"It is time for our profession to speak with one voice nationally," said Woody Woodward, OSCA executive director. "I was in Washington last month, and the confusion - even among some members of Congress - [was] disturbing." He added, "We sincerely hope that not one dues dollar is withheld, but that is up to the ACA and ICA."
The OSCA Resolution on National Unity
Whereas, the Ohio State Chiropractic Association (OSCA) represents more than 900 chiropractic physicians in the State of Ohio; and,
Whereas, the OSCA is a member of the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA); and,
Whereas, on March 10, 2007, COCSA's Board of Directors passed a resolution on National Unity; and,
Whereas, the chiropractic profession has two competing national associations, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the International Chiropractors Association (ICA); and,
Whereas, the existing of the two competing national associations has prevented the chiropractic profession from speaking with one national voice; and,
Whereas, the existence of two competing national associations has resulted in lost opportunities for the chiropractic profession and its patients; and,
Whereas, the existing of the two competing national associations has resulted in duplication of effort, needless waste of precious chiropractic resources and perceived disunity of the chiropractic profession; and,
Whereas, the conflict resulting from the existence of two competing national associations serves as an impediment to the advancement of the chiropractic profession; and,
Whereas, the political and economic challenges facing the chiropractic profession have become too great and its adversaries have become to strong to justify the continued existence of two competing national associations; and,
Whereas, the OSCA represents chiropractic physicians who are members of both the ACA and the ICA,
Therefore, be it resolved that the board of the Ohio State Chiropractic Association joins with the board of the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA) in demanding that the ACA and the ICA set aside their philosophical and political differences and begin the process of merger for the greater purpose of creating a single national voice for the chiropractic profession.
Be it further resolved that the OSCA strongly urges its members to withhold membership support of these national organizations until such time as a merger is complete.
Be it further resolved that the OSCA urges the ACA and the ICA to begin immediate action toward merger which will be completed as soon as possible.
Unanimously Adopted
April 3, 2007
"If [the ACA and ICA] get this done by the end of the year, then I would expect the national organization will have many more members from Ohio than the two separate organizations have today," said Woodward. "If they don't, then I think their memberships from Ohio - and likely from other states - will continue to shrink until they do what needs to be done."
Resources
- "Ohio Takes Bold Step - Will Urge Members to Withhold Support of ACA and ICA." Press release from the Ohio State Chiropractic Association, April 12, 2007.
- "COCSA Demands Merger of ACA, ICA." Dynamic Chiropractic, May 7, 2007. www.chiroweb.com/archives/25/10/07.html.
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