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Post by freecharlie on Aug 3, 2015 16:49:45 GMT
So that is also a broad brush assumption-people who work all work at 9am? Of course it is a broad brush. There is no way to satisfy all people, but if you have young kids in school, chances are that at least one parent is home in the evenings even if both parents work. That is why most daycares run only until 6 pm. Are there some jobs that would require daycare outside of those hours? Sure, my husband works one, but the majority of working people work during the day. |
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peaname
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by peaname on Aug 3, 2015 16:54:40 GMT
I would have fresh seasonal fruit, bottled water and granola bars. You could pick up some of those vegan bars I think they're called LARA bars.
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Post by Prenticekid on Aug 3, 2015 17:04:15 GMT
Where does that $250 come from? Do you all chip in at the beginning of the year? Surely, you are not using fund-raised money that should be going towards the students, right? All of our PTA money is fund-raised and used towards field trips, activities and programs, etc. The PTA works hard for every penny and has a lot of obligations to cover, and I cannot imagine taking $250 out of the budget to buy snacks for meetings.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:22:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 17:06:56 GMT
Where does that $250 come from? Do you all chip in at the beginning of the year? Surely, you are not using fund-raised money that should be going towards the students, right? All of our PTA money is fund-raised and used towards field trips, activities and programs, etc. The PTA works hard for every penny and has a lot of obligations to cover, and I cannot imagine taking $250 out of the budget to buy snacks for meetings. All your PTA money does not go to the students. My friend goes to conventions, meetings , classes, and once to Disney on pta money. |
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AnotherPea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,970
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Post by AnotherPea on Aug 3, 2015 17:12:29 GMT
I am going to be our PTA's meeting snack person starting in about two weeks. Our meetings are in the evening. I have a $250 budget for the year (so about $20-$25 per meeting) but that also includes buying paper plates, silverware, napkins etc and keeping some kind of grab and go snack in the PTA cupboard.
We usually have 10-15 people at meetings.
My instinct is always to make dessert... but I know there are PTA members who can't have dairy, gluten etc...
So in an effort to get organized and not wait until the last minute... what kind of snacks would you take? Last year the snack person generally brought pre-packaged stuff and juice boxes or energy drinks. I don't see our school principal sipping on a juice box or anyone wanting an energy drink at 7 pm... which is why I offered to take over.
I am thinking of just taking fruit to the first meeting since it's summer...
Why do you need snacks? That money could be spent on other things. Less money, more time spent actually working at meetings - win, win. |
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AnotherPea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,970
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Post by AnotherPea on Aug 3, 2015 17:15:55 GMT
The meetings are about an hour and from 6-7 pm, except the first one which is from 3-4 in the afternoon. The school principal and some teachers attend the meetings and I think some of them haven't been home to eat dinner yet, which is part of why there are snacks? The official title of the position is hospitality chair. Maybe having snacks and drinks it hospitable... At my kids old school there was a dinner potluck before meetings. I had already eaten dinner at 5, and did not want to eat a 2nd dinner at 7 so I never went. I would have preferred snacks... I was on the PTA board for years at my kids' schools. The hospitality chair organized things for the TEACHERS. She set up the potlucks for Teacher Appreciation Week, snacks for the first week of school to hand out to teachers (who often have to work very late the first week), goodies for the week before holidays. She also did a birthday surprise for the teachers. |
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
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Post by ginacivey on Aug 3, 2015 17:17:44 GMT
adults need a snack at a 7pm meeting?
bake some cookies and put on a pot of coffee
gina
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craftykitten
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,304
Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
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Post by craftykitten on Aug 3, 2015 17:24:46 GMT
I work with volunteers, and it's definitely easier to get people to come to things where there is food. That said, if you are fundraising for the school then $250 is a big chunk of that to spend on meetings. Water is nice but I wouldn't worry about snacks.
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Aug 3, 2015 17:28:44 GMT
An easy, and fairly mess free snack would be some type of trail mix. We had some families at our school that had severe food allergies and they were able to brainstorm together and come up with a trail mix that was safe for all. If I had access to contact info. for them I would have tried to get you their recipe.
Water would be enough to satisfy me.
Good luck. I hope you come up with a plan that satisfies the needs of your group.
