Finally, after a long anticipated year, the National
Chiropractic Legislative Conference (NCLC) finally arrived! After
being involved in the Student American Chiropractic Association
(SACA) as an executive member for two consecutive years, it really
pays off when what we've been working for becomes a reality. For
those that are unaware of what NCLC is, it is a conference held in
Washington D.C. that consists of anywhere from 500-1000 fellow
chiropractic students from all over the nation coming together to
lobby for our rights as chiropractors.
Choosing this profession does not only bring joy but
unfortunately some turmoil. There are very positive aspects to
choosing this profession that are obvious and should be evident to
you. However, the negative aspect is the level of respect that you
will receive as a doctor of chiropractic out in the field from
other medical physicians, insurance companies, society, and most
importantly, the law.
A group of us from National (this year we had only 17 people)
joined students from other schools and basically took over the
Capitol for a couple of days. We made appointments with different
senators and congressmen to speak to them about the importance of
chiropractic. We came in with about five-six issue briefs ranging
from topics concerning military to the current National Health
Reform. This was my second NCLC, and I cannot say that my nerves
were calmer the second time. It is always a bit scary walking into
the senator's big offices with anticipation of sounding idiotic
since we were representing the profession as whole.
This picture is with two other executive board members for the
NUHS SACA chapter and General Becky Halstead, our biggest advocate
for chiropractic. She was the first woman to graduate from West
Point with that high of a ranking! She owes her life to
chiropractic!
Overall, I would have to say that this year we had a solid group
of people that truly cared about their profession; not only from a
monetary value but from their heart, which spoke very loudly to all
the senators and congressmen that we had the pleasure to meet. It
was such an unbelievable experience and I am sad that it was my
last one as a student, but I hope that I will have time to attend
next year as a chiropractor.
When students have been approached about the idea of going to
NCLC, the general response has been, "How can ONE person change the
law?" I always respond, "You have to see the BIGGER picture. This
is a long term effect that people work for year after year." And
January of 2010 this year, Michigan no longer is the state with the
narrow scope. The scope from 30 years prior was OFFICIALLY restored
and signed by the governor. That is amazing if you know anything
about what Michigan has gone through the past 30 years!
Now do you think ONE person really caused that change? I think
not. I like to think I had some small part in that change, and to
me that is amazing. So now when people ask me that question, I can
say one word to sum it all up -"Michigan." It represents the sweat
and tears that were shed by people like me who worked for that
change and can say that we have successfully accomplished
it.
My tip of the week is simple and obvious but overlooked: LOVE
YOUR PROFESSION.