Get a Head Start at the Conference

Mary Hurt
LLLI Public Relations Associate
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 40 No. 6, December 2004 - January 2005, pp. 136-37.

The pre-Conference Workshops that will take place on the afternoon of July 2, 2005 are beginning to take final form. These workshops are presentations by one or more experts and explore various topics through interaction among the participants. They will be offered before opening night so attendees will not have to miss other sessions. Here’s a glimpse into what you can discover before the Conference officially starts on the evening of July 2, 2005!

Communication Skills

The Communicating Couple will be presented by Misty Dunn of the US Western Division Communication Skills Department. This workshop is designed for couples and individuals and will provide effective ways to listen and communicate, ways to resolve differences empathetically, and how to problem solve. Attendees may choose to participate in a basic three-hour session with an additional hour of practice, if desired.

In another session, Marsha Pettinger, Communication Skills Administrator for the US Eastern Division, will present tools for dealing with conflict that help during difficult situations. You’ll leave her workshop, Harmony and the Tools to Achieve It, equipped with a survival kit of new ideas, communication skills, and strategies.

Careers in Lactation

Career Paths in Lactation will be presented by a panel of specialists including representatives from the LLLI Leader Accreditation Department, the LLLI Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program, and from the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. The purpose of this workshop is to demonstrate and explain the opportunities available to those who want to help breastfeeding mothers whether as an LLL Leader, Peer Counselor, Lactation Educator, or Consultant. The speakers will also explain how these different pathways are connected and clarify the steps needed to achieve the goal of working in the lactation field.

Employed, Breastfeeding Mothers

LLL Leader Debbie Albert, PhD, IBCLC, LMHC and a panel of mothers will conduct a workshop entitled Employment and Breastfeeding: Making It Work. They will discuss the importance of breastfeeding support, practical tips and techniques for employed mothers, and personal stories. This workshop will prove to be beneficial to both working mothers and the health care providers who assist them.

Learning Styles

Author Marcia L. Conner will present Learn More Now. This interactive session will help you discover how learning and motivation styles influence your approach to learning new information. She’ll also explain how the whole body learns, learning with other people, and the art of retaining information despite a busy schedule. The development and evolvement of learning styles will also be discussed.

Technology

The LLLI Online Communications team will facilitate Optimizing Your LLL Life via Your Personal Computer. Enrollment is limited for this intimate workshop designed primarily for Leaders who are unfamiliar with the options available on the Internet. It’s also ideal for those looking for ways to streamline common Leader tasks on the computer. The LLLI Web site, LLL Community Network, and other Internet resources for Leaders will be explained. Commercial software packages that automate routine tasks including creating Series notices, making sign-in-sheets, and keeping track of members will also be discussed.

Other Activities Before the Conference Starts
After the workshops, there will be plenty of time to visit the Exhibit Hall, where everything from unique toys to the latest in nursing fashions can be found. The Book Store will also be open and packed with new LLLI books, old favorites, books from the LLLI Catalogue, books written by Conference speakers, children’s books, and more. All this in time for the opening night, which includes the session, Just Because It’s Not Wrong, Doesn’t Make It Right, by popular author and speaker, Barbara Coloroso.

Join us in Washington DC, USA, July 2-5, 2005 to discover Breastfeeding—Ancient Art, Modern Miracle. For more information on the 2005 LLLI Conference, see the Jan-Feb issue of New Beginnings or go to www.lalecheleague.org/05conf/05conf.html.