Sunday, January 26, 2020

Breastfeeding Conferences 2020


It has become an annual tradition for me to research lactation conferences, check registration links and put it all together in a neat package for colleagues and advocates. I was definitely NOT prepared to see the increase in offerings. There are nearly twice the number of lactation specific conferences than in 2019. With so many fabulous choices, how can one decide on which ones to attend? Let me offer 11 suggestions for narrowing down your search
.

1. Location. Support your local coalitions and organizations. There is a lot of effort and thought that goes into planning and executing these large events and they should be well-attended. Locals make up the majority of the audience and organizers are counting on you. Staying local will present the opportunity to meet people in your own backyard and you may find networking and collaboration opportunities. Remember, if the conference is a success, it will most likely be a reoccurring event.

2. Cost. It is no small investment to attend a conference. The options for 2020 range from around $100 to $500. A low-cost option does not mean a low-quality program. Some conference committees work hard to get sponsors to keep pricing low. Check for discounts. Many conferences offer member or student discounts and early bird pricing. If you are looking for a specialty training or attending a multi-day event, the pricing is sure to be higher. Just remember to budget for the events you would like to attend. If you want more suggestions on how to save money, check out last year's conferenceblog.

3. Contact Hours. Many professions require continuing education for re-certification. Conference organizers have to apply for these in advance. IBCLCs need 85 L-Cerps every 5 years. Nurses, Registered Dietitians, Physicians, etc. all need to meet minimum requirements. Don't just assume you will receive CEUs, BRNs, etc., double check before registering.


4. Presenters. We all have our favorites, but venture beyond the big names. There are plenty of rising stars who have a lot to share. I love to support fresh faces that come along with new ideas. Of course, I'm not ready for anyone to retire--there are still quite a few I need to learn from (looking forward to crossing a few off my bucket list in 2020). And let's be honest, there are lactation legends that could never be replaced.

5. Topics. This one gets me all the time. There is so much I want and need to learn. I often base my choice on what I am seeing in private practice or what my students want to know more about. I feel responsible to learn the new information and pass it on to others. I jump on opportunities to learn new research and absolutely love it when I get to hear from the researchers themselves.

6. Diversity. I mean this in every sense of the word. This is often the work of the organizers. Hopefully, people are realizing the value and necessity (along with urgency) of having a variety of speakers that address even the most uncomfortable topics. You will notice several conferences including this aspect this year. Choose diversity. It may seem like some groups are overcompensating, but we are making up for lost time.

7. Organizers. Who are you supporting? I like to know where my investment is going. I tend to support my friends, non-profits and small businesses. This list will look different for everyone. Sometimes people will select a conference where some proceeds go to a cause near and dear to their heart. Others like to attend conferences that offer scholarships. Some people may decide not to attend a conference that does not follow the WHO Code. You have your reasons and you get to vote with your funds. If you have a specific question, reach out to the event coordinator prior to registering.

8. Refund Policy. Many people attending breastfeeding conferences are involved in the birth world where the unexpected is expected. Know the refund policy. What is the latest to cancel without penalty? Do the organizers keep your deposit? Is there a way to receive a partial refund if an emergency arises? You can save yourself some disappointment if you know the policies ahead of time.

9. Public Transportation. This may be a deal breaker. I have looked at low-cost conferences but after budgeting airfare, rental car and/or Uber the cost became elevated. I even attended a conference where there was a $25 parking fee for each of the three days! Take into consideration ease of travel and location in regards to transportation so you can budget accordingly.

10. Exhibitors. Some conferences are market free and those may be the ones you wish to support, but I always like to see the newest gadgets and how they work. I always purchase from local vendors and support the small businesses that have invested in order to keep my cost low. I feel like I would rather purchase from them rather than pay more to register. It is a win-win for me. I also am very social, so hanging out in the exhibit area is a highlight to my day. It is so much easier to connect in a social environment than in the conference room. Some of my best ideas and most successful partnerships were birthed in the exhibit hall.

11. Attendees. Yep, I want to know who I get to connect with. I love meeting like-minded people and finally connecting in person. Social media is great, but nothing compares to grabbing a cup of coffee in person. I put this last, but personally, I get giddy when I know I will be seeing friends. I just didn't want to out myself as a fan-girl. I get motivated, inspired, excited and encouraged by the attendees as much (if not more than) the presenters. Who will I see at the 2020 Conferences? I cannot wait to connect in real life.

2020 CONFERENCES (listed in order of scheduled dates)
Click the title to follow the links to the conferences
US CONFERENCES
Organization or Topic

DATE(S)


LOCATION


COST
Early Bird rates are listed, member/ group discounts may apply
Jan 14-17, 2020
Deerfield Beach, FL
$175 per day
Jan 21-23, 2020
Sacramento, Ca
$425
February 7, 2020
Kenmore, WA
Additional locations and dates
Check the website
February 7-8, 2020
Atlanta, GA
$230
February 9-10, 2020
Richmond Hill, NY
$335
February 20-23, 2020
Anchorage, AK
$595
February 29, 2020
Dallas, TX
$325-$525
March 4-May 4, 2020
Online
$175
March 5-6, 2020
Oshkosh, WI
$125
Nursing Mother's Council of BACE March 9, 2020 Boxborough, MA $145
New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force March 12-13, 2020 Albuquerque, NM $350
LC in Private Practice March 14-15, 2020 Philadelphia, PA $475
March 16-17, 2020Atlanta, GAComing soon
March 25, 2020
Dalton, GA
$115
March 26, 2020
Portland, CT
$185
March 27-28, 2020
Houston, TX
$250
March 27-28, 2020
Dublin, OH
$325
March 28, 2020
Rock Hill, SC
$30
March 30-June 1, 2020
Online
$225
AHEC North Carolina March 31, 2020 Winston-Salem, NC $115
April 2, 2020
Fairview Heights. IL
$110
April 2, 2020
Troy, NY
Coming soon
April 17, 2020
San Joaquin County, CA
$129
April 17, 2020
St. Paul, MN
Coming soon
May 17-20, 2020
New Orleans, LA
$485
April 20-21
Austin, TX
$270-440
April 23-24


April 24, 2020
S. Burlington, Vermont

Cleveland, OH

$300


$250
April 24-25
Viera, FL
$140
April 24-27, 2020
Seattle, WA
$200-$800
April 25, 2020
Fayetteville, NC
$400
April 27-28, 2020
Anchorage, AK
$375
April 30, 2020
Raleigh, NC
$90
May 7-8, 2020
Holyoke, MA
Coming soon
May 13-15, 2020
Detroit, MI
Coming soon
North Carolina Lactation Consultant Association
June 8, 2020
North Carolina

June 12-13 2020
Scottsdale, AZ
coming soon
June 13-17
Phoenix, AZ
Coming soon
July 8-11, 2020
Houston, TX
Coming soon
August 26-28, 2020
New Orleans, LA
Coming soon
September 11-13, 2020
San Antonio, TX
Coming soon
September 15-November 15, 2020
online
$175
October 9-10, 2020
Flintstone, MD
$100
INTERNATIONAL/ ONLINE CONFERENCES
DATE(S)
LOCATION
COST
February 19-21

February 20-22

Ongoing/online

Australia

Warmambool, VIC

traveling training

$475

$455


$377
March 4 & September 15, 2020
online
$175
March, 2020
5 Locations; Australia and online
$235
March 30-June 1, 2020
Online
$225
April 24-25, 2020
Milton Keynes, MK17 OPH
£300
May 14-16, 2020
Milan, Italy
230€
ABM Australasia
May
Melbourne

November 19-20
Harrogate, UK
Coming soon
BIENNIAL CONFERENCES (RETURNING IN 2021)
April 29-May 1, 2021 (Biennial)
Norfolk, VA

2021 (Biennial)


Canadian Lactation Consultant Association (CLCA)
2021
Vancouver, Canada

I am sure that this list will be edited regularly. Please leave comments for any updates or additions to the 2020 calendar. Also, tell us why you choose to attend conferences. Do any of the 11 reasons above resonate with you? Which one(s) are you looking forward to attending in 2020?

13 comments:

  1. VLCA.org conference is April 23&24. $215 one day $300 two of registered before March 27th

    ReplyDelete
  2. Currently LLL of Texas Conference is $150 for members with our Early Bird discount use code “earlybird50”. If you are not a member you can buy a membership when registering.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Short notice for this post, but Lehigh Valley Breastfeeding Coalition’s Lactation Conference is February 1, 2020 at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. $100 for 6.5 CERPs/RN CEs. Scholarships available. https://sites.google.com/site/lehighvalleybreastfeeding/conference

    ReplyDelete
  4. USLCA will be on the move and is having 1 day regional workshops all over the U.S. in 2020/2021! Stopping at 11 cities in 2020 and 5 more in 2021. You get CERPS! www.uslca.org/2020-regional-workshops
    We hope to see everyone there!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for providing such a valuable information and thanks for sharing this matter.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello! I am the Co-Chair for the Northwestern Wisconsin Breastfeeding Network, and we are planning our conference for October 15, 2020. More details here:
    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2020-nwbn-breastfeeding-conference-registration-82056672717?fbclid=IwAR00A_Dkjod4BXbOV4Zc2KedpcujissMnXowP1qAC218kGzio_k__bAD4LU

