Parent Coordinators

[Tammy]

*** This post has been revised *** 10.14.08
For the most current and up-to-date list of active Area/Parent Coordinators and Photographers, please visit the main website at www.nilmdts.org


After entering the site, click on "FIND A PHOTOGRAPHER"

Review the "Terms and Conditions" statement and if agreed, click on the "Continue" button at the bottom of the page.
Search your area by entering your zip code, state or by country.

After clicking the "Search" button, a current list of Affiliated Volunteers will appear. Those appearing in RED at the top of the list are the AREA/PARENT COORDINATORS for the areas specified.

Thank you so much for your interest in becoming Parent Outreach Liasions (formally titled Parent Coordinator) for your areas. If you have expressed an interest, please send an email to tammy@nilmdts.org with the following information:

Your Name
Email Address
Mailing Address (this will not be posted here on the forum, but rather in a data base for mailing info, etc.)
Contact Phone Number
Hospitals you wish to work with
(optional) Mommy/Daddy to ____________________
Born on ______________________
Heavenly Birthday ___________________

Or, you may go directly to the application page by following this link: Link to application: http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/photographer_registration/
Note: Please register on this forum site also. This is our main communication hub to receive updated information outside of email. Also, please list HOSPITALS you wish to work with rather than AREAS.


We welcome all of you to become involved with NILMDTS. Working together making a difference in the lives of families who have experienced the loss of their beloved baby/child is our mission.

Listed below are duties of the Parent/Photographer Coordinators

1. Sending up dated forms, newsletters and other information out to other area photographers.

*Photographers can keep track of the new forms and information posted in the Photographers Area of the forum. Forward this information to your parent coordinator, have them mail or email to local volunteers in your area.

2. Schedule and Arrange Meetings for your area.

*Parent & Area Coordinators can work together in setting up meetings with area volunteers and medical staff. These meetings are a great way to get to know other volunteer members, answer questions and discuss various topics related to NILMDTS. How often this happens is totally up to you. Annual or Semi-annual meetings may be sufficiant, just to touch base with everyone.

3. Represent NILMDTS at annual Berevement Conferences and Seminars

*This is one of the best ways to gain public awareness about NILMDTS and how we can help families experiencing an infant/child loss. It is at these conferences we have the opportunity to explain what we do and answer questions about our services. As NILMDTS becomes more widely known, we will need represenatives to man our booth at these events.

4. Photographer Recruitment

*If there is a need for additional photographers in your area, you can work together to send the nessesary information out to potential volunteers. All potential volunteers must submit an application to be reviewed by our MAC committee, if approved, will need to submit a Volunteer Service Agreement (VSA), a yearly membership dues (if this is a hardship, dues may be waived for the first year), agree to the NILMDTS COD, and agree to follow all protocol procedures as indicated by the NILMDTS Executive Committee and BOD.

5. Submitting updated press releases to local media.
Note: NILMDTS has a specific protocol in place for submitting information to local news media. It is important that you correspond with our NILMDTS Public Relations Consultant to receive this information. Please contact Danielle Pereira (NILMDTS Public Relations Consultant) at pr@nilmdts.org

6. Receiving calls from the hospitals.

*Some of our Photographer Coordinators are receiving many calls each and every week. Possibly setting up a rotating schedule of Parent volunteers receiving the hospital calls requesting services and setting up the sessions. This may not work in all areas, however it would relieve some of the photographer coordinators. You would also need to make sure the hospitals are aware Parent volunteers can be contacted, unless you wish not to be.
Please follow this link for more detailed information (viewable by Coordinators only) http://www.nowisleep.com/showthread.php?t=2771 All sessions must be reported to the Area Coordinators as they are required to report this information to NILMDTS Headquarters.

7. Supporting families in your area who have experienced an infant/child loss

*Contacting families via email, phone or mail, introducing them to various on line support groups that have helped you in your healing journey


NILMDTS has guidelines in place to assist in setting up successful NILMDTS chapters in your areas. Parent and Photogrpaher volunteers are encouraged to work together to implement these guidelines.

Regards,
Tammy Becker
NILMDTS Parent-Family Adviser

[Brenda Bisharat]

As area coordinator (photographer), I have had parents approach me, I want/need all the volunteering I can get. I'm not sure how/what the parents can do to help. Can anyone give me some ideas as to what jobs I can ask my parent volunteers to do?

