DCs share energy, passion at WCA Summit
DCs from around
the world gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 2004 World
Chiropractic Alliance International Summit and left feeling
energized, inspired and empowered.
The Summit, and
the Legislative Action Day held by the Chiropractic Coalition,
combined to produce one of the most effective chiropractic events
in chiropractic history.
Doctors met
with scores of Senators, Representatives and other government
officials to educate them about and lobby for important
chiropractic legislation, including bills that would provide
direct access to chiropractors in the Veterans Affairs health
system and extend chiropractic benefits in the federal government.
Damian Palmer,
DC, spoke for many participants when he told WCA President Dr.
Terry A. Rondberg: "The summit was an UNBELIEVABLE success! Having
the forum to meet with legislators and bringing with me the
backing of three national and international organizations gave an
inconceivable feeling of strength... It's been said that those on
the 'other side of the fence' who seem to be out there promoting
DCs rather that chiropractic just don't see how that which serves
the profession indeed serves chiropractors. WE do!"
In addition to
the Legislative Day -- held jointly by the WCA, the International
Chiropractors Association and the Federation of Straight
Chiropractors and Organizations ‑‑ Summit participants also were
able to choose between six different full‑day programs on Friday,
May 1: World Chiropractic Alliance Power & Prosperity; Family
Practice Mastering the Family Practice New Patient System; Torque
Release Technique (TRT) Program; a non‑lecture, hands‑on Torque
Release Technique workshop; 2X+1 Chiropractic Mastermind Program;
and Teach the World about Chiropractic Program.
All were
well-received and provided an added value to the Summit that was
worth far more than the registration costs.
Speaking of the
2X+1 program, Kris Colangelo, DC, of Fairfax, Va., said: "The
seminar...was incredible. It seems as if most people who are
successful in practice try to mold their clients or prospective
clients into who they are. This was the first time that I was
reminded of my own perfection and that whatever I desire is not
only acceptable, but wonderful...precisely because it is MY dream.
What an amazing reminder."
Saturday, May
2, the final day of the Summit, was filled with enthusiastic
presentations by some of the most popular and well‑respected
leaders of subluxation‑centered chiropractic. The effect was
nearly overwhelming.
"Meeting with
and sharing our vision with people I consider to be like
superheroes, is going to take me a few more days to assimilate,"
explained Mark Styers, DC, who flew in from Germany for the event.
"On the plane
ride on the way back I was thinking of Terry Rondberg as Superman,
Ed Plentz and Kevin Pallis as Batman and Robin, Eric Plasker as
the Hulk, Tony Palermo as Spiderman, Madeline Behrendt as Wonder
Woman, Matt McCoy as Flash Gordon, Jerry Hardee as Shaft, and
Christopher Kent as the all‑knowing and all‑powerful OZ. ...I just
think of chiropractors as real heroes, my superheroes!"
Unlike at many
other chiropractic events, the impact of the Summit didn't end
when the final speakers left the podium. Doctors left feeling
"charged up" and motivated to make a greater contribution to their
profession.
"I wanted to
thank you for a great weekend and the opportunity to experience
and participate in the changing of our profession," Chris Cox, DC,
told Rondberg afterwards. "I also want to let you know that it is
time for me, as Dr. Eric Plasker put it, to stand up! I need to do
more. My staff feels the same way. They also requested that they
want and need to do more. My CAs want to step up also!"
That's the
reaction Rondberg and the rest of the WCA Board was hoping for. As
the organization continues to grow, the World Chiropractic
Alliance relies heavily on the contributions by members who share
its vision of chiropractic. Many of the achievements of the WCA --
a true "grassroots" organization -- can be traced directly to the
work of individual members, many of whom have never held
leadership positions in any association before.
The main goal
of the annual conference was to empower doctors, to make them
realize they have the ability to influence key government
officials here and in nations around the world.
"Chiropractic
is ruled by laws and those laws will define what we are and what
we and our patients will be able to do in the future," explained
Rondberg. "If we speak up together, we can make sure those laws
recognize the unique role of chiropractic in health care.
"We can pass
laws that will allow you to help children and asymptomatic
patients, to provide wellness and maintenance care, to focus
either on subluxation correction or treatment of
neuromusculoskeletal conditions as you see fit," he pointed out.
