Aww, look what I got in email

I just got this lovely email, and got the author's permission to share it. It is so sweet--Sue Ann

I just returned home from the DC international conference and was tearful as I left and these two days following. I SAW WHAT WORLD PEACE WOULD LOOK LIKE. It was an amazing, uplifting, grounding, confirming, enlightening, connecting, learning experience and I can’t wait for the next in Chicago. My husband attended half and I the other half and he got as much or more than me, as he has at the regional meetings. To be surrounded by others who as my 5-and-a-half-year old would scream and cry or not listen and see the smile of knowing concern letting me know they had been there and knew I to would handle it and get through it made me what to establish a LLL neighborhood. It all begins with nursing and I can admit I want to nurse for the rest of my life. The speakers were awesome and those attending my new family, I never even asked names, as if we already knew. I hope to see you all again. Thank you LLL [and] the Founders for your strength in principle to move and enlighten the world to the greatest gift the world has to offer--people that are breastfed connected to knowing the comforts of peace is found in the love of connectedness.

Celeste Schoen Reading PA

Podcasts are GO!

I just linked up a big batch of podcasts at our Podcast Page. There's a lot of great stuff available there for your listening pleasure, including discussions with famous authors, tips to make your family life easier, and even some music!

I had SO MUCH FUN...

...and I worked SO HARD in the Tech Room!!!

I guess I was one of the first Tech Room people to leave the conference -- my kids and my husband were getting a little sick of being away from home, so we said our goodbyes around 4 on Tuesday.

Personally, I felt (and still feel) like I never wanted to leave! Working in the Tech Room was exhausting (the night after our first full day of being "open for business", I was so worn out that I couldn't even speak! I was communicating with my children via hand gestures!) but I loved it! Getting people hooked up to all of our great online resources was so energizing and exciting! I can't wait for 2007!!

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig

Man, am I tired! I spent a really nice last day in Washington, D.C., with Sue Ann and her son. We were all flying out late afternoon, so we spent the morning and early afternoon at the National Zoo. I'd never been there before, and was delighted to see a panda for the very first time. It was lunchtime, and we got to see the male panda chowing down on bamboo -- extra cool.

After a blissfully uneventful flight, I got home around 8 pm, and actually had an hour to myself before the rest of my family got home. (They had been at dh's African drumming performance). It was good to find everyone's surprises I'd bought while away, and to shift gears from podcast interviewer/computer geek to cuddlly mom and wife.

There are still TEN more podcasts for me to upload to the website, and TWENTY still to add to the RSS feed! Yikes - we got so busy toward the end, there! Lu Hanessian, Gordon Neufeld, two live a capella musical performances, some really excellent stuff. I'll work on making them ready for the LLLI website (http://www.lalecheleague.org/05conf/podcasts.html ).

I'm really zonked from the Conference - I'm not used to being that extroverted, for that long. But still, I can hardly wait until my next podcast interview. It is so much fun to ask people about the things they love the most!

Relief, Tired!

I got back to my parents' home in North Carolina last night. I immediately fell dead asleep. I had been all perky until I got there--obviously I had held on to my energy as long as I could. We never did get the ability to access the lalecheleague.org site back, but now that folks are heading home, we will be able to move along (once everyone wakes up) and upload the rest of the podcasts and photos--I see the bloggers are already summarizing!

I'll be doing a lot more with updating our post-conference web pages once I get home to my nice, functional computer on Monday.

Thanks to all who have read these blogs and especially to those who commented. That has been fun!

Sue Ann

All is no longer quiet!

It's a good thing we have a sense of humor here in TechRoomLand! Everything was going just swell until about a half hour ago, when all our computers suddenly started to refuse to display anything on www.lalecheleague.org. That really slowed down our ability to to the chats or to show people that site! We figured out that the site was NOT down, but that instead, the hotel server was refusing requests to view that IP address. We've got the hotel staff on it, but since we are going to close in an hour (boo hoo), I am guessing we will have to do AIM chats for the last couple. Poor Gordon Neufield (hope that is spelled right) has been very gracious about figuring out how to chat.

Luckily all the podcasts are going swimmingly--we'll have them all up on the web site quite soon. We also have more photos to upload--Sandee has been so busy taking LLL CN pictures that the conference ones are moving slowly. We will get them all up eventually, though! They are GREAT. And for those who ask, we plan to keep the podcasts available indefinitely--we think they will be a great resource.

Well, think positive thoughts as we wrap up a really FUN time here in DC and enjoy the dinner tonight. I will be back to report from the hotel lobby in the morning and wrap up the conference web pages. We'll keep posting here for a while, and keep this up to collect comments, of course.


Sue Ann

All's quiet

Wow, it's 7PM and all is quiet here in the Tech Room, except for a few slow clicks on the keyboard. It's been a busy several days, with 133 pictures taken and uploaded to the Community Network.

SandEE has really been rockin' on taking and editing pictures so they can be uploaded to the conference website. Check out her new hobby!