[Tammy]

Sure can~ I will post this information real soon.:)

[Tammy]

4-1-07
This is the updated list of Parent Coordinators and Photographer Coordinators I have thus far. If any of your information is missing, any of your information has changed, or if I do not have you posted, please send me an email and I will make any corrections/additions nesessary.
Thanks for all you do~

[Kerry]

I would love to be a parent coordinator, what do I need to do for my area? I have a friend that works at the portrait studio I do that would love to take on this for my area.

Kerry Newton

[anr0014]

I would also love to be a parent coordinator. NILMDTS has helped me and our family in ways that cannot be explained. I would love to be able to give back in some way...

[asquad]

please contact me, too. i'd love to help get this going in our area. With Aaron's bday coming up the 28th, what could be a better gift for/to him.

THX!
Penny

[Sandy "Sam" Puc']

Dear Parents,
I just wanted to send a personal thank you from Cheryl and myself to all of the Parents willing to assist us with our work. We know that you have paid the ultimate sacrifice to find us and we want you to know that your little angels have touched all of our lives.
NILMDTS is growing stronger everyday. We are grateful that people like you are willing to support our efforts so that other families who have suffered a loss might benefit from the images that we create.
With warm regard,
Sandy Puc
Cofounder
NILMDTS

[Dawn Chandler]

Tammy, I emailed you a few days ago. Did you get it?

Dawn Chandler

[anr0014]

I also emailed and have not recieved anything about what steps I need to take in becoming a parent coordinator. Our doula, who works with the local perinatal hospice group, is excited to work with us in the Tampa Bay area and has all of the contacts for the local hospitals and their ob departments.

[BreManley]

I am not a parent of a lossed child but I am an Aunt to a VERY missed nephew. Do you think I could help out NILMDTS in any way in my area? If so please contact me. BreannaManley@sbcglobal.net

[Tammy]

** Updated 5/28/07 **

[BreManley]

Hey Tammy thought I would remind you about mailing me my brochures. I understand you are busy so no rush, just a reminder.

[Kirk Kief]

Tammy,
I've created a new user group, Parent Coordinator, that will have the Coordinator's Watercooler available to them. As I update the profiles, there will be some that I can not find in the forum database. I'll post them here, and then if you'll follow up to be sure that they are in fact registered on the forum, and, what they used as their original user name and email address, so i can find them and give them the access to the watercooler.
At this point, I've made it up to Minnesota with no problems, however, i cannot find Tabitha L'Allier
I'll post more as I find them.

[Kirk Kief]

Brooke Storm is another

[Kirk Kief]

and John and Molly Mathison

[Kirk Kief]

Christina Fern-Denzer

[carissa13]

Was just reading this thread and was wondering if someone could tell me what a Parent Coordinator is. I would love to do something to help the effort, to give back to the ones that gave to me.

[Kerry]

Kirk,
John and Molly Mathison live on the other side of the state of me near Sioux Falls. Is there anything I can do to help? At work I think we have them in the directory. I want to be a parent coordinator but need to talk over with my boss first. I want to do something to help but I dont want to step on toes at work when their is other photographers in town already doing it.

Kerry
Mother of Olivia,Sarah and Lane and Heavenly Angel Mallory

[Lindzy Foster]

thats great im glad that we will have more resources available to us! great news!

[Kirk Kief]

A word of note for Parent Coordinators:
First, I'd like to thank all of you that are volunteering your time, energies, expenses, and heart to help us in our efforts. This is so far and above the normal call of duty, and it is so very humbling that you are willing to take on this task.
I have upgrraded all of the Parent Coordinators, except for those that I've listed (and that's only because I've not been able to find you as yet due to user names being a nickname).

[Lindzy Foster]

Ummm Im a little confused how do we get to this area Kirk? thanks for any help...

[Kirk Kief]

Go to the main Menu for the forum (hint: look at the top of this page and notice the tree: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Discussion Forum > Family Discussions > Welcome New Members & Parents that want to be involved with NILMDTS . Now Click on 'Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Discussion Forum '. This will take you to the main forum menu. You should now see the Water Cooler Room. Let me know if you do not.

[Brooke]

Hi Kirk,

I too am a little confused. I tried to do what you said and I think I was doing the appropriate steps, but didn't have any luck getting to the Water Cooler Room. I'm a parent coordinator along with Tina Fern-Denzer since this past April. Please tell me how to get there again, in lamen terms, sorry.

Brooke

[Lindzy Foster]

Sorry Kirk only thing I get is the regular Family Forum when i click on the NILMDTS Forum? Nothing about a Water Cooler Room....thanks!

[Kirk Kief]

Give me a little time. I'll figure it out for you. Stay Tuned, Film at 11.