    ReplyDelete
  7. The La Leche League of Texas conference has moved online. It starts Aug 1st and is $350 for 18 CERPs.
    https://www.texaslll.org/conference/ For more information follow us on Facebook,https://www.facebook.com/texaslllconference/, or email us at conference@texaslll.org.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow! Thank you for this list Christy!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am here to tell you about a natural remedy that is
    guaranteed to make you wonder why your doctor didn't tell
    you about it. Then, on the other hand, it is pretty obvious
    why your doctor didn't, because that's not his job, is
    it? But, seriously, promise me you won't get too angry
    with your health practitioner, it's really not their
    fault. They can only practice what they're told to
    practice, right?When your health is at risk there's no time for Tom
    foolery, you've got to get down to the cause and nip it
    in the bud. So you've been suffering from painful gout
    attacks have you? Well, allow me to give you a new
    perspective on the solution to what plagues you I was once in your shoe until my college friend introduce me to Dr Itua herbal center which cure my hiv/herpes after drinking it for two weeks as instructed, Dr Itua is an africa herbal doctor who has natural power to cure the following diseases: Herpes,Hiv,Hepatitis B,Fibroid,Schizophrenia,Cancer,Scoliosis,Fibromyalgia,Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva.Fatal Familial Insomnia Factor V Leiden Mutation ,Epilepsy Dupuytren's disease,Desmoplastic,Diabetes ,Coeliac disease,Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease,Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Ataxia,Arthritis,Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,Alzheimer's disease,Adrenocortical carcinoma.Asthma,Allergic.
    As Dr Itua assure me that all those disease below that he guaranty 100% permanent cure to all these disease I believe Dr Itua so much because he help me cure my hiv/ herpes which has being my burden in life so I promised Dr Itua that I will testify about his work online after curing me and that is what I'm doing here so please if you are suffering from those diseases do not hesitate to write Dr Itua Herbal Center On Email: drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com Or chat with him on whatsapp: +2348149277967.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dr. Ehimare has really made me so much believe in him by getting me cured of Herpes with his herbal medicine. I have been a Herpes virus patient for some time now, I have been running here and there looking for help/cure but none could help. I ran into a testimony by someone who testified how she was cured of a terrible disease by Dr. Ehimare, so I decided to contact the herbal doctor. I explained to him, and he said he can cure me. We started the process and he prepared herbs and sent them to me in my country and gave me directions on how I am to use them. I followed his directions and now To God be the glory he could cure me with his herbal mixture. I really appreciate you Dr. Ehimare for bringing back happiness to my life again. thanks you so much friends that has join me to thank Dr. Ehimare for what he has actually done for me i pray to you all for a good life and property, his contact. Email address drehimare3@gmail.com , via whats-app +1 (267) 691-1087 Thanks Dr. Ehimare for your help in my life and family... and most especially to you Dr. THANKS.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I got Diagnosed with Herpes, I have be dealing with Herpes for the past 4 years. On till I got review online about natural cure people testifies how DR. Ehimare cure them with his herbal treatment. And I order the treatment, after taking it for 21 days I totally got cured with DR. Ehimare treatment. I'm recommending you diagnosis with herpes should get this treatment and be cured of it you can contact his email address via; drehimare3@gmail. com or you can also call or whatsapp +1 (267) 681-1087Dr. Ehimare also cure the following virus and many more... 1} Cancer 2} Diabetes 3} Hepatitis 4} fibroid 5} herpes 6} Lupus

    ReplyDelete
  12. why suffering in sickness and in pain when there is a genuine herbal doctor call DR JOHN ,that can tracdomedically cure and heal you of your disease.. am a living testimony to what DR JOHN has done for me.. Anyway, my name is Daniel Bohm, from Omaha, Nebraska in America. for about 4 years now, i have been diagnose of herps, and the situation was eaten me badly.. out of frustration, i started search on Internet and in the world in search of solutions to my ailment.. i stumble on DR JOHN testimony on how he cure a woman of herps, i decided to give it a try because i was fed up on Google not knowing who to trust again.i decided to give it a try, to my greatest surprise he administer a herbs to me and i was cure of my disease.. because of the good thing that this great man has done for me, i promise to tell DR JOHN good works he has done for saving my life to the whole world. those passing through such problem should contact DR JOHN via email; drjohnhivcurehome@gmail.com or whatsapp number +2347064365391
    for more solution to your problems,
    He also specialise in curing the following problems

    Hiv/aids

    Goodluck in life

    and all kind of diseaseHpatities A, B

    Ex-lover Back

    ReplyDelete
  13. Am really grateful and thankful for what Doctor Ehimare has done for me and my family. I Was having HERPES for good three years with no solution, the diseases almost took my life and because I was unable to work and I was also loosing lots of money for medication, but one faithful day when I went online, I met lots of testimonies about this great man so I decided to give it a try and to God be the glory he did it. he cured me of my diseases and am so happy and so pleased to Write about him today. if you need his help or you also want to get cured just the way I got mine, just him Doctor Ehimare Whatsapp him ; +1 (267) 691-1087 or his email address drehimare3@gmail.com and get your healing. He has cure for other deadly diseases like Diabetes, Hiv/Aids, Hepatitis of all types and Cancer

    ReplyDelete