[Love_My_Bubba]

<b><i>In light of the apology issued and the information that has been released about the philanthropic work and donations made by Iparty the nurse-in has been changed to a nurse-out, SPONSORED BY IPARTY!!!!</i></b> After receiving a return call from the Co-founder and President/CEO I have been informed that their company will be providing our mothers with chairs, balloons, snacks and toys or games to occupy the kids.<br><br>
A joint press release is being issed in that effect. We will be using this as an opportunity to shed a positive light on our efforts. I am SO pleased that this can be something that we can all look forward to now. We are going to meet at the store at 35 Pleasant St, South Weymouth, MA 02190 at 10AM on Saturday 4/28. If you have any questions please feel free to PM me for more info. If you could let me know you're coming that would be great so we can have a rough idea of how many moms we're going to have. This is the store's phone number in case you need directions (781) 682-9600.<br><br>
I hope to hear from a lot of you!!<br><br>
Julie

 

[RachelGS]

I can't be there! I really wish I could. You've got my support from here, though. Go, mamas!

 

[ZanZansMommy]

I'll be There with DS (18 mos). Has anyone cpntavted the LLL's in the area (Hingham & Silver Lake)?

 

[popbaby]

Oh No! I want to go to the Nurse In but our day is pretty packed. We will try our best to get there and I will try to reschedule my day, but it's not looking so good.<br><br>
Darn it!

 

[Love_My_Bubba]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>ZanZansMommy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7953157"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I'll be There with DS (18 mos). Has anyone cpntavted the LLL's in the area (Hingham & Silver Lake)?</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
Not yet, but now that I know the correct areas to contact I will do so!

 

[alleybcat]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>BabyBoobieAddict</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7953780"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Not yet, but now that I know the correct areas to contact I will do so!</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
There are LLL in Quincy and Dedham too.

 

[kennedy444]

Wow, just saw this story featured on 11pm WBZ newscast. IT was on before the first commerical break!!<br><br>
They even showed this website and the OP of this thread!<br><br>
Way to go. Good luck on Saturday.<br><br>
Also -- Interviewed the mom and she was so well spoken.<br><br><a href="http://wbztv.com/topstories/local_story_115113151.html" target="_blank">LINK</a> to news story.

 

[Love_My_Bubba]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>kennedy444</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7954738"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Wow, just saw this story featured on 11pm WBZ newscast. IT was on before the first commerical break!!<br><br>
They even showed this website and the OP of this thread!<br><br>
Way to go. Good luck on Saturday.<br><br>
Also -- Interviewed the mom and she was so well spoken.<br><br><a href="http://wbztv.com/topstories/local_story_115113151.html" target="_blank">LINK</a> to news story.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
<br>
SO cool!

 

[Autoemesiss]

Hey Ladies,<br><br>
I might be able to go. I live in CT but am willing to coming up with my 15m old. (I use to live in Boston area) How can I help. MA really needs a law passed (only 3 states in the COUNTRY don't have a public BFing law and MA is one of them!). Who is working on this bill? Isn't there a coalition of BFing in MA? LLL won't help with a nurse in but the coalition might.<br><br>
Has the press been notified? Has there been a press release done? Is Dr. Tracy going to be there? Has she made any comments about the nurse in?

 

[rupiezum]

The owners of iParty are horrified by what their manager did, and are working with a friend who is a member of the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Committee to right the wrongs done here. They are generous people who are have given money and time to the Boston Medical Center (which is Baby Friendly!) and other incredibly worthy causes. Bottom line, their employee screwed up, and they didn't handle it as well as they could have in the initial response from corporate, but they are actively trying to do better.<br><br>
IMHO, a nurse-in will burn a bridge that is currently being built. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/gloomy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Gloomy">:

 

[rupiezum]

I have spoken with Bobbi Philipp, a breastfeeding advocate and a member of <a href="http://massbfc.org/" target="_blank">the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition</a>. Dr. Philipp is also a pediatrician at <a href="http://bmc.org/" target="_blank">the Boston Medical Center</a> and was the chief architect on making BMC <a href="http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/" target="_blank">Baby Friendly</a>.<br><br>
Bobbi would like you all to know this about the owners of iParty, Dorice Dionne and Sal Parisano:<br><br>
"If all businesses were as socially responsible as iParty this would be a better world. This reflects one ignorant employee -- not ownership at all. Sal and Dorice bring in money for The Kids Fund charity here at BMC. Breastfeeding wise this charity funds breast pumps, lactation consultants, peer counselors and education for staff here at BMC . ...plus tons of other great things non breastfeeding related for families. Sal and Dorice dont just write a check, they come to meetings, they head boards, they show up for functions...they really really care about kids."<br><br>
Please reconsider your plans for a nurse-in. The owners of iParty are actively working to bring good out of a bad situation. If you want to make your voice heard - call your legislators, write letters to the editor, <a href="http://www.massbfc.org/advocacy/" target="_blank">attend the Breastfeeding Lobby day on May 9th</a>.

 

[Love_My_Bubba]

Ok, I understand the point that has been made by previous posters. I still feel that some action should be taken but I am going to try to change our tactics. I'm going to try to get in touch with the founder and see if she'll join us on Saturday. We'll make it a "here we are nursing to show support for a company that is truly trying to make amends".<br><br>
If anyone can offer any constructive ideas on how to turn this into a positive PLEASE tell me.

