Is MOMS Club International Racist???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure a number of you have heard of MOMS Club, which is an organization for stay-at-home moms, moms offering moms support during daytime hours. For those of you who don't know, MOMS Club International (a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization) has provided a club forum that has divided stay-at-home moms from working moms for years. Many have joined in spite of the divide it puts up between working and non working moms, because people are desperate for friends. Most people I know who joined a MOMS Club chapter ended up dropping out because they see how it divides women, because they go back to work, or because they drop out after they make their friends.

Anyway, this archaic club has weathered through the years, in spite of finding ways to exclude working mothers from its group. Well, the $hit has finally hit the fan with this organization. The International Organization is accused of perpetuating racism:

"It has recently come to light that the International MOMS Club organization has chosen to remain on the wrong side of history. They are clinging to the status quo and refusing to acknowledge current events. They have refused to issue any sort of statement condemning racial inequality or pledge any kind of action against it.
Their excuse is that engaging in political activity jeopardizes our 501(c)(3) status. This is so outrageous. The laws around it only prohibit our club from endorsing candidates. Besides which, when did it become political to acknowledge racism and commit to learning and growing?"

"It all began with a chapter posting a beautiful photo collage promising that racial discrimination will end with their children. International refused to share it, claiming that it was political. The chapter was so shocked and disappointed with the terrible responses provided, and have disbanded. International has chosen to remain silent still. We encourage you to sign and share our petition and also share your thoughts and concerns at [e-mail] . We feel that the founder must step aside to allow for leadership that is more in line with their members beliefs. “ See: https://www.change.org/p/moms-club-call-for-international-moms-club-founder-mary-james-to-resign-amid-racism-scandal

A number of chapters around the country are now disbanding from the organization, including several in the DC area. There is a Facebook group for it. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1358291397894998/

Thoughts? Are they racist, or within their legal rights as a 501(c)3 to not take a stance on racial discrimination? I know I will never join this organization ever again...

Not publicly condemning racism /= being racist

Actually, it does. Not publicly condemning racism is being racist. Why are you so afraid of admitting that?

Jessica Mulroney was called out for being racist because she did not support BLM on her instagram. Failure to support BLM is called out for being racist.
People should read the BLM mission statement. It is eye opening.

Fine, then don’t support the actual BLM organization. That’s not what I said though. Nice try deflecting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a current president in a local chapter outside pf Philly on the Main Line. We have 90 members. We didn’t make any knee jerk reactions but educated ourselves and our group voted 89-1 to disband. We are in the process right now to do that. The absurdity of the umbrella organization goes far beyond not posting that collage. We have learned so much through this disaster. Our members who are POC felt like the group needed more diversity - it does, and we are adding that to our events moving forward. We are proud to have disbanded and are excited to take the next steps to join MAEVE, a new 502 c 3 non profit organization which will be inclusive to ALL moms.

It’s the change we had no idea we needed.

PS I’m a fully time working mom with 2 young kids. Technically I was not allowed to be in that group but I actually run our chapter.

Take that moms international.

Yes, but how did you all get together? Through MOMs international. If enough Chapters disband, it won’t be an option available to other new moms. So, it works for you since you’re already formed but at the expense of new groups.

We have the internet now. Facebook, Meetup, etc. Start a new group. Post flyers in public spaces like the library and Starbucks (during better times, of course). Word spreads by word of mouth - people will tell their friends. Pretty soon you have a brand new play date group without any of the rules and restrictions of MOMS Club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a current president in a local chapter outside pf Philly on the Main Line. We have 90 members. We didn’t make any knee jerk reactions but educated ourselves and our group voted 89-1 to disband. We are in the process right now to do that. The absurdity of the umbrella organization goes far beyond not posting that collage. We have learned so much through this disaster. Our members who are POC felt like the group needed more diversity - it does, and we are adding that to our events moving forward. We are proud to have disbanded and are excited to take the next steps to join MAEVE, a new 502 c 3 non profit organization which will be inclusive to ALL moms.

It’s the change we had no idea we needed.

