[Ferrybeach-news] Creating a parent mini-coop

[ferrybeach-news at lists.uua.org]

Calling all parents and adults who would like to be in cooperative support
of each other at RE and Family and Friends weeks! This email is
specifically regarding RE and Family and Friends weeks.  However, it is
also meant to inspire others to pool resources or begin dialog about
cooperative childcare at other weeks.

Are there any parents who would like to have a mini cooperative,
parent-on-duty type of thing for playground, ice cream, beach, or
non-scheduled time at FB?  Instead of competing financially for good
parent helpers, how about creating community within community?  I am
looking for any families (single parents, co-parents, grandparents...even
non-parents who like kids) who are willing to pool resources so that each
day, at a specified time, a person or group of people could be with a few
kids so that other parents can organize rooms, tents, sing, sit, breath,
shower, or whatever.  Each family would have one day that they choose, and
they can be on duty at any specific time. Each family that joins this "FB
Parent Coop" for the mere price of time and patience gets into the
rotation for the week, and in return receives scheduled time to do as they
need to remain in check.  The more adults that join, the more adults that
get a tiny chunk of down time to stay on their game.  This would avoid
having 6 or 7 parents at playground half smiling to their peers saying
"hey do you mind if I run to the bathroom?"  It would be a lot better if
we organized this pre-conference (RE and F & F) so we have at least an
idea of who would join and who would be willing to help.

If you are interested in this please contact me so we can discuss
logistics as a group and figure out a temporary schedule.  Also, I think
as parents it's a great idea to be supportive of each other.  Our time is
so limited and I would like to see more parents having time they deserve
at FB without paying someone and just being there for each other. This
will build great COMMUNITY skills.

We are in fact a mini city for weeks at a time. I want to break the
barriers that exist in the first few days as a conferee and give us all a
chance to maximize our time at FB!

Thanks for listening!  Dayna Stoddard-Himot
Please email daynahimot at redjellyfish.net or call 303-520-9834
THIS COULD BE GREAT!!!!