At the bottom of the sometimes acrimonious but always interesting
discussions lately occurring on Lactnet is the obvious fact that we are
still in the process of defining ourselves.  While there is probably no way
to avoid controversy and disagreement in this process, I submit that it
ought to be done without name calling.  Eveyone is allowed (as I see it) to
feel passionately about their opinion, and they'd better be prepared to
defend it intelligently!  However I would like to propose a truce on this
cult of personalities stuff.  For those of us like myself with friends and
mentors on both sides, this is distressing.  I am a bossy  woman myself
whose strong opinions have annoyed many, but I have a rule that says:
principles before personalities. Let's stick to the ISSUES.

Now, here's an issue I happen to have an opinion about which I would like to
discuss for a minute, and I wish to disclaim in advance that the voicing of
this opinion is a slam towards any who hold the contrary, or that it should
be seen as an endorsement of any individual who has previously held forth
similarly. (Hmmm, do we need a clever "IMHO" kind of designation to provide
an easy shorthand for that disclaimer? The evil side of me proposes "No
Shit" -- short for No Support or Hurt InTended)

Anyway, I tend to like the idea of grandmothering/fathering current ILCA
members with new voting members IBCLC only.  That is if what we are about is
the establishment of a profession.  A profession  implies a move towards
standardization of training -- hopefully with a university pathway and an
acknowledged curriculum.  It supposes a code of ethics, and a standard of
practice to insure uniformity. If that's where we are headed, and I hope it
is, we need to recognize that a professional LC organization ought to be
working towards those goals rather than being a loose breastfeeding advocacy
unbrella group.  It is not necessary that all who support breastfeeding be
LCs or have these interests any more than it is necessary for all who are
interested in health to be doctors. Advocacy groups can and should continue,
and LCs may be part of any of these groups along with LLLLeaders, boutique
owners who rent pumps and love breastfeeding, public health workers with a
special interest, doctors and the like.

Individuals who are specifically employed in the profession of evaluating or
assisting mothers and babies with breastfeeding problems should progress
toward uniformity of training and licensing for the protection of the
CONSUMERS of our services.

Professions traditionally have formed guilds, unions or organizations to
assist members with professional needs and issues.  I doubt that the point
is still being debated in nurses or teachers organizations of whether the
doctors or the bus drivers can vote too. If they are smart, the doctors and
the bus drivers belong to  their own organizations which are looking out for
their special interests, engaging in peer monitoring, and striving to
elevate standards so they can be better, safer, bus drivers and doctors. Do
PTs and OTs and RDs feel as if they're being elitists if they create
professional organizations to discuss criteria for licensing,job security,
work place conditions, lobbying for benefits and salary increases, or the
promotion of  their status among the other health professions?

 Is being an LCs a hobby?  A cult?  A loose affiliation of well-meaning
enthusiasts with no discernable knowledge base?  Or are we serious about
DEFINING what it means to be a professional, whose life's work this is?
One's life's work ususally means it is also the way one has chosen to be
gainfully employed in supporting oneself. It is not evil to have some
reasonable interest in the financial particulars of your situation.
Consequently  a professional organization rightfully serves its members by
being concerned with this type of issue as well, which is obviously not
going to be of interest to those not employed or planning to be employed in
the profession.

A professional organization is just that.  To say to those friends of ours
who are not certified  in ILCA is not to say we don't like them or
appreciate their interest in and support of bfg.

 As the new inititives indicate, there is finally beginning to be public
policy pushing for bfg. support.  Are there going to be definable,
recognizable, consistantly trained, ready-to-go-to-work LCs ready when the
call comes? Or is there going to be a whole bunch of people who have varying
levels of expertise all calling themselves the same thing, much to the
disgruntlement of the typical consumer.
Barbara





Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Private Practice, Austin, Texas
Owner, Lactnews On-Line Conference Page
http://moontower.com/bwc/lactnews.html