LLLConnections
La Leche League Canada … Where breastfeeding and mothering connect…
Issue - 4 - 2014
What’s on this
month?
What is in a name?
By Fiona Audy, LLLC Leader
P1-2 What is in a
name?
P2 Mary Ann Cahill
Tribute
P3 Fall Appeal/Giving
Tuesday Update
P3 So Teresa Pitman
why are you a
monthly donor?
P4 Shopping
Reminder
P5 Breastfeeding
Benefits 2014 Prize
Announcement
poems, recipes and
photos. Send to
[email protected]
All photos used by
permission.
The mother on the phone asks “Is this the le…um...la...um…leech league?” Mums always
seem happy to get to the word league as that is the one they are sure they know how to
pronounce. As a Leader the answer is always “Yes it is, how can I help you?” because this is
not the time for a discussion of pronunciation.
The word “Leche” is a challenge for many people. Some people think it is pronounced “leech”.
For those of us who spent our childhood summers swimming in lakes full of leeches, this
choice gives us a chuckle because a newborn baby can seem as firmly and determinedly
attached to our breasts as the leeches were to our legs. As Canadians many people think the
unfamiliar word “Leche” must be a French word and so they say it as “Leh-ssh”. This
pronunciation choice makes “Leche” into a slangy and somewhat crude version of “lick” which
is amusing or rude depending on your point of view. Another twist on the pronunciation of
“Leche” comes out sounding like “leaky” which for many new mothers is exactly what they
are dealing with at the time they are making that phone call.
So, how do you pronounce “Leche” and what does it mean?
“Leche” is the Spanish word for milk and it is pronounced “Lay-Chay”.
In Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries you will see it on
cartons and tins in the grocery store. In Canada you might see it on a
menu in restaurant as a “con leche” cake or “café-con-leche” which is
the Spanish version of espresso. So “La Leche League” is simply “The
Milk League”.
When the seven women who founded La Leche League were looking
for a name for their group they had to consider the social climate of
their time and what would be acceptable to put on posters and
newspaper advertisements. In the mid-1950’s breastfeeding was at a
very low ebb and it was not discussed, let alone done, in public. To
use the word “breastfeeding” in any kind of publicity for the group
would not have been possible.
The idea to use the Spanish word
“Leche” was inspired by a statue in St
Augustine, Florida which is titled
"Nuestra Senora de la Leche y Buen
Parto". Translated, this means, "Our
Lady of Happy Delivery and Plentiful
Milk." The words “happy delivery and
plentiful milk” resonated with the
founding mothers and expressed the
goals of the mothers they knew. After
more than 55 years these words
continue to express the aspirations of
pregnant women and parents-to-be
world-wide. Although the name of the
organization was inspired by a
religious shrine, La Leche League is
non-sectarian and provides
breastfeeding support and information
to everyone regardless of race,
religion, cultural background or sexual
orientation.
Knowing how to pronounce “Leche” is
nice but be assured the Leader who
answers the phone is there to listen,
empathise, brainstorm and support
regardless of what version of the
word comes out.
The founding mothers, 1957 – Mary Ann Cahill with Mary; Betty Wagner
with Peggy; Mary Ann Kerwin with Tommy and baby Eddie; Mary White
with Michael; Marian Tompson with Laurel and Sheila; Edwina Froelich
with Peter. Only Vi Lennon escaped the camera.
In Memoriam
It was with sadness that we learned of the passing of Mary Ann
Cahill who died on October 26, 2014. Mary Ann was one of the
founding mothers of La Leche League and the author of the first
Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. La Leche League International ‘s
tribute may be read at:
http://www.llli.org/docs/0000000111_LLLIeNews/pg10_mary_ann_cahill_tribute.pdf
Our condolences to Mary Ann’s family at this difficult time.
Fall Appeal and Giving Tuesday Update
We launched our Fall Appeal campaign on Giving Tuesday (December 2)
which we had designated as the day to honour someone significant in
your life. You donated more than $2500 in about 24-48 hours! We wish to
thank those donors who made a gift on Giving Tuesday and paid tribute to
the “treasured ones” in their lives.
