Members arrange their own sitting time with other members.
Children will be sitter's main responsibility and will be under his/her constant care. Sitting will normally occur in sitter's home (rather than gadder's), although other arrangements can be made.
Sitter may not leave home, transport children in car, or leave children in the care of another without permission of gadder, except in extreme emergency.
No spanking or hitting a child. Any discipline problems should be discussed with the parents.
Sitter and gadder determine and agree on hours to be reported at the end of each sit. Each member reports detailed sitting and gadding hours (per family, per day) to the secretary at the end of the month or no later than the 2nd of the following month, even if the co-op was not used for the month. Having members report hours as accurately and quickly as possible is crucial for the secretary to balance the books and report correct hours back to members. Keep the information until the secretary calls back with your balance, in case errors have been made.
No member may accumulate more than 35 hours to the good or fall 25 hours in the hole, except for extenuating circumstances that should be approved by the chairperson.
Out of town guests or relatives may use co-op, but the member will be charged for the hours as if the guest or relative were a separate family.
When a member finds that he/she does not need the Co-op any longer, he/she should withdraw his/her membership.
Before terminating co-op membership, the member's balance must be brought to zero. If this cannot be done through sitting or gadding, hours may be bought or sold to other members for $1 per hour. Both members' records are then adjusted for the bought/sold hours.
Terminating members will continue to be charged for secretary hours until they officially notify chairperson of termination and bring their balance to zero. Therefore, termination should be planned prior to the end of the month to limit secretary hour accumulation.
It is the reponsibility of every member of the co-op to be sure you would recommend any potential member before suggesting they notify the chairperson regarding joining.
It is advisable that members carry liability insurance, as covered by most homeowners' or renters' insurance policies, to cover the expense of injury or accident to other children in your home.
Child shall be fed, bathed, and ready for bed when a sitter arrives after 7pm.
Whether the sitter will provide a meal, or whether the parent will bring her child's meal, should be discussed between the two parties previous to the sit.
Any illness, however minor, should be discussed with all members involved in a sit. A member is able to refuse to do a sit when illness is suspected.
A parent should feel free to contact and meet the sitter previous to the sit.
Each parent must give the Co-op coordinator a completed form to keep on file. Such forms need to be updated in the event of any change (doctor, new baby, address, etc.).
Any damage to property during a sit is the responsibility of the owner of such property.
Sits can take place at the parent's home or the sitter's home, whichever the parent requests.
If sitting at the parent's home, sitter can bring his/her child(ren) with the parent's knowledge.
All children shall have all their immunizations current.
The parent should call the sitter on the day before the sit to confirm the sit.
In addition to the Medical Release form, information regarding the child's weight and current medications should be provided to the sitter.
The Co-op rules should be revised yearly with input from the Co-op members.
Reserve Account:
This account was created to make the balancing of the books easier.
When a member drops from the Co-op, any + or - balance will go to this account, unless he/she gives his/her + points to another member or the - points are assumed by a member after he/she (the member who is dropping) pays $1.00 for each point.
When a member gives birth to or adopts another child, he/she will receive 6 points if this is his/her second child, or 8 points if this is his/her third, fourth, etc. child. The points are deducted from the Reserve account and given to the said member on the month of the birth or adoption.
When a member buys any points ($1.00 per point) from the Reserve account, these points need to be deducted from this account and added to the member's account.