WCA Summit to tackle hot issues
Opens Board meeting to all members
Those attending the 2003
World Chiropractic Alliance International Summit will have a chance to
listen to an incredible array of speakers and guests, including Drs. Terry
Rondberg, Guy Riekeman, Leslie Bedell, Patrick Gentempo, Madeline Behrendt,
Jay Holder, David Jackson, Christopher Kent, Jack Masche, Matthew McCoy, C.
J. Mertz, Dennis Nikitow, Tony Palermo, and Eric Plasker, as well as Timothy
Feuling, Barbara Loe Fisher, Greg Stanley, and Dave Majer.
No presentations have
been scheduled simultaneously, so participants can listen to all the
speakers. "I always have such a hard time making choices when two or more
great speakers are scheduled for the same time," said Dr. Rondberg, WCA
president. "At the WCA Summit, you don't have to make those choices -- you
get them all!"
From
Dr. Masche ...
"In
the movie 'Lord of The Rings,' the prologue notes that 'Much that once was
is lost, for none now live who remember it.' We are in that situation in
chiropractic right now. The World Chiropractic Alliance 2003 International
Summit is about telling our story to the top legislators in our country.
It's about you being there personally to get this job done because no one
else is going to do it and no one else can tell it like you do. The World
Chiropractic Alliance is keeping the vision alive. Will you be there to
raise your voice or are you going to let the echo of chiropractic die out?
-- Jack
Masche, D.C., WCA Chief Operating Officer and Summit '03 coordinator
The Summit will also do
something almost unheard of among chiropractic organizations. It will open
the doors of its International Board of Governors meeting and let all WCA
members attend and voice their opinions on some of the hottest issues of the
day, including the increasing control of the profession by regulatory
agencies such as the CCE and FCLB.
"These are important
topics, and we not only welcome comments from our membership, we actively
solicit them," Rondberg said. "Before the Board of Governors votes, we need
to hear from the 'rank and file' of the organization, since they are the
ones we serve."
The Board of Governors
is made up of dozens of WCA members from throughout the world, with
representatives from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain,
Holland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, South
Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan Republic of China, Thailand and the
United States.
Some of the issues the
membership will decide are:
*** Should regulatory
agencies like the CCE and FCLB be allowed to control chiropractic and turn
it into a medical therapy?
*** Does the ACA have
the right to dictate WCA policy? Is chiropractic unity worth the price of
ACA domination?
*** Should the
profession distance itself from the subluxation and chiropractic heroes like
B. J. Palmer?
*** Should
subluxation-based research be a top priority for chiropractic?
*** Should the
profession continue paying for the ACA's lawsuit, or is a legislative
approach more effective to protect chiropractic turf?
"We're calling upon all
subluxation-based chiropractors to join us in taking back our profession,"
stated Rondberg. "We need to make it clear that we won't let others destroy
what we've worked so hard to build. Chiropractic is not a branch of medicine
and anyone who wants to turn it into that will have to get through us
first."
Rondberg said he is
hoping for a large turnout of WCA members and other subluxation-based
doctors who share the group's dedication to protecting and promoting
chiropractic principles, but admits that some may be reluctant to travel to
the U.S. Capitol during a time of international crisis.
"I can understand their
concerns," he said. "But they have to realize the profession faces
uncertainty right now as well. Chiropractic is poised at the brink of a
precipice. One good shove and we could tumble down into the medical abyss.
There are a lot of people and groups shoving, and we need a lot of doctors
who care about chiropractic to pull chiropractic to safety. We have to buck
up and not let anything stop us!"
The current world
situation has made it difficult for the WCA to get firm commitments from
many legislators, but it has received assurances from several that they will
attend the reception and other events if possible. In addition, the WCA is
providing instructions to all registrants on how to make appointments with
their own Representatives and Senators for private meetings.
At the 2002
Summit,
numerous WCA members met with lawmakers and their staffs, helping to educate
members of Congress about the unique and non-medical role of chiropractic.
There is a particularly great need for D.C.s to make contact with their
legislators because of the possibility of important chiropractic-related
bills being introduced this year.
The Summit will be held
at the Hotel Marriott, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue,
which offers a special WCA rate of $209 for single or double. For
reservations, call 800-228-9290; 202-393-2000 (be sure to mention the WCA
Summit when making reservations).
Summit
registration is $385, and includes one practicing D.C. and an unlimited
number of non-D.C. guests (family, staff, etc.). For Continuing-Ed Credits,
add $50 (may be paid separately at the door). To register, call the WCA at
800-347-1011 or register online at www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/summit03.