[Kirk Kief]

Okay, thanks to some good ole virtual grey tape, I got it all fixed up. You should now be able to see it. Let me know.

[Lindzy Foster]

I see it Kirk! YAY! thanks....hmmm but im looking at it and very confused, if I am new and am still working on getting my photographers all signed up and getting them approved, and havent started talking with the hospitals yet where do i need to start?thanks!

[Kirk Kief]

Ask that question in the Water Cooler.

[Kerry]

I didnt have any luck at home or at work on the computer. I will check tomorrow morning. Good luck Kirk! We are all anxious to see it or at least I am to find the watercooler its almost like a scavenger hunt by yourself.

Kerry
Mommy of Olivia,Sarah,Lane and Heavenly Angel Mallory

[Lindzy Foster]

Tammy just thought id post here and ask have you been getting my emails? ive gotten forwards from you but have sent several in last 2 months and havent gotten a response? just want to make sure they arent getting lost in internet space! ive sent them to your regular email and then to your nilmdts email...thanks!

[Tammy]

Updated 10-8-07

Lindzy, did you get my email? :cool:

[littlerobbiesangels]

Thanks for getting my name on the list for MD Parent coordinator. Can I get some info to access the private forum so that I can check out what tasks I should be completing? Thanks for the assistance. Joanne

[Tammy]

Updated 2-20-2008
Welcome Tennessee~ Jonathan and Angela Lewis
Welcome~ Jessica Van Vuren ~ Wisconsin

2-22-2008
Welcome Keri Nunn-Ellison~ Ohio
Welcome Kansas ~Peggy Cardenas~ Family Representative Kansas

3-08-2008
Welcome Natasha McKenty~ Ontario, Canada

3-13-2008
Welcome Virginia Cooper- Michigan

[Tammy]

Updated 3-1-08
All photographer coordinators are now updated.

[Virginia]

Hi there,

I am requesting to be listed as coordinator serving Monroe County Michigan.
Contact information: Virginia Cooper, 734-322-7294 or for emergancies 734-777-7948.
I'll do my best to help in any way I can. I have five children of my own, and although
I have not lost a child I have experienced the heart ache of losing someone very precious
to my heart, more than once.

[Tasha Nicholls]

Welcome, Virginia! We are so touched by your willingness to serve!

Thank you! :D

[Virginia]

Thank you Tasha....I am glad to be of service.

[Cathy]

I would love to help in my area
Cathy

[Tammy]

3-31-08
Welcome Inge Tinga - Edmonton Alberta Canada
Welcome Tanika Chancellor - Greenville, SC

[Tammy]

4-2-08
Welcome Cathy Kasten ~ Hauppauge, New York

[Tammy]

4-17-08
Welcome Katherine Hensley ~ Asheville, North Carolina

Welcome April Saleeby ~ North Augusta, SC

[Madge]

I am not able to access the water cooler area. Help?

[Kirk Kief]

Madge, That is available only to Coordinators. If you are a Parent Coordinator, then I need for Tammy to advise me of such, then I can give you access.

[Madge]

Yup, I'm a parent coordinator.

[Tammy]

I am not able to access the water cooler area. Help?
Madge - You've got a pm~ :)

[Kirk Kief]

Madge, I had to wait until I heard from Tammy. You are all set, now.

[xaviersMummy]

i am 22 years old live in australia and wanting to put my photography to a good use and would like to help parents create memories of their little babies, i i myself know what they are going though. can anyone help me find were i can do this please

[btsnyder]

I am recently learning about you all from one of your photographers.. I am also wanting to get involved. My son was born on April 10th of this year and passed away on the 19th.. We had him for 9 days. I just hate that I did not learn of you all till now... May God Bless Yall. I am praying with Sandra Welborn the photographer in the area for you all how I am suppose to help. I want to be able to give back..

[btsnyder]

I am recently learning about you all from one of your photographers.. I am also wanting to get involved. My son was born on April 10th of this year and passed away on the 19th.. We had him for 9 days. I just hate that I did not learn of you all till now... May God Bless Yall. I am praying with Sandra Welborn the photographer in the area for you all how I am suppose to help. I want to be able to give back..

[EROG]

Hi all,
Ive recently been accepted as an affiliate photographer in South Wales UK. There doesnt seem to be any other photographers or co-ordinators.

Is there anyone in my area or is there something I could do myself?

[Kirk Kief]

Erin, you have an email.

[sunderwood2009]

i have registered to be an area coordinator but have not been contacted at all.. why is that? does this mean im not qualified??

