thinking ahead to Chicago

[Peony]

Anyone else thinking about going to the last international LLL conference next summer? I went to DC last year and had a blast. I'm a little undecided about Chicago mainly because of the cost, my LLL group is so poor that I pay for everything out of pocket, but I really want to go. I usually drag the entire family along but was thinking I *could* leave DH and DD1 behind this time, that would really cut down on the cost. She'd be 4.5 then and would be fine without me but I don't know if I would.

[volunteer]

I would say definately go

I would say definately go! there is no conference scheduled for 2009... so it might be the last big LLLI conference. a certain dont miss situation...

[kalisis]

This is the last big one that they have scheduled - they probably won't have anymore.

I say if you have the opportunity, then go!

[dukeswalker]

There are NO plans for another conf. Unless something amazing happens, this WILL be the last one. I plan on going with my youngest dd - leaving the two older ones with grwandparents...

[~*SugarMama*~]

If someone can share some more info on it, I am interested. Chicago is only about a 5.5 hr drive from here and dh and I already were looking at taking the children there next year. Would be nice to hit a LLL conference at the same time as that.

[dukeswalker]

http://www.lalecheleague.org/07conf/07conf.html

[Lisoula]

Just a question...why aren't there going to be any more big conferences?

[dukeswalker]

The last few LOST money - it's pretty sad. And considering how much $$ LLL does NOT have - they couldn't afford to do them anymore.

[monocyte]

Im in limbo also...I soooo want to go, but $$ is an issue. And not know where we will be in our IF battle either is not making the decision easier.

If you can go, do it!!

[mama24-7]

My family & I are planning to go. It'll be interesting to see how the numbers come out though b/c we're in PA and dh would love to drive : and I hate flying. He also wants to rent an RV.

I so want to go b/c it's the 50th anniversary. I get goose bumps just thinking about it!

Sus

[Beccah+twins+1]

I live right outside Chicago, I will be there for sure, nursing a 16 month old

[Peony]

I think I'll have to make it. I have to fly, I live in rural CO, so the price of a ticket is very $$. How much it is depends if dd1 and DH can go along, last time we flew we paid 500. a ticket, that was months in advance too. Hopefully it's cheaper next year. Glad to see so many others are interested as well.

[redhotmama]

I'll be there! I've been saving up $100 a month since July and I was so pleased to see the hotel conference rate vs. the $350 a night rate for regular folk. What will the actual registration fee be?

[Fiercemama]

Wow - glad I read this thread. Knowing this might be the last one, let alone the 50th anniversary, has me a lot more motivated to go. I tentatively raised it with DH a few months ago. We haven't had any vacation anywhere since DD was born 4.5 yrs ago. I didn't think he'd be into it at all, since he's not much interested in being a "league daddy" or group activities in general. But he got all excited about taking DD to all the sights in Chicago.

To the OP - there are scholarships for leaders (I assumed from your bit about out of pocket expenses that you were a leader). I think the deadline is looming very near, and is partly based on doing fundraising for LLL. But you might want to look into that.

[BundleFishMama]

Oh yeah, we are all definitely going and are SO psyched, I'm practically counting the days! The D.C. conference last year was the most fun I've ever had I am so bummed that it looks like it'll be the last one at least for a while Anyway we're driving out from PA - too much $$ and hassle to fly with 3 kids if we can avoid it!

I'm fortunate because our groups have good treasuries plus we've been doing a ton of fundraising so we'll all get decent stipends. To the pps who said their groups are broke, maybe do some fundraising now and earmark the money raised for a stipend? We've done a bunch of different stuff lately - we sold this stuff: www.grandmacorbis.com (OK, with the disclaimer that LLL generally advises a healthy diet and these treats are meant to be occasional, not staples! ) and we gave bfing seminars at a local baby store for which we were paid (obviously we couldn't keep the money ourselves but we designated it in our group accounts for conference funds) and the weekend after Thanksgiving, Leaders and group moms are going to be volunteering at Barnes and Noble bookstore where they let nonprofits wrap presents for customers all day at a wrapping station in exchange for donations to their causes. Just some ideas!

[isabchi]

We'l love the idea to go to Chicago next summer.

Mama24-7: if you going in a RV, Where are you planning to parking?
We're in CT, will found out is a neat idea to drive there...

[wonderwahine]

i want to, i live in a chicago suburb.......hopefully we can afford a mini vacation hopefully nursing ds still by then.

[coloradoalice]

I'm planning to go, my dad lives just down the road from the LLLI headquarters and we have flight vouchers from because of an airline mix up, so I will only have to pay for the actual conference, not travel or lodging!! It will really be fantastic if I can manage for things to also coincide with my 15 year HS reunion. That would save me a ton of $$! I'm helping plan the reunion, so I'm hopeful.

[Fiercemama]

Have they posted the registration fees? I don't seem to be able to find it on the new website. Can someone point me in the right direction?

Can others tell me about participation for dads? Do they have per session fees for father-focused sessions? Or for family events? Anyone's DH come along before?

[wonderwahine]

Originally Posted by Fiercemama

Have they posted the registration fees? I don't seem to be able to find it on the new website. Can someone point me in the right direction?

Can others tell me about participation for dads? Do they have per session fees for father-focused sessions? Or for family events? Anyone's DH come along before?

i'm curious about that to, dh would be with us since I can't travel with ds alone, or drive.