2179 Lack of Chiropractic Membership Threatens Chiropractic Disenfranchisement
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Dynamic Chiropractic – July 16, 1993, Vol. 11, Issue 15

Lack of Chiropractic Membership Threatens Chiropractic Disenfranchisement

By Editorial Staff
Ten years ago in November 1983, the American Public Health Association (APHA) passed an official policy statement recognizing chiropractic as "... safe and effective for neuromusculoskeletal disorders, and especially low back conditions." This recognition came as a result of a four year effort by chiropractic members of the APHA, and a thorough review of the scientific literature performed by an MD researcher commissioned by APHA.

Since that time, chiropractic doctors, educators, and students have joined APHA and participated at all levels to enhance chiropractic communication and credibility. The APHA is rated as one of the top 15 most effective lobbying groups in Washington, D.C., highly visible and very effective in getting its agenda through on Capitol Hill. The APHA is an "in-group" with the Clinton administration, and is acknowledged as the oldest, largest, and most influential public health association in the United States and the world.

APHA policy is made by its Governing Council. Through membership in the Radiological Health Section of the APHA, chiropractors have controlled two votes in the Governing Council for these ten years.

Now, at this most crucial time in our profession's history, we are about to permanently lose these two Governing Council seats because not enough chiropractors have joined and/or renewed their membership in the Radiological Health Section. A section is dissolved and permanently disenfranchised from the Governing Council if it falls below 250 members in three successive years. Radiological Health was below that quota on August 15, 1991, and August 15, 1992. In a matter of weeks the count will be taken again, and we will lose all the gains we have made because we have less than 200 members right now.

It costs $100 to join or renew for doctors; $50 for students. You can save these two Governing Council seats for your profession, or you can sit back and let us lose. APHA also has a special interest group (Chiropractic Forum), but because it does not have Governing Council seats to lose, the important thing is to join the Radiological Health section right now.

An application form is printed on this page, and the Radiological Health section (#19) is precoded for you. For questions, call Rand Baird, DC, membership chairman: (310) 373-2225. Dr. Baird has offered to provide an interest-free, personal loan of the membership fees to any doctor or student who cannot afford them on their own.

If you have never joined before, JOIN NOW! If you have let your membership lapse, RENEW NOW!

DO IT TODAY ... TOMORROW WILL BE TOO LATE!!!

Dynamic Chiropractic editorial staff members research, investigate and write articles for the publication on an ongoing basis. To contact the Editorial Department or submit an article of your own for consideration, email .

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