The key to Linda Shaw's disappointment with the exhibits at the Spring
AAP meeting is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Last year the Human Milk Banking Association of North America, Inc.
exhibited for the first time at the annual AAP meeting in Boston.
Thanks to a grant from a private foundation, hotel accomodations shared
with La Leche League, a location within driving distance for me and
staffing the booth with only 1 person, we were able to afford the $800
non-profit registration fee charged by AAP and all other expenses.  In
anticipating the 1997 annual AAP meeting in New Orleans I have had to
budget $3846. - includes airfare, hotel for two people, meals,
registration fee, shipping the exhibit, etc.  This figure represents
approximately 30% of the total income for HMBANA in 1996.  Needless to
say, we will be registering for only one AAP meeting and then only if we
receive a grant to do this.  The fall meeting, being the annual meeting,
is more heavily attended, and therefore more cost effective for
non-profits with limited funds for exhibiting.

If the lack of non-profit exhibitors interested in breastfeeding is
bothersome to physicians, perhaps they could go to bat for us and try
and influence their professional society to lower the registration fee
for non-profits, bearing in mind that it costs a great deal for all the
other expenses involved in exhibiting.  While I speak only for HMBANA, I
am sure that ILCA and LLLI would also appreciate lower registration
fees!

P.S. The non-profit registration fee for the American Pediatric
Society/Society for Pediatric Research/Ambulatory Pediatric Association
annual meeting in the spring is $1100!

Lois D. W. Arnold, MPH, IBCLC
Executive Director, HMBANA