Sustaining Member Agreement
Thank you for supporting Babywearing Grand Rapids! Your non-refundable donation supports volunteer-driven, non-profit babywearing education, spreads the practice of babywearing, and fosters a community of like-minded caregivers. Your donation of $30 grants you a Sustaining Membership for one calendar year. Sustaining Membership gives you access to members only discounts and grants use of our lending library pending the rules below:
1. Carriers are rented for a one month period and can only be checked out during Babywearing Grand Rapids meetups. (Babywearing Grand Rapids may also be listed as BWGR in later articles of this document.) You must be at the meeting in-person during the checkout time in order to take a carrier home. Rentals go from monthly meeting to monthly meeting. If you borrow from the Grand Rapids weekday meetup, your carrier is due back at the next Grand Rapids weekday meetup.
2. Carriers must arrive by 30 minutes after meeting start so it is available for all to try. If the carrier is not returned to the check-in table by that time, it will be considered late. Carriers must be turned in to the check-in table only so that it can be marked as returned and inspected. I agree that if I cannot attend a meeting to return a carrier on time that I will get in contact with our librarian BEFORE the meetup and work with the Librarian to mail the carrier back (MUST arrive before due date) or drop off to one of our admins.
3. I understand that carriers not turned in by their due date will be subject to a $2/day late fee. If a carrier is not returned within the original 30 day time period, BWGR has the right to pursue the return of the carrier using personal phone calls to the borrower, message to email or Facebook, etc. If the carrier continues to be late, BWGR has the right to further pursue action up to and including sending a PayPal invoice for the full replacement cost of the carrier due on receipt, banning from further library use, or contacting the proper legal authorities.
4. I agree to take care of the carrier and return it in a clean and usable condition. In order to improve the life span of our carriers, we ask that they are not washed unless necessary. Please contact our librarian AND read the washing instructions if the carrier needs to be cleaned. The Librarian will inspect and wash carriers in order to preserve them as long as possible. BWGR has the right to place fines on damaged carriers if the need arises. Returned Items that need more than one wash or other corrections will incur a cleaning fee of $1 for each of the following: 1 stain (or area that needs to be spot treated); 3 pulls or broken threads on wraps or ring slings; heavy scents that need multiple washings to remove. This does NOT include carriers that must be washed due to illness or items that will come clean when washed one time.
5. I understand that Babywearing Grand Rapids Educators and group leaders are volunteers and are not professionals. I affirm that I am not acting in reliance on any advice received from them and that; instead, I am responsible for evaluating the usefulness and safety of any babywearing technique or device that I use with my baby. I affirm that I will hold Babywearing Grand Rapids, and its group leaders and volunteers harmless of and from any claim or cause of action whatsoever arising from any injury to myself or my child related to or caused in any way by babywearing.
6. I understand that babywearing has many benefits but is not without risk. Risks include, but are not limited to, falls or positional asphyxia.
7. I understand that neither BWGR nor its babywearing educators can inspect every sling in the lending library for flaws and I agree to inspect the stitching and materials of any sling that I borrow or try on to assure that it is sound. I further agree that neither BWGR nor its educators can assure that the slings in the lending library are free from design flaws.
8. I agree to comply with the Sustaining Member agreement as it may change in the future as decided by the administration and the board of Babywearing Grand Rapids.
I acknowledge receipt and agree to the terms of the Sustaining Membership Agreement. By clicking "I agree" below, I am accepting all terms and conditions above.
1. Carriers are rented for a one month period and can only be checked out during Babywearing Grand Rapids meetups. (Babywearing Grand Rapids may also be listed as BWGR in later articles of this document.) You must be at the meeting in-person during the checkout time in order to take a carrier home. Rentals go from monthly meeting to monthly meeting. If you borrow from the Grand Rapids weekday meetup, your carrier is due back at the next Grand Rapids weekday meetup.
2. Carriers must arrive by 30 minutes after meeting start so it is available for all to try. If the carrier is not returned to the check-in table by that time, it will be considered late. Carriers must be turned in to the check-in table only so that it can be marked as returned and inspected. I agree that if I cannot attend a meeting to return a carrier on time that I will get in contact with our librarian BEFORE the meetup and work with the Librarian to mail the carrier back (MUST arrive before due date) or drop off to one of our admins.
3. I understand that carriers not turned in by their due date will be subject to a $2/day late fee. If a carrier is not returned within the original 30 day time period, BWGR has the right to pursue the return of the carrier using personal phone calls to the borrower, message to email or Facebook, etc. If the carrier continues to be late, BWGR has the right to further pursue action up to and including sending a PayPal invoice for the full replacement cost of the carrier due on receipt, banning from further library use, or contacting the proper legal authorities.
