Monthly President's Message: Why MONA Works ~ Our Volunteers

Hellow MONA members,

I hope everyone has dug out from the lingering 'snowcrete' across our area. The forum has been especially active and helpful during times like this, which is yet another reason I love this incredible community of parents helping parents. Anything to make our days a little more streamlined and efficient, right?!

Before diving into this month’s topic, I want to highlight a few exciting events coming up in February. In addition to the wellness events shared in our last newsletter, we have:

This month, I’d like to focus on volunteering with MONA. As you know, we are a nonprofit powered entirely by volunteers who are dedicated to making this community stronger, more inclusive, and more helpful to parents of kids of all ages. The volunteers working behind the scenes strive to bring timely, meaningful programming and real value to your daily lives.

First, I want to thank and recognize my fellow Board members, our subgroup leaders, and the many event volunteers who give their time and energy to run this organization. Because of you, MONA continues to grow and evolve. As one friend recently put it, MONA has become truly “next-level” which is music to my ears. I’ve been loving the momentum and many of the recent changes, so kudos to you all. 

So, who actually volunteers with MONA?
Working parents and stay-at-home parents alike, with children ranging from newborns to college-bound. Everyone brings a different skillset to the table, like legal, marketing, finance, project management, creative skills, and more. This diverse mix of expertise is invaluable as we continue to expand our offerings and support our community.

Why volunteer?
Parents are busy. All. The. Time. I completely understand how daunting it can feel to add anything else to an already full plate, especially when you’re juggling work and family. From a personal perspective, my journey with MONA has brought a different kind of fulfillment to my daily life, one that beautifully complements my other priorities. I feel more connected to my community, have met incredible people and organizations, and truly feel (and hope!) I’m making a lasting impact. I asked a few of my peer Board Members to share what volunteering has meant to them:

“As a MONA member, I met my best friends through playgroups and moms’ nights out, which inspired me to give back by volunteering and eventually serving on the MONA Board. Supporting volunteer efforts and helping with monthly socials lets me connect with moms at every stage of motherhood and reminds me how powerful this community truly is.”

“I’ve loved volunteering on the MONA Board—it’s been incredibly rewarding to meet new families and work toward shared goals. Helping strengthen our community is both meaningful and inspiring. We’re all just families doing our best, and I’m happy to help in any way I can.”

While these are volunteer roles, there are some perks, such as free event admission, complimentary annual membership, MONA swag, and more!

How can you get involved?
Here are a few different ways to give back to this community we all know and love... 

If you have a skill or idea that could benefit our community, we’d love to hear from you. We are always open to new ideas.

Interested but not ready to commit just yet?

We get it. That’s why we offer shadowing opportunities for those who are curious but not quite ready to jump in. Shadowing allows you to learn more about different roles, understand the time commitment, and work alongside someone currently in that position. This can be especially helpful for Board roles, where getting up to speed takes time. If you’re interested in learning more, please reach out. I truly believe fresh ideas, energy, and perspectives are critical to MONA’s continued success.

We are always looking for people like you to help move this organization forward, and we hope you’ll consider donating your expertise, energy, and precious time. We’d love to have you with us as we step into the next chapter of MONA and continue to level up together.

Stay warm through the February doldrums,
Alex