CONTRIBUTED BY ANALICIA MCCLELLAN
1. What is the main purpose of your organization?
MOMS Club stands for “Moms Offering Moms Support“. We are a local chapter of the International MOMS Club non-profit organization and our main purpose is to support other moms here on Okinawa. We know it can be hard to be so far away from family and friends in the States and we want to find friendship, seek enrichment, make a difference in our community, help one another through the tough spots and really enjoy our time here!
2. How many members do you currently have? Are you accepting new members? Is there a limit to how many people can join?
As of now, we have around 30 members and we are always accepting new members!
3. What are the age ranges of the kids who attend your playgroups?
We have children of all ages! From newborns to school age. We have a Pre-Walkers playgroup that meets once or twice a month for babies and walkers that aren’t sure on their feet yet and our regular playgroup is open for all ages.
4. What types of activities does your group do?
We offer a wide variety of activities to suit our members. We have weekly play dates at different parks all over the island. A monthly group outing to somewhere educational or interesting- we’ve even gone to Naha & Nago! We host quarterly community service projects (sometimes more) that benefit both the military community and our host nation. MOMS Night Out is our once a month chance for some “mommy time“; a get together for just us girls. Our Special Interest groups that meet once a month (Cooking Club, Book Club, Scrapbooking Club, Weight Loss Challenge, Pre-Walkers playgroup) reflect the interests and hobbies of our members. Nursery is our on-site childcare program for meetings or other functions. Our Helping Hands program is for our moms in need, for example if one of our members has a baby or surgery or other qualifying circumstance, our members help with grocery shopping, making meals, babysitting, ect. Our Membership Meetings are held every 6wks to keep our members updated on happenings and to vote on issues or events. Throughout the year, we host Special Events or holiday parties (like our upcoming Mardi Gras “parade”). Last but certainly not least, we have a Babysitting Co-op, where our members trade childcare hours rather than pay for a babysitter. Whew, we‘re busy bees!
5. In what area, if any, does your playgroup typically meet?
We don’t have a specific area that we meet other than our Membership Meetings, held every 6wks at the Religious Education Center on Kadena. Our weekly play dates and monthly group outings are all over the island and locations are voted on or brought up at the Membership Meeting. We try to vary where we go, and we’re always looking for new, fun places to try! Most of our holiday parties and indoor activities are held at the Religious Education Center on Kadena (Bldg 856).
6. Is there ever a limit to how many people can attend specific events?
No limit! Last month we had a MNO Murder Mystery Dinner with over 30 people that attended!
7. How often does your playgroup meet?
We meet weekly for our play dates and have all sorts of stuff going on throughout the month. We send out our calendar and newsletter to our members via email the month prior as well as posting date reminders on our website and notifications on our Facebook fanpage. Our members can always reach us via email to see what we have coming up.
8. Are there any fees to join or remain a member?
We are a non-profit organization so dues go directly to support our Club functions, service projects, and cover our administrative costs. Our membership fee is $24 for the full year or $3 every 6wks (paid at our membership meetings). Dues cover your entire family, husband included. Everyone is encouraged to attend any of our events, other than MOMS Night Out- that’s for Mommies only.
9. How can someone new join your playgroup?
Our website is momsclubofokinawa.webs.com and our email is momsclubofokinawa@yahoo.com. Prospective members can contact us through either of them. New members are encouraged to attend a Club function to see if it is for them before joining then must pay dues and fill out our membership form in order to continue to attend. If you have any questions, contact our Membership Vice President at the email above – she will be more than happy to help you.
10. Do you have any additional comments about your playgroup?
MOMS Club of Okinawa started out as a playgroup on Okinawa Hai Society, “The Under 5 Crowd”. As that group grew, Candi (the Founder), had hopes for so much more! The name inhibited the group from growing, since a lot of moms thought if their child(ren) were older than 5, they couldn’t join us. We also had a vision of making a difference in our community and wanted to provide a greater level of support. Candi started looking into non-profit organizations and found MOMS Club International. It took several months to get our local chapter up and running and we’re now, finally, running smoothly and loving every minute! We’ve have a few community service projects under our belt and quite a few more upcoming ones- including a Blood Drive for the ASBP on Wed Feb 23rd at Bldg 856 on Kadena. We are so much more than just a playgroup. We’re a support system.
Thanks Joelle! Looks great!
I went to a membership drive on Kadena by the thrift store sometime fall of last year. . . Sept i think? When i arrived, i was not greeted by anyone and felt awkward and unwelcome. None of the members approached me to tell me what the group was all about and the kinds of things they offered. I had other friends who were there and they had the same experience. We all agreed that the MOMS group was not for us.
Im very sorry if it didn’t go well with you last time! We started up last August, so we were just starting out and we realize we were not very organized. Our group has gone through alot of change since then, including a board member, and we’re finally running smoothly! That’s why we’re having the Membership Drive! If you would like to give us the chance, I can promise we’re not the same group you last met.
I think this is an awesome group – I wish I had something similar when my kids were young and we were overseas and DH was deployed all the time…Good on you all for making it happen for others!
Question about the drive tomorrow… are kids welcome or no? Thanks!
Hi Susan! Kids are ALWAYS welcome at our events! Well, everything but MOMS Night Out!
Awesome! Thanks for getting back to me!
That sounds awesome, except that it’s naptime for my kiddo, lol.
Do you know when you will have another membership drive? I did not read about this in time to go. That way I can check it out before I decided to join or not.
Thanks
Tia
Hi Tia! If you want to shoot us an email (momsclubofokinawa@yahoo.com), we can give you the info for an upcoming event for you to try out before you sign up!
I would like to get an email n c if this group is for me n my princess:-) we r new here to the island n I’m SUPER home sick n at the point of wanting to go back home. I just miss everything n everyone back home. Hope to hear from u thanks
Hey Anjelita I feel the same way as you. I really am finding it difficult to like this place.
Hi Ladiies, we have disbanded from MOMS Club to be able to fit the needs of our members as a military community. We are now the new and improved Okinawa Parent’s CLUB! If you are interested in attending and event and seeing what we are all about send us an email! okinawaparentsclub@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/okinawaparentsclub
okinawaparentsclub.weebly.com
Hi i just moved to Okinawa and i’m looking to find a good play date with kids for my one year old and i read your page and it fits into what i’m looking for. and Hopefully i would meet some friends too so i wouldn’t feel so lonely lol. But if i could join it would be really nice. thank you so much!
also just wondering if you don’t have a car would it be hard to do most play dates because i won’t be getting a car for awhile since we just moved here.
Hey everyone! We just moved here with our 4 yearold little boy and I’m with you guys on the mega homesick, no car and we live off base! Lol, I need some friends! Anyone who wants to talk about anything and needs a friend e-mail me
it’s a lonely world out here!
Hey Serena I know how u feel! If u ever want to talk just email me
hello. my name is serena too. i have small boys 6 and 7 years old. one on the way. email me
Hey Serena I know how u feel! If u ever want to talk just email me and everything
Hey! I will totally e-mail you but i cant find your email :/ mine is listening.eyes@ yahoo.com if you can send me a message. We can start talking!
it’s nice to meet you!
I will do that
and nice to meet u too!
Is this club still active? I just moved here and I’m going crazy not knowing anyone. I’d like to have someone to talk to besides my 2 year old all day while hubbys at work haha
Is this club still active? I just moved here and I’m going crazy not knowing anyone. I’d like to have someone to talk to besides my 2 year old all day while hubbys at work haha
Hey kristie its still active, i have a little girl who will be two in sept. if u want to chat just email me!
Unfortunately the group is no longer active due to board members PSCing and lack of participation.