...hmm, that sounds like one of THOSE spam emails, doesn't it? ;-)

Sandy

Teen Helpers Check In

today i got my fortune read and it said i didnt eat enough cookies, so i ate some. now im much better and the balloon on my hand wont kill me. that was a relief.

ummmm..... i dont know what to post..... me and kynan went to this drama workshop, and it was lame. the guy running it was kinda mean.

i got some sequins at the drama thingy and they are cool. i agree that the thing was lame though, even though thats the first time i ever said lame. ever.

yeah..... hes weird, ignore him.

irma is cool. hes a canadian irish scotsman. his parents where from ireland and scotsland and then had him in canada. they moved there cause they like vikings. currently he is suffering from identity crisis. oh well.

yeah.

ok, thats it for the teens. byes from celia! say goodbye kynan.

goodbye kynan.

Glori Enzor's Handout

Glori Enzor, DDS, had a very useful handout for her session on breastfeeding and dental health, but it did not make it into the conference syllabus. She would like to let those interested know that they can email her for a copy of the handout at threepearls at comcast dot net.

Sue Ann

Funner and Funner

Things are still going surprisingly well, as the other bloggers have been reporting. Other than MY inability to get the URLs right on some of the podcasts right (sorry, copy and paste error), the projects are going very well. I am having a great time listening to Elisabeth record the podcasts, and this moring we got to introduce the technology to a large group of international attendees in one of the Global Sessions, which I co-lead with Marian Tompson of the AnotherLook organization (and LLL Founder). Everyone really got fired up at the possibilities of using podcasting to reach audiences working with HIV/AIDS and Breastfeeding--from mothers to researchers to medical professionals. Look for the session report to appear on the LLLI Web site's advocacy section soon after the conference is over.

We have been so busy taking Leader photos for the LLL Community Network that poor Sandee hasn't had time to upload yesterday's conference photo highlights. We hope to remedy that soon, but do like it that over 100 new images have been uploaded, and more than 40 new members have signed on to the CN during the conference.

There has been non-work fun, as well. I had a lot of fun at the knitting session in the Alumnae suite that I hosted, along with LLLI Board member LaJuana Oswalt (my old pal) and Edie Eckman, a well known knitting author and designer (and recent friend, LOL). Many people learned to knit there, including my own 14-year-old son and at least one LLL father.

Well, I need to go network now, so I'll sign off. More soon!

Sue Ann

Blogging in the Lobby, midnight

I'm working from the lobby of the hotel, a little after midnight, to wrap up the processing on the interviews I did today. The free wireless is nice, and so are the leather chairs (cushy!). However, it is less relaxing than working in the hotel room in one's jammies. I'm just too cheap to pay for wired access in the room, if I can get wireless for free! It'll be fun to spend that money at the Conference bookstore.... That reminds me -- I need to make sure I have good prizes for all four of the kids - and their dad, too.

So, I'm taking things I've already exported from Garage Band into iTunes, and now updating the information on them: making them conform to the naming conventions and file formats that we've used up until this point. Once that's done, I will update the RSS feed for folks who subscribe to the entire LLL Podcast. Tomorrow, the webmaster will update the page with podcast links.

So far, the feedback I've heard has been favorable. Participants have been mostly excited about podcasts, and all of them kind and personable. Some people who have listened have been positive in their comments -- and not just comments to me, but to others as well! (That's the kind of gossip I *like* to hear)

Can I breathe a sigh of relief yet?

I feel very positive about this project, but also am very very tired. Being this engaged with other people and this extroverted, for this many hours in a row, is wearing. I really believe I'm an introvert at heart, and a very insecure one at that!

Off to get a little sleep. I'm very excited to talk with Margaret Kenda in the morning. She writes about infant and toddler (and older) feeding issues, and, it turns out, used to live in Iowa years ago. A cool connection!

I love the sound of clicking in the morning...

The Tech Room is not busy, but it's buzzing! We've got a chat going on (with world-renowned author and all-around cool woman Diana West), someone is typing up her session notes, two people are taking our Online Survey, two are previewing our new design prototype, one woman is having her picture uploaded to her CN profile, and I'm blogging (obviously). So many happy clicking keyboards! Have you stopped by yet?

Design preview available

We are pleased to announce that you can now preview the LLL ID registration for single sign-on to all of LLL sites in the Tech Room. The prototype is available for viewing and clicking. This exciting project will be rolling out in the coming months and will offer a single sign-in to all LLLI online resources. Please stop by, take a look, and give us your feedback!

Yesterday was FUN

I am knocking on wood like crazy. Why? Because the Technology Room is going SO WELL! Only a couple of little printer malfunctions have kept us from a 100% technology success. And we dealt with those problems easily.

Lots and lots of Leaders and others have taken our Tech Room survey, and more than 20 new members signed on to the LLL Community Network yesterday, thanks to a wonderful promotion effort at the World Assembly (its theme was "the Community Network Live").

In the afternoon yesterday, the Technology Room hosted a session on enhancing your LLL Life with computers. The participants seemed to truly enjoy all the tidbits the staff passed on, and occasionally got giddy with the thrill of learning a new little computer trick. The marvels of Excel formatting just sent them over the moon! It was really a privilege to share our hard-earned skills with a new group of Leaders.

