News

Wisca is entering its third year! Please keep WISCA going and growing.

Here's a brief outline of what's been going on:

1. National Acupuncture Associations Presidents Council
Wisconsin was one of 16 states represented at the National Acupuncture Associations Presidents' meeting in May. It gave us a chance to interact with other state associations and learn what they did. Compared to other states, we are about average in many ways, although we can always improve. It was a good opportunity to be supported and to share and learn from the examples and the mistakes of other associations. It was an opportunity to learn about ideas we could adopt. Which leads to the next point:

2. Introducing our new website www.acupuncturewisconsin.org
Many state associations have a website. Now Wisconsin will too. Check it out. It looks very sharp, thanks to our new webmaster Colin (Pam's son). It features information on acupuncture, our level of training, FAQ's section, links, database search and more.

3. Acupuncture pilot program in the Dane County Jail
Acupuncture made front-page newspaper headlines in the Wisconsin State Journal's Friday November 23 issue. Did you see the full color 1/4 page photo of auricular acupuncture? It really raised public awareness about acupuncture. WISCA received seed money raised by the First Unitarian Society's social justice committee to cover supplies and staff time to offer a pilot program of acupuncture to county jail inmates. The jail has become clogged and over crowded with more inmates than it can handle. Many of the inmates are there because of addiction issues related to alcohol and hard drugs and inability to manage stress and anger. Acudetox has a high success rate in this area. Acupuncture could be the key that helps reduce the prison population and rising prison costs.

4. Farmer's Market Booth - raising awareness about acupuncture
Again we had space at the Madison Farmer's market, which is a huge event attended by over 40,000 people from all over the state every Saturday in the summer and fall. While we weren't there often, we continue to hold the space. it's a great opportunity for the members to showcase acupuncture and their practice by staffing the booth. There is discussion to use next year's booth as a means to fundraise for acupuncture related causes such as the acudetox in the county jail and even hospice.

Thank you and have a great New Year!