DCs share energy, passion at WCA Summit

DCs from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 2004 World Chiropractic Alliance International Summit and left feeling energized, inspired and empowered.

The Summit, and the Legislative Action Day held by the Chiropractic Coalition, combined to produce one of the most effective chiropractic events in chiropractic history.

Doctors met with scores of Senators, Representatives and other government officials to educate them about and lobby for important chiropractic legislation, including bills that would provide direct access to chiropractors in the Veterans Affairs health system and extend chiropractic benefits in the federal government.

Damian Palmer, DC, spoke for many participants when he told WCA President Dr. Terry A. Rondberg: "The summit was an UNBELIEVABLE success! Having the forum to meet with legislators and bringing with me the backing of three national and international organizations gave an inconceivable feeling of strength... It's been said that those on the 'other side of the fence' who seem to be out there promoting DCs rather that chiropractic just don't see how that which serves the profession indeed serves chiropractors. WE do!"

In addition to the Legislative Day -- held jointly by the WCA, the International Chiropractors Association and the Federation of Straight Chiropractors and Organizations ‑‑ Summit participants also were able to choose between six different full‑day programs on Friday, May 1: World Chiropractic Alliance Power & Prosperity; Family Practice Mastering the Family Practice New Patient System; Torque Release Technique (TRT) Program; a non‑lecture, hands‑on Torque Release Technique workshop; 2X+1 Chiropractic Mastermind Program; and Teach the World about Chiropractic Program.

All were well-received and provided an added value to the Summit that was worth far more than the registration costs.

Speaking of the 2X+1 program, Kris Colangelo, DC, of Fairfax, Va., said: "The seminar...was incredible. It seems as if most people who are successful in practice try to mold their clients or prospective clients into who they are. This was the first time that I was reminded of my own perfection and that whatever I desire is not only acceptable, but wonderful...precisely because it is MY dream. What an amazing reminder."

Saturday, May 2, the final day of the Summit, was filled with enthusiastic presentations by some of the most popular and well‑respected leaders of subluxation‑centered chiropractic. The effect was nearly overwhelming.

"Meeting with and sharing our vision with people I consider to be like superheroes, is going to take me a few more days to assimilate," explained Mark Styers, DC, who flew in from Germany for the event.

"On the plane ride on the way back I was thinking of Terry Rondberg as Superman, Ed Plentz and Kevin Pallis as Batman and Robin, Eric Plasker as the Hulk, Tony Palermo as Spiderman, Madeline Behrendt as Wonder Woman, Matt McCoy as Flash Gordon, Jerry Hardee as Shaft, and Christopher Kent as the all‑knowing and all‑powerful OZ. ...I just think of chiropractors as real heroes, my superheroes!"

Unlike at many other chiropractic events, the impact of the Summit didn't end when the final speakers left the podium. Doctors left feeling "charged up" and motivated to make a greater contribution to their profession.

"I wanted to thank you for a great weekend and the opportunity to experience and participate in the changing of our profession," Chris Cox, DC, told Rondberg afterwards. "I also want to let you know that it is time for me, as Dr. Eric Plasker put it, to stand up! I need to do more. My staff feels the same way. They also requested that they want and need to do more. My CAs want to step up also!"

That's the reaction Rondberg and the rest of the WCA Board was hoping for. As the organization continues to grow, the World Chiropractic Alliance relies heavily on the contributions by members who share its vision of chiropractic. Many of the achievements of the WCA -- a true "grassroots" organization -- can be traced directly to the work of individual members, many of whom have never held leadership positions in any association before.

The main goal of the annual conference was to empower doctors, to make them realize they have the ability to influence key government officials here and in nations around the world.

"Chiropractic is ruled by laws and those laws will define what we are and what we and our patients will be able to do in the future," explained Rondberg. "If we speak up together, we can make sure those laws recognize the unique role of chiropractic in health care.

"We can pass laws that will allow you to help children and asymptomatic patients, to provide wellness and maintenance care, to focus either on subluxation correction or treatment of neuromusculoskeletal conditions as you see fit," he pointed out.

