Parents Without Partners was formed over 40 years ago, to serve the needs of single parents and children of one-parent families. Today, as in 1957, the single parent family faces many issues and concerns that are unique to single parents, and Parents Without Partners, as an organization, is dedicated to helping single parents and their children cope successfully with the changes in their lives. As a social and educational force, Parents Without Partners is widely recognized and respected.
Parents Without Partners is made up of locally organized chapters which started much as you are starting now--with a few concerned, deeply interested individuals. We are truly a self-help organization. We are here to help one another. And we do.
You will find a warm welcome in our "extended family' where services, activities and programs serve a large segment of our society: the single parent family.
PWP is an all-volunteer organization…in other words, all the work is done by volunteer members! Officers are elected to chapter boards of directors annually, and they, along with committee members, plan and carry out the administrative and educational programming that does the work of the organization. All members are encouraged and expected to be involved members, whether they serve on a committee, as an officer, or just support the activities of the chapter by attending. A multitude of training opportunities to learn how to do the various jobs around the chapter is offered to members during regional and zone conferences and the Parents Without Partners Annual International Convention.
Parents Without Partners chapters offer many activities for single parents and their children …all planned and hosted by volunteer members. Some examples are: educational discussion groups, usually hosted by a chapter member, sometimes with a professional speaker and other times moderated by a member. Topics and speakers are planned ahead of time and published in the chapter newsletter. Another popular area of participation is family activities. These are things planned for the enjoyment of the families. Sometimes activities are planned just for children, sometimes for the whole family. Examples are picnics, skating, bowling, tours to zoos and other places of interest, nature hikes, movies, museums, camping, community service, and the list can go on and on. Realizing that although we love our children, the parents need social time to themselves, we also schedule parent social activities. These are similar to the family activities, but usually with a dance added into the mix. Each chapter has its own "favorite" activities. There are guidelines for chapters on scheduling their activities so as to stay in balance with our mission to provide support for single parent families.
GETTING STARTED
FIRST THINGS FIRST! -- Get a Group! We all know that single parents are a large and growing percentage of all communities. They sometimes move a lot and always have very busy schedules, but in order to start a new Parents Without Partners chapter you'll need to get a group together. Anyone who is a single parent by reason of divorce, death of a spouse, or never married is eligible to become a member of Parents Without Partners. Age and custody arrangements are not a factor. (PWP members range in age from early 20's to 80's.) Some have very young children, some teenagers, some have adult children, some are raising their grandchildren, and others are non- custodial. But we all have one thing in common-we are concerned about our children. EVERYONE is welcome at PWP!
NEXT…. Let us know you're interested in starting a chapter in your area and we will help you! Just contact PWP or telephone 1-800-637-7974 and we will to put you in contact with someone who will meet with you and your group and help you with all the details.
Starting small is recommended, but you'll need approximately 20 members to receive a charter and become an "official" chapter. Almost all of us know other single parents, either from work, church, your childrens' school activities, etc. Most single parents want information, support and to share their interests in educational, social, or family activities. They are deeply concerned about their children. The unique quality of Parents Without Partners is that the organization represents a haven, a common meeting place during a period of stress. The opportunity to meet and learn from others in the same situation is appealing and necessary and is the essence of mutual help.
Within your community you will probably find a lot of help in organizing a Parents Without Partners chapter. You should contact doctors (including pediatricians), counselors, churches, schools and day care centers, attorneys, parent teacher organizations, family service agencies, other social service agencies and the media. You may download information from the PWP website and make flyers to take to community members. They may offer their services in various ways, such as referring potential members, providing a meeting place, and serving the chapter as professional advisors and speakers.
Your local newspapers, radio stations, and television outlets are prime sources for reaching single parents. Contact the city and/or lifestyle editors of your daily and weekly newspapers. A story in the paper about a Parents Without Partners chapter being organized for single parents who are divorced, widowed, separated or never married would attract attention. The time, place and date of the first meeting should be carried in the story.
You may get your message across through a letter to the editor of your newspaper, although personal contact can be more effective. Provide background information on Parents Without Partners and the planned organization of a chapter in the local area.
Also make contact with the program managers of your local radio and television stations or with those conducting various family related programs on the air, particularly the public broadcasting stations and cable channel local programming. You will find a ready interest here for individual or panel discussions on issues for single parents, their children, and the plan to establish a Parents Without Partners chapter in the community.
Company or church newsletters, bulletin boards in public places, flyers in store windows, parent teacher meetings, and day care facilities also provide means of reaching the interested public.
(Once the chapter gets started, you can distribute copies of information sheets and your chapter newsletter to professional members of the community--those whose interest and participation is sought. Give copies to those you contact on newspapers, radio and television. A brochure entitled ARE YOU A SINGLE PARENT? serves as a fact sheet and quickly tells the story of the organization. This pamphlet is especially valuable for public information purposes.)
THE FIRST MEETING
Your PWP contact person will attend your first meetings and conduct the Organizational/Orientation sessions. An Orientation Meeting is a requirement for prospective members of Parents Without Partners because it gives prospective members a clear understanding of Parents Without Partners and the reasons for its organization in the community. It also explains the role of the chapters in the international organization.
You may need several organizational meetings before you are ready to conduct your first general meeting. Be patient with your organizational efforts; you can do this! Your PWP contact person will be there to help every step along the way.
Prospective members attending the first meetings should complete an International Membership Application in full and pay their appropriate dues. Some may not be able to pay their dues immediately, so the group may make it possible for them to pay their dues later. Under the International Bylaws, 20 or more new dues-paid members are required to organize a chapter before a Charter is granted.
All new members should sign the Chapter Petition Form, which will be included in the Organizational Kit you will receive to help you get started. Be sure that all pertinent information is furnished on the petition, including name, address, city and state/province, phone number and zip code/postal code. The original and a copy are given to the assisting officer or their representative for transmission to the International Office. A copy is retained by the chapter. (Remember, ALWAYS keep a copy of EVERYTHING!)
Further information concerning Chapter formation is included in PWP's Policy Manual, C/RC.12, Chapter and RC - Chapter - Formation.
On approval of the petition by the International Board of Directors, a charter will be issued identifying the group as an official chapter of PWP International. The members will be issued International membership cards which recognize their membership in the International organization and permit them to participate in the activities of their chapter as well as visit all chapters in the United States and Canada.
Following granting of the charter, the chapter will continue to receive information and guidance from the volunteer officers and from the International Board and Office. Members and officers alike are highly encouraged to participate in the training sessions held at regularly scheduled Regional and Zone Conferences and the annual PWP International Convention. Information is easily available to answer questions via the PWP website Library Page and by e-mail or telephone to your Region, Zone, and International Officers.
All the above sounds like a lot of work-and it is! But when you have a group of motivated people helping, it's fun, too! So let's get started! Make the call/send an e-mail to your PWP contact and let's get your first meeting scheduled-you'll be happy you did!
