The World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) has entered an exciting new stage in its growth, instituting momentous changes in its Bylaws and Constitution to better serve the chiropractic community worldwide.

"We have spent the past several years creating the infrastructure of the WCA and establishing a track record of accomplishments," stated Terry A. Rondberg, D.C., founder and president of the organization. "These formative years were necessary in order to lay the type of strong foundation upon which we could continue to build. Now, we're ready for the next step."

In addition to revising its Constitution and Bylaws, the WCA expanded its Board of Directors and added an International Board of Governors.

Sitting on the Board of Directors are: President Rondberg; Christopher Kent, D.C., FCCI; Patrick Gentempo, Jr., D.C.; Fred Barge, D.C., Ph.C.; Veronica Gutierrez, D.C., FICA, Cindy Rondberg, and Timothy Fueling.

Dr. Kent, a 1973 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, is president of the Council on Chiropractic Practice. He was awarded the "Chiropractic Researcher of the Year" award from the WCA in 1994, and from the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) in 1991. He was also named ICA "Chiropractor of the Year" in 1998. Kent serves as director of research for EMG Consultants, Inc., and is a co-founder of Paradigm Partners, Inc. and the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance. Dr. Kent recently resigned from the ICA, where he had served as a Board member.

Dr. Gentempo is co-founder and CEO of the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance and an internationally renowned chiropractor, lecturer and consultant. A 1983 graduate of Life College, he produces, with Dr. Kent, the monthly audio tape journal, "On Purpose," covering current events in science, philosophy, and politics of vital interest to the practicing chiropractor.

Dr. Barge is one of the most admired pioneers in the chiropractic profession, whose name is virtually synonymous with subluxation-based chiropractic. He is a past president of the ICA and spearheaded the successful opposition to a proposed merger with the ACA. A prolific author of chiropractic and patient education material as well as numerous books, his texts are used as required curricular texts in many chiropractic colleges.

Dr. Gutierrez, a 1963 graduate of Palmer College, has been a member of the WCA since 1991, a contributing editor to The Chiropractic Journal, chair of the WCA Health Care Reform Committee and recipient of the WCA's 1994 "Outstanding Service Award." She has served as a board advisor for the International Spinal Health Institute since 1997 and was among the first D.C.s to practice and teach at the Regional Center for Chiropractic/Spine in Vladivostok, Russia. Gutierrez is also a founding member of the Council on Chiropractic, and was a member of the Washington Governor's Health Care Advisory Committee.

Former Chiropractic Assistant Cindy Rondberg, is Secretary/Treasurer of the WCA, wife and partner of Dr. Terry Rondberg and author of the "C.A. Advisor" training manual, will represent chiropractic staff members and consumers. She has extensive experience in chiropractic offices and the administration of the WCA. She serves as the WCA Treasurer.

Timothy Feuling, vice-president of the WCA and Chiropractic Benefit Services (CBS), a professional liability insurance program serving subluxation-based chiropractors. He is the author of "Chiropractic Works!," and co-author of "Chiropractic: Compassion and Expectation" and the "CBS Malpractice Prevention Program."

According to the new Constitution and Bylaws, the Board of Directors will be elected by a majority of current directors at the WCA's annual business meeting. All are voluntary positions and the members serve without salary or compensation.

In addition, a large International Board of Governors will be established. This board will act as a liaison between the Governing Board and the general membership. A Nominating Committee will also be elected to recommend candidates for election to the Board of Governors by the membership.

During the past several years, doctors from around the world have shown an increased interest in the WCA. At the same time, WCA members have made tremendous efforts to introduce subluxation-based chiropractic to all nations, from Russia to Costa Rica.

Recognition of the WCA as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) affiliated with the United Nations Department of Information, has also strengthened its position as a truly international organization.

The International Board of Governors will consist of between 75-100 chiropractors from numerous countries. The growth of the WCA into the global arena has been enthusiastically received, especially by subluxation-based doctors in nations finding themselves threatened by the domination of the WFC. In many cases, these doctors have met with opposition when attempting to start subluxation-based groups or even teach chiropractic philosophy for continuing education credit.

During the past several years, the WFC has attempted to dictate educational "standards," suppress competitive organizations, and bar non-WFC-approved educational programs.

The members of the Executive and International Boards will be announced as soon as they have been confirmed.

Work is also underway to create several major councils which will address specific health and chiropractic issues. These include Councils on Women's Health, Clinical Chiropractic, Children's Health, and Philosophy.

Dr. Rondberg noted that the changes are the product of months of work and posed unique challenges.

"We had to establish a new paradigm for chiropractic organizations," he explained. "We didn't want to fall into the trap of setting up a 'business as usual' type of system where the only response to a problem is to form a committee to study it. We had to figure out a way to allow true representation of the membership, without sacrificing our ability to act swiftly and decisively when the need arose. I think we've managed to do that."

The restructuring coincided with a tremendous spurt of growth in the membership, primarily as a reaction to the ICA's decision to continue funding and supporting the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC).

With the ICA and the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) both supporting the WFC, subluxation-based doctors have flocked to the WCA as the only major international chiropractic organization to oppose the WFC's positions and activities.

The ICA's refusal to respond to the demands of its membership and even its own members of the ICA Representative Assembly alienated many members.

At the recent ICA annual meeting, the Assembly submitted two resolutions. The first stated the ICA should insist that the WFC adopt its chiropractic guidelines as a condition of its continued membership. The second proposed that, if the first proposal failed, the ICA should withdraw ICA support completely. The board did not consider either resolution.

During the convention, Dr. Barge was voted off the group's the Board of Directors. "I did not campaign for the job and I went down running on three major issues," Barge explained later. One of the issues was the ICA's continued funding of the WFC.

The vote on the WFC -- which was held by secret ballot -- also convinced Board Member Dr. Kent to resign from the Board and the organization.

Statements by Drs. Barge, Kent and Gentempo about their positions in the WCA are printed in this issue of The Chiropractic Journal.