Northern Virginia Chapter

Find Your Tribe!

Welcome to the Northern Virginia chapter of the Holistic Moms Network. Our purpose is to generate national awareness, education, and support for holistic parenting and to provide a nurturing, open-minded, and respectful community for parents to share these ideals. There is no checklist or litmus test of "holistic enough." HMN welcomes anyone who is interested in holistic health, natural parenting and/or green living. Please take a moment to browse the posts and learn a little more about us. As always, feel free to contact co-leaders, Alexa & Laurie, at HMNofNOVA@gmail.com with any questions or for more information.
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Find out more (click each link):
*Chapter Website
*National Website

*Holistic Mom Myths

*What is Holistic Parenting?

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Click here to join online and become a member.

*Scholarships are available to those in financial need.*

Click here for more information on the Helping Moms in Need program.
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We are a welcoming community!

We welcome all people, both parents and non-parents, of all races, national origins, colors, creeds, religions, sexes, ages, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We are a warm and inclusive group, and welcome you to join us wherever you are on the holistic path in an environment that does not judge. Come as you are!

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Jan meeting- gentle sleep solutions

A huge thank you to Michelle Winters for all her great info about gentle sleep solutions.

For more information:

http://www.sleepwellsleepsolutions.com/

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Finances for the green mom

Thank you to our speakers from our November meeting: Lori Allison & Kathy Gustafson

They welcome your questions and are available to help you on your financial path.

POCOCKFINANCIAL

http://www.pocockfinancial.com/

Global Brokerage Services, Inc.

3600 Chain Bridge Road, Suite B

Fairfax, VA 22030

(703) 383-0888

(703) 383-0896 fax

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Leader's Conference

Laurie and Alexa had a great time at the regional HMN leader's conference this past weekend.

What a positive day!

Alexa and Laurie with HMN Founder Nancy Massotto.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween/Harvest Party!

We had a wonderful turn-out for the party, despite changing the date. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed wonderful food. I'm already looking forward to next year!

Friday, October 28, 2011

HALLOWEEN PARTY DATE CHANGE!

After watching the weather and discussing with members on the loop, we have decided that it is the best plan to hold the party on Sunday the 30th instead of the originally planned Saturday party. All other details remain the same:

If this new date changes your ability to make the party, please send me your updated RSVP.
We look forward to celebrating with everyone!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

OPEN HOUSE!

October Meeting, 10/04/11 from 6:30-8:30pm: "Holistic Living Month Open House" Please join us for a lovely night of connecting and sharing with one another. Bring your passion, your personal experiences and recommendations, and if you would like to, a labeled "special diet" treat to share. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Work of Byron Katie

A huge thank you to Patricia Parrot for speaking to our group about The Work. For more information visit http://www.thework.com/index.php. For free worksheets and downloads to get started on The Work yourself, visit http://www.thework.com/dothework.php.

Upcoming Monthly Meetings

FEB 2012 Meeting- Feb 7: “Simplicity Parenting” Join Helene Shore as speaks about her passion, Voluntary Simplicity. She has spent time simplifying her own life, including experiencing a year of not buying anything new. She will speak about voluntary simplicity, raising children with simplicity in mind, and how to talk to kids about their impact on the environment.
MAR 2012 Meeting- Mar 6: "Paleo for the Whole Family" Join local blogger and mother, Stacy of PaleoParents.com as she shares her family’s experience with changing their eating habits to the Paleo diet. Local resources for whole foods, kid-approved recipes, and time and money saving tips will be included. Don’t miss it!
APR 2012 Meeting- Apr 3: "How to Build a Healthy Immune System for Your Family" Join Dr. Margaret Gennaro as she shares tips from her 20 years of experience as a holistic physician.
MAY 2012 Meeting- May 1: “Canning 101” Join chapter members Bethanie Mintz and Alexa Hutchins to learn the basics of canning. Equipment, safety, recipes, and a canning demonstration will be included. Come ready to cook because everyone will be getting their hands dirty and taking home some tasty home-canned goods!
JUN 2012 Meeting- June 5: “Lyme Disease: A Holistic Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment” Join a panel of experts in the field as they share their knowledge and experiences with Lyme disease. We welcome Sharon Rainey to share her personal Lyme story and Doctors Bob Johnson and Laura Asher to share the clinical side of diagnosis and treatment options. We hope you’ll join us for a very informative night of learning.
July 2012 Meeting - July 10: TBA
AUG 2012 Meeting- Aug 14: "Low Allergen & Whole Foods Baking" Struggling with creating baked goods for your family members with dietary restrictions and/or allergies? Want to make a gluten free treat but have no idea where to begin? Please join Vira Burnayeva, of http://www.gfcf-pastry.com/, as she shares her own personal story of healing her family with dietary changes and her tips and tricks from her own GF/CF pastry business.
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Upcoming Activities and Special Events

