From Leadership News issue July 13, 2017
Question
We have no new incoming President or Vice President. How do I proceed? Despite copious efforts to recruit fresh blood for the executive, we’ve been unsuccessful thus far, except securing a new Treasurer. Please advise on how I need to wrap this up.
Answer
Thank you for your email and great questions. Is the current president able to stay in the position until his/her successor is elected? The current Bylaws state that officers shall be elected by ballot prior to the end of the fiscal year for a term of one year and until their successors are elected.
Sometimes, it will pique more interest if you continue to send out notices that you are looking for someone to fulfill this position throughout the summer and the beginning of the school year. Often at the end of the school year, people are burned out and may be more likely to volunteer at the beginning rather than at the end of the year.
Recruitment Ideas
Here are some ideas to recruit individuals:
- Asking in person is always best. Tell them why they would be a good fit. People like to feel like they were sought out for a reason.
- People tend to volunteer more easily if their friends are doing it too. So if you can find one person, he or she may be able to bring friends along.
- If you can have at least one person agree to be nominated from the floor at the election meeting, others will be more likely to follow.
- Ask the principal who he/she thinks are strong candidates and/or parent volunteers. The principal may know people you don’t.
- At middle/high schools, look at feeder pattern schools that are coming up, and who has been active in elementary PTAs.
- Give job descriptions (they are found in WSPTA Bylaws). Two people sharing a position (i.e. Co-Presidents) is fine as long as that is approved or amended into the PTA’s standing rules.
- Make sure people know all terms are for one year, not two. They can be re-elected for a second term, but don’t have to be.
Procedures
The nominating committee will nominate the slate they have at least 15 days prior to the election. Any unfilled spots will be listed as “open”. The election meeting should be publicized well ahead of time and the information should state that nominations will be taken from the floor.
Taken from the floor means that even if the slate is filled, anyone is eligible to be nominated from the floor, and people may also nominate themselves. Sometimes empty spots are filled this way. If the spots are not filled at the election meeting, the executive committee can appoint an interim person for those spots. At each following membership meeting, nominations should be taken from the floor until someone is elected.