wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Mothers and children Gather together

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Note #8235 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

04231
May 14, 2004

Mothers and children Gather together

Presbyterian Women is committed to providing a program for kids

by Alexa Smith

LOUISVILLE - Carol Hylkema recognizes that the triennial Gathering of
Presbyterian Women (PW) and the PC(USA) General Assembly aren't exactly the
same.

	One big difference is that the PW Gathering includes a comprehensive
program for children and GA does not.

	But there are four other important differences:

	*the women's meeting is slightly bigger. Last year it had 3,500
registrants, and it can go as high as 5,000; a typical Assembly involves
about 3,000 people.

	*Although both are legislative meetings, PW's triennium doubles as a
conference.

	*Those who attend the PW event aren't occupied with business all day
every day, as commissioners to the Assembly are.

	*And, perhaps most importantly, the PW's event is organized by women
for women: The culture is simply different.

	Hylkema, a former vice moderator of PW's Churchwide Coordinating
Team, says of the PW's provisions for children: "The key, to me, is the
commitment to a program for children, not just child care. Parents want it to
be a good place for their kids to be, a safe environment. And they want it to
not just be babysitting. They want people to have energy for the kids there
... and for it to be convenient for parents to check in on them."

	She says the Gathering's children's program "is pretty close to
paying for itself."

	Tending to the details of a full-blown program for kids is the
responsibility of Carol Winkler, of Cincinnati, who contracts both child-care
providers and summer camp personnel, working closely with the risk-management
office of the PC(USA).

	"It does take time," she says. "It is a process."

	Hard work, but well appreciated.

	Last year, 50 children were enrolled full-time in programming for 6-
to 12-year-olds run by employees of Camp Cedar Ridge, part of the Presbytery
of Mid-Kentucky - an entity that already had insurance and the proper license
to tend youngsters. The children were taken on excursions in Louisville - to
the Museum of History and Science and the Louisville Slugger bat factory and
museum - and spent one day at the camp.

	Twenty-five children under 6 were cared for in an on-site daycare
facility operated by a licensed provider who runs a preschool at a local
Presbyterian church when school is in session. The state of Kentucky, unlike
some others, gives care providers the flexibility to set up on-site. Winkler
says PW rents some equipment for the nursery and buys some, and donates the
purchased items to charity when the Gathering ends.

	Parents paid $175 for each camper last year. PW paid for bus
transportation and put up a few camp staffers to stay at the conference
hotel. Winkler says the younger group required a bigger subsidy; she
estimates the total cost to PW at roughly $5,000.

	While the Gathering may look like a profit-making enterprise - its

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