Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "You must do things you think you cannot do." That could be the motto of the World Chiropractic Alliance -- we always seem to do things others think we cannot do!

A few years ago, some dismissed us as a "fringe" group. But, strengthened by true dedication to advancing the cause of subluxation-based chiropractic, we continued to work and grow and do things no one thought we could do, including:

*** being named an NGO affiliated with the United Nations Department of Public Information -- and seeing WCA Board Member Christopher Kent, D.C., elected chairman of the NGO Health Committee.

*** having WCA Board Member Veronica Gutierrez, D.C. chosen as the only chiropractor on the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

*** spearheading campaigns for a chiropractic postage stamp and the historic House Concurrent Resolution 46.

*** single handedly ensuring that legislation gave veterans in the VA health care system access to subluxation correction.

Now, we can add another accomplishment to this list -- the addition of World Chiropractic Alliance International Board of Governors member Leona Fischer, D.C., to the VA Advisory Committee.

The WCA is proud to have opened up the VA Advisory Committee to new blood and different perspectives. We're proud to have nominated Dr. Fischer and be able, through her, to work -- and if need be fight -- for the rights of subluxation-based chiropractors.

Most of all, the WCA is proud of Dr. Fischer. Her eagerness to tackle the challenge of being one of the few subluxation-centered doctors on the committee should be a model for all of us. She is a study in courage, dedication and enthusiasm, characteristics that make our profession great and our lives worth living.

She'll have her work cut out for her, though. She's only one of 11 committee members. The others include outspoken opponents of traditional chiropractic and several who view chiropractic as a treatment for musculoskeletal conditions.

Dr. Fischer will have to combat those who want to shove chiropractors into a VA hospital closet and allow them to do nothing without the approval of the men in white coats.

At the same time, she'll be up against those who are trying to present chiropractors as quasi-M.D.s who provide full body diagnosis and treatment, ignoring subluxation correction and adjustments.

We hope other members of the VA Advisory Committee will join her in fighting for the right of American veterans to seek chiropractic care for whatever reason they choose, including low-back pain or subluxation correction. They served in the Armed Forces in order to protect liberty and freedom. They deserve the right to make their own decisions when it comes to their health!

What happens in the VA system will have ramifications throughout the health care world. If we can get the VA to recognize that chiropractic has a unique role in health care -- the detection and correction of vertebral subluxation -- it will be far harder for other health care facilities, HMOs, insurance companies, and government agencies to exclude it.

Of course, Dr. Fischer won't be by herself no matter what views her fellow committee members take on chiropractic. She'll have the entire WCA standing beside her, helping her whenever and however we can.

What about you? Will you help support her as she protects the unique identity of chiropractic in the VA system? If so, join the World Chiropractic Alliance today. Your dues will help provide the kind of resources and assistance she'll need to get the job done for all of us. The WCA membership application is on page 41, or you can visit our website.

Take the leap to do the thing you thought you could not do. Go the extra mile to protect your practice -- and your profession.