Windham Moms Alliance (“WMA”) Policies & Application

Updated: January 15, 2020

General Policies

Donation Policy

Any member in good standing looking for a donation from the Windham Moms Alliance, must submit a request to the Directors which includes the following:

  • What are you requesting?  
  • Dollar amount
  • Purpose of the donation
  • Background on the organization or cause 

Moms in business

While there is a Windham Moms in Business page, where mompreneurs can promote their business, there are times when this promotion will be showcased in the main WMA group.  In addition, there are times when a MNO may occur at the place of employment for a member.  In doing this, the Board is choosing to support moms, but the board is not choosing to choose one business over the other.  Each mom in business is welcome to promote and event. 

Social Media Policy

Digital Media Do’s and Don’ts

Members of the Windham Moms Alliance should keep the following in mind when interacting with other members through social media platforms.

Do’s:

  • Refer to the Facebook group for the WMA event calendar.
  • RSVP to events on Facebook.
  • Treat each other with courtesy and respect.
  • Feel free to post honest feedback whether positive or negative. However, if negative feedback is being posted, provide a description but no details OR preferably, have an offline conversation (e.g., via private message) about the reasoning for negative feedback (i.e., feedback on a business, etc.)
  • Feel free to hide posts that you may not be to your liking.
  • Use social media platforms to engage with members, ask questions, gain support, seek advice, suggest a meet-up, coffee date, etc.  
  • Offer support to other members, “like” posts (when appropriate), respond to posts (when appropriate)

Don’ts

  • Share any content of the WMA from Facebook, newsletters, membership lists, etc., with other groups or persons via screenshot, share feature, email, etc.  Any member being found doing so will receive a written warning.
  • Utilize name calling about other participants within the WMA.
  • Use the Facebook group as an area to confront others.
  • Use the Facebook group as a platform to voice political views and/or rally support for a political cause.
  • Block admins (Board Members)

Facebook Groups

The Windham Moms Alliance offers members a few Facebook groups: Windham Moms Alliance group, Windham Moms in Business, Windham Moms Alliance Coupon and Deal Exchange, and the “Class of…” groups depending on the projected graduation date(s) for member’s children.  

Windham Moms Alliance group is the main group for members and Board members:

  • Communication between Directors and members
  • Safe space for members to ask questions, look for support and recommendations, etc.
  • Platform used to post about Alliance-sanctioned events

The main Facebook group has a few guidelines and expectations for all participants:

1. Be Kind

Let’s keep this a welcoming environment. Treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are fine, but no name calling or being unnecessarily rude.

2. Respect Everyone’s Privacy

What’s shared in here, stays in here. No screenshots or sharing any content outside of this group. First offense will result in a written warning, subsequent offense may lead to membership revocation.

3. Events

All members are welcomed and encouraged to post about and invite others to play dates, coffee meetups, walking dates, etc. A Facebook event will be created for all Alliance-sanctioned activities.

4. RSVP to Events

Members should RSVP to events, on the Facebook event itself, whether or not you can attend. This helps coordinators best plan for the event.

5. Honest Feedback

Feel free to post honest feedback, whether positive or negative. However, if negative feedback is being posted, provide a general description but please share details via private message.

6. No Politics

We understand everyone has their own political views and passions.  For the purposes of this group, we ask you to refrain from voicing your views of National politics and/or use this group to rally support for your view.  This group can be used to advocate for and/or rally support for matters that affect our children, families and town. 
7. Be Supportive

To keep this group welcoming for support, we ask that you keep posts in here to support, questions/advice about motherhood, and Moms Alliance events. Please utilize our subgroups for other topics.

8. Moms in Business

Self-promotion is allowed in the Windham Moms in Business subgroup. Moms with businesses may create two posts a year in this group. You may bump your post to remind moms if it’s an event.

9. Deals and Coupons & Buy/Sell/Trade/Yard Sale

To share a deal/coupon, please use subgroup, Windham Moms Alliance Coupon and Deal Exchange. Please use subgroup, “Windham Moms Alliance “ – Buy, Sell, Trade, if looking to sell or buy something.

10. Fundraisers

If your kiddos are having a fundraiser you want us to know about, please use the fundraiser post which is at the top of the group as an “announcement”.

Windham Moms in Business.  This group offers Moms in business the opportunity to promote their business and network with other Moms.  This group supports and encourages “Mompreneurs” in Windham. 

