RDA accredits local leaders to form groups called Real Diaper Circles. Circles have local meetings to support members and people in the local community in using cloth diapers. (If you recall, Serena whispered here about our San Diego Real Diaper Circle a couple of months ago.) I love helping volunteers (who are usually already holding informal “Cloth Diaper 101” classes locally) form Circles like ours around the country.
I’m working with my brother and sister-in-law now to build a cloth diaper stash as they’re expecting their first baby in October, but, since they live 3000 miles away from me, I really wish they had a local Circle to support them through the process. Despite all the written arguments for cloth diapers and all the great explanations of cloth diapering, many people still learn about cloth diapers from a trusted friend or relative (as we used to learn from our mothers and grandmothers). As proof, how many people have you personally turned on to cloth diapers? (By the way, if you enjoy doing it, and want to organize - or help organize - a Circle locally, contact me here and I’ll help you navigate the training process).
Besides helping the local, grassroots leaders, I’ve also been working with some volunteers and folks over at the Real Diaper Industry Association on a project related to the use of cloth diapers in daycare facilities. So many of our members have run into trouble with this that I’m hoping we can join together to provide a voice and solution for the thousands of parents who want to continue cloth diapering their babies within their chosen daycare setting. Watch for more details about this project to be announced in September.
Of course, as the head of a non-profit organization, I also have to focus on raising funds to continue to do our work. We’re applying for some grant money, but we are mostly supported by donations from individuals and business members (such as DiaperShops.com!). Recently, to supplement those donations, I’ve been working with some great volunteers on a new project, which leads me to an exciting announcement...
So, do you have an adorable baby in diapers? Get the camera out and start shooting! We’re looking for high quality photos of happy babes in real diapers to grace our walls for a month at a time. Any U.S. resident can enter, and RDA members will do the voting. Contest ends 8/24, so get on it!! Can’t wait to see your photos!
Now, finally, since employees of RDA are prohibited from entering the contest, I’ll share a cloth diaper picture of my littlest here... Isn’t he cute??? J
Heather McNamara
Executive Director, Real Diaper Association
www.realdiaperassociation.org
20 comments:
what a fabulous way to showcase beautiful babies in beautiful diapers!!! can't wait!!
and what a great grand prize!!!
I really need to become a member. I love your information, I sent one pamphlet to my hospital along with information I gathered about local cloth diapering resources. Those will be passed out to new parents in the Newborn Care class. Woo hoo!
And I am a cloth diaper photo contest aholic. I have a million awesome pictures and I can't decide which to send!
Thanks for sharing this. I entered Baby B :D
how fun! I'm expecting my first, but the baby won't be here in time for this contest. Good luck contestants!
This post left me very excited! I've recently joined a circle and I love the connections i've made and spreading the word about cloth! I'm also excited about the photo contest! can't wait to check it out!
I was glad to read about the circles....i'm going to check to see if there's one in my area. i just talked with our daycare director today about using cloth diapers and she said it's an army regulation by the head nurse of the army to prevent the spread of communicable diseases (!). I hope that I can find a way around this regulation, or maybe change the regulation but it's pretty "high up" in the army so we'll see....anyway thanks for the info on RDA circles! Great post!
My baby is just starting to grin; I hope we can get a happy photo of her before the deadline. :)
Laura C
laurakcowan/at/gmail/dot/com
how fun can't wait to see the finished product with CD babies!
This is awesome! I have one in cloth and another one due any time now that is going to be in cloth. I wish there was a local chapter here because I have found cloth diapering to be overwhelming to get into.
What a great idea...I'll be looking for a CD circle in my area.
How fun...I'm going to have to enter. :-) Thanks for the heads up.
I'll have to start taking some more pictures in diapers. :) Like I needed an excuse.
This is such a cute idea!!! I have successfully changed one person over to cloth but I think I have shined a light on how easy it is to a lot of people.
This is a great contest with an aweseome purpose behind it. I think I'm going to have to break out the camera and starts snapping some shots of Kylee in her new fluff!
So exciting! Can't wait for the contest!
this is really cool, i just wish that i had taken some of my better photos of snapdragon in his clothdiapers at a higher resolution so that they'd qualify!
How exciting! I'm looking forward to entering!
I can't wait to send in a photo! Tehn I'll have to decide which to send. I love chances to win more fluff too!
Thanks for sharing. I need to get out the Camera!!
I'm giving a class through my local Community College's Community Ed classes to share my experiences with cloth diapers. I'm going to bring my "stash" and let people see and feel them (something I wish I had had the opportunity to do when I was trying to decide on my stash).
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