National Conference

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Our 24th National Conference MOTHERS '08™ - Thinking Beyond Ourselves & Beyond Today was incredibly successful! We had 150 attendees and representatives from 18 mothers support and advocacy organizations present.

Photo donated by Bill Moseley, BBAPhotography.com
Back Row: (left to right) Cathy Myers, Family & Home Network; Valerie Young, NAMC's MOTHERS Initiative; Joanne Brundage, Mothers & More; Judith Stadtman Tucker, Mothers Movement Online; Linda Lisi Juergens, NAMC; Pat Gowens, Welfare Warriors; Rhonda Kave, NAMC
Front Row: (left to right) Emily McKhann, Moms Rising; Tiloma Jayasinghe, National Advocates for Pregnant Women; Debra Levy, Mothers & More; Kristin Maschka, Mothers & More; Beth Osnes, Mothers Acting Up


Keynote and other sessions ranged from workshops on child development, parenting and women’s issues to updates about the work we do on a national level and training on the operation of a Mothers’ Center and much more.   Workshops also discussed the latest research and the advocacy issues we’re addressing--issues relevant to Mothers’ Center members, leaders and those committed to our MOTHERS public policy initiative.


Video Footage

Slide Shows

 

Here is a glimpse into what we all experienced at the conference. Enjoy!

Pictures taken and donated by Bill Moseley, BBA Photography
Slide show set to the music of Bob Hinz

Notes and Articles

 

 
 
We would also like to thank those who donated their time and talent including:
Bill Moseley, BBA Photography
Mary Scott, Make Believe TV
As well as Larry Hacken, Absolute Elegance Photography and Video
Conference Feedback
Here is what conference attendees shared about their experiences during the conference:
 
Linda Lisi Juergens – Roll Call including calling out all of the new centers

Lisa Kaplan Miller – The workshops and meeting everyone, discovering we have the same goals and dreams
 
Ann Loud – Being able to share their 30th anniversary happening next weekend

Margaret Russin – Meeting wonderful moms and seeing people I haven’t seen in years who I love and admire

Laurie Pettine – Making new friends, meeting people who I respect and admire. I plan to go home and have this conversation with everyone in my circles

Terry Baver – Hearing from all of the organizations about what they’re doing is inspiring.

Lorri Slepian – Totality – feeling this is a continuing, changing, ever living social movement where people are embracing us with commitment to make changes. It’s an amazing time!

Bonnie Levine – Knowing this movement to support mothers and families is everlasting and ongoing and that my two daughters will have this available to them.

Don Levine – After loosing touch for some time it is wonderful to see how vibrant the Mothers’ Centers still are.

Kristen Mashka – Seeing friends and colleagues I love, recharging and inspiring. I now know it is possible to finish my book.

Debra Levy – Meeting people I e-mail and never get to see. At the round table discussions sharing feelings and perceptions about where we are.

Joanne Brundage – Making new friends, keeping the old – See old friend and those we don’t see, new organizations. Making the mothers’ movement more real.

Diane Esemplare – Roll call and seeing all of the mothers groups that are here and exploring how we can work together.
 
Elaine Hoskins – Soul train dance Saturday night – seeing everyone get up and do their dance and experiencing the mind, heart and insight we have to do what we do at the Mothers’ Centers.

Cheryl Braxton – The various expressions of a common goal. I got a lot out of the advocating for children with special needs workshop.

*Courtney Gabriel – The speakers at lunch. It inspired me to want to do something!

Shanequa Levin – the workshop on children’s temperament and hearing other people’s experiences.

Jennine Leale – There is a place to channel this energy. Finally I feel I’ve found a place I belong. Being here I’ve experience that everyone gives at a deep level and we are surrounded by like minds.

Michelle Higgins – This was my first conference. The workshops were phenomenal. This is the most bonding and forming new relationships I have ever done with mothers from other centers. I look forward to inspiring each other going forward.
 
Daniela Elefteriadis – Listening to the organizations speaking and realizing I’m not the only one bothered by these things that are happening to mothers and families. This conference was inspiring and empowering.

Kim DeLuzia – Learning about people through charades Friday night. I had fun, met lots of people and bonded with many.

Karen Willig – Great women! It was exciting to be part of the conference. The workshops were great. I loved the special needs workshop and knowing that we can call national when we need support.

Claudia Feehan – Seeing people I’ve seen at other conferences, reconnecting and meeting new people. Knowing that we are all working toward the same goal.

Fontaine Sheridan – Taking what we’ve learned here back to the center and putting it to use. I learned a tremendous amount.

Gina Marie – Saw people I haven’t seen in years. I value what I do as a mother and I experienced here that my mother knowledge is valuable. This conference showed me that we are validating mothering and what we do is valuable.

Jennifer Santillo-Rodriguez – I found a feeling of empowerment and I am very grateful.

Beth Osnes – Bridging between academics, activism and community all together.

Anjali Kochar – Knowing I’m not alone. We’re engaging in a conversation together. The keynote speaker was fabulous.
We’re really close to getting people to hear us. We’re really close to the change we want. We’re hearing each others’ voices.

Karen Buckley – Always wonderful. One highlight was having a baby for a room mate. Also it was great to laugh so hard Saturday night!

Delia Soronto – The confirmation of the concept that it takes a village to raise a child.

Pat Gowens – Head the mothers’ movement - I hope to include all classes going forward.

Eileen Marriott – I love the feeling of being a part of something larger that can go forward. We can leverage off of each other with the support that goes beyond members of our center.

