No Kidding!
Encyclopedia
No Kidding! International is an international
non-profit social club created for singles and couples who have never had children, regardless of the reason. Some of their members are childfree
, i.e. they do not intend to have children. The first chapter of this organization was begun by Jerry Steinberg
(the "Founding Non-Father" of NO KIDDING!) in Vancouver
, BC
, Canada
in 1984. There are numerous chapters in Canada, the United States
and several other countries. The organization is still expanding; people may start new chapters anywhere in the world.
The stated purpose of No Kidding! is to give childless and childfree adults a place to talk about interesting topics without being alienated by peers who consistently talk about their kids, and the opportunity to make new childfree friends. Anyone who has never been a parent, regardless of the reason, is permitted to join. The club organises a wide range of activities, including hiking
, wine & cheese parties, restaurant
dinners, concert
s, etc.
The organization has annual conventions
where people from all over the U.S. and Canada gather. Conventions were held annually between 2002-2006. So far, conventions have been held in Las Vegas
, New Orleans, Seattle, Philadelphia and Toronto
. In 2010, the convention will take place in Houston.
No Kidding!'s chapters, founder
and spokespeople have made numerous media
appearances, including WB 11
News in New York City, CNN
's Anderson Cooper 360, Fox News Chicago, Business Week, CBS News
, the Sally Jessy Raphael Show
, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune
, Salon.com
, RAI
, Arte
, and the Oxygen Network, as well as local newspapers, radio shows and TV programs.
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
non-profit social club created for singles and couples who have never had children, regardless of the reason. Some of their members are childfree
Childfree
Childfree also known as "voluntary childlessness" is a form of childlessness. The term was coined in the English language late in the 20th century and is used to describe people who have made a personal decision not to have children. The term childfree also describes domestic and urban...
, i.e. they do not intend to have children. The first chapter of this organization was begun by Jerry Steinberg
Jerry Steinberg
Jerry Steinberg is the "Founding Non-Father" of No Kidding! International, a social club for childfree and childless singles and couples. He founded the organization in his home city of Vancouver, BC, Canada in 1984...
(the "Founding Non-Father" of NO KIDDING!) in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, BC
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1984. There are numerous chapters in Canada, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and several other countries. The organization is still expanding; people may start new chapters anywhere in the world.
The stated purpose of No Kidding! is to give childless and childfree adults a place to talk about interesting topics without being alienated by peers who consistently talk about their kids, and the opportunity to make new childfree friends. Anyone who has never been a parent, regardless of the reason, is permitted to join. The club organises a wide range of activities, including hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, wine & cheese parties, restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
dinners, concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s, etc.
The organization has annual conventions
Convention (meeting)
A convention, in the sense of a meeting, is a gathering of individuals who meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest. The most common conventions are based upon industry, profession, and fandom...
where people from all over the U.S. and Canada gather. Conventions were held annually between 2002-2006. So far, conventions have been held in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, New Orleans, Seattle, Philadelphia and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. In 2010, the convention will take place in Houston.
No Kidding!'s chapters, founder
Jerry Steinberg
Jerry Steinberg is the "Founding Non-Father" of No Kidding! International, a social club for childfree and childless singles and couples. He founded the organization in his home city of Vancouver, BC, Canada in 1984...
and spokespeople have made numerous media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
appearances, including WB 11
WPIX
WPIX, channel 11, is a television station in New York City built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WPIX also serves as the flagship station of The CW Television Network...
News in New York City, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's Anderson Cooper 360, Fox News Chicago, Business Week, CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
, the Sally Jessy Raphael Show
Sally Jessy Raphaël show
Sally is an American syndicated tabloid talk show that was hosted by radio talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael. It originally was a local St...
, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
, RAI
RAI
RAI — Radiotelevisione italiana S.p.A. known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane, is the Italian state owned public service broadcaster controlled by the Ministry of Economic Development. Rai is the biggest television company in Italy...
, Arte
Arte
Arte is a Franco-German TV network. It is a European culture channel and aims to promote quality programming especially in areas of culture and the arts...
, and the Oxygen Network, as well as local newspapers, radio shows and TV programs.