"WHEREAS,national unity is in the best interest of the chiropractic profession, and
"WHEREAS, there is no rational basis for continuing to have two national associations, and
"WHEREAS, it is past time for the chiropractic profession to stop wasting its limited resources on the unnecessary duplication of services, and
"WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of members of the chiropractic profession are strongly in favor of national unity, and
"WHEREAS, the official policies of both the ACA and the ICA are essentially identical, and
"WHEREAS, both the ACA and the ICA have endorsed the 1996 Position Statements of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges that could be used as the foundation for national unity, and
"WHEREAS, the ACA House of Delegates formally approved a merger of the ACA and the ICA in the past, be it therefore
"RESOLVED, the American Chiropractic Association reaffirms its policy in favor of professional unity and invites the International Chiropractors Association to join the ACA in forming a 'Unity Committee' that will be charged with the responsibility of developing a merger proposal that will be presented to both organizations for formal adoption at the earliest possible time."
(See "It Doesn't Make Any Sense" by Garrett Cuneo,HCD, also in this issue for a more in-depth look at chiropractic unity.)
The delegates also reaffirmed the ACA's subluxation-based, nondrug policy. In a related resolution, the ACA voiced its concerns of the use of the phrase "chiropractic medicine," an oxymoron that is creeping into legislative language in some states. This trend has, for instance, produced the change of the name of the Florida chiropractic board to the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine. The ACA warned of the confusion for the public that this phrase engenders. The association is resolved to keep the phrase out of any of its communications, and to clarify to legislators that chiropractors do not treat with drugs.
Other highlights of the convention included the election of officers; annual awards; a keynote address by Robert Hirshon, president-elect of the American Bar Association; and an update on ACA's lawsuit against Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield by the association's general counsel, George McAndrews.
Election of Officers
ACA leaders re-elected:
- Dr. James Mertz (Albuquerque, NM) - president
- Dr. Michael Flynn (Houma, LA) - chairman, board of governors
- Dr. James Edwards (Emporia, KS) - third member of executive committee
- Dr. Daryl Wills (Gering, NE) - vice president
- Dr. Jerilynn Kaibel (San Bernardino, CA) - District VII governor
- Dr. Donald Krippendorf (St. Petersburg, FL) - president, council of delegates
- Dr. Richard Brassard (Beaumont, TX) - vice president, council of delegates
Other elections:
- Dr. Linda Zange (Glenview, IL) - District II governor - (Dr. Zange replaces Dr. Edward Maurer (Kalamazoo, MI), who gave 27 years of service as a member of the ACA House of Delegates.)
- Dr. Lewis Bazakos (Valley Stream, NY) - District IV governor - (Dr. Bazakos replaces Dr. Robert Lynch (Portland, ME) after 19 years in the House of Delegates;
- Dr. David Herd - delegate for upstate New York.
Awards
The ACA presented its three most prestigious awards:
Chiropractor of the Year - Dr. Kenneth Padgett. Dr. Padgett's award was in recognition of his exceptional service, achievement, and leadership. Former recipients include Drs. Joseph Janse, William Bromley, Edwin Kenrick, Louis Sportelli and Jerilyn Kaibel.
Dr. Padgett, who retired as president of the New York Chiropractic College in September, is the chancellor of the college and president of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges. He served two terms as ACA president and as the ACA's New York delegate to its legislative committee. He was president of the New York Chiropractic Association for two years, and served 10 years on the New York Board of Chiropractic.
Humanitarians of the Year
- David O'Bryon, executive director of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges.
- Dr. Anthony Rosner, director of research and education since 1992 for the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research (FCER).
Delegates of the Year
- Dr. John Gentile (ACA's southern Florida delegate).
- Drs. John Flynn-Robert Lynch Memorial (inaugural award in memory of the fathers of ACA-Chairman Dr. Flynn and former ACA Governor Lynch).
- Dr. Glenn Manceaux (ACA's Louisiana delegate).
Attorneys Address Leadership
Robert Hirshon, president-elect of the American Bar Association (ABA), gave the keynote address before the ACA Council of Delegates. Mr. Hirshon discussed the need for managed care reform and restoring the balance of power in health care. The ABA, he noted, is "pressing for enactment by Congress of effective accountability provisions for managed care in a Patients' Bill of Rights."
ACA General Counsel George McAndrews updated the delegates on the ACA's lawsuit against Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield. The Virginia Chiropractic Association, five DCs, and 18 chiropractic patients filed suit in U.S. District Court against Trigon, Virginia's largest managed care company, and the BCBS Association. The plaintiffs allege racketeering, extortion, mail fraud and antitrust violations, and are calling for an end to discrimination against the chiropractic profession and parity among health care providers.
Tour of the New Chiropractic College
During the convention, the ACA leaders toured the profession's newest college, the Colorado College of Chiropractic, part of the Marycrest International University in Denver. This fall, the college welcomes its first class - six students in all.
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