The chiropractic profession in the United States has been continually hampered by one serious problem: no unity.
Every time you see this profession miss another opportunity, you can be certain that our lack of mutual cooperation is much to blame. On a national level, we have two primary chiropractic associations. And while the ACA and ICA don't always agree, the biggest mischief-makers are the handful of "wanna-be" organizations. These typically have negligible membership, no voting structure, and cannot hope to accomplish anything more than spoiling the plans of one or both of the primary national chiropractic associations.
The national situation is complex, and may be solved over time. Meanwhile, the situation only seems to improve as long as the ICA and ACA continue to focus on what they each do well, and develop the confidence to leave other tasks aside.
On a state level, the issues are more tangible and the players more sensitive to member expectations. Even so, there are at least 25 states have more than one state chiropractic association. Typically, this results in unnecessarily limited participation by local DCs. It can also result in embarrassing showdowns in the state legislature and a seemingly justified position taken by legislators: "I'll listen to you when you chiropractors can agree on what you want."
The Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA) has decided to attempt to bring together chiropractic state associations in states with multiple associations. This will not be an effort to force any mergers or influence the philosophy of any organization. Instead, it will be a chance to:
- open meaningful dialogue;
- establish lines of communication;
- explore areas of cooperation; and
- unify the chiropractic profession in that state.
Official representatives from the state chiropractic associations listed on the right have been invited to attend the COCSA's annual convention on November 10 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They are to attend a very special closed-door meeting of "similarly situated" associations. The goal will be to present some ideas and possible solutions to the problems of lack of communication and disunity.
While some may be inclined to refuse the COCSA invitation, there is really no legitimate reason to do so. The worst that can happen is that your association could lose the price of an airline ticket and the two nights' hotel stay. This is nothing compared to the potential benefit to your chiropractic association, your practice, your patients, and the citizens of your state who have yet to enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care.
If you are a member of one of the associations invited below, make certain your association doesn't miss out. Talk to your leaders and let them know you want one of them there. We are expecting important things to happen at this meeting, including alliances and cooperative efforts between chiropractic associations in the same state and neighboring states.
State Chiropractic Associations Invited to Meet:
- Arkansas Chiropractic Association
- Arkansas Chiropractic Society
- California Chiropractic Association
- ICA of California
- Colorado Chiropractic Association
- Colorado Chiropractic Society
- Connecticut Chiropractic Association
- Connecticut Chiropractic Council
- Florida Chiropractic Association
- Florida Chiropractic Physicians Association
- Florida Chiropractic Society
- Georgia Chiropractic Association
- Georgia Council of Chiropractic
- Illinois Chiropractic Society
- Illinois Prairie State Chiropractic Association
- ICA of Indiana
- Indiana State Chiropractic Association
- Kentucky Association of Chiropractors
- Kentucky Chiropractic Society
- Chiropractic Association of Louisiana
- Louisiana Chiropractic Society
- Louisiana Union of Chiropractic Physicians
- Massachusetts Alliance for Chiropractic Philosophy
- Massachusetts Chiropractic Society
- Michigan Chiropractic Council
- Michigan Chiropractic Society
- Academy of Missouri Chiropractors
- Missouri State Chiropractors Association
- New Hampshire Chiropractic Association
- New Hampshire Straight Chiropractic Society
- Council of New Jersey Chiropractors
- New Jersey Chiropractic Society
- Chiropractic Federation of New York
- New York Chiropractic Council
- New York State Chiropractic Association
- Chiropractic Association of Ohio
- Ohio State Chiropractic Association
- Joint Chiropractic Associations of Oklahoma
- Oklahoma State Chiropractic Association
- Chiropractic Association of Oregon
- Oregon Doctors of Chiropractic
- Chiropractic Fellowship of Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association
- Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Chiropractic Alliance
- Palmetto State Chiropractic Association
- South Carolina Chiropractic Association
- Chiropractic Society of Texas
- Texas Chiropractic Association
- Virginia Chiropractic Association
- Virginia Society of Chiropractic
- Wyoming Chiropractic Association
- Wyoming Chiropractic Council
Donald M. Petersen Jr.,BS, HCD (hc), FICC(h)
Editor / Publisher of Dynamic Chiropractic
Click here for more information about Donald M. Petersen Jr., BS, HCD(hc), FICC(h), Publisher.