A bit of news to keep you in the know about things happening with Multiples of America. Be sure to check out the quiz at the bottom for your chance to win a gift card!
 
A Winner!
23 members emailed their answers to the March quiz. Everyone who joined in the fun was entered into the drawing. Winner of the gift card drawing was Terrin Thomas, Greater Orlando Mothers of Twins and Triplets (FL).
 
Board News
The board is working with our volunteers to deliver the services and benefits you enjoy from year to year as well as to develop new initiatives focused on support and connection.
• Just in time for summer, our May Zoom Connect will focus on vacation planning. We’ll be joined by an expert travel planner who is also a parent of multiples, Jackie Ver Meer. Plus, there’s YOU. Join us to share your travel tips and favorite destinations. Reserving your seat is easy. No passport required. Takeoff time: Wed., May 10, 7:30 p.m. https://multiplesofamerica.org/zoom-connects/
• The 2023 edition of Your Multiples & You is now available for download! This is a great publication to share with expectant and new parents of multiples. This edition is filled with updated and relevant content and has a colorful, eye-catching design. Check it out, even if your multiples are years past the days of needing a stroller: https://multiplesofamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/YMY-FINAL_03_2023.pdf
• We are once again looking for your club’s “Member of the Year.” This is a special honor to recognize of the efforts of one member of your club who goes above and beyond. Each club selects its own “Member of the Year.” All honorees will be announced and celebrated at our annual convention. (Convention attendance is not required to receive the award.) Look for information on how to submit your club’s choice in the Dues Renewal Mailing III, which will be emailed to your club’s representatives in early May.
 
Three Mailings
Your club contacts (most often the President and National Representative) will receive three important mailings in the coming weeks: Credential Mailing, Election Mailing, and Membership Renewal Mailing.
 
Convention News
“Do the work today to create the tomorrow of your dreams,” advises our Keynote Speaker, Joscelyn Ramos Campbell. The Events Department is taking that advice to heart and is hard at work to make the dream of our convention become reality! Exciting workshops have been finalized, plans for special events are taking shape and most importantly food choices have been made for lunch and party times! You can find all those details in the convention booklet online and while you’re there, you can register for convention!  
 
Registration will be opening online during the week of April 17! Keep checking the website, www.multiplesofamerica.org, or watch for an announcement on social media.
 
Thanks go out to the Mountain States Mothers of Adult Multiples (AZ), Flamingo MOMs (FL), and Multiples of Florida (FL state organization) for their offers to assist with convention by hosting one of the events. Thanks, also, to several members and National Workers who have offered to help by providing items for raffles, leading networking discussions, hosting an event, welcoming attendees, and more. Send an email to Events Vice President, Kim Simonich, events@multiplesofamerica.org if you would like to share a bit of your time, talent, or expertise for our annual meeting.
 
Thinking of joining us in Orlando for convention…and perhaps planning a day (or two) around Orlando as part of the adventure? South Florida MOMs (FL) has an offer you might want to consider. They are selling tickets to Universal Studios at a reduced price as a club fundraiser. Look for more information about the tickets in the March issue of Multiple Connections, https://multiplesofamerica.org/multipleconnections/
 
Speaking of dreaming big… Multiples of America is offering your club a chance to turn your dreams into reality. Our 2023 Special Fund Grant opportunity, which is administered by the EDGE Committee, is now open. The grant offers funds for new or expanded projects that are created or directed by member clubs. Proposals can be for projects up to $500. Deadline to apply is May 31, 2023. Look for more info, grant writing tips, and a grant application in the Members Only section of the website (under EDGE Fund) https://multiplesofamerica.org/specialfundgrant/
 
Multiples Across America Month
I got my medal for joining the MBA Virtual Run/Walk. Have you?
 
Once you complete your 1K or 5K, just record your time at: https://multiplesofamerica.org/mba_virtualrun_timereport/. We’ll email you a virtual medal you can print off or post on social media.
 
A special thanks to all those who registered for the walk and joined in raising awareness for multiple birth parenting…one step at a time. It’s too late to register and get a t-shirt, but it’s not too late to join in the walk and get your virtual medal! Just hit the streets, and record your time when you’ve finished.
 
It’s also not too late to make a gift in any amount in honor of Multiple Birth Awareness month. Every dollar makes an impact: https://multiplesofamerica.org/general-fund/
 
We’ve also had several special posts on social media throughout the month to celebrate how our organization and members “Dream BIG…One Step At A Time.” You can double check you’ve seen them all by looking back through our Facebook or Instagram accounts.
 
