Membership

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MEMBERSHIP

What Do Chapters and Chapter Members Do?

Chapters range in size from 25 to 1,500 members.

Chapters are run entirely by volunteer members who assume a variety of leadership roles.

All chapters, to comply with their PWP charters, run programs balanced among three areas: Educational activities, Family activities and Adult Social/Recreational activities.

Chapters may also conduct community service programs. These include community outreach (speakers for seminars and workshops in the community), fund raising for national or local charities, or cooperative exchanges (such as baby-sitting, clothing, or toy exchanges).

Chapters are organized under Regional Councils, which coordinate programs and sponsor conferences.

Chapters and Regional Councils are organized into Zones, which elect directors and hold conferences.

Benefits of an International Organization

As an international organization, Parents Without Partners offers the following services to all members:

Advocacy: PWP speaks for all single parents and their children at conferences, in national coalitions, and in workshops. The International Board of Directors supports legislative policies and priorities to further the interests of single parent families.

An International Convention: Every year, members conduct organization business and elections, and attend workshops on both single parenting subjects and on how to run PWP programs at the chapter level. Children and adults may receive special awards for arts and talent.

Organization Awards: A number of awards are available at many levels of the organization in the areas of Community Relations, Family and Youth, Membership, Program, Legislative Action, and the Distinguished Service to Children Award to a person or group that has made a great contribution to children and teens.

Scholarships: Applicants must be dependent children, up to twenty-five (25) years of age, of PWP members. They must be (1) in the senior class of any high school and must plan to enter and have applied to a school of higher education for the following year OR (2) be an undergraduate student at a college or trade school.

How to Join

All prospective members must attend an Orientation Meeting prior to joining PWP. You may attend one of our functions and meet with one of our officers to find out more about PWP before joining. See our calendar for events this month. The orientation provides information about PWP and is an opportunity to join the Chapter.
Membership fees are minimal and are paid annually. Dues include both Chapter and PWP International fees and a monthly Chapter newsletter. Many PWP events offer discounts for children of PWP members.
To be eligible for membership in Parents Without Partners, Inc., a person must be a parent of one or more living sons or daughters and be single by reason of death, divorce, separation, or never been married. Custody of children is not a factor.


Ten Tips For Single Parents

Ask for help if you need it. Remember that it is a sign of strength, not weakness, to seek help and accept it when problems are overwhelming. Seek out professional counselors in your community, or from PWP and friends.

Allow yourself and your children time for readjustment.

Remember that a single parent home doesn't have to be harmful to your children and don't attribute all difficulties to your single situation. Whether you are the visiting parent or the primary rearing the children, your ability to cope makes an important difference.

Allow bitterness, jealously, blaming, revenge, and self-pity to disappear from your life. Such emotions drain energy from the important tasks of building a good home for your children and a new life for yourself.

Allow your children to respect and love the other parent. Don't belittle the parent or involve the children in battles, or force them to "choose." Remember that the children's feelings and perceptions of parents are not the same as those of the spouse for a spouse.

Try to remember the positive parts of your marriage, but without living in the past. Share the good memories with your children.

Make sure your children understand that they did not cause the single parent situation and that they are not being rejected by the other parent. Make sure they know you won't abandon them and that you will be able to care for them.

Be open and honest; share your feeling with your children and let them share theirs with you. But don't impose your feelings, or demand their confidences.

ake an effort to think of yourself as an individual and not part of someone else. Examine old feelings of dependency and neediness. The value you place on yourself will be reflected in your children's sense of self-worth.

While it's easy to become wrapped up in your children, take some time for yourself. Use your single status as an opportunity for growth and development. Make each day count by trying something new or making new friends. Remember that your situation will change old relationships and will lead to new ones.