1-9-03
     
      Are We in Danger of Losing the ICA?


      by Donald M. Petersen Jr., BS, HCD(hc), FICC(h) 

      Sometimes, controversial subjects need to be discussed. This is 
one of those articles. While you may not agree with everything you 
are about to read, I ask only that you consider my thoughts. Whether 
you agree or disagree, I would love to hear from you.

      While overshadowed by the events at Life University, the 
International Chiropractors Association (ICA) has faced some 
definite challenges over the last year. It is no secret that for the 
last two decades, the ICA has been led almost exclusively by Sid 
Williams' loyalists. A casual review of previous ICA presidents 
reveals a long list of Life University graduates, Life employees and 
Dynamic Essentials (DE) devotees.

      I have been told more than once that Dr. Williams has personally 
called doctors asking them to run for various ICA leadership 
positions. Needless to say, those who have accepted the offer have 
enjoyed his full political support.

      Dr. Williams has held a number of ICA leadership positions 
himself. He was a constant figure on the ICA board, until Life 
University recently removed him as their representative.

      None of this is meant to be a criticism of Dr. Williams, or the 
many other people he has helped elect to various positions of ICA 
leadership. No one would argue that the ICA has benefited 
immeasurably from Dr. Williams' leadership and support.

      However, during the same time that Dr. Williams has sustained 
losses with his institution, the ICA has suffered its own. These 
include:

        1.. Loss of the lucrative King Koil contract - ICA's endorsement 
of this mattress-maker brought a reported $400,000 into its coffers 
every year. 
        2.. Falling membership (now less than 1,800) - Once boasting 
almost 3,000 members, ICA membership has fallen below 1,800 (at 
the time of this writing), and is reportedly losing members at a rate 
of over 50 per month. At this rate, the ICA could run out of members 
by the end of 2005. This trend is particularly notable in the last year 
or so. 
        3.. Less visibility - With a current budget smaller than the 
practice income of some of its members, the ICA is no longer able to 
support many of the efforts it did in the past. ICA's lack of presence 
is particularly noticeable in this time when so many challenges are 
facing our profession. 
      While the responsibility for these woes can't all be placed on the 
shoulders of the current leadership, the correlation can't help but 
stand out.

      The current ICA president is Dr. D.D. Humber, a fine Southern 
gentleman who, until recently, assisted Dr. Williams in the daily 
administration of Life University as a university vice president. 
Both men have endured some extremely hard times.

      Under their leadership, Life has gotten into some pretty tough 
situations:

        a.. a discrimination lawsuit by four former Life faculty; 
        b.. multiple lawsuits filed by over 200 former Life students, 
one of which could become a class-action lawsuit; 
        c.. numerous wrongful-discharge lawsuits; 
        d.. a severe loss of students; 
        e.. "technical default" of Life's municipal bonds; and 
        f.. loss of chiropractic accreditation
      Please don't get me wrong: Dr. Williams and Dr. Humber have done 
many great things for this profession. But, like all of us, they have 
made some mistakes.

      One can't help but see a correlation between the severe loss of 
members and income sources under the ICA's Williams/Humber 
leadership, and the severe loss of students and accreditation under 
Life's Williams/Humber leadership.

      Both organizations are in danger: Life University of failing to 
survive, and the ICA of becoming irrelevant.

      With less than three percent of U.S. chiropractors paying 
membership dues, ICA's budget will scarcely top the practice income 
of some of its members, as mentioned earlier. It will lack both the 
money and the support within the profession to be taken seriously.

      One indication of this potential irrelevancy is the number and 
content of the ICA press releases in the last six months of 2002. 
With so much going on, the few ICA press releases being sent out 
tend to be non-news-oriented, or reprints of press releases already 
sent out by other organizations. This was not the case two years ago.

      The hope for Life is to regain accreditation as quickly as 
possible. President Ben DeSpain has taken that bull by the horns and 
is showing leadership in several areas that may help Life survive. 
While he's not a doctor of chiropractic, he has the fire and 
determination needed to get the job done.

      Likewise, the hope for the ICA lies in its leadership. Another two 
years of Williams/Humber could continue the downward spiral. As 
has happened at Life, a fresh team of leaders needs to tackle ICA's 
current challenges with that same fire and dedication.

      Who should lead the ICA today? I don't even know who the 
candidates will be, and I can't vote.

      What I can say is that when an organization such as the ICA, 
which has been the conscience of chiropractic for so many years, 
gets into this kind of situation, it's time to make changes.

      This is a time for all current ICA members, former members and 
supporters to begin to see what the ICA can become at this, the 
beginning of our second century. It is a time to look ahead to today's 
challenges, while never forgetting the foundation the ICA was 
established on.

      This is why I am urging all current ICA members to think 
carefully about their decisions when ballots are mailed out in the 
next two months. Don't vote the "party line"; vote for the future of 
the ICA.

      For those DCs who used to belong to the ICA, or have supported it 
in the past, spend a few dollars and become members during the 
election. (You will want to become a member during the month of 
March to be able to vote in this year's election.) If you care at all, 
make a commitment for three months of membership and see if you 
can make a difference in the ICA's future. If you can make that 
difference, you may decide to retain your membership and get more 
involved.

      This is a pivotal time for the ICA, and for chiropractic. To 
remain viable, the ICA must have greater membership and greater 
involvement.

      DMP Jr.