Originally published in Connections
When I became accredited as a Leader in 1985, I couldn’t even dream of attending conferences. My kids’ ages and temperments, our finances, distance, and my husband’s shift work schedule in a potash mine made attendance seem impossible. However, the fact that there was a conference available to attend was very important to me. Every Area and International Conference is important to every Leader and Leader Applicant, even those who can’t attend. A La Leche League conference:
1. Demonstrates our organization’s vitality. Even though I may not have had the financial energy or family situation that allowed my attendance at a conference, many in my organization did.
2. Gives Leaders a chance to be professional. This continuing education opportunity provides a healthy, intellectual climate for mothers learning about breastfeeding and parenting issues.
3. Provides administrators with models from across the United States and around the world. Administrators from other Areas, affiliates, and Divisions are available and approachable at conferences.
4. Demonstrates a style of putting on a conference that involves families, including babies and young children. Having gone to several of my husband’s engineering conferences which no babies or families attended, it was a pleasure to know that my children and I would be welcome at an LLL conference.
5. Involves men in their role as fathers. Many men will come away from a La Leche League conference with a new picture of themselves as fathers and partners. The special father sessions are unique in providing a setting where fathers can speak together and explore parenting issues.
6. Provides new information through speakers, audio-visual presentations, and printed materials. Many conference sessions are later available through tapes. Chapter meetings may also feature Leaders with information to share from conferences they’ve attended.
7. Generates income that supports you in your work as a Leader.
8. Supports the people who support you. The face-to-face contacts that your support people make at a conference will produce ripples of encouragement and support. Even in my early days as a Leader when I didn’t attend conferences, other Leaders and administrators were bringing home information and vision for my organization.
9. Distributes information in a direct, personal way. The Founders are visible and available. LLLI and divisional administrators are on site and approachable. La Leche League becomes a tangible, real entity at a conference.
10. Paints a picture of your LLL future. There will come a time when it becomes easier to leave children at home and attend. Seeing older women—some with white hair!–with grown children at my first LLLI Conference in Anaheim in 1989 was eye-opening for me. Even with grown children, these women had stayed active in La Leche League.
There are many reasons Leaders cannot or choose not to attend an LLL conference, but the support, enthusiasm, and income generated keep our organization vital for all Leaders.
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