Archive | ILCA 2012 Conference

2 Weeks until ILCA 2012! {Running the Conference Marathon}

By lactationmatters on 11 July 2012 in ILCA 2012 Conference

Written by Amber McCann, IBCLC

I am getting to the point in my preparation for this summer’s ILCA Conference where I’m starting to feel the pressure…the pressure to start packing, to make sure I have all the business cards I need and to think through the details of my flight and lodging, food and fun activities. The heat is on…and quite literally as my part of the United States has been under an incredible heat wave for the past week!

The conference is 5 days of non-stop action, networking, education and FUN. Here are some great tips for “running the conference marathon” so we don’t lose endurance.

Stay Hydrated

Photo by RLHyde via Flickr Creative Commons

Looking at the projected forecast for conference week, the heat I’ve been getting used to will continue in Orlando. Highs around 90F (32C)! Even in a cool hotel, it will be important that we be aware of our hydration. Just like we tell the mothers we serve, “Drink to thirst”. You might consider tossing a reuseable water bottle into your suitcase so you’ll always have access without needing to purchase expensive bottled water.

Get your ZZZZZZZ’s

Photo by HaoJan via Flickr Creative Commons

Me with too little sleep = grumpy IBCLC. I’m sure many of you are the same. It will be incredibly tempting to stay up until all hours of the night (or awake before Mickey Mouse) to cram in every last moment of connecting with your colleagues. One, even two nights of that can be overcome with adrenaline but quickly, our bodies will descend into a place where will start to not retain any of the wonderful information being shared with us. Grab a late afternoon nap. Recharge with a quick snooze. Set a solid bedtime for yourself and STICK TO IT.

Make Time to Build Relationships

A wise IBCLC once said to me, “This can be a very lonely profession if we don’t support each other.” One of the most significant parts of the career for me has been “finding my tribe”…those people with whom I share a connection, those that “get me”. “Get” the constant breast references. “Get” the never-ending concern for a mother we encountered. “Get” the quest for one more tip or technique for that mother in pain. The JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes will be teaming with your “tribe”. Find them. Strike up a conversation with the IBCLC seated next to you in the lobby. Make a comment about a pin on someone’s nametag. Ask a fellow passenger in the elevator where they are from and in what setting they practice. Be bold and walk up to your favorite speaker and tell them what their session meant to you.

Try Something New

Photo by Lorenia via Flickr Creative Commons

Never tried sushi? Do it! Not so sure about taking a taxi? Do it! Never volunteered at a major conference? Do it! Never used the Spanish you learned in high school? Do it! Never been to Disney World? Do it! Never “hunted” an alligator? Do it! Never worn a breastfeeding advocacy shirt? Do it! Never used Twitter? Do it! Never had a facial? Do it! Make a memory at this year’s conference.

Get ready to run the conference marathon.

See you in two weeks!

Amber McCann, IBCLC

Amber McCann, IBCLC is a board certified lactation consultant in private practice with Nourish Breastfeeding Support, just outside of Washington, DC and the co-editor of this blog. She is particularly interested in connecting with mothers through social media channels and teaching others in her profession to do the same. In addition to her work here, she has written for a number of other breastfeeding support blogs including The Leaky Boob and Best for Babes and served on the Communications Team for GOLD Conference . She also is a regular contributor to The Boob Group, a weekly online radio program for breastfeeding moms. When she’s not furiously composing tweets (follow her at @iamambermccann) or updating her Facebook page, she’s probably snuggling with one of her three children or watching terrible reality TV.

3 Weeks until ILCA 2012! {my stomach is growling…}

By lactationmatters on 6 July 2012 in ILCA 2012 Conference

Written by Amber McCann, IBCLC

In addition to getting there and finding fun things to do, all ILCA 2012 Conference attendees will need to EAT! While Orlando and the surrounding area offer endless options for dining, our conference hotel, the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, offers tons of food options. I’ve spent days reading reviews and menus and we are certainly in for a treat!

