So, I've retired as Fundraising and Functions co-ordinator at my school. This is a good thing. It's been fun, tiring and worthwhile. And also time to hand-over to someone fresh.
[BEGIN VENT]
On Wednesday night I turned up to P&C, ceremoniously handed over the fundraising files, gave my final wrap up of fundraising and functions news, stood down from my role and waited for the vote to be held to elect the new recruit.
Now, I did not take on the F&F role to receive accolades or flowers, that's just not my style. I am relatively quietly spoken, get on with my work, do a lot of behind.the.scenes negotiating and generally just get things done with minimal fuss. Clearly this is not the correct way to do things.
During the AGM the P&C president saw fit to make a big fuss of the outgoing Canteen Co-ordinator (well deserved) and of the P&C Secretary (also well deserved). I even bought flowers and presented them to the aforementioned secretary.
But was there any mention of the outgoing F&F Co-ordinator (moi)? Of the record fundraising results of the previous two years? Of the record number of parents who now attend school functions?
No.
Gosh, the P&C must think those SmartBoards in every class appeared from the ether.
I felt that, given that the others were thanked a small vote of thanks recorded in the minutes might have been appropriate. I was a little cross.
But it's now two days on, I recognise this is a small concern in the scale of world concerns and I move on happy knowing that I played a part in making our school just that bit better for our children.
[VENT OVER]
Note: School parents who read this blog: I would rather this not be mentioned at school. I have my own cunning little plan.
18 comments:
That was a very well composed vent.
To which I say you were perfectly entitled.
Completely justified vent. If that had happened to me, I'd be gropable.
And I hope your cunning plan reminds certain people of how remiss they have been.
Sheesh...is it that hard to say a little 'thank you'?
They are dumasses! (this is my new favourite word - bear with me)
wow, I can imagine youare a bit miffed.!! How sad they cannot recognise all your efforts. Your vent was very polite too.. They will miss you when the next person does not do as good!
There is STEAM coming out of my ears! How on EARTH can that have happened?
I respect your cunning plan and will keep my big gob shut at school (not that I'm ever there) but I'd like you to know that their attitude does NOT reflect the school community as a whole. You know that, right?
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!! YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB AND OUR SCHOOL IS WAY BETTER OFF FOR HAVING HAD YOU AS OUR FUNDRAISING AND FUNCTIONS MANAGER.
xx
Thanks everyone. And Fe, thank you, I do realise that the general school community are grateful for not only what I did but also what all the people that helped me have done over the past two years (because it is a team effort). The knowledge of the general level of gratitude is what enables me to rise above the oversight on Wed night.
As someone who would rather volunteer to teach the entire Prep year level to knit rather than attend one fundraising meeting, I say THANK YOU!
PS: I haven't actually volunteered with the knitting thing, but you know, I would. Just making the point.
Oh committees. The very word raises my blood pressure.
I bet you were a brilliant fund raiser. The best. Their loss.
A very polite vent M, and I think you deserved a mention and flowers even.
It is a job that few people ever want to take on and the burnout rate is high in a lot of school/sport organisations.
Good luck on your plan.
Sometimes there are dreadful oversights when obvious things that SHOULD happen don't. The sort of thing that make the chair of the committee wake up and think "Oh S**t".
I was once at a Prizegiving and every child in the class got a prize, applause and handshake from guest speaker - except one. It was a terrible mistake. If it still makes me feel bad (and I was just a guest) imagine how those teachers who were responsible feel.
Think of that Committee chair slinking up to the Pearly Gates and saying "I have been good all my life but there is something I need to tell you..."
I do believe it was an oversight. I was surprised how it made me feel, especially as I generally hate a fuss being made.
I worked in a hospice, job-sharing secretarial work as well as newsletter editor. But I was asked to fundraise, and found it to be anything but thankless. I absolutely loved it, managed to get some fabulous prizes for a raffle, including a free activity holiday for two as the main prize. People were so generous I found. Mind you, this is going back fifteen years!
But like others, I agree the vent was justified, and as someone said, it surely can't be that hard to say 'thanks'?
OMG, I am horrified on your behalf .. how absolutely, positively *RUDE* !!!
And I don't care if it was an oversight. Surely the speaker knows how to ad-lib when they noticed the glaring omission ?
I await the tale of your cunning plan with interest and pursed cats-bum-lips of indignation!
well that really sucks I would need to vent too! Do we get to know the cunning plan once it is put into action?????
oversite or not - this is unacceptable .... as if volunteers willing to take office grow on trees - NOT .... hmmmp
I have done two terms as president at the kindy - the director and other committeee members where genuine in their thanks but I don't think the general populous of non particpatory parents gave it a second thought ... a sign of the times I think.
I have to ask - was the pres a man ... as pres I always went to signficant lengths to acknowledges efforts of others ... find time to praise the good - cheers le
Stop being so nice about it M, it was absolutely APPALLING that you were not thanked. I just hate it when people aren't thanked for putting in extra effort.
Bl...dy h.ll - ditto to what Fe said. All I can say is that if I was still there you would have been publicy recognised. Has the cunning plan come to fruition yet? All 'us' bloggers want to know what it is - can you fess up?
PS. I got an iphone from work today - my new toy!
Fundraising is the original F word.
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