Thanks to the efforts of the Chiropractic Stamp Task Force -- headed by Drs. Brian Stenzler and Dan Matzner of New York -- and U.S. Representative Dan Manzullo (R-Ill.), the chiropractic postage stamp campaign is off to a flying start.

The Task Force has already begun publicizing the campaign and is accepting orders for postcards that contain messages urging the Citizens Stamp Advisory Board to approve the proposal for a commemorative stamp honoring B.J. Palmer.

"Though this campaign was started by the World Chiropractic Alliance, it is important to note this is neither a WCA stamp nor is it a WCA project," Dr. Stenzler stated. "In fact, this stamp is to cross all political and philosophical barriers."

The WCA, which is also funding the project, has printed 50,000 cards and will cover expenses for mailing them to participating doctors.

"My hope is that we'll send those 50,000 and have to reprint another 50,000 very soon," stated Terry A. Rondberg, D.C., WCA president. "It would be great to see a million post cards sent in support of this stamp!"

Since the Palmer stamp proposal will be competing with about 40,000 other suggestions and proposals received by the post office each year, the grassroots campaign is a key to its success.

The proposals are evaluated by the 15-member Committee, which looks for subjects that have "have broad national interest."

The Committee staff tracks the number of supporting letters or postcards each idea generates. A subject producing intense positive response from the public is more likely to be chosen than one with a lukewarm reception.

To be successful, a stamp proposal needs to be backed by thousands of letters over an extended period.

"What we are looking for is participation in an intense letter writing campaign," Dr. Matzer explained. "We are asking doctors of chiropractic to hand out postcards to their patients to fill out on a monthly basis. The Committee does not look at names, so each person can fill one out each month. The post card will have all of the pertinent information to be sent to the Committee requesting this stamp. All it will cost the doctor is 20 cents per post card mailed for postage."

The Postage Stamp postcards will be sent free of charge in packets of 100 to any doctor willing to participate in the campaign. Doctors will also receive an informational flyer that they can post in their office or copy and distribute to patients.

To request one or more packets (each containing 100 postcards and a flyer), contact the Chiropractic Stamp Task Force at 516/829-8578 or e-mail.