I can't wait for June 5th!

June 5th is the day that kiddo gets out of school.  That certainly is a wonderful day to celebrate.  She gets to rock out at work with Hubs the following week at an Advanced Fishing Camp.  What else am I so darned thrilled about with the coming of June 5th?  Hmmm . . .

My time of being PTA President will be over!  

Today was my final meeting to conduct.  It was all OAA infected, so things were a little out of sorts there.  The teachers provided breakfast for us. They cooked wonderful things and we were very well fed.  

We celebrated the retirement of our previous librarian.  She is a super lady and we're glad that she was able to visit with us today.  

We celebrated those coming forward to take board positions.  Though the OAA prevented the kids from coming down to present us with candles, the room was so packed that there wouldn't have been room for them.  I did my annual jaunt to the Root Candle Outlet store.  I'm sorry, but I won't give someone a cheap, stinky candle to celebrate their willingness to come on to PTA board.  My previous candles were always put into the White Elephant at family Christmas. 

Our incoming president is a wonderful woman who stands on her own two feet and assures me that she isn't there for a popularity contest.  She said that she isn't afraid to say no if she needs to.  She is very OCD, so I believe that will serve her well.  I have no qualms about passing the presidency on to Erin.  She's a lot like me in ways, but about 8" taller, so she won't need the tiny step stool that they bought for me.  :)

As the meeting ended, I asked if there was any more business needing to attend to.  It ended up that a few members were irritated that we spent all of the budget and budget extension on popcorn already and the popcorn chair and I decided that cutting popcorn after tomorrow would be fine.  They gave me a whisker lickin' about a budget just being an approximation . . . but if we hadn't already voted on one extension, I wouldn't so much have an issue.  It isn't a fundraiser.  We augment the 25 cents per bag we charge.  Prices for materials have gone up exponentially.  I told them I wouldn't support another vote on popcorn budget when we just voted on it the previous months.  In the end, we voted to transfer some funds, but I hate that people always feel slighted about something.  It's popcorn.  It's the last month of school.  We have 10,000 things going on.  They got their way and walked away happy.  I walked away from the last moments of my last meeting feeling as if I had been run over by a speeding train.  

Then I texted Hubs.  I won't repeat here what I texted.  We'll just say that I was a bit irritated.  His comment?  "1 more month."  "27 days," was my response.

I'm still on PTA board next year, but never again.  I will always support the PTA and their mission.  I have no issue with that, but I would like to reclaim my life at a certain point.  After grade 5, I will be the minimally participative PTA parent.  They have officially burned me out. 

PTA: The changing of the guard.

I, in all of my craziness, agreed to be PTA president two years ago.  I have 6 more months of presidency before I hand it off to another individual.

I'm really quite okay with that.

Two board members have taken on double board responsibilities this year.  Our recording secretary has also taken care of corresponding secretary duties.  Though it is unadvertised, I have been doing the responsibilities of the 2nd VP, which is creating, printing and distributing the monthly newsletter. Just the other night, I spent 5 hours typesetting it.

Obviously, I've also been doing the president gig, but also membership chair, co-chair of Birthday Book Club, co-chair of Scholastic Book Fairs, Red Ribbon Week chair, 100 Book Challenge chair, Garden Fair chair and the chair of the non-perishable food drive that benefits the area food bank that benefits many of our northeast Ohio food pantries.  I've helped with Santa Shop.  I've helped with 5th grade concessions during Santa Shop despite not having a 5th grader.

My reasoning for giving that laundry list is not to get some gold pin, but to illustrate that at some point, you must have "the birth of no."  You see someone vacating, no one steps up and you think, "Gee, that won't take very long."  It always takes longer than you thought.  You say yes to a bunch of little things and in the end, your head is spinning and you don't know which end is up.

We have what appears to be a mass exodus from our PTA board.  I just printed and distributed the latest edition of our school newsletter.  I just can't wait to see the reaction when people find out that 6 of 8 positions are open.  I did have a board member tell me last night that one of our PTA members asked why we were leaving the positions.  "Well, most of us have children that are on the edge of aging out."  "So."  Excuse me?

We have advertised that the board members are happy to be advisors to those taking the vacancies.  We've also said that we are having chair shadowing positions next year so that we may be able to efficiently hand over the PTA to a new group of volunteers.  We also have current board members that are looking at the possibility of shuffling on to beefier positions, while vacating the positions that are easier to get green members to take.

We are not doing a service to the PTA if we don't have a progressive hand-off.  Our PTA is 260+ members (though probably only 35-40 are truly regularly "active") for a school of 530+ kids.  We have 60+ staff members.  We have a lot of people who depend upon us to carry out what we've promised and even if that is just having Popcorn Fridays, it is something that we have obligated ourselves to and we will carry that out.

I think that the PTA is a grand organization.  At least in my experience at K's school, we really try to adhere to the Mission of the PTA:

To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children.  To assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children.  To encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of this nation.  

