The first LLL Group in Ohio was formed in 1958.

The History of La Leche League of Ohio: 1957 to 2003

by Judy Good, former Area Coordinator of Ohio and Meg Sondey, Area Historian

1957: La Leche League began in Franklin Park, Illinois. In February, 1957, “Grail”, a popular women’s magazine of the time, ran an article about LLL Martha Pugacz of Cleveland read it and wrote to “Grail” to get Edwina Froelich’s address and began to correspond with her.

1958: In May, Martha contacted all the women she knew who breastfed and invited them to meet. Approximately 30 women from all over the Cleveland area came. (At this time there was only one Group in Franklin Park. The “Manual” hadn’t been written yet.)

The July-August 1958 Issue #2 of the LLL NEWS reported, “Congratulations, Cleveland! Martha Pugacz and friends have started an LLL of Greater Cleveland. At their first meeting 25 enthusiastic women showed up and twenty more wrote or called their regrets and asked to be included in future meetings.”

In September, LLL Cleveland divided into four groups, two on the east side and two on the west side. The Groups received permission from LLL of Franklin Park to use the name La Leche League and they received their first copies of the “Manual”.

1960: In January, LLL began in Dayton when Thelma Webb moved there from Cleveland and started a Group. In June, 1961, Geneva Carnahan attended her first meeting. There were two Groups, north and south.

“Both Groups were flourishing in spite of very little publicity”, writes Geneva. “Remember, the newspapers wouldn’t print the word “breast” in a family paper.”

In the winter of 1961, a third Group formed on the east side of Dayton.

In October, Cincinnati’s first series was held. The meetings were every two weeks and covered the advantages of breastfeeding, the art of breastfeeding, and weaning. Childbirth and nutrition topics were added later. Twenty-five eager mothers and expectant mothers attended. Ernie Edelman, Pat DeVilbiss, and Janet Eisberg led the discussion at the meeting.

1962: In January, LLL of Cincinnati made its first public appearance when Pat DeVilbiss and Janet Eisberg spoke to the student nurses at Bethesda Hospital.

In June, the Cincinnati Leaders held the first Chapter Meetings.

1963: In September, Mary Patterson and Judy Good attended a meeting of a Nursing Mothers council in Columbus. There were some problems and it was suggested that they affiliate with LLL. Shortly thereafter LLL meetings began at Judy Good’s home.

1964: First LLLI Convention in Chicago. Eight people represented the Cincinnati area. Outlying areas founded Groups, including Hamilton, founded by Nancy Johnson. In the four years since the first meeting in CIncinnati, seven Groups had formed there.

1965: Judy Bernetske and Judy Fosbender started the LLL of Toledo Group. LLL of Lake County, LLL of Akron, and LLL of Portage County also formed at this time.

In April, the first State Coordinator of Ohio, Martha Pugacz of Cleveland, was appointed by LLLI. Martha stated at the time of her appointment: “LLL has grown by leaps and bounds and due to this rapid growth it is impossible for Illinois to handle all of the mail coming from across the country. To help bridge the gap of communication, Coordinators have been appointed for states with a number of Groups. I have been appointed Coordinator of Ohio and this means added responsibility to help new Groups in Ohio.”

1966: The LLLI Convention was held in Indianapolis. Judy and Jim Good and Maggie Scattoloni drove over from Columbus. Maggie had the distinction of having the youngest baby there (just two weeks old.).

In Cincinnati, 35 people attended the first Fathers’ Night. The Central Group created a film that included getting baby on and off the breast and various nursing positions.
In 1966, LLL of Cincinnati brought Dr. Robert Bradley, author of “Husband-Coached Childbirth”, to town.

In 1967, Helen Jolly of Cleveland became Ohio’s first New Group Chairman.

Janet Eisberg of Cincinnati became Ohio’s second State Coordinator.

1967: In June, Janet Eisberg attended the first training meeting for State Coordinators in Chicago. Nancy Tousley became the first State Treasurer.

