|
Frequently Asked Questions
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 Summerville Mothers & More at:
summervillemoms@yahoo.com |
