Ok... I'll carefully zip up my flame-proof suit here, and interject a couple of thoughts regarding Ilene's post excerpt below: 3. Maybe we also need to ask ourselves more about our profession. Are we in it to make $$$ or to help babies receive breastmilk as the optimal food for the health of an individual? Sure it's nice if the two exist together but is there a priority of one over the other. Maybe a good handful of us would not be able to do this if it were strictly on a volunteer basis. And of course then the value of our profession is questioned as well and with it our self esteem perhaps, as getting paid for what you know is how you may be valued on a social ladder. But I was/am a LLL Leader long before I was an LC and getting paid for what I know is somewhat of a side benefit albeit a very good side benefit, LOL. I didn't get "paid"(monetarily) for 13yrs before WIC employed me as an LC... it felt so good to be valued that way after being a volunteer for so long...and nice that I could do something I was GOOD at AND help support my family too. BUT that is not really why I'm an LC. It all goes back to KNOWING that breastmilk is what babies need and helping mothers meet the needs of their babies in this manner changes the lives of that family forever. This is not meant to be criticism of Ilene or the posting in any way- and really has nothing to do with BRUS renting pumps... but as a professional LC and a lactation clinic owner, I get very frustrated when the general public has this view. YES, I do what I do because I dearly love moms and babies... and I will do whatever I can to help ensure that these dyads have a wonderful breastfeeding relationship! I would not work as hard as I do every single day if this were not the case! However, as a professional and a business owner, I do need to make a living, cover the cost of my facility (which in turn provides convenience and ease to the moms I help) and I also deserve to be reimbursed for my time and energy away from MY family etc. This does not negate my passion for what I do, but reflects what I feel is reasonable compensation for the education and professional experience I bring to the table. Do we expect top-notch surgeons to perform surgery for little or no compensation "for the love of healing"? What about doctors? Physical Therapists? Chiropractors? Herbalists? All of these are professions that have required lots of specialized education... and I expect to pay for this experience when I consult with any of them. The fact that they expect compensation in NO WAY belittles their caring or their passion for what they do! There are many wonderful and knowledgeable volunteers out there, but we cannot expect our profession to be a volunteer workforce. I want our profession to be recognized as worth the value we provide! Again... this was not intended to be a flame.. so I apologize deeply in advance if I've stepped on any toes... Best wishes, Jeanne Cygnus, IBCLC Cygnus Lactation Services Mundelein, IL, USA www.CygnusLactation.com *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome