25th Anniversary Celebration

25th Anniversary: Let’s Celebrate!

For 25 years, the lactation consultant profession has been steadily growing… expanding worldwide to more than 22,000 International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) providing expert breastfeeding care to new families. In 2010, we’ll be celebrating the joint 25th anniversary of both the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) and the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) in grand style.

Don’t miss a minute of the festivities!

Bookmark this page so you can quickly stay up to date with the latest news, updates, and opportunities for celebrating the 25th anniversary! And feel free to contact us if you have ideas to share!

Contents:
Sneak Preview
Lactation Profession 1985-2010
In Memoriam 2010
Celebration Activities
Call for Photos
Essay Contest
Affiliates
The Early Days
Looking Ahead
Honoring a Mentor
Coming Soon
Contact Us

Sneak Preview: ILCA Conference      
The 25th Anniversary celebration is the centerpiece of the 2010 ILCA International Conference July 21-25, 2010. As the saying goes, “Everything is bigger in Texas,” so San Antonio is the perfect backdrop for what we expect to be the grandest conference ever! Just a few of the cutting-edge sessions to look forward to:

• Workshop on improving your hospital’s mPINC score and meeting Joint Commission requirements (Katherine Shealy/CDC and Marsha Walker)
• Impact of Birth on Breastfeeding (Linda Smith)
• Biological Nurturing (Suzanne Colson)
• Drugs of the Future (Tom Hale)
• Biotics: Pre, Pro, or Both? (Dr. Gillian Opie)
• Preventing Childhood Obesity (Jane Heinig)

plus a host of outstanding clinical concurrent sessions, recent research that you can apply to your practice, and how-to sessions to meet the needs of IBCLCs practicing in a wide variety of settings. Mark your calendar NOW and start making your plans to bring your entire family to San Antonio. Our conference will be held at the brand new JW Marriott in a city filled with history and family activities. Registration information will be available soon.

Celebration Activities
The ILCA conference in San Antonio will be alive with 25th anniversary festivities. Just a few of the activities being planned for the conference:

• 25th Anniversary Birthday Party - Plan to arrive in San Antonio for the exciting workshops on Wednesday, July 21, and then head on over to the Exhibit Hall for the 25th Anniversary kick-off birthday party celebration. Extended exhibit hours during the grand opening reception from 6-9 p.m. will allow you to gather with friends and colleagues for birthday cake and special Texas-style line-dancing while visiting our valued exhibit hall vendors. Wear your favorite boot-scootin’ duds and join the fun. Free for ALL conference attendees!
• 25th Anniversary Dinner - Join us for a special Texas-style barbecue as we continue the celebration of the profession. Wear your favorite 1980’s fashions and hair-dos for a fun evening of celebrating how we got to where we are today, and the opportunities ahead. The evening will culminate with closing an official anniversary time capsule, with special music provided by an all-female mariachi band. This optional event is not included in conference registration so be sure to purchase your dinner ticket and additional tickets for family members to join in the festivities! Anniversary time capsule info coming soon
  
• Networking with old and new friends throughout the conference
• Celebration of the international scope of our profession

Call for Photos!                            
Dig through your photo files and send us some of your favorites to share with colleagues and new friends! We are seeking photos of all kinds to be used in PowerPoint presentations, displays, and electronic memory books as
we celebrate the anniversary. We can use photos of:

Can you name these early ILCA pioneers?

• YOU and others who were around in the early days
• ILCA conferences through the years
• Your favorite breastfeeding promotion and support activities in your country or community
• Breastfeeding mothers and babies you have helped                                                                             
  

You can send photos to the ILCA office digitally to info@ilca.org, or mail them to the ILCA office at:
ILCA Headquarters, Call for Photos
2501 Aerial Center Pkwy, Suite 103
Morrisville, NC 27560

Essay Contest
An opportunity to share your thoughts about the profession and how we make a difference. Click here for eligibility, how to enter and contest awards. Be sure to submit your essay by April 15, 2010!

Affiliates
ILCA’s affiliate groups are key to the success of the 25th anniversary! We invite both our national affiliates and other country affiliates and chapters to celebrate the 25th anniversary during your conferences and community events throughout 2010. We also want to spotlight your group’s history and activities at the conference. Here are some opportunities to consider:

• Gather photos of your affiliate’s activities and members and send to the ILCA office!
• Prepare to showcase your group’s activities at the ILCA Conference! ILCA will provide FREE table space to any affiliate who would like to share examples of your activities, materials developed, tabletop display, etc.
• Plan to provide a centerpiece for the Friday, July 23 international luncheon at the conference to help conference attendees learn more about your country and the challenges and joys of promoting breastfeeding. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative tables!

The Early Days
Where we’ve been – a brief look at events in ILCA and IBLCE’s History
By Linda J. Smith 

Chapter 1: ILCA’s Origins, 1982-1985

"ILCA was conceived over a ham sandwich lunch in JoAnne Scott’s kitchen in 1984. But to tell the whole story,
we need to go back in time to set the stage."

Looking Ahead
The anniversary will include a special focus on looking ahead to the next 25 years. If the IBCLC profession will continue to grow and thrive, it will be important to involve new generations of potential IBCLCs. The anniversary year will look forward to new opportunities for involving young and new members of the profession. Stay tuned!

Click here to view Mentors honored at the ILCA Conference!
In recognition of the 25th anniversary of both IBLCE and ILCA in 2010, MILCC and ILCA encourage IBCLCs and others to make a gift in honor, or in memory, of a colleague, friend, client, or mentor who has helped promote lactation consulting. Donations made through 2010 will be given to support the Monetary Investment for Lactation Consultant Certification (MILCC) and the ILCA Conference Scholarship programs. MILCC provides scholarships for individuals to sit for the IBLCE Exam or re-certify. ILCA awards scholarships to deserving applicants to assist them in attending the annual ILCA Conference. Both programs encourage growth in the lactation consultant profession worldwide.

All donations are tax-deductible to the extent of local tax laws. Gifts of $50 or more and brief tribute statements of 20 words or less will be published as part of ILCA’s 25th anniversary documentation on-line and at the 2010 conference.

Download the form at the Donations/Scholarship page (under the Membership tab on the ILCA website) and return to the ILCA Office. For questions about this project, contact: Kathy Parkes, ILCA Treasurer, at kathyparkes@ilca.org, or Anne Andrianos, IBLCE, at Andrianos@IBLCE.org.

Coming Soon
Be sure to check this section often for coming soon activities

Contact Us
The 25th Anniversary Task Force includes a large group of ILCA members representing national affiliates, IBLCE, and many practice settings. The task force is headed by Cathy Carothers and Judith Lauwers. We are open to any suggestions YOU might have for staging a grand and meaningful celebration. Contact the ILCA Office at info@ilca.org.

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