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Post by llinin on Aug 3, 2015 17:30:14 GMT
For the first meeting, I would do fresh fruit and bottled water. For future meetings I would go to Sam's and buy bulk packs of peanut butter crackers and granola bars and a case of bottled water. Those shouldn't expire so they would be good for a couple meetings. Bonus, none of them need plates or silverware.
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Post by bc2ca on Aug 3, 2015 17:32:11 GMT
Our local Starbucks used to donate a coffee traveler for PTA meetings and we would have a plate or bowl of something easy to snack on (zucchini bread, pretzels, Cuties). I wouldn't worry about having something for everyone with specific diets/limitations. Napkins were the only paper goods needed (Starbucks included cups) and they came out of the PTA supply cupboard. I would stay away from serving anything that needs plates or silverware. IME, most people are showing up with their own drinks these days. |
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Post by cmpeter on Aug 3, 2015 18:08:20 GMT
I am also in the camp that adults don't need snacks for an hour meeting. Our PTA offered them, but they were hardly touched.
We would also alternate meetings. One month in the day (we met the hour before school got out) and the next in the evening, to give parents options. However, we almost always had trouble making quorum for the evening meetings. Ours were advertised in the weekly newsletter, so there was ample opportunity for folks to put them on their calendars. I work full time, but was PTA treasurer, so I would take a couple hours of vacation time to attend the daytime meetings. I was lucky to have that option though.
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Post by meridon on Aug 3, 2015 18:12:34 GMT
We are looking at doing this, BUT our PTL meetings are at 9 am. And it's parents taking turns bringing muffins and us making coffee and boiling water for tea. not that you asked, but I have a problem with 9 am pto meetings. It is basically telling people if they work, they are not welcome on the pto. Me too. Which is why, although I have three kids at the school, I'm not a member and have never been to a meeting. Apparently, I"m not welcome, snack or no snack! |
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oh yvonne
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,111
Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Aug 3, 2015 18:17:45 GMT
I am going to be our PTA's meeting snack person starting in about two weeks. Our meetings are in the evening. I have a $250 budget for the year (so about $20-$25 per meeting) but that also includes buying paper plates, silverware, napkins etc and keeping some kind of grab and go snack in the PTA cupboard.
We usually have 10-15 people at meetings.
My instinct is always to make dessert... but I know there are PTA members who can't have dairy, gluten etc...
So in an effort to get organized and not wait until the last minute... what kind of snacks would you take? Last year the snack person generally brought pre-packaged stuff and juice boxes or energy drinks. I don't see our school principal sipping on a juice box or anyone wanting an energy drink at 7 pm... which is why I offered to take over.
I am thinking of just taking fruit to the first meeting since it's summer...
LOL. Sorry you asked yet? 
I agree with coffee and a tray of cookies. Keep it simple. 
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,975
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Aug 3, 2015 18:33:24 GMT
not that you asked, but I have a problem with 9 am pto meetings. It is basically telling people if they work, they are not welcome on the pto. Me too. Which is why, although I have three kids at the school, I'm not a member and have never been to a meeting. Apparently, I"m not welcome, snack or no snack! It's not that you're not welcome, but when we offer evening meetings, no one comes. The parents who work outside the home, understandably, want to be with their kids at night. We can't win if we offer only daytime or night time meetings.  |
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,317
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Aug 3, 2015 18:41:27 GMT
I didn't decide the PTA meetings are going to have snacks, I just offered to bring them since it seemed like a job I could handle that was not during school hours (I have a toddler). Who know it was such a controversial topic. I will go to my first meeting snackless and tell everyone I'm dissolving the hospitality committee asap  |
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Aug 3, 2015 18:42:21 GMT
An easy, and fairly mess free snack would be some type of trail mix. We had some families at our school that had severe food allergies and they were able to brainstorm together and come up with a trail mix that was safe for all. If I had access to contact info. for them I would have tried to get you their recipe. Water would be enough to satisfy me. Good luck. I hope you come up with a plan that satisfies the needs of your group. For our School Board meetings which are from 5.30 until 8 sometimes 9, the President and I bring snacks. Usually trail mix, popcorn or pretzels, if we know its going to be a long or tricky one.. one of us brings chocolate. She used to bring water... now we tell everyone to bring his/her own. We pay for this ourselves. |
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AnotherPea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,970
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Post by AnotherPea on Aug 3, 2015 18:48:37 GMT
We had the same issue with PTA board meetings. People complained no matter what time they were scheduled. So we went with what was most convenient for the people holding key positions. Namely the president and treasurer. No one wanted those jobs so we made it as easy for them as possible.
