Why We Belong to POCA

People need community and human connection and while the physical community is slowing shrinking the online community grows.  I've been told that the average person spends 1 hours each day on Facebook.  Even though people are not physically seeing each other as much, we as humans still have deep desire to connect to other humans.

While many are upset with this new replacement for physical connection I relish it.  If it weren't for social media, I would not know about POCA.  POCA is my own little personal world where I can meet and speak with other community acupuncturists, though we may be scattered across the country for now.  I hope that one day the scattered seeds of CA clinics will grow to green grass and give off their own seeds until the country is a green field of acupuncture that can reach thepeople who make up the general population.

To me community acupuncture brings the fabric of a community and stitches it together, just like POCA brings a community of like minded acupuncture-loving punks and patients together.  Now there is a forum on which for us to plan, discuss, connect, drean, and create new possibilities.  POCA is a winning formula for gathering to support eachother as individuals and I feel amazing knowing that there are thousands of like-minded people who believe in community, and therefor, who believe in humanity.  Even in the darkest hour of planning a new clinic, I know there is someone out there in the netherverse who has done it before me, who cares about sharing their experience and knowledge with me, and is only a panic button click away.  Community is about sharing, it isn't about closely guarding your families ancient secrets of healing so you can be the hero.  It's about sharing the knowledge so that anyone can be a hero.

I belong to POCA because 3% of Americans have tried acupuncture and I want that number to be more like 75%!  You know the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child?”  Well the same rings true for acupuncture, it takes POCA support to open a community acupuncture clinic.

-Meredith Vorrath

I joined POCA because I think it's easy to see that many of us are not getting the care we deserve in the current medical system.  Recognizing that it's highly unlikely that either the government or the insurance companies are going to all of a sudden change the tune they've been whistling happily all the way to the bank, POCA and its members have instead formed a cooperative that is run in every way by the people it matters most to: its patients and practitioners.  It's not reliant on grants or government subsidies nor if the amount or type of care controlled by greedy insurance companies.  However, what it does need is Members.  Why?  So new clinics can be founded in underserved areas, so an existing clinic can bring more practitioners on to help even more people (Urbana Acupuncture was recently the proud recipient of just such a micro-loan which enabled them to bring yours truly aboard), and perhaps most importantly to continue engaging with and supporting our local communities now spread all over the country.  So whether you're a patient, just graduated acupuncture school, or a seasoned punk, if you're not already a member please take just a moment to consider getting involved.  Sticking together we can expand access to even more people and places that can benefit from this simple and effective ancient remedy for our ailing modern times.

-Sean Finley

I am a POCA member because POCA needs me.  And I need POCA.  POCA member clinics, and their patients and practitioners, are making a huge difference in people's lives.  Where else can you heal your pains and stresses while napping with strangers, simultaneously changing the system and perhaps the world?   It's a two-birds-with-one-stone scenario that we all benefit from; even those who don't get treatments receive the benefits of community acupuncture.  POCA as a cooperative provides resources, strategies and tools for people to build community to break through the illusion of alienation, isolation and distrust the capitalist system creates.  The first lesson of POCA is that we've got to stick together.  So that's why I'm a member.  I'm sticking with POCAso that we can get community acupuncture to more people in more places.

-Meghan Bohardt

I joined POCA because it's inportant not only to talk about community health, but to make it.

-ElizaBeth Simpson

There is an instant sense of belongedness whenever I reach out and join in the POCAshere.  My heart opens and glows…my mind quiets and sound reasoning bubbles up.  We simply and naturally take to eachother…and looking over the forums, videos, meetings, books, POCA Tech, fests, funkaparties…on down to the repotted plants and clean laundry in the clinics…it's rich and varied simple and natural.  Obviously, this just doesn't happen everywhere, you have to love it into life!

-jimmy

AND YOU SAY:

Author: MMDobson

POCA Membership Coordinator and retired punk from Summerville Community Acupuncture, now living in St Petersburg, FL I have 4 Miniature Pinschers, a John Deere tractor, and a big family that lives throughout the South. Life is good.