Our founders, Jamie Jackson, Joanne Dahill, Rebecca Moretto, and Erin Luben established Triangle Doula Collective in 2008 after reading and having a conversation about an article in DONA International magazine titled "GALS (Get A Life Sister)".  One of the most challenging aspects of being on-call as a doula is the uncertainty of when that call will come and what we will be doing at that moment. As doulas, we often miss important appointments, birthdays, holidays, sports games, and dance recitals because we are contracted to support our clients when they go into labor and are ready for our assistance.

The article highlighted the importance of having full coverage for doula clients through a supportive network of selected doulas. This structure allows doulas to attend important appointments, family events, and significant milestones, such as graduations, without worry. Having a group of doulas available when needed provides peace of mind, enabling us to balance our professional commitments with our personal lives. 

The appeal of this support system initially drew us in, and we quickly realized that it also offers a reliable safety net for our clients, allowing them to depend on us at any time, whether we are unwell or attending another birth they would have reliable doula support. Furthermore, being part of a community of doulas enables them, now us, to share our wisdom, and knowledge, and participate in continuing education together.

The article also spoke of having meetings for clients to meet the doulas. That appealed to Joanne Dahill, and she was the driving force behind the organized monthly meetings. They developed a system that gave many opportunities for their clients to meet the backup doulas. Over time, these gatherings evolved into opportunities for parents seeking a doula to attend allowing them to connect with multiple doulas at once before setting up individual interviews.