"Weekly Playgroup" Every Wednesday from 9-12 at a local park or members home. All ages playgroup. We play in or outdoors depending on the weather. Bring snacks and lunch and spend time with like minded families!
"Monthly Journal Club" Come and discuss a short article or blog post with your HMN friends. We gather at a member's home on the second Monday of each month. Babes in arms only, please.
12/22/2011, 5:30-9:00pm: "Winter Solstice Celebration" Come and celebrate the winter solstice with like-minded families at a member's home. We will gather for a potluck meal, beeswax candle making, solstice spiral, and a sun-themed craft.
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Help make HMN of NOVA fabulous by volunteering!

Greeter :
- Greet members and perspective members at the beginning of meeting and events
- Help people to sign in and get any materials needed for the meeting
- Make sure attendees know where facilities are located- Qualifications: good interpersonal skills – outgoing personality
Commitment: 6 months
Location: attend meetings – little at home tasks
Purpose: make meetings and events welcoming to new and current members.

Food and Snack Coordinator:
- Determine the amount of food/snacks needed at meetings or event
- Ask members to bring food/snacks to meetings
- Make sure to provide guidelines for healthful food as well as variety
- Remind those who have volunteered to provide snacks a week in advance
- Thank and recognize the members bringing food and snacks during the meeting
Qualifications: organized, good interpersonal skills
Location: attend meetings, some coordinating from home
Purpose: make meetings enjoyable by providing healthy snack/food options for members

Membership Coordinator:
- Maintain a database of current members
- Maintain file with meeting sign-in sheets
- Send e-mail reminders or E-Vites about meetings and events
- Communication to meeting visitors, and potential members
- Be sure all new members are signed up to local e-mail loop Qualifications: Basic computer skills, organization Commitment: Six months
Location: Attend meetings, most tasks done at home
Purpose: You are the "it" person of membership. You keep the chapter going and growing!

Speaker Coordinator:
- Maintain file of potential and past speakers
- Contact speakers to schedule a speaking engagement
- Send confirmation letter with date, time, and directions
- Call one week prior to meeting date to remind and see if speaker needs supplies, AV equipment, copies, etc.
- Have a back-up plan in case speaker doesn't make it to meeting
- Send thank-you letter to speaker after the event
Qualifications: Basic computer skills, personable, organized Commitment: Six months
Location: Attend meetings, most tasks done at home
Purpose: Your job is to coordinate speakers that our members are interested in hearing. Without great speakers and information, our chapter has no purpose.

Donations Coordinator:
- Maintain file of potential and past donors
- Contact donors to provide donations for appropriate events and meetings
- Send out donation request letters
- Send out thank you letters to donors
Qualifications: basic computer skills, personable, organized Commitment: 6 months
Location: attend meetings, most tasks done at home
Purpose: your job is to add excitement to events by procuring donations for members to win in door prizes, raffles, contests

Secretary:
- Take notes at meetings
- Send e-mail to members who couldn't come of the content of the meeting, and post on the e-mail loop
- Provide copy of chapter business notes to Chapter Leader for follow-through
Qualifications: Basic computer skills
Commitment: Six months
Location: Attend meetings, some home tasks
Purpose: Assist chapter in follow-through of plans and keep contact with members who couldn't attend meetings. You maintain a sense of community

Playgroup Coordinator:
- Develop a database of interested families, their children’s ages and locations
- Create groups of children based on age and location for potential playgroups
- Disseminate playgroup rules and guidelines
- Maintain point of contact with each playgroup for new members
- Maintain database of playgroup participants, days, times and locations
Qualifications: basic computer skills, personable, organized Commitment: six months
Location: Attend meetings, some home tasks
Purpose: Add fun and sociability for caregivers and children

Lending Library Coordinator:
- Develop a database of available materials and maintain an updated list in the files
- Keep track of materials checked out to members
- Send reminders to members with materials due
Qualifications: basic computer skills, personable, organized
Commitment: six months
Location: Attend meetings, some home tasks
Purpose: Help to educate members through resources we can share

Moms Night Out Coordinator:
- Schedule exciting events for an evening out each month
- Send e-mail reminders or E-Vites about meetings and events
Qualifications: basic computer skills, personable, organized Commitment: six months
Location: Attend meetings, Moms Night Out events - some home tasks
Purpose: Provide opportunities for moms to get together without their children to enjoy each other’s company and make new connections.

Other:
- Let us know if there are other ideas for volunteer positions that we have not thought of!
- Any skills you have to offer are always appreciated