Calendar

Dec 1, 2006
World AIDS Day

Dec 15, 2006
Deadline for application to Marketing Strategy Planning Meeting

Deadline for application to Recognition Awards Task Force

Dec 31, 2006
Deadline for individual membership renewals

Deadline for Affiliate renewals

January, 12, 2007
Deadline for application to Task Force on Ethical Practice Guidelines

Deadline for application to Publications Committee

Feb 28, 2007
Deadline for Group Memberships

March 7, 2007
IBCLC Day

ILCA Bookstore

Physician's Breastfeeding Triage Tool

This handy tool was designed specifically for medical personnel who interact with breastfeeding mothers and babies, and provides concise, up-to-date information for managing breastfeeding concerns that physicians are most likely to encounter. Sized to fit conveniently in a lab coat pocket, this sturdy laminated tool is a MUST for staff in mother-baby care units, and also for other departments that do not see breastfeeding mothers and babies as often (including emergency rooms).

Bulk discounts are available to make it easier for you, your organization, or your local breastfeeding coalition to provide this tool to ALL of the healthcare professionals in your community.

For more information or to order, click here or visit the ILCA bookstore.

ILCA Great Gift Ideas
Looking for some end-of-the-year gifts? Consider some small items from ILCA:

Protect Breastfeeding pink highlighters

Babies were Born to be Breastfed lanyards (English/Spanish mix)

ILCA Pen

IBCLC Pen

IBCLC Badgeholder

For Member's Only

ILCA October 2006 Board Meeting Executive Summary
A summary of the minutes of the October 2006 Board of Directors Meeting is now available on the Members Only Side.

World Health Organization

New Resources from the World Health Organization
The final report of the FAO/WHO expert meeting on Enterobacter sakazakii and Salmonella in powdered infant formula is now available. The outcome of the meeting held in Rome on 16 - 20 January 2006 is of great importance to all lactation consultants. The report, entitled “Overview of the Risk Assessment Model for Enterobacter sakazakii in Powdered Infant Formula,“ can be downloaded from http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/jemra/enterobacter_en.stm.

IGive.com

IGive.com – Holiday Shopping to Help ILCA
If you like on-line shopping, consider shopping through iGive.com . Choose from nearly 700 stores ranging from basic department stores to specialty food and flowers. Your online shopping can match up to 26% of your purchase price as a contribution to ILCA. Membership in iGive is free and purchases are secure. Plus, donations back to ILCA from your purchases are tax-deductible in the US. Go browsing today and help support ILCA’s global work with a click of the mouse!

Stories From Around
the World

A Profile of Abla Abdo
By Barbara Wilson-Clay
_____________________________________

Several years ago, I was privileged to give some talks to breastfeeding advocates and LCs in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. I met Abla Abdo at one of these presentations. Abla is an Israeli citizen of Arab descent. She and her husband, who has a PhD in philosophy, live and work in the ancient city of Nazareth. Owing to time constraints, I was unable to accept Abla’s kind offer to visit her family and see her work environment. I’ve stayed in touch, however, and thought it would be interesting for other ILCA members to have a glimpse of her breastfeeding support work among the Arab community of Nazareth. [more]

Tell Us Your Stories!

Did your Affiliate just host an exciting conference? Have you discovered a new metaphor for breastfeeding? Visit another country? Do something exciting? Share your professional stories with your colleagues by submitting an article to eGlobe. Photos and text of about 500 words are welcome. Send your submission to the eGlobe Editor.

Membership Renewal
As the end of the year approaches, the time to renew membership has come once again.

We invite our individual and affiliate members to renew their membership by December 31, 2006 in order to ensure continuous benefits and services. [more]

2007 ILCA Membership Drive
If you know of newly certified IBCLCs, encourage them to join by December 31, 2006, to ensure a complete year of access to the multifaceted resources available through ILCA.

Are you interested in helping to increase ILCA's membership body?
Please visit the Each One Reach One Campaign page. This program offers you rewards for signing up new members.

Can you imagine that there are IBCLCs, breastfeeding support workers, and others who cannot pay for an ILCA membership? The Sister Program is designed for members who want to donate an individual or affiliate membership to those living in less fortunate circumstances. Our Sister Program is an excellent way in which we can benefit from the talents and expertise of IBCLCs and others involved in breastfeeding protection, promotion, and support from diverse cultures by helping them to become part of the dynamic world of IBCLC professional development.

ILCA Thanks its 2006 Contributing Professionals
A large number of ILCA members renewed for 2006 as Contributing Professionals. ILCA warmly thanks them all for their special support. Click here to view listing of Contributing Professionals.

ILCA Scope of Practice
The ILCA Board of Directors remains in discussion with the IBLCE Board and its Executive Director regarding the contents of and appropriate venue for the profession's Scope of Practice.
ILCA published a Scope of Practice prior to 2000. It was developed by the Professional Education Council, a group of educators which at the time took on special projects for the association. Such work is now done by a formal Professional Development Committee within ILCA.

