Meet Moms at MOMS Clubs in Whatcom County
by Theresa Carpine9/18/2008 11:53:53 AM
Login to leave ratings
Average Rating : 0.0
Starting a new phase in your life as an at-home mom can take some getting used to, especially if you’re a new mom that is also new to the area. You can always rely on the support and help from your spouse, family, and childless friends, but another great resource for at-home moms in Whatcom County is MOMS Club.
Three Whatcom County MOMS Clubs meet monthly. Find out about joining one in your neighborhood!MOMS Club, now an international non-profit organization, started in 1983 by at-home mom Mary James in California. The mother of two was eager to meet moms in her community and find playmates for her kids at the same time. The success of her own chapter inspired her and volunteers to help mothers in other cities across the country start clubs in their own neighborhoods. To date, there are over 2,000 MOMS Clubs across the country and chapters starting in countries beyond the United States as well.
The first MOMS Club of Whatcom County started in the summer of 1999. As membership swelled to over 100 members, that first club split into two chapters, North Bellingham and South Bellingham, in 2001. A Ferndale chapter was also created in 2003 to reach even more moms and kids in north Whatcom County.
MOMS Club of Ferndale Membership Vice President Jennifer Cayo, mother of two, started attending meetings three years ago. “I heard about it from a friend who kept trying for awhile to get me to join, but I kept making excuses. I finally joined because I realized I needed to connect with some other moms and find a playgroup for my son. I was glad that I made the decision to join,” Jennifer explained.
MOMS Club organizes a variety of functions throughout the year. Activities that moms and kids can enjoy together are trips to museum and pumpkin farms, as well as playgroups for all ages. They also organize just for mom events, like book clubs, Mom’s Night Out, secret sister exchanges, and scrapbook clubs. “My favorite thing about MOMS Club is that it’s helped me meet new moms with the same age kids,” Jennifer said.
Along with all these fun activities, MOMS Clubs also have a monthly meeting for club business. “We introduce board members, members, and visitors at these meetings. Then we usually discuss some of the activities and clubs that are going on and see if anyone wants to help with what’s coming up,” Jennifer said. She continued, “We have a guest speaker, play games, or break up into small groups to discuss topics that we might be dealing with in our families. We also have snacks and time to visit with other moms.”
Jennifer also noted that new members are invited to a special tea after joining so they can get to know board members and ask questions. “You can also come to a monthly meeting to learn about joining, or join before coming to a meeting,” she explained.
Membership dues are $25 a year to pay for room rentals, supplies and other club expenses. If anyone is unable to pay fees because of personal financial situations, board members will vote to waive fees. “We don’t want anyone to not join because they can’t pay,” Jennifer emphasized.
If you’re interested in joining one of the Whatcom County MOMS Club, please refer to the following contacts below: