During the lead-up to the ILCA Conference I was really enjoying the
free-flow of information on room sharing, transportation etc. I wasn't
attending this year, but I could feel the excitement and anticipation
building for attendees and could visualise everyone gathered at Boca Raton.
Then despair as the criticism started again, again..  I did wonder if
between the Conferences, letters had been written direct to the Board.

Thank you Marsha Walker and Barbara WC for your posts . The debate is
important, but I agree with the request for it to be constructive and
directed to the ILCA Board, in a professional way.
My background: I've been a vocal breastfeeding advocate for 30 years, a
volunteer in this field for most of my adult life, but also a conference
organiser for 30 years...  for my own business I never have any problems
making decisions about who will or won't exhibit !  I'm not an IBCLC, but I
am an ILCA member.

Several years ago when ILCA agreed to hold their 2003 Conference in Sydney,
Australia, I offered to help, and exhibits and sponsorship are my
responsibility..   this post is my personal commentary.

There are very few venues  in Australia that can cater for up to 1000
delegates, unlike the US. The venue chosen is on Darling Harbour, adjacent
to Sydney Harbour and the Opera House, which are international landmarks. It
is a fantastic environment for delegates. We understand that LCs and most
other health professionals likely to attend do not have high incomes. Many
like comforts, some accept spartan, many like exhibits, some object to most,
if not all..  some won't be able to afford to attend another conference next
year, or maybe even for 2 years, so appreciate the range of resources, if
not the sales pitches.

The rent in such unique venues (to cater for these numbers) is
extraordinary. We will struggle with budgeting, but we will put in hundreds
and thousands of volunteer hours to put on a good conference with fantastic
speakers and activities. We will constantly reflect on the expectations and
personal needs of attendees, (registrants and exhibitors and sponsors), and
our responsibilities to each other.

Your support will be vital - your attendance, your abstracts and your
presenting, your ideas for sponsors, speakers, exhibitors, program details..
ILCA is in dire financial straits and cannot afford to have poor attendance.
Focusing on 2 exhibitors detracts from the rest as has been said, but it may
also deter future attendees (and ILCA membership etc). That would be sad,
although as I read through some of the posts, I wondered whether 'no
conferences' might remove the $ risk, and the annual tirade.. is that a
desirable outcome?

The focus has to be on the value of the educational content, the networking
and the bringing together. The criticism about commercialism and Code
violators is important feedback for the Board, but at the same time offer
ideas on other exhibitors or sponsors, or introduce others to ILCA, to JHL,
or bring someone else to the Conference, or just make a donation of money or
time to the bf movement. (and there are Code monitoring organisations who'd
like assistance, so good data can be published on Code violators)

The Sydney Conference has one major difference to the North American based
ones - we do not have a  local professional conference organiser, just a
tiny committee of volunteers arranging the program and the exhibitors etc.
Those committee members are very familiar with the WHO Code, and the wide
range of reactions to exhibitors and sponsors (most, if not all, are on
Lactnet).

I have absolutely no inside knowledge about the Boca conference, but
sponsors are usually sought first, and choice of stand is probably part of
the package. It's logical and normal commercial practice, but not always
easy for smaller businesses to accept. However, conference organisers work
hard to get registrants through all parts of the exhibit area (as do
exhibitors).

You can contact:
* the Conference Coordinator, Angela Smith, on [log in to unmask],
See the Call for Abstracts on the ILCA website,
http://www.ilca.org/conference/03/index.php
or contact me about exhibits and sponsorship
[log in to unmask]


Cheers
Jan Cornfoot
Brisbane, Australia.

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