A positive note from Santa Maria, California---  I received a LLL call
two days ago from a mom in our town who was upset: she had beenint a
local public pool with her baby, baby wanted to nurse, and she moved to
the side of the pool and nursed him, as discreetly as she could.  A
lifeguard rushed over and told her that she would *have* to get out of
the pool to nurse, preferably in the restroom.  The mom, indignant, got
out and sought out the pool manager, who backed the lifeguard. Mom
mentioned the new legislation here in California protecting her right to
breastfeed, but they were adamant. So mom left with her money refunded,
and called me.

She wanted to know what she could do.  I asked her what she wanted to
accomplish, and listed several things that she could do, according to how
strongly she felt.  Today she called me back to tell me what
happened.........  She faxed a letter to the office of the Parks and Rec
supervisor, enumerating the benefits of breastfeeding, and including a
newspaper clipping of the new law. She also posted her experience to an
attachment parenting listserv, and some of those people reposted her
experience to other sites such as Parent-L and misc.kids.bfg.  As a
result, within 24 hrs the supervisor's office was flooded with almost 200
faxes of protest.  He went home and discussed the matter with his wife,
who also breastfed their kids, and she supported the mom.  He also
consulted city attorneys, and as a result the following took place:

-Verbal apology to mom by phone, with promise of written apology
-Verbal thanks for mom for informative, non-hysterical letter
-Breastfeeding policy at pool to be rewritten immediately
-All lifeguards to be inserviced regarding new breastfeeding friendly
policy
-Breastfeeding friendliness message to be worked into next public pool
function
-Announcement to newspaper regarding updating of policy to be made
-Mom received 40 free passes to pool

All I could do was stand in awe of this mom and tell her what a great job
she did!  All this accomplished in 48 hrs. Sometimes the good gals *do*
win!

-Lisa Marasco
Santa Maria, CA