Becoming a Member

CMNE is seeking to provide the following core structure of resources for members:

• 2 Parents of New England Union (PNEU) meetings a year, to discuss Mason's philosophy on a given topic, troubleshoot problems, ask for ideas, and learn from other members
  • Winter PNEU parents-only meeting, held in January
  • Summer PNEU meeting, held in June, probably in conjunction with an end-of-the-year program
• Spring and Fall Conferences, which will also be open to non-members
• Join a CMNE Discord server, available on all platforms
  • Designed to connect all members and their families/co-ops in the CMNE
  • To be used as a platform for hosting book clubs and to initiate spontaneous events and resources by the community

In addition to the core above, we are also interested in creating collaborative resources such as:

• Year-End Student Attainments Ceremony for your entire family or co-op (where students can share recitations, participate in a group Shakespeare reading, and submit art and handicrafts to be beautifully displayed and honored)
• A graduation ceremony to honor those completing the first 12 years of their living education
• One-off events initiated by anyone in the Discord server, such as watercolor classes and nature meetups, which can include inviting others to your own co-op events
• Creation of local area groupings in the Discord server to help connect families to the CM families near them

Here's an example of what we are envisioning:

• August: "Back-to-School" Fall Conference in the South Shore of MA, for shared planning and vision-casting for the school year
• January: PNEU educators-only meeting at Longfellow's Wayside Inn, Sudbury, MA
• April: Spring Conference with Guest Speaker in Hanover, MA
• June: "End-of School" Student Attainments Portfolio, showcasing recitations, handicrafts, and fine arts and honoring seniors; immediately followed by Summer parents' gathering for school year reflection and sharing, while children play outdoors

Unofficial events for students initiated in the Discord could include things like a meetup for families at the Norman Rockwell museum, local park play dates posted in area-specific groups, high-school Symphony Hall tour, video group book study, etc.

We are are looking for Charlotte Mason educators with families or co-ops in search of community, who are happy to initiate (and participate) in their desired capacity. The group will ultimately be what the members make it collectively.

We want to strike a balance between asking for some involvement without requiring anyone to be "perfect". Here are what we are asking from CMNE members:

• All members should have read Toward a Philosophy of Education (often referred to as Philosophy of Education) by Charlotte Mason (available free online).
• All members should be actively trying to use Charlotte Mason's 20 Principles in their homes, co-ops, or schools/homeschools, whether their children are of school age or not.
  • We understand that learning this philosophy is a life-long endeavor, so we don't expect members to be perfect (that would exclude all of us!). However, this group is designed to be a resource for families who have decided to use Mason's methods, and who are looking for community with others doing the same.
  • (If you are not sure about CM yet, but you are interested in learning more, contact us! Any of us would be happy to chat with you.)
• All members are asked to attend the PNEU meetings in person. There is no substitute for in-person interaction, and this lies at the heart of CMNE.
  • PNEU meetings convene twice annually (once in January and once in June) in Eastern Massachusetts (location varies).
• Members should acknowledge that CMNE is a faith-based (Christian) collaborative, and that does not cause any conflicts of interest.
• Members will eventually pay a small membership due annually [not before Fall 2026]. This simply helps share the costs of our website, event venues, speaker fees, and other operating expenses. Until we establish what our Founders group wants, events will be paid as we go.

We understand that life is busy (we are moms too!), so if you have questions or concerns with meeting these requirements, reach out. If you are interested in membership, we would love to talk with you.

The process for membership is as follows:

• Contact us below.
• We will get back to you, and send you an application to fill out. If you are already implementing Mason's methods, the process should not be too scary. Expect the following:
  • To be asked whether you have met the above qualifications
  • To be asked to give examples of how you are using Mason's philosophy in your current stage
• You will return the form to us, and the CMNE advisory will review your application.
• You will receive a phone call from a CMNE advisory member, so we can get to know you and to ask any questions, and you can ask us any questions you may have as well.
• You will be invited to join us at the next event to meet in person.
• If everything feels right to you, you will become a member and be given access to the community Discord.