If there is no LLL Group near you, and no Leader for you to work with, then you are an “isolated Applicant.”  Even though you live too far away to attend Group meetings, you might be able to connect with a Leader via email, email chats, or tapes.  You may already know a Leader interested in supporting you, or we may be able to help you find one.  If this is not possible, your Leader Accreditation Department (LAD) representative can cover all aspects of leadership preparation with you, including this exercise.

Part A: Community Awareness.  Purpose of exercise:  to help isolated Applicants learn about the needs of breastfeeding mothers in their community and the services available to them.

1. Identify the needs of your community

• How would you describe your community in terms of its geographical boundaries and the people within them?
• How might pregnant women and new mothers learn about LLL?
• Are there any obstacles to providing breastfeeding support that you think your community has in common with other areas?
• Are there any obstacles to breastfeeding that you think might be fairly specific to your area?

2. Services to mothers and babies

• What services are there for mothers and babies in your area (e.g., health clinics, postnatal support groups, mother and toddler groups)?
• What breastfeeding support exists in your community?
• How might LLL reach pregnant women and new mothers?
• What opportunities are there for links between LLL and other services in your community (e.g., hospitals, health professionals, lactation consultants)?

3. Existing community groups

Is there a group in your community that you attend or could visit, such as a playgroup, religious group, or parenting or other support group?  Sit back and watch what happens.  Observe the facilitators:   

• How do they engage participants and meet their needs?
• What works well for this group?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the group and its facilitators?

Part B:  Group Awareness.  Purpose of exercise:  to help isolated Applicants experience Series Meetings and learn about Group dynamics and listening and communication skills.

1. Participate in an online LLL meeting together with a mentor Leader and/or LAD representative

• To find out more about online meetings, go to:  http://www.lalecheleague.org/chat/chat.html
• Just listen and observe what is happening.  Take notes of your observations.  Share your impressions with your mentor Leader and/or LAD representative.

2.   Prepare for your next online meeting in advance

• Which Series Meeting will it be?
• Read the Leader’s Handbook to get an idea of the topics that could come up.
• Consider ways to encourage discussion about subjects related to the topic of the meeting.

3.   During the actual online meeting, look for key points as you observe what happens

• Notice how the Leader structures the meeting.  Is there a clear beginning/middle/end? 
• As you listen and make observations about the meeting, pay special attention to the questions the Leader uses to draw out mothers’ experiences.  Does everyone have the chance to participate?

4.    Evaluate

Following an online meeting, you can discuss the following points with the mentor Leader and/or LAD representative in the same way you would if using the Listening Exercise at a conventional Series Meeting:

• What did you “hear”?  What did the Leader “hear”?
• What were the underlying concerns of mothers?
• How did others react and what were your reactions?
• How did what was expressed relate to LLL philosophy?

 

Gina Gerboth, CLA Colorado/Wyoming; Lesley Robinson, ALA LLL Canada;
Amy Shaw, ADRALA Eastern US; Patty Varelas, ACLA Future Areas in Europe;
Tammy Veatch, CLA Florida; Sophie Yang, ACLA Future Areas in Asia;
  Developed from a session at LAD IMS 2005