Photo via JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes

Dining at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes

Primo – I fashion myself a “foodie” and am only a wee bit (OK, a LOT bit) excited to dine at Primo. Chef Melissa Kelly, the co-owner and executive chef, boasts an impressive resume but what really makes my heart swoon is the fact that the restaurant has their own organic garden to supply their kitchens…that and the thought of warm goat cheese flan with herb roasted tomatoes inspires a reservation on my part. Care to join me?
Citron, An American Brasserie – While a “brasserie” is typically a casual, upscale restaurant, don’t you think it is a fitting name for a place where lactation consultants will gather all week? All kidding aside, this restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and “word on the street” is that their breakfast buffet is the place to be with made-to-order omelettes, waffles and pancakes.
The Lobby Lounge – Need a mid-afternoon snack or a late evening drink? This spot looks to be just the right place to ask a few more questions of your favorite speaker, discuss options for new support procedures with colleagues, and get to know a new IBCLC friend.
Quench Poolside Bar & Grill – Too relaxed in the Lazy River to bother getting dressed and make a reservation? No problem. Food and drinks, poolside. ‘Nuf said.
Café Bodega – Need a quick little something on your way to your next session? Hungry for a quick breakfast? This little “grab-and go café” will suit your needs.
Starbucks Café – Starbucks coffee might as well be the national drink of the USA (and it surely flows through my veins). You’ll find me and hundreds of my closest friend there each morning! In fact, you can bid on a $30 Starbucks gift card in the ILCA silent auction that has been donated by Starfish Lactation (surely enough to feed your addiction for the entirety of the conference!).

Photo by LancerE via Flickr

For even more dining options, conference attendees can sign up to go to Pointe Orlando on Saturday evening (July 28). There are 16 different restaurant options there including B. B. Kings Blues Cafe, Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar, Johnny Rockets, and The Capital Grill. Round trip shuttle service is available for $15 USD and more information can be found in the conference brochure. What a great opportunity to meet new people!

If you’d like to purchase your own food, there is a Walgreens (pharmacy and convenience store) just off of the hotel property within walking distance and a Costco within 2 miles.

Make sure that you stop by the ILCA Lounge to mingle and perhaps meet up with people to make plans for dinner. It will be open until 6pm each evening so come, meet your friends, and make dinner plans. I know I will. Sushi anyone?

Amber McCann, IBCLC

Amber McCann, IBCLC is a board certified lactation consultant in private practice with Nourish Breastfeeding Support, just outside if Washington, DC and the co-editor of this blog. She is particularly interested in connecting with mothers through social media channels and teaching others in her profession to do the same. In addition to her work here, she has written for a number of other breastfeeding support blogs including The Leaky Boob and Best for Babes and served on the Communications Team for GOLD Conference . When she’s not furiously composing tweets (follow her at @iamambermccann) or updating her Facebook page, she’s probably snuggling with one of her three children or watching terrible reality TV.

Speaker Profile: Michael Woolridge, DPhil

By lactationmatters on 6 July 2012 in ILCA 2012 Conference, Speaker Profile

During the weeks leading up to the 2012 ILCA Conference, we will be highlighting a number of conference speakers. Watch this space every Friday for more profiles.

Michael Woolridge, DPhil

Mike Woolridge has been Senior Lecturer in Infant Feeding at the School of Healthcare, University of Leeds for the past 15 years. Prior to 1993, he researched the basic physiology of breastfeeding (in Oxford). After moving to Bristol, he ran an outpatient clinic to support breastfeeding women, applying his earlier knowledge to resolve common problems of breastfeeding. He has been a member of the Royal College of Midwives’ Breastfeeding Working Party, producing the handbook “Successful Breastfeeding” and between 1993 & 1995 he was Director of UNICEF-UK’s “Baby Friendly Initiative”. He co-authored (with Mary Renfrew) a structured review of practices which promote or inhibit breastfeeding, with evidence-based guidelines, entitled “Enabling Women to Breastfeed Seo Companies” (HMSO 2000), and has collaborated on the production of several videos. He has been responsible to coordinating two large-scale research studies: ‘LIFT’ (Looking at Infant Feeding Today), which focused on the feeding intentions of socio-economically disadvantaged women, exploring the psychological factors underlying their choice and whether these are open to modification; and ‘SUREmilk’ (Surveillance of Residues in human milk’) which comprised a set of pilot studies aimed at testing the feasibility of establishing a regional archive of breast milk samples, to explore possible contamination in breast milk. Most recently he has undertaken two fresh series of ultrasound studies of breastfeeding, and of bottle-feeding by breast-fed babies.

