Marie Simmons and Eleanor Siegel were members of the former Twins Mothers Club of Westchester County. After attending three National MOTC conventions and having met other mothers of twins from NY State at these meetings, they organized the first state meeting which consisted of a one-day session of work-shops and was held in November 1966 in Yonkers. Nine clubs were represented by 44 women. The original nine MOTC’s were: Buffalo, Nassau Co., Norwich, Queens, Rochester, Southern Tier, Staten Island, TNT of Syracuse and TMC of Westchester. Eleanor Siegel was the first “Coordinator”, and served from 1967-1969.
In May 1967, The Rochester Mothers of Twins Club led by Chairman, Judy DeRooy hosted the second State Meeting with 80 members in attendance, representing 10 clubs; Eleanor Siegel and Marie Simmons were the officers; 7 workshops were held; $5.00 dues were voted on, and the name was chosen – New York State Mothers Of Twins Clubs. In 1968, Southern Tier MOTC with Joan Jones as Chairman, hosted “Spring Is Here In Southern Tier”; the first official Executive Board made its debut: Coordinator – Eleanor Siegel [TMC Westchester]; Assistant Coordinator – Marie Simmons [TMC Westchester]; Secretary – Nancy Savage [TNT CNY]; Treasurer – Janice Pandich [Schenectady MOTC]. 101 members attended from 12 clubs; the need for bylaws was discussed. The first Research project was based on the subject of “Separation of Twins in School”.
In 1974 – the first set of Bylaws and Standing Rules were voted on. Earlier that year, Co-Founder Eleanor Siegel died in her sleep at the age of 37, leaving behind identical girls and two sons with her husband Thomas. In her memory, her club – Twins Mothers Club of Westchester County, upon disbanding, donated their small treasury to the State Organization. This fund grew from donations made by member clubs as well as individual members. Through the years the Eleanor Siegel Fund not only has supplied equipment such as the tape recorder used by the Rec. Secretary but since 1979 and to this day, it also provides a loan to assist future State Meeting hostess clubs with initial expenses.
In 1975, the State Organization hosted the National Convention in New York City. Lois Elliott, from Southern Tier MOTC, was the chairman. All the member clubs helped. Over 700 people attended, making it a total success. In 1998, we did it again; this time Rochester was the site. Michele Camilleri, from MOTC Queens, was the chairman. 400+ members and their families attended the week-long convention. The theme was “Double your image, double your pleasure, double your good times, rolled into one”.
DID YOU KNOW????
The State’s Newsletter, “Presidential Papers” was named by Carol Chadwick of MOTC Rockland Co in 1981?
