Additions and Improvements to the LLLI Conference
Mary Hurt
LLLI Public Relations Associate
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 40 No. 4, August-September 2004, p. 84.
Every LLLI Conference evaluation
form is reviewed by the entire Conference Team. Serious consideration
is given to every suggestion. Keeping the best of what Conference participants
enjoy and improving other facets has led the team to making changes
in order to meet the diverse needs of participants. Attendees cross
generations, speak various languages, and come from different disciplines.
At the same time, the needs of families and children are a high priority.
Many improvements have been made in the format and session schedule
to accommodate requests.
For example, attendees wanted
to attend World Assembly Workshops without missing Conference sessions.
At the LLLI Conference in 2005, several workshops will be offered after
the World Assembly and before Opening Night. The topics will include
Communication Skills, working with employed mothers, public relations,
breastfeeding advocacy, breastfeeding and HIV issues, and an exploration
of personality types.
The Exhibit Hall Reception
will also be held before Opening Night. Conference attendees will be
able to discover the latest in breastfeeding and parenting items and
enjoy light refreshments as well.
Two afternoon breaks have
been added to the schedule on Sunday and Tuesday from 2:30-3:30 pm.
Conference registrants have asked for this chance to visit the bookstore,
walk through the exhibit hall, or simply take a much-needed rest.
In addition to the traditional
Opening General Session the morning of July 3, 2005, we added another
General Session the morning of July 5. These sessions provide the opportunity
for all participants to be informed and inspired by the same presentation.
A common request on evaluations
has been a reduction of the noise level at sessions. Several options
for keeping the noise level down are being considered. Babies, children
and even mothers and fathers are tired by the end of the day. Instead
of additional sessions, evenings will feature events that lend themselves
to happier children: i.e., The World Faire, The Gala Gallery Reception,
and the Closing Event and Dinner. Award presentations have been moved
from lunches to general sessions. Lunch will be served before the speaker
presentation, thus reducing the noise level of meal service.
The ever popular World Faire
will be held the second night instead of the third so that those selling
goods from around the world will have the opportunity to do so earlier
in the Conference. The Pizzazz Team is eagerly working on a floor plan
that will make it easier to navigate as you get your "passport"
stamped and walk around the LLLI world.
The Gala Gallery will replace
the many separate receptions of previous Conferences. It will be an
opportunity for LLLI departments, countries, and Areas to meet in one
centralized place. As requested, this will allow more time to network
and visit.
The Conference Closing has
been moved from the afternoon to the evening of the last day. The Closing
Event and Dinner will be included in all full Conference registrations.
Many past Conference attendees
have said that the highlight of the Conference was meeting with the
Founders of LLLI. To make this happen, not only will the seven Founders
be featured at the Afternoon Tea, but they will also host a Founders’
Parlor. This area will be in an informal section of the Alumnae Room
where small groups will be able to chat with one or more Founders.
Also new for this Conference
will be a Fathers’ Lounge, which is the result of attendee suggestions.
Many evaluations speak to the international nature of the Conference.
To help make the atmosphere friendly to those outside of the host country,
many traditions will be continued.
The Alumnae will again host
a welcome table for new attendees and for those who have traveled from
another country. Press releases in English, French, and Spanish will
again be available in the Public Relations Room. Simultaneous Interpretation
will be done in Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese. This is done with headsets
on different frequencies.
A room has been set aside
especially for the Spanish speaking community. The Latino Room will
be an enticing place for all who want to learn more about LLLI and breastfeeding
in the Hispanic culture.
We received a large number of speaker recommendations and many new speakers
have been scheduled to present topics. If you recommended a Speaker
and you don’t see that person on the Speaker list, there can be
many reasons why this happens. Sometimes, suggested speakers are too
expensive, others have prior commitments, and some topics would be repetitive.
However, every Speaker recommended is given consideration. We appreciate
your interest and input.
The main reason people give
for not attending the LLLI Conference is expense. Those who attend other
professional conferences are almost always impressed by the quality
and affordability of the LLLI Conference. Nevertheless, the Conference
Team is intent on holding the costs down as much as possible. At this
Conference, LLLI Leaders will be offered a special low registration
fee, which will include the cost of the Afternoon Tea.
The Conference Team received
a $15,000 (US) donation to be used to fund Leader scholarships to the
LLLI Conference. In the past, scholarship expense was billed to the
cost of the Conference. This will offer many more Leaders the chance
to attend while keeping overall Conference costs down.
Other donations totaling
$1,600 (US) will make it possible for 10 Peer Counselors to attend the
Conference for one day.
Plan to attend LLLI’s
Breastfeeding Conference in Washington, DC, USA July 2-5, 2005. Breastfeeding:
Ancient Art-Modern Miracle.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:31:07 UTC 2007.