You can hear Dr. Woolridge speak in a plenary session on Friday, July 27 from 8:00-9:00am on the topic “The Mechanics of Infant Feeding Revisited: Fresh Ultrasound Studies of Breastfeeding and Bottlefeeding” and also in concurrent sessions both at 10:15-11:15am and 3:30-4:30pm entitled “Nutritional, Management and Clinical Implications of the Revised Suckling Physiology”.

ILCA looks forward to welcoming Dr. Mike Woolridge.

Speaker Profile: Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC

By lactationmatters on 29 June 2012 in ILCA 2012 Conference, Speaker Profile

During the weeks leading up to the 2012 ILCA Conference, we will be highlighting a number of conference speakers. Watch this space every Friday for more profiles.

Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC

Photo used with permission from Hale Publishing

Marsha is a registered nurse and international board certified lactation consultant. She has been assisting breastfeeding families in hospital, clinic, and home settings since 1976. Marsha is the executive director of the National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy: Research, Education, and Legal Branch (NABA REAL). As such, she advocates for breastfeeding at the state and federal levels. She served as a vice president of the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) from 1990-1994 and in 1999 as president of ILCA. She is a board member of the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition, the United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA), and Baby Friendly USA, ILCA’s representative to the USDA’s Breastfeeding Promotion Consortium, and NABA REAL’s representative to the US Breastfeeding Committee. Marsha is an international speaker, and an author of numerous publications including ones on the hazards of infant formula use and Code issues in the US.

Her publications include:

You can hear Marsha speak on Friday, July 27 from 10:15-11:15 on the topic “Pumps and Pumping Protocols: What we know, What we don’t know, and What we wish we knew”.

ILCA looks forward to welcoming Marsha Walker.

4 Weeks until ILCA 2012! {Fun Things to Do!}

By lactationmatters on 27 June 2012 in ILCA 2012 Conference

Written by Amber McCann, IBCLC

As I look over the 2012 ILCA Conference Brochure, I can barely fathom having the time or energy to partake in anything other than conference sessions, meals and a few precious hours of sleep. But, as many of you have let me know, taking advantage of FUN activities is an essential part of the experience. Many of you have shared how the conference was often the “springboard” for a great vacation.

Lazy River

with permission from JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes

In last week’s post, I shared about how the “Lazy River” at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes was mentioned often to me as a highlight of the Orlando ILCA experience. I’ve already had one request to meet with a colleague while lounging, tube rafts hooked together with a heel, gliding down the river. If you have never had the opportunity to experience this kind of water feature, you are in for a treat. Typically, the river consists of shallow, heated water (approximately 3 feet or a little less than 1 meter) with a slight current. You can walk, glide, swim or ride one of the provided rafts. So, if you have a bit of time and are in need of some relaxation, come join me on the Lazy River.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa

with permission from JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes

At the moment, while my house is a bit of a wreck and my schedule is jammed packed for the rest of the week, the thought of an hour or few at a spa seems like bliss. Fortunately for those attending the 2012 ILCA Conference, there is a world class spa on the Grande Lakes property. The Ritz-Carlton Spa is offering conference attendees 15% off all services (make reservations here). Deluxe Reflexology Pedicure, anyone?

Medieval Times

Photo by Brian Wilkins via Flickr Creative Commons

Need a bit of lighthearted fun? Need to eat with no utensils? Need to cheer on your team in a jousting battle to the death? Medieval Times is the place for you! As conference attendees, we have been offered a 50% off coupon to Medieval Times. Go grab some friends, raise your glass and become a royal princess…if only for the evening.

Local Activities

And, if all of this isn’t enough, ILCA has partnered with Hello Florida® to provide tickets and tours to conference attendees at a discount. Tour dates and pricing can be found at here. Some of the options include a Sunset Gator Hunt, Seaworld Select Tour, Backstage Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Wonderwork’s Tour, and a Dave and Buster’s Family Night! Tours will be available from Friday, July 27 through Wednesday, August 1, 2012 and the deadline is July 1st so make your reservations this week!

Photo by Miss Kels via Flickr Creative Commons

Of course, there’s always “the happiest place on earth”…

See you in 4 weeks at ILCA 2012!

