(Re)Introducing Kitsap Babywearers

This week, Babywearing International has announced that they will be filing for bankruptcy at the end of the month. Due to this announcement, Babywearing International of Kitsap Peninsula will be disaffiliating and reforming as our own independent non-profit group now known as Kitsap Babywearers.

We hope to make this transition as seamless as possible for our community and members, but if you have any concerns or questions feel free to ask.

Thank you for your ongoing support and patience as we transition. We are very excited for the future of our organization!

For more details, check out our Frequently Asked Questions below.

Sincerely,

Board of Directors, Kitsap Babywearers

Samantha Garcia, President
Lori Fredericks, Vice-President

Overview
What’s Changing

Our ability to address and act on topics of inclusivity and diversity
Our name, logo, email, website address, social media names and Amazon Smile link
Membership dues and money raised through fundraisers will now stay 100% local
Breadth of volunteer training: additional carrier types and education formats

What’s Not Changing

Membership types, costs and availability of scholarships
Your membership status and expiration date
Meetings and meeting locations
Our carriers, lending libraries and myTurn inventory website
Depth of volunteer training
Volunteer and organization insurance

Purpose of Kitsap Babywearers
The purpose of the organization is:

to build the bond between babies and caregivers through baby carrier education and support;
to provide a community education service and distribute baby carriers to individuals and other organizations for their use; and
to celebrate babywearing among caregivers through online and in-person gatherings.

Membership
Q: How will disaffiliating from Babywearing International affect my membership status?

A: Your Babywearing International membership will still be honored by Kitsap Babywearers, as an independent group, until it was originally set to expire. There will be no interruption to your membership or benefits of your membership.

Q: Will the cost of membership change in the future?

A: Annual memberships through Kitsap Babywearers will continue to be $30.

The only change is that Kitsap Babywearers will retain 100% of membership dues which we will be able to invest back into our organization and local community; previously, 30% of membership dues were sent to the parent organization, Babywearing International.

We cannot guarantee that membership costs will not change in the future. We will, however, always have scholarships available if the cost of a membership is a barrier to anyone who wishes to become a member.

Q: Can I transfer my Babywearing International membership to another chapter?

A: If you obtained a membership under Babywearing International of Kitsap Peninsula (before February 15, 2018) and it is still active, you can request your membership may be able to be transferred to another babywearing group in the United States. We will do our best to work with other chapters who have chosen to proceed as their own group with the closing of Babywearing International.

Meetings
Q: Will meeting locations or dates/times change?

A: No, we intend to continue all meetings as currently scheduled; meetings will continue to be subject to volunteer and location availability.

Q: Will meeting format change?

A: Meetings will continue to be around two hours long, allowing people to come and go as they wish while still receiving the same great care and support they have received in the past. If anything, you will notice that meetings will become more inclusive and welcoming as we operate as an independent babywearing group.

Lending Libraries
Q: Will there be any changes to carriers or lending libraries?

A: No, all assets of Babywearing International of Kitsap Peninsula will be transferred to Kitsap Babywearers. You will still be able to try on and check out the same great carriers that you have come to know and love in our lending libraries!

Baby Carrier Education
Q: How will educators be trained in an independent babywearing group?

A: Kitsap Babywearers has developed a comprehensive curriculum and training program. Educators will be specialized in certain carrier types and skills, allowing more educators to be available to members at meetings while still maintaining a high level of expertise.

Educators who previously had Volunteer Babywearing Educator (VBE) training, assessments and status through Babywearing International will continue to receive ongoing training through Kitsap Babywearers.

Q: Babywearing International of Kitsap Peninsula had insurance through Babywearing International – will there be insurance as an independent group?

A: Yes – Kitsap Babywearers is seeking liability and loss insurance policies, and our volunteers and lending libraries will continue to be covered for liability and loss insurance going forward.

Financials
Q: Babywearing International of Kitsap Peninsula remitted 30%+ of income from membership and fundraisers to Babywearing International. How does that change as an independent group?

A: Income from membership and fundraisers will stay 100% in our local community since we will no longer have oversight from a national organization. We are really excited for the possibilities this presents to our group! For example, we will be able to put more funds towards our lending libraries or towards community outreach and carriers we can donate to local groups and individuals.

Since we are no longer affiliated with Babywearing International, our group becomes eligible for more grants as an independent group, widening our ability to obtain funding.

Online Presence
Q: Will there still be a Facebook group?

A: Yes, we have renamed the existing closed Facebook group, and we will continue to provide the same support there as we do today.

Q: Will there still be a Facebook page?

A: Yes, we will continue to post important topics and announcements on our Facebook page and update the events tab there with meetings and other events.

Q: Will your website change?

A: Yes! We will now be located at www.kitsapbabywearers.com. The prior web address www.bwikitsap.org will forward to wwww.kitsapbabywearers.com for a short time. The Babywearing International name and logo, however, will be updated to reflect our new group, Kitsap Babywearers.

Q: How can I get in touch with you if I have questions?

A: We always have an open door. You can email info@kitsapbabywearers.com or message our Facebook Page at any time.

*******************************

If you have any questions about babywearing, we encourage you to contact us and/or come learn in person at one of our meetings! Check out our Instagram @KitsapBabywearers and our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/kitsapcountybabywearers)

Celebrate International Babywearing Week 2017 with BWI Kitsap Peninsula!

This year’s International Babywearing Week theme is “Threaded Together”! The inspiration from the theme comes from the textiles and the weaving process for all of the carriers we use. All of these individual threads, once woven, create a material. All of us babywearers come together to create a global community; we are united in the fact that we use carriers to wear our babies.

Here in Kitsap County, we hope that the events we have planned for the week to celebrate babywearing will help to bring our community of babywearers a little bit closer and “thread us together” with some babywearing fun!

