History
Timeline
Sept 2007 First cloth diaper industry meeting
April 2008 Formation of organizing committee
Aug 2008 Incorporation in California as a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation
Sept 2008 First meeting of Board of Directors
Sept 2008 First RDIA annual meeting and second annual cloth diaper industry meeting
March 2009 Recognition by IRS as 501(c)(6) tax exempt trade association
May 2009 NADS (National Association of Diaper Services) ceased operation;
members encouraged to join RDIA
June 2009 Launch Consider Cloth program
Sept 2009 2nd RDIA annual meeting and business conference
Oct 2010 3rd RDIA annual meeting and business conference
Sept 2011 4th RDIA annual meeting and business conference
Oct 2012 5th RDIA annual meeting
March 2013 Launch ConsiderCloth.org cloth diaper information site for consumers
Our Founding Story
In 2007, Jenn Labit (Cotton Babies/bumGenius) had a goal of bringing members of the cloth diapering industry together during the ABC Kids Expo in an effort to build relationship and work towards a professional working environment for both manufacturers and retailers. Lori Taylor planted the first seeds towards the formation of a trade association during conversations with Jenn prior to the meetings in Las Vegas. With the help of Betsy Thomas and Shirley Murdock (Bummis), the first industry meetings were pulled together during the ABC Kids Expo of 2007. The first manufacturers' meeting was attended by the owners of BabyKicks, bumGenius, Bumkins, Bummis, Happy Heinys and Kissaluvs. The first industry meeting happened the very next night and, while only 14 people had responded to the original invitation, over 40 people were in attendance.
At the close of that meeting, the retailers were directed to join the RDA (Real Diaper Association) and the manufacturers set out to form a new trade association for the manufacturers with the goal of funding research. Over time, it became clear that the retailers really needed to be part of a trade association as well. RDA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a charitable organization, and isn't legally designed to handle the needs of a trade association. With this need in mind, Ann-Marie Speirs (Cozy Baby Boutique), Lori Taylor (Real Diaper Association - President), Angelique Mullen (Real Diaper Association - Treasurer) and Jenn Labit (Cotton Babies / bumGenius) met for dinner at the Green Festival in Seattle, Washington, April 2008 to discuss the next steps towards making this dream a reality. With the support of our Founding Donors, we hired an attorney, asked a group of amazing business people to advise us, and began moving forward.
It has taken some very long hours and the donation of thousands of dollars from manufacturers and retailers, but we have legally formed, in the state of California, as the Real Diaper Industry Association, "a California nonprofit mutual benefit corporation." The IRS has given the organization status as a 501(c)(6) tax exempt organization – a trade association.
We welcome members from all parts of the cloth diapering industry – retailers, manufacturers, diaper services, artisan manufacturers, as well as associate members (like component providers or media members). Together we can build a strong foundation for the success of all of our businesses.
We're excited to be able to present you with the Real Diaper Industry Association.
