AAAOM-SOC Chapters Host Public Events

By Elisa M. Behnk, AAAOM-SOC VP of Communications

With AAAOM student membership growing from 20 to 28 school chapters during the past year, progressive chapters are creating programs to raise awareness of acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) as a safe, effective, and economical approach to both personal health and the national health care crisis.

Tai Sophia Chapter's Summer Bash Raises Cash for Coming Year's Outreach

For two years running, one of the more active student chapters in the country, the Tai Sophia chapter of the AAAOM-Student Organization, has hosted Party Red! - its annual summer indoor-outdoor party for the local community. This year, on Friday, July 10, hundreds of party-goers gathered around the Tai Sophia patio, herb gardens and community meeting spaces.

"Our annual party celebrates summer and oneness and helps generate awareness and excitement on campus for the chapter," says Austin Homrighaus, Chapter president and national vice president for membership of the AAAOM-Student Organization. "Party Red! is also a great fundraising vehicle that then supports our educational and outreach efforts throughout the year."

He said the Chapter's year-long outreach programming includes a presence by Tai Sophia students at many Farmers' Markets in the Baltimore-Washington area. The chapter was recognized for its "Acupuncture at Farmers' Markets" outreach program during the Student Exhibition at last April's National Conference and Expo in Sacramento.

Tai Sophia's summer fund-raising event snaked through the outdoor and indoor spaces of the school and its grounds, and featured two live bands, tables of assorted foods and drinks, a well-stocked silent auction, and a variety of games and activities for attendees of many ages.

"For the second year in a row, we have raised approximately $2,000 to fund the Chapter and its programming," says Chapter Treasurer Jim Pastore.

He thanked community contributors: Mem Sahib Restaurant of Rockville and Baltimore, which donated a full Indian dinner buffet, as well as major silent auction donors, including the Carriage House Bed & Breakfast on Capitol Hill of Washington, D.C. (www.carriagehousedc.com), and DC tattoo artist, Paul Roe (www.britishinkdc.com).

“Raising these resources now is critical," he said, "so we can participate in the broader national discussion about health care.”

The fundraiser also pays for the Chapter to help send a couple local students to the national AAAOM Conference, added Homrighaus. “It’s the largest national education, advocacy and networking gathering of AOM professionals and students held every year.”

“We’re grateful to Tai Sophia for letting us throw this wonderful event in such an idyllic setting,” said Bonny Rodgers vice president of the local Chapter at Tai Sophia.

The Chapter also used Party Red! to announce its officers for the coming year: Kara Grandea Lombardo, president; Nicole McLaughlin, vice president; Idalee DiGregorio, vice president; Meghan McFail, secretary; and Miranda Romero, treasurer.

Bay Area Event to Rally AOM Community Into the Future

On Saturday, November 14th, the new AAAOM:SO San Francisco Chapter will host a special event for the Bay Area AOM community with AAAOM counsel and public member, Michael Taromina, Esq. As a leading authority in AOM practice law, Mr. Taromina will conduct two important sessions for both students and practitioners. These programs will address current questions about the AOM profession and its place in the nation’s evolving healthcare system.

Agenda
Beginning in the morning, Mr. Taromina will conduct a 4-hour CEU-credit professional program on AOM Ethics and Risk Management. AOM practitioners and administrators will learn to recognize the legal and ethical risks evident in their own practices and learn how to comply with applicable state and national codes, laws, and regulations. This information is a prerequisite for building a sustainable AOM business and for long-term financial success.

In the afternoon, Mr. Taromina will host a Q&A session as well as what promises to be an eye-opening discussion about the possible future scenarios of AOM in the emerging healthcare arena. The session is aimed at providing attendees with "street smarts" about where they will stand as the profession moves into the mainstream.

Goal
"The goal for this event is to heighten awareness in our community of the challenges before us and the advantages of working as a unified group," said Beth Jones-Prizer, co-organizing member of the AAAOM:SO San Francisco Chapter, student at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) in San Francisco and member of the AAAOM Action Corps.

The AAAOM:SO San Francisco Chapter is specifically inviting AOM students to the event from the five other Bay Area schools—Five Branches Santa Cruz and San Jose, the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences (ACCHS) in Oakland, the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College (AIMC) in Berkeley, and the University of East-West Medicine (UEWM) in Sunnyvale, CA.

"We hope this will be the start of more community-building events among the Bay Area AAAOM-SO chapters," added Anita Pietrofitta, co-organizing member of the AAAOM: SO San Francisco Chapter and student at ACTCM San Francisco.

“We also hope to attract students and professionals who may not be fully aware of the powerful role that AOM can serve to help create a sustainable national health care system,” added Irwin Tjiong, AAAOM-SOC Northwest Regional Director.

Registration Fee
There is no cost to attend the afternoon political discussion from 2-4pm, and it is open to all students and practitioners. The cost to attend the morning CEU course,,9am to 1pm, will be a special rate of $25 for recent graduates (since December, 2008) and current students, and $75 for practitioners who have been in practice for more than a year. Portions of the proceeds will be set aside to support the efforts of AAAOM and AAAOM:SO San Francisco to promote the AOM profession.

Registration Schedule
Registration will begin in a few weeks via the AAAOM store (www.aaaomonline.com). A registration start-date announcement will be sent. The deadline for registration is November 7, 2009. Seating is limited so organizers recommend registering early. As an added incentive, attendees will be eligible for give-aways and prizes.

Event Location
The event will be held at the new San Francisco State University, Downtown Campus located in the Westfield San Francisco Center, 835 Market St. The campus is conveniently located near BART/MUNI, and discounted parking nearby is also available.

For more information, contact Beth Jones-Prizer at bethjones1@msn.com.