Hi All,

Denise posted:  

I'm disappointed to see how some IBCLCs are dealing with their
dissatisfaction with IBLCE. We have the democratic right to express our
opinions. .<snip>To do this we need a stronger profession - we need more and
more IBCLCs and from a growing organisation we will find more people who are
able to join the Board and guide it wisely.

 

What do those who are proposing not to recertify, and are discouraging our
newest from doing so, hope will happen to this profession as a result of
this action? Is it because some of you have other professions and don't
'need' this one and don't care if it fails? .<snip>

 

Jaye again.  I'm gonna try to keep this short and sweet. There have been
some interesting and good points made here - however, I have to say I have
not seen anyone on this list, including myself actively discourage anyone
who is thinking about taking the exam.  Personally, if they want to take it
I say more power to them and good luck.   I have no intention or any
qualifications to be a board member.  I am simply an IBCLC, I have nothing
else to fall back on.  I count on the IBLCE to act appropriately in our best
interests.  However, that is not happening very well right now.  There are
some very big problems with our board right now and they are of great
concern.  Period.

 

Simply put - those who would be good and wise board members may never have a
chance to get on the board because they may very well not be able to meet
the requirements to even sit the exam.  How silly is that?  The fact of the
matter for me is - if I do not recertify I will NEVER be able to sit the
exam again.  Why?  Because I came in under a different set of requirements
in 2000 that allowed me to sit the exam - and I passed well above the lowest
pass score.  The requirements now I do not have nor can I get - that single
mom and more important to be with my kids rather than letting others raise
them while I work 40 hrs a week and go to school 20 hrs a week thing.  It is
a BIG risk and not a happy one I am taking by even considering not
recertifying.  But - I believe in my personal ethics - and my personal
ethics have a real problem with an interim board member having the ties this
new one does.something ain't right there.

 

So, what have I done?  I have written IBLCE several times, expressing my
concerns and asking for answers.  Only one letter sent to them has been
acknowledged - 6 months later and it seemed to be a form letter - I don't
know for sure if anyone else got one.  What can I do?  Not much in my
current situation as a single mom and LC in private practice.  I am too busy
trying to care for my family and it is not appropriate to take more time
away from them than I already do to try and get involved with an
organization that cannot even be bothered to acknowledge my existence at
this moment in time and within which I cannot possibly hope to even be
considered to be a board member of.  

 

I think the problem here is that there are MANY of us who have tried to
reach IBLCE - some of us are well known in the field.  I haven't seen or
heard of that making a difference yet. Yes, we have a right and an
obligation to do 'something' - but I for one, do not feel listened too - nor
do I feel valued and important to IBLCE when they slap out some SoP that
makes it impossible for me to do my job; when the new requirements mean that
many of us who are very good at what we do cannot ever hope to sit the exam
because we lack pre-req's that only those in the medical field or those with
a MA or PhD could have.  My word - listening to the qualifications some have
posted about themselves and seeing that regardless of the fact that they
would be fabulous additions to our field but CAN'T makes me ILL and ANGRY.
It isn't right.  I see people in my area who are IBCLC's that I wouldn't
send my cat too.  But I know people who are CLE's who I would refer to for
LC type help in a heartbeat.

 

So - what do we do?  We keep writing - we keep talking - we keep tossing
around ideas, suggestions and we HOPE that they are being heard.  We express
our fears and frustration s and HOPE that someone out there in IBLCE-land
will hear us - maybe even acknowledge us - give us some sort of explanation
- communicate with us in some manner.  So far, it seems to me that the only
thing we were heard about was the SoP - it is out of the picture - for
now.and ONLY because it got mentioned here on Lactnet and we spread the word
to those who are not on this list.

 

Will IBLCE hear us?  Not sure.  Will they ever put something out to us on
Lactnet or in the mail to let us know what the *&%^ is going on?  Not sure.
I have received nothing from them about anything that has happened in the
past year.  Nothing by e-mail - nothing by snail mail - how do those who do
not have Lactnet get their information?  Do they even know what is
happening?  Not everyone has internet access - not everyone can use e-mail
to stay abreast of the drama of IBLCE.  If I didn't have Lactnet I'd be
completely in the dark - that is NOT OK.

 

Do I have answers?  Nope.  I have only questions and concerns.  Am I
disappointed with other IBCLC's who are expressing their frustration and
saying "I won't recertify if this board doesn't shape up,"?  Nope.  I get it
- I understand.  My own personal ethics will not allow me to be associated
with an organization that cannot or will not practice ethically - you know -
practice what they preach.  If others can hang in there until they can make
a difference I wish them much luck and say more power to you.  For me - I
will wait and see.  I will continue to get my continuing ed - I will
continue to be proud that I sat an exam that was a major goal for me and
passed.  I will continue to practice ethically and will continue to hope
that IBLCE will get its act together and quick.

 

Take care.

 

Warmly,

Jaye

 

 

 

 


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