 

[purplepaisleymama]

Perhaps all could meet at a location nera the previously posted place, or the nurse-in could be changed to a NURSE OUT and there could be a big party somewhere, a picnic like atmosphere and we could publicly promote breatfeeding in a state where legislation is being sought ot protect mothers from discrimination and harrassment.<br>
I do not know the area but if a suitable place is suggested I will try to make it with my five children... the youngest 20mo and breastfeeding.<br>
laura<br>
also.... maybe change the title of the thread to alert that the original plans have changed?

 

[Love_My_Bubba]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>purplepaisleymama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7957965"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Perhaps all could meet at a location nera the previously posted place, or the nurse-in could be changed to a NURSE OUT and there could be a big party somewhere, a picnic like atmosphere and we could publicly promote breatfeeding in a state where legislation is being sought ot protect mothers from discrimination and harrassment.<br>
I do not know the area but if a suitable place is suggested I will try to make it with my five children... the youngest 20mo and breastfeeding.<br>
laura<br>
also.... maybe change the title of the thread to alert that the original plans have changed?</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
<br>
I think that's a great idea, I have already PM'ed a moderator to try to change the thread name in both forums. I'll post a new thread if I manage to get in touch with someone at the iparty corp. offices to change the structure of this thing.

 

[Autoemesiss]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>rupiezum</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7957188"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">If you want to make your voice heard - call your legislators, write letters to the editor, <a href="http://www.massbfc.org/advocacy/" target="_blank">attend the Breastfeeding Lobby day on May 9th</a>.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
<br>
I think this sounds like a great idea, but when I clicked on the link, there is no information about BFing Lobby day.... Maybe we could do a nurse out there. It would focus away from iParty, and focus more on the bigger picture, the BFing laws in MA.<br><br>
How does that sound?

 

[alleybcat]

Just throwing a thought out there.<br><br>
What if Iparty decided to put the beastfeeding symbol on their doors to show that they were now a breastfeeding friendly establishment. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/winner.jpg" style="border:0px solid;" title="BFSymbol"><br><br>
Maybe we could show up to support this decision and give them some positive press around the whole thing. Maybe the iparty founders and the woman who was kicked out could all be there to show that iparty was making amends and more importantly changing their tune.<br><br>
Maybe we could make up post cards to mail to state reps for lobbying day that iParty could have on their counters too, or something like that.

 

[purplepaisleymama]

I would suggest having a few NURSE OUTS in the coming weeks to get awareness out there, to help promote the legislation in Massachusetts and to network so that the psople involved in lobbying for the legislation can get a unified front in this here battle.... I live in CT and the law here is very supportive to say the least, I would be attending such events as an ambassador for the positive effect a great breastfeeding law can have in bolstering a woman's confidence to breastfeed.<br>
We could print little informational handouts detailing the current climate for breastfeeding in Mass and how a law would support mothers and children. Even having a mention of the laws in surrounding states might encourage support for Massachusetts.<br>
This could definately be a positive public display of support for breastfeeding, rather than something that could be perceived as a rebellion against a corporation. I am not trying to say that nurse-ins are a bad idea, but with the recent flurry of media stories we can perhaps change the feeling of retaliation against negativity into a campaign for breastfeeding equality.<br>
sorry, just rambling<br>
laura

 

[jessjgh1]

This link to the Lobby post should work:<br><a href="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=660811" target="_blank">http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=660811</a><br><b><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Massachusetts</span></span></b> <span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;"><b>Breastfeeding Coalition<br>
Lobbying Day</b><br></span></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Wednesday May 9<br>
10:00 am - noon<br>
State House Room 109</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Also, you can change the title of the thread by clicking on edit thread and then "Go Advanced".</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Jessica</span></span>

 

[jessjgh1]

<span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">Curious, has anyone heard from the woman that was harassed????</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">FWIW, I can get behind a Nurse Out-- I just do think we need to be very careful about Nurse In's and use them to exert pressure when a company is reluctant to make amends or does not follow thru.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size:medium;">I also think it is unusual for others to decide to nurse in without the support of the person involved.</span></span><br><br>
I'm glad to hear that Iparty is working with MBC to work this out. MBC already has a breastfeeding friendly business (and employer) award:<br><a href="http://www.massbfc.org/business.html" target="_blank">http://www.massbfc.org/business.html</a><br><br>
BTW, You can also report negative experience through the same site link.<br><br>
Jessica

 

[jessjgh1]

Margery Eagan's commentary in the Boston Herald:<br><br><a href="http://news.bostonherald.com/columnists/view.bg?articleid=196810&srvc=home" target="_blank">http://news.bostonherald.com/columni...6810&srvc=home</a><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;"><br><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here’s a modest proposal: Make this sort of thing a hate crime.</span></td>
</tr></table></div>
<span style="font-family:Arial;"></span>
<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Quote:</span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">These stories always end the same way: a grand apology and a protest “nurse-in” or a “lactivist suckle in.” Somebody from La Leche League extols the benefits of nursing and reminds us that nursing is why God made bosoms. But no one apparently learns a thing since we’re quickly off to the next public nursing dust-up.</span><br></td>
</tr></table></div>

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Quote:</span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br><br></span> <span style="font-family:Arial;">On May 9 the Mass. Breastfeeding Coalition will hold a lobbying day to persuade Massachusetts to join 47 other states and protect mothers’ breast-feeding rights.</span></td>
</tr></table></div>