PS I’m a fully time working mom with 2 young kids. Technically I was not allowed to be in that group but I actually run our chapter.

Take that moms international.

Yes, but how did you all get together? Through MOMs international. If enough Chapters disband, it won’t be an option available to other new moms. So, it works for you since you’re already formed but at the expense of new groups.

We have the internet now. Facebook, Meetup, etc. Start a new group. Post flyers in public spaces like the library and Starbucks (during better times, of course). Word spreads by word of mouth - people will tell their friends. Pretty soon you have a brand new play date group without any of the rules and restrictions of MOMS Club.

You don't even remember what it was like to have a newborn, do you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a current president in a local chapter outside pf Philly on the Main Line. We have 90 members. We didn’t make any knee jerk reactions but educated ourselves and our group voted 89-1 to disband. We are in the process right now to do that. The absurdity of the umbrella organization goes far beyond not posting that collage. We have learned so much through this disaster. Our members who are POC felt like the group needed more diversity - it does, and we are adding that to our events moving forward. We are proud to have disbanded and are excited to take the next steps to join MAEVE, a new 502 c 3 non profit organization which will be inclusive to ALL moms.

It’s the change we had no idea we needed.

PS I’m a fully time working mom with 2 young kids. Technically I was not allowed to be in that group but I actually run our chapter.

Take that moms international.

Yes, but how did you all get together? Through MOMs international. If enough Chapters disband, it won’t be an option available to other new moms. So, it works for you since you’re already formed but at the expense of new groups.

We have the internet now. Facebook, Meetup, etc. Start a new group. Post flyers in public spaces like the library and Starbucks (during better times, of course). Word spreads by word of mouth - people will tell their friends. Pretty soon you have a brand new play date group without any of the rules and restrictions of MOMS Club.

You don't even remember what it was like to have a newborn, do you?

No I have no idea. I’m on here on a forum for parenting age 0-5 and I have no idea what it’s like to have a newborn.

Do YOU know what it’s like to have a newborn in this day and age? You get all your advice and camaraderie on social media. Are you, like, age 55+ or something? You seem really out of touch with young moms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a current president in a local chapter outside pf Philly on the Main Line. We have 90 members. We didn’t make any knee jerk reactions but educated ourselves and our group voted 89-1 to disband. We are in the process right now to do that. The absurdity of the umbrella organization goes far beyond not posting that collage. We have learned so much through this disaster. Our members who are POC felt like the group needed more diversity - it does, and we are adding that to our events moving forward. We are proud to have disbanded and are excited to take the next steps to join MAEVE, a new 502 c 3 non profit organization which will be inclusive to ALL moms.

It’s the change we had no idea we needed.

PS I’m a fully time working mom with 2 young kids. Technically I was not allowed to be in that group but I actually run our chapter.

Take that moms international.

Yes, but how did you all get together? Through MOMs international. If enough Chapters disband, it won’t be an option available to other new moms. So, it works for you since you’re already formed but at the expense of new groups.

We have the internet now. Facebook, Meetup, etc. Start a new group. Post flyers in public spaces like the library and Starbucks (during better times, of course). Word spreads by word of mouth - people will tell their friends. Pretty soon you have a brand new play date group without any of the rules and restrictions of MOMS Club.

I think it is overwhelming to start a new group out of no where. Someone has to take the initiative. Someone with a newborn. So that’s why having MOMs as an umbrella helped. So, yes, it’s possible to start new groups without them but I don’t think it will be as successful.

[Anonymous]

It's not uncommon for volunteer leaders (and uninformed professional staff) of 501(c)(3) organizations to assume they can't do anything that looks remotely political due to the tax status.

However, this isn't accurate. 501c3s are not allowed to participate in electioneering (e.g. endorsing or giving money to candidates) and have a limit to how much of their budget they can use for lobbying activities. Neither those restrictions apply to releasing a statement against racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a current president in a local chapter outside pf Philly on the Main Line. We have 90 members. We didn’t make any knee jerk reactions but educated ourselves and our group voted 89-1 to disband. We are in the process right now to do that. The absurdity of the umbrella organization goes far beyond not posting that collage. We have learned so much through this disaster. Our members who are POC felt like the group needed more diversity - it does, and we are adding that to our events moving forward. We are proud to have disbanded and are excited to take the next steps to join MAEVE, a new 502 c 3 non profit organization which will be inclusive to ALL moms.