General PTA meetings were held in the afternoon. No one attended - almost every one had just the board members. Until the music teacher started scheduling class performances during the PTA meetings. Then we at least had those parents present.
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Post by littlefish on Aug 3, 2015 18:54:31 GMT
As a teacher, I'd definitely prefer for the $250 to be turned back to the school for other uses (funding field trips, etc.).
But I also know that the reality for many schools (mine included) is that food brings people in. Free snacks? Dinners? Hot Dogs? Fake Oreos and those pink wafer cookies? Bring it on.
I'd say keep it small and simple--bottled water and fruit or something, and try to stay under budget so money can be funneled back into the school.
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Post by cakediva on Aug 3, 2015 18:57:56 GMT
No wonder our kids can't make it through a movie without a snack, even adults can't go an hour through a meeting without a "snack". Good lord. My first order of business as the president would be to take back the $250 and tell people to bring a bottle of water if they're thirsty. LOL. Which is exactly not what you asked, which is annoying, but I couldn't stop myself. I agree, it really seems like a misappropriation of funds. I can see buying water, but adults don't need snacks for a meeting. I would ratehr see the money go to teh students. Out PTSO would supply water and snacks - some would take water - most brought our own, and largerly the snacks went un eaten because the meetings were 630/7 and I think most people had dinenr or were saving their appettie for dinner. And fwiw PTSO funds weren't used, people took turns bringing snack, which we didn't need But oh yeah - as Freebird said, you didn't ask us that huh? So ya, it it's required, fruit and water this time. Same here - in our bylaws for our school council, all funds are to be used to help improve the quality of the education experience of the children. So a $250 snack budget for meetings wouldn't be allowed. We had to put an end to the school council teachers lunch, because we were using council funds to buy the lunch supplies for the lunch we made the teachers - not allowed. Our council meetings were a max hour and a half, and most people brought a coffee that they grabbed on their way to the meeting. But - to answer your question, fruit and water would be my go to. |
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Post by doesitmatter on Aug 3, 2015 19:05:02 GMT
I agree, it really seems like a misappropriation of funds. I can see buying water, but adults don't need snacks for a meeting. I would ratehr see the money go to teh students. Out PTSO would supply water and snacks - some would take water - most brought our own, and largerly the snacks went un eaten because the meetings were 630/7 and I think most people had dinenr or were saving their appettie for dinner. And fwiw PTSO funds weren't used, people took turns bringing snack, which we didn't need But oh yeah - as Freebird said, you didn't ask us that huh? So ya, it it's required, fruit and water this time. Same here - in our bylaws for our school council, all funds are to be used to help improve the quality of the education experience of the children. So a $250 snack budget for meetings wouldn't be allowed. We had to put an end to the school council teachers lunch, because we were using council funds to buy the lunch supplies for the lunch we made the teachers - not allowed. Our council meetings were a max hour and a half, and most people brought a coffee that they grabbed on their way to the meeting. But - to answer your question, fruit and water would be my go to. We do a teacher appreciation breakfast and lunch once a month on the in service days and one for PTSO members twice a year - but - let me scare you lol - everything is provided by the parents of students from paper plates to dessert. No student funds are used. And it all gets eaten. I am not a potluck person at all, but apprenty the staff feels fine about it lol. I have even been asked for recipes. But I digress... way off track lol. |
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,950
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Post by Rhondito on Aug 3, 2015 19:05:30 GMT
I'm floored. Adults don't need a snack provided. Being an adult means that you should be capable of arranging your own nourishment, so if the principal or teachers need something to eat before the meetings they should be able to either go get something to eat or bring food with them.
There's a lot that $250 could pay for that the students actually NEED.
