Which lovely MNers can come and serve tea to the great and the good at the Party Conferences this year?

[KateMumsnet]

Hello Everyone

We're joining up with the White Ribbon Alliance to put on another Mum's Cafe at two party conferences this year, in order to highlight Maternal and Newborn Health. Horrifyingly, a woman dies from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth nearly every minute - and 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries.

The Cafe will be very like the one we pulled off with such aplomb at the Houses of Parliament in March, when Carrie spoke so brilliantly to an audience of assorted politicos, activists and the lovely Annie Lennox. Then, some gorgeous Mumsnetters dressed up in fine retro style, pouring tea for thirsty attendees to universal acclaim - and that's exactly what we plan again.

This time non-Londoners will get a look in, with the Labour Conference event taking place on Tuesday 28th of September in Manchester, and the Conservative one the following Tuesday 5th in Birmingham. If you're wondering what happened to the LibDem event, I'm assured that this was all planned much earlier in the year, when the political landscape was rather, ahem, different.

So who's up for dressing up in a pinny, a headscarf and some retro red lippie, and spending an hour or so pouring tea to the great and the good in support of a very good cause? Scroll down our campaign page to see a photo of what, precisely, we're asking of you!

One issue to highlight - the WRA are hoping to start both Mum's Cafes pretty darn early - at about 9am . This is because there is more chance of grabbing the grandees at this hour - so let us know if you can make it then, but also if you could make it, but not that early!

Gosh, just seen this. If we're still needing volunteers I can go to the Birmingham one.

"In the meantime, could this thread not help KateMN out a bit (this is the hard work)?" - well yes, this was my point! and I'm glad you've joined in with the suggestions

I don't personally have a problem with the idea of a cafe, only the theme originally proposed. My post of Wed 08-Sep-10 21:09:12 mentioned keeping it white - possibly "heaven" themed - and the slogan/message of "Whatever your political colours, wear a white ribbon".

The counter idea is awesome. I'd like to think one standing on its own would arouse someone's curiosity enough to approach someone to ask what it was for. It would take a cold person not to be shocked by the reply. I also love the idea of peppering women with the "Will it be me?" T-shirts around the venue. So quick, cheap and simple to organise, yet very effective :)

How about "I didn't die in childbirth" on a shirt or badge? Actually large badges would be good as they could be distributed to attendees to wear.

Could have numbered biscuits, each representing a maternal death, that'd give them something to chew on.

Excellent slogan LG :) as is the film. I think I'd assumed that this was the kind of campaign in which there'd be at least one screen showing something, along with the usual handouts. Wasn't this happening last time then?

I think my only other concern at this point is getting the balance right between shocking and triggering - tricky, I know, with an issue like this - but I do agree there should be as many different formats available to people to consider both there and away from the conference, badges being a great idea too :)

...there will be white ribbons available, right?

mrsbaldwin No, Not of the top of my head. Does that mean I can't object to this one?

Hello

We?ve spoken to the White Ribbon Alliance now, and explained the strength of feeling expressed here. They are very happy for Mumsnetters to turn up dressed all in white, and to act as co-hosts of the event, rather than serving comestibles to representatives of the patriarchy. Hopefully this addresses the concerns expressed here? It?s really too late to redesign the entire event from scratch; the venue was booked some time ago, and politicians and representatives of various organisations have already expressed an interest in attending.

Do let us know what you think, especially those of you who have said you?d like to come, or who would like to come, but have thus far been too scared to say so .

It would be great to harness some of the fury energy expressed on this thread for what we all agree is an important cause. We'd love to hear you ideas for how MNers could get together to publicise international women?s issues, or put pressure on the relevant politicians. Maybe we could think about doing something around International Women?s Day next March, or a similarly significant date? (Please let it not prominently feature bodily fluids though; we?re not sure our delicate constitutions could handle that.)

Happy with the co-hosts and all in white idea.

I could probably be at the Manchester conference. I would need lots of info to swot up in advance .... [frets]

I'd still be happy to go but along with BonzoDooDah would want lots of info asap, need to get reading

seams a lot fun

So which ppl who didn't like the dressing-up-as-ironic-mothers idea are actually gonna attend one of the events?

And are you moving the apostrophe?????

If I could get (or indeed afford to get) to Manc or Brum for 9am I would, but from 200-300 miles away that is unlikely. Are you doing it this year then mrsbaldwin?

I know this won't be in time for the cafe but to develop on the pregnant women in T-shirt ideas, some could be printed with "Will we make it?" and have a child's face over the bump.

Oh motherinferior, the shame! I can assure you that in all future communications the apostrophe will be in the right place .

BonzoDooDah and Lotkinsgonecurly, good point. We've asked the WRA to point us in the direction of some useful reading, and we'll pass the links on as soon as they get back to us. Last year there was a short pre-event briefing and a fact-sheet to refer to, but I'm sure they'll have something that you, and anyone else who wants to gen up, can tackle in advance.

Will I be going? No.

I did it last time (was it March this year?)

And I would go again this time except that the events are not in London.

But last time I dressed as an ironic tealady mother and would be very happy to do so again.

I might just go off and look up how to make a donation to WRA's campaign - and do that.

[goes off]

The WRA Donate page is here
www.whiteribbonalliance.org/donate.cfm

There's also an online shop
www.whiteribbonalliance.org/store.cfm

Some of it is a bit American, but there's brilliant a stick-on 'Mum' tattoo (have a look)

The white is fine with me. I think the important thing is what we say.

Am I going to the Manchester one?

MNHQ - Can you let me know that you definitely want me to go so I can arrange childcare for the day? And point out the reading stuff - I will swot up on the White Ribbon site [shocked already - one death a minute!!!]

Plus I'm happy to wear white (great idea) and happy to serve up coffee and tea to delegates. I think it's a good way to stop them in their tracks for a mo - a free cuppa - they have to at least pause for the length of time it takes to pour the cup - during which time you can engage them in the debate.

So what's the plan? And whoever is volunteering are they happy with the same or what?

Hi Bonzo - yes, we definitely want you, please thank you please! Waiting for WRA to get back with specific reading material, will pass that on as soon as we have it.

Serving/not serving: there will be hot drinks and biscuits. Whether you dispense them or not will be entirely up to you

Super

I've printed off these fact sheets from the White Ribbon Campaign

I'm still up for going to Birmingham and am content to serve as a sort of icebreaker really.

I have a teeny issue with the white though (so sorry MNHQ - I know that you have met many obstacles on this thread), please may I wear black and sort of stick to a monchrome theme, if that fits in with everyone else.

Also my RLBF (not a MNer) would like to come to - is that permissable?

Sorry, taht wasn't very eloquent.

I really meant that the serving would help me approach people and then I would feel more comfortable/confident about talking to people about the real issues. IYSWIM?

Hello

We've been talking to the WRA and the other organisations in the maternal health coalition, and they feel that, with so few Mumsnetters attending, the event might be a bit of a damp squib.

We do understand that the original proposal didn't go down very well with everyone, and we'd hoped that we'd managed to address some of your concerns with Plan B - but alas, this hasn't resulted in many extra volunteers.

We're going to hold our fire till we get another opportunity to draw attention to this really important issue - and we promise to consult in advance so that everyone (or most people at least!) is on board with the plan.

Thanks very much to all the MNers who volunteered, we hope to see you another time.