The Twilight Zone

Ahhh, so the meeting is tonight. And I know now who is going to be helpful, but also steal my thunder.

I had my list, and I didn't get to use it. Someone else, who said she wouldn't be speaking up tonight, did most of it (and I still forgot the one thing! dangit! Not a vital thing, though)

So, many of the problems were addressed. And I am now doing a fundraiser (major easy, as long as I don't have to fill out the coupons myself--and, if you read through til the end, you'll see I won't have to.) I filled them in on my other fundraising idea, and the principal reminded me of the thing I mentioned to her last December, and sent her what I thought it could be, all nice and typed up.

Anyway, the Prez is still out--she's not showing up because, apparently, when you break your leg, you can go to DisneyWorld, but you cannot come to meetings. So, she sent her sidekick to run the meeting.

First, let me say that it's pronounced "meeeeeTING" not "mee-in." There she is, looking very professional and put together, and pronoucing this word as if she has only a back-woods education. I know I can (and do) murder the pronounciation of words, but this is irritating. It sounds, oh, I don't know. It's just not right.

Anyway, since the meeting on Tuesday, word has spread--the buck stops here. She was prepared for most of my arguements (even if someone else made them.) She even asked that all committee chairs present please speak about their thing.

Since I ended up chairing the new Spring Fling (which I keep calling a Spring Thing) I had to speak. I mentioned the woman who first brought up the Thing, but who, because of professional committments has had to step down as chair but will still help. I also mentioned that I appreciate that she let me know in January, rather than April. I mentioned the two people who said on Tuesday that they'd help (both were at this meeting.) So, now I have to "get with the principal" to see if there's any early bird planning that we can do now.

Then, the meeting progressed with other committee information, and the picnic came up. They finally coughed up a good-enough program that the principal approved it, and will meet, full committee (not a committe of 2) to further flesh it out. I can't wait. I'm sure it will be, uhm, interesting.

I asked about the volunteer sign up sheets that were filled in at Open House. Where were they? She said that the committee chairs had them. (funny, the Christmas Shop Chair didn't have it last month. What excellent timing, I must say.)

The topic of needing a nominating committee for the Executive Board elections (information and nominations taken through February; nominations in March, and voting in April.) We did vote that in (as if it wouldn't go) and she decided that she and the president "would take care of that." The guy who said he'd chair it, told her that HE was the chair and he'd do it...she said again, "Prez and I will take care of that." He had the by-laws in his hand, and said, "According the by-laws, the president cannot be on the nominating committee." "Right, she and I will take care of it, we're already on it."

He said again, more forcefully, all-but standing up, "The by-laws, that I have right here, say that the PRESIDENT CANNOT BE ON THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE." She finally got it.

She wanted to end the meeting shortly after that, and HAH! I still hadn't gotten all my stuff out of the way.

I had a fundraiser idea, and had taken the initiative to set up dates in March to be sure, if it were approved, that we'd have them. At first, it was "nooooo." Then, I talked about the percentage we'd earn, how I'd handle it (was already handling it, obviously) and that it was as close to 00000 outlay in energy, time, and money as we could get.

It got approved. I made sure I said (repeatedly) that I would need help to get the coupons filled out (organiziation name and dates) and help to also distribute the coupons to agreeable businesses in the area.

Let's end the meeting...oh, no, she's got more to say. God bless her heart, she did NOT roll her eyes, but I swear I could hear her willing herself to do that.

I had another fundraiser idea that would, obviously, be EASY PEASY, because I'm nothing if not lazy. I talked about it (Mile of Pennies) and how it could be used in math classes AND gym classes if the teachers wanted to, and how it could be a 7 team competition with "racers" moving ahead as money was collected. With the faculty and staff as an 8th team, there was the potential (if I did my math right) for over $6,000. (it's just under $1,000 for ONE mile of pennies, and we're talking 7 or 8 miles). It'd be great for next year, because it doesn't have to take a lot of energy--put cans in every room, let the kids bring in change, and add it up weekly. Kids would love the friendly competition, and almost everybody has spare and loose change to send in.

Yes, yes, I'm THAT impressive.

Adjourn now?

Ah, but wait! The Mouth has more. The idea from December. Birthday Books. It's purely voluntary for everyone, but families can donate a book (or books) each year in honor of their child's birthday. The books will have a book plate in the front, identifying it as a Birthday Book. All Birthday Books will have the child's name, the school year given, and the child's birthday (ie Howler Mumple; 2008-2009; March 00.)

The lone teacher who was there was also a teacher at the school when the Toad attended (I won't even mention how she and I graduated together.) I asked her if she remembered. She did. She remembered something I hadn't--all Birthday Books were also marked with a sticker on the spine so they would be easily seen on the shelves. "It was always so neat to see a row of birthday cakes on the shelves."

Birthday Books promotes reading and supports our school library. How cool is that? Oh, yeah, and now I have to ask the librarian to come up with a "wish list" for those parents who want to donate a book but don't know what book to donate.

NOW, you may adjourn the meeting, and go make your scathing phone calls about me.

The Twilight Zone part? After the meeting, I was fairly SWAMPED with people wanting to volunteer to help fill out coupons, distribute them, staple, fold, and launder the things. It was pretty weird for me, especially when the Lone Teacher came up to me, said it was great to bring that back, and I should talk to the librarian because she has suppliers who could probably GIVE us the bookplates for FREE. I have never in my life been the center of so much positive energy. I have never in my life ever been approached like that--you know, pleasantly and friendly, with offers of help by ANYONE. EVER. It's a new experience for an old thing like me.

How cool is that?

It gets better: Miss Thang had to wait in line to get my contact information (it'd be too hard to look through that entire membership list and find me) so, being the prepared horrid thing I am, I handed her a nicely not-white sheet of 8 1/2x11 with my name, phone, email, daughter's real name, grade and teacher (for that ever-important message-through school) all in a funky font. As I handed it to her, I said with a grin (and not an evil one, that's for later) "I wanted to be sure it wasn't going to be lost."

Yeah, try telling me it's shuffled in with your other papers, toots.

I then head over to the principal to be sure she has the other two ideas in writing (and in case my computer crashes, or I drop the ball--she's got it right there, should communication become an issue. Oh, I gave a set of 'em to Miss Thang, too.) The principal says, "This is really great that you have all these great ideas. Thanks so much for sharing them and being here." She then told me that the school's secretaries (the school & PTA would struggle forever without these two!) had a file of PTA things, and if I email them, they'd have a hard copy for me if my computer crashes again.

So, yes, I have MORE to do than I can imagine getting done, but you know what? I made a difference. And even being blunt and sarcastic on occasion (but not tonight), I still made a difference and made myself, my husband, my mama, and my children proud.

How Twilight Zone is that?