Amber McCann, IBCLC

Speaker Profile: E. Stephen Buescher, MD

By lactationmatters on 22 June 2012 in ILCA 2012 Conference, Speaker Profile

During the weeks leading up to the 2012 ILCA Conference, we will be highlighting a number of conference speakers. Watch this space every Friday for more profiles.

E. Stephen Buescher, MD

Dr. Buescher received his M.D. degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1975. After completing residency training in 1979, he completed a fellowship in the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease at the National Institute of Health. After 8 years on the Pediatric Faculty at University of Texas Health Science at Houston (Houston, TX), he joined the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. Currently, Dr. Buescher practices pediatric infectious diseases at the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia.

Dr. Buescher directs a laboratory focused on the studies related to inflammation, its cellular and humoral components, and the anti-inflammatory characteristics of human milk. Additionally, he is the author of Breastfeeding and Diseases: A Reference Guide.

You can hear Dr. Buescher speak in two plenary sessions; Thursday, July 26 from 1:00-2:00pm, where he will be presenting “Human Milk Cells: What, When, and Why?” and Saturday, July 28 from 11:00am-12:00noon when we will hear his talk “Human Milk and Immunizations”. You will also have the opportunity to listen to his concurrent session on Friday, July 27 from 2:00-3:00pm called “Infant Formulas…You’re Kidding, Right?”.

ILCA looks forward to welcoming Dr. E. Stephen Buescher.

5 Weeks until ILCA 2012! {How do I get there and where do I stay?}

By lactationmatters on 20 June 2012 in ILCA 2012 Conference

Written by Amber McCann, IBCLC

Now that we’ve all registered for the 2012 ILCA Conference and are ready to PARTY, it is time to figure out how we’re going to actually get ourselves and suitcases there and make arrangements for where we’re going to stay.

Kuster & Wildhaber Photography via Flick

One of the things that most excites me about the conference is sharing moments with IBCLCs from all over the globe. I imagine everyone gathering together and “traveling by map”, just like in last summer’s movie about the Muppets. In reality, we will come by car, by truck, by airplane, by train and even by pumpkin-turned-into-regal-coach, just like the Disney princesses who will be our neighbors for the week!

For those arriving by plane, you will touch down at the Orlando International Airport. From there, you will need to arrange transportation to our conference hotel, the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes. As the hotel does not provide shuttle transportation, here are some options:

Car Rental companies can be found in Terminal A and Terminal B on the Ground Transportation level of the airport. Avis is offering ILCA members a special rate by calling 1-800-331-1600 and using our Worldwide Discount Number (WDN) B159234. You can also make a reservation on their website. Please remember, if you are renting a car, there is a daily parking fee at the hotel ($18/day for self-serve, $24/day for valet).
Taxis can be found on both the A and B sides of the Main Terminal on the Ground Transportation level and will charge approximately $50 (one way) to get you to the hotel. Taxis can carry up to 9 passengers for the same rate so keep your eyes peeled for others sporting ILCA lapel pins and ask if you can share a ride!
Shuttle Companies provide transportation from the same A and B sides of the Main Terminal as the taxis. These services offer both one-way and round-trip pricing per person. Click here for a coupon for Mears Shuttle Service from vipautoshipping.com ($26 round-trip) but RESERVATION IS REQUIRED!

Used with permission by JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes

I will freely admit that I’m kind of in love with staying in hotels. I’m perfectly happy in my own home, where sleep typically involves sharing my space with the pointy elbow of my 8 year old or with its lack of covers, stolen by a sleepy husband. But…I love to walk into the open {clean} space of a new hotel room and spread my arms out wide while tossing myself onto the bed {that I don’t have to share}. I like walking the halls, riding the elevators, exploring all the spaces. When I first saw photos of the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes, I about fell over with glee.

Used with permission by JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes

Hopefully, you’ve already made your reservation and, if not, there is still time (the deadline is June 26). You can do so by calling 1-800-266-9432 (be sure to tell them that you are participating in the 2012 ILCA Conference) or by using their online reservation system. This will entitle you to a special US$165 single/double room discounted rate, which is valid July 22 through August 1, 2012.

The discounted room rate includes:

High-speed and Wi-Fi Internet access (50% discount for ILCA conference attendees)
Work desk with lamp
32″ flat-screen HD LCD Television
Weekday newspaper delivery
Complimentary in-room coffee and tea
Iron and ironing board
Hairdryer
In-room laptop compatible safe
ILCA Attendees will receive a 15% discount at the Ritz Carlton Spa on any services booked. (I’ll be sharing more info about the spa in an upcoming post!)