Karen Horowitz – Sharing this with my daughter and her baby. I have been to all 24 conferences. The round table of organizations demonstrated we have broad commonality. Also the opportunity to pay tribute to Linda Juergens hard work and contributions to this work.

Lori Zlotoff – I grew up in a Mothers’ Center with my mother. This has been a unique and special experience.

Lisa David – I learned so much about the Mothers’ Centers and establishing circles through the Heart & Soul workshop.
Ellen Kramer – Seeing the room full, reconnecting with moms from Southwest Nassau. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone more.

Katie Bond – Saturday night’s dinner and the song parodies.

Kathleen Carney – Finding Mothers’ Centers and learning about advocacy was useful.

Dale Durdunas – Energy

Ann Russin – Time with friends, a common bond, amazing workshops.

Regina Iaccarino – I was a facilitator and it was great to see people I haven’t seen in a while.

Catherine Wright – working with the NAMC staff as an amazing team with all the varied gifts and talents we put to work to make the conference successful. Seeing the bridge between organizations focused on making a difference for mothers and families and knowing that I am a part of that.

Sally Dear – At other conferences on mothering the mother was missing. At this conference I really felt mothered and having my daughter and granddaughter here with me.

Ellen Cooperperson – I am so moved, touched and inspired seeing so many empowered women taking on leadership for this movement for women.

Mary Scott – Beth’s monologue “children are not cute”.

Lori Rappa – Coming together of different organizations – each has a special talent and gift. As we share these gifts we’re doing something to benefit the larger whole.

Irene Bauer – The Turn Beauty Inside Out workshop and being invited to join another Mothers’ Center.

Pat Murphy – Happy to be back sharing the culture of the Mothers’ Center.

Joanne Gaghan – Discussions, putting faces to names, being serious but having the opportunity to let loose.

Gay Novack – Expressions of various stripes, hearing from various organizations. We are making a mothers movement.

Laurie Roughan – Getting back to basics of the Mothers’ Center principles. I had an Aha moment Friday night at the roundtable. We have a responsibility to share Mothers’ Center principles with the world and I feel very blessed to have this organization in my life.

*Erin Runkle, Massachusetts – I had a surprising AHA. I realized I was an activist but have not translated that to motherhood. My husband and I work hard. I realized I’m not the failure, but our Society has failed us. I need to translate that to activism and now I know where to put my efforts. I’m now empowered.

Becca Bryer – The workshop on Heart & Soul of Mothers’ Centers – learning from other Mothers’ Center members. I’m getting the sense of how Mothers’ Centers connects to a movement and to feminism and how we can shift to creating a more caring world.

Lisa (NYU) – The totality of it all and that advocating takes a village. The conference was inspiring!

Andrea O’Reilly – NAMC is doing what we need to do. I have this grant to research the impact of mothers’ centers on mothers and my vision is 1,000 mothers centers around the world.

Lisa Kaplan-Miller – Meeting people face-to-face who I have only spoken to in the past and gaining insights from the conversations; the thoughtfulness, insight and passion of center women.

Viviana Russell – working with the staff and seeing the fruit of our labor along with the women we are connected to. Linda lives the Mothers’ Center principles every day. It is a different experience working at NAMC and being able to take care of my children without worrying about my job. Wow! Seeing Lorri Slepian holding Lori’s baby and the expression on her face said it all! Awesome to see the work we do in the office make a difference; to see what Mothers’ Center stands for: best place to work in the world; appreciate all of my sisters.

Nancy Kaplan – Seeing Southwest Nassau friends I haven’t seen in years. I feel like an under achiever in the company of people who have done so much. I’m inspired to find my way.

Jen Riley – The super soft mountain of pillows on my bed. I feel that soft comfort in the room with all of you. It’s what the conference feels like. Great speakers and information. It was inspiring being part of the conversation about the mothers movement. Great to see new members and that the founders are still active.

Lisa Prince – I became a new mom after 25 years of marriage and I needed the Mothers’ Center. Realizing I’m not alone with my adolescent daughter and meeting new people were highlights for me.

Judith Statdman Tucker – I was very impressed by everyone and all the organizations. It’s amazing to see how much we have all evolved. The highlight for me was hearing I used to think I was the problem but now realize society has failed us. I’m grateful for the opportunity to speak with all of you; grateful to be here.

Anonymous Highlights
 
- a chance to recharge our batteries
- this is the living story
- keep these photos in the history books
- we’ve got a motion going on
- how we can work together
- various expressions of a common goal and the same heart
- I got so fired up
- opinions and passions
- the learning, knowledge, and information shared that I’m looking forward to carrying on with our center
- amazing, absolutely amazing
- I found something I lost a long time ago that I got back – empowerment
- keynote had energy; we’re really close to the change we want
- we don’t need to reinvent the wheel; we can leverage off each other and our national connection
- learn to bring the Mothers’ Center to my community
- rich history, so fulfilling
- I find the Mothers’ Center was a great gift to me
- energy to bring back to my Mothers’ Center
- I’ve learned so much
- we honor one another
- nice to put faces to familiar names
- the feeling of heart
- how this little thing I’m trying to do to create a Mothers’ Center in my community is connected
- a sense of community
- thank you for inspiring me
- brilliant conference
- reacquainting with friends from my center; they’ve seen the worst and best of me
- there’ve been so many windows opened
- how this organization (a living being) has endured over time; that something so valuable is so alive
- being at my center is a joy for me