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!
47 members emailed their answers to the September quiz. A perfect score is not the aim; everyone who joins in the fun is entered into the drawing. The survey looked at parents and grandparents of multiples who were born in September. Answers to that quiz:

1. Born September 4, Beyonce is a 32-time Grammy winner who welcomed twins Rumi and Sir in 2017.

2. Born September 19, Joan Lunden is a former co-host of Good Morning, America who has twins (Kate and Max) who turn 21 years old this year.

3. Born Sept 22, Debby Boone, best known for the song, “You Light Up My Life,” has twins, Gabrielle and Dustin, also born in September. That makes Debby’s famous dad named Pat, a grandparent of twins.

4. Born Sept 22, Scott Baio is a dad of twins best known for his role of Chachi on the sitcom Happy Days. Sadly, one of the twins was lost early in the pregnancy; the other twin, Bailey is now 17 years old.      

5. Born Sept 25, Cheryl Tiegs is a famous model who is mom to twins Theo and Jaden, born in 2000.        

Winner of the gift card drawing is Jennie McMullin, Fairfax County Mothers of Multiples (VA). Find the September quiz at the end of this email.

Board News
The board works with our volunteers to deliver current membership benefits as well as to develop new initiatives to support and connect us. Here’s a few of our latest moves:

• Part 1 of our newly updated Member Club Manual was emailed to all National Representatives or club contacts earlier this month. Part 1 of the manual serves as an overview of our national organization and outlines member club responsibilities. Ask your club’s National Representative to tell you more! Parts 2 and 3 of the manual will be emailed later in the term, and all three parts of the manual can also be found now in the Members Only section of our website – www.multiplesofamerica.org – available for download by any member at any time.
• Our Fall Mailing 2 was emailed to your inbox just a few days ago. If you didn’t receive it, email us at info@multiplesofamerica.org to let us know.

Welcome to our New Sponsor
Our thanks go out to Twinful Life, a parenting education and support company, who has signed on as a Sterling Sponsor! Based in New Zealand, Twinful Life offers support specialized for parents of multiples. Owner Smadar Zmirin, twin specialist, provides seminars and personalized assistance for issues around sleep, behavior, postpartum and prenatal challenges and more.

One upcoming sleep seminar for 6-12 month olds will be on Fri., Nov. 8 at 3 p.m CST, and a seminar on twins’ behavior  for 1-4 year olds on Fri., Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. CST. There’s also a sleep seminar for expectant parents and parents with newborn twins planned for Wed., Nov. 6 at 1 am CST. (No worries if you’re not planning to be awake at that time. All seminars are recorded and families can access them for up to a week afterward.) Seminars are via Zoom and cost $20 per family (NZ currency, about $13 US dollars) or $150 for groups, such as club meetings (NZ currency, about $98 US dollars). Participants can attend the seminar live or request access to the recording. For a full listing of seminars and times, check out the Twinful Life website, https://twinfullife.com/seminars. The website is also a gateway to several free printed and video resources and blog entries, including a Cat Nap Checklist:  https://twinfullife.com/

Baby or Toddler Troubles?We’ve assembled a panel of experts ready to address parenting challenges with babies and toddlers for our November Zoom Connect. Questions about language development? Bedtime routines? Growing a healthy smile? We’ve gathered together a speech language pathologist, a sleep consultant, and a pediatric dentist. So it’s guaranteed, our experts have answers! It’s all happening Wed., Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m. CST (8:30 p.m. EST, 6:30 p.m. MST, 5:30 p.m. PST). Reserve your spot at: https://multiplesofamerica.org/zoom-connects/  

Step Into Our Leadership Academy
Our new Leadership Academy is an opportunity for members to build skills and connections that can be a help in guiding local, state, and national organizations. Academy participants will join in virtual learning experiences, a book study, and discussions and sharing about club management. We’re even planning a special graduation ceremony! There’s no fee for Academy participants, but space is limited. Please consider stepping into the Academy! But think quickly; there’s only a few more days to apply. Applications are due by November 1. Find out more at: www.multiplesofamerica.org/leadershipacademy. 

