ChairMOMS - Our ChairMOMS wrote about what they do to help contribute to our club - THANKS ChairMOMS!

Sunshine ChairMOM
The Sunshine ChairMOM is a really fun position. What I do, is set up meals for MOMS in need of a helping hand. I know we ALL need a helping hand at some point just about everyday, but this is for times like right after someone has a new baby, when someone has surgery, a death in the family, or any kind of hardship. It is available to all of our active members, so if you are ever in need give me a call. Don't feel like you are being a wimp for asking for help - all of us need some sunshine at one time or another. Normally we schedule 4 meals but it can be arranged however it is necessary. We will mobilize a team to do whatever it takes to help out - we have even done house cleaning and babysitting in the past. To me, it is what this club is all about - being here for each other when we need it!

When I an setting up meals I go down the active roster and call or email you to let you know it is your tutn. If you don't have the time at the moment, it's no big deal. I'll call you the next time! When you get the call if you are ready to sign on, here's what we need - a full meal that would consist of main dish, side dish, and possibly a dessert. I usually just double everything I am making for my own family that night. Don't cook? You can get take-out! Order some pizza and salad! Trust me when someone is bringing you food and you don't have to cook it or do anything to get it, it is the best pizza you've ever tasted. I do usually suggest that you use disposable dishes (like Glad Ware containers) to delever food in. Try to remember that people's homes are pretty hectic when you are delivering food to them for whatever reason (think about how it was for a few weeks after you last baby was born!). Sometimes dishes get mixed up and inadvertantly not returned. It is an easy mistake that is avoided when you take food in something that you don't care if you ever see again. If anyone has questions, feel free to call or email me!

-Amy

Party ChairMOM

Throughout the year our chapter hosts parties for it's members and the Party ChairMOM organizes food, games, decorations, set up and clean up for the parties. Some of the parties we'll have this year will be a Halloween Party, the kids get to dress up in costume, a Christmas / Holiday Party, a Valentines Party, and the Open House. In years past we've also had a Mother's Day Luncheon, a Father's Day Picnic and Back to School Parties. Most of our parties are pot luck, so the Party ChairMOM organizes members to volunteer to bring dishes to pass, and works with the Craft ChairMOM to organize a craft for the kids. Our parties are one of the best attended events, so if you want to meet more members, attend a party! Just look for an email to sign up to volunteer to bring something or help with decorations and games. Or you can email Heather to help with the next party!

Throughout the year our chapter hosts parties for it's members and the Party ChairMOM organizes food, games, decorations, set up and clean up for the parties. Some of the parties we'll have this year will be a Halloween Party, the kids get to dress up in costume, a Christmas / Holiday Party, a Valentines Party, and the Open House. In years past we've also had a Mother's Day Luncheon, a Father's Day Picnic and Back to School Parties. Most of our parties are pot luck, so the Party ChairMOM organizes members to volunteer to bring dishes to pass, and works with the Craft ChairMOM to organize a craft for the kids. Our parties are one of the best attended events, so if you want to meet more members, attend a party! Just look for an email to sign up to volunteer to bring something or help with decorations and games. Or you can contact Heather at to help with the next party!

Art for your Budding Picassos

Painting without brushes. Stock up on washable paint and put on some old tees and you are ready to go! Here are some ideas to shake up your painting…

Try painting with: sponges, hair rollers, combs, rolling pins, cookie cutters, Q-Tips, string/twine, cardboard tubes, film canisters, Styrofoam and Dixie cups, fly swatters, bubble pack, ice cubes.

Put these things in a box with paint for roll around fun: marbles, golf balls, toy vehicles, rubber balls, foam balls, styrofoam balls

Water down paint: eyedroppers, spray bottles, blow through a straw.

Try painting on these surfaces: Aluminum foil, butcher paper, cardboard (tubes too!), coffee filters, freezer paper, grocery bags, paper bags, pizza boxes, table cloths, waxed paper, shipping (brown roll) paper, tee shirts.
Shop at the dollar store! Almost everything on this list is available for a dollar!
Respect children’s drawings. Display children’s art. Talk to your children about their art.

 The Golden Rule of painting is process over product. Allow your children to create and explore as they desire. This often leads to a brown messy paper with a big hole in it! Allow them to enjoy the process in an abstract path rather then setting parameters “what are you going to paint? It looks like a house.” Most of all have fun and get messy!

In Case of Emergency

I heard on the radio the other day that emergency paramedics have been trained to look for individuals’ cellular phones when they are treating an unconscious person.  They search the address book of the phone looking for relatives to contact regarding the victim.  They recommend that you list whomever you want to be notified in case of an emergency by title rather than name, i.e. Husband, Mother, Sister etc. In addition to that they recommend that you first use the abbreviation ICE (In Case of Emergency) and list the emergency contact information under that heading. This evidently is the first thing that they look for and might save valuable time in an emergency. I confirmed that this was accurate and true information with the Berkley Police and she said they did follow that procedure and while she couldn't confirm that it was standard practice in other cities she was aware that first responders here followed that protocol. I thought this might be good information to pass along to our members that travel alone with young children as a safety tip. 

- Kathy

 (Thanks Kathy for this info…if anyone has any info that you think we would benefit from, please submit it to Jessica)

Open House 2005 Results
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Open House this year! Without our members, we couldn’t have put on such a great event for potential new members. About 8 moms attended and some even took paperwork for neighbors and friends. Look for upcoming emails about new members!

Around and About
The Detroit Zoo is having its annual Oktoberfest. The event will take place in the Main Picnic Grove on Friday, 9/23 from 6 - 11 pm, Saturday, 9/24 from Noon - 11 pm Sunday, 9/25 from Noon - 7 pm (children's area open Noon - 7 pm on Sat. & Sun.). Entertainment will include the David Slivinski Band, the Oehrlein Bavarian Dancers, ect. Kids can enjoy the Children's Carnival area, which will include a moonwalk & puppet show. Tickets are $5 for all ages 2 & up.

THANK YOU DAWN!!!
A huge thank you to Dawn for hosting August's MOMS Night Out. It was a great way to end the summer. Dawn turned her house into a festive Hawaiian luau for us! She didn't miss a thing. We enjoyed Hawaiian drinks and food. The limbo contest and Hawaiian trivia were a huge hit with Jennifer and Amy winning, respectively! Dawm went above and beyond for MOMS Night Out and I know we all had a great time. Thanks again Dawn! We appreciate everyting you did and everything you do for MOMS Club!