"We can work
together to reform Medicare, extend chiropractic benefits,
establish a chiropractic officer corps in the military, and
prohibit other practitioners from encroaching on our exclusive
domain of subluxation correction. We can do all these things,"
Rondberg stressed, "if we work together and speak in a united
voice. That's why the Chiropractic Coalition is so important and
why we have all decided to continue this positive and mutually
beneficial alliance."
While politics
attracted the most attention at the event, the other major theme
of the Summit was "prosperity" and many of the presentations
provided practical information on how to build an ethical and
financially successful practice.
"If we want to
wield true power in Congress and in our communities, we have to be
successful in our businesses," Rondberg noted. "By helping our
neighbors reach the highest possible level of health, we can
improve society as a whole while generating the kind of income we
deserve."
He emphasized
that the goal of increased revenues shouldn't be dismissed as
either mercenary or distasteful.
"BJ Palmer was
the ultimate entrepreneur, a savvy businessman who was able to
accumulate a sizeable amount of wealth, which he used to benefit
the profession as well as his own family. We can, and should, do
the same thing," Rondberg said.
Planning has
already begun for the World Chiropractic Alliance International
Summit 2005, scheduled for April 15‑16. The Chiropractic Coalition
Legislative Day will be held April 14.
"I really
enjoyed attending the Summit...being in the company of so many
principled, passionate doctors was awesome. For me, the best part
of the Summit was the collective energy and love in the room
during both days. Being a part of that love and remembering how
incredible chiropractors are was a huge fuel for me, and it has
impacted me almost as much as serving at the Pentagon after 9/11
did. Both helped re‑center me and feed my desire to serve the
world no holds‑barred. I truly enjoyed meeting so many of the
doctors I admire in person. I hadn't gotten to hear from some of
them before and it was energizing to feel their passion and
determination.
"Particularly,
meeting and hearing from Dr. Palermo has been amazing. I
subscribed to his DC Staying Power over the weekend, and it has
been fantastic so far. His outlook and gratitude towards life are
wonderfully inspiring and I am enjoying building my practice with
a similar attitude.
"I also got to
re‑connect with a few doctors in our area whom I haven't seen in a
while, and I trained with Dr. Plasker for a while, so seeing him
again was fun, too.
"The videos
were amazing; seeing Dr. Madeline Behrendt was inspiring. I am
going to find out more about how to do research on JVSR.com (I
subscribe now -- and patients love it, too!) and submit some of my
own. Dr. Pallis and Dr. Plentz were very inspiring to me. Dr. Kent
is a principled, wonderful doctor. Dr. McCoy was great to talk
with. Seeing Bill Esteb is wonderful; he has done so much for us
over the years. " -- Dr. Kris Colangelo
“At this year's
WCA Summit I met chiropractors from all over the world who were
quite simply, on fire. And it was fire that they took to the Hill,
where in meeting after meeting after meeting, they told the
chiropractic story to a receptive audience.
"In addition,
there was a tremendous response to the JVSR fertility research
project and many doctors were excited to share with me their own
clinical experiences with subluxated infertile couples.
"I was
especially delighted to see the Board of Governors members honored
individually and to hear of their many accomplishments -- what
talented colleagues, what big hearts, what momentum!
"I left the
2004 WCA Summit very proud of chiropractic, very excited, and so
happy to be around so many awesome DCs. Can I go back soon?"
--Dr. Madeline Behrendt
"After having
attended the first three amazing Summits, I was wondering what new
this one would bring forth. Well, I have to say I was surprised
for the best. The Summit is like old wine, it keeps getting better
with each passing year. It struck me that the Summit is quite
similar to the wellness phase of chiropractic care. It allows for
sustained growth and transformation. What I love most is the
opportunity to meet again with our WCA family, dedicated and
passionate chiropractors and to witness together the progress made
during the past year. The Summit is also a great 'check' that
permits me to control and correct my 'slips,' as BJ used to say.
--Yannick Pauli, DC
"I had a
fabulous time at the Summit. I met so many amazing people. I
really enjoyed meeting Mark Styers. I hope to go to the WCA
Symposium in Europe.
"I also enjoyed
meeting the students from other schools. I feel that we will all
be major players in the future. We just need to get that piece of
paper. Of course, we can all do a great deal now.
"To the doctors
who did not come to the Summit, I would say get your butt
involved in your profession." --Jamie Bunis