  • All members must also be a member of the Windham Moms Alliance. 
  • All posts should remain positive, supportive and encouraging. 
  • Members are asked to only post about their own business.
  • Business owners will be limited to 1 business/product related post per week.
  • Non-business members are free to post questions, comments, etc. 

Conduct

Aggressive Behavior

Aggressive behavior consists of hair pulling, hitting, biting, kicking, or any behavior that may endanger another child.  

If any child demonstrates aggressive behavior, the child’s mother should remove her child from the area and activity for a short time.  After the “time out,” and once the child calms down and changes behavior, he/she can resume the activity.  If the child continues to exhibit persistent aggressive behavior, that child should be removed for the remainder of the event or activity.  Please keep in mind that some behavior is considered “appropriate” for certain ages and not for other ages.  For example, biting will occur more frequently in toddlers since they don’t have the ability to express how they feel.

Alcohol

At events where alcohol is served, members who choose to consume should consume responsibly.  If member’s behavior causes concern to another member of the WMA or the venue, the member may be asked to leave the event.  No reimbursement of fees will be given, a written warning may be issued, and the member may need to talk to members of the Executive Board.  If a member of the Alliance bring a guest, and the guest’s behavior causes concern to another member of the WMA or the venue, the guest and member-host may be asked to leave.  

Under most circumstances, children shall not be permitted at events where alcohol is being served and/or consumed.  The exception to this is nursing infants.

Common Courtesies

  • Treat children and adults with a common level of respect at all events.
  • No smoking, drinking, or drug use at any WMA events where children are present.
  • The WMA directory is for internal use only.
  • You are responsible for your own child(ren) at all times.
  • Do not arrive to any WMA Event under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances.  

Membership 

Prospective Members

Prospective members may attend one Activity Meeting or Alliance-sponsored event, prior to paying dues and becoming a member.  However, they may not vote or participate in activity groups until they have paid their dues and become a member in good standing. 

Once the prospective member becomes a member in good standing with the Alliance, she will be welcomed to join the various social media groups associated with the Alliance.  This includes the Windham Moms Alliance Facebook group, Windham Moms in Business, Windham Moms Alliance Coupon and Deal Exchange, Windham Moms Buy, Sell, Trade, and the appropriate “Class of…” group.  

Roster of Members

A roster, consisting of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all members in good standing shall be updated by the Membership Vice President as new members join the Alliance.  At least once a year, a roster will be shared with all members in good standing.  Additional information may be included in the roster at the discretion of the Executive Board. 

Only the names of members in good standing may appear in the roster and only members in good standing may have access to the roster. The roster may be used for alliance business only and may not be used for business, political or religious purposes. 

Therefore, groups affiliated with the Windham Moms Alliance, who welcome non-Alliance members, are not permitted to share this roster with their group.  

Revocation of Membership and Disputes

Any member who violates the rules within this document or the WMA policies shall receive a warning. If there is a subsequent violation, membership may be revoked by a two-thirds vote of all Executive Board of the WMA. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to WMA, shall try to be settled between the member and the Board. If it can’t be, it shall be settled by arbitration, administered in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, administered by a licensed Arbitrator in the jurisdiction closest to Windham, NH, and the arbitration award may be entered for judgment in any court having jurisdiction thereof. In no event shall an award in arbitration initiated by a member exceed the amount of dues paid by the member in one annual membership.

Denial of Membership.  

A prospective member convicted of moral turpitude, including but not limited to, murder, rape, fraud, arson, and the like, will not be afforded membership into the Windham Moms Alliance

Events & Activities

Windham Moms Alliance events and activities will be publicized in the Windham Moms Alliance Facebook group, and an individual event will be created where all members are invited to attend.  Specific policies and procedures regarding these events and activities follows:

RSVP Policy

To facilitate the planning of events please RSVP to events.  The RSVP contact info can be found in the Newsletter activity descriptions and in the Facebook group.  The group will wait five minutes before starting the activity.  If you cannot attend an event you replied “yes” to, please contact the activity host directly.

Attending Events When Sick Policy?  Health Policy

All moms need to be sure their child/children are well when attending a WMA activity.  Out of respect for other families, you should not bring your child or yourself to a WMA event if any of the following conditions exist:

  • They have run a fever of 100.4 or higher within the last 24 hours.
  • They have had vomiting or diarrhea within the last 48 hours.
  • They have been on an antibiotic for less than 24 hours.
  • They have a contagious illness such as conjunctivitis.
  • They have a cold with discolored nasal mucous or a persistent cough.
  • They have an undiagnosed rash or skin infection.

