Recipients of new backpacks from Life West and FESCO show their individually adjusted, ergonomically correct packs.

BACKpack Drive Provides At-Risk Children with School Supplies
Life Chiropractic College West, Hayward, Calif, held its 7th Annual Life West BACKpack Drive to provide at-risk children with backpacks and school supplies. The event was held in conjunction with the Family Emergency Shelter Coalition’s (FESCO) School Supply Drive.

For the BACKpack Drive, Life West collected backpacks for kids, as well as young adults who are college-bound, while other local organizations and businesses donated additional backpacks and school supplies such as pencils, binders, paper, crayons, and rulers to fill the backpacks. Students from Life West helped children choose backpacks and individually adjusted each child’s backpack straps for ergonomic correctness.

A little girl proudly holds up her new Hello Kitty backpack filled with school supplies.

“Thanks to Life West, we were able to meet our growing demands of backpacks this year,” said Nubia Giles, FESCO program director. “This year we supplied 225 packs to our clients. Due to a tough economic year, we were worried if we could raise enough packs, but we did it!”

The event also served as a heartfelt reunion between numerous families who were once staying together at one of the FESCO shelters, but are now living in their own homes.

“This event is designed to minimize the financial stress that can occur at back-to-school time for FESCO families who are struggling to maintain independence,” said Nancy Schluntz, executive director of FESCO. “Now a family doesn’t have to choose between paying a utility bill or purchasing the required items for school.”

WSCC Honors Badge and Dallas
James Badge, DC, was honored for his 6 years of service as chairman of the board of trustees for Western States Chiropractic College (WSCC) at the quarterly meeting of its Board of Trustees in August.

Elected as a member of the WSCC Board of Trustees in October of 1993, Badge reached many milestones during his tenure, including the construction of Hampton Hall—a lecture hall that is completely networked into the college’s computer systems and features state-of-the-art presentation equipment. Badge is also responsible for attracting new board members with diverse backgrounds to WSCC.

James Badge, DC, honored after serving 6 years as Western States chairman of the board of trustess

“The college is extremely fortunate to have benefited from Badge’s professional insights, as well as his commitment to service and his high degree of integrity,” said Roger Combs, DC, a WSCC board member from Montana.

Badge is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa, and was one of the first chiropractic physicians granted hospital privileges in Arizona. He has served for years on the Arizona State Board of Examiners and currently serves as vice president of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and district IV director. His other honors include the 1986 Arizona Chiropractor of the Year award, the Fred Fricke Award, the Board of Examiners Service Award, and an Outstanding Service Award from the Arizona state association.

During the graduation ceremonies for the class of 2003, the WSCC surprised outgoing president William H. Dallas, DC, with an honorary doctorate degree. Dallas served as president of the WSCC from 1986 to June 2003. He was committed to building a research department with ongoing administrative and financial support. His commitment led to WSCC becoming the first chiropractic college to receive a federally funded research grant through the Health Resources and Services Administration. Dallas also helped establish Conservative Care Pathways and Protocols, a publication by the college for chiropractic procedures, and also helped establish Hampton Hall.

Dallas has served as president of National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Co, and on the boards of the American Chiropractic Association, the Council on Chiropractic Education, and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges. He was the Washington delegate to the House of Delegates (1970–1974) for the Chiropractic Association of Oregon.

Dallas, a 1958 graduate of Palmer School of Chiropractic, has received numerous awards, including the Washington Chiropractic Association’s State Distinguished Service Award, Executive of the Year by Executive Women International, and 1991 Chiropractic Physician of the Year by the Chiropractic Association of Oregon.

Gingras Elected President of CCA
Chosen by his fellow physicians, Richard Gingras, DC, was elected president of the Colorado Chiropractic Association (CCA).

Gingras, a chiropractor practicing in Highlands Ranch, Colo, has been extremely active with the CCA since 1999. For the past 4 years, he served as chair of the CCA’s Membership Committee, a member of the CCA’s Executive Committee, and as director-at-large of the CCA.

Gingras is a 1976 graduate of Palmer Chiropractic College and practiced in Pensacola, Fla, for more than 20 years. He moved to Colorado in 1997 and established the first chiropractic practice in Highlands Ranch.

The CCA recently held its 69th Annual State Convention on September 13, 2003. In recognition of their outstanding contributions and dedication to the chiropractic profession in Colorado, the CCA honored the following chiropractors with these 2003 awards: Richard Keuhn, DC, Chiropractor of the Year; Anthony Albright, DC, Young Chiropractor of the Year; Greg Page, DC, Distinguished Service Award; Monty Wilburn, DC, Chiropractic Sports Award; Lee Dimick, DC, Community Service Award; Kathy Oatis, lobbyist for the CCA, Neal Bishop Service Award; and Robert Ohlson, DC, Frank Elliott Pioneer Award.

The CCA also honored Colorado Senator Deanna Hanna with the Chiropractic Awareness Award. Albright and Keuhn also received the CCA President’s Personal Awards.