There have been some wonderful suggestions for conferences so far.  Would
you consider reviewing and perhaps posting or printing in your conference
program (or including as a handout in attendees' folders) the WABA Code of
Conduct for Conferences and Events?  It was developed by the World Alliance
for Breastfeeding Action in May 1995 and revised in July 1997.  To obtain a
copy, contact WABA, P.O. Box 1200, Penang, 10850, Malayasia.  Fax:
604-657-2655.  Email: [log in to unmask]

I think that having these available in written form helps raise the
awareness of all conference participants.  While you no doubt take these
things for granted, many people just haven't thought about them carefully.

These are the Guidelines Towards a Mother-Baby Friendly Event:

Integrity
1. No funds from baby food industry (including manufacturers of infant
formula, breastmilk substitutes, bottles and teats) are accepted to
organize, provide speakers, or sponsor conference events.

2. No hospitality is accepted from the baby food industry for organizers or
conference participants.

3. No signs are permitted inviting participants to baby food industry
hospitality suites outside the conference venue.

4. No advertisements, displays or other forms of promotion are permitted in
conference materials, including brochures and programs.

Accountability

1. All financial support is fully acknowledged and disclosed.

2. Lists of conference participants are not sold or otherwise made
available to baby food industry.

3. Guidelines are regularly monitored so that products not directly covered
by the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes are also
not exhibited.

Accessibility

1. Affordable childcare facilities are provided for participants.

2. A convenient private space is available for women to breastfeed or
express breastmilk.

3. Mothers and infants are welcome to breastfeed anywhere in the conference
site.

__________
Me, again.
The issue of nursing babies at conferences is always a difficult one.
Those who have signed up for CERPs want to be able to hear and focus on the
speaker without distractions.  Yet we want to support nursing mothers and
not exclude them from participation.  Different conferences have handled
this in different ways.  LLL conferences usually have a statement in the
conference brochure, repeated orally at the start of each session, about
this.  The July 1997 conference in Washington, DC used this: "Listening to
your baby so you can tend to his needs is the single, most important thing
you can do during the Conference.  Feel free to leave a session if your
baby is noisy."

Sometimes a mother doesn't seem aware that her baby's noises are disturbing
others.  It's nice if a conference helper can be in each session to assist
the speaker, and maybe could gently let a mother know that she might need
to step out for a few minutes to quiet her baby.  I like it when space is
available in the rear of a room for mothers to sit on the floor with the
baby on a blanket and a few quiet, soft toys.  Maybe a room where a
caretaker accompanying the mother can comfortably hang out with the baby
could be designated.  Some conferences are able to tape sessions so that
mothers with children who are not able to attend quietly all the way
through a session can still hear the speaker's presentation.  I feel badly
about a recent local conference where 2 mothers with noisy babies were
asked to leave until they could quiet their babies.  One sat outside the
closed door of the room crying in frustration.  She felt she had paid the
full registration fee, and deserved a chance to hear the speaker.  Luckily
the babies fell asleep quickly outside the room and both the mothers were
then able to go back in.

Anne Altshuler, RN, MS, IBCLC and LLL leader in Madison, WI
e-mail:  [log in to unmask]