I just wanted to clarify for people not familiar with LLL, that when you
call a local LLL Leader, whether she is a local Leader or also in an
administrative person, that you are calling her at home.  She is a
volunteer who does LLL work in addition to what she sees as her primary
role of being a mother & wife (possibly). Some Leaders are single
mothers, and some are also employed outside the home.  Most Leaders get
quite a few calls on a regular basis (maybe even several daily) from
breastfeeding mothers who are calling for immediate breastfeeding help,
plus calls asking her to please speak to groups or high school classes,
etc.  Plus they are also getting the normal calls to help in the
children's school, or sports activity, or scout troup or maybe a call to
help at church, etc.  If she's been gone for the day and comes home to a
machine full of messages and only 20 minutes to try and return calls
before she starts the dinner, homework, bath and bed routine, she is
probably prioritizing those calls, and the 'speaking' calls may get a low
priority unless that is a passion of hers.
As I understand it, the 1800 number for La Leche League is essentially
for mothers looking for a local Leader, or breastfeeding help, and a
single LLL Leader is answering those calls, with many calls getting
routed to voice mail for a later response.
  If you are trying to reach the La Leche League International office,
then you should use the previous number listed for the outreach
coordinator or the main number at: 1-547-519-7730
   If you are trying to call a local Leader to speak at a function, you
should be as clear as possible.  Is this a volunteer speaking engagement,
or are you planning to pay an honorarium?  How long is the commitment,
the date & time, if known. When can you be reached (can she call you at
night after her kids are in bed?). (Personally, I don't like to call
people after 9 pm unless they've given permission)  You might on your
message also ask if she can refer you to other Leaders in the area if she
can not do this for you.  You might also want to when you are not needing
someone immediately get to know the Leaders in your area.  Most areas
where there is more than one group, put out a meeting notice that lists
the meeting times of local groups as well as the Leaders in the area.
Not only would this be a good resource for you, but would be a good thing
 to have available for your child birth classes.

I hope this is helpful to some.  I always thought most people knew this
stuff, but over 20 years as a Leader, I still get people who call
thinking they are reaching an office, and are surprized to find they've
reached me at my home.  (This used to tickle me when I also had a home
office for my LC private practice and would have a mother call
me on my home line for LLL, then not like what I told her only to hang up
and have her call me right back on my office line, frequently not
recognizing my voice until I had given her the same info . . . )

Kathe Catone, LLLL, IBCLC