As I’m coming to the conference by myself, I was interested in sharing a room with another IBCLC. Fortunately, I was able to connect with another ILCA volunteer and I’m looking forward to getting to know her. I work in private practice and she with WIC so I’m sure we’ll spend our time exploring a bit about how the other supports breastfeeding mothers. If you are interested in finding someone with whom to share a room, check out the Conference Related Items in the ILCA Forums.

And, finally, if there is one thing I have heard that I MUST NOT MISS, it is the “Lazy River” at the hotel. I will be sharing more details in an upcoming post but apparently it is THE PLACE TO BE! Check out this video for just a little taste…I’m relaxed already!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeacAvZagQ4]

Join me again for next week’s conference post when we’ll be talking about all the great activities you can choose and fun to do outside of the conference!

6 Weeks until ILCA 2012! {thoughts from a conference newbie}

By lactationmatters on 13 June 2012 in ILCA 2012 Conference

Written by Amber McCann, IBCLC

Photo via edailypost.com (Permission requested)

When I think of conferences, especially those with my fellow supporters of mothers and babies, I imagine it as one big PARTY! When I found out that I would be attending this year’s ILCA conference in Orlando, I promptly went and packed my party clothes! The conference brochure states,

The ILCA Annual Conference is the premier lactation learning event of the year. The Conference provides a rich learning environment for lactation professionals and others who assist mothers and babies with breastfeeding. It offers current and aspiring lactation consultants information on cutting-edge lactation practices and research to equip them in giving optimal breastfeeding care and support to mothers and babies.

Sounds like a celebration to me! Apparently, I’m not the only one who shares this sentiment…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W35H_43gTss&feature=bf_prev&list=ULoD0JXmBuGUY]
I’ve never attended an ILCA conference (though I enthusiastically watched from afar last year on both Facebook and Twitter) so I had to dig in quickly to find out everything I could to get my registration submitted, travel plans made and conference itinerary set. I will also, over the next several weeks, need to figure out how to get myself to the hotel (taxi? shuttle?), navigate the venue (where’s the spa?), figure out what I’m going to eat (sushi anyone?), determine what I’m going to do with my down time (I vote for the pool and a drink with a tiny umbrella), pack a suitcase (don’t forget your business cards!) and network, network, network…and all while preparing to “run the conference marathon”! WHEW!

But, first things first, registration! June 15th is the deadline for standard registration. You can still register after June 15th, but the fee goes up, so if you have not already done so, register NOW! You can register online or download the registration form and either fax or mail it to our ILCA staff. And don’t forget, you can also register on site in Orlando (but at a significant price increase…wouldn’t you rather save that money to spend on a speaker’s latest book instead?).

As a part of crossing that task off my list, I printed off page 4 of the conference brochure and spent several hours pouring over it. Seriously, choosing which sessions to attended was proving to be the hardest job ever! Many of the speakers were familiar to me and even more were brand new. It made me wish I had a clone.

I methodically went through choosing my sessions, starting with the Wednesday Workshops. These are a series of sessions, over the course of the first conference day, on a particular area of interest including Working with Spanish Speaking Families (sessions are presented in spanish), Health Promotion, Global Advocacy, Research Skills/Methods and the very popular Clinical Skills Rotations. As a fairly new IBCLC, I immediately jumped on the opportunity to attend the Clincial Skills session but, unfortunately, it is a “hot ticket” and already has a waiting list. I’m on it and hoping for a spot but, in the meantime, I’ve signed up for the Health Promotion sessions and honestly, as I read through all the session descriptions, you really can’t go wrong with any of the Wednesday Workshops.

Choosing sessions for the rest of the conference proved to be challenging to me as well. There is simply so much relevant and exciting information being offered that I’m afraid to miss any of it. Be watching this blog, over the next weeks, for profiles of some of our conference speakers for opportunities to get to know them better and to highlight the information they will be sharing with us.

So, now I’m registered. And now I need YOU! If you have attended an ILCA conference in the past, what are your “best tips”? What “don’t miss moments” should I make sure to experience? What piece of advice would you give to someone who has never before attended an ILCA conference? I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section, on Facebook or Twitter.