"We can work together to reform Medicare, extend chiropractic benefits, establish a chiropractic officer corps in the military, and prohibit other practitioners from encroaching on our exclusive domain of subluxation correction. We can do all these things," Rondberg stressed, "if we work together and speak in a united voice. That's why the Chiropractic Coalition is so important and why we have all decided to continue this positive and mutually beneficial alliance."

While politics attracted the most attention at the event, the other major theme of the Summit was "prosperity" and many of the presentations provided practical information on how to build an ethical and financially successful practice.

"If we want to wield true power in Congress and in our communities, we have to be successful in our businesses," Rondberg noted. "By helping our neighbors reach the highest possible level of health, we can improve society as a whole while generating the kind of income we deserve."

He emphasized that the goal of increased revenues shouldn't be dismissed as either mercenary or distasteful.

"BJ Palmer was the ultimate entrepreneur, a savvy businessman who was able to accumulate a sizeable amount of wealth, which he used to benefit the profession as well as his own family. We can, and should, do the same thing," Rondberg said.

Planning has already begun for the World Chiropractic Alliance International Summit 2005, scheduled for April 15‑16. The Chiropractic Coalition Legislative Day will be held April 14.

What your colleagues were saying ....

"I really enjoyed attending the Summit...being in the company of so many principled, passionate doctors was awesome. For me, the best part of the Summit was the collective energy and love in the room during both days. Being a part of that love and remembering how incredible chiropractors are was a huge fuel for me, and it has impacted me almost as much as serving at the Pentagon after 9/11 did. Both helped re‑center me and feed my desire to serve the world no holds‑barred. I truly enjoyed meeting so many of the doctors I admire in person. I hadn't gotten to hear from some of them before and it was energizing to feel their passion and determination.

"Particularly, meeting and hearing from Dr. Palermo has been amazing. I subscribed to his DC Staying Power over the weekend, and it has been fantastic so far. His outlook and gratitude towards life are wonderfully inspiring and I am enjoying building my practice with a similar attitude.

"I also got to re‑connect with a few doctors in our area whom I haven't seen in a while, and I trained with Dr. Plasker for a while, so seeing him again was fun, too.

"The videos were amazing; seeing Dr. Madeline Behrendt was inspiring. I am going to find out more about how to do research on JVSR.com (I subscribe now -- and patients love it, too!) and submit some of my own. Dr. Pallis and Dr. Plentz were very inspiring to me. Dr. Kent is a principled, wonderful doctor. Dr. McCoy was great to talk with. Seeing Bill Esteb is wonderful; he has done so much for us over the years. " -- Dr. Kris Colangelo

“At this year's WCA Summit I met chiropractors from all over the world who were quite simply, on fire. And it was fire that they took to the Hill, where in meeting after meeting after meeting, they told the chiropractic story to a receptive audience.

"In addition, there was a tremendous response to the JVSR fertility research project and many doctors were excited to share with me their own clinical experiences with subluxated infertile couples.

"I was especially delighted to see the Board of Governors members honored individually and to hear of their many accomplishments -- what talented colleagues, what big hearts, what momentum!

"I left the 2004 WCA Summit very proud of chiropractic, very excited, and so happy to be around so many awesome DCs. Can I go back soon?" --Dr. Madeline Behrendt

 "After having attended the first three amazing Summits, I was wondering what new this one would bring forth. Well, I have to say I was surprised for the best. The Summit is like old wine, it keeps getting better with each passing year. It struck me that the Summit is quite similar to the wellness phase of chiropractic care. It allows for sustained growth and transformation. What I love most is the opportunity to meet again with our WCA family, dedicated and passionate chiropractors and to witness together the progress made during the past year. The Summit is also a great 'check' that permits me to control and correct my 'slips,' as BJ used to say. --Yannick Pauli, DC

"I had a fabulous time at the Summit. I met so many amazing people. I really enjoyed meeting Mark Styers. I hope to go to the WCA Symposium in Europe.

"I also enjoyed meeting the students from other schools. I feel that we will all be major players in the future. We just need to get that piece of paper. Of course, we can all do a great deal now.

"To the doctors who did not come to the Summit,  I would say get your butt involved in your profession." --Jamie Bunis