1968: As of July, Ohio had 52 Groups. The LLLI Convention was held in Denver. Judy Good represented Janet Eisberg, State Coordinator, who had just given birth to a new baby. Dr. Jim Good was invited to become a member of the LLLI PRofessional Advisory Board. At this time, Columbus had five Groups and twenty Leaders.

In November, Dr. Robert Bradley visited Columbus and was a featured speaker.

1969: Triplets were nursed in Columbus.

In February, Marian Tompson appeared on “The Phil Donahue Show” in Dayton.

The first LLL Ohio State Conference was held in July at IC School in Columbus. About 150 people attended. Judy Torgus and Marybeth Doucette were guests froM Franklin Park.

1970: In January, Judy Good was appointed State Coordinator. There were 74 Groups in Ohio. Judy Kahrl became Assistant State Coordinator. The Ohio Newsletter for Leaders became “The Circle”, with Judy Kahrl as the editor. Myra Jones became the New Group Chairman.

A State Meeting was held in North Olmsted with about 150 people attending.

In November, there were 80 Groups in Ohio. Rose Busam and Louise Stang became Assistant New Group Chairmen.

1971: In July, there were 88 Groups in Ohio.

In October, for the convenience of the Leaders, two State Conferences were held in Ohio: one in Stow and the other in Cincinnati.

In December, there were 93 Groups in Ohio. Margaret Campbell became an Assistant State Coordinator.

1972: Myra Jones retired as New Group Chairman and Rose Busam took over the job. Janet Kushmaul became Assistant New Group Chairman.

In September, a State Conference was held in Mentor. Marian Tompson was the guest. 300 people attended. There were 100 Groups in Ohio.

1973: The State Conference was held in Dayton in April with Frank and Betty Ann Countryman as guest speakers. There was a style show of ensembles made by Dayton Leaders. Many of the mothers made matching ensembles for their babies.

In June, Judy Good attended a State Coordinator’s Conference in Chicago. The title of the State Coordinator was changed to Area Coordinator. Lyn Hartley became Assistant Area Coordinator. Vicki Miller became State Treasurer. The title, New Group Chairman, was changed to Chairman of Leader Applications. Bev Splete became Chairman of Leader Applications.

In October, the State Conference was held in Akron. 300 people attended and Dr. Greg and mary White were guest speakers. Again, there was a style show of nursing fashions made by local Leaders and League mothers.

In December, 1973, there were 119 Groups in Ohio. The District Advisor position was created in Ohio in order to maintain contact with Leaders.

1974: The State Conference was held in Columbus. Marian Tompson was the guest speaker. Judy Murdock became Assistant Area Coordinator.

In March, the following doctors became Medical Associates: Dr. Naomi Baumslag, Dr. Edward Cerutti, Dr. Fred Dunlea, Dr. Willard Fernald, and Dr. Douglas Veach. Ann West of Tiffin became the first Area Professional Liaison in Ohio. Janet Sikute became Chairman of Leader Applications. Membership dues were increased from five to eight dollars.

In April, the State Conference was held at Grove City. 370 people attended. Dr. Cerutti and Dr. Jon Pensyl were special guests.

In October, the State Conference was held at Findlay, with Dr. Jim and Mary Kenny as special guests. Approximately 600 people attended and many were turned away.

1975: In March, Dr. Jon Pensyl became a Medical Associate.

In April, the State Conference was held in Springfield. Approximately 700 people attended and 200 more were turned away.

In September, 1975, the State Conference was held in Youngstown. 700 people attended. Dr. Marshall Klaus spoke about bonding. He said, This is the year of the breast.”

Kay McGlinchey, Marsha Hardin, and Margaret Hisrich became Coordinators of Leader Applications. Lyn Hartley began Human Relations Training in Ohio. Susan Phillips became the first Area Conference Supervisor.

1976: Geneva Carnahan became Coordinator of Leader Applications.

