This week, Babywearing International has announced that they will be filing for bankruptcy at the end of the month. Due to this announcement, Babywearing International of Kitsap Peninsula will be disaffiliating and reforming as our own independent non-profit group now known as Kitsap Babywearers.
We hope to make this transition as seamless as possible for our community and members, but if you have any concerns or questions feel free to ask.
Thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we transition. We are very excited for the future of our organization!
For more details, check out our Frequently Asked Questions below.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors, Kitsap Babywearers
Samantha Garcia, President
Lori Fredericks, Vice-President
Overview
What’s Changing
Our ability to address and act on topics of inclusivity and diversity
Our name, logo, email, website address, social media names and Amazon Smile link
Membership dues and money raised through fundraisers will now stay 100% local
Breadth of volunteer training: additional carrier types and education formats
What’s Not Changing
Membership types, costs and availability of scholarships
Your membership status and expiration date
Meetings and meeting locations
Our carriers, lending libraries and myTurn inventory website
Depth of volunteer training
Volunteer and organization insurance
Purpose of Kitsap Babywearers
The purpose of the organization is:
to build the bond between babies and caregivers through baby carrier education and support;
to provide a community education service and distribute baby carriers to individuals and other organizations for their use; and
to celebrate babywearing among caregivers through online and in-person gatherings.
Membership
Q: How will disaffiliating from Babywearing International affect my membership status?
A: Your Babywearing International membership will still be honored by Kitsap Babywearers, as an independent group, until it was originally set to expire. There will be no interruption to your membership or benefits of your membership.
Q: Will the cost of membership change in the future?
A: Annual memberships through Kitsap Babywearers will continue to be $30.
The only change is that Kitsap Babywearers will retain 100% of membership dues which we will be able to invest back into our organization and local community; previously, 30% of membership dues were sent to the parent organization, Babywearing International.
We cannot guarantee that membership costs will not change in the future. We will, however, always have scholarships available if the cost of a membership is a barrier to anyone who wishes to become a member.
Q: Can I transfer my Babywearing International membership to another chapter?
A: If you obtained a membership under Babywearing International of Kitsap Peninsula (before February 15, 2018) and it is still active, you can request your membership may be able to be transferred to another babywearing group in the United States. We will do our best to work with other chapters who have chosen to proceed as their own group with the closing of Babywearing International.
Meetings
Q: Will meeting locations or dates/times change?
A: No, we intend to continue all meetings as currently scheduled; meetings will continue to be subject to volunteer and location availability.
Q: Will meeting format change?
A: Meetings will continue to be around two hours long, allowing people to come and go as they wish while still receiving the same great care and support they have received in the past. If anything, you will notice that meetings will become more inclusive and welcoming as we operate as an independent babywearing group.
Lending Libraries
Q: Will there be any changes to carriers or lending libraries?
A: No, all assets of Babywearing International of Kitsap Peninsula will be transferred to Kitsap Babywearers. You will still be able to try on and check out the same great carriers that you have come to know and love in our lending libraries!
Baby Carrier Education
Q: How will educators be trained in an independent babywearing group?
A: Kitsap Babywearers has developed a comprehensive curriculum and training program. Educators will be specialized in certain carrier types and skills, allowing more educators to be available to members at meetings while still maintaining a high level of expertise.
Educators who previously had Volunteer Babywearing Educator (VBE) training, assessments and status through Babywearing International will continue to receive ongoing training through Kitsap Babywearers.
Q: Babywearing International of Kitsap Peninsula had insurance through Babywearing International – will there be insurance as an independent group?
A: Yes – Kitsap Babywearers is seeking liability and loss insurance policies, and our volunteers and lending libraries will continue to be covered for liability and loss insurance going forward.
Financials
Q: Babywearing International of Kitsap Peninsula remitted 30%+ of income from membership and fundraisers to Babywearing International. How does that change as an independent group?
A: Income from membership and fundraisers will stay 100% in our local community since we will no longer have oversight from a national organization. We are really excited for the possibilities this presents to our group! For example, we will be able to put more funds towards our lending libraries or towards community outreach and carriers we can donate to local groups and individuals.
Since we are no longer affiliated with Babywearing International, our group becomes eligible for more grants as an independent group, widening our ability to obtain funding.
Online Presence
Q: Will there still be a Facebook group?
A: Yes, we have renamed the existing closed Facebook group, and we will continue to provide the same support there as we do today.
Q: Will there still be a Facebook page?
A: Yes, we will continue to post important topics and announcements on our Facebook page and update the events tab there with meetings and other events.
Q: Will your website change?
A: Yes! We will now be located at www.kitsapbabywearers.com. The prior web address www.bwikitsap.org will forward to wwww.kitsapbabywearers.com for a short time. The Babywearing International name and logo, however, will be updated to reflect our new group, Kitsap Babywearers.
Q: How can I get in touch with you if I have questions?
A: We always have an open door. You can email info@kitsapbabywearers.com or message our Facebook Page at any time.
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If you have any questions about babywearing, we encourage you to contact us and/or come learn in person at one of our meetings! Check out our Instagram @KitsapBabywearers and our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/kitsapcountybabywearers)