Club and Chapter General Information

Is the MOMS Club of Sunnyvale part of a larger group?

Yes. It is a chapter of the International MOMS Club. Our chapter was established on March 1, 2001 when it was “sistered” from the MOMS Club of San Jose.

Can you tell me a little more about the club?

The MOMS Club of Sunnyvale is a nonprofit corporation and a 510 (c) (3) publicly supported charity registered with the IRS. MOMS is short for Moms Offering Moms Support. The club was designed for full-time and part-time stay-at-home mothers and their children. The club is a place where moms gather together to share the challenges and joys in their everyday lives and educate other moms through their experiences. It gives both moms and their children an opportunity to form an interactive social network where they can learn from each other and develop long lasting friendships. Usually the club meets during the day, when mothers need the most support.

 

Dues

Are there annual dues for the club?

The dues are $35 a year. Checks should be made payable to “MOMS Club of Sunnyvale” and may be mailed to the club's P.O. Box or handed directly to the treasurer.  Credit card payments can be made directly through the club website.

What are the dues used for?

The membership dues are used for the everyday administrative costs of the club including our annual charter fee, meeting room rentals, supplies, postage, and advertising. As a non-profit organization we are also required to give a percentage of our proceeds to charity each year. On average, 80% of all money we collect is given to local charities benefiting women and children in need in our community.

 

Participation

What is required of members?

We ask that, at a minimum, all active members host one club activity per quarter.  Opportunities to volunteer to help with club projects, board and coordinator positions, and other club activities are announced via email and through the newsletter throughout the year.

How do I host an activity?

Each month we have a monthly meeting where club business is transacted and the calendar is scheduled for the following month. If you can't make a meeting, you can simply contact a board member in advance who will make sure your activity gets on the schedule. We ask that you host at least one activity per quarter so you can stay familiar with all the club members.  If you need hosting ideas, please feel free to check the "Hosting an Activity" page in the documents section of the website once your membership is active and you have logged in to the website.

 

Club Activities

What kind of activities do you have?

Park Days
Park days are our all-time favorite activity. Generally, park days are held twice a week (weather permitting) during the morning hours at a local park. We meet at different local parks throughout the month to get ourselves and the kids out of the house for some fun playtime and mingling. At times, we also have afternoon park days to accommodate those mothers who can't make it in the mornings. On rainy days, park days are canceled unless otherwise re-scheduled by the host. Prospective and new members are encouraged to attend a park day and can send an email to membershipvp@svmoms.org for further information.

Monthly Meetings
These meetings are held once a month in the afternoons, and are usually held at a park or in a park building. Kids are more than welcome to join in on the event. During these meetings, club-related issues are resolved and the the next month's calendar is discussed. If you would like to host an activity during the month, this is the time to speak up. If you cannot make the meeting and you would like to host an activity, please let one of the board members know. New members are encouraged to attend one general meeting before signing up with the club and can send an email to membershipvp@svmoms.org for further information.  *** Elections are held once a year during the month of June where members are voted in. You must be at the meeting to cast your vote.

Activity Groups
The MOMS Club sponsors adult activity groups for members with common interests. These change as interests change, but include: book club, walking group, cooking co-op and craft club. Some of these groups include children, others are adult-only activities. If you are interested in one of these groups, let one of the board members know and they will get you in contact with the group leader. If you have an interest that you would like to share with others, talk to the Administrative VP about how to start your own activity group.

Mom's Night Out
Leave your kids behind with your husband or get a babysitter for the night. MOMS Night Out is a MOMS only event and occurs once a month. During this time, moms are given the opportunity to join together and mingle with other moms without their kids. Some past events have included attending a comedy club, pottery painting, dinning out, bowling and game night. It's a great way for moms to relax and pamper themselves.

Field Trips
Each month we offer one or two field trips to a common place of interest during the day. Generally, all ages are accommodated when possible. Great outings include the Children's Discovery Museum, Happy Hollow Zoo, pumpkin patch or the local fire station.

Parties
These are get togethers to simply have fun or to celebrate the holidays such as Christmas, Valentines Day, or Halloween. Parties are usually held at a member’s home and are pot-luck and/or require a small donation. Parties often consist of activities, crafts, lunch and lots of play time.

Lunch Bunch
Lunch dates occur once a month and give both moms and their kids a chance to get out of the house. Moms might decide to meet up inside a shopping mall play area and then go and grab a bite to eat, or they might meet up at a local restaurant. These lunch dates are always at kid-friendly places.

Playgroups
Playgroups are one of the top reasons members join the club. Our playgroups meet once a week either at a member's house, local park, museum, or zoo. Playgroups are generally grouped according to age. This is a great time for babies to have fun with babies, little tots to mingle with little tots, and for moms to interact with other moms. Everyone's happy. If you are interested in joining a playgroup, contact our playgroup coordinator via the website.

Walking Group
Put on your walking shoes, grab your kids and your strollers and come and join us through a leisurely walk through a local park. This is a great way to get a good cardiovascular workout and get some fresh air. Your kids will definitely admire the scenery that surrounds them. You might even want to reward your kids after they've given you an opportunity to enjoy your walk by taking them over to the playground area in the park.

Babysitting Co-op
The co-op allows moms to leave their children with other moms in the club at no charge without being concerned about their child's well-being. If you ever need a babysitter in the club, can choose the members you feel comfortable with and ask them if they are available. Hours accumulate in a point system, with a balance sheet posted once a month. If you need more information pertaining to the co-op, please send an email to the Babysitting Co-op Coordinator.

 

Community Service Projects
Each chapter is asked to complete at least one service project per year benefiting families and children in need. Any proceeds from the fundraisers are donated to charities and the less fortunate. Past proceeds have been donated to charities such as Home Safe and the Support Network for Battered Women. Please send an email to the Administrative VP for any ideas you might have in regards to future community service projects.

How do I find out about club activities?

We upload the club calendar to the "Event Calendar" section of the club website each month.  Activities that require RSVPs or registration have a "Register Now."   Updates to the calendar and other activities related communications are sent via email through the website distribution system. 

What is a playgroup?

One of the most popular reasons moms join our club is to be part of a playgroup. This is a small group of moms with children of similar age who meet once a week just to play and chat with other moms. We have several different playgroups available. Each playgroup has their own discussion forum on our website to help facilitate coordination.  Also, we have a Playgroup Coordinator who is available to help if you need assistance in finding the right playgroup for you.  If you don't find a playgroup that meets your needs you can always create a new one.