SUSAN Powers's free newsletter to parents in Grahamstown has taken on a life of its own. What began two-and-a-half years ago as an email to friends with children the same age as her own daughter Erin (4) has become an information-sharing newsletter serving 180 Grahamstown families.
SUSAN Powers's free newsletter to parents in Grahamstown has taken on a life of its own. What began two-and-a-half years ago as an email to friends with children the same age as her own daughter Erin (4) has become an information-sharing newsletter serving 180 Grahamstown families.
Powers said that as she discovered products or services in Grahamstown that were relevant to parents she would share this information with her friends via email. Her emails have been recommended to other parents by word of mouth. Powers now receives requests from parents she does not know with children of all ages who want to be included on her mailing list. Last year the newsletter was named The Grahamstown Parents' Network.
New subscribers to the network receive a welcome letter and a Parents’ Directory listing child-friendly service providers in Grahamstown. Powers sends the Monday morning classified advertisements to subscribers each week. Content draws parents' attention to special offers on children's products that Powers has found in local stores, or child-friendly events taking place in Grahamstown. Messages from parents looking for a baby sitter or wanting to sell a pram, for example, are also included in the newsletter.
The network has a charity aspect, bringing families together for a children's Christmas party where additional presents are donated to Child Welfare. Powers is busy creating a blog to store past newsletters, but said that she will continue to send a weekly email, which is seen as the driving force of the network.