We are just having so much fun it isn't funny! Please read our other Conference blogs, visit our photo page and listen to our podcases. You can have fun, too. Here's the link to our Tech Room web page: http://www.lalecheleague.org/05conf/techroom.html

Sue Ann Kendall

IMS Session Notes Available

The IMS first day featured "Open Space," a meeting technique that is being used in many LLL meetings and workshops ( http://www.openspaceworld.org/ ). Notes are always taken from the sessions. LLL Leaders may be interested in what transpired. You can view the notes and share what was learned there here: http://www.lllusa.org/USWD/IMS2005/index.html

Quiet! Session in progress...

At this very moment, we are running our Preconference Session on "Optimizing Your LLL Life via Your Personal Computer". A lucky half-dozen (or so) women are getting an intensive 4-hour session with the crème-de-la-geek of the LLL Online Staff. We're discussing and answering questions about ways to use technology to streamline group work and use the resources available online to LLL Leaders.

Overheard at the session: "It's a very confusing world!"

Smooth Running Technology Room

It's smooth running here in the Tech Room! There has been a great response to adding pictures to the Community Network and we are compiling pictures to post on the conference website :
http://www.lalecheleague.org/05conf/05conf.html

Our podcasts bring the feel of a radio station to the room -- make sure and check them out at:
http://www.lalecheleague.org/05conf/podcasts.html

Sandy

Hi from IMS Day #2

Hi, tech room fans. Some of us have even LEFT the room, as things are working well so far.

Nancy Jo Bykowski and I visited the USWD/ID Publications/Online departmental meeting this morning, once we found it (hard to find some of the sessions that didn't have locations listed specifically). We enjoyed hearing some wonderful stories and got some very useful ideas from the participants. We invited them down to the Technology Room to visit the LLL Community Network. We had an Open Space session come visit the Tech Room, yesterday, which was also a special treat.

So far, we are doing really well taking photos for the LLL Community Network--17 Leaders have come in for their photos so far! We've taken lots of photos, thanks to roving photographer Sandee Luttkus. Resident techie Sandy Thorne has set her up with a very nice system for making photo albums that are easy to upload, so we'll have more pictures this year! Check out the photos so far at http://www.lalecheleague.org/05conf/photos.html -- Sandee's out collecting more right now! We love our Sandee/y combo.

Our teen helpers are running around helping lost conference attendees and doing arts and craft activities. You can learn more about Celia from her conference blog, and we have recorded a podcast with Kynan, the other teen volunteer. Speaking of podcasts, Elisabeth just recorded one with Stephanie Weishaar, LLLI's Funding Development Director. Look for it any time now!

More later! Things are popping here!

Sue Ann

Overheard in the Tech Room...

"La Leche League Conferences are a lot like North Dakota: You can have eye contact with people you don't know."

NAK'ing* in the Tech Room

I'm sitting here in the lovely lively Tech Room, typing a blog post (obviously). But it's nap time, so my 3-year-old is latched on and dozing. It's LLL Online epitomized!

We're pretty much all set up and humming here. People are stopping by and taking the survey (and then entering the drawing for Sue Ann's lovely hand-knit bag!), our bloggers are dropping in to blog, our lovely and talented Podcasting diva is accosting interesting visitors for potential interviews, and the non-napping kids are blowing bubbles and making unique paper airplanes. You should stop by and say hi!!

* NAK = Nursing At Keyboard

The Technology Room--So Far So Good

Hello from the Caucus Room at the DC Hilton! We actually have network capability EARLY and it's working! And we have Norton Antivirus running, so we hope to stay this way. We have lovely 21" screens on the 8 main computers, and a beautiful 50" plasma screen to demo our chats, or the CN, or whatever we are showing in our pre-conference session. I will try to get some photos up really soon! We hope to get all the lovely "decor" items up tomorrow, and get the wireless network going then, too.

In other news, we all enjoyed the Administrators Resource Fair, where we got lots of handouts and also gave out lots as well. It was so nice to see so many friends from all over LLL--I am looking forward to meeting the new LLL Japan webmaster tomorrow--that should be neat! Well, we are quite fond of our technical dudes--they were really helpful, as well as the room set up people. Happy happy, joy joy.

Sue Ann

Our first in-person Technology Room staff meeting!

Well, after a couple of really late nights of getting ready to leave my husband and children in Grandma Kate's capable hands, I flew to Washington, D.C. early this morning. The Hilton hotel is really pretty. I took a walk around the DuPont Circle neighborhood, and found a wonderful used book store, and good food for lunch. Best of all, there is free wireless (wi fi) access in the lobby!

And here in the lobby, six of us from the Technology Room volunteer staff are having our first in-person meeting. Sue Ann (our webmistress), Sue R., Jennifer, Shelly, Nancy Jo and I are updating web pages, blogging, counting up how many surge-protecting power strips we need.... and talking via cell phone with Traci, who is driving down from New York after a trip to the office supply store. (Yay, Traci!)

Tomorrow morning we set up the Caucus Room, which is where the Technology Room will be housed during this Conference. Wish us luck that the network will come together without too many bumps!

