POMOMC History
The Pennsylvania Mothers of Twins Club began meeting in 1961 when the Main Line Club contacted area clubs to meet on April 15, 1961. Clubs contacted were Levittown, Delaware Valley in Willow Grove, Allentown, Keystone of Harrisburg, Nelson, Sayre, Sharon, Sharpsville and Sunbury. Present at the meeting were 33 members from Allentown, Keystone, Levittown and Main Line.
The next three meetings were hosted by Allentown, Levittown and Keystone.
After that, Regional Conventions were held in Philadelphia, Erie, Beaver Falls, York, Lancaster and Pittsburgh. It was at the convention in 1970 that the state song was adopted, written and composed by Doris Whitcomb.
Lebanon was the hosting club in 1971 with 251 members attending. At this meeting it was decided by an overwhelming vote to organize all the mothers of twins clubs and officially form the Pennsylvania Organization Mothers of Twins Clubs (POMOTC). Doris Whitcomb had put many hours into this meeting and served as coordinator for the first year. POMOTC was on its way and the next ten years were very busy. The first newsletter was published in December 1971. Resumes were prepared and sent to all members to help form committees. Each club was asked to appoint a State Representative to coordinate information between State and local clubs. Charter members of POMOTC were Boyertown, South Hills of Pittsburgh, Erie, Lebanon Valley, Main Line, Carlisle, Olney, Butlter, Lancaster, Alle-Kiski, York, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Scranton, Steel Valley, Greater Northeast Philadelphia, Beaver Valley, Meadville, North Hills, Central Bucks, Hanover and Keystone. Dues were set at $.25 cents per member.
Through the years many clubs have held convention and those who have hosted two conventions are Northeast Philadelphia, Erie, Keystone, Liberty (which was formerly Onley MOTC,) Carlisle and Bucks-Mont.
In 1972 the first officers were elected and the first president as Doris Whitcomb. Temporary bylaws were established and adopted the following year. In 1973 the motto”God’s Chosen Ones” and emblem were adopted. The Lonnie Whitcomb Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1974 by the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Club, in honor of Doris Whitcomb’s son who was killed in an automobile accident. Any club or person can donate to this fund with the money to be used for financial aid for children to help with college. The Lonnie Whitcomb Scholarship Fund has given over 300 awards since its foundation.
In 1975 the club colors were approved. They are GREEN representing youth and hope, YELLOW-representing honor and loyalty and ORANGE-representing strength and endurance. In 1976 it was decided that members of POMOTC were also eligible to receive scholarships from the Lonnie Whitcomb Memorial Scholarship Fund.
In 1977 the daisy was chosen for the state flower. As it consists of several distinct petals joined by a common center, just as POMOTC consists of many different women joined by the common bond of multiple birth children. In 1979 the dues were raised to $.50 cents per member and in 2002 dues were raised to $1.00.
In 2006, POMOTC officially changed its name to Pennsylvania Organization of Mothers of Multiples Clubs (POMOMC) to recognize the diversity and number of members who have higher order multiples or even two sets of twins. In 2007, a new logo was adopted. The winning entry was submitted by the Bucks-Mont club.
Convention has become an invaluable weekend of interests for members. Some of the convention workshops and entertainment through the years have been on stress, drug abuse, women’s liberation, doctors on various specialties, interior decorating, belly dancing, line dancing, book and magazine editors, the JIM twins, the Sweet Adelines, a Boom Ba Band, Mummers, Chocolate, Safety issues for women, Separate or together school issues and many more!
POMOMC is stronger than ever with approximately 40 clubs and over 1,500 members. POMOMC has been fortunate to have strong women with vision to lead us.
CURRENT OFFICERS OF POMOMC
President
Amy Hansel
Liberty MOMS
2322 Deer Path Rd
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
267 722-8482
adshansel@comcast.net
Linda Gatta Liberty Moms 162 Wildflower Dr. Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
610 825-8243 porqupyne@comcast.net 2nd Vice President & Editor
Lisa Cubellis
North Pittsburgh MOMS
126 Star Court
Sewickley, PA 15143
412-749-8221
CubellisL@aol.com
Secretary
Sue Giangiacomo
Bucks-Mont MOMS
2928 Denise Road
East Norriton, PA 19403
610-275-7144
twogirls@comcast.net
Treasurer
Teresa Boley
North Pittsburgh MOMS
1996 Carriage Hill Road
Allison Park, PA 15101
412-635-2425
boleytm@comcast.net
PRESENTATION OF THE PAST PRESIDENTS OF POMOMC
Each of the following past presidents have not only worked hard to ensure the stability of POMOTC from year to year but have also worked in their own local clubs for many years. They have served locally as presidents, committee heads, fundraiser organizers, big sisters, etc. For POMOTC they have been on the committees, headed the committees, served on the Executive Board and of course served as a president.
| Doris Whitcomb |
1972-1973
|
Carlisle Area MOTC |
| Irene Hricz |
1974-1975
|
Twin Mothers Club of Erie |
| Beryl Shettel |
1976-1977
|
Keystone MOM |
| Doris Potosnak |
1978-1979
|
Beaver Valley MOTC |
| Sharon Lowers |
1980-1981
|
Butler Two or More |
| Carol Dionisio |
1982-1983
|
Northeast Philadelphia MOTT |
| Clara May Morgan |
1984-1985
|
Grove City MOTC |
| Karen Stuart |
1986-1987
|
York White Rose MOTT |
| Geri Mead | 1988-1989 | South Hills of Pittsburgh MOTC |
| Nancy McMahon | 1990 | York White Rose MOTT |
| Linda Melnick | 1991-1992 | Liberty MOTC |
| Anne Marie Phillips | 1993-1994 | Bucksmont MOM |
| F. Nadine Talley | 1995-1997 | Liberty MOTC |
| Connie Elliott | 1997-1999 | Liberty MOTC |
| Debbie Stewart | 1999-2002 | Lehigh Valley |
| Connie Elliott | 2002-2004 | NEPMOTTC |
| Rose McDonough | 2004-2006 | Cranberry MOMS |
| Sue Tramontana | 2006-2008 | Valley Forge MOTC |
| Betsy Hopkins | 2008-2010 | Buck-Mont Moms |