Northern Virginia Chapter: August 2008

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.

_______________________________________________
Find out more (click each link):
*Chapter Website
*National Website

*Holistic Mom Myths

*What is Holistic Parenting?

Find us on Facebook too!

_______________________________________________
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.
_______________________________________________
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!

_______________________________________________

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

FESTIVALS!

We are participating in/attending many festivals this fall. Please let us know if you can volunteer to staff the booths. We need your help! Thanks!

Centreville Day

Saturday, September 13 from 11 am – 6 pm.
Set up is from 7-10 am. Tear down begins at 6pm.
We will have a booth here and need volunteers to staff

Fall for Fairfax KidFest

Saturday October 4, 9am - 6:30pm
We will not have a booth, but will be meeting up to attend together as a group.

Green Festival DC

November 8-9, 2008
Saturday 10AM - 7PM
Sunday Nov. 11AM - 6PM
Washington D.C. Convention Center
801 Mount Vernon Place, NW
Washington, DC 20001
We will be sharing a booth with Annapolis Chapter. Please help us staff the booth; this is VERY important!

Up-Coming Events

Summer Potluck Series: Last one!
Tuesday, August 19, 4-6pm
Van Dyck Park in Fairfax (3730 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030-1806)
*Please bring a healthy, labeled dish to share. We will provide plates and silverware.

Consignment Store Trip:
Thursday, 08/21/2008, 10:30 AM (Rainbow the Clown starts her show at 11am)
Small Change Consignments
1629 Washington Plaza
Lake Anne Village Center
Reston, Virginia 20190
Phone: (703) 437-7730
http://www.smallchangeconsignments.com/
*Please join us for some fall shopping. The owner has agreed to a special 10% discount to all HMN members! We will take turns playing with the kids outside while other moms shop. Please RSVPto HMNofNOVA@gmail.com so that we know to expect you. See you there!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

August Meeting: Eco-Fashions

This meeting was SO much fun! We talked a lot about how the way to be most "green" with your clothing is to use, re-use, and/or re-purpose it. If you must buy something, look at thrift and consignment stores first and then go for earth-friendly choices like organic cotton, hemp, or bamboo. We had an acitivity where we broke into groups and made/changed clothing to get some more use out of them. Nina was the winner with her sweater set turned purse!
There are LOTS of notes and resources on the local Yahoo loop under meeting notes. Check them out!

Monday, August 4, 2008

Weekly Events on Hold

We have been gathering for thrice-weekly events since May, but will now change to once a week events (due to popular demand). Keep your eyes on the Yahoo! group to find out more!

Upcoming Activities and Special Events

Quarterly Special Event - "Welcome to HMN” Are you a new member? Did you join a while ago, but still don’t feel like you have a good feel for all that is available in our chapter? Do you just want to have a time to connect with other like-minded families? Please join us for a fun evening of connecting and conversation. Bring a labeled snack to share. Babes in arms only, please.
"Weekly Playgroup" Most Wednesday, some Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30-12:30 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.
"Moms' Night Out" Generally once a month evening outing for moms to connect with other moms without the distractions of child care. We often gather at local restaurants to share a great meal.
__________________________

Past Meetings

2016:

Jan - Soul Collage - Sue Ann Hastings

2015:

Jan - Mindfulness and Meditation ~ Sharon D.K.

Feb - Emergency Preparedness ~ Brian Mullery

Mar - Maximizing your harvest ~ Love & Carrots

Apr- Intro to Muscle Testing ~ Sarah L.

May - Postpartum Support ~ Postpartum Support VA

June- Homeschooling Basics & Panel ~ Stephanie Elms

July- Zero Waste Kitchens ~ Melissa S.

Aug- Stress Under Control - Dr. Allan Tomson

Sept- Introduction to Herbal Medicine: Herbs For Immunity - Beth Hall

Oct- Holistic Living Month Open House

Nov- Feel Better NOW - MELT Hand and Foot Treatment - Kim Stackman and Laura West

Dec- Annual Winter Potluck and Social

2014:

Jan - Creative Ways to Fill Your Cup (Self Care)

Feb - Couples and Attachment~Dr. Diane Hoekstra

Mar - Family Financial Planning~Jenevieve Lentz

Apr - Early Childhood Montessori - Heather Love
May - The Connected Family: a Conscious Discipline
presentation - Mandy Lloyd
Jun - Acupuncture for Everyone
Jul - Essential Oils for the Whole Family

Aug - The Case Against GMO's

Sept - Volunteering with Your Family

Oct - Holistic Living Month Open House

Nov - Herbal Medicine Cabinet - Holly Poole-Kavana

Dec - Annual Winter Potluck and Social

Feb - Couples and Attachment~Dr. Diane Hoekstra

Mar - Family Financial Planning~Jenevi

May - Homebrewing~HMN Daddies

Jun - Hair Cuts at Home~Heather Pelczar

July - Reiki~Stephanie Kraft

Aug - Fermented Vegetables~Jennifer McLaughlin

Sept - Tantrums, Whining and Backtalk~Dr. Rene

Oct - Holistic Living Month Open House

Nov - Living Beyond Autoimmune Disease~Robin Shirley

Dec - Annual Winter Potluck and Social

2012:
Jan - Gentle Sleep Solutions~Michelle Winters
Feb - Simplicity Parenting
Mar - Paleo for the Whole Family~Paleo Parents
Apr - How to Build a Healthy Immune System for Your Family~ Dr Gennaro
May -Canning 101~Bethanie and Alexa
Jun - Lyme Disease: A Holistic Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment
Jul - Intimacy and Parenthood~Dr Ruthie
Aug - Low Allergen & Whole Foods Baking
Sept - Food and Mood
Oct - Holistic Living Month Open House
Nov -Increasing Your Mobility
Dec - Annual Winter Potluck and Social

2011:

Oct - Holistic Living Month Open House

Nov - Finances for the Green Mom

Dec - Annual Winter Potluck and Social

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

Northern Virginia Chapter

WE'VE MOVED!

Find Your Tribe!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

FESTIVALS!

Up-Coming Events

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

August Meeting: Eco-Fashions

Monday, August 4, 2008

Weekly Events on Hold

General MONTHLY Meeting Information

Upcoming Monthly Meetings

Upcoming Activities and Special Events

Past Meetings

Not Near our Chapter? Check out other area chapters:

Blog Archive

Help make HMN of NOVA fabulous by volunteering!