Southern Marin Mothers’ Club Community Guidelines
These guidelines exist to protect the heart of SMMC.
For more than 30 years, thousands of families have found friendship and connection through our organization. Our 501c non-profit, 100% volunteer run club, is both a resource and a community. Some parents join to ask questions, share information, find much-needed resources, and discover events, while others come to build friendships and shared traditions.These days, online spaces can often feel overwhelming, negative, or transactional. Our club is intentionally different. We have guardrails that help keep things supportive and authentic. By honoring these expectations, we protect this safe place for our members to show up honestly and be met with care, empathy, and respect.
While most member activity happens on WhatsApp, these guidelines apply to all SMMC spaces, including our forums, social media, and events. Wherever we connect, the same expectations apply to keep SMMC consistent and welcoming for everyone.
We’re a volunteer-run organization, and our moderators do their best to step in quickly. Still, things can slip through the cracks in real time. If you see something concerning, please report it communities@southernmarinmoms.com.
Leadership's commitment to our members
SMMC is led and run by a volunteer board of directors. We dedicate our time and energy to keeping this community safe, welcoming and fun. You can learn more about the Board and get to know us here.We ask our members to follow these guidelines so our community stays welcoming and respectful. In return, here’s what you can expect from us:
We’ll strive to create safe and supportive spaces both online and at in-person gatherings.
We’ll prioritize inclusivity and kindness in how we lead.
We’ll apply these guidelines consistently and fairly.
We’ll communicate openly about changes, events, and resources that affect the community.
We’ll uphold these guidelines ourselves as active members of the community.
We’ll listen to feedback and adapt when needed.
Ground rules & Community vibe
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Come as you are. This is a judgment-free zone. Share wins, vent struggles, ask advice, or just observe.
- Every mom’s path is valid. From bottle to breast, co-sleeping to sleep training, we aim to support without comparison.
- Keep it kind, keep it real. Ask questions, share honestly, and respond with care. Humor and grace go a long way.
- Suggest meetups anytime. Coffee, park hangs, walks, parents’ nights, connection is the heart of SMMC.
- Respect privacy. Let’s keep this a safe space for sharing the personal moments of parenthood.
Quick highlights
- Join for community-building and a support system, not business promotion.
- Use your real first name on WhatsApp (photo optional).
- Be respectful, no inflammatory, divisive, or harassing content.
- No unsolicited promotions (including affiliate links).
- Disclose affiliations when recommending businesses or services.
- Limit: 3 cross-posts/month of the same content.
- Join only groups relevant to your due date, child’s age(s) and your town.
- Recommend only childcare you have personally used or vetted.
- No anonymous negative reviews.
Violations may result in post removal, restricted access, or membership termination.
These are not our guidelines in full, please see below for details and context.
FULL GUIDELINES
A. Business promotions & mentions
To keep the focus on community, connection, and support, we limit business promotion in our channels.
For those interested in working with us to help their business reach our network of families in an approved and community-minded way, we have a Community Partner program.
1. Unsolicited self/business promotion is not allowed.
2. Forums
- There is a dedicated Business/Promotion forum where members may post about their business 1x per month, find it here.
3. WhatsApp
- There is a dedicated SMMC Entrepreneurs WhatsApp group where active members who own or are building businesses can connect. Unsolicited business sharing by active members of this group is permitted only in this space so long as all other SMMC guidelines are followed.
4. Events
SMMC Events
- No distributing business cards, materials, or promoting services/products (the only exception to this rule is events that are explicitly designated for the purpose of professional networking/entrepreneurship).
Business Events
- Business-related event promotions require prior approval. If you want to share an event to promote a business that is either owned by you, or someone you are affiliated with, may earn income or grow a customer base, please request prior approval by emailing us.
- Alternatively, you may share these without prior approval in our Community Discounts & Offers forum.
- Official SMMC Community and Non-Profit Partners are permitted to share events if specific rules are followed, learn more about these programs.
5. Indirect or covert promotion (e.g., posting in a way that steers members toward your business, client, or product) is not allowed.
6. Members may not post links that earn them money or rewards, including affiliate or commission-based links (Amazon, LIKEtoKNOW.it, etc.).
