I just wanted to comment that although I am not a private practice LC but
work in a hospital and am the only active LLL Leader in my immediate area
that I haven't found it a problem keeping my roles separated.  I am also
Associate APL for our LLL Area.

Perhaps this is because I see no need to refer to myself.  We do have an
outpatient clinic and anyone in the community can make an appointment with
the LC.  I gained all my skills available to me as an LC while I was a LLL
Leader.   I went to all the workshops and seminars and conferences as a LLL
Leader and my level of competency increased with education and experience as
an LLL Leader.  Just because I took an exam and can call myself an LC does
not mean I cannot work with a woman and baby using the same knowledge in both
settings.  I have the same knowledge base.  I have never operated under the
assumption that there is an imaginary line that separates my skills as an LLL
Leader from my skills as an LC.  I don't believe there is one nor that there
should be one.

 I take very clear note when I take a telephone call of how I have been
referred.  "How did you get my phone number?" usually answers that quickly.
 Then I proceed in just about the same way whether I am acting as an LLL
Leader or an LC.  I take a history, talk with and examine the mother and baby
to the extent I feel is necessary and explain what I perceive may be the
problem and some possible ways of dealing with it. I try to be equally
empathetic in both settings.

 SInce I choose to provide a setting in the community for mother-to-mother
support through my role as an LLL Leader I am also willing to continue to
help breastfeeding mothers who contact me through LLL.  I am actively
choosing not to get compensated for my work when I do it as an LLL Leader.
 If a mother calls me who gave birth in the hospital I work but who also
attends LLL Meetings I simply ask before we start to talk if she's calling me
as the LLL Leader or as the LC.

So far this has worked out well.

Mardrey Swenson
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