Refund Policy
Full refunds on registration, less a $10 handling fee, will be given to written requests received by May 1st. Half of the registration fee will be refunded if the request is received between May 2 and May 21, 2014. Refunds are not available on meals, pre-ordered merchandise or other fees. Send refund requests to joceyej80@yahoo.com
La Leche League of North Carolina Area Conference 2014
Host Site Information
Nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly is a full-service conference center situated on 1200 acres of woodland beautified by mountain streams, wildflowers, ridges, valleys and spectacular views. Hotel-style rooms are offtered across the campus. The main lodge, the Blue Ridge Center offers 50 air conditioned, hotel style rooms. Each room has 2 double beds, private bath and telephones. The Blue Ridge Center also has meeting and dining facilities in the building. The recently renovated Asheville Hall has 40 air conditioned, hotel style rooms with private baths and telephones. 27 rooms have two double beds, 10 rooms have two single beds and three rooms have one single and one double bed.
| There will be a variety of recreation options available: |
| Playgrounds Athletic fields Shuffleboard Indoor basketball Hiking trails Exercise room Blue Ridge Store |
Two horseshoe pits 4 lighted tennis courts Sand Volleyball Court Craft shop (pay per item) Disc Golf |
A Saturday night campfire will be available for our enjoyment as well. Please bring your own ingredients for smores!
For more information about the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, please visit their website at: http://www.blueridgeassembly.org/index.html
To book your lodging and meals for the La Leche League 2014 Area Conference, please visit this link: http://www.blueridgeassembly.org/laleche14.html
Guest Speaker Information
Dr. Katherine Dettwyler: For the 2013-14 academic year, Dr. Dettwyler is teaching anthropology at the University of Delaware in Newark, DE. She is the author of Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa (1993), and the co-editor of Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives (1995), which includes her own two chapters "Beauty and the Breast: The Cultural Context of Breastfeeding in the United States," and "A Time to Wean: The Hominid Blueprint for a Natural Age of Weaning in Modern Human Populations." In 2003 she co-edited an anthropology reader with Vaughn Bryant, titled Reflections on Anthropology: A Four-Field Reader. In 2011 her introductory cultural anthropology textbook was published by Waveland Press, Cultural Anthropology and Human Experience: The Feast of Life. In 2013, Waveland Press also published a 20th anniversary edition of Dancing Skeletons: Life and Death in West Africa, which includes two additional new chapters. Results of her research on extended breastfeeding in the United States were published in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, Volume 47, Number 3, pp. 712-723 ("When to Wean: Biological Versus Cultural Perspectives"). She is the author of many other scholarly articles. She is a frequent speaker at universities, La Leche League conferences, and lactation consultant conferences.
Dr. Wendy Middlemiss is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of North Texas. Her academic training and research has crossed areas of family-community interaction, developmental theory, and educational psychology, all with a focus on how to share information in a manner that supports children’s and families’ development. Dr. Middlemiss has completed research regarding infant sleep, focusing on infant and maternal comfort with care routines, as well as infant safety. This work has included assessment of levels of stress experienced during sleep routines, inclusive of mother-infant sleep in the home and mother-infant sleep during a behavioral sleep intervention. Dr. Middlemiss’ work focuses on how to construct culturally sensitive, developmentally appropriate educational or intervention programs.
Dr. Brian McMurtry grew up near the beautiful and sunny beaches of Clearwater, Florida. After graduating valedictorian from Countryside High School, his college years were spent at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned both his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (Biochemistry Track)(1997) and Doctor of Dental Surgery (2001). Dr. McMurtry was awarded the title of “Fellow” by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) in 2009. He also teaches at UNC-Chapel Hill, where he holds the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor for the Operative Department. Dr. McMurtry and his wife have four amazing boys.
Interested in advertising or exhibiting at the La Leche League of North Carolina 2014 Area Conference?
Weekend Schedule
Friday: 5:00pm-7:00pm: Registration Opens
6:00pm: Buffet Dinner
7:00pm-8:30pm: Dessert Reception with Dr. Wendy Middlemiss
Saturday: 7:30am: Breakfast
7:30am: Registration Opens
8:00am-9:30am: Session 1
9:30 Silent Auction Opens
9:45am-10:30am: General Session
10:45am-12:15pm: Session 2
12:30pm-1:45pm: Lunch with Dr. Katherine Dettwyler
Natural Parenting: Anthropological Perspectives on Caring for Young Humans: An overview of anthropological (evolutionary and cross-cultural) perspectives on cosleeping, baby-wearing (including Kangaroo Care), breastfeeding and weaning, and infant crying. An excellent introduction for those not familiar with anthropology and/or attachment parenting.
2:00pm-3:30pm: Session 3
3:45pm-5:15pm: Session 4
6:00pm: Silent Auction Closes and Vendors Close for the evening
Sunday: 8:45am-10:15am: Session 5
10:30am-12:00pm: Brunch and Closing Session: Speaker To Be Announced
12:00pm: Vendors close
Session Descriptions
Session 1
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Infant Sleep Patterns
Dr. Wendy Middlemiss
CEUs/CERPs
The importance of responsive care and understanding infants’ development and normative sleep patterns with regards to breastfeeding.
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“I Need Help with this Group!”
LAD
For lone Leaders or co-leaders needing more hands, discuss how to identify leadership potential in your Group Moms, work with an applicant, and what to do if there is no applicant in sight!
