[sarahdoula]

Hello mamas!

First I should introduce myself since I am new to this forum (although I've been lurking for a bit!) My name is Sarah and I'm a breastfeeding, babywearing mother of a 20 month old daughter. I am a doula and childbirth mentor in Auburn, WA and LOVE what I do! Look forward to getting to know all of you (know some of you already...)

Second, in light of all the heated debate of late surrounding breastfeeding in public, my friend Cecily and I are trying to organize a rally to promote breastfeeding. I've read some of the discussions surrounding the Ken Schram nonsense on KOMO, and agree that a rally to promote breastfeeding, (rather than a protest, which would give him more attention than he deserves) would be awesome! We need something like this to connect as breastfeeding mothers, have fun and raise awareness in a positive way. Let's make it happen.

We need your help! If you are interested in helping to organize, pass out flyers at LLL meetings, post messages at online message boards, contact the press, make signs, buttons, etc. let me know. Anyone have an idea for a speaker? Know how to obtain permits? Positive feedback and ideas that will help us get this going would be great.

We are tenatively planning for June 27th around 3 PM at the Seattle Center fountain.

Sarah

 

[soccerchic21]

I just posted a thread trying to get someone to organize something. I think it is a great idea!

 

[Bella'smamma]

I'm trying to find out how to obtian a permit. It's harder than I thought. Anybody with experience ?

thanks,
Cecily

 

[mamakaren]

I think it's a great idea. We could also try to do something again during LLL World Breastfeeding Week the first week in August so that there would be more attention. Unfortunately, that is also SeaFair time, but we can make things happen.

 

[DahliaRW]

I think a rally at the Seattle Center is just the thing! If it's going to take time to do it right I have no issue having it later than the 27th. We want this to look very professional! I'd be happy to help put together some pro-breastfeeding flyers to hand out at the event to those who pass by.

 

[sarahdoula]

I think getting something together for the 27th of June will be a good first step. Then if we get a good turn out and the kind of support we need, we can tackle the task of making it a big deal later on in the year. Hopefully we could get LLL involved in the promotion somehow.

Who can donate their time this week? We need volunteers for the following:

- Copying & distributing flyers (I'll design a flyer - can you donate some paper and ink?)
- Emailing everyone they know to get more volunteers/supporters
- Attend LLL meetings and invite everyone there to join us
- Compiling a mailing list (email and snail mail) of childbirth professionals, lactation consultants, childbirth educators, pediatricians, naturopaths, child welfare/health and mothering organizations, etc. and send them a flyer

Also, we should set up a date and time to sit down and try to plan this on paper. What will our schedule be? Who can help coordinate on-site? Will anyone speak (lactation specialist or someone known in the community who promotes breastfeeding?) What kind of info will be available to hand out? Can someone get a hold of LLL and get some materials (local meeting info, organization info, breastfeeding benefits, etc)? I know Medela has free information for childbirth classes on breastfeeding that is pretty good, can someone call them?

Some stream of consciousness there...

Anyone available to come down and meet at the Auburn library in the evening next week to meet and plan?

Sarah

 

[Bella'smamma]

Yes! I can meet with you.

I'm waiting to hear back from Seattle Center.

 

[soccerchic21]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahdoula - Emailing everyone they know to get more volunteers/supporters - Attend LLL meetings and invite everyone there to join us

I will gladly do that when a definite day, time and place is set

Quote:

- Compiling a mailing list (email and snail mail) of childbirth professionals, lactation consultants, childbirth educators, pediatricians, naturopaths, child welfare/health and mothering organizations, etc. and send them a flyer

I think there is a contact for Northwest Doulas, there are peer counselors for WIC, I would say contacting every birthing center in the seattle area and letting midwives know would be a good idea....ummm that is all I can think of right now. I will definitely say something to my MW on my monday appt.

 

[galadriel]

Maybe Kathi Goertzen would make an appearance?!

 

[girlndocs]

I don't live in Seattle (I live in Tacoma) so I don't know how much actual organizational stuff I'll be good for, but I'm glad to help and I'd love to come!