You'll always fall into the 80/20 rule no matter where a volunteer organization is concerned.  (80% of the work is done by 20% of the people.)  No matter what you do and no matter how you handle it, I've come to the conclusion that there will always, ALWAYS be someone dissatisfied.  Usually, the ones who feel that their child has been slighted are the very same individuals I haven't seen or heard from all year other than to complain.  Good times.

I pray that people will come forward.  They have to.  Many of us are burned out from being on board for so many years.  We have worked hard on avoiding the notion of (P)arents (T)o (A)void.  I just hope that people see that.

When my husband found me in the hall armed with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser at midnight he asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm angry and I'm cleaning."

"Okay then."  He turned around and went back to bed.

When I'm deeply angry about an unfairness or very disturbed, I clean.  Mom says that I get it from her.  I don't just clean, I deep clean.  It's not a bad thing.  Really, it isn't destructive.  It is productive and I burned a lot of calories during my 5 1/2 cleaning frenzy from 8 PM - 1:30 AM.

What sent me into my lengthy cleaning binge was the PTA meeting last night.  The meeting as a whole wasn't bad, just a certain run of it.

The Bylaws and Standing Rules of our PTA were last updated in March of 2002.  They are to be updated every three years.  To be considered as a PTA in good standing, you must have your Bylaws and Standing Rules current.  We are in good standing other than that.  I stated that if I only accomplish one thing in my presidency of the PTA, it was to update the Bylaws and Standing Rules.

Long, sorted story short came when the previous administration of the PTA decided to group together, elect a speaker who would then rake me over the coals in front of the general membership in attendance.

Good times, especially since there was staff present.

The raking lasted for 20 minutes.  Little did they know that I had gone to art school for 7 years and spent those 7 years defending my work in more critiques than I can count.  I was calm.  I spoke effectively.  I had my mind and details about me.

I appreciate people bringing forth inconsistencies that they see.  They aren't intentional gaffs.  The one bringing forth the barrage of complaints has been the president of a PTA for 7 years.  She stated that to the general membership and all I could think was that instead of accusing me of not allowing people to vote (I handled voting in the way that was modeled to me by previous administration in the years prior to my presidency), why couldn't she offer mentoring of the position if she is so experienced?

PTA is a wonderful organization that does great and wonderful things for the children.  We are fortunate to have a very active PTA.  I don't mind being called out on things that people perceive as being wrong.  I told the general membership last night that we are not a dictatorship, but a group of people to meet to discuss the things that they find are wrong and we come up with solutions.  What I have a problem with is the way that it was handled, with the collective of women behind her bobbing their heads in all knowing attitude, hands raised in agreement and falsehoods that spewed from their mouths.

The worst part of that was that the biggest player in this was the past president, someone who has given me great guidance and I've confided in during times of major frustration.  If that allows her to sleep at night, God bless.  The knife is still deeply lodged in my back.  The relationship is permanently altered.  I'm sure that the wound will start to heal around the knife, but that will continue to remain until the previous administration vacates to a building of higher learning.  She was a mentor and she did do her best to guide me in the ways that she knew.  I was just stunned that the one who guided me and encouraged me was one of the ring leaders.  Ouch.

I volunteered at the school today.  I saw this member and in my same happy tone, I told her hello when I passed her in the hall and wished her a happy day as she left.

I'm not letting them win.  I think that just might irritate the crud out of them.  ;)

The principal met with me.  He gave me his evaluation of the situation and did inform me that there are a few members that have made appointments to meet with him next week about this drama.  He asked how I was and told me that he felt that I handled the "personal attack" professionally and that one staff member in attendance commented in a similar way.

I think that may have made the previous administration mad, too.  The fact that I acted like a human and didn't jump up and down and scream may have thrown them.  See what great powers you have when you have God on your side?

In the end, if they want to kick me out for voting on PTA items in the very same fashion as they did, have at it.  If they want to smear me all over God's green (or white, depending on the day here) creation, have at it.  I told the principal that I rest in knowing that I regret nothing that I have done for our PTA.  I've worked hard and I feel good about it.

Until then, my house hasn't been this clean in a long time.  I scrubbed walls and floors.  I washed down doors and interior windows.  I cleaned the bathroom from top to bottom.  I wiped woodwork, dusted, laundered the back door curtain.  I laundered several loads of laundry.  I removed the build up residue from hair spray that was on the bathroom floor that wouldn't clean off by conventional methods.  I cleaned and scrubbed the landing and all of the basement steps.  I even cleaned the hand rail that leads down to the basement.  I killed two Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.

Take that previous administration people who make me angry!  I take that anger and do constructive things with it.

HA!  Anger cleans my house.

School is in . . . for the PTA Prez.

Oh, yes.  I am the PTA president for the next two years, unless they kick me out.  I mean, generally, no one wants the job, so I don't see that happening.

Last Saturday, I went to a state PTA conference.  Thankfully, they had 4 different regions, so I was able to attend at the school down the street.  The district conference is in October, and that is a must-attend for me and as many of my PTA peeps as I can get. 

