Committees

RDIA Bylaws allow for two types of Committees: Committees of the Board and Advisory Committees.  Committees of the Board consist only of Directors.  Advisory Committees can include any number of Directors and other members.

Several of our Committees are currently active through working groups to accomplish member goals.  Once projects are complete, members will prepare for the next year's goals.

For members interested in joining these committees and working groups, contact info@realdiaperindustry.org.

Advisory Committees

• Legal Affairs and Risk Management – Researching and advising on legal affairs.  Legal Committee is currently active in CPSIA research and education.  Members are also participating in coalitions on behalf of RDIA.  Chair and Board Liaison, Leah Carter (Better for Babies).
  
  
• Research - Planning, gathering and conducting research on cloth diapers and the cloth diaper industry; organizing independent, third-party research on issues related to cloth diapers. Chair & Board Liaison, Mandi Meidlinger (Jillians' Drawers).
  
  
• Laundry working group - Responsible for maintaining RDIA-approved cloth diaper washing instructions and for maintaining list of laundry detergents.  Chair, Sarah Gesiakowski (PinStripes and PolkaDots); Board Liaison, Shirley Murdock (Bummis).
  
  
• Water Treatment project - Responsible for investigating and publicizing the influence of water treatment and water quality on cloth diaper laundry.
  
  
• Diaper Service Laundry working group - Responsible for obtaining and circulating information regarding laundering test methods for pH, residual chlorine, and bacteria. 
  
  
• Member Education - Defining topics and arranging education programs for association members; participating with advocacy organization programs in education programs for cloth diaper users.
  
  
• Retailer Certification working group - Responsible for creating a certification program for cloth diaper retailers to fulfill 2010 goal set by retailer members.  Chair, Julie Triplett (Simple Cloth); Board Liaison, Ann-Marie Speirs (Cozy Baby Boutique).
  
  
• Finance - Budgeting and monitoring expenses for the association; overseeing fundraising campaigns.
  
  
• Marketing and PR (external Communications) - Marketing the trade association and cloth diapers to external resources.  Chair, Jakki Liberman (Bumkins); Board Liaison, Shayla Boyd-Gill (Alyahs Alternatives).
  
  
• Consider Cloth campaign - Responsible for distributing a cloth diaper demo kit for childbirth educators. Chair, Jakki Liberman (Bumkins).
  
  
• Physician awareness project - Responsible for creating a cloth diaper awareness campaign targeting physicians.
  
  
• Cloth Diapers in Daycare - Joint project with RDA and RDIA, responsible for facilitating the use of cloth diapers in daycare. Chair, Heather McNamara (Real Diaper Association).
  
  
• Association Networking - Responsible for reaching out and staying connected with similar organizations in allied industries. Board Liaison, Dennis Frederick (All Together Diaper).
  
  
• Government Subsidies - Responsible for establishing grants and subsidies for low-income cloth diaper users at any level of government. Chair, Bernice Hembree (Terra Tots). Board Liaison, Lori Taylor (Fuzbaby and Firefly Diapers).
  
  
• Diaper Service Website & Marketing - Responsible for creating a public diaper service directory. Chair, Peter Allen (Do Good Diapers). Board Liaison, Judy Aagard (Tiny Tots).
  
  
• Membership (internal Communications) – Networking and development for association members; recruitment of association members; member publications. Chair, Dennis Frederick (All Together Diaper).
  
  
• Negotiated Discounts - Responsible for arranging member benefits to fulfill 2009 goal set by retailer members.  Chair, Heather Hicks (Knickernappies); Board Liaison, Mandi Meidlinger (Jillian's Drawers).
  
  
• 2010 Annual meeting - Responsible for planning and carrying out 2010 cloth diaper business conference and RDIA annual meeting. Chair, Shayla Boyd-Gill (Alyahs Alternatives).
  
  
• Recruiting - Seeking new members, both trade and associate. Board Liaison, Cari Wolverton (Papaya Patch).
  
  
• How to Start a Diaper Service - Responsible for creating and marketing a kit to help new and potential diaper service owners. Chair, Jennifer Moore Temple (Buzzie Bee Diaper Service); Board Liaison, Judy Aagard (Tiny Tots Diaper Service).
  

Committees of the Board

• Executive Committee - Officers of the Board, responsible for the day-to-day management of the organization.  Members: Chair, Leah Carter (Better for Babies); Vice Chair, Shayla Boyd-Gill (Alyahs Alternatives); Secretary, Lori Taylor (Fuzbaby and Firefly Diapers); and Treasurer, Dennis Frederick (All Together Diaper).
  
  
• 2010 Nominating Committee - Responsible for elections to Board of Directors.  Especially important during our first year, this committee is responsible for the logistics of member elections.  Members: Chair, Cari Wolverton (Papaya Patch); Lori Taylor (Fuzbaby and Firefly Diapers).
  

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Retired

Retired working groups have completed their projects.

2008-2009

• 2009 Executive Committee - Officers of the Board, responsible for the day-to-day management of the organization.  Members: Chair, Jenn Labit (Cotton Babies/bumGenius); Vice Chair, Dennis Frederick (All Together Diaper); Secretary, Lori Taylor (Fuzbaby and Firefly Diapers); and Treasurer, Ann-Marie Speirs (Cozy Baby Boutique).
  
  
• 2009 Annual Meeting - Responsible for planning and carrying out cloth diaper business conference and RDIA annual meeting in Las Vegas, September 2009.  Chair, Diana Alatalo (Babies Bottoms and More); Vice Chair, Shayla Boyd-Gill (Alyahs Alternatives); Board Liaison, Jenn Labit (Cotton Babies / bumGenius).
  
  
• 2009 Nominating Committee - Responsible for elections to Board of Directors.  Especially important during our first year, this committee is responsible for the logistics of member elections.  Members: Chair, Jennifer Moore Temple (Buzzie Bee Diapers); Lori Taylor (Fuzbaby and Firefly Diapers); and Shirley Murdock (Bummis).
  
  
• Website working group - Responsible for creating an RDIA website to fulfill 2009 goal set by all members.  Chair, Linda Byerline (Happy Heinys); Board Liaison, Lori Taylor (Fuzbaby and Firefly Diapers).
  
  
• Awareness Campaign working group - Responsible for creating a public awareness campaign to fulfill 2009 goal set by manufacturer members.  Chair, Jakki Liberman (Bumkins); Board Liaison, Tashi Nibber (Kissaluvs).
  
  
• FAQ working group - Responsible for creating basic set of Frequently Asked Questions and answers to fulfill 2009 goal set by retailer members.  Chair, Diana Alatalo (Babies Bottoms and More); Board Liaison, Jenn Labit (Cotton Babies/bumGenius).