Multiple Connections
Remember Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, making her way down the yellow brick road with the scarecrow, lion, and tin man? Ever think that’s a bit like a parents of multiples club? If that seems like a strange connection, check out the first story in the March issue of Multiple Connections to find out more. There are also stories about the college-bound experience, a research study involving same-sex multiples ages 7-10, the volunteer experience, and more. If you missed the email, you can find it all online in the members only section: https://multiplesofamerica.org/multipleconnections/
 
State Organization News
Texas Mothers of Multiples is golden this month. They will celebrate their 50^th anniversary at their convention April 28-30. Hosted by the Fort Worth Mothers of Multiples, the event promises to be a Cowtown style, red carpet celebration where “all that glitters is gold.”
 
Pennsylvania Organization of Mothers of Multiples Clubs is also celebrating a golden anniversary this month. They will celebrate how “Friendship Is Golden” when they gather at the Valley Forge Casino Resort.
 
Multiples of Illinois held a Family Awareness Panel as a part of their annual spring workshop. The panel was a time for attendees to share thoughts, feelings, and stories about anxiety, postpartum depression, and other mental health concerns. The panel was composed of friends who had experience dealing with each of these issues.
 
Watch for This
Our website is growing and changing almost daily. Check out this updated item:
• Education of Multiple Birth Children Toolkit. It’s a set of resources specific to educating multiples, complete with newly updated Club Tips on handling school issues and supporting families with special needs children. Scroll down in the Members Only section to find the kit.  https://multiplesofamerica.org/members-only-center/
 
Local Clubs Fun and Fundraising
Multiple Connections (MN) held its annual benefit night in March. They had dinner together first, then traveled on to help the charity Second Stork, which provides infant-care essentials to families in need, by putting items into packs for the families to take home upon discharge from the hospital.
 
Glass City Moms of Multiples (OH) had a mini-basketball bracket game at their March meeting/luncheon followed by a tour of a cupcake shop.
 
Arlington Mothers of Multiples (TX) have been offering to egg people’s yard – as a fundraiser, of course! They held an “Egg My Yard Fundraiser,” promising to paint a bunny trail and sprinkle eggs in the yards of those who reserved a spot.
 
Phoenix Valley Mothers of Multiples (AZ) continues their string of IG Takeovers. Members volunteer to sign into the club’s Instagram account and let others take a peek into their busy days, complete with sharing tips and favorite recipes. The club also recently completed a project near and dear to their hearts, constructing a memorial Little Free Library at Royal Palms Park in honor of a club member and her three children who were killed in November 2022.
 
Send Your Ideas/Share Your Joys and Challenges
I’d love to hear from you. Let me know what questions you have about any of these items or other services provided by Multiples of America. Share some news about your club: its successes or challenges, or about your personal joys or challenges on your parenting journey. Contact me at president@multiplesofamerica.org
 
Take a Quiz
The National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs, Inc. (now known as Multiples of America) was organized in 1960. Sparked by an idea, 78 women gathered together for that first meeting. They had the vision to “Dream BIG” about support and educational services for parents of multiple birth children, as they laid the foundation for an organization that has continued, grown, changed, and morphed for over 60 years. Our quiz this month looks at a few highlights from those 63 years of history.
 
1.     Costs to publish the fourth issue of the organizational newsletter were underwritten by Walt Disney Productions as a way to publicize their movie release of:
         a. The Parent Trap
         b. 101 Dalmations
         c. Mary Poppins
         d. The Prince & The Pauper
 
2.     For our 1970 Convention in Boulder, CO, attendees stayed in a:
         a. mountain chalet
         b. glamping tent
         c. university dormitory
         d. newly remodeled luxury high rise hotel
 
3.     The Executive Office was modernized in 1982 when the membership approved the lease of a:
         a. mimeograph machine
         b. micro-computer
         c. fax machine
         d. window air conditioner
 
4.     Our Executive Office has moved over the years, being located in all of the following states, except:
         a. New Mexico
         b. Ohio
         c. Florida
         d. Maryland
         e. Michigan
         f. Tennessee
 
5.     Multiple Connections, our organizational newsmagazine, used to be titled:
         a. Welcome, You Are In the Best Company with National
         b. The Twin Gazette
         c. MOTC’s Notebook
         d. Multiple Reflections
 
How many do you think you got correct? Email me your answers at president@multiplesofamerica.org
Those who join in the fun will have their name entered into a drawing for a gift card!