Podcasting goodness

Great news! Two new podcasts are up at the Podcast page. We're also extremely pleased to be offering an RSS "feed" of all the podcasts from the Conference!

(Don't know what an RSS "feed" is? Read all about it!)

World Faire Guide

The unofficial, incomplete, but totally incredible "World Faire Guide" is on the Community Network (CN) and can be accessed there throughout the Conference. For those unable to access the CN, a hard copy will be available to view at the "Navigating the Conference" table. The guide will give you a teasing taste of the treasures to be found at the World Faire on Sunday, July 3rd.

Volunteering with the Alumnae Association

It's not too late! If you are interested in volunteering with the Alumnae Association, please stop by the "Navigating the Conference" Table outside the Cabinet Room and check our sign-up sheet. We welcome everyone -- you do not need to be an Alumnae Association member to volunteer. For those volunteering, there will be a brief Volunteer Meeting from 5:00 to 5:30 pm on Saturday, July 2nd in the Alumnae Suite, Room 801. Any questions? Check with Meg Sondey at the "Navigating the Conference" table.

Busy, productive podcasting day....

By the time blog readers wake up and check out this latest post (it's very, very late on Monday night, or very, very early Tuesday morning, depending on where you are) the computer infrastructure part of the LLL podcast project should be ready to go.

Today I recorded two short audio files ("podcasts"). Tne first podcast is an overview of what sorts of topics we'll be covering, and what sorts of guests we'll be interviewing for our podcasts. The other podcast is a discussion about what a podcast actually *is*, and how folks can listen to one.

Pretty soon we'll have some links up, and you can test them out for yourself. They're both pretty short (two mins., and six mins.) and simple.

My other big accomplishment today was figuring out how to write what's called an RSS feed. RSS stands for "really simple syndication," and even that is a big geeky way of saying that it's a file that subscribes your computer to interesting, frequently-updated information (like news, or someone's blog, or.... a podcast). If somebody likes the La Leche League podcast well enough that they want to hear all of them, and/or a listener just wants new podcasts to magically appear on a computer's hard drive, they can use the RSS feed to subscribe to the LLL Podcast. There'll be a little FAQ about that, too, in case you're interested.

Sandee is right -- you don't have to be a techie to hang out in the Tech Room. I'm an urban historian by training, and my computer skills withered when my oldest child (now 14) was born and I quit my paying IT job. But volunteering to do stuff in the Tech Room has sparked something in my old geeky heart, and, amazingly, this programming stuff is starting to make sense!

I really encourage you to come visit us in the Tech Room, and see what we're up to.

non-techies invited

I just have to say, in order to fulfill full disclosure rules, that in spite of the fact that I am on the Online Staff, I know very little about computers and how to do various functions on them.

Keeping that in mind, WOW the Technology Room Staff and other members of the LLL Online Team have outdone them/ourselves on this conference. We have 10--YES 10 volunteers to "blog" the conference (posting online journals that can be read and responded to at the conference and around the world). We have an amazing number of conference speakers who will be doing online chats that those who can not attend the conference can be involved in easily and without having to download a specific program. And a new feature this year are the pod casts--recorded interviews that you can listen to on any computer with internet access.

The best part of all of this for me is that *I* can do this stuff. I just listened to a sample pod cast, I am posting here on this blog, and I have chatted with conference speakers at the last two conferences. You do not need to have a teenager to do this stuff. Trust me, if I can do it, any one can. (And if by chance you have difficulities with any of these, you can easily get help by those talented co-workers of mine who know about computers.)

Anyway, for those of you attending the LLLI Conference in Washington D.C. come to the Technology Room and see us and participate. For those of you at home, log onto your computer and join in--and the best part of all for those of you at home, you do not even have to be dressed!

Sandee

Another exciting opportunity

The Founders cordially invite you to visit them in the Founders' Parlor, located inside the Cabinet Room on the Concourse Level. Attendance is limited and sign-up is at the Navigating the LLLI Conference table located across from the Cabinet Room. Please consider joining Edwina, Marian, Viola, Betty, Mary, Mary Ann or Mary Ann for informal conversation sharing LLLLife stories, family pictures, memories from the past and dreams for LLL's future. The Parlor will be open on Sunday between 3 and 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., Monday between 9 and 11 a.m., and Tuesday between 10 a.m. and noon. Make this unique opportunity part of your conference experience by stopping by the Navigating table to choose your time. See you in DC! Edna Kelly Coordinator, Founders' Parlor

Bloggers keep blogging along...

I'm pleased to announce that we now have ten different people blogging about their conference experiences for you!!

Notice of meeting possibilities with USWD staff!

Posted on behalf of Sue Scott:

Hello Conference Attendees: Want to chat? Inquire? Dialogue? Just hang out? Share a meal or a laugh? USWD staff-members will be available at various times/places to spend time with you, hear your concerns, learn about your Area needs, talk about our work, hear about about your work, and/or to share an informal gathering as Leaders. Available times will be posted at USWD staff suite, alumnae table or any staff member will also have a list with her. To find out where the staff suite is, please call any of us. The hotel will not give out room numbers but you can leave a message. You may want to arrange a meeting before arriving at conference. In that case, just email us in advance. Or you may take note of available times once there or you may ask a staff member while at the conference. Yours, Barb Emanuel, Misty Dunn, Sue Scott, Rosetta Bartels, Wista Waldroop, Patricia Dubray, Laura Warren, Vicki Parnell, Lori Bryan, Sherryl Dombeck, Becky Hugh, Deirdre Knowles, Peggy Wiedmeyer, Kathryn Major

Another exciting Conference opportunity!

