NJATMC 2nd VP Report
Convention 2003

The National Organization of Mothers of Twins Club's Research Department has released two additional reports since our last NJATMC Convention. Dr. Goldberg surveyed many of the NOMOTC 2001 Convention attendees for his research report entitled "Incontinence Among Mothers of Multiples." NOMOTC also released an independent survey entitled " Private Language of Multiples." There are sixty-five completed research reports that should be in your National Representative's Resource Binder. I've made copies of specific reports for a few clubs who used them to create their own research surveys. Check out the NOMOTC website where there are twenty-three research project opportunities just waiting for your input.

I have targeted the local Club Presidents this weekend with a survey. It is my intention to find out how they feel about the way NJATMC raises funds and how they are spent. I expect to report the results to you in January. As always, our local research community has questions that need answers. Please remember, the short time you spend answering a few simple questions could provide critical information to others.

I'm pleased to announce that thirteen of our twenty clubs have appointed Research Chairs. This is a major improvement over last year's four appointments. Not only have appointments been made but seven of those newly appointed chairs ran independent studies within their own clubs. I'm certain that their fellow club members appreciated their hard work. I encourage all local clubs to continue to survey their membership at least once every other year.

Congratulations to TMC of Greater Plainfield, the first club to send in their twin registry survey in February. I received survey results from Essex Co. MOM in March and Jersey Shore in April. Unfortunately, I was not successful in my attempt to have statistics from all twenty local clubs.

As I did last year, I will again use the statistics complied by Peg M. in 1995, Joan M. in 1996 and my results from 2002. Just for the record, we currently have 20 local member clubs even though I have statistics from only 19 clubs. In 1995 and 1996 there were 20 local member clubs. Greater Montgomery MOM and M.O.M.I.E.'s were both started in 1997 and therefore, were not included in the 1995 and 1996 reports. Cape May Co. and Middlesex Co. were members in 1995 and 1996, but neither one is a member now. M.O.M.I.E.'s was not included in the 1995, 1996 or 2002 reports because they were not members of NJATMC during those years and is not in this report because I received no statistical information from that club.

We've seen a 6% increase in our general membership since last year. Twin sets and triplet sets have increased by 5%. The most significant increase, nearly 38% was in the number of quad sets.

There is an even 1/3 distribution of twin types across the board for these four years.

The ratio of same sex twins is essentially a 30 / 70 split. There has been a slow but steady increase in the number of fraternal twins.

The distribution of siblings by gender is approaching a 50 /50 split.

We have six clubs with less than 15 members, five clubs with 24 to 54 members, six clubs with 65 to 95 members and 2 clubs with more than 100 members. Burlington is our smallest club with only 4 members compared to T'nT of Morris, our largest club with 144 members. The average number of children each member has is 2.7.

The most interesting part of this report is the frequency of mothers who have multiple multiples. One member of Raritan Valley enjoys her two sets of twins. Central Jersey has two members who each have two sets of twins. Tn'T of Morris Co. has one member with two sets of twins and another MOM with a set of twins and a set of triplets. Lastly, Tn'T of the Lake Area has one member with two sets of twins and one incredible MOM who has three sets of twins!

I'd like to thank all of the Club Presidents and State Delegates. You have helped me to contribute to the history of NJATMC by participating in the surveys I have offered. As I leave this position, I hope to see this trend continue.

Respectfully submitted by,

Judith A. Z.
NJATMC 2nd VP
November 8, 2003