In Need of a Gift Card?
We’ve started a new ongoing fundraiser through Raise Right. The fundraiser offers you a chance to support Multiples of America by purchasing gift cards from favorite retailers. A percentage of each purchase is donated back to our organization at no added cost to you. Check out an article in August Club Connections to find out more, or visit the website at: https://www.raiseright.com/. The special code to use for Multiples of America is: RK3FS3ZNGYVS 

Can You Be Our Ambassador?
Our new Ambassador Program is a way for members to give back to the organization without making the year-long commitment of being a National Worker volunteer. As they say, “it takes a village” to build all of the connections we provide for members and member clubs. As an added perk, all Ambassadors are eligible to be entered into a drawing for one complimentary registration to the 2025 annual convention. Find out how you can join in:  https://multiplesofamerica.org/ambassador/

Looking for a Multiple Match?
Our Multiple Match program provides a personal connection for members in an electronic format. Sign up and we’ll work to match you with another member facing similar parenting or life challenges. It’s a match that can create a connection for support or friendship.

Right now, we are especially looking for matches for members who have:

• preschoolers
• kindergarten bound multiples
• multiples with Nemaline Myopathy
• teens with ADHD
• identical boys in middle school
• single mothers who used an anonymous donor

Join in Multiple Match at: https://multiplesofamerica.org/multiplematch/ (Note: The Members Only password will be needed to access this form.) 

Share Your Story
How has belonging to Multiples of America “lightened your load” as a parent of multiples? What’s one piece of “nuts and bolts” advice you’d offer to a new parent of multiples? What’s a way your club has “nailed it” in connecting with members or families? Help us inspire and encourage other parents of multiples by spreading the word about the power of clubs and connection. It only takes a moment to share your story. Find out more at: https://multiplesofamerica.org/buildingourstory/ 

What is Club Helpline?
Club Helpline is a monthly publication aimed at helping club leaders. An issue of Club Helpline was emailed out to club leaders earlier in the month. It’s filled with ideas for growing your club’s members (before another parade passes by), a peek at the special project coordinated by one of our recent special fund grant winners, Plano Area MOMs (TX), news for National Representatives and more. Look for the issue in the Members Only section at: https://multiplesofamerica.org/CLUB_HELPLINE/

Marge Ainsworth Scholarship
Marge Ainsworth Scholarships are awarded each year to a member who has belonged to a local club for at least the last three years (and that club is a member club of Multiples of America), the member’s spouse or multiples. When it comes to financing college, it’s never too early to start planning. Read more about the eligibility requirements and download the application form at:  https://multiplesofamerica.org/ainsworth-scholarship/

Questions? Contact Scholarship Chair Bea Reynolds at: scholarship@multiplesofAmerica.org. Deadline to apply is February 1, 2024.

Add-On Members
If you have added members to your club since your initial renewal, please let us know so we can add their names and emails to our list. Without that information, those members will not receive email communications sent to all members, such as Multiple Connections and this monthly “Special Delivery.” To add-on members after your initial renewal, go to: https://multiplesofamerica.org/add-on/.  Questions about that process? Let us know.

The Days Are Counting Down
It’s time now to start preparing your club’s group exemption filing for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2024. Go to www.multiplesofamerica.org/groupexemption, download your forms and submit them online. All clubs submitting after November 1 will incur a $30 late fee.

Fall Fun for Local Clubs

Multiple Connections (MN) spent an evening stretching and strengthening muscles with chair yoga.

Permian Basin Moms of Multiples (TX), planned for lots of sweetness on their October calendar, including a tour of a chocolate factory and their 6^th annual trunk-or-treat.

Music City Multiples (TN) gathered together their families for a bit of fun on the farm with hay rides, animal barn, and an activity area.

Let us know what’s been happening at your club. https://multiplesofamerica.org/clubnewssubmission/

Website Spotlight
Our website changes almost daily. Check out this new item:

Find all three parts of our newly updated Member Club Manual in the Members Only section of the website (in the Members Only Center under Club Membership Info).

Did you miss our October Zoom Connect, Secrets to Healthy Eating on a Budget for all ages? It’s now available 24/7 in our Zoom Connect Café: https://multiplesofamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Zoom-Cafe_Secrets-to-Healthy-Eating-FINAL.pdf.

The October press release offers an overview of our new organizational research study about the experiences of singletons who grow up with twins, triplets or more: https://multiplesofamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/October-Press-Release-2024-Research-Study-on-the-Singleton-Experience-FINAL.pdf

Send Your Ideas/Share Your Joys and Challenges
I’d love to hear from you. Let me know if you have questions 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.

THIS MONTH’S QUIZ IS CLOSED.