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Reflective Optimism

Letter from Jane Tuttle, LLLI BOD Chair, to Arizona LLL

As La Leche League International celebrates fifty years of helping women to discover the joy of mothering through breastfeeding,  I am quite confident that LLLI will continue to help women and their families for years to come.  I can be confident because the LLLI philosophy of mothering through breastfeeding is true and strong.  I can be confident because the LLLI mission of mother-to-mother support is unique and tested.  I can be confident because of the good work done by talented women who spend their volunteer hours sharing this philosophy and mission.  These women, LLL Leaders, are passionate and compassionate.

LLLI is, by default, also a business.  I am confident that the business of LLLI will continue as well.  It is true that we are experiencing cash flow issues and that programs that were once housed in our office have been discontinued or moved into the field.   This change is worrisome to some Leaders, yet I would ask you to think of the time these programs spent being administered from the office as something of a business incubator. These businesses are now ready to move out and take root.  Can the Leaders in the field provide a quality health care providers seminar?  Yes, they can and they have for years.  Can the Leaders in the field provide a help line for mothers with questions?  Yes, they can and many have for years.  Will Leaders still have access to high quality breastfeeding research and information?  Yes, they will through a network of PL Leaders who feel passionately about that work.  Will the business side of LLLI survive?  Yes it will with changes to the business model and improved infrastructures to support the business model.

This is a time of change for LLLI.  The world is very different than it was in 1950's when LLL began.  Our philosophy remains unchanged and our commitment to mother-to-mother support is unshakable.  Will LLL survive?  Yes it will with all of us working to make that happen.