Free counters provided by Andale.
Following is information you will need if you are considering joining:
The person babysitting would call the Secretary to report the points they earned. Those points they earned are then spent when they have another member babysit for their children!
Since we have monthly get-togethers and other meetings, we all get to know eachother.
For more information about Babysitting Co-ops in general, see the following references:
1. All members of the Co-op are expected to contribute time to running the Co-op. Members shall be part of the Co-op for at least 6 months before being part of the rotation.
2. The Contact Person will be selected, on a rotational basis, so that all members serve equal time in this role. The Contact Person shall serve for a period of 3 months. The Contact Person's duties include: facilitating the admission of prospective members, the coordination of co-op business, officially representing the Co-op for interested groups and people seeking information, and publicizing the Babysitting Co-op around town and in the media. The Contact Person will receive 3 points for their service at the end of their term.
3. The Secretary will be chosen from volunteers on a rotational basis and will serve a 3-month period. The Secretary's duties include: recording the information taken for each sit from the sitter, keeping a running total of each member's points, and emailing balances to the members. The Secretary will receive 6 points for their service at the end of their term.
4. Get-togethers are held so that the members and children become acquainted with each other. Each member may take a turn hosting the get-together, if desired. The get-togethers can be in a member's home or in another location, such as a park or playground. The Meeting Coordinator will schedule these dates among the members and will notify members of the dates and locations for the get-togethers. Depending on the ages of the children in the co-op, there may be different get-togethers, for younger and older children, and for parents only. The Meeting Coordinator position will be a 3-month rotational position. The Meeting Coordinator will receive 4 points for their service at the end of their term.
5. The Webmaster will post point values for members as often as the Secretary sends out the points spreadsheet to the members, and also a list of past issues which were voted on, along with their results.
6. Meetings are held at our monthly get-togethers. The purpose of the meetings are to discuss old and new business, to inform members of problems, to update members of their points, and to discuss any new ideas or by-laws needed for the Co-op. Business may also be conducted between meetings, via email.
7. Except for babysitting requests and Meeting Coordinator and Secretary communications, all business should be cleared through the Contact Person.
8. If a member wishes to leave the Co-op, they are expected to inform the Contact Person as soon as possible. The member is expected to leave with no negative points.
9. Members start in the co-op with 10 points to spend. Negative points are allowed, but are to be used only in emergencies rather than being part of the norm, for example, if one has multiple unexpected medical tests. Each member is expected to keep track of their own points and should recheck their totals with the Secretary for accuracy.
10. Any revisions, suggestions, and/or changes are welcome to these bylaws and are subject to the agreement of the majority of the membership.
11. When scheduling a
start time with a sitter, the member is expected to arrive at the designated
time. If the member is not on time, the sitter will still receive points
based on the agreed starting time. Please respect the agreement you make
with the sitter, as tardiness will cost points.
12. Should a sitter commit to a sitting and a sittee cancels for reasons other than an emergency or family illness, a discussion to determine whether any points need to be granted would be between the two parties involved.
13. The sittee should leave a phone number with the sitter whenever possible. If a phone number cannot be left, and the Contact Person is not available when a doctor is needed, then the sitter should call the doctor's office should there be an emergency. The sitter would then be told whether to bring the child to the hospital via 911 dispatch. Usually the hospital would still need to contact the child's parents for permission to treat, unless the sittee leaves the sitter an emergency medical treatment consent form. Please inform the members if you wish a different procedure and advise the sitter.
14. At this time, we are not charging a sign-up fee or yearly dues.
15. Although a child is never supposed to be left alone during a sit, basic safety guidelines have been developed for those wishing to babysit children younger than 3 years old in their homes, to ensure that everyone is comfortable leaving their young children in a house they may not know well. If a member does not wish to babysit a child under 3 years old in her house, but is willing to sit for them in their houses (or not at all), they may indicate so on the membership form.
16. Each member arranges his or her own sits, giving as much notice as possible.
17. As it may be counted against you, try not to cancel unless it is an emergency or illness.
18. Members should not hesitate to refuse to take children who are ill. Also, if anyone in the sitter's household is ill, the sittee should be informed as soon as possible, and will be free to make other arrangements.
19. Allergies should be made known to the sitter at each sit.
20. A phone number should be left as to where the parent can be contacted. If not able to be reached, the parent should notify the sitter of an alternate contact person.
