A Go West Mom You Should Know: Beth Feller of the Batavia Mothers' Club Foundation

Beth Feller joined the Batavia Mothers' Club Foundation as a way to make new friends in the area and to become more involved in the community. Just four years later, she became the president of the non-profit philanthropic group, which is hosting a "New Member Open House" on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 6:30 p.m.

Beth Feller, pictured here with her husband Brad Feller, is our latest "Go West Mom You Should Know" for her work as president of the Batavia Mothers' Club Foundation. Photo provided.Feller, 33, is a stay-at-home mom, and her husband Brad Feller works in business development at Monitor Liability Managers. They live in Batavia with their three sons: Nathan, who is 6 1/2 years old; Jake, 4 1/2 years old; and Luke, 9 months, as well as their "furry child" Maddie, an 8-year-old Vizsla. 

Read on to find out why we think Beth Feller is a "Go West Mom You Should Know" as well as more information about how you can help support or become a member of the Batavia Mothers' Club Foundation.

Q. How did you first get involved with the Batavia Mothers' Club? Can you tell me a bit about the foundation and what you like most about it?

A. I joined Batavia Mothers' Club Foundation (BMCF) in October 2007 after I had my second child.  I had heard about the BMCF when I first moved to Batavia and thought it would be a great way to meet new people and get involved in the community. BMCF is a non-profit, 501c3 organization that has been around for over 75 years. The mission of the BMCF is to improve the lives of women, children and families in the Fox Valley area.  The money we raise throughout the year is disbursed back into the community to other local nonprofit groups, Batavia schools and other educational opportunities. We usually disburse anywhere from $20,000-$30,000 each year. 

The funds are raised by our annual Arts and Craft Show in October, our annual Fox Trot 5K in April, and other smaller events. What I like most about the BMCF is the wonderful balance of philanthropy and social activities.  This club has given me the chance to be an active and supportive member of my community while working with a wonderful group of women, who are all experiencing similar joys and challenges of being a mom.

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A Go West Mom You Should Know: Jackie Olson of Haley's Playground

Our latest Go West Mom You Should Know is Jackie Olson of North Aurora. Olson, 42, is an occupational therapist with three sons. She also has a 6-year-old daughter with autism who is the inspiration for “Haley’s Playground Inc.” It’s an organization that provides sensory and motor stimulation classes for children and young adults with disabilities and seeks to improve their quality of life through play, exercise and health education while interacting with friends, families and peers.

Jackie Olson with her 6-year-old daughter Haley. Photo provided.There will be an open house at Haley’s Playground this Sunday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the North Aurora Activity Center, located at 1 North Lincolnway. If you’d like to attend, or have questions beyond what you can gather below, please email Olson at jolson@haleysplayground.com.

Read on to find out why we think Olson is a Mom You Should Know.

Q. Can you tell me more about Haley’s Playground – exactly who the organization is aimed at and how it operates?

A. Haley’s Playground Inc. is a non-for-profit 501c3 charitable organization established in April 2011. Our mission is to provide a safe healthy environment for individuals with physical, cognitive, and social disabilities; to improve their quality of life and meet their significant needs through play, exercise, sensory activities, training, mentoring and education for success while interacting and providing education to their families, friends, peers, and members in our community. We service ages 2-30 years.  It is an organization of individuals who volunteer their time and talents to give back in our community. Starting in 2012, we offer respite and tutoring services.

Q. What inspired you to open Haley's Playground? 

A. Kids with disabilities need a place to go where they are accepted and their families are accepted.  A place they can learn and grow to play with others.  A place where they can have fun and be with peers who accept them. A place to call their own.  A place where they can learn social skills, play skills, and practice making good choices.

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A Go West Mom You Should Know: Shannon Sue Guernsey (Part 2)

Last week, writer Shannon Guernsey -- our latest "Go West Mom You Should Know" -- told us about her new business, Planet Fassa, an online resource that rewards children for offline play. This week, Guernsey answers our questions about her life as a stepmother to three children who she says "have completely filled my heart." Using her nicknames for them, her stepkids are MB (aka Miss-Behavin), age 14 but "going on 22"; Chameleon ("all shades of pink"), age 12; and the 8-year-old Lil Dude.

Q. From what I read about you in a bio, you were a single career woman who suddenly fell in love with a man with three children. Can you talk about that experience? It must have been quite a jarring transition to become a stepmother to three kids!

