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Political Watch Team |
AAAOM Conference in Portland10/25/2007 – by David Goodell
Our table was well represented by May Dow, Nancy Robertson, Neil Gumenick, Mary Ellen Klee, Floyd Herdrich, and David Goodell. Sandra Lillie and Hilary Skellon also attended the conference. While their main focus was on the Council of Colleges meetings, they were present at our table during breaks in their meeting schedule. Thank you Diane for making the arrangements for us to be present in such a professional way, and to May, Nancy, Neil, Mary Ellen, Floyd, Hilary and Sandy for representing us so well.
JR, Judy, Neil, and Floyd were all singled out to receive honors as Pioneers and Leaders in the profession, and received certificates for their work. As I accompanied Floyd to various meetings, I was very impressed with how well known and respected he is within the national acupuncture organizations. He has done an outstanding job of giving us a voice in the political arena, work that he has done quietly and out of sight of many of us for over twenty years. Similarly, Sandy and Hilary command a great deal of respect among the members of the Council of Colleges. Proof of that was not only in how well they are respected but also in how receptive people at the conference were to what we do.
We who practice CF-EA comprise a small minority of those who practice acupuncture and Oriental medicine in this country. It is imperative that we become members of the AAAOM, become active on the various committees, and participate in person in the various organizations which represent acupuncture and which are shaping the future of our profession. If we don't, the requirements to learn and practice will become increasingly difficult and expensive for us to meet, simply because what we do and how we teach it will not be understood. We must show up. Besides, from someone who thought he would as soon eat sand as attend a conference, it was very interesting, inspiring and a lot of fun.
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The Worsley Institute, thanks to the masterful efforts of Diane Machiavelli, enjoyed a very professional, prominent, and effective presence for the Institute and Classical Five-Element Acupuncture at the 2007 AAAOM conference in Portland October 19 - 21. Over 500 teachers, school administrators, practitioners, students and members of the public attended. 
We had many conversations with people influential in shaping the future of our profession. Regardless of what style of medicine we practice, I was impressed with everyone's sincere desire to help people become and stay well. Many were aware, to varying degrees, of the work JR has done with Classical Five-Element Acupuncture (CF-EA). Almost all had an open mind towards CF-EA, and have a favorable impression of what we do. Many schools teach an introductory course in CF-EA. Others are interested in including one in their programs. I believe there is great potential for us to work cooperatively.
A special thanks also to Nancy Robertson, a student at ITEA, who was at our table in New Orleans and again through most this conference. Nancy was selected Mountain Region Representative to the AAAOM’s Student Organization, and State Representative to the Colorado State Ascupuncture Association.