To quit PTA committee position after 1 year?

[Namechangeforthis112]

My DS school is amazing and they have a very strong PTA which organises amazing events. Stupidly I agreed to be in the committee at the start of the school year without realising just how much work is involved. Is it AIBU to do this for one academic year and then quit the position? It is simply too much with work and they put on an event almost every month, and the incessant whattsapp messages are driving me insane. But I feel really bad to let them down especially after changing over all the signatories etc. and the girls are really lovely.... advice please!

You need more than 4 of you. I am a former PTA chair, there was me, the treasurer, secretary, deputy chair and about 6 other people who attended meetings but who didn't have a specific title on the committee. And we were still often desperate for extra help.

You need to set boundaries. I am on a committee , i organise one fundraising event per year. If others organise events i will go if i can but not every time. Its best to be honest about what you are willing to do, no volunteer wants to be doing monthly fundraising , its too much.

It's fine to step back OP. You'd feel guilty if you did it next year or in five years, so if it's a slog and not working for you just stop, send that message and step back.

I think it sounds like they have low engagement and far too many events, which means those involved have a heavy burden.

You need to set boundaries as to how much time and effort you are willing/able to give. With only 4 members, it seems insane for the PTA to be organising so many events. They either need more members, less events, or both.

You are perfectly reasonable to step down at any time you want. I'm a cub leader, and I can remember when one of our scout leaders was struggling, our group leader told them that being a scout leader was a hobby, and you are supposed to enjoy a hobby. If you're not enjoying it, or it's too much like work, then it's fine to consider what to do going forward, including stepping down if need be.

Our (historically very successful) PTA is on the verge of folding as we just can't get the volunteers, especially for the trustee positions which we need to continue as a registered charity and of which I am one. It's a shame but it can be a lot of work on top paid work.

I don't blame people for not wanting to come forward but it does annoy me that they'll enjoy the events and likely whinge when they're not put on. Plus the school relies on the money to plug the gaps.

“Given that most people don't volunteer, the answers here will encourage you to give it up, but that's people justifying their own lack of involvement.”

Actually, no.
of course I can only speak for myself but I don’t feel the need to justify anything, and certainly not lack of involvement in a PTA as I’m no longer a parent of school aged children!

@Namechangeforthis112 asked

“Is it AIBU to do this for one academic year and then quit the position?”

Some posters offered fake excuses to drop out, which didn’t sit well with OP.

my response is
“You don’t need to lie.
Just stand down at the end of the year or don’t let your name go forward for next year. No need to explain anything.”

Hope that clarifies.

PS
I agree with your advice re: muting the WhatsApp group and just checking periodically.

100% this!

I did PTA for years. It’s absolutely fine to resign after a year - if everyone did that much you wouldn’t be understaffed!

It’s loads of work and pretty thankless, frankly. It can also be the case that some parents on it don’t have other commitments and so see the role as part of their social life- arranging long meetings o er coffee where you can decide a few things and have a matter- and nothing wrong with that but it doesn’t work if you have lots of other commitments and just want to run the PTA efficiently.