Life has gotten busy. A new puppy, two children in two schools, a job, a house that wants to be cleaned on a regular basis and an ever growing stack of books to be read.
We had our second PTA meeting two weeks ago. I sat down, called the meeting to order and then immediately started to wish for someone to swoop in and take over my duties. It was intimidating to run a meeting and to have 20 people looking at me somewhere on a spectrum of eagerly to indifferently.
The meeting was a success. Short, sweet and productive. We re-alloted some money from one fund into a new line item for our 6th grade camp. We talked about plans for our Fall Festival. Our treasurer taught us how to properly fill out the forms for reimbursement or petty cash. We talked about perhaps celebrating Pi Day on 3.14 with a breakfast for students and their fathers.
It was a great meeting and I am glad it is under my belt.
Our first major activity of the year was on November 1st. It was the Fall Festival and it was terrific! One of the added bonuses of hosting this Halloween themed event the day after Halloween was the sales. We got so much for cheap or free on the day of the festival, it really helped to keep costs down. It also helped families who are busy in the weeks before Halloween to not have conflicts with their schedules. So many families came! Our team leader was new to Fall Festival and did a bang up job on planning and preparing for this celebration. She was nervous but gained confidence.
One of the ways I saw our team leader gain confidence was through conversations that we had. Both the PTA VP and I are Bingley's. (Think Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Bingley is quick to approve of everyone and everything he sees.) VP and I know that in the scheme of things nitpicking and micromanaging are useless in creating a team atmosphere. We approve everything as long as it is inclusive of everyone at the school.
Be a Bingley. Find your one sticking point (ours is inclusiveness) and don't worry about anything else. Purple pumpkins at Fall Festival? GREAT! A child who can't paint the pumpkin because his wheelchair won't fit in the door? Unacceptable!
