Monday, February 22, 2016

Two New Policies

Wellness Policy:

For the protection of all children and caregivers in our community, we ask that caregivers responsibly monitor the health and wellness of themselves and the children in their care. Please do not attend meetings if you or the child(ren) attending with you have any of the following symptoms within the 24 hours before a BWI event:

  • Fever exceeding 99* F
  • Unexplained rash
  • Conjunctivitis/Pink Eye (red/pink eyes with yellow discharge- must be symptom free or on antibiotics for 24 hours)
  • Cold-like symptoms with thick green/yellow nasal discharge
  • Any other symptoms not previously mentioned that are likely contagious

In the case of vomiting or diarrhea, we ask that you refrain from attending any BWI event until you have been symptom free for 72 hours, as these types of viruses tend to have a longer period of contagiousness and can be especially dangerous when passed to young infants and pregnant women.

Please use your best judgement in assessing the health of your family members... The community we service is full of young children and pregnant women, and our aim is to protect them from illnesses. BWI of Central VA reserves the right to ask those who are visibly ill to leave a meeting at any time for the protection of other attendees.

The volunteers of BWI of Central Va also must follow this policy and if there are not enough volunteers to hold a meeting, that the meeting will be cancelled. In the event of a cancellation, we will update the event page, Facebook page and group, and blog.

Food and Drink Policy:

In an effort to create a safe and welcoming environment for all, and in response to many food-based allergies within our community, it is important that no food or drinks be brought into our meeting spaces. This includes snacks for toddlers and older children, as well as snacks for yourself.

As always, we welcome caretakers of young infants to provide breastmilk or formula as needed. It is also permissible to bring water in a closed/sealed container or sippy cup for yourselves or your children.

When necessary, any snacks brought to the meeting may be consumed outside of the meeting space. We ask that you be mindful of young children eating snacks, as sharing can be extremely dangerous for others with allergies. Many of our locations are nut-free, so as to reduce any confusion all of our meeting spaces and areas outside of our meeting spaces are "nut-free zones".

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter as we strive for inclusiveness within our chapter.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Six Monthly Meetings

BWI of Central VA has grown tremendously in the past year.  In order to attempt to accommodate our members, we will now offer 6 regularly scheduled monthly meetings starting in March!  Our newest meeting will be in Short Pump on the 4th Tuesday from 1-3pm of each month starting March 22nd.

Check out our schedule:
  • Midlothian Wednesday Meeting: 1st Wednesdays from 10am-11:30 at St Mark's United Methodist Church
  • Southside Saturday Meeting: 2nd Saturdays from 2:30-4:30 Location still in the works (now monthly)
  • Byrd Park Monday Meeting: 2nd Mondays from 10am-Noon at First UU Church of Richmond
  • Chester Wednesday Meeting: 3rd Wednesdays from 3-4:30pm at Karmady Yoga Studio
  • Short Pump Tuesday Meeting: 4th Tuesdays from 1-3pm at Shady Grove United Methodist Church in Glen Allen  **As of 9/27 this meeting is from 4:30-6pm**
  • Carytown Saturday Meeting: 4th Saturdays from 10am-Noon at Reveille United Methodist Church