Cap Area Breastfeeding Coalition– March 22, 2016 Meeting Notes—-NEXT MEETING IS APRIL 19 5:30-7:30

Don’t forget the Baby Fair on April 16 and the BF Get-together on April 24!
Attendees:   Lynn, Lindsey, Diane, Ann, Laura,  Tracie, Caroline, Hilary, Chelsea, Tammy

1.Willow Tree— April 16, Baby Fair at the Lansing Center. Lynn has the chairs for the CABC area. LIndsey, Hilary and Laura have volunteered to take shifts.

2.BF Fun Get-together— Ann created the event on Facebook: Sunday, April 24, 3-5 p.m. at Willow Tree. Lindsey’s flyer was modified and posted. Lindsey will set up a Perfect Potluck sign-up for refreshments. Tracie will get the gift basket. Tracie will use the gift card from the Michigan BF Network Coalition meeting to purchase paper supplies for the get together. EmilyW said she would bring cards for Breastfeeding stories. Emily A. will set up a craft table for kids. Lindsey will be able to help, but need volunteers for set up, greeting and clean-up. Ann will donate a ring-sling. LaLecheLeague may have raffle tickets available for the door prizes. It will be advertised at Baby Fair. Invitees are breastfeeding supporters and breastfeeding families.

3.Strong Start Healthy Start–Tracie brought info about the breastfeeding campaign and asked for feedback on the slogans and images to be used. Also, the safe sleep survey will be posted in google docs to give everyone a chance to make comments on the form. Let Diane or Tracie know if you weren’t able to access it and still want to comment.

4.Resource Guide– Diane has gotten comments on the “printable” long version of the Resource Guide.  Suggestions were made to align the names of the LC’s, and Diane will work on this. Laura will revise the “short form” to remove the Allen Neighborhood Center. Laura will also work on a page for professional breastfeeding support. Ann will do a search optimization and links to breastfeeding support. Ann is also revising the look and feel of the website.

5. La Leche League— now holding a virtual meeting once a month– all text on a new facebook site.  9 p.m. on the 4th Thursday each month.  The LLL Conference will be October 7 and 8.  Includes CERPS.

6.Allen Neighborhood Center: Following the meeting, Denise emailed to see if the Coalition would be interested in setting up a BF info table during the July 20 kids fest during the farmers market. Need volunteers to attend. Market is 2:30 – 7:00, but any portion of that would be great.

7. Michigan BF Network— Ann updated on the Regional Coalition Meeting that was held earlier in the day. Our coalition can be involved in Advocacy, initiatives, coalition building, sending out info about webinars. MIBFN might be able to be a fiduciary for local coalitions. It was suggested that MIBFN could look at the way the LaLecheLeague is an umbrella organization for the local LLL chapters. The local chapters have bank accounts and report their expenditures to the state group, which covers them as a non-profit.

MIBFN would like to see more aligned activity throughout the state, re: policy, consistent messaging. They would like to help coalitions to commlunicate. The Coffective App is going to be used to locate resources in each community.  All of the partners in CABC should be putting their info on the coffective app.

Diane will post the Local Coalition Directory Survey on Google Docs to get input on what our coalition should be putting on the survey.

The coalition received a gift card for attending the meeting– how great is that?  Card was given to Tracie to purchase paper products for the Fun BF Get-Together in April.

8.McLaren— is looking into using an MDHHS grant to fund “safe sleep boxes”, which cost about $60 per box.  Families receive a box with baby supplies; the box may also be used as a safe sleep place.  Have been used in Finland and have been tried in some US locations.

Next meeting:  Tuesday, April 19, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.