1. What is NO KIDDING! all about?

NO KIDDING! is an all-volunteer, non-profit social club for adult couples and singles who, for whatever reason, have never had children. It is not a business or a dating service. We rely on all of our  members to volunteer some of their time to organize our activities. NO KIDDING! is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, business, organization or institution, does not engage in any controversy, and neither endorses nor opposes any cause. We are a social club -- nothing more, nothing less.

Since its inception in 1984 in Vancouver, BC, Canada, childfree people have contacted us from all over Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, China, Cuba, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Martinique, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, Peru, The Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Serbia-Montenegro, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, and Wales. So far, people have started chapters in many cities in Australia, Canada, the USA, The Ivory Coast (Africa), South Korea, and England.

A man named Jeremy attended the very first meeting of NO KIDDING! on January 22, 1984 in Vancouver, BC. He told us that he didn't qualify for membership in our club, but he wished he did. He indicated that his wife had wanted a child, but he was quite ambivalent -- almost reluctant -- about parenthood. He said that in order to please (and keep) his wife, he went along with it. They have regretted it since the day their son arrived. The reason he had come to our inaugural meeting was to tell us how wise we were to devote the time and energy that such a life-changing decision deserved, and to warn us not to fall into the same trap that had ensnared them. Their lives had changed from relaxed and enjoyable to, in his words, "daily hell." Money had become an issue, when it didn't use to be at all. Time and energy were in short supply, as well. They didn't use to argue at all, but now they were squabbling all the time, it seemed. Their son was constantly getting into trouble -- even with the police -- and that, too, was a source of strife. He told us that his marriage was being held together by a thin and fraying thread -- all because they had a child. We thanked him for taking the time to share his experience with us and, after he left, we discussed the pitfalls of parenthood, but we spent most of our time working out how we were going to start a social club for childless and childfree adults.

Contact your local chapter: http://members.shaw.ca/nokiddingchapterone/06.htm

Contact our media spokespeople: spokespeople@nokidding.net

(9 OCT 06)