How to get parents interested in Pre-school Commitee

[Pernod]

Hi

My dd2 attends a brilliant pre-school which has 57 children in total. Unfortunatley most of the parents are very apathetic when it comes to helping out on the committee that runs the pre-school. Tonight we had a meeting where only 3 parents turned up. Does any-one have a ny good ideas about how to encourage more parents to get involved??

We've got just the same problem.The preschool that my dd2 goes to is about the same size, and the treasurer and secretary wanted to resign as their children have long since left, and we'd got no-one to replace them! We've actively approached people and asked them as well as sending out general letters. We've also put together a list of people who are prepared to help just a little rather than giving a big commitment (for example, doing the shopping once a term), as most people it seems are prepared to do just a little but seem scared off by bigger commitment. We've changed the times of the committee meetings to daytime whilst the preschool is in session so that parents haven't got childcare issues. We've also looked into limiting the liability of the trustees as this was putting a lot of people off.

I'm one of the new people that's just come on board... I've agreed to become treasurer.. what have I let myself in for!!

Change meetings to daytime whilst kids are at school make it less formal. Cup of tea biscuits, buns. Ensure that what you are doing is not over the top and the minimum to keep things running smoothly and not over burdening some folk with more things to do.

I too have agreed to be treasure next term.Luckily we have filled all the posts,but apathy among all the others is common.I did think about organising a meal out for the mums of something like that,but it would probably be the usual people and not acheive anything.

Another good one is to charm parents verbally into joining in. Sending a letter home or a notice on the board is hardly making them feel sexy about signing up. Got to make them feel wanted not needed. Sorry but its the way of the world, its all in the marketing these days.

Thanks for all your suggestions, it's a tough one isn't it! I just can't understand why so many parents don't want to get involved.

Emphasise "social events" you could have, bribe them with wine, hold meetings in a pub etc if you all know each other well - people will see it more as a night out than a chore. My old playgroup committee meetings usually ended up in the pub. Enphasise that they'd have a say in running things e.g how to spend money, fundraiser planning, activities of their choice etc.
Have meetings at weekends if lots of people work.
HTH

If some parents are on their second or third child they may feel they've done their bit with the first/other ones. I agree, make it less of a commitment, ask for volunteers to do smaller things. And emphasis that you will close unless x no of people volunteer to be on the committee by y date - because you will, you cannot run without one! You could see if there's anything useful on the \link{http://www.pre-school.org.uk/iacontent.php/en/1.html\pre school learning alliance site too.} Perhaps you could ask people to be Co chair/co treasurer etc, it might make it a less onerous task.

Good luck - this is a HARD task...

How about getting parents to come in and join in with a topic the children are doing,that way you can get them to break the ice with each other. Hold a coffe morning where people can just have a chat.
Our school held a pampering day, you could have you nails done etc but also learnt indian head massage etc.