Each event is listed below, and we will have raffle prizes to give away at each event for the attendees – so make sure you check in when you arrive! At the end of the week, we will also have a grand prize winner drawn from the attendees of the week’s events.

MONDAY OCTOBER 2 – KITSAP COUNTY PARK CLEAN UPS

Clear Creek Trail 10am-12pm and South Kitsap Regional Park 1pm-3pm

Let’s all get together to make some of our favorite locations the best they can be. We will meet up at whichever location is closest to you (or both!) and work as a team to help pick up any litter that has been left behind. Our group volunteer leaders for each location will have garbage bags and gloves available.
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/838331069674251/

TUESDAY OCTOBER 3 – ZOO DAY AT WOODLAND PARK ZOO

Woodland Park Zoo – Seattle – 11:30am

Join us at Woodland Park Zoo at 11:30am. This has always been a popular event during past years and we are super excited to visit again to kick off International Babywearing Week. So grab your favorite carrier (animal print or not 😉 ) and let’s get wild!
Tickets at https://www.zoo.org/
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1520754417984428/

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 4 – EAT WINGS. RAISE FUNDS AT BUFFALO WILD WINGS & CRAFT NIGHT #CRAFTWITHANNA

Buffalo Wild Wings – Silverdale – ALL DAY

This is an all day long event! Bring our fundraiser flyer to Buffalo Wild Wings and they will donate 10% of your bill to our group! Meet up with some friends, take the family or even just treat yourself 😀
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/489203004786557/

Craft Night – #CraftWithAnna – Gilberton Community Club – 6pm

Join BWI of KP for a fun night of painting and great company.
Anna Bradshaw, owner of #CraftWithAnna, will be teaching us how to make our own personalized babywearing art to take home. Art supplies will be provided, all you need to do is show up and have a great time!
Worn infants and young toddlers welcome (if you want to bring them ) we will have a small circle gate as well.
Cost is $15 per person, please send payment through PayPal to: KITSAP@BABYWEARINGINTERNATIONAL.ORG
More info:  https://www.facebook.com/events/171576356752194

THURSDAY OCTOBER 5 – MINI BABYWEARING PHOTOSHOOT WITH HOLLAND HARRIS PHOTOGRAPHY

Theler Wetlands Nature Preserve – 11am-6pm

Join us for our annual BWI Mini Session fundraiser! This year we are excited to be working with Holly Harris from Holland Harris Photography.

Sessions cost $50 (portion of the proceeds going to BWI of KP) and include a 20 minute session with 4 finished photos digitally delivered for download. Sessions do not have to be strictly Babywearing, you can also do family, kids, pets, breastfeeding, maternity, cloth diapers or any other style of photos you’d like to use your mini session for 🙂

There is optional cost of $10 per additional photo or a flat fee of $75 for the entire album of photographs.
Please see the link below for information on how to book your session!
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1144888935612324

FRIDAY OCTOBER 6 – BINGO NIGHT AT GILBERTON COMMUNITY CENTER

Bingo Night – Gilberton Community Club – 6pm

Join us for a night of fun and prizes! Bingo with BWI of KP. Don’t forget your good luck charms at home 😉
Bingo Cards will be $2 each, cash or card at the event. Wear your BWI of KP shirt and earn a free card.
Players must be 18+ years old, but everyone is welcome to attend. New cards must be purchased each round. LOTS OF PRIZES
Feel free to bring and share your fav snack foods as well!
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/121645645223342

SATURDAY OCTOBER 7 – FLASH BABYWEARING TATTOOS AT NEWTATTOOINK

ANEWTATTOINK in Port Orchard – 12pm-8pm

A New Tattoo Ink (https://www.facebook.com/blacklinesmatter/) in Port Orchard is hosting a Babywearing Tattoo Flash event. There will be lots of beautiful babywearing designs available so you can find one that best suits your style. They will also be doing some tattoos on Sunday in case someone can’t make it or if Saturday fills up.
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1462773563815672/

SUNDAY OCTOBER 8 – PUMPKIN PATCH & CORN MAZE

Hunter Farms – 11am-2pm

Come get lost with us in the corn maze. Navigating your way around is definitely made easier thanks to babywearing. We will be meeting up at Hunter Farms in Union and enjoy pumpkin picking, hay maze, tractor rides and of course the corn maze!
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/330790957383251/

Carry of the Week: Week 49 – Frankencarry

COTW-49

WEEK 49
Frankencarry

Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCQcV2rvTzQ

This carry will use a size 7-8 wrap, it is a hybrid of a Double Hammock, Back Cross Carry and Double Rebozo (phew!). You’ll need a pair of Large Sling Rings (available from slingrings.com). It has a chest belt, a waist belt, and leg passes and has a very unique look on the front.

Post photos below of you trying out a Frankencarry!

Carry of the Week: Week 46 – Wiggleproof Ruck Back Carry

COTW-46

WEEK 46
Wiggleproof Ruck Back Carry

Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpxQQqcfRmQ

This carry is similar to a regular ruck, but when crossing your passes under baby after making your ruck straps – you’ll actually create two leg passes to help lock in any pro leg straightener you may have!

Post photos below of you trying out a Wiggleproof Ruck Back Carry!

Carry of the Week: Week 45 – Double Hammock Tibetean

COTW-45

WEEK 45
Double Hammock Tibetean

Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-Sag9ERlHQ

This carry will use your base size just as a normal Double Hammock or possibly one size larger to account for the extra tail coming up and across to do the tibetean finish. This variation helps if you have any issues with your straps slipping off your shoulders or just dislike the knot around your waist.

Post photos below of you trying out a Double Hammock Tibetean!