In April, the State Conference was held in Cincinnati. Jackie and Granville Sydnor were special guests. Marian Tompson, Drs. Cerutti, Pensyl, Stewart, and Good were also featured.

Ohio had 260 Groups.

Judy Good retired as Area Coordinator and Judy Murdock accepted the position.

Charlene Marietti and Kay Starr became Assistant Area Coordinators and Nancy Pesich became Area Professional Liaison.

1977: LLL of Ohio Southern Area Conference was held at Grove City High School with 776 parents, guests and children attending. LLL of Ohio Group names now have the major city plus a number listed after them. Ohio’s original APL, Ann West, retired. About 3400 copies of “Outreach”, the Area insert for Ohio were place in the November 1977 issue of LLL NEWS.

“The Circle” had a circulation of 850 issues in the fall of 1977.

The first loose-leaf edition of “THE LEADER'S HANDBOOK” was published by LLLI.

1978: Over 140 women became new Leaders in Ohio. The Ohio Area was officially split into two different Areas, Ohio North and Ohio South.

In May, 1978, the State of Ohio had 311 Groups and 719 active Leaders. Both new Areas kept “The Circle” in the names of their publications. La Leche League of Cincinnati Chapter Council celebrated its first anniversary---the Chapter had 40 Groups and nine Chapters in it---one of only a handful in LLL. A major accomplishment for the COuncil was the city-wide phone it operates.

1979: The LLL of Ohio Southern Area Conference book detailed the eighteen-year history of LLL in the greater CIncinnati area. There were 155 Groups and 345 Leaders in Ohio North; with 59 new Leaders in Ohio North between June 1978 and Spring, 1979.

1980: Peggy Scantland started the first twins Group in Columbus. There were 25 Groups in the Greater Dayton area and approximately 33 Leaders.

1981: Many Ohio Leaders wore multiple hats! Judy Good of Columbus was EUS Director of Leaders (EUS DL); Margaret Campbell of Euclid was Assistant to Judy Good as well as Area Leader Letter Administrator. Kay Hedges of Westerville was Administrative Assistant to the EUS DL; Jean Herbeck of Columbus was Treasurer for the EUS; Karen Gromada of CIncinnati was the Regional Administrator of Professional Liaison Leaders. Dr. Paul Busam of CIncinnati and Dr. James Good of Columbus were on the Professional Advisory Board. LLLI publishes first edition of BREASTFEEDING ABSTRACTS.
February 1981 saw the publication of Publication No. 52, Mothering Multiples, by Karen Kerkhoff Gromada, RN.

Judy Good sent out History Questionnaires for her original history of LLL of Ohio.

1982: Over 1000 mothers, fathers, and their offspring attended the LLL of Southern Ohio Conference at Anderson High School. The 1982 South directory listed 35 Leaders not affiliated with any Group. LL of Ohio-North began the tradition of an Area camping weekend.

1983: There were 43 LLL Groups in the greater Cleveland area. Approximately 70 new Leaders were accredited in Ohio.

1984: There were 27 Leaders in Ohio North on Leader Reserve and 22 District Advisors. LLL of Ohio North held their Area Conference at Akron University with a bookstore, boutique, and commercial exhibits.

1985: Diane Grubb of Dayton was Historian of LLL of Ohio South. LLLI NEWS became NEW BEGINNINGS. LLLI served on The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, with the first IBLCE exam in July 1985. Dr. Good, enduring friend of LLL, died in June. MOTHERING MULTIPLES by Karen Gromada was published in book form. Julia Darnell (Judy) Good of Ohio and Joyce Good Reis authored A SPECIAL KIND OF PARENTING, also published by LLLI.

1986: There were 235 active Leaders in Ohio North, with 83 active Groups.

This year marked the 30th Anniversary of the founding of LLL and was called the “Year of the District Advisor”.

