FAQ

What is Mothers & More?

Mothers & More is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers through support, education and advocacy. We address mothers’ needs as individuals and members of society, and promote the value of all the work mothers do.

Yes, but what does all that mean?

In a nutshell, Mothers & More is about supporting moms. Local chapters provide many of the same types of activities: Monthly Meetings that feature topics of interest for our membership, Children’s Activities, Group Playgroups, Mom’s Night Out, Book Club, Volunteer Opportunities.  Some chapters are very active on a local level with community outreach and advocacy, others less so.  The membership drives the chapter, we design events & activities in response to what the members ask for.

What is Community Outreach and Advocacy?

On a national level the Mothers & More organization is committed to advocating for positive change in terms of how motherhood affects women and families regarding workplace legislature, tax legislature and heath insurance & healthcare among other things. On a local level, many chapters provide information to other mothers at community events such as the Summerville Flowertown Festival and the Scarecrow on the Square Event. We also participate in some of the local Baby Fairs sponsored by area hospitals giving new and to-be moms information about the support our group can provide.

I’d like to come to the Monthly Meetings but I have a newborn, can I bring the baby with me? Can I bring my toddler & older children?

The Monthly Meetings are designed to be a Mom’s only activity as a way to connect with other moms, take time for yourself, maybe learn a little about something new, or share your thoughts & experiences about motherhood. However, we are all moms and know that newborns have special needs, so feel free to bring your newborn or young infant if you need to. Monthly Meetings are not designed to accommodate toddlers and older children.

Do I have to join before I attend a Meeting or Activity?

No, you can attend 2 meetings/activities to see if the group is a good fit for you & your children. Please contact the Summerville Mothers & More membership coordinator if you have questions or need more information.

summervillemoms@yahoo.com

Do I have to host playdates at my house or coordinate other events?

No you don’t. Some people don’t feel comfortable hosting or coordinating events. The members who plan the calendar request suggestions and hosts for both Children’s and Moms Night Out events. There is a list of past events that the committee draws on to help design the calendar. New ideas are welcome even if you can’t host that month.  Hosting is a great way to plan activities you like or ones your children would enjoy but even if you never host an event, Mothers & More is still a great way to meet new people and do fun things. In the past this chapter has also had a Seasoned Moms group for moms with school-aged children, a Scrapbooking Group, and a Monthly Movie Night. If you’d like to start something up, go for it, if you want to just participate, make the suggestion & see what happens!

If I host a playgroup or an event do I have to provide snacks, lunch or pay for an event I coordinate? If you host a playgroup you are NOT required to provide snack, lunch etc for the kids or moms. Some members do have some snacks & juice available while other request that you bring your own. You are also not required to arrange craft projects, etc. unless you want to do so. Cost for planned (non-playgroup) events are the responsibility of the moms who attend. Generally, we try to plan events with very reasonable or little to no cost.

Is this group associated with any church or political party?

No. Mothers & More is a National Non-Profit. We are not affiliated with any religious denomination or political party. Some chapters do hold meetings at local churches because often that is the most cost-effective meeting place. Our members come from a wide variety of backgrounds, the common thread is that we are mothers and we want to connect with other mothers.

Do I have to volunteer for a committee?

No. The organization is run by volunteers both locally & nationally. There are a few paid employees at the national level but members are not obligated to volunteer for anything. It depends on you, if you want to volunteer, volunteer, if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t. The chapter cannot run with out volunteers but in our chapter we currently have about 50 members and 7 or 8 Committees/Volunteer Opportunities. Many committees have more than 2 members to help share the responsibilities. Many members sit more than 1 committee. It is a great way to get connected and some of the Committees require a minimal time commitment.

So what are the Volunteer Opportunities at for this chapter of Mothers & More?

Our Chapter #15 has the following positions/committees at present:

Co-Leaders

Membership

Calendar

Sunshine Committee

Secretary

Treasurer

Publicity

Fundraising

C0mmunity Outreach

Web Team

Book Club has a Rotating Host/Book Selection

See (Chapter Positions) for a more in depth description of our current positions/committees.  There are also a multitude of opportunities at a national level to assist from Tech Support to Regional Co-Leader Support to National Advocacy. It’s an individual choice. No one, either from a local chapter or from the national organization will ever pressure you to participate/volunteer. However if you show an interest in volunteering on a National level, there’s always a place for you! Most of the volunteer positions are handled via phone or e-mail.

How much does it cost to join?

Annual Dues are $45 per year. Of that, $14 comes directly to the local chapter for chapter related costs: Website hosting, Community Activities, Administrative Costs (Flyers, Newsletters, Postage, etc.) and other membership approved expenses.

So how do I join?

To join online go to: Mothers & More Join Online

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to where it says “How to Join” and follow the instructions.

You can also print out the form and include a check to a Co-Leader or Membership Coordinator at a Monthly Meeting or a Calendar Event.

Thank You for visiting our website, we hope you’ve enjoyed the experience!

For more information, contact the Summerville Mothers & More at: summervillemoms@yahoo.com