 

[kavamamakava]

LLL has Park Days on Thursdays. I'm planning to attend next week and can get the word out then. I can also announce it on the Seattle AP Yahoo list.

 

[kavamamakava]

Quote:

Originally Posted by girlndocs I don't live in Seattle (I live in Tacoma) so I don't know how much actual organizational stuff I'll be good for, but I'm glad to help and I'd love to come!

OT, but have you heard that St. Joe's has now banned VBACs?

 

[kavamamakava]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soccerchic21 I think there is a contact for Northwest Doulas, there are peer counselors for WIC, I would say contacting every birthing center in the seattle area and letting midwives know would be a good idea....ummm that is all I can think of right now. I will definitely say something to my MW on my monday appt.

PALS and NAPS are the doula organizations which could be a good place to start.

 

[MamaDaednu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by girlndocs I don't live in Seattle (I live in Tacoma) so I don't know how much actual organizational stuff I'll be good for, but I'm glad to help and I'd love to come!

:

 

[butterflyma]

Another Tacoman here

I can definitely come, can help via computer and may be able to come to the Auburn meeting. If anyone wanted to carpool I could fit an adult and a child in my car.

 

[Bella'smamma]

It's good to hear all of you willing to help.

So I've talked with the event coordinator at the Seattle Center. She gave me the lowdown and I'm going to fill out an application tonight. They have a board meeting on Tues. 14th. She said she would call me the next day with the answer. If it's a go, then we can print up flyers and distribute them. For us to be legit, we have to abide by the Seattle Center Campus rules.

THERE ARE RULES THAT WE NEED TO ABIDE BY SO PLEASE ONLY USE WORD-OF-MOUTH AND EMAIL UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

If we are denied in our application, we can still gather, but we can't use published material to promote the event. (Well, we can't publish the date & time.) We could have more of a 'nurse-in" style event, no signage or amplification during the event. We have to follow the rules.

There will not ba a speaker...unless we can raise over $500 to cover costs.

If we are ok'ed then we will meet at the Auburn library on Thurs. 16th to organize.

Keep the ideas coming.... we're doin it Mamas! :LOL

Thanks for all your support!
Cecily

 

[kavamamakava]

Do you think the date could change if they say no? Or will the nature of the event change if it's not approved?
I wouldn't want to spread the word if the date wasn't set yet.

 

[Bella'smamma]

I think the nature of the event would change. I think we need to "strike while the iron is hot". ykwim?
This is just a start to something much bigger. We need to respond, and Sarah an I feel like it needs to be done quickly.
The calandar that is posted on the Seattle Center website says the day is open, but we don't know if there are pending events. I got the impression that it was going to work out from the woamn I talked with.

Could somebody research to see if there are any other groups organizing? We need as much support as we can get. I haven't found anything yet, but I think more research is needed.

makin dinner.....

Cecily

 

[kavamamakava]

Ok! Off to email!
There is an LLL meeting tomorrow morning in Seattle - North. That's too far for me, but is anyone here planning on attending? You could tell them about it there. Can an LLL leader announce this sort of event if I called her tonight to let her know?

 

[sarahdoula]

I think they would allow someone to make an announcement at the LLL meeting so give her a call! Let's just tell/call/email people for now and let them know it's at the Seattle Center, near the fountain, on June 27th at 3 PM. Wear your BF t-shirts and buttons, bring your BF kids (all kids are welcome of course!) and hopefully we can have a table with material available on breastfeeding to hand out to anyone who wants it. We can still make a point by gathering there! Just because we can't carry signs or have a speaker doesn't mean we can't still alert the press (does it Cecily???)

I agree that this is the start of something bigger. Doing the nurse-in is a tiny first step to raise BF awareness.

Can those of you who will be coming next Thursday the 16th to the planning meeting at Auburn Library let me know your attending? Please EMAIL me, and let me know if afternoon around 2-4 or evening around 7-9 works better for you.

Also, please EMAIL me if you can't attend the planning meeting but still want to participate/volunteer in some capacity. Let me know what you'd like to do/not do.

I won't be checking email tomorrow at all, but will be back online by the end of the weekend.

Sarah