1987: LLLI launched the Peer Counselor Program. LLL membership dues increased to $25. LLLI launched the new Breastfeeding Aid Sales Program. LLL of Ohio North held their Area Conference at Trumbull County Vocational School in Warren with 34 guest speakers plus 36 LLL Leaders speaking at sessions.

1988: LLLI published the fist issue of ALUMNAE NEWS to reach members of the newly-founded Alumnae Association. The first Leader Development Seminars were held during the summer in four locations across the Eastern United States. There were sixteen new Leaders accredited in Ohio. There were 240 Leaders in Ohio North and 77 Groups. The Leader Applicant fee was $10.

1989: In July, LLL of Ohio became one Area.

“The Circle” became the single name for the Area Leaders’ Letter. There were approximately 120 Groups and a little less than 400 active Leaders in Ohio. The 1-800 line at LLLI began. LLLI established The Center for Breastfeeding Information. Continuing Education Units became available to Leaders for participating in HRE (now Communications Skills) sessions.

1990: The LLL of Ohio Parenting and Breastfeeding Conference was held at Wapakoneta Middle School. The Conference program listed 27 LLL of Ohio Leaders with at least ten years of service.

1991: Lisa Hedrick and Kathleen Smith, both of Circleville, organized the Children’s Sessions at the Zanesville Conference---the first Children’s sessions to be held in recent times in Ohio. THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK was published. There were seven District Coordinators in Ohio plus one for Telephone Help Only Groups.

In 1991, the fist Walkathon for Breastfeeding in Ohio was held at the LLL of Ohio Area Conference at Zanesville High School.

24 Leaders were listed in the Conference Program booklet with ten or more years of service in LLL.

1992: 31 Leaders celebrated at least 10 years of service at the LLL of Ohio Area Conference at Springfield High School in Akron. World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) sponsored the first World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7. The Leader Applicant fee was increased to $21. The 1992 World Walk in Ohio raised $4546.

1993: The LLLI Conference in Dallas, Texas was canceled. Dr. Edward Cerutti, member of the LLLI Medical Advisory Board and friend of LLL of Ohio died on February 27. There were 20 new Leaders accredited in Ohio. Bernice (Silver) and her husband Don Rothman host Cleveland Area LLL 35-year reunion.

1994: LLLI moves its headquarters from Franklin Park to Schaumburg, IL. LLL of Ohio had six ACLA’s and 100 Applicants. The Leader Applicant fee increased to $25 in July. Ohio Group Dues were $15. Seven Districts in the Ohio Area were redistricted or eliminated. Leader Dues were $16.

In 1994, Ohio was the largest area in the Eastern Division, with 109 Groups and 255 Active Leaders.

1995: LLLI launched its own Web site. A new Ohio Area Council position was created, Professional Seminar Coordinator, and was filled by MIckey Hardert. Judy Elder of LLL of Cleveland Heights was elected to the LLLI Board of Directors. New Groups were started in Marion and North Toledo.

In 1995, the popular “I believe in people before things” T-shirts became a new fundraiser for Ohio at the LLLI Conference.

LLL of Ohio Area Conference was held at King’s Island Inn and Conference Center. Its was the first fall Conference as well as the first Conference in a hotel for the entire Area. The Ohio Area Council announces that through March 1, 1996 LLL of Ohio was raising $3000 to give toward the purchase of LLLI headquarters in Schaumburg. Ohio had 250 Leaders. LLL of Ohio Groups raised over $3000 for the World Walk, with twelve Groups participating. The first meeting of the revived and reorganized Greater Columbus was held. Sue Ann Kendall designed the first Web page for the Champaign-Urbana Illinois area in March 1995. The First World Assembly at an LLLI Conference was held to discuss the future of LLLI.

1996: At the LLL of Ohio Area Conference at the Holiday Inn in Hudson, Judith Elder helped to organize an Alumnae Reunion. Leader Dues increased for the first time in ten years, to $24. Cindy Smith, LLLI Board Member, began La Leche League Leaders on Line (LLLOL), which was later renamed The Leader Connection (TLC).

