NC Breastfeeding Coalition Meeting

(NCBC)

October 11, 2005

Present: Margaret Anniorio, Carroll Beckham, Eileen Black, Victoria Brown, Vicki Carlson, Norma Escobar, Carrie Finger, Carol Ford, Kimberly Helms, Phyllis Kombol, Marian Kuczero, Donna Lo, Gladys Mason, Bonnie Moore, Wanda Oakley, Mary Overfield, Paige Smith, Sophie Stokes, Mary Rose Tully, Betsy Wall, June Wilensky

Introductions were made. Vicki Carlson has volunteered to lead the formation of the NCBC. She circulated notebooks highlighting the accomplishments of several different statewide coalitions.

Mary Rose Tully, a member of the United States Breastfeeding Coalition (USBC), explained that a USBC Conference would be taking place in Washington, DC in January 2006. Two representatives of each state BF Coalition and 1 WIC representative from each state will have expenses paid by USBC to attend a training seminar to be held at this conference. Since NC does not have an official statewide BF Coalition, this meeting was held to springboard any and all interested parties into forming a coalition. In the last month, MidSouth Lactation Consultant Association sent out hundreds of emails and letters to individuals and organizations across the state to invite anyone interested to join in this coalition.

Gladys Mason read a letter she had received from Jeanette Crenshaw, the Secretary of USBC, requesting names of contacts for a Statewide BF Coalition. Mary Rose proposed that this group be the NC Statewide BF Coalition. The present group has solid representation of several organizations from across the state. The motion was seconded and passed.

Projects for the NCBC were briefly discussed. A Statewide Resource Notebook was mentioned as a possible first project.

Gladys Mason expressed concern about duplicating projects, and said she felt a mission statement should first be in place so everyone would be on the same page regarding projects. Phyllis Kombol encouraged the group that our mission statement could be kept simple, projects could be listed by priority, and research could be conducted to avoid duplication. Gladys stated that she has found that people mainly work when finances are in place, but several people interjected that motivation could come from a passion for a project without a large financial expenditure.

Mary Rose explained the agenda for the USBC BF Coalition Seminar. The Seminar would last a day and a half, discussing coalition building, financing and development. Coalition efforts that are already in place will be shared. Breakout sessions will be held on various topics such as policy development.

Gladys voiced her concern that if the CDC were involved, it would mean more work for WIC. Wanda Oakley felt that officials at high levels of organizations such as WIC, AAP, AWHONN, NCAFP, et al. should be informed about the progress of a Statewide BF Coalition. It was proposed that a formal letter could be distributed for administrative information and/or support. It was also stated that grassroots organizations do not necessarily need to be blessed by higher powers to meet, achieve progress and make a real difference.

Several people agreed that keeping interested parties informed with no surprises would be a positive approach.

Carrie Finger offered to create and maintain a NCBC website, but that the purchase of a web design program, such as Dreamweaver, would be helpful. A motion was made to purchase this program for this purpose. Funds for the program could come from the MidSouth Lactation budget. The motion was seconded, voted on and approved.

A motion was made for the next NCBC meeting to be held in Raleigh on November 19, 2005. Seconded. The date was voted on and approved. Jam Gourley will arrange a meeting site.