May 2008

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Chiropractic 42-cent stamp now on sale

When the US Postal Service raises the price of first class postage to 42-cents this month, chiropractors will be ready! The World Chiropractic Alliance's chiropractic postage -- valid for any first class mailing -- is now available in the new denomination. Although the WCA's costs have increased far more than the price of the actual postage, it is not increasing the price of the stamp sheets.

The cost for the sheet of twenty 42-cent postage labels remains $19.99, with discounts for purchases of more than 10 sheets.

For years, the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) worked hard to convince the US Postal Service that chiropractic was worthy of being featured on a postage stamp. Despite generating widespread support throughout the profession, as well as from members of Congress, the request for a stamp honoring BJ Palmer and chiropractic was repeatedly denied.

When the Postal Service authorized a handful of companies to issue postage labels, called PC Postage, the WCA jumped at the chance to commemorate and promote chiropractic in this eye-catching manner. The design, boldly bearing the word "Chiropractic," an artistic representation of a spine, and the phrase "for the Health of it!" are legitimate US first-class postage labels that can be used to mail any letter or package, just like a stamp. To keep the labels completely "politics free," the WCA does not print its name anywhere on the stamp or the sheet.

To produce the postage label, available in sheets of 20, the WCA contracted with an industry leader and US Postal Service-approved vendor of PC postage. The company has produced more than 40 million custom postage labels for companies and individuals. Each carries a bar code read by the Postal Service.

"The design is helping to raise awareness of chiropractic in a very visible way. Millions of people will be sending, receiving or seeing the label over time," said Terry A. Rondberg, DC, WCA president. "Each one is just like a mini-billboard boosting chiropractic."

The positive impact of an image or message on a postage stamp is so great that thousands of design requests are submitted each year to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee. Other health care professions frequently have been honored on postage stamps and members of each profession are normally urged to use the stamps for their own mail.

In the first few months after its release, more than 24,000 of the chiropractic stamps were circulating and the stamp is now in its sixth printing. Some doctors have even framed a sheet of the stamps for display in their offices.

"I hope every DC will purchase at least a few sheets to use on a few of their special letters," Dr. Rondberg said. "Each letter is seen by at least a dozen people and each way makes a positive impression of chiropractic."

The price of the chiropractic postage stamps are $19.99 per sheet. If ordering 11-25 sheets, the price drops to $18.99 and for orders of more than 25 sheets, the price is just $17.99 per sheet. A flat shipping and handling charge of $5 per order is added. Postage labels can be mailed to US addresses only and doctors are asked to allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.