7. Member info must not be collected or used for business promotion.
8. Members may not use SMMC platforms to solicit payments or donations without prior approval.
9. Any activity that uses SMMC members as a target audience for business purposes (including surveys, market research, or feedback requests)
is not permitted without prior approval.
10. Self/ business recommendations in response to relevant asks are permitted, with:
- Disclosure of affiliations (spouse’s business, client/friend’s service, etc.).
- Limit of 3 recommendations/month (inclusive of cross-postings) per business or service.
b. REAL ESTATE
To keep our community focused on connection and support, real estate listings are not permitted. They can create legal or financial risk and could conflict with our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. This ensures members can share resources and experiences without being overwhelmed by commercial activity.
1. It’s okay to ask for referrals to real estate agents, or to ask about neighborhoods, schools, moving tips, or listings for your own family’s needs.
2. No posting real estate or rental listings, including homes for sale, off-market/pocket listings, short-term rentals, or vacation rentals either as the lister or the agent.
3. No using the group to look for clients or generate leads, it is only permitted to promote yourself as an agent in direct response to an ask.
C. Event & Resource Sharing
Our community works best when members can find helpful, relevant resources without noise, pressure, or calls to action. These guidelines ensure posts truly support parents and families. This section provides extra detail to clarify expectations, as this is often the most confusing topic.
What's permitted:
1. Town-hosted or nonprofit events such as parades, concerts, holiday celebrations, or volunteer opportunities*
2. Library programs, school events, or other educational opportunities that are open to the public*
3. Local safety resources such as wildfire or evacuation prep guides, weather alerts, public health updates, and other official notices
4. Neutral announcements of public meetings hosted by towns, schools, or community agencies, such as informational sessions on safety, facilities, or family resources so long as the focus is on information-sharing only, without calls to action or partisan discussion.
6. Community celebrations and cultural events (any event shared that directly conflicts with SMMC happenings may be removed).
7. General resource roundups published by trusted local organizations, such as parks and recreation guides, seasonal activity lists, or family resource directories.
8. Sharing used goods in our “Pre-loved Goods” WhatsApp chat.
9. Sharing a concert, festival, or activity you are personally attending, with an open invite for others to join, is permitted as a social connection.
What’s not permitted:
1. No petitions are allowed, even if related to local businesses, schools, or nonprofits.
2. Political or advocacy events (including rallies, marches, or petition-signing events) are not allowed (more on politics in section D).
3. Fundraising links and donation asks are not allowed unless prior approval is obtained (more on fundraising in section E).
4. Commercial or promotional events tied to the marketing/sale of a product or service are not allowed without prior approval (more on events in section C)
5. Surveys, market research, or feedback requests in support of a business or for-profit initiative are not allowed without prior approval.
Active members of our Entrepreneurs group may share these in that specific WhatsApp chat so long as all other guidelines are followed.
If you're hosting an event that aligns with our purpose and community values,
email us to determine if a collaboration or promotion could be appropriate. We evaluate each of those opportunities on a case-by-case basis to ensure they are beneficial for our members.
d. Politics & Religion
We limit discussions about politics and religion to keep our community welcoming and inclusive for all families, and to maintain our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
Politics
1. No endorsements or opposition of candidates, parties, or ballot measures at any level.
2. No inviting or collaborating with campaigning or elected government officials for any SMMC event.
3. No lobbying for or against legislation or causes.
4. No partisan bashing of political parties or figures.
5. No sharing of demonstrations in support or opposition of elected officials or their policies.
6. No petitions of any kind.
7. Active members who are elected officials, are running for office, or are affiliated with an elected official or candidate (personally or professionally), may participate in SMMC in a personal capacity only. They may not use our spaces or communication channels to campaign, distribute materials, solicit support, or engage in any other campaign or office- related activity,
Religion
1. No promotion or recruitment for religious organizations or causes.
2. Designated faith-based chats are the right place for religious discussion, outside of those, we ask that conversations remain non-religious.
3. The faith-based groups we have were started by members who expressed a need., If you cannot find a faith-based group that aligns with your belief system, please email us.
e. fundraising
SMMC is a registered 501(c) nonprofit. To protect our community and comply with nonprofit regulations, we limit the way fundraising is shared within our groups.
