State Associations Meet at Annual Congress

On November 13-15, 1992, representatives of 42 state associations gathered in the desert community of Palm Springs, California for the annual Congress of Chiropractic State Associations.

One of the reasons for the large attendance (42 of 46 associations represented) was the discussion of the Mercy Guidelines. A panel of participants at the conference, including Mercy Commission Chairman Scott Haldeman, D.C., M.D., Ph.D., and Commission Council David Chapman-Smith, Esq., presented a discussion of many of the issues that concern the practitioner. The three-hour presentation was followed by a lively, vociferous question and answer session that lasted over two hours.

Of greatest concern was the desire to see the chiropractic guidelines process continue. It was clear to those present that a desire to reconsider or modify any of the 304 recommendations made in the Mercy Guidelines could only be met by an ongoing effort. In response to that need, the Congress passed a resolution to sponsor another conference. The goal of this new conference would be the creation of a separate nonprofit entity responsible for chiropractic guidelines development. It was anticipated that this entity would include representatives from all of the major chiropractic organizations.

 

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COCSA's Mercy Document Resolution:

The following resolution was passed by the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations on November 14, 1992

WHEREAS: National guidelines for chiropractic practice are necessary but require continual revision.

WHEREAS: There should be an appropriate representative body established by the chiropractic profession to structure guideline development.

WHEREAS: The Congress of Chiropractic State Associations is an appropriate organization to facilitate formation of this body.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations ("Congress") hereby authorizes the creation of a conference composed as follows:

• Not more than 17 individuals;

   

• One representative per district of the Congress elected by the representatives attending this meeting (the November 14, 1992 Congress Board meeting) and two selected by the Board of the Congress;

   

• One representative each from the ACA, ICA, CCE, ACC, and NACA;

   

• Adequate representation of members and other individuals familiar with the guideline process to consist of not more than five individuals.

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The Congress provides a unique forum for interaction between state associations' representatives that no other chiropractic gathering comes close to duplicating. Numerous round table discussions, and presentations and reports from each of the state associations allows the kind of state by state interaction and exchange of information that enhances the services state associations can provide their members.

Another important aspect of the Congress is the annual election of officers and district directors:

Board Members of the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations -- Elected November 14, 1992

President
Rick McMichael, D.C.
Ohio State Chiropractic Association

1st Vice President
Mario Spoto, D.C.
Pennsylvania Chiropractic Society

2nd Vice President
Leonard Suiter,D.C.
Missouri State Chiropractic Association

Secretary
Rollie Dickinson, D.C.
Arkansas Chiropractic Association

Treasurer
R.M. Masteller, D.C.
Colorado Chiropractic Association

Immediate Past President
Robert Dark, D.C.
California Chiropractic Association

District 1
Carl Philips, D.C.
Pennsylvania Chiropractic Society

District 2
Stuart Hoffman, D.C.
Michigan Chiropractic Council

District 3
Doris Christman, Executive Director
Florida Chiropractic Society

District 4
Mark Wolff, D.C.
Colorado Chiropractic Association

District 5
N. Edwin Weathersby, D.C.
Arizona Association of Chiropractic