Child Care Associations

[Blackcat31]

Anyone the head of your local association?

Anyone regularly go to their local association meetings?

An opportunity has presented itself to me about starting a local chapter of my state's child care association group.

We used to have a local chapter (about 60 miles from my town) but I have just found out that they let their membership and requirements lapse and will no longer have a chapter in the area leaving no place for anyone in the northern part of my state to attend so I am considering starting one up in my city but wanted to hear first hand how other's in the leadership role of their association felt or thought about being part of it.

[Cat Herder]

I get emails from 3 "local" FCC chapters, now. I bought a membership because I am required to for ratings. Feels warm and fuzzy to "belong" that way, I guess. :confused:

The problem is that all the meetings and free classes are during work hours or over 2.5 hours away at night. I'd still have to leave during work hours to make any of them.

They seem to ask for money often and claim to support small, independent providers BUT their own emails have the QRIS/ratings logos. IMHO, that is not supporting small providers in the least....

I'd love one that was truly what it claimed to be.

[Blackcat31]

I get emails from 3 "local" FCC chapters, now. I bought a membership because I am required to for ratings. Feels warm and fuzzy to "belong" that way, I guess. :confused:

The problem is that all the meetings and free classes are during work hours or over 2.5 hours away at night. I'd still have to leave during work hours to make any of them.

They seem to ask for money often and claim to support small, independant providers BUT their own emails have the QRIS/ratings logos. IMHO, that is not supporting small providers in the least....

That is exactly why I am hesitant.

Yes, I also HAVE to be a member of some sort of organization for the QRIS thing so thought my local association might be a better option vs the NAEYC but I am still not sold on the idea that anyone (other than me) has my (or other provider's) best interests at heart.

I want to be a "voice" I guess...especially against this union thing ( ) that is looming over us, but I still can't figure out exactly how I want to be that voice...kwim?

Lately, I just feel like I have to keep jumping through all these hoops just to stay in business etc... it used to be that this was MY business and mine alone but you, better than most, really understand this uphill battle going on with all the new regs and requirements.... and simply put, this is nothing but frustrating to say the least.

*sigh*

[Cat Herder]

I am right there with you....

I was actually joking to another local provider about opening a childcare providers, only, pub.... We can have speak easys, paste some posters on power poles and handle it the way they handled prohibition.. ::

[Blackcat31]

I am right there with you....

I was actually joking to another local provider about opening a childcare providers, only, pub.... We can have speak easys, paste some posters on power poles and handle it the way they handled prohibition.. ::

Oh my! I lovethis it!

I'd join in a heartbeat!

[AmyKidsCo]

I'm a member of our local NAEYC affiliate and served 4 two-year terms on the Board.

I'm also a member of a FCC support group but have only been a member there for about a year.

And a friend and I are discussing starting a new FCC support group because none of the ones in our area are meeting our needs.

[MarinaVanessa]

I'm not the head but after having a seat on our local child care association board for a while I was promoted to VP in January. The goal is that when our current President (who has been doing FCC for over 30 years) retires in 5-7 years, that I take her seat (it's weird the way ours works, our members don't vote on our board members but they prefer it this way *shrug* The board takes into consideration which members are the most active and help members and they get asked if they want a seat).

We are not affiliated with any other organization and although we are a non-profit most of our funding comes from annual membership "donations". We only require a $35 membership fee per year and none of us on our board get paid for what we do. We all volunteer our time.

The second largest portion of our funding comes from "donations" from local individuals and businesses. They "donate" $55 a year and get listed in our mailed newsletters as well as get ads in our email newsletters and website.

All of the funding that we receive goes towards providing workshops and training to our members (all licensed FCC providers) and towards incentives for toys and supplies which we raffle off at every workshop. Our workshops and trainings vary from CPR/First-Aid certification classes, mandated reporter trainings, sexual abuse recognition and prevention training, licensing presentations, record keeping, special needs, process art, discipline and guidance and the list goes on and on.

Our workshops are held at local restaurants which have private meeting/eating areas (most of which donate to us *hint hint) and our workshops start at 6pm for those that want to have dinner there (each member pays for their own dinner) with the actual workshop starting at 6:30pm so that providers can make it. We know how valuable weekends are to providers so we hold our meetings on weekdays only except for when we hold our open house tours (where we caravan to three different FCC homes to tour them and get ideas) which are always on a Saturday but we only do this once a year.

We also provide referral services to the community for free. Our list is of course compiled of all of our members. We promote to the entire county but the majority of our members are from my city and the next city over with only a few from surrounding cities. Our members love the free exposure as we list our member's info on our website but we only list their name or DC name, license number, general area (no addresses), schools they are close to and their phone number. If they have a website we include a link to their website.

Our emails have info like local, state and national news related to child care as well as regulation updates. We also post other training opportunities and tid bits like curriculum/activities etc. Pretty much whatever we can fit into them that's relative to family child care.

We also help with starting new FCC homes, licensing disputes, reviewing contracts and handbooks etc etc. Pretty much whatever our members need we help them with it or at least point them in the right direction.

It takes up a lot of time (for me at least) because maintain the website, handle most of the referral calls and put both the mailed and emailed newsletters together but it's fun and rewarding at the same time. Plus I feel like I pay it forward.

[kathiemarie]

I'm part of the same association and MV does a great job!

[MarinaVanessa]

I'm part of the same association and MV does a great job!

Aww thanks Kathie!! I appreciate it!! I had big shoes to fill after Becky left so I'm super glad that I am doing okay! happyface

[sharlan]

I don't even know of any in my area. If there is one, I've never heard about it.