Dear friends,
I'd like to kindly comment on the thread of being an LC and not belonging to
ILCA etc. I came from LLL; no college education or health care background.
After seven years of learning and observing mothers and babies of all ages, I
decided to sit the boards. I did not work outside the home; my husband made a
decent living but believe it or not, I had a paper route to help pay for
ballet lessons, music lessons and sports for my kids - things that I felt
enriched their life. I was lucky to live near several medical and college
libraries that welcomed me (and my nickels for the copy machine!)  You can
always request journal articles or textbooks from your local library; if they
don't house that book they will get it from inter-library loan. As a taxpayer
and library patron, you are entitled to those services. I've had books from
SIU school of medicine in springfield, Rush Med. Center, and hospitals
everywhere in IL. I started my private practice very slowly and in a
financially prudent way. Many local ILCA affiliates do not require members to
be ILCA members--maybe a scholarship fund is available.  Volunteer to do
committee work, sit at a booth, type minutes, sometimes they will "pay" for
you to attend a meeting (reimburse parking, etc.) My guiding light was a book
called "Do what you love, the money will follow." Those of you who have known
me for a long time know that I've had ups and downs (haven't we all?) but
first and foremost, I am a mother and wife and then I do what helps other
people (moms and babies). Sorry if this sounds like I am expecting a round of
applause..I am not...but we all deserve one because I know many of you who are
"names" in the field, have been around for more than ten years and whom I
consider to be dear friends, came from similar situations. Sometimes it takes
a while to break even and even longer to make money. But if you are good at
what you do and people respect you...hang in there. It will happen. God bless
you all and best regards.
Mary Kay Smith, CLE, IBCLC
Romeoville, IL