Chapters Making A Difference

Chapter Helps Tornado Survivors Recover by Offering a Safe Place

Just before most of us were forced by Coronavirus to self quarantine in our homes, some chapters in Nashville, TN, helped families that had lost their homes in the tornados that hit the area on March 2nd-3rd. "A few of our members were directly impacted," explained...

Bringing Light to Youth

We kicked off February with our annual service project to benefit children in our community. We switched it up this year and decided to help the Lighthouse Youth Center with their After School Program. Children ages 9-18 go there after school to build positive...

Winter Supply Backpacks

The MOMS Club of Eden Prairie Minnesota often does a Fall Service Project, such as a food drive or school supply drive, but this year we decided to do something new. We contacted our local PROP (People Reaching Out to People) Food Shelf about making winter supple kits...

Ideas During Social Isolation

St Patrick’s Day With a Twist

🍀 An idea for anyone getting a little stir crazy and looking for some exercise. Maybe this is something you can start in your community? 🍀   Over the next few weeks, many of us will be increasing our time spent at home. If you have young children it can be hard to...

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Announcement for MOMS Club Luncheons and Workshops

 

UPDATE 3-16-2020: International MOMS Club Spring Events
 
All International  MOMS Club events for this spring have been cancelled, instead of postponed.  We have decided this is in the best interest of our member moms and volunteers, because of all the uncertainly and quick-moving changes in situations around the country.  
 
If you have paid a reservation fee to attend an event that is now cancelled, you will receive a full reimbursement.  The refund will be mailed to the person or chapter who made the reservation for the event.  Please allow several weeks to receive your refund, as our volunteers will need time to process all of this.
 

 

Everyone is being affected by the COVID-19 (virus (corona virus) outbreak and the MOMS Club is no exception.

 
FOR EVENTS COMING UP IN MONTANA, OREGON, MICHIGAN AND WASHINGTON:
 
The Washington State workshop is scheduled for May 2.  At this time, that workshop is still on our calendar, but we are keeping in touch with the Public Health Department there and will advise if there are changes.  It may be that this workshop will need to be postponed.  We will let you know as soon as we know.
 
The workshops in Montana and Oregon, and the Luncheon in Michigan are scheduled for April 18th.  We are seeing if these events can be postponed.  We will let you know the status of these events as soon as we know.
 
FOR THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOUNDERS DAY LUNCHEON:
 
The Orange County Public Health Department has cancelled all group activities of 250 people or more, so the Southern California Luncheon scheduled for March 28th has had to be cancelled.
 
The MOMS Club had already offered refunds to anyone who could not or did feel comfortable to attend, and now we will be sending refunds to all the chapters.
 
Because the reservations were made and paid for by the chapters, the refund checks will be sent to the chapters.  The refunds will be for the full amount that the chapter paid.  Do NOT cancel the payments that your chapter has already made, or you will be responsible for all extra costs caused by those payment cancellations.  You will receive your full refund as soon as possible.
 
In sending your chapter the full amount that the chapter paid for their reservations, International will be absorbing the costs of the electronic payments to us and supplies that have already been bought for the event.
 
Members who paid their chapters for their reservations will receive their reimbursements from their chapters, after the chapters receive their checks from International.  Please allow several weeks to receive the checks by mail to the chapters, because there are quite a few checks to send out and our volunteers will need some time to process them.
 
If your chapter did fundraisers or received donations to pay for coming to the Luncheon:
 
         Keep that money in your treasury for future International workshops or Luncheons.  Be sure to keep it separate from your chapter’s other funds in your accounting, so it doesn’t get mixed in and spent on something else.  Use only for International workshop or Luncheon reservations.
 
If your chapter created a basket to bring to the Luncheon, here’s what to do:
 
     1) You can raffle the basket locally, and send a check for the amount of the collection to: International MOMS Club, Basket Voting, 1464 Madera Rd., #N-191, Simi Valley, CA 93065.
 
     2) You can save the basket items for the next International event that has a basket competition.  Be sure that you keep an inventory of the items that have been donated to your chapter for the basket and that all items are accounted for, so nothing is missing when you bring the basket to the next event.
 
     3) One thing you may not do is use the basket items for any purpose other than raising donations for the International MOMS Club.  Donations for your basket were intended to benefit International, so that’s how the items must be used.  They cannot be diverted to another purpose.
 
    4) IF you raffle your basket off now, please send us a picture to share, with a list of what’s in it, so we can have a little bit of the fun on-line that we would have had at the Luncheon — seeing what each chapter brought and how creative you are!  Send it to support@momsclub.org.
 
At this time, we are not rescheduling this Luncheon, although we may use the theme in the future.  Also, we do not have a specific date for the usual late-summer Southern California training workshop.  We hope that we will be able to resume a normal schedule soon, but things are so fluid, we cannot give a date for when that will be.
 
