The Eastside is a big area. Where do you actually meet?
We go where the fun events are and that’s all over. We do meet nine times a year in downtown Kirkland and several times a year in Woodinville, because that’s where we’ve found affordable facilities to rent for meetings and special events. For a better idea of where we go, check out last year’s calendar.

How many events can I attend?
Once you join, you’re welcome to attend as many as you want, and even to host a few. Some members join just for playgroups, some just for mom-only events, and some are “frequent flyers.” Whatever your interests, and your interest level, you’ll probably find something you enjoy in EMC.

Do you support any charities?
From 2004-2006, EMC held an annual silent auction that raised several thousand dollars each year for the Eastside Domestic Violence Program and Pediatric Interim Care Center. While we are proud of that accomplishment, the auction had grown to a point that it was too demanding for most mothers of young children to manage well. In addition, a recent member survey revealed that our members would prefer to be more directly involved with a charity (hands-on volunteering and collection drives) and prefer to support smaller organizations that don’t already have broad support networks. In 2007/2008, we will be experimenting with new ways to support charity as a group.

If you have no religious affiliation, why do you meet at a church?
We hold our monthly Mom's Morning Breaks at the Kirkland Congregational Church because it's a central, affordable location that has welcomed our Club since it was formed. They impose no religious constraints on us, but would like individual members to know that they are welcome attend church activities.

Do you welcome home-schooling families?
Yes and no. Children under first-grade age are welcome year-round and activities are designed for them. Older children are welcome over the summer and during scheduled school breaks. If you have an older child who is home-schooled, you would need to make alternate arrangements for him or her before attending most EMC events with your younger child.

Why do you have fundraising activities if members have to pay annual dues?
The annual dues primarily cover our overhead expenses: website, mailbox, meeting space rental, speaker fees, etc. Dues alone do not cover puppet shows, music concerts and other private performances. Fundraising also allows us to discount the prices of some tours and activities. Think of it as like a pre-school: your tuition pays for salaries, educational supplies, and the building, but fundraising pays for a puppet show, extra art supplies, and the graduation ceremony, those little extras that make your pre-school special.

Eastside Mothers Club
PO Box 2611, Kirkland, WA 98083
membership@eastsidemothersclub.com