Melissa Vickers: (I hope I remember correctly that you were interested in
local inexpensive CEU opportunities . . .I'm just learning to use, weed
through, store & retrieve email info.)  A suggestion:  stylishly invite
others in your area who are involved with BF mothers (LLL Leaders, CB
Educators, Midwives, Ped's and Ped nurses, OB's and OB nurses, Family
Practice folks, WIC folks, Womens Health Councils, Nutritionists, etc.) to
join a BF task force or BF Coalition or LC Association.  Folks will
typically be honored to be invited, and will most likely suggest others.
        Serve FOOD at 1st few meetings (Approach local hotels or conference
centers.  Tell them your group's goals include scheduling educational
events--they may even supply space, drinks & snacks.  Local Breastpump
rental businesses may want to help spread the word & to sponsor such a
venture, because it benefits them to have such a group.  Even go pot luck,
if necessary.)
        At early meeting, distribute a survey to gleen needs and tap areas
of experience.  Get in touch with IBLCE, ICEA & other CB Ed, Nurses
organizations, and other certifying groups of related fields to determine
method of qualifying for ceu & cerps.  Often presenting such a program
gives you DOUBLE the ceu's, and you really do learn a lot by preparing &
teaching!  You have a lot of untapped local talent, I'll bet.  You have
more of interest to offer than you realize, most likely.  One NE area
coallition even periodically publishes a list of folks and topics locally
available to provide inservices for a modest honorarium.  (These
appearances may also get you referrals.)
        Another goal can be to honor and celebrate local individuals,
programs, practices & workkplaces that support BF families.  Colleage
sharing is so valuable.  Imagine an organization that has "talking shop" as
one of its goals!  Hope this inspires!  --Susan Jehle Johnson
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