1. GoFundMes and other fundraisers may only be shared with
prior approval. Fundraisers must align with our mission and values, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
2. Personal fundraisers (e.g., medical expenses, school tuition, family emergencies) are generally not permitted unless approved as exceptional circumstances.
3. Business-related fundraising (e.g., crowdfunding for a startup or venture) is not allowed.
4. Political or religious fundraising is not allowed.
5. Approved fundraisers must clearly state that they are not affiliated with or sponsored by SMMC, unless explicitly designated as an official initiative.
6. Any official SMMC fundraising campaigns will be shared through our official channels only.
7. Mealtrains providing food for active SMMC members are allowed.
F. petitions
SMMC is a registered 501(c) nonprofit. To protect our community and comply with nonprofit regulations without creating additional compliance burdens, petitions may not be shared in our groups.
1. Petitions of any kind are not permitted, even if related to local businesses, schools, or nonprofits.
2. Political petitions and advocacy campaigns are not permitted (more on politics in section D)
3. SMMC does not circulate or endorse petitions through any of its platforms.
G. SENSITIVE TOPICS
Approach discussions on sensitive issues (e.g., vaccines, sleep training, feeding, custody, finances, circumcision) with thoughtfulness and care. SMMC welcomes a variety of parenting approaches to keep our community supportive. Moderators may intervene or remove content if a discussion becomes shaming in tone, inflammatory , or promotes practices that are clearly unsafe, unlawful, or pose a serious risk to child or member safety.
H. Medical advice
SMMC is not a place for professional medical guidance, even from licensed experts. This keeps the community safe and ensures members rely on trusted sources for medical decisions.
1. Do not request or provide specific medical advice or opinions.
2. No soliciting or sharing prescription medications on our platform or at our events
3. Sharing personal experiences is permitted.
i. childcare
We aim to keep discussions about child care providers helpful and trustworthy. This ensures families can feel confident in the recommendations and resources shared.
1. Recommend only caregivers you’ve used yourself or know through a trusted connection (please note which condition applies).
2. Do not promote yourself as a caregiver.
3. Anonymous or unsolicited negative reviews are not permitted.
4. Please post childcare searches and recommendations in the
Childcare forum for easy access, this is the appropriate place for this content.
5. Members are responsible for doing their own reference checks before hiring.
j. public safety & law enforcement
To protect the safety of our organization and limit potential liabilities, none of our platforms, communications channels, events, or resources, may be used to interfere with or obstruct law enforcement. This includes posting alerts or warnings intended to help individuals avoid enforcement action.
k. WHATSAPP PROFILE
We require members to present themselves authentically on WhatsApp to help keep our community safe and trustworthy.
1. Use your real first name on your WhatsApp profile.
2. Phone number must match your SMMC profile.
3. Photos are optional but encouraged.
4. All posts must follow all guidelines outlined here
5. Members may not recruit for non-SMMC WhatsApp chats/groups.
l. joining groups & chats
We have different WhatsApp groups to meet the specific needs and interests of various members, ensuring that everyone has access to safe spaces that provide the support and connections that are most relevant to them.
1. Only join groups aligned with your due date/birth date, child’s age(s), your town, identities and interests.
2. No groups are to be joined for the purpose of self/business promotion.
3. All groups with “Moms” in the name are intended as safe, supportive spaces to share experiences, resources and advice and are intended only for mothers.
4. Members who are not mothers are only permitted to join groups that do not have “Moms” in the name, exceptions may be made at the Board’s discretion for primary caregivers whose circumstances align with the intent of the group
5. Quarterly groups are designated only for expecting mothers (birthing and non-birthing) to provide much-needed pregnancy, postpartum and newborn support. If your due date/birth date falls on the cusp of two groups, or if your baby arrives earlier or later than expected, you may join one additional group to reflect that.
6. The Dads’ group is open only to dads and is intended as a safe, supportive space for dads to connect and share their unique parenting perspectives. All dads who are either primary or secondary members are permitted to join this group. To join, dads can
email us and our team will confirm eligibility and provide access.
7. If co-parents share one SMMC account, each parent may
email us to join their respective chat(s).