In 1996, LLLI marked its fortieth anniversary and had a presence in 64 countries.

LLLI published the second edition of the “BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK”. Central Ohio LLL Chapter received a grant from the Academy of Medicine in Columbus and Franklin County for $3900 and used the funds to purchase and distribute LLL materials to prospective and new mothers in the Columbus areas. There were 287 Leaders in Ohio with six Reserve Leaders and 96 Groups. The 900 Breastfeeding line began operation through LLLI. LLLI signed a contract with “Parent Soup” to be their online breastfeeding expert. LLLI adopted Cooperative Action Guidelines for Leaders.

1997: At the LLL of Ohio Area Conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dayton, there were 40 topics on breastfeeding and parenting as well as an Alumnae Reunion Reception. Dr. Jay Gordon was a special guest speaker. There were 269 Active Leaders; 23 unaffiliated Leaders; eight Leaders on reserve; 93 Groups; and 182 paid memberships in the Area. Group Dues for Ohio were raised to $20. Norma Escobar from Kentucky agreed to help out in Ohio as HREI (now called Communications Skills Instructor). Dr. Herbert Ratner, great friend and helpmate of LLLI, died December 6, 1997.

1998: 60 Ohio Leaders attended an Afternoon Tea in Columbus to welcome out-of-state CLA, Carol Smith-Roach. In 1998, Halle Barnett became the Ohio Area’s first Area Public Relations Coordinator. West Virginia and Ohio join to become one Area.

1999: In May 1999 there were 72 Applicants in Ohio. The Ohio Area Conference returned to the Clarion Hotel, Worthington with Dr. Jack Newman, as special guest speaker. This was the thirtieth anniversary of the Ohio Area Conference. There were 89 Groups in Ohio/West Virginia, with 185 Active Leaders and 299 paid memberships. LLL of West Virginia Groups merged with LLL of Virginia by the end of the year, leaving LLL of Ohio on its own again. Over $2140 raised in the 1999 World Walk, with LLL of Ross County raising over $900.

In 1999, Andrea Eastman began LLL of Ohio unofficial chatlist on Yahoo.

2000: The Ohio Area Conference was held at the Holiday Inn in Hudson. Edwina Froelich captivated LLL of Ohio Area Conference goers as the dinner speaker with her “Millennial Musings” on many subjects. A Special “Nursing Toddlers” supplement of “The Circle” appeared. New Groups start throughout Ohio---LLL of Ashtabula County, Kenwood/Blue Ash, Ashland County, Zanesville, Hilliard AM, Brown County, West Chester and Coshocton County. Area Leader Dues replace Ohio Area Group Dues. Area Leader Dues were $12 per Leader per year. There were 42 total positions on Area Council. World Walks across the state raised $4136.

2001: Martha Pugacz, the first LLL Leader outside Illinois, dies on November 22.

The Ohio Area implements the Team concept for management of Groups within the Area. Almuth Koby and Meg Sondey became Ohio CSE (formerly HRE) instructors--the first “in Area” instructors since 1996. The Area Sales Table made almost $1500 at the World Faire at the International Conference.

2002: There were five LLL Warmlines in Ohio, located in Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, and Toledo. Forty two Ohio Counties had one or more LLL Groups located in them.

2003: LLL of Ohio celebrated 45 years of LLL in Ohio.

District Advisors held District Workshops throughout Ohio for the first time in many years. There were 86 Leaders on the LLL of Ohio unofficial chat list.

“Well, I’m rather proud that the Cincinnati LLL Multiples Group was the first in LLLI history and longest-lasting such LLL Group.”
Karen Gromada, Author, “MOTHERING MULTIPLES”

_____________________________________________________________________________
From “The Circle”, LLL of Ohio’s Special 45th Anniversary Issue, 2003; thanks to Barb Searing for typing this history for the Alumnae web site.