Posted on behalf of Sue Scott:

Hello to LLLI International Conference attendees, This is a notice that we are offering (outside of regularly scheduled conference sessions) these additional interactive practice sessions in communication skills. These skills are important in your work as Leaders and in your family and professional life. These skills will be taught by trained LLL facilitators and are FREE at this time as a service to you. Please take advantage! July 3, Communication Skills 1, Listening from the Heart, 2:30-5:30 pm. July 4, Communication Skills 2, Offering Information for Change, 2:30-5:30 pm July 5, Communication Skills 3, Developing Skills for Harmony, 2:30-5:30 pm (please note: this one might not be offered, depends on demand) Please contact Sue Scott at msscott1@mindspring.com for more information or to sign up. Contact me before June 28th at home or at the conference, leave a message in my hotel room.

I'm getting excited!

Ok, so I admit, I *am*! I went and listened to several podcasts today, and am thrilled that Elizabeth has gotten so many great speakers! She wrote about being star struck- lol- I agree. I remember during the last conference chat negotiations going back and forth with "Tom"- er, Dr. Hale. LOL. That was a bit unnerving, to say the least, but pretty cool!

This time around, I had a *lovely* phone conversation with Lu Hanessian, the host of Make Room for Baby (the Discovery Health Channel), for about a half an hour. I really wish I was going- she is going to be singing at the closing ceremony. She seems really grounded and very nice.

We've got SO many great folks coming and doing online chats- and many of them are also doing podcasts. Hmmmmm- I wonder if some of them would be interested in doing a chat too? (like Hilary Flowers)

I am hoping to get everyone signed up for helping. So far it is slow going. Last time, we didn't have many people signed up, but we had plenty of help, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'm still hoping to get some other Leaders interested in helping out by greeting in the foyer of the chat software. So far, no takers, though.

I am also hoping that my whole family is not vomiting and ill this conference.

The chat schedule can be found here, btw: http://www.lalecheleague.org/05conf/chats.html

Tallis :)

Ready to Roll

Well, I am pretty excited--I have all my work done, I think. Handouts printed (thanks to Vernisha at the LLLI office!), poster session items all done, instructions all give, web pages as updated as I can get them...I am heading out of town Monday, to visit my father, who does NOT have Internet access at his house--oh, what is an Internet Director to do?? I hope, relax, knowing the Technology Room stuff is in the competent hands of the rest of the gang, who will keep adding chats and podcasts and posting right up until we get to DC!

I will post again soon, I hope! Safe travels to all who are traveling, and stay tuned to those of you staying here!

Sue Ann

Heading into the home stretch

I can hardly believe that in only 12 days, I'll be getting on the plane to go to Washington, D.C.! The last two weeks have been really full with preparing to podcast from the Conference. Many of the session presenters have agreed to come in to the Tech Room, to record a brief interview with me. The legal pad in my knitting bag that's serving as my "official" schedule is starting to really fill up with a roster of cool podcast visitors.

You can see the html version of that schedule here: http://www.lalecheleague.org/05conf/podcasts.html

I have to confess, I am kind of star struck by the calibre of people who have said they'd like to do an interview -- my mind is brimming over wth questions I'd like to ask them. Let's hope that I don't turn from star struck to dumbstruck when I actually meet these amazing folks face to face!

Am interspersing podcast preparations with sneaky Fathers' Day running around..... and helping our 14 yo son for a trip to NY next week with his grandparents (lucky boy!).... and also getting ready for a work-related technology conference. When good things rain (and reign), it pours!

Survey Ready to Go!

Over the weekend, I finished working on our Technology Room survey for the conference. We hope to get your input on the LLLI Web site, the LLL Community Network, and other online LLL topics. Make sure you visit the Technology Room (Caucus Room) to take the survey at any time from IMS through the main conference. You will be eligible to win a lovely felted bag, hand knit by the LLLI Director of Web Services and Other Stuff!

Not coming to the conference? We do hope to have a survey on LLL and the Internet for the general public in the next few months as well--this one is a trial, so we need a smaller sample!

--Sue Ann Kendall

Extra Extra Read All About Us!

Starting with registration, the PR staff of LLLI puts out a free daily newsletter with information about the conference and fun things to do. The Technology room will have our updates and information about our activities in this handy resource. Look for us and items about the Community Network, Conference Blogs, Online Chats with Speakers, Podcasts and more.

Come to the Conference in your jammies!!

For those Leaders and Alumnae who are part of the LLL CN, we have created a new discussion called Virtual Conference. We're planning to use this discussion to provide many fun ways to participate and share in the International Conference experience from home. Coming soon: suggest questions for our online chats and podcast interviews, post greetings for friends at the Conference, and more!

Crunch time...