8. Board members are present in each chat to ensure conversations stay aligned with group purpose and that guidelines are upheld.
m. events organized by members
SMMC is "for moms, by moms" and we strive to foster a community where all members feel they can contribute and create opportunities for connection. To ensure it's clear which activities are backed by our organization, and which ones are informal get-togethers , we ask that the below guidelines are followed.
1. All members are welcome to organize informal activities within their respective groups (like coffee meetups, park playdates, or stroller walks) and invite SMMC friends to join so long as these activities do not involve the collection of funds on our platform.
2. If a member chooses to organize a non-affiliated, pre-paid/ticketed activity with other members that is not set up as an official SMMC event via ClubExpress, this must be coordinated and handled privately, off of SMMC platforms (e.g., no scheduling, planning, or collect funds via our WhatsApp groups). This is to avoid member confusion and limit potential liability.
3. If you’d like your activity to be recognized and promoted as an official SMMC event, it must be submitted to the relevant group lead and run through our event/payments system (ClubExpress).
4. All official SMMC events requiring payment will only be handled via ClubExpress.
5. SMMC is not liable for any funds exchanged between members and will not get involved in any subsequent disputes.
n. crossposting
To keep our community manageable and enjoyable, please avoid sharing the same content in multiple groups. This helps posts stay meaningful and prevents members from feeling overwhelmed or spammed.
The same message/content with the same intended purpose may only be posted up to 3 times in one month. Each cross-post counts as 1 post, inclusive of all of our channels and subgroups within WhatsApp, for example, posting a message in a quarterly WhatsApp group, a town group, and on one of our forums counts as 3 posts.
o. privacy
We encourage members to be mindful of privacy, for themselves and others, to help keep our community safe and respectful.
With over 1,400 members, protect your privacy by being mindful about what you share.
1. Please avoid posting sensitive personal details (addresses, private schedules, sensitive photos).
2. Do not share screenshots, images or personal information of others without permission.
3. Review the privacy terms for our platforms - WhatsApp and ClubExpress
p. Use of SMMC NAME, LOGO, & BRAND
To protect our brand and maintain community trust, SMMC’s name, logo, and likeness may only be used in connection with official SMMC activities. This prevents confusion about what is officially supported or affiliated with the organization.
1. The SMMC name, logo, likeness, guidelines, and all brand materials are the property of the club.
2. Members may not use, reproduce, or promote them in any form , including online, on social media, in print, or at events, without prior written approval.
3. Members may not affiliate SMMC with any outside organization or cause without prior written approval. For approval, email us.
Moderation practices
We have moderation practices in place to ensure that our community remains welcoming, respectful, and safe for all members. We aim to be transparent about how we handle guideline violations so all members know what to expect. Moderation is a shared effort between SMMC moderators, group leads, and members. Everyone plays a role in keeping our spaces safe, kind, and community-focused.
Members
Are encouraged to flag posts or comments that may violate guidelines or make others uncomfortable.
Group Leads
Monitor their chats and help identify and surface issues to moderators.
Moderators (designated board members or approved volunteers)
Review flagged content, remove confirmed violations, and log incidents.
Moderators are volunteers who help keep our spaces welcoming, respectful, and aligned with SMMC community guidelines. Prospective moderators are identified based on their communication style, ability to stay neutral in discussion, and commitment to fairness and a positive community culture.
President and Membership Director
Provide board oversight, handling escalations and ensuring fairness and flagging any membership decisions to the board as a whole
What to know:
1. SMMC may remove and/or moderate posts at its discretion.
2. Removed posts may include a message to the group disclosing what was removed and why to help all members stay abreast of our guidelines.
3. Repeat or serious violations may result in suspension or removal from the Club at its discretion.
4. MMC will not discuss or disclose disciplinary membership actions with anyone other than the directly involved parties, or if legally mandated.
5. When moderators need to act quickly in real time, we prioritize community safety and fairness by removing content first. We recognize this may occasionally mean removing something that could have remained, but removals can’t be undone once they happen. All decisions are made with the overall health of the community in mind.
6. If you believe a removal was made in error, please email us so we can review and consider for the future.
7. Guidelines are subject to change. Updates will be shared via the Announcements WhatsApp channel, email, and our website.
It is the responsibility of all members to stay up-to-date on these guidelines and to follow them accordingly.
Any questions? email us.