Shannon Guernsey with her stepchildren and husband Lee Coulter, celebrating St. Patrick's Day.A. It really was crazy! Lee and I dated for quite some time before I met the kids as we figured they’d been through enough heartbreak to meet me if I wasn’t in for the long haul. However, no matter how long the prep is, I don’t think you can ever fully know what to expect from the big introduction, or how it is going to completely change your life. I’ll never forget the day we met. I can honestly say it was the last day my needs came first, or that I cared if they did. Don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way a saint and I can be quite selfish, but before I met MB, Cham, and Lil Dude, I thought life was busy and fulfilling. What was I thinking? Until you have kids in your life, you hear people saying, “Parenting is the toughest job in the world,” and you think, “Yeah? Try MY career! I’m here 14 hours a day…” Um, WRONG. Kids are there 24 hours a day … the moment they hit your heart, it’s over. You’re either with them, or thinking about them! It is exhausting, but it is also really amazing. I fell HARD for my three stepkids, mostly because all three of them remind me in some way of their father, who is the love of my life.  

Q. Would you have any advice for a woman who is going to become a stepmother, or thinking about marrying a man with children from an earlier relationship? What has surprised you about that role?

A. I guess the first thing I’d say is make sure to always love your partner and remember why you fell in love in the first place – no matter what. Without a strong foundation, the issues of a blended family can take you down. Because (don’t take this lightly): this is tough.

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A Go West Mom You Should Know: Shannon Sue Guernsey

Our latest "Go West Mom You Should Know" is Shannon Sue Guernsey, a writer and the founder and president of Planet Fassa, a cool new online resource that rewards children for offline play. She lives in Naperville with her husband Lee Coulter, who is the CEO of Ascension Health Shared Services as well as the co-founder and CEO of Planet Fassa.

Shannon Guernsey with her stepchildren and husband Lee Coulter. Photo provided.Guernsey, 34, is actually the first "Go West Stepmom You Should Know." Using her nicknames for them, her stepkids are MB (aka Miss-Behavin), age 14 but "going on 22"; Chameleon ("all shades of pink"), age 12; and the 8-year-old Lil Dude.

Guernsey and Lee Coulter dated for a long time before she met his children. "However, no matter how long the prep is, I don’t think you can ever fully know what to expect from the big introduction, or how it is going to completely change your life," she says. "I’ll never forget the day (she met the children). I can honestly say it was the last day my needs came first, or that I cared if they did."

Guernsey just published her first book, entitled "Where on Earth Am I? Fassa's 52 Weeks of Fun." You'll find it under her pen name: S. Moo (stemming from Guernsey being a breed of cattle; She definitely has a playful sense of humor!)

In today's Q&A, Guernsey will discuss Planet Fassa. Next Thursday, she'll talk about the challenges and rewards of becoming a stepmother.

Q. Can you tell me about Planet Fassa? How it works? How you hope it can benefit families?

A. Planet Fassa is all about encouraging kids to play – without a computer, without an adult, without a coach.

F-A-S-S-A stands for Fun, Activities, Stories, Service, Awards. On our website, kids begin by reading stories. Then, to earn points (which we all know kids love!), the “computer” tells the kids to get offline and do activities that recreate things that happened in the book.

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A Go West Mom You Should Know: Renee Ferguson

Renee Ferguson is a wonderful example of a woman who decided to "seize the day.” 

For 14 years, she worked part-time an an expert on the Butterball Turkey-Talk Line, helping people get through their “turkey traumas” as she put it. But she also had a career in marketing, putting together a series of freelance jobs that allowed her to spend time with her three growing children. 

Renee Ferguson of Geneva is the author of "Talk Turkey to Me."When one of her jobs suddenly disappeared, and with no other prospects on the near horizon, Ferguson finally sat down and started putting together the cookbook her friends and relatives had urged her to write for years. The result is “Talk Turkey to Me: A Good Time in the Kitchen Talking Turkey and All the Trimmings," which was a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Book Awards. She has appeared on the Food Network's “Takedown With Bobby Flay” and has been quoted in a variety of national publications.

Ferguson, 58, and her husband Johann raised their children in Glen Ellyn but moved to Geneva five years ago. She says two of their three children - Erin, 27; Dallas, 25; and Kyle, 23 - are fabulous cooks and jokes the other will never starve.

Ferguson and her husband got married within six months of meeting each other, and they’ve now been married 36 years. “I don’t know how I ever made such a good decision at such a young age. He’s the love of my life,” she says. 

Read on to find out more about Ferguson and why we think she’s a Go West Mom You Should Know.

Q. How did you become part of the Butterball Turkey-Talk Line?

A I have a home economics degree, and part of the requirement for being on the Butterball talk line was to be a home economist. So when the job opportunity came up, I interviewed and was selected. 

I worked there for 14 years, handling people’s turkey traumas. People would call in with lots of very good questions. Everyone has a question and everyone seems to have a story about a Thanksgiving trauma of their own - whether it’s that they forgot the bag of giblets inside or they didn’t know how long to thaw the turkey or that they’ve never cooked a turkey before and their in-laws are coming over and they want to cook the perfect bird.

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