Hello, why don't they want to say how many actual nannies make up the ina membership??

Susan, Thanks for sharing your phone number, but we want our INA concerns addressed openly, not behind closed doors where they will yet again, get squashed.

Also, here nannies can speak out without getting blacklisted by the controlling agencies.

We have asked that you address several concerns. Why gloss over them?


How many of the 900 INA membership are actual nannies?

You cannot possibly effectively represent the competing interests of nannies and simultaneously the agencies looking to profit off of them. The nannies don't even make up the majority of the board!!

Will someone please answer the question? Why are there agencies and payroll company representatives on the board of a NANNY organization? Can you honestly say that is not a blatant conflict of interests?

discuMy name is Susan Tokayer and I am one of the co-presidents of the International Nanny Association. I am writing because I have read the thread about the INA and conference and I would like to share my thoughts about our conference and our association.

I have been a member of INA since I started my business in 1995. One of the things that was most appealing to me when I joined, and still is, is that an association exists that is both for nannies and business owners in the nanny industry. I also now belong to APNA. I have attended APNA conferences, Nannypalooza, and of course, INA conferences.

What I have enjoyed about all of these conferences and associations is that we have many common interest, yet we are all different. It is nice to have the opportunity to view our industry from different perspectives. The nanny industry is also so large that there is room for all of us to exist and flourish. At INA conferences I can speak with nannies informally, as well as other business owners. I have met wonderful, dedicated professionals - both nannies & agency owners. And, I have learned a tremendous amount.

It is our goal to represent all of our members, and we value all of our members. Naming our INA NOTY is an example and one of the highlights of our conference.

Currently our membership is 900, which represents both nannies and businesses. We have always defined ourselves as "the umbrella association." The nanny workshops are selected and organized by a committee of nannies, the newborn care specialist track by NCS and the agency track by business owners. Most attendees feel that the workshops are extemely valuable, as is the networking and socializing time.

I am sorry to hear that there are people within our industry that feel that their interests are not being represented in INA. I am happy to speak with anyone directly that would like discuss how we can do a better job, which is always our goal. Susan Tokayer: 914 674-8535.

Kathy,

We appreciate your interest. The INA problems being raised on this board are not about educational opportunities. No one disagrees with the benefits of continuing education for all.

The issue is that the INA is supposed to be a nanny organization, not a self-promoting agency marketing scam.

The INA is supposed to be the International Nanny Association. If you are not a nanny, why are you sitting on the board of this group? Why are you even a member?
www.nanny.org

How many nannies are on the board of your nanny agency organization?
www.theapna.org

Zero. Why?

You don't even allow nanny or family membership, let alone be on the board. Why?

Please explain your "no nannies or families allowed" policy, in your own association, but demand to control the "nanny" organization?

Why no equal "balance"?

1. Non-nannies should step down from the INA board. Until you do, there is no hope for any real advocacy for nannies and the families they care for. The priority of agency business owners, is their profits. This is a distinct conflict of interest with nannies and families, who strive to provide the best possible childcare. Few, if any, agency owners have any significant training or extensive experience in childhood development, beyond their own families. Many agency owners are smart business people who recognized a lucrative business opportunity. Some are even attorneys and MBA's who capitalized on the naive nature of nannies and parents in disparate need of childcare.

2. Your own exclusive nanny agency club, should open its membership to nannies and families. If you want to maintain your membership and voting privileges in the International Nanny Association, you should extend the same options for nannies and families in APNA.

Also, it would be worthwhile for you to disclose the current breakdown of the INA membership. What are the current numbers for:

1. Nanny Agencies and other businesses

2. Actual Nannies


INA was started originally started by a group of nannies before it got over run by agency business owners, from what I understand. Let it return to being, what its name says:

The International Nanny Association

I am a member of the INA Board of Directors and have been an INA member for 20 years. For the record, the Board of directors includes:

4 Agency owners - 3 US and 1 Australian
4 Nannies
1 New Born Care Specialist
1 Payroll Services Company owner (me)

I would suggest that this does show balance?

2013 Conference was fabulous, and the strongest educational tracks were the nanny track and the New Born Care tracks.

Speakers included:
Deborah Gilboa, MD http://askdoctorg.com/
Carolyn Stulberg http://alexandria-school.com/about_us
Vicke Bowman http://www.linkedin.com/pub/vicke-bowman/5b/936/a83
Gina Deveary Co-Founder of the Louisville, Ky, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Parent Support Group
Carly Jennings mommygarten.com
Mary Beth Uberti (her presentation on teens and social media was amazing and eye opening!)

I cannot tell if the prior posts are by a few people or not, and I am not being anonymous here. I am deeply saddened that nannies, and possible families, do not see the value in the professional enrichment and development of the nannies caring for these young children. As the mother of 3 (albeit grown) children and grandmother of 2, I am passionate about providing nannies educational resources to improve the quality of care they can deliver to our children - and I put my time and money where my mouth is.

And for those looking for local educational opportunities - National Nanny Training Day is this coming Saturday and there are local DC events, as well as approximately 40 other cities nationwide.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a INA member, but I am disappointed that this association dosent provide more advocacy for nannies. They have/had a job board, but it sucked!!! Why wouldn't they provide a service where nannies can find quality jobs with good standards?

It'd be an obvious conflict of interest for agencies to allow nannies to apply for jobs without first forcing parents paying up $1,000's and $1,000's to the agencies.

Easy money.

What do they do? Background checks and reference checking? Then open their pockets for windfall profits.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a INA member, but I am disappointed that this association dosent provide more advocacy for nannies. They have/had a job board, but it sucked!!! Why wouldn't they provide a service where nannies can find quality jobs with good standards?

It'd be an obvious conflict of interest for agencies to allow nannies to apply for jobs without first forcing parents paying up $1,000's and $1,000's to the agencies.

Easy money.

Anonymous wrote:I am a INA member, but I am disappointed that this association dosent provide more advocacy for nannies. They have/had a job board, but it sucked!!! Why wouldn't they provide a service where nannies can find quality jobs with good standards?

It'd be an obvious conflict of interest for agencies to allow nannies to apply for jobs without first forcing parents paying up $1,000's and $1,000's to the agencies.

I am a INA member, but I am disappointed that this association dosent provide more advocacy for nannies. They have/had a job board, but it sucked!!! Why wouldn't they provide a service where nannies can find quality jobs with good standards?

Anonymous wrote:No, it is not true INA is folding.

There's just 1-2 posters on this thread who have a problem with the organization for whatever reason.

I will say I personally am glad this person is NOT a member since that means I don't have to worry about running into this level of crazy at a conference! Unhinged.

Many nanny agencies and nannies on this board are current INA members. The problems are not going away until they get addressed.

No, it is not true INA is folding.

There's just 1-2 posters on this thread who have a problem with the organization for whatever reason.

I will say I personally am glad this person is NOT a member since that means I don't have to worry about running into this level of crazy at a conference! Unhinged.

Anonymous wrote:Over 400 lurkers on this thread and none of them have anything to say anything about the conference. Their silence speaks volumes. Looks like the INA is folding and no one wants to say it. OP?

Is this true?

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn't all the board members, of the Internatonal Nanny Association, be nannies?
The agencies have their own club, called www.apna.org

www.theapna.org
Nannies are not allowed to be members of the nanny agency organization.