHen I worked the rule was that what was said in a partners' meeting was not discussed elsewhere - ie once a decision was made no one went around bitching about it and saying it wasn't what they wanted no matter how opposed they were.

So if the committee is discussing issues like do we have a Christmas Jumper day or a mufti day and the Christmas Jumper day is decided on they don't want other committee members going around the playground saying I think we should have had a mufti day etc as it isn't helpful - school gates are gossipy enough without giving them further bones of contention.

Yes Howyiz I'm completely jealous.

Don't see how you've come to the conclusion I'm aggressive from a post on MN & reference to my other volunteering was to point out that I'm not a stranger to what's involved in being a volunteer.

It’s known in certain circles as the Power Trip Association at our school