4. I agree to take care of the carrier and return it in a clean and usable condition. In order to improve the life span of our carriers, we ask that they are not washed unless necessary. Please contact our librarian AND read the washing instructions if the carrier needs to be cleaned. The Librarian will inspect and wash carriers in order to preserve them as long as possible. BWGR has the right to place fines on damaged carriers if the need arises. Returned Items that need more than one wash or other corrections will incur a cleaning fee of $1 for each of the following: 1 stain (or area that needs to be spot treated); 3 pulls or broken threads on wraps or ring slings; heavy scents that need multiple washings to remove. This does NOT include carriers that must be washed due to illness or items that will come clean when washed one time.
5. I understand that Babywearing Grand Rapids Educators and group leaders are volunteers and are not professionals. I affirm that I am not acting in reliance on any advice received from them and that; instead, I am responsible for evaluating the usefulness and safety of any babywearing technique or device that I use with my baby. I affirm that I will hold Babywearing Grand Rapids, and its group leaders and volunteers harmless of and from any claim or cause of action whatsoever arising from any injury to myself or my child related to or caused in any way by babywearing.
6. I understand that babywearing has many benefits but is not without risk. Risks include, but are not limited to, falls or positional asphyxia.
7. I understand that neither BWGR nor its babywearing educators can inspect every sling in the lending library for flaws and I agree to inspect the stitching and materials of any sling that I borrow or try on to assure that it is sound. I further agree that neither BWGR nor its educators can assure that the slings in the lending library are free from design flaws.
8. I agree to comply with the Sustaining Member agreement as it may change in the future as decided by the administration and the board of Babywearing Grand Rapids.
I acknowledge receipt and agree to the terms of the Sustaining Membership Agreement. By clicking "I agree" below, I am accepting all terms and conditions above.
Lending Library FAQs
When is my carrier due back?
Carriers are borrowed for a one month period and go from monthly meeting to monthly meeting. If you borrow from the Grand Rapids weekday meetup, your carrier is due back at the next Grand Rapids weekday meetup. The due date will be sent to you via email at checkout. The carrier must be returned within the first 30 minutes of the meetup to the welcome table or it will be considered late.
When can I borrow a carrier?
We have two meetings a month where we make the lending library available. You can find event information on our website or Facebook Fan Page. Carrier checkouts take place during the last 30 minutes of each meetup. You must be at the meeting in-person during the checkout time in order to take a carrier home.
Can I return my carrier early?
Absolutely! There is no penalty for returning carriers early. Please contact the librarian to arrange an early drop-off to an educator.
Should I wash my carrier before bringing it back?
Please do not wash unless the carrier is obviously dirty. If something happens to the carrier while it is in your possession that requires it to be washed instead of spot-cleaned with a damp cloth (diaper leak, major spit up accident, etc.), you must contact the librarian for washing instructions prior to washing it.
What if I or my children were sick while we had the carrier?
If you or family members have been sick, please let the librarian know upon return. Sick carriers should be returned in a plastic bag to help reduce the spread of germs.
What if I can't make it to the meeting my carrier is due at?
Contact the librarian to arrange to drop your carrier off to an educator BEFORE the meeting. There is no penalty for returning carriers early.
Can my friend return my carrier?
Yes, but you must let an educator know ahead of time who will be returning your carrier. You, as the original borrower, are still responsible for the carrier and the condition it is returned in. If you choose to have a friend return your carrier, make sure you absolutely trust them to return it on time and in good condition.
What happens if I return a carrier late?
If a carrier is returned late, you will be charged a late fee of $5 per day. You may not borrow another carrier until your carrier is returned and your late fees are paid. Failure to return a carrier at all will result in being invoiced for the full replacement value of the carrier.
Can someone else borrow a carrier for me?
No. Due to liability reasons, only the member who will be using the carrier for the month can sign out a carrier.
Can someone meet me outside of a meeting so I can rent a carrier?
No. We have two meetings a month where you have access to the lending library. With so many members, it is not possible to meet outside of meetings to let everyone borrow a carrier.
What is the borrowing process at a meeting?
On each table of carriers there are "I'm interested" forms that you will be able to write your name (first and last) next to the carrier you are interested in borrowing. There will be a leader at each table, along with a picture guide of what all the carriers are in case you have questions. The last 30 minutes of the meeting, the librarian will collect these sheets and ask people come up to the welcome table to borrow carriers. Carriers are lent out on a first come, first served basis.
Who can borrow carriers?
