I went to my first PTA meeting, and now I'm Chair ! Help!

[USAUKMum]

OMG what did I get myself in for....My DD just started school and I am clueless. Pleasee someone reassure me that I haven't just sold myself in for slave labour !

LOL - snap - I did the same 4 weeks ago!! I'm now a joint chair of a friends commitee - fundraising only. Have you talked to the previous chair yet as they should be able to advise you. Do you have a deputy/can you rope in a deputy?
Don't panic - I'm sure you'll be fine! Good luckx

PMSL ... there's one born every minute

ha ha ha ha ha ha
are you a yank?
brits love yanks on committees, they work so hard

LOL... there is one born every minute

OMG!! I'm still fighting off the position - managed to do it by agreeing to a different committee post.

God, there is so much 'politics' involved being chair!

yep - def saw you coming !

Delegate alot - get sub committes formed for every event !

Ask previous Chair for help and you can always ask on MNs

I word of warning , my experience is that the ones at meetings who do alot of talking and come up with a 'brillant' idea usually end up doing very little !!

Keep on the right side of the Head Teacher and Office staff.

Good luck

Good advice MD - it's the school secretary you need to 'suck up' to!!

Thanks for that. My biggest fear is that I am used to an environment that is 95% male -- you give them your best "Mummy" look and they do whatever you ask. Can you do that to Mothers ? At least I have vast experience of organising and delegating

Am planning to have current chair & vice chair over for coffee -- ply them with baked goods. Luckily another mum from my daughter's year volunteered for vice chair.

Well my friend did exactly the same last year, no-one wanted to be chair - the old committee were all moving on to juniour school and she got rather dumped in it.

But on the positive side, she sort of created her own committee out of reception mums and is really pro-active and inventive. She enjoyed it so much that she has signed up for a second year.

Are you a member of the NCPTA - less than £100 for your PTA join and loads of great resources on their website and our rep is great.

I used to work and be in charge of mainly men.

With committees like this you have two things totally different issues from your workplace

Women - found it easier with men

Voulunteers - totally different to organising 'paid' workers . Alot of motivation needed at times as 'volunteers' dont' really ahve to do it and their next job or pay rise doesn't depend on how they perform. Lots of thanks and praise etc as volunteers will not get it from anywhere else - as anyone who is a volunteer will know ! .