Seven Voices, One Dream
Patty Spanjer
Dalton GA USA
Report from 2001 LLLI Conference
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 18 No. 5, September-October 2001, p. 173
LLLI's Founders shared their
thoughts on the beginning of what would become La Leche League and cheerfully
reminisced about their experiences in the Conference session "Seven
Voices, One Dream: Getting to Know the Founders Inside and Out."
Some of the Founders brought
items for "Show and Tell." Mary Ann Kerwin, who, according
to the other Founders, saves everything and can always find anything
needed immediately, brought an original copy of THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING.
She also brought a copy of
the 1963 Reader's Digest magazine article that gave La Leche League
national attention: Karen Pryor's "They Teach the Joys of Breastfeeding."
She had the first LLL NEWS from May/June 1958. (LLL NEWS was the predecessor
of NEW BEGINNINGS.)
Marian Tompson brought a
friend and the friend's daughter, who is now ACL of Illinois. She also
brought some iron nipple shields. According to an article in the 1839
medical journal, Lancet, these would prevent sore nipples.
Mary White brought a grocery
bag with an LLL ad on it from about 15 years ago. When she held it up,
Mary Swisher, a Leader from Michigan, hopped up to look at it, proclaiming,
"That is from my Group!" Mary White also brought her "traveling
to meetings nightgown," which had been made for her by an LLL Leader.
These women described how
the idea of "mothering throug breastfeeding" came to be their
guiding principle. In the early years, there was a lot of discussion
about what was different about the information they offered. They finally
realized, with the help of Dr. Herbert Ratner, that what they were offering
was information about a way of mothering.
"We owe much to Dr.
Herbert Ratner," said Mary White, as all of the Founders nodded
in agreement.
They explained that they
do have seven voices and that those voices don't and didn't always agree
on how things should be done. But they have always had a special bond
with each other, and a willingness to work together.
When asked how they handled
these disagreements, Edwina Froehlich responded that they talked about
their differences, and let their emotions show, sometimes over the course
of several meetings. Then they voted to make final decisions. It was
their one dream of helping mothers breastfeed that inspired them to
resolve their disagreements and continue the organization they founded.
According to Froehlich, "There was no way to lose sight of our
mission, because mothers kept calling."
When asked what caused the
greatest discussions, they laughed. They had lively discussions about
solids, loving guidance, and childbirth. Mother and baby togetherness
is even now generating a lot of discussion.
One questioner asked how
La Leche League helped each grow as a person. Marian Tompson said she
had always been very shy. Being President of LLL for 25 years "brought
into my life the most wonderful people who nourished me and helped me
grow." Viola Lennon learned the real value of children, and Edwina
Froehlich received encouragement and understanding in her role as a
mother.
When asked what they are
doing now, the Founders enthusiastically shared that their families
keep them busy yet their commitment to La Leche League remains strong.
Betty Wagner Spandikow lives
in Tennessee and enjoys gardening, sewing, and reading. She and her
husband, Paul, also have a condo in Illinois.
Mary White spends her time
"going from christenings to weddings," she said. She and husband
Dr. Greg White, are selling their large family home and moving into
a condo.
Edwina Froehlich doesn't
make long-term commitments any more. She wants to be available to her
family and friends and "enjoy life."
Vi Lennon works with the
Alumnae Association and enjoys her children and grandchildren all of
whom live in the Chicago area.
Marian Tompson has begun
a new nonprofit organization called Another Look at Breastfeeding and
HIV/AIDS. A trip to South Africa sparked her interest in the topic.
Mary Ann Kerwin recently
retired from active participation in the LLLI Board of Directors. She
was the last Founder to do so. She also retired from her law practice.
This year she has had several family members temporarily living with
her and her husband. She hopes to discover the secret to relaxing.
To learn more about the lives
of these fascinating women and how they changed the world, be sure to
read SEVEN VOICES, ONE DREAM by Mary Ann Cahill.
Last updated Friday, October 27, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:29:58 UTC 2007.
