Mother’s Day Campaign 2008: Connecting Mothers’ Voices

This campaign concentrated on two areas: Saving the American Time Use Survey and connecting Mothers & More chapters with their communities and Mothers & More members with experts on issues that affect us all.

Mothers & More Everywhere!

Forty-three events in twenty-three states connected Mothers & More with their communities across the nation. Whether holding a “Take Care of Mom” event or spreading the word about Mothers & More with a “mother care” booth at a local festival, Mothers & More was everywhere for the 2008 Mother’s Day season!

American Time Use Survey

The federal government had plans to cut the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) from the 2009 budget. In response, Mothers & More took action. We started by educating our members, and everyone who cares about mothers, about what the ATUS is, what it is used for, and why everyone should care if it goes away.

The next step was to make sure Washington heard our voices. We encouraged all mothers and those who care about mothers to sign Mothers & More’s letter supporting the ATUS, which was sent with 288 signatures to President Bush, along with then-key members of the House and Senate Subcommittees on Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies: Congressman David Obey, Congressman James Walsh, Senator Tom Harkin, Senator Arlen Specter.

There were online tools enabling those interested to personally contact their own congressmen, and separate letters were sent to Senators and Representatives in California and Michigan, on behalf of petitions collected in those states. Every time a mother signed the letter online, a VisiMom was created in her honor. 318 VisiMoms were ultimately created.

Connecting is POWERful

The POWER Loop connected mothers virtually by hosting a long list of knowledgeable and prestigious guests to discuss the issues that affect mothers. Featured guests were:
Betsy Bagley
     Director, Business Development, Your On Ramp
Shirley Clark & Patricia Reed
     Founding partners, Choose 2 Lead
Ellen Cooperperson
     Executive Director, Women’s Leadership Development Center
Pamela Paul
     Author, Parenting, Inc.
Kiki Peppard
     activist & team member for 9to5 National Association of Working Women
Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson
     Founders, CultureRX & creators of Result-Only Work Environment (ROWE)
Amy Wilson
     Actress & playwright, The Mother Load