How do you get committee members? Please help!

[Cillapops]

I am sure this has been asked a thousand times but I was wondering if anyone had any great ideas for recruiting committee members.

Our committee is now on minimum numbers and it is likely some of them will leave soon as their children move up.

I get so despondent with the lack of support from other parents. I know we are all short of time and everyone gets fed up with constantly being asked to help raise funds. It is always the same people - committee members - who organise events, help with the events, do the fundraising etc.

Any magic formula out there???

ds1 cricket club offer a discount an next years fees. abit harder for you to do that in a preschool.
put a cheese and wine evening on or afternoon drinks over the weekend.
newsletters. tell people that you can only do 2 years on the committee. tell them what the job entails and what is expected of them

Sorry no suggestions but our committee is in a similar position so I would be interested in any ideas. (and also how to get people to volunteer for chair/treasurer!)

I think the problem (as someone who avoids committees etc like the plague ) is NOT the time poverty, but rather the fact that I am always under the impression that people on the committee are there because they like it! I'd be too scared, as it always seems to be confident, popular and (whispers) bossy people on committees

Maybe if you could do something to welcome potential new blood and show that they are really needed, rather than grudgingly allowed into the inner sanctum (again, apologies- this is really all in my imagination, as I have never felt brave enough to approach a committee, and have never been invited to join one!)

I'm sure your committee is NOT elitist/ scary/ whatever, just that the THOUGHT of a committee being like that puts me off ever volunteering. (wimp emoticon)

I've been on three committees at the same pre-school now, and none of them has been in the slightest elitist, scary or whatever! They change each year and each committee has it's own strength based on the people who are on it.

I have to say as an experience it has been amazing, a very steep learning curve but I would say it's helped me in my professional life as well as personal.

OP - Cillapops - I have a document here you might find useful which has some letters to parents which are outside of the normal "Pre-school will close unless you volunteer" statements. I will e-mail you.