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Celebrating Our Anniversary
The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) is celebrating 25 years of excellence in lactation consultant certification! IBLCE is the global authority that determines the competence of practitioners in lactation and breastfeeding care. Since 1985, the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) credential has been awarded to more than 30,000 individuals. 25 years is a long time for organizations to accomplish their goals, and IBLCE has reached many goals and milestones.
A few milestones include:
- 1987 - The first 3-language exam administration (English, German, Spanish)
- 1990 - The first 4-continent exam administration
- 2000 - First time the highest scorer was from outside North America (Australia)
- 2009 - First exam administration with over 4,000 candidates
For a complete list of IBLCE's milestones, please click here to download a PDF.
The International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) is also celebrating its 25th Anniversary with IBLCE! The annual ILCA conference is hosted in July, this year in San Antonio, Texas. To visit ILCA's website for more information about the conference and the organization, click here!
The IBLCE Board of Directors
Members of the Board of Directors of IBLCE are a primary force in, and personally responsible for, enabling the organization to achieve its mission and goals, realize its potential and fulfill its obligations to the general public. In addition to being committed to breastfeeding, members must be participatory, knowledgeable, strong and supportive, and empowering of the elected officers, Executive Director, and staff. They bring diverse resources and talents that benefit the long term viability of the Board.
IBLCE asked past members to reflect on their years of serving on the Board of Directors. Please read their comments below:
"Congratulations: One of my wonderful memories of my 55 years in the practice of Pediatrics has been my relationship with the establishment of a new discipline, that of Lactation Consultation. I was on the initial IBLCE Board, in 1985, and served as president twice. Many years ago I was also pleased to serve on the board of ILCA. These were wonderful experiences."
Arnold L. Tanis, MD, FAAP
"I was European Delegate to the IBLCE Board from 2003 to 2006. This period was very helpful for promoting IBCLC role in Slovenia and later in Croatia, too. From 2006, it is possible to pass an IBLCE exam in Slovenian language, and from 2009 in Croatian language, too."
Arnold L. Tanis, MD, FAAP
"I was European Delegate to the IBLCE Board from 2003 to 2006. This period was very helpful for promoting IBCLC role in Slovenia and later in Croatia, too. From 2006, it is possible to pass an IBLCE exam in Slovenian language, and from 2009 in Croatian language, too."
Sincerely, Zlata Felc
"Breastfeeding has been a life-long mission. (My mother started it the day I was born!) During my adult life, I started and built several still very active breastfeeding "centers." LLL of Indiana and El Centro de Apoyo de Lactancia Materna in El Salvador are probably the dearest ones to me. Since the early '60's I was active in many aspects of LLLI and chaired its Board in the '80's. The opportunity to be on the IBLCE Board and to work with such talented and caring people was a highpoint in life. Then about five years ago when I thought it was time to retire and watch the work that colleagues and friends were doing around the world, I was invited to join a group of physicians and nurses in starting the Indiana Mothers Milk Bank. I'll end my time there in 2011.
It has been a wonderful (almost) nine decades of being a part of this important world-wide health movement along with some very remarkable human beings.
It may be time to say "Thanks for the memories." "
Betty Ann Countryman, RN, MN
"Breastfeeding has been a life-long mission. (My mother started it the day I was born!) During my adult life, I started and built several still very active breastfeeding "centers." LLL of Indiana and El Centro de Apoyo de Lactancia Materna in El Salvador are probably the dearest ones to me. Since the early '60's I was active in many aspects of LLLI and chaired its Board in the '80's. The opportunity to be on the IBLCE Board and to work with such talented and caring people was a highpoint in life. Then about five years ago when I thought it was time to retire and watch the work that colleagues and friends were doing around the world, I was invited to join a group of physicians and nurses in starting the Indiana Mothers Milk Bank. I'll end my time there in 2011.
It has been a wonderful (almost) nine decades of being a part of this important world-wide health movement along with some very remarkable human beings.
It may be time to say "Thanks for the memories." "
Betty Ann Countryman, RN, MN
Congratulations from Other Organizations
IBLCE would like to thank other organizations that have invested time and energy into helping make the lactation consultant profession what it is today!
We have received letters congratulating both IBLCE and ILCA for reaching the monumental 25th Anniversary. We thank you for your interest in the IBCLC credential and in helping mothers and babies worldwide. To view and download these heartfelt letters, please click on the link.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) letter
Royal College of Midwives (RCM) letter
Board Meeting Celebratory Photos
The IBLCE Board of Directors meets twice a year, in March and September, for Board Meetings. To celebrate our 25 years of excellence in lactation consultant certification, the IBLCE Board hosted a reception and MILCC silent auction at the Doubletree in Crystal City, Virginia during the March meeting. A second celebratory reception and silent auction benefiting the MILCC scholarship fund will be held in West Palm Beach, Florida during the September meeting.
Below are photos from the March 2010 Board Meeting!
