I have been off-Lactnet for a bit, but read the discussions regarding the
WALC conf. and would like to share my opinion on the matter.  This is only my
opinion, so I would hope everyone takes it as such and realizes it is not my
intent to be derogatory at all.

I listened to the speakers, Cathy Watson-Genna and Tina Smillie, and perhaps
because I have held teaching positions, I viewed the message I heard in light
of the diverse audience in attendance in the room.  In my opinion, members of
the audience were going to misinterpret the message of the speakers as
previously stated by Lucy's prior post requesting clarification.

As presenters have discussed with me recently, the challenge of presenting
materials is in realm to the level of functioning of the listeners.  I think
it's quite a challenge to present a topic these days to such a widely diverse
level of audience.  Misinterpretations are bound to occur.  In the literature
there is research to support that levels of function range from the novice to the
expert level.  Right now, in our young profession, we do not separate the
audience in terms of levels of function.  My question to pose is whether we are
at a point where we need to begin to explore the need to create levels of
function within our specialty field.

Perhaps future conferences will need to register attendees according to
levels; even if the process is initiated volunteerily.  I'll purposely choose a
topic not portrayed at WALC so as to maintain objectivity here.  Take
thrush/yeast as a topic of choice.  Rather than discussing the etiology and treatment
modalities on thrush/yeast as a whole for 1 audience, perhaps in the future the
choice will be thrush/yeast 101 (basics) and thrush/yeast 102
(advanced).....now, don't look and judge as to who's going where, okay?  'Cause some of the
leaders in the field may want to attend 101 as a refresher, or they may need to
veg out for the day!  For those of you not familiar with the term "veg out", it
means sitting in the back of the classroom while the teacher lectures and
sleeping.  Taking a break at times is not necessarily a bad thing....

Sincerely,
Carol Chamblin, RN, MS, IBCLC
Breast 'N Baby Lactation Services, Inc.
St. Charles, IL

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