All sustaining members can borrow one carrier at a time, though you can add on additional accessories and doll carriers.
How can I pay to become a sustaining member and borrow carriers?
We accept cash, check, credit cards, and PayPal.
Can I borrow a carrier at my first meeting?
Yes! You can begin borrowing as soon as we receive your donation and you sign the Sustaining Membership Agreement form.
Carriers are borrowed for a one month period and go from monthly meeting to monthly meeting. If you borrow from the Grand Rapids weekday meetup, your carrier is due back at the next Grand Rapids weekday meetup. The due date will be sent to you via email at checkout. The carrier must be returned within the first 30 minutes of the meetup to the welcome table or it will be considered late.
When can I borrow a carrier?
We have two meetings a month where we make the lending library available. You can find event information on our website or Facebook Fan Page. Carrier checkouts take place during the last 30 minutes of each meetup. You must be at the meeting in-person during the checkout time in order to take a carrier home.
Can I return my carrier early?
Absolutely! There is no penalty for returning carriers early. Please contact the librarian to arrange an early drop-off to an educator.
Should I wash my carrier before bringing it back?
Please do not wash unless the carrier is obviously dirty. If something happens to the carrier while it is in your possession that requires it to be washed instead of spot-cleaned with a damp cloth (diaper leak, major spit up accident, etc.), you must contact the librarian for washing instructions prior to washing it.
What if I or my children were sick while we had the carrier?
If you or family members have been sick, please let the librarian know upon return. Sick carriers should be returned in a plastic bag to help reduce the spread of germs.
What if I can't make it to the meeting my carrier is due at?
Contact the librarian to arrange to drop your carrier off to an educator BEFORE the meeting. There is no penalty for returning carriers early.
Can my friend return my carrier?
Yes, but you must let an educator know ahead of time who will be returning your carrier. You, as the original borrower, are still responsible for the carrier and the condition it is returned in. If you choose to have a friend return your carrier, make sure you absolutely trust them to return it on time and in good condition.
What happens if I return a carrier late?
If a carrier is returned late, you will be charged a late fee of $5 per day. You may not borrow another carrier until your carrier is returned and your late fees are paid. Failure to return a carrier at all will result in being invoiced for the full replacement value of the carrier.
Can someone else borrow a carrier for me?
No. Due to liability reasons, only the member who will be using the carrier for the month can sign out a carrier.
Can someone meet me outside of a meeting so I can rent a carrier?
No. We have two meetings a month where you have access to the lending library. With so many members, it is not possible to meet outside of meetings to let everyone borrow a carrier.
What is the borrowing process at a meeting?
On each table of carriers there are "I'm interested" forms that you will be able to write your name (first and last) next to the carrier you are interested in borrowing. There will be a leader at each table, along with a picture guide of what all the carriers are in case you have questions. The last 30 minutes of the meeting, the librarian will collect these sheets and ask people come up to the welcome table to borrow carriers. Carriers are lent out on a first come, first served basis.
Who can borrow carriers?
All sustaining members can borrow one carrier at a time, though you can add on additional accessories and doll carriers.
How can I pay to become a sustaining member and borrow carriers?
We accept cash, check, credit cards, and PayPal.
Can I borrow a carrier at my first meeting?
Yes! You can begin borrowing as soon as we receive your donation and you sign the Sustaining Membership Agreement form.
Inclement Weather Policy
The Board of Directors will use local school closings and their own discretion to determine if a meeting will be cancelled due to inclement weather. If a meeting is cancelled, it will be announced in the Facebook event, Facebook group, and on the Facebook fan page, and your carrier will be automatically renewed for one month.
If our meeting is not cancelled and you are absolutely unable to make it to a meeting to return your carrier, please follow the steps below:
- Friday meetup will be cancelled if Kentwood Public Schools or the venue are closed.
- Saturday meetup will be cancelled if Kentwood Public Schools extracurricular activities or the venue are cancelled/closed.
If our meeting is not cancelled and you are absolutely unable to make it to a meeting to return your carrier, please follow the steps below:
- If at all possible, return the carrier to the closest Educator before the meeting (contact the librarian if you are unsure who the closest educator to you is).
- BWGR must be notified (via email or PM on Facebook) BEFORE the meeting if you will not be able to make it and were unable to return your carrier early. If we are not notified, you will still be responsible for the late fee ($2/day) until the carrier is returned.
- Once we are notified, you will have 5 days to drop the carrier off to the closest educator (ask if you are unsure who is the closest educator to you). After the 5th day, you will begin accruing the late fee of $2/day until your carrier is returned.
- You will be unable to rent another carrier if you do not attend the meeting.