Next week, I’ll be exploring the realms of both Orlando International Airport and the JW Marriott Grande Lakes! Stay tuned!

P.S. – Do you have business cards? They are a great way to connect with others at the conference but, if you don’t already have some ready for your suitcase, now is the time to order! I have often ordered from VistaPrint in the past and they are currently offering 250 business cards for FREE!

Got Twitter?

By lactationmatters on 22 May 2012 in ILCA 2012 Conference, Social Media

Written by Maryanne Perrin – MBA, graduate student in Nutrition Science, ILCA volunteer

Many of my friends who are die-hard Facebook users say they just don’t understand the power and appeal of Twitter. If you fall into this category, read on! We are trying to build an army of TwIBCLCs (slang for “IBCLCs who tweet”) to fill the social media airwaves with breastfeeding chatter in preparation for the 2012 ILCA Conference and World Breastfeeding Week. In this article we’ll give you five great reasons to “Get Twitter” and we’ll also cover some Twitter basics in hopes that you’ll pick up your phone (or laptop) and tweet.

Five Great Reasons to “Get Twitter”

(1) Significant improvements in breastfeeding rates will require major cultural changes and Twitter has a track record as a tool for driving change (think Arab Spring and Komen breast screening funding). The more people there are talking about a message, the closer we move towards a tipping point where breastfeeding becomes the cultural norm.

(2) TwIBCLCs can share real-time insights and sound bites from conference presentations with thousands of IBCLCs around the world who aren’t able to attend (Twitter makes it easy for people to view all messages associated with a certain subject – in this case #ilca2012). That’s a great gift to your colleagues! If you want to see what TwIBCLCs were saying at last year’s conference, click here.

(3) During the conference we’ll give away a daily prize (gift certificates, webinar certificates, and even a Conference Registration Day for 2014) for a TwIBCLC selected at random (just tag your tweets with #ilca2012 so we can find them).

(4) Don’t underestimate the power of Twitter as a networking tool! Relationships I’ve developed on Twitter have led to media interviews and even an invitation to attend a congressional briefing in Washington, DC. To help you further expand on your Twitter relationships, we’ll hold a Tweetup (“an organized gathering of people who use Twitter”) in the Exhibitors Hall on Friday, July 27, 2012 from 12:30pm until 2:00pm so you can meet your fellow TwIBCLCs face-to-face.

(5) Finally, you’ll master the art of brevity by making your point in 140-characters or less and earn groovy-points with your kids, colleagues and clients for embracing a new technology.

Getting Started with Twitter

Okay, you’ve just created a Twitter account. Now what? Like anything in life, you’ll get as much out of Twitter as you put into it. Here are some tips for getting started.

Make sure to complete your full profile, which includes a 140 character description of yourself, a photo, and a link to your website, so people can learn a bit about you and your interests. (It’s hard to feel connected to an image-less, description-less Tweeter.)
Find people to “follow” by searching on terms that interest you (e.g. breastfeeding, IBCLC). Once you follow someone, their tweets will show up in your newsfeed. Don’t forget to follow ILCA (we’re at @ILCA1985)!
Join in conversations, share news, or retweet valuable information others have shared. You only have 140 characters so consider using a URL shortening service like bit.ly, tinyurl, or goo.gl to create a shortcut for longer URLs.
Consider using hashtags (e.g. #breastfeeding) in your tweets for specific keywords that you are interested in. This allows others to find you and begin a conversation based on common interests. The hashtag for the 2012 ILCA Conference is #ilca2012.
Want more information? Twitter 101 provides basic information about Twitter and links to additional resources.

Are you a TwIBCLC? We’d love to hear comments on how you’ve used and benefited from Twitter.

By Maryanne Perrin – MBA, graduate student in Nutrition Science, ILCA volunteer

The ILCA Conference Scholarship Fund

By lactationmatters on 10 April 2012 in ILCA 2012 Conference, ILCA News, ILCA Staff

Written by Glenna Thurston, ILCA Membership Coordinator

San Diego 2011 Conference LT – RT .Cathy Carothers (ILCA Pres) Natalia , Rita , Kathy Parkes (ILCA Treas)

“The feeling of being invested in has truly empowered me to move forward in the work that I do.” – Rita Rahayu Omar, BSc, IBCLC, Malaysia

“It was the wind at my back that I needed to overcome all the obstacles in my path.” – Irena Zakarija-Grkovic, MD, IBCLC, Croatia

“I couldn’t believe that other people would make my dream come true.” – Natalia Razakhatskaya, IBCLC, Belarus

These quotes are from some amazing women who are previous ILCA Conference scholarship recipients. Donations from our wonderful ILCA members paved the way for their inspiring and life-changing experiences.