While we wait for things to settle down, hug your kids and think of lots of home-bound things to do.  Thank goodness for computers and telephones that let us reach out for companionship while we’re home.  It’s been a long time, but this isn’t the first time that moms have had to hunker down at home with their kids, and it won’t be the last.  This won’t last long and together we can share our best ideas for how to keep the kids occupied if the schools are closed and meetings have to be postponed.
 
Thinking of all of you,
MOMS Club Love,
 
Mary B. James
Founder and Chairman
International MOMS Club
 

Announcement for All MOMS Clubs concerning COVID-19 (coronavirus)

 

Update 4-17-2020: As States Reopen…

As some states and areas are reopening for public activities, local MOMS Clubs may do the same, as long as they follow all state and local guidelines in their area for public health during the Corona Virus.

Remember, as you start meeting or having activity groups, that some members may choose to continue to self-quarantine, because they may have high risk individuals in their families. Be considerate of the varying needs of your members as you plan activities and keep your communications as open as possible.

If your area is allowing public gatherings and your chapter chooses to hold its elections at a meeting, please allow an absentee voting process for those members who may not be able to attend this year.

If you have any questions about this or anything else, email us at support@momsclub.org.

 

 

Update 3-17-2020
 
MOMS Club chapters are not meeting in person right now because of the coronavirus and in cooperation with the government’s efforts to slow its spread to a manageable level.  We are encouraging chapters to continue to be supportive of their members through on-line and telephone activities and connecting, instead of in-person meetings and activities.
 
For moms who are looking for chapters, our volunteers may need longer to be able to reach out to you to connect you to a chapter, because all of our children are home and it’s definitely not life as normal.  Likewise, it may take longer for the chapters to contact you.
 
 
For moms who are interested in starting a new chapter, we encourage you to register now, even if your new chapter cannot meet right now because of government guidelines concerning group activities.  If you register now, any time that you are not able to meet will be added to your registration, and you will be ready to go when the meeting guidelines are lifted.
 
We’ve been so pleased to see how cordial and understanding everyone seems to be during this difficult time.  Thank you all!

 

 

UPDATE 3-16-2020: Chapter events
 
All chapters should suspend group activities until, and unless, the health department officials in their area recommend resumption.
 
Chapters should work together with their members to create as much online and telephone support as possible for their members and children.
 
We have decided this is in the best interest of our member moms and their families, as well as the surrounding communities, because of all the uncertainly and quick-moving changes in situations around the country.
 
We realize there are often seemlingly contradictory directives coming from public health, and we urge you to follow the most conservative ones whenever possible.
 
Please share what your chapter and individual mothers are doing to make this difficult situation better.  How are you keeping your kids occupied when you can’t go to the park?  How are you keeping YOUR sanity when everyone’s experiencing cabin fever?
 
Friend us on Facebook and send in your ideas, suggestions and links to the best resources!
 

 

It’s been a very tense time recently — lots of dire warnings and scary closures.  It’s been hard to get accurate information and it seems that what information we can get bounces wildly between “IT’S REALLY DANGEROUS!” to “Everything’s Ok!”
 
One thing that’s making it particularly confusing for chapters is that our members are not generally in a high-risk group, unless they have other medical conditions.
 
Many of the actions being taken by the government are to protect those who ARE in high-risk groups — particularly the elderly and immune compromised.  It’s also to protect the overall health care system so it will be able to effectively meet all the normal demands on it, while also helping those high risk patients.
 
By slowing down the spread of the disease, it protects the emergency rooms and ICU’s in hospitals, so beds are open when people need them.  If we all get COVID-19 (coronavirus) at the same time — even though the percentage of people who might need the hospital may be small, the overall number of those needing the hospital will be too many.  People who need help would have to be turned away.  That’s what these efforts are trying to prevent.  We all want the services to be there if we need them.
 
So, what’s a MOMS Club chapter to do?  Is it ok to get together or not?  What should your chapter do?  What should your chapter not do?
 
Because the situation is very fluid and very different across the country, it’s hard for us to give a one-advice-fits-all directive, so what we are suggesting is:
 
1) Listen to your local public health department.  They will know the current conditions and risks in your area.
 
2) Each member should do what’s right for her and her family.  While the risk of serious complications from this illness are low for most of our members’ age-range, every family’s medical situation is different.  Some people may be more affected than others, or may be living in close contact with higher risk people (grandparents or others with medical conditions).
 
          Each member should do what is right for her family.  Even if most of the members feel safe getting together for a playgroup or activity, that doesn’t mean that all members will be safe doing so, and everyone should be respectful of each other’s individual decisions.
 
