As someone who is (just) a Peer Counselor, I do not find much that I could add
to the discussions held here, on this train of thought, I believe I can
contribute my .02.

I earn my money as a grant writer for not-for-profit organizations and I have
been to countless conferences, seminars, classes, etc., about fund raising.
One point that is always hammered home is that to be effective, the
organization must understand what the public thinks of it.  It doesn't matter
what the insiders think.  As for LLL, my impression is that many people have a
pretty negative opinion of it (sorry, but in my experience, it has been true).
You and I know that it is ummatched in so many areas, but does that matter if
everyone else says, "aren't they kind of dogmatic, I know someone who was into
that and they breastfed their kid until they were (gasp) three!"  Personally,
I think LLL needs to work on their image.  If only because, I, myself, am
constantly pleasantly surprised at how diverse, racially, economically, that
the group is and that it is the best source I know for very accessible info.

Back to lurkdom...

Robyn Love, LLLI Peer Counselor in NYC
and mother to Finnian (2 yrs) and Lucy (3 mos and tipping the scales at
17lbs!!)