Since 1974 Dr. Kotlow, a board certified specialist in pediatric dentistry, has been serving the needs of infants and children from birth through the early teen-aged years. His practice specializes in preventive dentistry, newborn and infant care, the use of lasers for restoring decayed teeth, and oral surgery. His work with mothers and infants with breastfeeding difficulties due to tethered oral tissues (tongue-ties and lip-ties) is respected worldwide. His practice, located in Albany, New York, serves the dental needs of all children, including special needs children. He is a recognized international expert on the use of lasers in treating children and a lecturer on pediatric dental care.
Wilma Matos
During her over 20 years of professional and volunteering experiences as a social worker, manager, business entrepreneur, lactation counselor, doula, childbirth educator, and LLL Leader, Wilma Matos has proactively trained and managed staff towards the importance of building relationships that take into account clients’ different cultural expectations and needs. She has provided services not only in her hometown in Puerto Rico, but also in Florida, Georgia, and Ohio in home-community based settings, hospitals, children and family services, medical insurance companies, and to the incarcerated population.
Leaders are aware of how many Leaders are in the Group, and maybe the Groups in close geographic proximity, if we’re in a part of the state lucky enough to have multiple Groups. We know when new Leaders we’ll be working with are accredited, or when our own Group, or one nearby, begins work with a new Leader Applicant. But do you ever wonder about new Leaders in other parts of NY? In the past few years, an average of 15 new Leaders have joined our ranks per year, and 2018 looks to be on track to follow that trend. To date, nine new NY Leaders have signed their Statements of Commitment in 2018! The Area Team hopes to welcome even more new Leaders at the Area Conference in October.
Don’t forget – I’ll be available to work with all Leader Applicants, with or without their supporting Leaders, during the conference weekend! The not-quite-as-happy news in NY is that only two complete applications have been submitted since the beginning of the year. Is there someone who’s been attending meetings which you think would make a great Leader? Think about approaching that person to explore an interest, and maybe plan a meeting to discuss the prerequisites. Bring them to the Conference too! The LLL NY LAD, Pat, Regina, Cori, and I, are eagerly awaiting new Leader Applicants to work with!
Leader Survey
Haley Scribner, ACL
Hello, Leaders!
As Area Coordinator of Leaders, I want to be sure that everyone has plenty of opportunities to be heard and ask questions. It’s important we all have access to relevant information. Please take a few moments to respond to the survey. I’m excited to hear from you. Thanks so much for your time and for all of the work you do supporting nursing families across New York.
Once the survey results are compiled, we will share them in the eBlender, the Area newsletter, so everyone knows what broad themes were raised. Responses will be reported anonymously with any information that is shared within this survey.
Working with the New York Public Library
Leigh Anne O’Connor, IBCLC, Area Media Liaison
I love leading toddler meetings. I love being in the presence of toddlers, watching them discover the world, watching them grow, explore, and observe. They are so genuine. And I love supporting their parents. Nursing a toddler can feel lonely. There’s often no support or safe space to complain or revel in the experience of parenting and nursing these little humans.
I used to host toddler meetings in my living room. I needed to change location when it became challenging for my first born to share her space with other children. We had a nice run at the Museum of Motherhood on the Upper East Side. When the owner moved her museum to Florida, we needed to find a new home.
At a maternity event, I met a pregnant woman who happened to own a yoga studio. I mentioned that I was looking for a new home for our toddler meeting. She offered her studio. I jumped at the opportunity. A clean open space with blankets and soft yoga blocks was the perfect home for us. About a year ago I was informed that they needed their space for more classes. Once again we were in search of new meeting space. We had a gig at another yoga studio for several months, but the timing was not a good match for us – attendance went down.
In February a message in my inbox from Kelly Yim, the Director of Adult Programming at the New York Public Library, was the answer to our needs. I met with Kelly in the beautiful Fifth Avenue branch. After the interview, a background check, and some guidance from Linda Anderson, the LLL USA Coordinator of Insurance Certificates, and some revisions to the certificate, we were approved to lead meetings in the Bronx, Staten Island, and Manhattan. Unfortunately, the Brooklyn and Queens libraries fall under a different umbrella and are not included.
We had our first meeting at the Kips Bay Branch on June 15. Not only did I have some of the same parents from before we were at the studio with odd hours, but we also had parents who found us through the library. We are listed as part of the library programming. There were ten parents at the meeting and eleven toddlers.
The space was a children’s room, so we could close the door and sit comfortably on the floor. I am happy that we have a new home where we are welcome, and it feels like we will have it for the long haul. And the parents are so glad to have a new meeting home too! Leaders interested in using the libraries for LLL meetings have to get screened, which means you sign off on a background check. Contact Kelly Yim for more information kellyyim@nypl.org or message Leigh Anne to ask about her experience.
Finance Department News Aimée Readhead AFC
Leader and Group Dues
Leader and Group Dues
Thank you so much to those who have finalized Leader and Group Dues for 2018.
There are still Leaders who need to pay their dues. Please, can you help by checking in with your co-Leaders about dues payments and encourage them to contact me if they haven’t already?
Does anyone need help to pay dues or to update contact details?
If so, please contact Aimée at FinanceNYLLL@gmail.com or 347.735.3009. Leaders can pay dues by sending a check for $65 payable to LLL NY to Aimée Readhead, 6923 W Laredo St, Chandler 85226 AZ or by using the PayPal link https://lllny.org/finance-department/ (password: breastfeeding).
Conference Connections Scarlett S. Miles, APC
I am so excited! The Area Conference is just twelve weeks away.
Have you registered yet? Click here and Do it today!
There’s something for everyone this year.
Brush up on your newborn helping skills.
Learn the ins and outs of tethered oral tissues.
Discover the joys of parenting teens.
Revisit the wonders of breast milk.
Realize what LGBTQI+ means and how to support these parents.
Immerse yourself in the nursing ambiance.
Explore the parenting journey with like-minded parents.
Listen to the wonders of nursing.
Stretch your mind and body with morning yoga and Zumba.
Win a sweet prize in the raffle.
See new ideas in the exhibit hall.
Share the camaraderie with Leaders from all over NY and beyond!
Review and enhance your communication skills too.
And remember there are multiple ways to reduce the cost-
Volunteer to help now or during the conference.
Register with a Leader Applicant.
Register a Group.
Apply for a scholarship.
And of course, you can use Group funds to pay for some or all of the conference fees.
Whatever path you choose, register today and don’t forget to book your room. Late night conversations with sister Leaders are one of the best perks of a conference. https://lllny.org/lll-of-ny-area-conference-2018/#hotel
La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization with a vision to realize, deepen and share the love and wisdom
found in the breastfeeding relationship.