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Braving a Budget
Barbara Howe
Budgeting can be intimidating, but it is also a valuable tool for your financial wellbeing. Come chat with Barbara Howe, Area Financial Coordinator, about the ins and outs of creating a budget that works for your family.
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Schooling Choices: a Panel
Rachel Manning (homeschooling mom),
Homeschool, unschool, charter school, private school, public school, co-op school...do these choices make your head spin? Come talk about your experiences and ask your questions about the myriad of choices revolving school.
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“She said What?!”
Communications Department
How to manage awkward situations in Group meetings. Practice some role playing while learning some new communication skills.
Session 2
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Tongue Tie in the Breastfed Baby
Dr. McMurtry
CEUs/CERPs session
Discuss the indicators for tongue tie, breastfeeding problems that may result, and the impact of untreated tongue tie over the long term. Treatment options of tongue tie will also be discussed.
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Social Media as a Promotional Tool
Pam Freedman
As a free resource available and utilized by most mothers in this technological age, social media is an invaluable marketing opportunity for Groups. Hear how others are using social media outlets to promote their Group happenings, and share how you are using it as well. Discuss guidelines for appropriate usage.
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Your “Loving Guidance” Toolbox
Samantha Gray
Discuss using discipline as a positive parenting skill and recognizing the fine line between permissive parenting and loving guidance. Hear others’ experiences to add to your toolbox of discipline tricks, and share your own tips.
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Car Seat Conundrums (cancelled due to low registration)
Understand the top 5 mistakes parents make, pertaining to car seats from a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), and be ready with your car seat questions!
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PostPartum: the Fourth Trimester
Ann Conlon-Smith
Honoring the mother during the fourth trimester, while her body heals from birth is an important practice. Discover ways to support moms in the fourth trimester with regards to breastfeeding and bonding, and help pregnant moms prepare for this part of their birth experience.
Session 3
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Vitamin D and the Breastfed Baby
Sharon Bliss
CEUs/CERPs
Review and discuss the current recommendations for vitamin D supplementation within the breastfeeding dyad.
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Active Participation in your Birth
Stacey Alexander
Come discuss the physiological benefits for mother and baby of active participation in childbirth. Explore the science of how birth affects breastfeeding.
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Ages and Stages
Janet Jendron
Remain emotionally attached and available to your child throughout the different ages and stages of childhood, from the newborn stage to the tween stage, teenagers and beyond. This discussion will cover different ideas and experiences to help stay connected to your children, no matter the age.
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How to Serve Diverse Populations
As Leaders, we are often presented with diverse populations, such as socioeconomic status or cultural diversity, that can present unique challenges while offering mother-to-mother support. Discuss some potential issues and a variety of solutions to add to your potential Leader toolbox.
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Herbal Galactagogues
Naomi Hambleton
CEUs/CERPs
A discussion of different herbs that may increase milk production, including research on effectiveness and side effects, and a review of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine clinical protocol.
Session 4
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Promoting Breastfeeding, Promoting Guilt
Dr. Katherine Dettwyler
CEUs/CERPs
A frank discussion of the problem of health care providers saying they don't want to give mothers complete and accurate information about the risks of artificial infant formula because they are worried about making mothers feel guilty about not breastfeeding. Includes examples of how guilt is often used to promote healthy behaviors in health advertising, with a discussion of the distinction between guilt and regret, and steps for moving beyond guilt.
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Seasoned Leaders
Pam Freedman and Charlene Jenkins
Are you a long-time Leader? Come gather with your counterparts, and chat about your experiences with La Leche League.
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Breastfeeding: A Dad’s Perspective
Kelly Burkett and Andrew Alexander
Join this round-table discussion about the best ways to support your family in your breastfeeding and parent journey. Dads (and kids) only please.
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Utilizing the Preview Effectively
LAD
The preview: what it is, how to use it along with the Breastfeeding Resource Guide. Understand how to use the Preview to prepare you for leadership. For Leader Applicants and anyone interested in becoming a Leader.
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Parenting a Spirited Toddler
Shannon Shanely
Toddlerhood is often a challenging time for parents. Learn about different challenges, and ways to manage spirited toddler behavior while keeping your cool!
Session 5
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Beauty and the Breast
Dr. Katherine Dettwyler
CEUs/CERPs
A look at how breasts and breastfeeding are thought of in North American culture (mostly US), and how breastfeeding is portrayed in the media, the problems this causes for women wishing to breastfeed and still have a [public] life, and ways to go about changing some of these beliefs.
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The Art of Babywearing
Jocelyn Rodriguez
Explore the benefits of babywearing, the different types of carriers, and how babywearing can make connecting parenting easier, including nursing in different carriers. Try different styles of carriers with an experienced babywearer, share your own experiences, or find a babywearing solution that works for you. All levels of experience welcome. Bring your carrier(s) to share if you want.
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Diets and Breastfeeding
Martha Tempest
Whether by choice or by necessity, diets avoiding specific foods have increased in popularity recently. Examine the different types of diets (dairy-free, gluten-free, Paleo, and vegan, to name a few) and their relationship with breastfeeding. Come ready to share your experiences!
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Fast and Easy Fundraising
Donna Martin
Join this round-table discussion, and leave with ideas about fundraising for your Group that can fit into your busy lifestyle.
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The Unthinkable
Communications Department
When a mom loses a baby or pregnancy, there are a lot of unanswered questions about breastfeeding and grief. Discuss ways to guide moms through this loss and caringly share the information they need.