ILaaom at CFAS Event Neighborhoods of the World: China
Written by Caroline JungThe Chinese Fine Arts Society (CFAS) held an event this past Sunday at the Crystal Gardens on Navy Pier. The event was "Neighborhoods of the World: China". This event was in honor of the Chinese New Year. ILaaom was delighted to be a sponsor of this celebration with much gratitude to our patron member, Joe Mallon, who created this sponsorship. The afternoon was filled with music, dance performances, a market of artisan crafts, and much more. Please check out the CFAS website to learn more about what they are doing for our Chinese culture here in Chicago.
Please join ILaaom in supporting Chicago’s Chinese Fine Arts Society
Written by Katie Chapman
Two upcoming events this month
Adler After Dark
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Adler Planetarium
Neighborhoods of the World: China
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier
In honor of the Chinese New Year, our local Chinese Fine Arts Society (CFAS) is celebrating with these two evenings of entertainment. Ilaaom is co-sponsoring these events in support of CFAS. ILaaom patron member Joe Mallon makes this possible. Mr. Mallon also serves as a board director of the CFAS.
Adler After Dark is an event that the Adler Planetarium hosts the third Thursday of every month-with great turnouts! This event is for the 21 and above crowd including cocktails and entertainment. Ticket prices available on the CAFS website.
The Neighborhoods of the World: China event will be a free all ages event on Navy Pier. Enjoy this lantern festival celebration that will include performances and items to browse made by local Chinese artisans in the New Year Marketplace. Learn more details about this celebration here.
Learn more about their purpose and history here.
ILaaom was invited to participate at this year's Integrate Chicago Conference. The conference was held on January 12, 2013 at the Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago.
Integrate Chicago is an annual conference led by students from the several Chicago-area medical and health science schools with the purpose of increasing awareness and understanding of integrative medicine.
The conference, now in its ninth year, is a comprehensive one day event that was created to explore the many modalities of integrative, complementary and alternative medicine.
Each year a distinguished, dynamic, diverse group of speakers share their latest research and experience with integrative medicine throughout the day, providing for a rich, compact learning experience. Attendees, including medical students, allied health profession students, practitioners, and others, represent part of Chicago's vibrant Integrative Medicine community.
ILaaom would like to send a big thank you to our volunteers who came out on this Saturday to help with the event--Dr. Leslie Smith, Claretha Sainten, Vel Natarajan, and Ryan Davenport. Also, a big thank you to our committee chairperson, Lamya Kamel for organizing the event.
For more information about this conference please visit the Integrate Chicago Conference website at http://www.integratechicago.com/
Ask Governor Quinn to Sign Nutrition Bill Into Law
Written by David Miller
Dear Members of the Illinois Acupuncture Community:
SB 2936, the bill we support that affects nutrition practice in Illinois, has passed the Senate 51-0 and the House 102-7-2! There is now one final step to turn this into law: Governor Quinn needs to sign it.
Please write a personal letter to Governor, Pat Quinn, to make him aware of the support behind this law. On behalf of yourself please:
- See this template letter text for ideas, but edit and add with your own flavor as well.
- Fax or mail your letter to
Honorable Pat Quinn
Governor of Illinois
c/o
Gary Hannig, Director of Legislative Affairs
2 ½ State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Fax: 217-524-4049
Click here to email your letter
Please complete this as soon as possible, and have letters to their office no later than end of business Wednesday Dec 12th.
Help us bring this victory all the way home! Once again, thank you for your continued efforts.
A more detailed analysis of the impact this legislation has on the Acupuncture community will be forthcoming once the bill is law. In short, however, this is proactive legislation that creates a more positive practice environment for us, and gives important protections to our ability to practice herbal medicine.
Let's show Governor Quinn we're out here!
Thank you for your continued efforts. Legislators are aware of our community in ways they have never been before.
ILaaom hosted a Practice Management Potluck on October 21, 2012 at the Harris home in Chicago. Topics presented included: how to evaluate commercial spaces for your practice; organization for the acupuncturist—policy and procedure; marketing tips; business promotion and relationship building; and insurance concerns and suggestions. The five panelists spoke of their own experiences, the obstacles they faced, and offered invaluable ideas and solutions to overcome many of the hurdles the new (and even seasoned) practitioner might struggle with to have a thriving practice. Our thank you to the entrepreneurial panel of Dr. David Miller, Malina Chin, Jason Bussell, Ben Wood and Mitch Harris; successful professionals in the field of Asian medicine, for openly sharing their difficulties as well as their insights in building and promoting a viable practice. The wealth of information presented was much needed and practical, and the questions asked of the panel were thoughtful and useful as well.
Thank you also to the Harris’ for opening their home and welcoming all who attended. Thanks to all for coming and making such a delicious feast of seasonal and nutritious delights. The day’s offerings were sure to satisfy the belly as well as the mind! We appreciate all who helped make this event a success and look forward to the next one.
If you were at the potluck or didn't make, please enjoy the handouts below!
Ginkgo Flyer - Includes a special offer on practice management software for ILaaom Members!
Handouts from Malina Chin:
Handouts from Mitch Harris:
Oppose restrictive dietician laws that could influence your ability to practice herbal medicine
Written by Katie ChapmanAction Needed in Illinois
Oppose Senate Bill 2936 as written and request health freedom exemption amendment!
OPPOSE and AMEND Illinois S.B. 2936, the Illinois Dietitian Licensing bill! Illinois current monopolistic Dietitian law is scheduled to be automatically repealed in 2013 and Senate Bill 2936, introduced in 2012, is attempting to extend the law until 2023. The Illinois Dietitian and Nutrition Services law is one of the most restrictive monopolistic Dietitian laws in the U.S and needs to be repealed or amended.
Click Here to Take Action
Click Here to Read More
National Health Freedom Coalition
PMD 218
2136 Ford Parkway
St. Paul, MN 55116-1863
507 663 9018
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Make Acupuncture an Essential Health Benefit in Illinois in 2016!+
Written by Katie ChapmanOn September 28, Illinois announced the benchmark plan for Essential Health Benefits in Illinois. It does not include acupuncture. This choice will be reviewed for 2016. ILaaom believes that continued growth of the evidence base for AOM will cause reconsideration of this decision in less than 2 years. We will plan for that, with your support.
ILaaom's presence at two Health Care Reform Implementation Council meetings our petition, and our comments were all noted. Of 114 total comments registered this month, 17 were to favor acupuncture; our petition delivered 800 signatures by the deadline, ~1200 total. I consider this a very good showing.
A huge thank you to Lindy Camardella, who volunteered to track this topic for ILaaom. Her work has benefited the community. ILaaom can really use volunteers who will own a topic like Lindy has! And thanks to our indefatigable Legislative chair David Miller, for his effective writing.
After the meeting, Tom chatted with an AP reporter, who has mentioned acupuncture in her pieces: http://tinyurl.com/9yr8mbn
tom hurrle