[Kirk Kief]

Are you wishing to be a Parent Coordinator, or an Area Coordinator?

[Tammy S]

I am a Parent Coordinator and have not been able to find the "water cooler". Please help. :) Thank you so much!


****Just bumping this post as I received an email asking me my parent coordinator status and number, but I still can't find the "water cooler" section I read about. Help??

[Tammy S]

As a parent coordinator for my area I was wondering on ideas of how to recruit photographers. We have about 4 hospitals in my immediate 30 minute radius from me and NO photographers to service these hospitals. I was able to get one photographer from the website who is willing to travel to help me out until I can get more local ones, but I was just wondering on how to get that started?? Do I make calls, just show up and talk to them, send a letter? I can't seem to find anything in the forum to help me with this. Just when I think I find something, I'm locked out of it and don't have access so I'm back to square one. Any help would be appreciated.

[DonnaMac35]

Are there any camera clubs in your area? A NILMDTS photographer came to our camera club and sent and invite to seminar they were having at local church. That is how I found out about NILMDTS sleep. Good luck you guys do great work!

[Tammy S]

Thank you DonnaMac!! I looked up the Maine Professional Photographer's Association, but their meetings are too far away for me to get to (almost 2 hours away). I didn't know about camera clubs. I'll check that out next.

[DonnaMac35]

Well bummer but you might contact their President or whoever they suggest and ask if you can send them some literature for their members to contact you. They would probably be happy to give their members an announcement. We have a large hobby camera club were I live and we have this type of announcements all the time. This summer a policeman was killed in the line of duty someone contacted our camera and all we had to do was line on the route and take photos and then forward them on. We never had a meeting or representative. We even had the announcement from the local news station for weather photos and who to send them to and who we should contact with questions. So, you may give shoot them and email with all the info. Just a thought. You guys do and awesome job and I wish there were more people to help.

[Tammy]

Tammy,
One option you may wish to consider is to make a list of all area photographers you want to contact either by finding them online or in your local directory.

You will want to make sure you have brochures on hand, which can be ordered online at this link: http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/products/ (approximately $6 per 50 brochures)

Below is a sample letter that you may print to send along with your brochure.
Make sure you follow up a week or so after mailing your information.

It is important for you to know, due to the sensitivity and nature of this type of work, all photographer volunteers go through a screening process (by our MAC Team) before they can be approved as an affiliated NILMDTS photographer.

Hope this helps get you started. Good Luck!

Photographer Recruitment Letter

You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. - Anonymous



Professional Photographers Needed:



As a Professional Photographer, you hold a great power and a priceless gift through your profession. You capture precious moments in the lives of many people, everyday. For the most part, these moments are happy occasions. But did you know there is another aspect of what the power of photography can offer? Your profession can offer healing to families due to the stillbirth, miscarriage or illness of their precious baby. There is only one opportunity to capture these precious images of a little person’s life.



Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS) is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization that exists to assist families suffering an early infant loss. Since it’s inception in early 2005, more than 7,000 photographers nationwide, and eighteen intranational countries have joined together with the NILMDTS Foundation to provide parents of terminally ill or stillborn babies with beautiful, heirloom portraits of their children to treasure for a lifetime. At this time, all services donated to this cause are on a volunteer basis. All proceeds go directly to NILMDTS to help parents who experience an early infant loss, and to expand training options to our affiliated NILMDTS volunteers.



NILMDTS is seeking interested professional photographers who are looking for a way to serve their local community. Our mission is to introduce bereavement photography to parents suffering the loss of a baby and to help them in their healing journey. NILMDTS educates photographers to supply this valuable service to families facing the untimely death of a child. For families overcome by grief and pain, the idea of photographing their baby may not immediately occur to them. This is where Now I Lay Me Down to sleep gently provides a helping hand and a healing heart. NILMDTS offers a vital service to our communities. Offering gentle and beautiful photography and videography services in a compassionate and sensitive manner is the heart of this organization. The soft, gentle heirloom photographs of these beautiful babies are an important part of the healing process. They allow families to honor and cherish their babies, and share in the spirits of their lives.



If this concept touches your heart and you would like to learn more information about NILMDTS and the services this organization provides to these special families, please visit our web site at www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org or contact me at (Your contact phone number), or via email (Your Email Address).

Please contact me at your earliest convenience. I look forward to hearing from you and answering any questions you may have.



Sincerely,

NILMDTS Volunteer Member,

(Your Name)

(Your address)

(Your Contact Number)

www.nilmdts.org