A bit of news about things happening with Multiples of America. Check out the quiz at the end for your chance to win a gift card!

A Winner!
26 members emailed their answers to the August quiz. A perfect score is not the aim; everyone who joins in the fun is entered into the drawing. This quiz spotlighted a few of the accomplishments detailed in our annual report shared at convention and now available online in the Members Only Center.

1. We continued building content on the public side of the website called Connections Corner to increase web traffic, raise awareness about the organization, and attract new members.

2. We started a new Leadership Academy to support members in gaining information and skills around leadership and club management. The free service includes virtual sessions, a book study, and online discussions.    

3. We published an organizational survey called Birth Weight of Multiples that had collected over 500 responses as of mid-June.

4. We developed an annual giving campaign called Building Our Story that raised over $1,600 and had an anonymous donor who matched the total.

5. We awarded three (3) higher education scholarships through our Marge Ainsworth Scholarship Fund.      

Winner of the gift card drawing is Alma Duffy, Huntsville Area Mothers of Multiples (AL). 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.

• Our Fall Mailing 1 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.
• We’re piloting the option of receiving text reminders for Zoom Connects and Great Expectations Multiplied seminars. When registering for these events, just select “yes” on the question, if you’d like to receive a text message reminding you about the date and time of the event. (The zoom link for the event will still be sent via email for all those who have registered.)
• Valley Forge Mothers of Twins and Triplets Club (PA) recently made the difficult decision to disband. As part of the dissolution, they determined they would donate $5,000 to Multiples of America from the funds left in their treasury: $2,500 to our Scholarship Fund and $2,500 to the EDGE Fund. Thanks to Valley Forge MOT & TC for the donation and for their years of support to Multiples of America!

In the Lead
We’re accepting applications for the second year of the Leadership Academy. It’s a learning experience for members who want to build leadership skills for work with parents of multiples clubs or other organizations. Academy participants join in virtual learning experiences, a book study, and discussions about club management. There’s no fee for Academy participants, but space is limited. Consider stepping into this year’s Academy! Applications are due by November 1. Find out more and apply at: www.multiplesofamerica.org/leadershipacademy.  

Club Chat with the President – October Zoom Connect
Is your club struggling to grow its membership?
Are you discouraged when only one or two members show up for an activity?
Do you still have unfilled board positions and wonder what to do next?

The challenges are out there. Let’s meetup to share the challenges and hear how clubs are climbing through – finding ways to adapt and trying out new ideas to grow membership and volunteers.

It’s our October Zoom Connect and we’re calling it a “Club Chat with the President.” Join us Tuesday, October 7, 7:30 p.m. Central (8:30 p.m. Eastern, 6:30 p.m. Mountain, 5:30 p.m. Pacific). Visit our website to reserve your spot.

*Take note: Due to member request, the Zoom Connects for this term are not all scheduled on Wednesday; instead, we’re trying out varying days during the second week of the month. So in October, we’re trying out Tuesday evening. Hope to see you then! 

Easing Into Multiple Parenthood  – October Great Expectations Multiplied
What will it be like those first few months home with multiples?
Will there be endless nights of never getting a wink of sleep?
What will help smooth the transition home if my babies have been in the NICU?

Join us for an evening of answers as we focus on:
Easing Into Multiple Parenthood & Transitioning from the NICU

We’ll meet Mon., October 13 – 7:30 p.m. Central (8:30 p.m. Eastern, 6:30 p.m. Mountain, 5:30 p.m. Pacific)

This presentation is the second in our series of “Great Expectations Multiplied” seminars for expectant parents and parents with young multiples. Local club leaders are also encouraged to attend, as a means for gathering information to share with parents of young multiples.

Smadar Zmirin, a New Zealand-based twin specialist, will lead this session. Smadar has been helping parents of multiples for more than 15 years. She is a twin-oriented early childhood educator, a postpartum doula, sleep consultant, an antenatal teacher, and an infant massage instructor.

The seminar is free! Just complete a quick registration form and you’ll be all set! If you can’t fit October 13 into your schedule, register so we can send you a link to a recording of the seminar, which can be viewed for 7 days following the presentation. As an added bonus, all attendees on October 13 will be entered into a drawing for gift cards! (The Great Expectations Multiplied initiative is partially funded through a grant from the Prolacta Bioscience Foundation.) 

Only A Couple More Days…
Thanks so much to those clubs that have already sent in their membership dues! If your club hasn’t yet completed its renewal, the countdown is on. Club renewals are delinquent after September 30. Find out more at: https://multiplesofamerica.org/RENEW/

Want to know more about the benefits you receive with your payment of $15 a year?

Read through this summary of benefits. 

Multiple Connections
Have you ever wanted to take another look? Are you wondering whether there’s a need to put your multiples into separate classrooms at school? What can club connections offer in a changing world? You’ll find articles to answer these questions and more in the September issue of Multiple Connections. One click gives access to every story! Just head to: https://multiplesofamerica.org/multipleconnections/.

Postcard Publicity – The Invite2Connect Project
Is your club looking for a way to connect with expectant and new parents? The Invite2Connect project can help. The project provides postcards that your club can distribute to local doctors’ offices, clinics, and hospitals. The postcards have information about Multiples of America and how to connect with your local club. Find out more about this project and fill out the quick form to get your free postcards in the Members Only section. If your club has already received a batch of postcards and needs more, let us know! 

Can you share your MULTItales?
What’s your MultiTale? Everyone has a unique story to tell, and our multiples community is filled with wonderful ones. There are funny stories, exciting stories, inspiring and challenging stories: stories about the joys and challenges of parenting multiples or the support of a club, stories about how our lives have been touched and changed because of the connections with parents of multiples near and far. Your stories are a powerful way to spotlight the experience of parenting multiples, to offer hope and inspiration to those now on a similar journey, and to help in promoting our organization. Share your story.

A Multiple Match for Parents who Homeschool
Do you homeschool your multiples? Would you like to network with other parents who homeschool? Our Multiple Match program can now connect you with other homeschoolers! Sign up with a quick online form and and we’ll work to match you with another member. (Note: The Members Only password will be needed to access this form.)

Local Clubs Stepping into Fall
Multiples of the Midlands (SC) held a Mums for MOMs club fundraiser during September.
Double Love Mothers of Multiples Club (IL) competed in a trivia night during their September meeting.
Permian Basin Mothers of Multiples (TX) gathered for a storytime with a goat.
Phoenix Valley MOMs (AZ) kicked off their year with a family indoor sports party, complete with a bounce house, rock wall, and snacks. 

Website Spotlight
Our website changes almost daily. Check out these updated items:

The September press release shares details about our Great Expectations Multiplied initiative, which is partially funded through a grant from the Prolacta Bioscience Foundation.

The 2024-2025 annual report is online, complete with audio narration!

The September Zoom Connect is now online in the Zoom Connect Café. This Connect, presented by author and twin expert, Dr. Joan Friedman focuses on Multiples & Identity Development through the Lifespan.

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

Take a Quiz
State fairs are held at times throughout the year, but in Kansas where I live, September means it’s time to head to the state fair. With that in mind, this month’s quiz focuses on multiple connections that can be found at state fairs across the nation.

THIS MONTH’S QUIZ IS CLOSED.