My very deepest thanks to all who wrote, publicly and privately, about how
to handle the discovery that my upcoming talk was under formula
sponsorship.

Every one of your posts refined my thoughts a little more, pushing and
tugging them in this direction and that to what was ultimately a very
comfortable position for me.  I called the nurse in charge to say that the
discovery took me entirely by surprise, that I would give my talk exactly
as planned but:

1)  no materials bearing a formula name or logo could be distributed in
conjunction with my part of the program (there were to be 2 speakers that
day);

2)  I would waive the honorarium, and accept something toward my other
expenses only if a different source of funding could be found;

3)  I would explain, during my talk, why I was doing so and why it was
important;

4)  a postcard needed to be sent to everyone who received the flyer,
explaining the recent miscommunication and disassociating me from any
formula company sponsorship.  Company funds could be used to send the
postcard but the card would be written by me, with her approval, and would
bear no company name.

Guess what:

Only 16 people had signed up for the day, when usually they have 40 - 60.
She suggested she call the 16 people individually to tell them the
conference would be only 1/2 day, that I speak at a later function that is
*not* formula- supported, and that the postcards be mailed as I wanted.

She was genuinely surprised that I didn't take every opportunity to speak,
regardless of funding, because the information is so badly needed.  "This
is the real world," she told me, "and while I'm a real supporter of
breastfeeding, I figure the bridges need to meet in the middle."

I'll be compiling all the posts into one document, chronologically but with
names and locations and any identifying or not-fully-pertinent remarks
eliminated (I'll get permissions :-)  )  If you'd like the whole sordid
story in one piece for your files, e-mail me.  I'll also put my response to
the nurse on lactnet for you.

This has been a real learning experience for me.  I'll never again agree to
speak without a prior contract.  And I hope you all got pushed and tugged
by this, as I did.  Think it thru, ladies and gents, before it happens to
you, so you'll know what you want *your* response to be.

Thank you, all of you.  What a wonderfully diverse and uniformly caring forum!!!

Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC, LLLL  Ithaca, NY   [log in to unmask]
wiser and - wonder of wonders - *not* poorer!