The ladies will be coming to my house on Thursday to start getting those PTA wheels rolling.  I, in true Virgoian fashion, have purchased folders for all my peeps, so that I can have everything copied and organized for the meeting.

We will be accomplishing things, you see.

For several years before our current board existed, our PTA had some issues.  For the last two years, Patti the PTA past prez was busy doing damage control and being a cheerleader.  Now that she has worked on smoothing over the mess that was left for her to clean up, I'm on project, "Get everything compliant." 

I'm very good at pushing papers.  Just ask my husband.  That is why we have a slumbering child in the next room.  He said that if all that paper had to be pushed by him, she'd still be on foster status.  :S

We have to redo the bylaws.  Ah, yes.  If you are in Ohio, you should have bylaws restructured at least every three years, but those need changed (not an easy process) as needed.  You also have standing rules and those can be amended in a process not as long and painful as the bylaws.  Since they have found a copy of the bylaws, but not the standing rules, we need to revamp bylaws and construct standing rules. 

Why do we have to do this and what the heck are those things anyhow?  Well, they are a bunch of binding rules and basics for the organization and it is required to be a PTA in good standing to keep all those papers in order.

I do not believe that the PTA organization recalls that this is an unpaid position.

There are many things that we've tossed around about the year that we view as flawed.  This is the year to change them.  I feel like Barack Obama in the first presidential run-- change.  Yes, we will also be-- forward.  We will change and we will move forward.  There's just going to be a lot of trees involved in that forward movement.

Kay, my PTA partner in crime, called to give me calendar updates for the fall.  Kay and I are co-chairs for Book Fair.  We have a training workshop in October and a Book Fair in November.  I did realize that the Book Fair is the Thursday and Friday following the big crush week that I have for the open house at work, and I generally pull 12 hour days.  Calgon, take me away. 

Of course, I'm rushing into fall without mentioning the Membership drive that begins the first day of school through the third week of September.  I have to update the JBF website to include everyone (thankfully, I have all that set up and if they are renewing membership, it is a simple click).  I also have to construct the directory, build the books and distribute those and cards. 

I should mention that right after labor day, we have our Garden Fair.  This year's Garden Fair was seed sponsored by Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, so I'm truly excited to see what everyone has grown.  :)  That is a big part of that beginning crush, though. 

Add to that 100 Book Challenge and the fact that we lost our Leveled Literacy Intervention coach (LLI) and while we had a great system of working things, once again-- I have to figure out a new way of working with someone else.  I should be used to it, as almost every year I've done this, I've had a change of 100 BC coach.  Still, it makes me sad, as Ms. S and I really were two very similar people.  We loved the kids, loved books, loved gardening, organic things, environmentalness and she was one of the most excited folks about the seeds!  I will miss her so much.  We will not be receiving a new LLI K-2 tutor, so the existing tutors will need to absorb the kids that originally went to Ms. S.  Budget cuts.  Arrrggghhh.  Just pass the darned levy already!  22 million dollars in cuts and counting . . .

I digress.

I should round out by saying, I'm a little busy.  :deep breath:  And to think, they said that the president job was the easiest job.  Don't worry.  I didn't believe them.

Smiles in my day:
-  Lil Mak is home from the hospital (after having finally eaten something) and is doing well.  It was a big, bad virus and she's a little, bitty thing.  She needed some fluids to rehydrate her and she's good to go.  :)  Thank you for praying.
-  I was able to get my niece's birthday gift crafted (of course I forgot to take a photo), but I bedazzled a plain bag from Joann's and it looks marvelous.  K- told me, "Mom, if she doesn't like it, she can just sent it back and I'll carry it."  Shhh, I'm making K- a special bag of her very own for her special Christmas gift from me.  I was sweating it to get that gift done because, of course, I waited until the last minute.  My in-law's will take it up for me when they go this week, so I needed to get it dropped off.  :sigh of relief:  It is finished.  :)
-  Hubs has been stressed this week, but he has a much needed day off tomorrow.  That is a very good thing.
-  When you put a second run of clothes on the line at about 4:30 PM-- the time that the line is almost fully in the shade-- and they are fully dried when you go to get them later, you realize that it was very warm out today.  (96 F here.)
-  I got a new sprayer for the hose.  Now, that may not seem like a big deal, but mine was completely busted and this one is a wand with an adjustable, multi function head and a trigger sprayer!  It was on clearance, too!  :)
-  K- went to the bank and deposited some saved money today.  She was surprised to find that her savings has grown to $102.00 already.  I told her that when she saves, as opposed to spending and when mom has it directly deposited weekly so she doesn't forget, it accrues quickly.  (By the way, we subscribe to the half the current age rule for weekly allowance amount.)  She works and when she doesn't, allowance isn't earned or is docked.  That doesn't make her very happy.
-  The Olympics and athletes who are wonderful about not medaling (volleyball gentleman), losing a medal place (Aly Raisman) but not third place, and true happiness (Missy Franklin).  They are beginning to rinse the egos out of my mind of second place not being good enough with some of the swim team (being asked "what went wrong" as opposed to "congratulations!")

Have a wonderful weekend!