With less than 3 weeks left before we start setting up the Tech Room, we are all working hard on final preparations -- making lists, editing Wikis (Hi, my name is Jennifer and I'm a Wiki addict!), finalizing our handouts, getting together several times a week via IM to chat and brainstorm and ask each other over and over again: What are we forgetting?

This is fun!

Podcast Schedule Announced

Oh goody! We have started our listing of podcasts that will take place at the LLLI Conference! http://www.lalecheleague.org/05conf/podcasts.html

We'll be adding lots and lots of fun conversations in the next few weeks! Stay tuned.

Sue Ann

Conference Chat Schedule is available

Our online chats with speakers at LLLI Conferences have been one of the Technology Room's most popular enduring features. This year, once again, we will bring you a great line-up of speakers, ranging from LLL Founder, Edwina Froehlich, to parenting authors like Elizabeth Pantley and Lu Hanessian, to breastfeeding advocates like James Akre, to respected researchers such as Lawrence Gartner, Linda J. Smith, Diana West and Paula Meier.

The entire schedule is listed here: http://www.lalecheleague.org/05conf/chats.html

We will add new chats as arrangements are made, so be sure to check back often and to join us during the conference, either in person or online, for interesting conversations.

Paper Products!

Even a computer room needs some paper products, and that's a lot of what we have been working on this week. Our handout wrangler is busily collecting some great information to share with Technology Room visitors, which we will also share at the Administrators' Resource Fair and the World Faire during the conference. We also plan a new feature--we're going to make our handouts available on CD, to save space and paper! We hope visitors will be willing to make a small donation to cover media costs for this convenient collection of documents.

We are also working hard on our poster session's illustrations and other content, and some informative posters that we will display in the Technology Room, about LLL Web sites around the world, the LLL Community Network, our online chats, the Help Form programs and much more!

Chicago workshop perfect setting for podcast project

Last week, some of the Technology Room people were in Chicago at a workshop. Several dozen La Leche League Leaders from all over the US and Canada gathered for four days. The new methods and ideas we learned and practiced together all centered around "conversations that matter." Can you imagine, asking thirty-some-odd LLL Leaders to get together and just talk about things that they feel passionately about -- for four days?!?

It was an incredible experience, and, six days later, I'm still sorting through all the wonderful bits and deciding which *very best* idea will be the first project I work on. I brought home so many great possibilities, it's hard to choose where to begin.

Being immersed in all these delightful conversations afforded me a great opportunity to practice recording podcasts. Our LLL Podcasts, after all, are just like relaxed conversations with interesting people, and I found myself surrounded by interesting women who had a lot to say about the workshop we were attending. Later this weekend (after I jump a little hurdle with sound levels ;-) there will be several podcasts to listen to, all on the topic of the methods we learned at this workshop.

For those of you coming to the International Mastery Symposium (IMS), which happens over the two days before the International Conference, the podcasts offer a sneak preview of the first day at IMS.

Come back soon, and have a listen!

Elisabeth Lewin

The bloggers are blogging, hooray, hooray!!

It's great to see that almost all of our Conference bloggers are actively posting! We're hoping that these blogs will be a great way for everyone to get a little taste of the excitement and anticipation of attending an International Conference.

quick podcasting update

Just a note to say that some of the technology room volunteers were at a workshop over the weekend, and Elisabeth tested her podcasting technology there. It was really fun to participate in, and some interesting podcasts were recorded! I know she will post more here later, including links, so you can give the podcasts a listen, so do tune in and find out more!

Sue Ann Kendall

Blogety-Blogety Blog! Whee!

Forgive my enthusiasm, but I am happy to announce that Jennifer and I have set up the initial set of blogs for our conference bloggers to use! We hope they will start posting a quick hello soon! Sandee, Jennifer and I are still seeking a couple more (why not, it's no work for us once they are set up!) of different types of folks to blog with us, but we are really happy to get representation from Leaders from all over, a father, a member, and two conference kids so far! Thanks, Sandee!

We made each blog a little different looking, just for fun. We hope you think it's fun, too. There is a link in the sidebar to the blogs--feel free to check them out, and check them often!

Sue Ann Kendall

We'll Be at the Resource Fair, Too!

Each year at the LLLI Conference there is a gathering for administrators, where they share resources and ideas with each other. This year we will have a table, too, and will focus on the LLL Community Network! We'll bring our camera to take pictures for Leader Profiles, we hope. The fair is held on June 29, the night before the "IMS" starts. If you're in DC that early, do drop by. The location will be posted in the Conference Program Book.

Preparing for the World's Faire

I've just contacted Judy Guarco on the Pizzazz team to reserve a table at the World's Faire for the Technology Room.

I attended the World's Faire in San Francisco in 2003 (my co-Leaders and I were selling those great domino pins -- look for them again this year!) I remember the feeling that the room was alive with all the excitement. I felt like I could have walked around all night and still not seen everything.

This year, stop by the Technology Room table. We'll have a free gift for you, and you'll have another chance to chat with the women who make LLLI's online presence what it is!

~Shelly

The mask removed...

