For the April 25 issue
By:
McKnight PTA
leadership lacking
To the editor:
Rumor has it that Donna Joseph may serve another two-year term as McKnight school PTA president if nobody else steps forward. This begs the question, what is the Nominating Committee doing to seek out possible candidates for this and the other vacant positions? There has been no communication nor have we been invited to make suggestions for candidates. I believe their efforts may be improperly influenced by someone hoping no one will step forward.
To the committee: Realize that your responsibility is not to keep Mrs. Joseph happy. Rather, you are to be looking for possible candidates suitable for the positions being vacated. What means are you using? Are you prohibited from asking the parents or members for suggestions? Wouldn’t that make sense? Word of mouth networking is by definition restrictive and unfair. Responsibility goes hand in hand with accountability.
Last year the election process was drastically different than previous years. When I questioned this, Mrs. Joseph claimed "I know how these things are done!" Well, apparently not. I researched this with the help of the Mercer County PTA and found several violations which would make the election illegal. At the following meeting, I again raised my concerns (with emails from the county PTA President supporting them). Within minutes of the meeting starting, Mrs. Joseph was screaming in my face. Eventually she calmed down and attributed her uncontrollable behavior to the fact that she’s Italian (ouch!). When it was time for the "election" there was no discussion of my objections except for Mrs. Joseph repeatedly yelling "I don’t care if we’re following the rules or not." She actually said that!
Even though Mrs. Joseph has put a lot of time and energy into the PTA, she lacks the open-minded, cooperative spirit and personal control needed to be president. She has turned many people away from the PTA including diehard supporters who not only don’t go to meetings any more but have refused to even be a member.
At the urging of a concerned PTA member, I went to the March meeting. The invitation to the meeting, addressed to "parents/guardians," indicated that there would be an opportunity to ask questions. But when I asked about the Nominating Committee, I repeatedly was told that non-members (well, me anyway) were not allowed to ask questions. Mrs. Joseph claimed it was in the bylaws. When I asked her to show me, her response (after looking for it) was "I can’t find it, but I know it’s in there." She also indicated that the committee was following procedures "to the letter." We are supposed to believe her?
Don’t take my word for these things. Ask around. Ask questions of the PTA board. And if you don’t feel comfortable with the answers, call the National PTA at 1-800-307-4782. I hope the upcoming election yields a president with the necessary people skills to entice back the many people who have become disheartened with the PTA.
Hightstown
Recalling a bad
Wal-Mart experience
To the editor:
Speaking about reasons for the rejection of Wal-Mart’s request to open up shop in East Windsor (Matt Cuddy’s letter to the editor, April 11), here’s another.
My apartment has an envious quality lots of spacious closets, three of which are walk-ins. What they lack are shelving. Last year I went to the Wal-Mart in North Brunswick, with all my closets’ measurements written down, so I could be sure to buy what best suited my needs, within my price range.
Since the store had several different types of shelving and storage units, I was not sure which types to buy. So I wrote down the prices and the measurements of the various types, with the intent of bringing the information home to figure out which combination fit best. As I was writing down the information, a salesman approached me to ask what I was doing. I explained everything to him and he then walked away. I continued my search until a few minutes later when the manager of the store approached me, accused me of spying for another store (he didn’t say which) and told me I had to stop writing or leave the store. I tried to explain to the manager my intentions and even showed him my notes on all my closets at home. He refused my explanations, so I left feeling angry and embarrassed.
The next day, with much trepidation, I presented to the manager of the East Windsor Target the same explanation I gave to the one at Wal-Mart. However, Target’s manager assured me they had no problem with my taking notes, and assured me they were available to help me. I made at least three trips to Target, again writing down the measurements and prices of their various storage units. The sales people cooperated with me, offering me whatever help I needed. As a result, I bought several types of storage units suitable for the different size closets in my home, and at prices I could afford. My closets still require some more organization units, and I plan to return to Target for my future purchases.
As for Wal-Mart, I haven’t stepped foot in a Wal-Mart since that humiliating experience last year. I never will again. They are not welcome in my community.
East Windsor
Borough promoting
Volunteer Week
To the editor:
April 27 to May 3 is National Volunteer Week, and this year, the Borough of Hightstown would like its residents to show their support to our many volunteers. We ask that residents and business owners alike place a small white (8½-by-11-inch) sign in their front window and/or storefront, visible from the street, saying simply, "Thank You." A handwritten sign is fine, or for those who prefer a printed version, a colorful "Thank You" sign is available for download on the home page of the borough’s website, www.hightstownborough.com, or can be picked up at Borough Hall. I’d like to see a sign in every window during the coming week to let our volunteers who do so much for so little know that the residents of Hightstown care and appreciate their hard work.
I want to personally thank all of our hard working volunteers and those that show support for our volunteers.
Hightstown