Much of what appeared in the ILCA Scope of Practice was used to develop ILCA's Standards of Practice, which are a best-practices guideline for professional lactation consultants. This document also contained a detailed framework of competencies that were incorporated into the Clinical Competencies for IBCLC Practice, a collaborative effort between ILCA and IBLCE. Material from the original ILCA Scope of Practice was also used to develop ILEAC's accreditation guidelines and to identify subject areas for ILCA's Core Curriculum. The ILCA Scope of Practice also acknowledges and supports the IBLCE Code of Ethics, containing the mandatory code of conduct expected of IBCLCs.

IBLCE Second Credential
ILCA has been providing members with numerous opportunities to provide feedback and comments on the IBLCE second credential. This issue is of immense importance to the profession of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. In addition to the comments posted by members on the Discussion Board, two new documents are now available on the ILCA website:

• Collated comments from the Issues Forum held at the ILCA Conference in Philadelphia, July 2006.
• Results from the online Second Credential Survey.

These results will also be shared with the IBLCE Board.

Scholarship Funds Changing
After several years of distributing scholarships which depleted the fund, the ILCA Board and the family of Eli Hormann have agreed to discontinue the Eli Hormann Scholarship Fund. All scholarship contributions will be rolled into the general ILCA Scholarship Fund. The Eli Hormann Scholarship was established in the memory of the son of Elizabeth Hormann, a longtime ILCA member and past Director of External Affairs. The fund was established to help professionals from developing countries to attend a professional conference on lactation. Over the years, the fund has provided unparalleled access to educational and professional settings for professionals from a number of countries, including Nigeria, Qatar, Lebanon, The United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and the Dominican Republic.

ILCA will continue to accept contributions to the Scholarship Fund. As a tax-exempt organization in the U.S., your contribution to the fund may be deductible as your national tax laws allow. You may make contributions to the fund with your membership renewal or at any time.

ILCA Board Clarifies Role of ILCA Delegate to IBLCE
At the October 2006 ILCA Board of Director’s meeting, the role of the ILCA Delegate to the IBLCE Board of Directors was clarified. IBLCE’s Board includes several directors who are appointed as delegates from professional organizations. ILCA is among the professional organizations which provide a delegate to the IBLCE board, serving a three-year term. However, once that appointment is made, the Delegate’s legal duties of care, loyalty and obedience – along with his/her fiduciary responsibilities – are to IBLCE. The ILCA Delegate is not there to act at the direction of ILCA. He or she votes on her own, as s/he sees fits, having reviewed and researched whatever is the issue at hand. [more]

Marketing Strategy Planning Meeting
ILCA is convening a critical marketing strategy meeting comprised of individuals representing diverse practice settings, geographic locations, and perspectives to assist us in developing a comprehensive marketing plan for promoting the IBCLC profession. The meeting will be held Saturday, March 31, 2007 in San Diego, California, USA. The anticipated outcome of this meeting is a comprehensive marketing plan for promoting the profession of lactation consulting worldwide. This plan will guide ILCA, and other relevant stakeholders who choose to participate, in implementing strategies that have the best chance of making a difference.

Learn more about this meeting and download an application. All applications are due to the ILCA Office by December 15, 2006.[more]

ILCA Task Force on Ethical Practice Guidelines: Call for Chair and Members
The ILCA Board is starting a task force to develop a framework for ethical decision-making. This framework will complement existing ethical practice standards to assist IBCLCs in determining the proper course of action. This Task Force will identify issues and situations requiring direction and then develop materials which will provide ethical practice guidelines for IBCLCs. All work is anticipated to be completed within a year.

Learn more about the ILCA Task Force on Ethical Practice Guidelines and download an application. All applications are due to the ILCA Office by January 12, 2007.[more]

Recognition Awards Task Force
Over many years there has been a discussion within ILCA and submissions to the ILCA Board about Recognition Awards. Your Board needs input from you about how such awards should be structured. Would you like to join the Task Force to develop guidelines for these Awards?

To learn more about this Task Force, contact Sue Cox at suecox@ilca.org [more]

ILCA Publications Committee: Call for Committee Members
The ILCA Board is revitalizing the Publications Committee, blending it with the current Publications Coordinator’s position. ILCA is pleased that Virginia Thorley, OAM, ThA, BA, DipEd, GC TESOL, MA, IBCLC will Chair the Publications Committee.

The Committee will institutionalize the monitoring, production and periodic review of ILCA position papers and other publications. IBCLCs have need for evidence-based position papers, clinical guidelines and policy statements. It benefits the IBCLC profession, and credential, for the professional association to have a body of timely resources for its members’ use.

Learn more about the Publications Committee and download an application. All applications are due to the ILCA Office by January 12, 2007. [more]