This is just a quick note to let everyone know that the "LLL blogger" listed in the contributors to the left is not a mysterious shadowy figure shrouded in darkness but merely the account name used to set up all of our new LLL blogs. In case you were wondering.

Blogger Update

With a new name, but not a new mission, some conference attendees have agreed to share their perspectives of the LLLI Conference. They will be writing their views of the conference in daily reports that can be viewed and enjoyed by not only those at the conference, but non-attendees world wide. These Blogs (which get their name from the term "web log" ) will be written by a variety of Leaders, dads and members--our bloggers. Look here soon for a listing and brief introduction of them, and links to their blogs. You can read the experiences of the 2003 San Francisco LLLI Conference at the following site.

Edited by LLL blogger to add: http://www.lalecheleague.org/03conf/techbios.html

Wireless Mothers' Day

An announcement: I've finally entered the twenty-first century. I am typing this blog entry on my front porch, on my new laptop computer. This might not be a big deal for many of you, but as I think about my first job in the mid 1980's, training office workers to use (dual-floppy!) personal computers, my mind boggles while it blogs. I've never had a laptop before, and I can't wait to explore all the ways I can use it to do my work -- both for my company's websites, and for my fun LLL projects.

The whole portable nature of our technology we have today still fills me with a "gee-whiz" sense of wonder. Born in the days before FM radio, cable television, or even color tv, I just can't believe the kinds of creative, entertaining devices we can take along with us, anywhere we go. My children's grandparents send us photos of their travels using their cell phones from wherever they happen to be. The handheld video game players my kids covet get smaller and smaller, and the games that are played on them get more and more detailed (that's maybe a good thing *and* a bad thing, as this mother of teens can attest ;-) . I swear by my little personal digital assistant, or PDA, which keeps the family's schedules, my address book, and ever-growing To Do list in my pocket.

And my new little bitty computer connects to the Internet anywhere in my house or yard. I can take it anywhere I might need to work, including to the LLL Conference, and use it to record and upload podcasts for you to listen!

Podcasting really is portable technology which gets me most wound up. I am excited about the idea that folks can download our recorded conversations, or podcasts, and "listen in" at their convenience. Podcasts can be played on computers, or can be easily ported to mp3 players or iPods, whichever is convenient for the listener. This podcasting project can make "mother-sized" presentations available, which parents can pick and choose (taking what works for them, and leaving the rest -- doesn't this sound familiar??).

Whether digital or analog, wireless or Luddite, have a fantastic Mother's Day!

Survey at the Technology Room

Hi! I wanted to tell you about another feature of the 2005 Technology Room that we're really looking forward to. We are preparing a survey that any conference attendee can take. The idea is to get some input we'll need for future online projects--there will be questions from the Online Communications Team, LLLI's Marketing Department, Publications and the consulting team working on LLLI's new Information Systems Project (I am also one of those people). Input we receive on this survey will truly help us shape future Internet projects for La Leche League!

As an incentive, we will be collecting names of those who take the survey, and at the end of the conference we will choose a lucky winner of a hand-knit felted bag, created by the LLLI Director of Web Technology (me again). Everyone could use a beautiful bag, so please try to visit the Technology Room and take our survey! And all who take the survey will get a free token of our appreciation.

--Sue Ann Kendall

The Schedule

Hi, I'm Shelly. I've been a Leader since 2003. I'm currently living in Palo Alto, CA, but in June we're moving to West Point, NY, just before the International Conference.

This is my second ICf, and my first time volunteering in the Technology Room. As I created the schedule that we are using for planning, I was struck by how much is going on and how much I want to do! I realized that I even inadvertantly signed up for two sessions at the same time! Too bad we don't have the technology for that...

I am happy that we will be doing podcasts, and that I'll be able to listen to them after the Conference (while I'm unpacking boxes in our new home!) What a great way to extend my Conference experience.

~Shelly

Podcasting plans for this summer's LLLI Conference

Hi! I'm Elisabeth. I'm a LLL Leader and LLL Communication Skills Instructor from the midwestern part of the United States. I will be putting together podcasts in the Technology Room at this year's International Conference.

Although I have worked off and on in technology-related fields since 1987, this entry is my first experience with blogging. I am so glad that the LLLI Conference Technology Room blog is a collaborative effort! So far, setting up a profile and posting to the blog have been really easy and straightforward. I am encouraged to see how simple the process has been. Now, if all our other preparations for the Technology Room are as smooth and effortless, we'll have it made...

Many of you have probably heard of podcasting. Podcasts are a popular way to make audio files available over the Internet. Once a listener tells her computer some simple instructions about how to capture (or download) the podcasts (shows) she likes, she can listen, at her convenience, on the computer, or on a portable mp3 player (or iPod). Listeners can check out a single show, or set it up to update their device with the latest edition of a favorite program.

The main benefit of podcasting is that listeners can sync content to their media player and take it with them to listen whenever they want to. I like to put new podcasts on my iPod, and listen to them when I'm riding my bike, or while I'm fixing dinner. Because podcasts are typically saved in MP3 format, they can also be listened to on nearly any computer. (I'm listening to a Dutch music podcast while I type this!)

At the LLL International Conference this summer, we plan to bring listeners a series of interesting conversations with the people taking part in the conference.