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Post by doesitmatter on Aug 3, 2015 19:08:59 GMT
I am also in the camp that adults don't need snacks for an hour meeting. Our PTA offered them, but they were hardly touched. We would also alternate meetings. One month in the day (we met the hour before school got out) and the next in the evening, to give parents options. However, we almost always had trouble making quorum for the evening meetings. Ours were advertised in the weekly newsletter, so there was ample opportunity for folks to put them on their calendars. I work full time, but was PTA treasurer, so I would take a couple hours of vacation time to attend the daytime meetings. I was lucky to have that option though. We have monthly evening 630/7 pm and morning 9 am meetings. They do "coffee breaks" mid morning at a coffee house as more of a social thing but also to keep more people in the loop. Obviously I had to choose what I could attend based on my schedule. Last semester I missed them all becuase I had 8 classes - going 6 days a week plus working, but I was able to send in stuff or drop off food for the teachers. So there are many ways to help if you can't attend. |
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Post by doesitmatter on Aug 3, 2015 19:09:46 GMT
Sorry -all but one of my comments were off track  |
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Post by epeanymous on Aug 3, 2015 19:20:10 GMT
Where does that $250 come from? Do you all chip in at the beginning of the year? Surely, you are not using fund-raised money that should be going towards the students, right? All of our PTA money is fund-raised and used towards field trips, activities and programs, etc. The PTA works hard for every penny and has a lot of obligations to cover, and I cannot imagine taking $250 out of the budget to buy snacks for meetings. Exactly what I would say. Our PTA raises money to pay for things like school equipment, academic support, music programming, etc. I donate every year but can't attend the PTA meetings because of when they are scheduled (4PM on a weekday). I wouldn't be happy to hear that the donations were going to feed people. |
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Post by anxiousmom on Aug 3, 2015 19:25:38 GMT
I was room mom, a committee chair, and then various officer positions on the executive committee (including president) of our PTO. Then my oldest went to high school and my youngest started the middle school associated with the same school his brother was in.
I met the president and another member of the PTO executive board for the new school and explained what I had done and expressed a desire to help...and the president told me that the best way to help was to write a check. I offered to volunteer as well and was told that they had it under control, just needed the money.
I did neither. I was completely shut out, and told in no uncertain terms that they wanted no more volunteers. It finally made me realize why people feel the way they do about PTOs in general. No wonder no one wants to help when they are being told, either by words or actions, that they are not wanted.
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Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Post by Loydene on Aug 3, 2015 19:34:00 GMT
No wonder our kids can't make it through a movie without a snack, even adults can't go an hour through a meeting without a "snack". Good lord. My first order of business as the president would be to take back the $250 and tell people to bring a bottle of water if they're thirsty. LOL. Which is exactly not what you asked, which is annoying, but I couldn't stop myself. I wasn't going to say anything either -- but I agree -- and I've sat in many a PTA meeting in various capacities. I'd actually hate to be in a meeting if some of those people were made comfortable with the availability of food! |
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Post by littlemama on Aug 3, 2015 20:16:19 GMT
I didn't decide the PTA meetings are going to have snacks, I just offered to bring them since it seemed like a job I could handle that was not during school hours (I have a toddler). Who know it was such a controversial topic. I will go to my first meeting snackless and tell everyone I'm dissolving the hospitality committee asap PTO/PTA is always a hot button issue here. As far as the snacks, if it is something being done because it's always been done, maybe it's time to revisit. I know I would not be happy to see $250 of fundraiser money go toward snacks, and obviously I am not the only one on this thread who thinks that way.
It's hard to give suggestions for something when you don't feel it is even necessary. Nobody is coming down on you, just the concept.
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Post by bigbundt on Aug 3, 2015 20:53:52 GMT
I would go to Sam's and just pick up an assortment of bagged snacks: chips, chex mix, pretzels, goldfish, crackers, etc. If they aren't eaten they can be set back out at the next meeting. Bottled water would be really appreciated though or at the very least some pitchers of cold water and cups.
I agree about the timing of meetings, you won't please everyone. I was on a board of a professional association for a few years and we played with offering our monthly events at different times and the best time (for our group) for attendance ended up being lunch. Early morning or evening meetings tended to exclude parents because of daycare hours and those people who were too busy to attend during lunch usually did not want to go to anything outside of work hours. There is no one size fits all meeting time.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:22:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 20:57:42 GMT
Has no one mentioned Uncrustables??  I agree. I'd bring fruit and water this time and recommend a motion to put the rest of the snack money back into the kids. |
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