Where are your LLL meetings located?

[Ianthe]

Just curious.. I've been to them in churches, libraries and hospitals. Where are yours?

(I am wondering because I am looking into starting a group in my town, but wonder where to look for space)

[_betsy_]

Ours is always hosted in one of the leaders' homes.

[aelial]

My local group meets in a health food store (they have a space in the back of the store where classes and movie showings are held). The next closest group meets in a place called The Maternal Wellness Center (http://www.maternalwellness.org/), which provides a bunch of different services including birth prep and parenting classes, demonstrations of natural childcare products (eg cloth diapers), has space for homebirth midwifes to see their clients, etc.

[mommajb]

or a members home. Offer your place next time and watch your leaders go crazy with enthusiasm. If you want a really good show offer to open up your home for an entire series.

[femalephish]

Originally Posted by _betsy_

Ours is always hosted in one of the leaders' homes.

ditto

[lifeguard]

Ours is at the local Early Years Centre (basically a preschool drop-in centre)

[Earth Momma]

I've been to churches librarys and offered my dance studio - my SIL was looking into her assisted living meeting space!
anywhere thats FREE is great!

good luck

[momasana]

The meetings I have attended are at the Leader's home.

[LianneM]

We used to have two meetings at a church, using their nursery area. It was really nice b/c there were toys and two joined rooms so the kids could play while the moms talked. They had a playground which was fun sometimes too, after the meeting.

Currently we meet in a library meeting room. It's a good location for us in our area, but meeting in a library is hard since they want us to be quiet and we have all these kids, and we have snacks and I worry about getting in trouble bringing food.

The next meeting I add will be at my house, I think. I feel like homes are the most comfortable

[possum]

churches
also a hospital conference room

I was part of a birth circle that met at a high-end local kids' store, then a university conference room, and is now in a yoga studio.

NAK,
Melinda

[possum]

Originally Posted by LianneM

I feel like homes are the most comfortable

I imagine they would be especially comfortable for ladies who were part of an established group, but as a newbie, I think that it would be a bit more intimidating. There is one group near here that meets at someone's house, and I have never been partly because I feel a bit awkward calling up and asking for the address and such - like I'd be inviting myself to someone's house, you know. The ones I've seen listed that are at people's homes generally say to call for the meeting location. I definitely feel more comfortable showing up at a church or public place to meet strangers.

Melinda

[skueppers]

Our group meets at a community center.

I think the decision about whether to meet at a home or in a public space depends partly on the kind of atmosphere you want and the number of people you expect to attend.

I feel that people are often more comfortable coming to their first meeting when it's in a public place, because the idea of going to a stranger's house isn't really comfortable for them. But meeting at people's homes is great for returning members, and provides a lot of amenities a public place might not have.

Good luck finding an appropriate space!

[Ianthe]

I'm currently renting my MIL's basement apartment, so I don't think having meetings at my house would be ideal right now.

[ecstaticmama24]

Ours is held in a local Christian book store. They let us use the lower level room for free. That said, I would prefer to stay away from any sort of religious affiliations as I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable if they weren't that specific religion. But it works for now.

[ewe+lamb]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

Just curious.. I've been to them in churches, libraries and hospitals. Where are yours?

(I am wondering because I am looking into starting a group in my town, but wonder where to look for space)

it really depends where you are based and where the groups that you attended are, can you not get help from your fellow leaders - I'm sure there is lots of information on the lll website for getting a group started - i'm presuming that you are setting up a La Leche league group - or is it something you are doing on your own?

[ameliabedelia]

I've been to meetings at a health food store, churches, hospital, nature center, and library.

The only meetings at an individual's home I've been to have been toddler meetings or enrichment meetings, never a regular series meeting.

I do think it is more welcoming to newcomers to have the regular meeting in a public place.

The one place I really didn't care for is the hospital. Parking was oftentimes a hassle and far from the meeting room, finding the actual room could be pain and it frequently involved quite a bit of walking and navigation to get to it. I just hated that it took an extra 10-15 minutes to get to the room, from when I actually parked the car (this is coming from somoeone who is habitually late...so every minute matters. )


I have found the churches to be the most comfortable as an attendant (many have nursery toys right in the room or nearby).

For scheduling purposes though, I have found the library to be the easiest. Most libraries have community rooms available, so it's not like you are asking any "special favors" in using it, yk. THey have the rooms just for this purpose and for morning meetings, generally they are free.

[LianneM]

Originally Posted by possum

I imagine they would be especially comfortable for ladies who were part of an established group, but as a newbie, I think that it would be a bit more intimidating. There is one group near here that meets at someone's house, and I have never been partly because I feel a bit awkward calling up and asking for the address and such - like I'd be inviting myself to someone's house, you know. The ones I've seen listed that are at people's homes generally say to call for the meeting location. I definitely feel more comfortable showing up at a church or public place to meet strangers.

Melinda

Thank you for that input - that actually helps me a lot

[ChetMC]

I've Been...

I attended one group that was in a community centre, and another group that was in the leader's home.

[mamazee]

Someone's house. I think at least usually leaders' houses.

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by ewe+lamb

it really depends where you are based and where the groups that you attended are, can you not get help from your fellow leaders - I'm sure there is lots of information on the lll website for getting a group started - i'm presuming that you are setting up a La Leche league group - or is it something you are doing on your own?

Yes, setting up a new LLL group. My area is lacking, and I've been driving 30 mins in either direction for groups... I'm new to my town (moved here in May). All the other leaders I've talked to about setting up a new group are all for it, but I am just trying to find a space for the meeting now... so that's why I ask where other's meetings are, so I know what my options are.