Sprog 1 has entered Year 3. Year 3 is NAPLAN year. This makes me slightly apprehensive – discovering how Sprog 1’s brain compares to the rest of the state. But what I’m more anxious about is “volunteer year” – parents of Year 3 students are expected to run all fundraising events for the school. This is no small undertaking in a school of 700+ children. There’s the disco, the raffle, the Mothers’ Day stall, the Fathers’ Day Stall, the dads’ brekkie, the open-air cinema night and the major fundraiser (Carnivale-themed fiesta). Forty volunteers are required to door-knock 700 local businesses for donations to the auction at the major fundraiser alone. The thought of asking people for donations makes me physically ill. I’m freaked out enough about charity collectors approach me. If I just had to send them emails I’d be fine – I could quite happily do all my communication electronically and never speak again – but having to talk to strangers and ask them for free goods … arrrrrghhhhhhh! I’d been pre-warned by friends that few people put their hands up to help with school fundraising, but it was dispiriting nonetheless to spend two hours in a meeting yesterday with roughly 12 women who were prepared to chip in. As the organisers ran through all the jobs to be done, my heart became heavy. I have no idea how the organisers manage to walk, their hearts must feel like lead. But wait, there’s more. Year 3 is also training band year. And the school band is – wait for it – run by the parents. Sprog 1 is desperate to play the trumpet. So I lined up for band registration on Sunday and handed over the first $250 of many hundreds we will be required to shell out. More painful that the financial loss was the responsibility gain – all the volunteer forms to fill out. Volunteering for training days, for setting up at 7.30am for practice twice a term (actually, that bit’s not voluntary, it’s compulsory), for manning the barbecue at Bunnings etc. I’m feeling a bit woozy, just thinking about it all. And here I was thinking I might get a job this year. Crazy. How on earth would I ever fit it in?
housegoeshome 
i like the idea that 1 year’s parents r responsible 4 fundraising… spreads the load… doubt itd work at our school, tho… no1 wants 2 help… im at that stage now… tossing it all in … over being ‘1 of the few’, especially when im so jaded about what the school has done for zac (or lack of)…
good on you for going to the coffee. i had pre-mailed my availabilities, so be reassured there will be more than 12 on the roster of volunteers. i hear you on the cold calling though. i can’t even do this for my own business so have preempted by calling husband and asking him for donation. As for band, I was pre-warned of parent participation so put my best powers of dissuasion to use. It sort of went like “no, you can’t”. Mean mummy.
My heart’s not too heavy – I think the lead is in my brain as I must admit, I had a splitting headache after yesterday’s meeting!!! To be honest, I think the turn out was actually not too bad!! We had a meeting at the end of last year and only 3 people turned up!! It’s going to be a looong year! But I think the events themselves will be fun, so at least that’s something to look forward to (*curls up top lip).
We’re there for you!
I think emails are a much better idea…no wonder hardly anyone wants to help. You could write a cracker of an email … I bet the businesses hate the begging in person as well… think of all the volunteer hours that frees up for other tasks. Just because things have been done a certain way forever doesn’t make it the best way. Vive la revolution.
Let’s see how I go …