MOMS Club® of Ellington, CT: What we do...
Events Calendar:
A monthly calendar of events is emailed to all members. The activities are put on the calendar by the members, who are requested to host at least one activity per year. Every month a social and MOMS Night Out are included on the calendar. The Executive Board hosts the social. Types of activities include: park playdates, children's museums, cookie decorating, crafts, bubbles, waterplay, swimming at the lake, lunches, ice cream events, zoo visits, apple picking, etc. There are also holiday parties.
Fundraising & Community Service Projects:
As an IRS-recognized non-profit organization, we have fundraisers for charities that our members feel strongly about supporting. Some of the groups-in-need we have donated money to include: the Hall Memorial Library, Ellington Parks and Rec, The Network Against Domestic Abuse, The Mother to Mother Fund, Project Linus, and Crystal Lake Food Pantry. We also perform community service projects. Examples of past service projects include: Adopt-a-Family for Thanksgiving and Christmas, mailing care packages to troops overseas, collecting mittens and coats for those in-need, baking Christmas cookie platters for the local food pantry, and collecting food for the local food pantry.
Socials/Business Meetings:
Socials are held once a month. In the colder months, there are crafts and often snacks at the social. In the warmer months, the children enjoy the outdoors. If there is any business that the Executive Board needs to discuss with the members, it is done at this time. Elections are also held at the social. Prospective members can attend 2 socials before joining.
Playgroups:
Those members who want, can join or start a playgroup. Each playgroup sets up their own way of managing their group. Typically, playgroup members take turns hosting at their homes weekly, but they may meet in the community. Playgroups are a great way for the children and moms to make new friends!
Clubs:
Currently, we have a book club that meets monthly. In the past we have also had Supper Club, Lunch Bunch, an exercise and hiking club. Any member is welcome to start a club may do so.
Helping Hands:
Helping Hands provides meals, babysitting or other assistance during times of need. Helping Hands is mostly provided in the form of meals after a member has had a baby.
MOMS Night Out (MNO):
Even though we all love what we do, it's great to have a night out with your friends! Typical MNOs include: dinner, the movies, spa night, game night, etc.
Executive Board and Coordinators:
The Executive Board consists of the President, Administrative Vice President, Membership Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Board is elected annually and any member is welcome to run for a position. The Board hosts the monthly social and heads the fundraising and community service projects. They also plan other activities. There is a playgroup, book club and helping hands coordinator, as well as a newsletter editor, calendar coordinator and a proofreader.
History of the MOMS Club of Ellington, CT
The MOMS Club of Ellington, CT was founded in March 2002 with Tolland by the Executive Board of South Windsor. In May 2008 we split from Tolland in order to make the club a more intimate size with room to grow. Our goals include providing a forum for relevant topics to mothers, engaging in activities enriching the lives of our children, and performing service projects to benefit mothers and children. Parenting can be a very rewarding career, but it is also hard work and peer support can help relieve stress. We are here to give support and understanding to each other for the daily joys and tasks of motherhood.
History of the International MOMS Club
The MOMS Club Began in 1983 when Mary James, an at-home mother in California, decided she was tired of being alone at home. She wanted to meet other at-home mothers and she wanted to find other at-home children for her children to play with. When she discovered there were no other organizations that met during the day and allowed her to come with her baby and preschooler, she decided to start a brand new organization just for at-home mothers, and the MOMS Club was born. The chapter she started was so successful, she knew mothers in other areas must be needing the MOMS Club, too. Soon she and other volunteers were helping mothers start MOMS Clubs across the country and around the world! We now have 1,500+ chapters in the US alone and over 100,000 members! We also have International chapters starting too!
For more information about the International MOMS Club go to: momsclub.org
Events Calendar:
A monthly calendar of events is emailed to all members. The activities are put on the calendar by the members, who are requested to host at least one activity per year. Every month a social and MOMS Night Out are included on the calendar. The Executive Board hosts the social. Types of activities include: park playdates, children's museums, cookie decorating, crafts, bubbles, waterplay, swimming at the lake, lunches, ice cream events, zoo visits, apple picking, etc. There are also holiday parties.
Fundraising & Community Service Projects:
As an IRS-recognized non-profit organization, we have fundraisers for charities that our members feel strongly about supporting. Some of the groups-in-need we have donated money to include: the Hall Memorial Library, Ellington Parks and Rec, The Network Against Domestic Abuse, The Mother to Mother Fund, Project Linus, and Crystal Lake Food Pantry. We also perform community service projects. Examples of past service projects include: Adopt-a-Family for Thanksgiving and Christmas, mailing care packages to troops overseas, collecting mittens and coats for those in-need, baking Christmas cookie platters for the local food pantry, and collecting food for the local food pantry.
Socials/Business Meetings:
Socials are held once a month. In the colder months, there are crafts and often snacks at the social. In the warmer months, the children enjoy the outdoors. If there is any business that the Executive Board needs to discuss with the members, it is done at this time. Elections are also held at the social. Prospective members can attend 2 socials before joining.
Playgroups:
Those members who want, can join or start a playgroup. Each playgroup sets up their own way of managing their group. Typically, playgroup members take turns hosting at their homes weekly, but they may meet in the community. Playgroups are a great way for the children and moms to make new friends!
Clubs:
Currently, we have a book club that meets monthly. In the past we have also had Supper Club, Lunch Bunch, an exercise and hiking club. Any member is welcome to start a club may do so.
Helping Hands:
Helping Hands provides meals, babysitting or other assistance during times of need. Helping Hands is mostly provided in the form of meals after a member has had a baby.
MOMS Night Out (MNO):
Even though we all love what we do, it's great to have a night out with your friends! Typical MNOs include: dinner, the movies, spa night, game night, etc.
Executive Board and Coordinators:
The Executive Board consists of the President, Administrative Vice President, Membership Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Board is elected annually and any member is welcome to run for a position. The Board hosts the monthly social and heads the fundraising and community service projects. They also plan other activities. There is a playgroup, book club and helping hands coordinator, as well as a newsletter editor, calendar coordinator and a proofreader.
History of the MOMS Club of Ellington, CT
The MOMS Club of Ellington, CT was founded in March 2002 with Tolland by the Executive Board of South Windsor. In May 2008 we split from Tolland in order to make the club a more intimate size with room to grow. Our goals include providing a forum for relevant topics to mothers, engaging in activities enriching the lives of our children, and performing service projects to benefit mothers and children. Parenting can be a very rewarding career, but it is also hard work and peer support can help relieve stress. We are here to give support and understanding to each other for the daily joys and tasks of motherhood.
History of the International MOMS Club
The MOMS Club Began in 1983 when Mary James, an at-home mother in California, decided she was tired of being alone at home. She wanted to meet other at-home mothers and she wanted to find other at-home children for her children to play with. When she discovered there were no other organizations that met during the day and allowed her to come with her baby and preschooler, she decided to start a brand new organization just for at-home mothers, and the MOMS Club was born. The chapter she started was so successful, she knew mothers in other areas must be needing the MOMS Club, too. Soon she and other volunteers were helping mothers start MOMS Clubs across the country and around the world! We now have 1,500+ chapters in the US alone and over 100,000 members! We also have International chapters starting too!
For more information about the International MOMS Club go to: momsclub.org