Update

Don't read any further if you're sick of hearing about the PTA. This is yer only warning.

So, last night was the mee-in. The Prez is still MIA, although there are reports that she's marginally mobile. The VP she's dumped everything on hasn't heard from her either.

The rest of the executive board is AWOL, too. No one's seen nor heard from them. Woo-hoo. Way to learn from your mistakes. It's a month later, and they have to know by now that their radio silence is the biggest problem the PTA has. Did they do anything to change it? Heck, NO! The only thing they did was to put a slightly snippy notice in the newsletter that WE are to communicate with THEM. But, when we do, we talk to the machine, and don't have any clue as to whether or not they got the message, and certainly not a call-back with the information being requested. The Prez husband admitted that he just deleted all the messages, without, of course, specifying whether they were heard or not, so assume that they weren't.

The Treasurer is conspicuously absent meetings since Christmas. There are two people who have heard from him, and one is the VP who is now in charge. And he didn't give her what she asked for--I have a sneaking suspicion that when this is all over, we'll find he's done NOTHING to keep the account in order. Sure, it's all there--I have no doubt about that, but I betcha he hasn't even balanced the stupid thing. He was remarkably clueless at the December meeting, and now he's not even showing up? Probably because he knows he's gonna get asked specific questions and he's not gonna have answers.

The newsletter was also sans Prez letter. When she drops off the planet, she really drops off the planet.

And about the newsletter--the idea of a schedule of upcoming events was implemented so that regardless of when the newsletter gets out to parents, the next month or so of dates and events would be out there far enough ahead that parents could actually attend if they chose. She's back to just putting in the current month's events, and the crap we can all pull off our own calendars--like the first day of spring.

She also does not respond to let you know she received the information. I emailed her twice, once with a "return receipt" attached, and still don't know if she got the information. I sent the hard copies to her again, with a note specifying that I didn't know if she received them the first time, or if she received my emails. And, when the topic came up last night, I told 'em flat out--even with a return receipt attached, I STILL don't know if she got them, or even if she did, if my attached word documents would open for her.

It's like instead of learning from the "constructive criticism" that's been flying around, they're digging themselves in deeper. I realize it's "just the PTA" and nobody should be so involved in the PTA (or any one thing, really) that their self-worth and self-image is based on the PTA, but this is ridiculous. It's like they're pitching this big tantrum, saying it's everyone else's fault that nobody knows what's going on.

Well, here's a flash for them: In the upcoming months, I will be receiving the proceeds from a fundraiser. And when I get them, they're getting a phone call so the money can be deposited. And if they don't call me back, and I have to jump through hoops to get the money deposited, I will make it clear to any and all askers what's going on (and I'll make sure I have copies of the deposit slip for my own proof, thank-you-very-much.)

And I will need to get funds for an event happening in May. I'll have what I need, or I'll be screaming enough to wake the dead--and the dead will awaken, and beat them more senseless than they already are. I've worn down corporations for $10, you bet yer bippy I'll get the funds I need, when I need them, or they'll be threatening me with a restraining order--which will get laughed at because, DUH, if you're the treasurer, and this money is approved by the organization, you are required to cough it up in a timely fashion.

Wonderfully enough, there was talk last night of deposing this government. How bad is that? How many times have you heard of a PTA being run so poorly that people actually start talking about firing it's volunteer executive board?

I have a sneaking suspicion that next year, none of these people will be allowed to head up so much as a trip to the bathroom. And then they'll complain to anyone willing to listen that they were treated badly. I hope I'm there so I can laugh heartily and explain it to them in small words.