Change Is in the Air
It’s a new year, and while 2016 was turning into 2017 your BWI of OKC volunteer team was busy working behind the scenes! The first thing you may have noticed, especially if you are reading this right now, is that we have overhauled and updated our website. We have rearranged some pages and added a resources page full of links and infographics. Click around and check it out. We have changes in our volunteer line up. Our long time President, Stephanie, has stepped down from her position with our chapter. We will miss her, and if you see her please thank her for all her work. Linda now fills the President role, with Sarah as Vice President. Kristina has stayed on as Secretary/Treasurer. Shawn and Kasandra have joined us as Chapter Volunteers. Their introductions will be added to the volunteer page soon. This month we are trying out several new locations and meeting times, as well as a new event. The Edmond meeting has moved to Hackney Chiropractic, and the south OKC meeting will be held at the library on SW 134th Street. The Changing Table meeting will be on a Tuesday evening rather than a Saturday afternoon. See our calendar for more information. This month’s meetings are on a trial basis. If you like these new options, the best way to let us know is by joining us for a meeting. We always welcome messages with feedback as well. We have received requests for a Norman meeting, and it is on our radar for the future. On February 25, we will be hosting our first live babywearing swap event at The Changing Table. We hope to raise funds for new library carriers. We will be selling some carriers from the library that have gone out of production or become outdated. Community members are also invited to bring their personal carriers to sell. We are asking for a $5 donation in the form of a table fee for anyone wishing to sell or trade personal carriers at this event. Look for event details on the calendar and contact us if you wish to have table space. Finally, if you are active in various online babywearing groups you will have noticed a number of shifts in terminology. For those who are not familiar, information on correct and respectful use of the terms rebozo, meh dai/bei dai (formerly mei tai), onbuhimo, and podaegi can be found on our resources page. “Traditional sling” has replaced “rebozo” as a descriptive name for carries and passes. Additionally, #takebacktherebozo and #notyourpodbutai can be helpful searches on social media. Didymos has also renamed several of their wraps: Ind*o is now Prima, Orient has become Fairytale. BWI of OKC supports these changes. More information on Babywearing International’s official position can be found here. Please be patient with us as we update our materials and library lists to reflect these changes.
