Chiropractic (General)

Please Come to Albuquerque

Donald M. Petersen Jr., BS, HCD(hc), FICC(h), Publisher

Admitting We Have a Problem is the First Step to Solving It

The chiropractic profession in the United States has been continually hampered by one serious problem: no unity.

Every time you see this profession miss another opportunity, you can be certain that our lack of mutual cooperation is much to blame. On a national level, we have two primary chiropractic associations. And while the ACA and ICA don't always agree, the biggest mischief-makers are the handful of "wanna-be" organizations. These typically have negligible membership, no voting structure, and cannot hope to accomplish anything more than spoiling the plans of one or both of the primary national chiropractic associations.

The national situation is complex, and may be solved over time. Meanwhile, the situation only seems to improve as long as the ICA and ACA continue to focus on what they each do well, and develop the confidence to leave other tasks aside.

On a state level, the issues are more tangible and the players more sensitive to member expectations. Even so, there are at least 25 states have more than one state chiropractic association. Typically, this results in unnecessarily limited participation by local DCs. It can also result in embarrassing showdowns in the state legislature and a seemingly justified position taken by legislators: "I'll listen to you when you chiropractors can agree on what you want."

The Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA) has decided to attempt to bring together chiropractic state associations in states with multiple associations. This will not be an effort to force any mergers or influence the philosophy of any organization. Instead, it will be a chance to:

  • open meaningful dialogue;
  • establish lines of communication;
  • explore areas of cooperation; and
  • unify the chiropractic profession in that state.

Official representatives from the state chiropractic associations listed on the right have been invited to attend the COCSA's annual convention on November 10 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They are to attend a very special closed-door meeting of "similarly situated" associations. The goal will be to present some ideas and possible solutions to the problems of lack of communication and disunity.

While some may be inclined to refuse the COCSA invitation, there is really no legitimate reason to do so. The worst that can happen is that your association could lose the price of an airline ticket and the two nights' hotel stay. This is nothing compared to the potential benefit to your chiropractic association, your practice, your patients, and the citizens of your state who have yet to enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care.

If you are a member of one of the associations invited below, make certain your association doesn't miss out. Talk to your leaders and let them know you want one of them there. We are expecting important things to happen at this meeting, including alliances and cooperative efforts between chiropractic associations in the same state and neighboring states.

State Chiropractic Associations Invited to Meet:

  1. Arkansas Chiropractic Association
  2. Arkansas Chiropractic Society
  3. California Chiropractic Association
  4. ICA of California
  5. Colorado Chiropractic Association
  6. Colorado Chiropractic Society
  7. Connecticut Chiropractic Association
  8. Connecticut Chiropractic Council
  9. Florida Chiropractic Association
  10. Florida Chiropractic Physicians Association
  11. Florida Chiropractic Society
  12. Georgia Chiropractic Association
  13. Georgia Council of Chiropractic
  14. Illinois Chiropractic Society
  15. Illinois Prairie State Chiropractic Association
  16. ICA of Indiana
  17. Indiana State Chiropractic Association
  18. Kentucky Association of Chiropractors
  19. Kentucky Chiropractic Society
  20. Chiropractic Association of Louisiana
  21. Louisiana Chiropractic Society
  22. Louisiana Union of Chiropractic Physicians
  23. Massachusetts Alliance for Chiropractic Philosophy
  24. Massachusetts Chiropractic Society
  25. Michigan Chiropractic Council
  26. Michigan Chiropractic Society
  27. Academy of Missouri Chiropractors
  28. Missouri State Chiropractors Association
  29. New Hampshire Chiropractic Association
  30. New Hampshire Straight Chiropractic Society
  31. Council of New Jersey Chiropractors
  32. New Jersey Chiropractic Society
  33. Chiropractic Federation of New York
  34. New York Chiropractic Council
  35. New York State Chiropractic Association
  36. Chiropractic Association of Ohio
  37. Ohio State Chiropractic Association
  38. Joint Chiropractic Associations of Oklahoma
  39. Oklahoma State Chiropractic Association
  40. Chiropractic Association of Oregon
  41. Oregon Doctors of Chiropractic
  42. Chiropractic Fellowship of Pennsylvania
  43. Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association
  44. Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island
  45. Rhode Island Chiropractic Alliance
  46. Palmetto State Chiropractic Association
  47. South Carolina Chiropractic Association
  48. Chiropractic Society of Texas
  49. Texas Chiropractic Association
  50. Virginia Chiropractic Association
  51. Virginia Society of Chiropractic
  52. Wyoming Chiropractic Association
  53. Wyoming Chiropractic Council

Donald M. Petersen Jr.,BS, HCD (hc), FICC(h)
Editor / Publisher of Dynamic Chiropractic

don@mpamedia.com
September 2001
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