It’s the change we had no idea we needed.

PS I’m a fully time working mom with 2 young kids. Technically I was not allowed to be in that group but I actually run our chapter.

Take that moms international.

Yes, but how did you all get together? Through MOMs international. If enough Chapters disband, it won’t be an option available to other new moms. So, it works for you since you’re already formed but at the expense of new groups.

I believe the new organization will be easily found when a new mom googles “ moms group main line”. It’s not rocket science. We will advertise, word of mouth and do what we can to make our group easy to find. Small town. Word of mouth helps the most.

[Anonymous]

PP here -- being misinformed doesn't alone indicate that the group's leadership is racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I joined Moms Club when DD was a baby and it was great for a while. Then they started telling us we had to turn people away for not living in the right zip code. Also they have rules about what you can spend dues money on. A few of us decided to disband and start our own group but some remained loyal. So now there are two groups where we live. Having said that, I do work FT and so did some of the other Moms. That was never an issue. Most of our activities were during the day mid week but not everyone works 40 hr weeks 9-5.

Members are supposed to join the chapter to which their zip code is zoned. Nobody is turned away, they are assigned to their local club. You are trying really hard to imply something that isn't there.

There is not a chapter in every zip code though...

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing, OP. Before the past few months, I already had the sense Moms Club was discriminating against working moms and moms from lower income brackets and when they haven’t made any public statements (that im aware of as an active Moms Club member) about BLM/racism in general I wondered about that as well but this is beyond what I would’ve expected from them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here’s their lame excuse that they sent chapters who questioned them:

“We agree there’s nothing political about being against racism - EVERYONE should be against racism - but unfortunately, political activists have distorted the discussion and made it political. And by presenting statements “against” racism, it can imply that you were racist before.”

They also said “Any topic that pulls your chapter off its mission or divides your members could be political, if activists take that topic and politicize it.”

So basically, nothing discussed in any kind of current event is ok for MOMS Club. Not anti-racism, not climate change, not education, not even roads or libraries or parks. They COULD all be political!

I agree with their stance. They are for new mothers, all new mothers, not just activist mothers. Making statements about issues will alienate some new mothers, which is contrary to their mission.

It's hard for you to see, OP, but it's true.

Making statements against racism will alienate new mothers how? Because they’re racist and they would find it offensive? You realize how disgusting what you’re saying is, right?

Because moms are looking to join a playgroup with no drama. I am so sick of the crap in the news too. If I thought that what’s the moms group would revolve around, I would be put off. I am looking for a group about parenting. If I was looking for activism, I would join an activism group.
It’s just not related to the mission of the organization. It’s not necessary for them to make a statement one way or the other, and not doing so doesn’t imply racism.

[Anonymous]

Has MOMs made posts about LGBT or any other similar issue?
If they post about other things, but just not racism, then maybe there is a small argument to be made.
If they choose to not post anything controversial or political, I respect that. I’m not sure why every organization thinks they have to post or what good it does. I really only care about those donating money.

[Anonymous]

I've never even heard of this club. But no person, organization, or business should ever be compelled to provide any statements on anything. To expect a statement regarding your pet cause is narcissistic. Have they released a statement about women's rights? What about disabled people? What about older parents and ageism? Lots of worthy causes out there. Should we demand statements on those too? People are just looking to be outraged right now regarding race. I also guarantee that most organizations posting public statements about racism at the moment are just worried about PR.

[Anonymous]

Using the term "racist" in this manner is why the word is quickly losing its significance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I f they choose to not post anything controversial or political, I respect that.

Ending racism is not controversial or political, though.

(LGBT issues shouldn't be either IMO, but as they are tied into religious beliefs, it gets more complicated.)