This brings back many memories of many attempts to delve into many issues facing the profession with many leaders. The outcome was being ignored at best, vilified at worst. Unfortunately - it seems to be common in this era of humanity. It's like trying to get those in power to address the climate crisis - if they benefit in this moment from the status quo they will fight to maintain it, even if the impending disaster is obvious. I'm sorry you are in the thick of it. Thank you for your work.
Thanks so much Elaine. None of the work we are doing would be possible if you hadn’t laid a foundation for it with so much work over the years.
We really need to look at how leadership works and understand it’s not a static thing that somebody becomes and holds for the rest of their life. Leadership needs to be fluid. Sure, folks who are in large national arenas need to hold it sometimes. But when it’s not handed around so that it can also be taken up by the students and new graduates, their experience in the world is hidden and the people at the “top” are making uninformed, ignorant decisions out of hubris.
The climate change analogy is so apt for this as well. The folks with lived experience about its impacts are silenced rather than given the microphone.
I don’t fully understand the psychology around why we allow this to happen but maybe shining a light on that is the first step.
There are many leadership (or next to the leadership) positions available for people to step up and take them, and mostly people don't want to! The ASA answers to state associations and many state associations can barely (at best) fill their board. What leads people to step up? Dissatisfaction with the decisions made by existing leadership. Which, if you are dissatisfied, is good. But one term or issue later, and the new leadership is now seen as the source of the problem.
New graduates and students are generally in thrall to their mentors and teachers, who are almost without exception promoting the position that we need to keep doing what we're doing only more loudly. As we see in our national politics - if you control the message you control the people....
But people sure have time to go complain on Acupuncturists on Facebook LOL. If those few hours every month got spent volunteering with the state association, it might change a lot.
I am pretty in awe of our current OAA board right now, they are working themselves to the bone to try and make sure there's an education pathway in Oregon though, so I wanna recognize that star in all of this.
I went to one ASA conference and I doubt I will never go back. I did meet some wonderful people who I learned a great deal from. I will never forget the ASA leader who set me up to get into a lot of trouble with my state association. She gave me a good reason to leave, so I did. I am sure she is the exact same person who asked you how old you are. I would love to share that story with you over a drink, even if we are meeting through a video chat.
This brings back many memories of many attempts to delve into many issues facing the profession with many leaders. The outcome was being ignored at best, vilified at worst. Unfortunately - it seems to be common in this era of humanity. It's like trying to get those in power to address the climate crisis - if they benefit in this moment from the status quo they will fight to maintain it, even if the impending disaster is obvious. I'm sorry you are in the thick of it. Thank you for your work.
Thanks so much Elaine. None of the work we are doing would be possible if you hadn’t laid a foundation for it with so much work over the years.
We really need to look at how leadership works and understand it’s not a static thing that somebody becomes and holds for the rest of their life. Leadership needs to be fluid. Sure, folks who are in large national arenas need to hold it sometimes. But when it’s not handed around so that it can also be taken up by the students and new graduates, their experience in the world is hidden and the people at the “top” are making uninformed, ignorant decisions out of hubris.
The climate change analogy is so apt for this as well. The folks with lived experience about its impacts are silenced rather than given the microphone.
I don’t fully understand the psychology around why we allow this to happen but maybe shining a light on that is the first step.
Thanks, Bex. I've become so cynical.
There are many leadership (or next to the leadership) positions available for people to step up and take them, and mostly people don't want to! The ASA answers to state associations and many state associations can barely (at best) fill their board. What leads people to step up? Dissatisfaction with the decisions made by existing leadership. Which, if you are dissatisfied, is good. But one term or issue later, and the new leadership is now seen as the source of the problem.
New graduates and students are generally in thrall to their mentors and teachers, who are almost without exception promoting the position that we need to keep doing what we're doing only more loudly. As we see in our national politics - if you control the message you control the people....
I have no answers.
Yes. To all of this.
But people sure have time to go complain on Acupuncturists on Facebook LOL. If those few hours every month got spent volunteering with the state association, it might change a lot.
I am pretty in awe of our current OAA board right now, they are working themselves to the bone to try and make sure there's an education pathway in Oregon though, so I wanna recognize that star in all of this.
bex, thanks so much for the work you’re leading. i’m so glad to be part of the team, doing honest hard work that needs to be done for the profession.
Right back at you, Kelly. It's a privilege to be navigating all of these things together with you as we find our way in this work.
I went to one ASA conference and I doubt I will never go back. I did meet some wonderful people who I learned a great deal from. I will never forget the ASA leader who set me up to get into a lot of trouble with my state association. She gave me a good reason to leave, so I did. I am sure she is the exact same person who asked you how old you are. I would love to share that story with you over a drink, even if we are meeting through a video chat.
I’m so sorry that happened to you. We need to do better in this profession.
This is MAGA level disturbing behavior. How important is it to support ASA if the roots are rotten ?