ILCA NEWS

Call for Nominations for ILCA Board
ILCA members are invited to submit names to the Nominations Committee for the Office of Treasurer, Director of Professional Development, and Director of External Affairs.

If you have been an ILCA member in good standing for the last two (2) consecutive years, are an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and have some expertise in any of these areas you may nominate yourself for one of these positions. Previous leadership experience, especially working in an ILCA committee or as a member of your affiliate or other governing committee, is preferred.

Further information and nomination forms are available on the Members Only area of the website. Contact Nominations Committee Chair Sue Cox at suecox@ilca.org for more information. Nominations close November 30, 2007.

New Program: Fellows of the International Lactation Consultant Association
The application materials for the new Fellows Program are now posted on the area of the ILCA website. We apologize for the delay in their posting. Judging by the many emails received from interested ILCA members, there is considerable interest in this program amongst our dedicated and motivated professionals!

Discussion Board - Recognition for Advanced Practice
We need your input! Should ILCA, the professional association for IBCLCs, develop and offer programs permitting specialists in our field to be recognized for their added expertise? For example, an IBCLC with numerous years of experience working with mothers and babies in the NICU could earn recognition for that specialized skill. This both recognizes the leaders in our field, and permits administrators, managers and parents to express appreciation for the specialized care an IBCLC provides. For more information and/or to give us your opinion, go to the ILCA On-Line Discussion Board "Should ILCA offer add-on specialty certificates?"

Meet your New Director
Roberta Graham de Escobedo
Director of Membership and Affiliate Services

What kind of a last name is "Graham de Escobedo"?! "It's quite simple," explains Roberta to those who ask. "I grew up in the Chicago area as Roberta Graham...and then in 1971 when I went to Yucatan, Mexico to do some community service I met a young man named Alfonso Escobedo. And the rest is history. In the Spanish-speaking culture, when you marry you simply ADD on the spouse's last name to yours."

Thirty-five years of living in Yucatán, Mexico have familiarized Roberta with the Latino Culture. Twenty-eight years have been dedicated to the promotion of breastfeeding, and the last eight have been focused on the situation of breastfeeding and working women. Understanding both the U.S. and Mexican cultures, in both city and village settings, enables Roberta to serve as a cultural bridge for assisting healthcare providers in improving the quality of care offered and in increasing prevalence of breastfeeding in the Latino population.

Roberta is in private practice and also lectures at several universities and schools in Merida, Yucatán. In her new position as Director of Membership and Affiliate services, she looks forward to working will IBCLCs around the world.

Breastfeeding Promotion Consortium
By Marsha Walker, ILCA Liaison
Editors Note: This is the first of a series of profiles of the organizations with which ILCA has liaison relationships. Other organizations will be highlighted in future issues.

The Breastfeeding Promotion Consortium (BPC) was established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Consumer Service (FCS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 1990. It meets twice each year in Washington, DC and is composed of over 40 organizations and Federal government agencies to be a forum for dialogue between breastfeeding advocacy groups and Federal agencies to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding. [more]

August 2006
August, 2007
January, 2007

ILCA's Sister Program Update
By Roberta Graham de Escobedo
Director of Membership and Affiliate Services

Can you guess what such diverse places as Romania, Israel, Pakistan, Malawi, Gauteng, and Capetown had in common in 2007? They were all participants in ILCA's Sister Program!
In 2008 we'd like to double the number of Sistered persons or groups.

Due to conditions around the world, we expect to have many more members in need of Sistering partners. The benefits for both our Sistered person and the Sistering group are many, including learning from other lactation consultants around the world and helping women and infants in developing countries. You will truly have a global perspective of breastfeeding when you have a Sister in another country.

If you are interested in more information, or would like an application, please contact me at roberta@ilca.org . You can also download the applications on the ILCA website. Our goal is to have a bank of Sistering groups, so we can put groups together as applications are received.

Please support and participate in the program as an individual or group. Make the "I" in ILCA stand tall!

2007 World Breastfeeding Week Breastfeeding: The First Hour -Welcome Baby Softly
Thanks to those who continue to send in stories and pictures. They are being uploaded to the ILCA website at the World Breastfeeding Week page. Check them out for great ideas for any celebrations you may be doing in October, or in planning for next year.

JHL Accepted into the Thomson Scientific Journal Citation Reports^®
The Journal of Human Lactation received its first impact factor in the recently-released 2006 Journal Citation Reports® (JCR). With an impact factor of 1.133 in 2006, JHL is ranked 15/36 in the Nursing category and 38/59 in the Obstetrics & Gynecology category. [more]

Australian Government Releases Report on Breastfeeding
In August, the Australian Parliament released a new report on breastfeeding. The report, entitled "The Best Start," was an effort by the House Standing Committee on Health and Ageing to "inquire into and report on how the Commonwealth government can take a lead role to improve the health of the Australian population through support for breastfeeding." Ten forums were held throughout Australia, and over 479 comments were received, collecting citizen testimony as well as scientific evidence.

The report is posted at www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/haa/breastfeeding/report.htm.

My First ILCA Conference
By Irena Zakarija-Grkovic Split, Croatia

Irena (l) and Tille (r) enjoy breakfast

It was my first ILCA Conference, so excitement and expectations were running high as I made my way from Split, Croatia to San Diego, California. After the 26 hour long flight it was a relief and joy to be warmly greeted by a familiar face, my roommate! Tille Phillips and I met on the ILCA Discussion Board and clicked immediately. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, as a first time attendee, it was a Godsend having a friend who 'knew the ropes'. Thanks Tille! [more]

CALENDAR

October 15
Deadline for applications for Research Committee

October 19
IBLCE Exam Results Day

November 1
Deadline for Abstract Submissions for 2008 ILCA/USLCA Conference

November 2-4
ILCA Board Meeting

November 2
Abstract Submissions open for 2008 VELB/ILCA Conference

November 30
Deadline for ILCA Board Nominations