The 2012 Conference is coming up quickly and we want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to attend. If each of ILCA’s more than 6,000 members donated just $5, we could offer over $30,000 in ILCA conference scholarships to women all over the world.

Please take just five minutes today to make a small donation to the ILCA Conference scholarship fund, To make donations, click here http://www.ilca.org/i4a/ams/amsstore/category.cfm?category_id=17 (If you prefer, you may send a donation to ILCA by check or call 888-452-2478 to donate by phone.) Also, please encourage your colleagues and local Breastfeeding groups to participate in providing this great scholarship opportunity to women like Rita, Irena, and Natalia.

Read below to hear more from scholarship recipients about what the scholarship meant to them.

Thank you,

Glenna Thurston

ILCA Membership Coordinator

“Being a recipient of the ILCA conference scholarship has opened my eyes to the spirit of giving of ILCA members. The humbleness, spirit of sharing, the love, respect of all participants is something I will never forget. In a nutshell, it defines us not just as a professional but as a person. ILCA genuinely cares about the advancement of knowledge. Personally, the feeling of being invested in has truly empowered me to move forward in the work that I do. I believe that when you have people who are willing to help further education, it’s really a blessing…and there will always be a way and you will be lead towards that.” – Rita Rahayu Omar, BSc, IBCLC, Malaysia; 2011 ILCA Conference Scholarship Recipient

“Never before have I felt so special and privileged. It was the wind at my back that I needed to overcome all the obstacles in my path.” – Irena Zakarija-Grkovic, MD, IBCLC, Croatia; 2007 ILCA Conference Scholarship Recipient

“Never hesitate to try such a great opportunity. You deserve it. I couldn’t believe that other people would make my dream come true. I will always appreciate this treasure from my destiny!” – Natallia Razakhatskaya, IBCLC, Belarus; 2011 ILCA Conference Scholarship Recipient

“Given a chance to be at ILCA conference in 2009 made me so grateful and inspired me to initiate more productive programs back in Malaysia. Together with like minded friends we had initiated Malaysian Breastfeeding Peer Counselor program and conducted a Lactation Conference in 2010. These are definitely inspiring more and more breastfeeding programs in our country. Thank you so much.” – Nor Kamariah Mohamad Alwi, Malaysia; 2009 ILCA Conference Scholarship Recipient

“I passed my IBCLC exam in 2011 and now I am working in the private hospital as a LC. It is something completely new and unheard here, a special person for breastfeeding support who is not a nurse, midwife or a doctor. Sometimes it is not easy to help mother-baby dyads even when mothers are very motivated to breastfeed, as many Labor and Delivery practices still need improvement and sometimes they just need more encouragement and support. Now I understand how important for me was the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center Tour. I have now a picture how all this breastfeeding support works in a large hospital. It helps me a lot when I face challenges on my new job.” – Victoria Nesterova, IBCLC, Ukraine; 2011 ILCA Conference Scholarship Recipient

“My scholarship allowed me to attend my first ICLA conference. I would not have been able to attend otherwise, as my family had had many unexpected expenses due to frequent hospitalization of my husband that year, and the hospital for which I worked was unwilling to support any continuing education activities. The conference helped to reinvigorate me, and get me recharged to go back to do my job with new ideas as well as connect with other IBCLCs, with whom I have been able to keep in contact with. In fact, I no longer work for the non-supportive hospital and have a much more fulfilling job as an outpatient consultant with a free-standing pediatrician and working for a more supportive hospital part-time.” – Pam McArthur, RNC, CCM, IBCLC, USA; 2009 ILCA Conference Scholarship Recipient

“What an honor it was to receive this scholarship. The conference was so informative; also it was so wonderful to be among all the many other people with a goal of gaining knowledge to help breastfeeding Mothers and Babies.” – Judy Swoboda, RNC, IBCLC, TX, USA; 2010 ILCA Conference Scholarship Recipient

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