This club is for adults; no kidding

By Dylan Darling The Register-Guard
July 2001

And sometimes, they don't want to be around those who have them.

That's the idea behind No Kidding! It's an international social club that is holding its first meeting in the Eugene-Springfield area tonight.

Jennifer Hill, founder of the Eugene chapter, said she came across the group while surfing the Internet. Though Hill, 28, and her 32-year-old husband, Travis, have lived in Eugene for two years, she said they have had trouble meeting people who don't have kids.

No Kidding! caught her eye because the group gives childless adults the opportunity to meet other like-minded people whose lives aren't devoted to their children and who can be spontaneous with their free time.

Hill, an administrative assistant at manufacturer Bike Friday, said she has never wanted to have children. Realizing that others feel the same way reinforced her feelings. "When I found other people on the Internet that didn't want kids, it was kind of a clarification," she said.

Jerry Steinber, an English teacher at a college in Vancouver, B.C., started the club because he wanted to spend time with people whose lives didn't revolve around children. The club has chapters in Canada and in many U.S. states.

Hill sent in for a club start kit that explained how to get the word out using flyers and news releases.

She guessed that five or so people will likely show up for the first meeting, including one or two of her co-workers.

"It will probably be a small group this time while we figure out things to do," she said.

One of her fellow employees is Lynette Ching, a sales representative who has lived in the area for three months. She plans on stopping by the meeting with the hope of meeting more people.

A native of Australia, Ching was traveling the world on a bicycle when she decided to stay a while in Eugene and work for the company that made her bike. Ching said she hopes people won't think the club is aimed solely at people who never intend to have children.

"It's not a kid-hating group," she said. "It's just a place where adults can have a conversation without a third voice intervening."

Travis Hill said he and his wife like kids and occasionally spend time with youngsters - they have even gone camping with their friends' children. "We love kids, but once we have had enough of them we send them back to their regular parents," he said.

Although Jennifer Hill said she always knew she didn't want to have children, her husband said that when he was younger, he thought he'd be a dad. But as he grew older, the desire faded away.

Jennifer Hill said the group will go on hikes, have wine tasting parties and go to movies, among other activities. She said there is no age limit. Really, there's only one rule: Don't expect kids to be the topic of conversation. "Hopefully it will bring together a group of people who are like us," she said.