PTA Advice needed, Calling all PTA parents!!!

[fourisfine]

Hello, We are having a bit of a problem with our PTA. We recently had our AGM, fab turn out, New Chair, Secretary and Treasurer all signed in!

Now the Secretary has done a runner and the Treasurer can't take on the position after all!

No-one is willing to take on the position of Treasurer except for a single parent who won't be able to make the meetings. The school liason with the pta says that the treasurer must be someone who can attend every meeting to give treasurers reports.

As such they want me to be co-treasurer because I always attend meetings, can work with the other parent and do the talky bit at meetings.

However!! We still don't have a secretary. If I was to be secretary could I also be co-treasurer and do the reports?? Or just do the report on behalf of the treasurer??

Could I skype the treasurer in to give her reports???

Any advice from PTA survivors would be greatly appreciated!

TIA

We have changed the constitution of both the PTAs I have been on.

You need to check what the constitution document itself says, but generally the procedure is that

• either you have it as an item at the AGM, or you have to call a special general meeting of the PTA (like an AGM)(usually giving 21 days notice to members - i.e put it in a newsletter to parents)
• you need to give notice of the change that you want to make (i.e include it in the newsletter)
• then vote on it at the meeting (nb the tricky bit is usually making sure you have enough attendees at the meeting to make it a quorum)

If you are a charity, you then need to send a copy of the new constitution to the charity commission.

As regards committee meetings - when I was on DCs primary school PTA we held the meetings at members houses - arranged depending on who had childcare problems (eg DP working away that week).

Hi wonder if some one can help, can a committee member go speak to a head teacher before checking with the chair of the pta?

Speak about what?

Of course they can talk. PTAs aren't a dictatorship. However, it would suggest some sort of internal rift and that's never helpful!

Teleconference for the treasurer? I don't think they have to have 100% attendance..

I've been on PTAs for ~10 years and have done all 3 main roles.

I think your T is being a bit obstructive.

PTA meetings with young children present aren't ideal, but if they can be occupied quietly it works well enough, and encourages people to be succinct.

The treasurer can send in reports, though personally I would prefer them to be present with child than just to send in reports.

You could alternate meeting times, sometimes when treasurer can be present, and sometimes when teacher can be present.

To change the constitution you should have an Extraordinary General Meeting, or you could quietly just do what is practical.

ZOMBIE

Why didn't I realise the thread was bumped by an unrelated question before I answered?

ZOMBIE