Whether you are attending the conference in Washington, or spending this summer at home, please share with us: what conversations would you like us to share with you? We plan on talking with many of the session presenters to podcast for you.... but what else would you like to hear?

I'm looking forward to "hearing" your ideas, whether in podcast form, or just regular old email.

Elisabeth

What Is a Blog?

I am often asked to explain what a blog is--and even though you are currently reading one, you may not be familiar with them. So, here's my explanation: the word "blog" is a blend of the words "web log" and functions like an online diary or journal. The author (or authors as in the case of this one) can post their thoughts and ideas to the blog easily using software that lets them type it in, edit it, and format it easily. Then the softare automatically "posts" the blog to the Internet.

Blogs are nice because they do not require you to know HTML (web authoring software) or have any programming skills. You just sign up, pick an attractive design, and start posting. You can have your blog be public, like this one, or private (I have one I only share with my friends, for example, about family stuff and my deep philosophical thoughts, LOL). You can include photos, like the one here showing Technology Room volunteers and staff in their spiffy shirts at the 2003 LLLI Conference (wow I have a lot more hair now). That is actually Jane Tuttle, me, Beverly Vaugh, Sandra Thorne and Barbara Heaney.

Blogs are used in widely different ways, from bragging about new babies to advertising. They are currently very important in media reporting--bloggers all over the world are posting instant information about current events. Of course, since there are no "editors" or "fact checkers" on these blogs, one has to read them using those critical reading skills LLL people are supposed to use all the time!

So, enjoy this blog, and look forward to the Technology Room blogs going up very soon--we'll have a list of our conference bloggers on our Technology Room page (http://www.lalecheleague.org/05conf/05conf.html) and they will start their own "blogadventure" soon!

Sue Ann Kendall

Old hand at blogging, new to the Tech Room...

I'm kind of the blogging queen on the Tech Room staff -- my personal blog, Partial to the Bean is almost 4 years old -- so I'm the one who set this little space up and I will probably be tweaking the settings and fiddling with the knobs right up until the time I leave for the International Conference in July.

Speaking of which, this is my first International Conference! I'm very excited!! I've been a LLLLeader in Chester County, PA, for close to 6 years so I'm really looking forward to finally getting a taste of the Conference Experience™. Working on Tech Room planning without ever having been to a LLLI Conference Tech Room is a challenge for me because I'm kind of working blind!

I'm here!

Ok, so bear with me- I'm a blog virgin. I've never done this before, lol. Here's a question- it won't let me use my name, so I created LLLTallis. Now, though, I see contributers, one of whom is *me*, sans the LLL. Any ideas?

So, onto my day's events. I created a new CN discussion for those that are interested in the ICF chats, and am hoping at some point (maybe tonight even) to get the schedule uploaded. My primary frustration at this point is that since Wednesday, I've not been able to access anything at the LLLI site due to broken communication somewhere in Chicago. So, while I go through withdrawls, I hope speedy fixing of broken stuff. I had a dream last night that all the chats happened without me, because I couldn't get there. Wah!

I think blogging is fun so far.

Tallis :)

Welcome to the Technology Room Blog

We are well on our way with Technology Room planning. Our official web page can be found at http://www.lalecheleague.org/05conf/techroom.html -- we'll be publishing our schedules there very soon. Thanks to the Technology Room, conference attendees can learn about all sorts of current and upcoming La Leche League online activities, and those who cannot attend in person can choose from many activities for their own "virtual conference" experience. This year we have LOTS of new choices!

Technology Room Features for Attendees

• A pre-conference session on making the most out of computers and the Internet in your LLL activities (sign up when you register for the LLLI Conference)
• Demonstrations of the LLL Community Network for Leaders
• A special photography station where Leaders without access to a digital camera can get their Community Network profile pictures made
• Demonstrations of the new LatchOn website for helping breastfeeding mothers worldwide
• A special survey on Leader and member Internet hopes and dreams
• A chance to watch chats with conference speakers as they happen and see chat Leaders in action
• Handouts and other materials of interest to Leaders who use the Internet
• The opportunity to meet the LLLI Online Communications staff and volunteers--ask questions, give feedback, say hello!
• Informal gatherings of email list members

Technology Room Features for Others

• NEW podcasts -- webcasts that can be played on your iPod, MP3 player, personal computer, or anything that can play MP3 files! These will feature interviews with conference speakers, information on LLLI projects, reports from conference attendees and more!
• Conference blogs -- This year our online journalists will post to a blog like this one, and you will be able to track their experience from their preparations at home to their wind-down when they return from Washington DC. We''ll feature an experienced LLL Leader, a first-time attendee, an "LLL Dad" and others, for a wide variety of perspectives.
• Conference chats -- a long-time favorite, we will once again feature online chats with conference speakers, where participants can ask questions and interact with a variety of interesting people who have many different areas of expertise.
• Photos -- as always, we will feature candid conference photos. Look for your friends or family here!
• Q&A Wiki -- LLL Leaders will have the opportunity to post questions of Technology Room staff and attendees via a Wiki (interactive web page) on the LLL Community Network.