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Parents' Night OutChains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. ~Simone Signoret Are you looking for time to sew new threads in your marriage? Do you and your spouse need a chance to recharge and have fun as grownups? Are you new to the community and unsure of where to find good childcare? Family experts continually point to a strong marriage and parental alliance as the foundation of a healthy family. Unfortunately many couples find time together depleted as work demands, school activities, and extracurricular activities eat up the calendar. Parents Night Out (PNO) is a lay-led, parent-drive, financially independent ministry of VHUMC. The ministry was developed in 2004 by a group of young couples in the church who desired time to reconnect. Currently, 30 families participate in this co-op ministry, which is now taking registrations for 2010-2011. PNO offers participating families one night each month, during which parents can bring their children (ages newborn to 5th grade) to the church while they enjoy an evening together. From 6-9 p.m., volunteer parents and paid childcare workers provide supervision over the nursery and organized children’s activities at the church. “This allows parents to enjoy an evening alone, knowing that their children are being cared for in a loving, safe, and fun-filled environment. It‘s families helping families grow stronger,” explained PNO coordinator and church member Jeannine Holland. How PNO Works 1. Fill out the registration form on-line and pay a $10 registration fee per family. 2. To participate in a particular month, parents sign children up for care and pay fees ($8.00/per child or $20 max/family) by using the blue PNO notebook and payment envelope on the counter just inside the preschool floor. Payment is required at the time of sign up. A child’s spot is not guaranteed until monthly payment is received. 3. As a participating family, parents agree to volunteer their time in return. One parent must agree to volunteer to assist with PNO evenings 2 times during the year, or both parents may agree to work the same evening to fulfill their volunteer requirement. Please know that if both parents choose to work, you must make alternate arrangements for your children on the month in which you volunteer. 4. As this program could not be possible without parent volunteers, please note and carefully consider the dates that you are signed up to work. The Volunteer Schedule: If you have a conflict with the date/dates that you have been assigned, you will be responsible for trading dates with someone else. Once you have found someone to trade with you, please contact Jeannine Holland at Jeannine3@Charter.net so that she may note all changes on the volunteer schedule. If you cannot find another PNO parent to switch dates, you will be required to pay $50.00 for an additional worker as your replacement. For more information, contact Jeannine Holland at 978-5849 or jeannine3@charter.net or Lynne Beckham at 769-0144 or lbeckham@vhumc.org. 2010-2011 PNO Date Nights August 27 September 24 October 15 November 19 December 10* January 21 February 25 March 25 April 15 May 6* 6:00 – 9:00
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