21. The procedure for introducing prospective members to the Co-op is:
a. The prospective member must have email in order to join, and be a resident of Billerica
b. They will be given a copy of the guidelines/record-keeping info. sheet, a safety checklist, and a membership form.
c. The prospective member can be invited to the next get-together and/or business meeting to meet other members, ask any pertinent questions, and make a decision about joining the Co-op.
d. Once the new member officially joins, by sending in the completed membership form, they will receive their initial 10 points and the Membership List. This list will not be given to any person outside the Babysitting Co-op.
e. Before sitting for children under 3 years old in the new member's home, the member should go through the safety checklist to ensure that basic safety standards are being followed.
1. For every hour of babysitting, the sitter earns 1 point for the first child and 0.5 points for each additional child. (2 hours for 2 children= 3 points.)
2. Points are based on the quarter hour system.
3. The minimum for any sitting is one hour.
4. If there is a house guest at the member's home who also needs sitting, it shall be at the same rate as for the children of the member.
5. Extra points earned:
a. If a sitter goes to a member's home to sit, one extra point is given.
b. If a sitter picks up a child for sitting, or delivers a child back to their home from sitting, the sitter shall receive 0.5 points for each way.
c. If a sitter sits for 6 hours or more, one extra point is given.
d. If sitting past midnight, 1.5 extra points are given.
e. An additional 0.5 points will be awarded for providing a meal (more than just snacks) and/or early morning sits, but this is negotiable between the two members involved.
f. An additional 1 point will be awarded if the sit is on a National Holiday, or a National Holiday Weekend (may be defined as if the banks are closed and no mail is delivered).
6. It is the responsibility of the one who sits to call in the points to the Secretary within 2-3 days of the babysitting service. By doing so ASAP, the times and dates won't be forgotten. It is also for clear record keeping on a monthly basis, and for the Secretary to be able to report the points at the meetings.
7. Each member should keep a personal record of their points.
8. Points not called in within 30 days of the sit may not be accepted by the Secretary.
9. In the case of sitting for one or more awake children and one or more sleeping children, points above the 1 pt/hr minimum, will be awarded only to awake children. All sleeping children will be part of the 1 pt/hr minimum. Here's a breakdown:
2 children, both awake = 1.5 pts/hr
2 children, 1 awake, 1 asleep = 1 pt/hr
2 children, both asleep = 1 pt/hr
3 children, all awake - 2 pts/hr
3 children, 2 awake, 1 asleep = 1.5 pts/hr
3 children, 1 awake, 2 asleep = 1 pt/hr
3 children, all asleep = 1 pt/hr
4 children, all awake - 2.5 pts/hr
4 children, 3 awake, 1 asleep = 2 pts/hr
4 children, 2 awake, 2 asleep = 1.5 pts/hr
4 children, 1 awake, 3 asleep = 1 pt/hr
4 children, all asleep = 1 pt/hr
All new members fill out the following form and submit it to the Secretary.
Secretary Info 4/1/07 - 6/30/07:
Taryn Gillis
18 Miller's Farm Rd
Billerica, MA 01821
Name of Member: _______________________________________________________________
Child 1: Name:___________________________________ Birthdate: ______________________
Child 2: Name:___________________________________ Birthdate: ______________________
Child 3: Name:___________________________________ Birthdate: ______________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
Phone Number: _________________________________________________________________
Alternate phone number (work? cell?) for short notice babysitting, if desired*:
______________________________________________________________________________
Spouse's Name: _________________________________________________________________
Member’s E-mail address: _________________________________________________________
Time Preference: ________________________________________________________________
Will sit for children under 3 years old: at home - in child's home - not at all.
Pets? _______________________________________ Smokers in house?__________________
Special instructions (allergies, etc.): _________________________________________________
Date: ____________________________________________________________
IMPORTANT: Please give the sitter all contact and emergency information at every sit. This information should include cell phone numbers, emergency contact person, doctor's name and number, allergies, etc...
*By providing an alternate phone number (cell, work) other members would be able to call to ask you to babysit on short notice even if you are not at home. If you prefer not to babysit on short notice or to receive calls only at home, please leave this space blank.
Back to Ellen's main page.
Ellen Savyon Vig ellen_vig@yahoo.com