Well, Valerie, don't let what we all have said about speaking deter you from
doing it in the least.  No, no wads of cash for me either -- not by the time
I've finished doing all that needs to be done for a presentation (Barbara,
Magda, and Linda all said it as well or better than I).

I personally LOVE speaking -- it's truly my favorite thing to do.  I think in
another life, I'd like to be Carol Burnett.  But somehow, lactation education
and Carol Burnett humor probably don't mix well.  But from a financial
perspective, it really isn't "wads of cash."

I remember a book that was written by a woman named Joyce Landorf, entitled
"Will $1.87 and a Hankie do?"  She was talking about church groups that ask
women to speak at a banquet, and then give them a nice handkerchief as a
thank you gift.

When my oldest daughter was in nursing school, I taught the breastfeeding
segment of the OB class at least 6 times.  It was an hour drive in and back,
a two hour class for which I had to prepare, do the slides, the whole nine
yards.  In those 6 times I received two mugs and one plant which died on the
way home.  I did get my parking paid for.

Other times I have been paid -- and paid nicely, if you consider it is a fee
for two hours or a day or whatever.  But unless you've been a speaker, you
have no idea that whatever the honorarium, it is covering a multitude of
other things and a LOT of time, as well. So by the time it is all averaged
out, I would say that it comes to just slightly more than $1.87 and an
hankie.

All that said, I wouldn't give up speaking and teaching for the world.  It is
FUN -- and the people you meet are fantastic....

Valerie, let me echo Linda's comment -- you have so much to share w/ all of
us -- put an abstract in for speaking any where and everywhere you can.

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC

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