I will second (or is that third or fourth...?) others' comments on the difficulty of getting paid for what one actually does as a speaker--or a writer. Each of the topics I have written about have taken at least a year of researching the literature, reading hundreds of articles, corresponding with colleagues all over the world, etc. For example, my work on vitamin D, a particularly complex and controversial topic, has consumed a year-and-a-half of effort (which is still ongoing) and a literature review of over 350 articles and chapters (which is still ongoing). I doubt that this work will ever be fully financially compensated by income from speaking or writing or anything else. In addition, I travel with a non-separating child which requires conference organizers to cover extra travel expense if I present a session. It also requires all involved to work out something creative for the care of my child while I am speaking. As soon as this extra complication is discovered, my invitation to speak often vanishes. Our general culture does not value breastfeeding or mothering. And, even when conference organizers do, they still have to live within budget constraints and satisfy the perceived needs of conference participants. While I have no difficulty presenting or attending a session in the presence of children and babies--and my own child has been to so many conferences that she is quite skilled at participating without disturbing others--many people cannot imagine a conference with a child in attendance. At times, it is truly frustrating. On the other hand, what kind of a world would it be if none of us ever did anything to try to make the world a better place unless we were paid for it? With no satisfactory answers on how to make a living in this field and truly grateful for the often inadequately compensated work of my Lactnet colleagues, Cynthia Cynthia Good Mojab, MS, IBCLC Ammawell Email: [log in to unmask] Web site: http://home.attbi.com/~ammawell *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html