Regional Steering Committees

The BCO has formed Regional Steering Committees in an effort to reflect Oregon’s diverse population and geography.

How Regional Committees Meet

The Eastern Steering Committee and the Western Steering Committee meet individually three times a year via conference calling, or in-person when feasible. Rural and urban centers have different challenges and opportunities in community organizing, and these calls give participants the chance to share their work and strategies with others in similar communities.

Region Steering Committee Chairs

East Steering Committee Chair:  Marilyn Watkins | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

West Steering Committee Chair:  Debbie Alba | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Statewide Conference

BCO has an Annual Meeting to plan, network and celebrate our work together. Continuing education, advocacy training, local coalition sharing and social activities are generally part of our time together.

Celebrating our March 2-3, 2012 conference:

  • March 2-3, 2012 in Portland was a SOLD OUT event under the theme, Stepping Toward a Baby-Friendlier Oregon.  See our BCO conference page for more information about this and past conferences, and the BCO Facebook page for pictures from our great days together.
  • Thank you to our supporters, without whom this event would not have been possible:  Oregon WIC, Oregon Public Health Institute, Hygeia, Limerick, and Medical International.
  • We had poster sessions on the topics of:
    • Community-based organizations:  International Center for Traditional Childbearing, La Leche League of Oregon and La Leche League of Roseburg, Baby Connection of Eugene/Springfield, Nursing Mothers Counsel of Oregon, and Columbia Gorge Breastfeeding Coalition
    • Healthcare: St.Vincent hospital skin-to-skin program, Oregon Health & Science University "Can Do 5" program, Nothwest Mother's Milk Bank (NWMMB), How to Open a Donor Drop Off Site w NWMMB, and the Oregon efforts around the Ban the Bag Campaign
    • Workplace:  Business Case Toolkit, "Finding Quality Child Care:  A Guide for Oregon Families"
  • 120 attendees joined together to explore the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding and build on our May, 2010 hospital summit.