I spent some time thinking about the recent posts on whether practicing LCs were being selfish or saintly, by offering or not offering opportunities to others for clinical observation or free joint consultations on private cases. I think it depends, and I would hesitate to pass judgement without recognition of some issues which go way back to the mind-set many of us bring to our profession: ie volunteerism and a sense of being called to the work. Boundries and limits are sometimes hard for us to set and to respect. Personally, I do a lot of free mentoring and am usually happy and interested in discussing cases with others. But I like to be able to pick and choose the who and the when because I am very busy. I am approached almost weekly by people who get mad at me for refusing to allow them unlimited access to my time and energy. I have had women call me who plan to open pump depots and want me to tell them how to set up their businesses and how to reach their target audience by advertising, etc. etc. I have had home health care agency administrators call to tell me they are going to go into the business of supplying lactation nurses for home health care but don't have anyone trained, so could I please (for free) look around for PAMPHLETS to train the nurses to provide the service!!!! Many people want me to allow them to come in and watch consults, explain what and why etc. and basically have me train them to function as LCs and provide them with enough hours to sit for the exam. Thats a lot of work for me and a disruption for my staff and clients. I take teaching seriously, and the 3 people I have apprenticed (uncharged) will tell you this involved a lot effort. I have decided that I will still allow people to come and observe for free if its just a couple of visits or if I feel like doing it. But in general, I have decided to charge a fee for what is essentially an education and training component of my work. I am making up a flier, and inquiries will be handled by mailing back the pamplet and letting people decide if they are serious enough about the work to do what I did to get training -- sacrifice and spend money on it. The issue of fear of competition isn't a sign of deficient character. With the pump companies willing to open up depots all over, the entry into any local market of new service providers is a legitimate concern for anyone in business. Private practice has loads of financial risk. To train ones competition for free is perhaps not a bright idea. I am much less concerned about having collegial relationships with peers -- ie people who have as much to offer me as I have to offer them. We have a number of members of our HOT LC ILCA affiliate who are technically my "competition" but who are actually my friends and peers and support group. But the public has no idea that the person just starting out with a pump depot, say, and no clinical expertise, is any different than the person with yrs of experience. Its especially confusing if that person is sent to you as a home health care nurse to help you with lactation. I have called Chele once or twice over the years and she has been gracious enough to give me some feedback, but these were LLL calls. If I were to phone her today about a paying client, I would offer her the courtesy of asking her if there is a fee for her advice. I imagine she could spend all day every day on the phone helping (particularly newcomers to the field) sort through problems. I bet Chele's a lot like the rest of us, busy, and sometimes hurt from feeling like no matter how much you give there are going to be people who say its not enough. The volunteer spirit is not, in my opinion, supposed to translate into codependency. Its ok to say yes when you feel like it, and it ought to be ok to value our expertise enough to have limits on when don't feel like giving it away. Do other professions have this problem, or am I just a groucy woman in the midst of mental-pause? Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSE, IBCLC Austin, Tx (priv. pract. LLL, HMHB, ILCA affill officer, PTA in 3 differ. schools, church duties, mother, wife, writer, LACTNET addict, etc)