Our fall campaign continues with the emphasis this year on the need to
raise $20,000 to maintain our existing level of service. Please take the
time to read the full story and make a gift. Your support means the
world to families depending upon LLLC Leaders for breastfeeding
information.
Thank you!
So Teresa, why are you a monthly donor?
“I think the work LLLC does is vitally important and I wanted to
support the organization beyond what I do as a Leader. But money is
tight, and often when the appeals would come out I felt like I really
didn't have any to spare. Then I realized that if I gave a small amount
each month, it would add up to a much more substantial donation
over a whole year - even just $10 a month would be $120, more than
I'd ever been able to come up with at any one time. Plus, I realized
that it would help the organization with budgeting and planning to
have a consistent amount coming in.
Teresa, granddaughter Callista, daughter-in-law
Esmaralda and her son, Keagan
I've been a monthly donor for several years now, and I really hardly
notice that payment. It's been easy to fit it into my budget. And at
the end of the year when my tax receipt comes, I feel pretty good
about what I've been able to contribute.”
As Teresa says, she has been a monthly donor for several years. This is true for about 75 to 80 per cent of our current
monthly donors. This loyal group finds donating on a monthly basis easy, convenient for their personal budgets while
supporting a cause dear to their hearts. From a La Leche League Canada perspective, monthly donations provide us with
a stable form of support that allows us to plan our programs more efficiently.
Is monthly donating for you? Only you can answer that but here is some information that will help you with that decision.
Your donation → can be either a deduction from your bank account or a payment by credit card
st
th
When → donations are processed on the 1 and the 15 of each month so you can choose a date that suits you
Tax Creditable Receipts → are issued once per year in December
Appeal Letters → will no longer be sent to you when you are a monthly donor
How → click here to go to our Monthly Donation Form
Please take the time to consider supporting breastfeeding via monthly donations.
Thank you.
Here are a few ways that you can shop and support breastfeeding this winter.
Chapters/Indigo - When you shop through our Home Page at www.lllc.ca, we get a portion of
each sale. That means on all items!! You can buy everything from bling to baby gifts to books and
beyond and still support breastfeeding.
AIR MILES – use our AIR MILES collector number (8008 690 6377) and donate to LLLC. Either
present a printout of the Air Miles item on our website or give them our AIR MILES collector
number at check out. You may also purchase a gift card using your own Air Miles card and
donate it to your local Group or the national level of LLLC.
iGive.com – over 600 stores including Canadian Tire and The Bay are members of this program.
Funds going to charities from iGive.com range up to 26 per cent of the purchase price,
depending upon the store.
Login Bookstore for Health Professionals, students, etc. - La Leche League Canada and Login
Canada have combined forces to bring you easy access to a wide variety of materials geared
towards health professionals who work with breastfeeding families. Some text books for
university students are available, as well.
For more ideas, see our prize list at http://www.lllc.ca/news-and-events.
If you have any questions, please contact Sheila at [email protected].
Breastfeeding Benefits: what is it?
Breastfeeding Benefits is an annual fundraiser held at the local level by Groups and individuals across the country. The
events may range from a walk-a-thon to a virtual fundraiser to a pot luck picnic and a garage sale. The proceeds support
all levels of La Leche League Canada.
Each year, prizes are solicited from companies and individuals. The top Group and individual fundraisers are awarded
prizes from the donated items. For last year’s prize list, go to our website
BB 2014 Prize BB 2014 Prize BB 2014 Prize BB 2014 Prize
Naturana has been in business since 1917, founded by the Dölker family in Germany.
Our tradition is design
innovation and fashion focused trends combine in perfect harmony. Currently Naturana products are selling over 50
countries. We will be launching our Naturana Canada online store by 2015 as well.
Naturana nursing collection is very comfortable, functional and high quality. We have nursing bras with cotton, wired
and non-wired, with lace, prints. All nursing bras come with easy nursing clips.
Naturana Canada has donated 5 nursing bras and briefs as prizes for Breastfeeding Benefits 2014 prizes.
Thank you! For this prize and more see our website.