3) While we have not heard that COVID-19 is implicated in pregnancy problems, one of its symptoms can be a very high fever.  High fevers can be a problem for pregnancies.  We suggest that pregnant mothers, or those who are trying to become pregnant (because you might have succeeded), not attend group activities, because of the possibility of a high fever if they catch it.  We are not medical professionals, and we are not banning pregnant mothers from events.  We are suggesting that all pregnant mothers and those who are trying to become pregnant consult their doctors if they are considering attending a group activity.
 
4) Every chapter should have a behavior guidelines already in place that specifies that sick mothers or children should not attend chapter events.  Remind your members of this.  If your chapter does not have a behavior guidelines that includes an illness policy, create one.
 
5) Chapters are allowed to decide to not meet, and they may decide to suspend playgroups and other activities at this time.  A chapter definitely should NOT meet or have playgroups/activities, if the public health department in their area says that public gatherings should not happen.
 
6) Because this is a health situation, if a chapter decides to not meet, but needs to vote on something, the chapter can set up the discussion and voting online.  The chapter can choose the method, but any discussion MUST be kept cordial and positive in nature.  For example, you can discuss what should be in a behavior guideline or illness policy without disparaging others and their ideas.  The end decision is the final tally of the vote.  If a member is not online, they can vote by telephone or text.  All effort should be made for any voting to be civil, and for the experience to be positive for everyone participating.
 
7) Since chapter elections are coming up, chapters may move their election process online.  If you have a Facebook or other online interface, you can utilize that for this process, but do include a method for participating that is not online for those who are not on Facebook or another portal.  See the chapter manual for an outline of the election process and try to follow the basics as closely as possible so it is fair for everyone.
 
8) Chapters may want to set up skype or other online versions of their normal activities.  For activities like a book group, you can do this pretty easily.  Other types of activities will have to be adapted creatively.
 
9) Remember the kids if you’re cloistered at home… they may miss their playgroup friends.  They might also like to skype or facetime their buddies — a very short time waving to their familiar friends, and (if they’re old enough) talking to them, might break up some of that cabin fever and need for attention from you.
 
10) As more schools and gatherings are being cancelled, let’s share ideas for how to keep the kids busy and keep our sanity at the same time.  Send your ideas, links to your demonstrations on YouTube and pictures to support@momsclub.org so we can benefit from the energy of our moms across the country.  (Easy kids crafts, anyone?  What about recipes? Book suggestions for moms?  Videos or activities for kids?  Ideas???  You know you have ‘m — share ‘m!)  We’ll post the best to our Facebook page and website.  If you’re not connecting with us on Facebook already, follow us on Facebook now.
 
 
 
If we keep things positive and with a healthy sense of humor, we’ll get through this.  It’s not the first time schools have been cancelled and it’s not the first time there have been health concerns in communities.  It’s just been a very long time, and is a new experience for many of us.  If we support each other, we’ll come out stronger and with a lot of great ideas for any snow/earthquake/other school closure days in the future.
 
We may not be able to GET together, but we’re all in this together!  Share your ideas, how you’re doing and ways your chapter is moving forward, even if you can’t physically get together.
 
MOMS Club Love,
Mary B. James
Founder and Chairman
International MOMS Club

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New & Noteworthy from our Chapters!

 

Bringing Light to Youth

Bringing Light to Youth

Mar 10, 2020

We kicked off February with our annual service project to benefit children in our community. We switched it up this year and decided to help the Lighthouse Youth Center with their After School Program. Children ages 9-18 go there after school to build positive...

read more
Leadership in Conference 3

Leadership in Conference 3

Dec 2, 2019

Deb and Rachel at last spring's Great Lakes Luncheon in Toledo, OHSometimes happy announcements also tug at the heart strings, and this is one of those.   We are extremely proud to be able to announce that Rachel Kendall has been appointed to Conference Coordinator to...

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Southeast Founders Day Luncheon

Southeast Founders Day Luncheon

Nov 18, 2019

The Southeast Conference recently took a trip back to the 90's for their Founder's Day Luncheon, held Saturday, Nov. 9. The 58 attendees really embraced the 90's House Party theme for the first luncheon held in the region in many years. Representatives from 15...

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NW/PW Founders Day Luncheon

NW/PW Founders Day Luncheon

Nov 13, 2019

The 2019 Northwest/Pacific West Regional Founder's Day Luncheon just celebrated another successful event! Our Luncheon was held this past Saturday, November 2, in Hillsboro, Oregon. With over 160 members from Northern California, Hawaii, Alaska, Washington and Oregon,...

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Winter Supply Backpacks

Winter Supply Backpacks

Oct 25, 2019

The MOMS Club of Eden Prairie Minnesota often does a Fall Service Project, such as a food drive or school supply drive, but this year we decided to do something new. We contacted our local PROP (People Reaching Out to People) Food Shelf about making winter supple kits...

read more
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