Who Can Attend Events

Family Events:  When an event is classified as a “Family Event”, and Mom is unable to attend the event, the child’s other parent may attend.  Nannies, baby-sitters or other care-takers, over 18 years of age, may attend, but the member needs to notify the coordinator of the event with the name of the nanny, baby-sitter or care-taker.

Moms Events:  When an event is classified as a “Moms Event”, only Moms and their children are permitted to attend.

Children Attending Windham Moms Alliance Events Policy 

Children are welcome at all Mom-Child or Family functions and should be accompanied by the member parent. Attendance by children accompanied by adults other than parents must be approved in advance by the Directors. 

Parents, or the adult bringing the child to an event, are responsible for the actions and safety of the child at all times. The Windham Moms Alliance is not responsible for the actions or safety of any children at any time. 

Parents may be required to remove disruptive or ill children from meetings or activities. The final decision of whether a child is disruptive or ill rests with the Directors, which shall use the same criteria for all children. The Directors may, if it deems necessary, require a doctor’s written statement attesting to the health of any child. 

Nursing of infants and toddlers is perfectly acceptable at any support group function and shall not be discouraged in any way. 

Payment, Registration and Cancellation

PayPal is the preferred method of payment for all Windham Moms Alliance financial transactions, including but not limited to paying dues and registration fees when required to attend an event or activity.

When members register and pay for an activity or event, they fall under the cancellation policy of the venue. 

  • If the venue has a no refund policy, then the member who cancels does not receive their money back.
  • If the venue provides a refund, then the member who cancels receives their money back.  

Snack Policy

All snacks at WMA activities and events must be peanut/nut-free due to the children with life-threatening allergies within WMA.

Toy Policy

If you bring toys to an event or host a playgroup, please avoid “mouth” toys and choking hazards.

Liability Waiver

I, THE UNDERSIGNED, UNDERSTAND THAT MY PARTICIPATION AND THE PARTICIPATION OF ANY MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY IN ANY WINDHAM MOMS ALLIANCE (“WMA”) ACTIVITY OR PROGRAM IS COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY, AND WE HEREBY GIVE PERMISSION FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY TO JOIN IN THOSE ACTIVITIES OR PROGRAMS.  MY FAMILY SHALL HOLD HARMLESS WMA, ANY WMA VOLUNTEERS OR REPRESENTATIVES, PAID OR UNPAID, AND/OR THE PROVIDERS OF ANY ACTIVITY OR PROGRAM LOCATION AND/OR MATERIALS FROM ANY LIABILITY AND/OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ACCIDENT, ILLNESS OR INJURY THAT OCCURS DURING OR AS A RESULT OF ANY FUNCTION OR PROGRAM. I ACCEPT THAT THE FINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY FAMILY RESTS WITH ME. PHOTOGRAPHS, AUDIO RECORDINGS OR VIDEOS MAY BE TAKEN DURING ANY WMA ACTIVITY AND USED FOR WMA NEWSLETTERS OR WMA DISTRIBUTION. A MEMBER MAY REFUSE THEIR CHILD(REN) TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED EITHER VERBALLY OR IN WRITING TO A BOARD MEMBER. 

Sharing of Provided Information

ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED AS PART OF THE WMA APPLICATION PROCESS (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM AND VIA EMAIL) MAY BE INCLUDED IN THE GROUP ROSTER OR NEWSLETTER. IT WILL ALSO HELP US PLAN FUTURE ACTIVITIES. IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR THE GROUP, PLEASE DISCUSS IT WITH A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD!

If you feel the problem has not been resolved, please contact a board member.

I have read the above policies and agree to abide by them.

    I have read the above policies and agree to abide by them. I also agree to pay the $25 annual dues and either complete an in-person or zoom meeting as a part of the application. The meeting may be waived if you are referred to the group by a current member in good standing.

    Full Name:

    Email:

    Phone Number:

    Address:

    Children's Ages:

    Partner's Name:

    Partner's Contact:

    Link to Facebook Profile:

    Date Signed:

    Your Signature (Please use your mouse to sign):