Promoting the Vision,
Sharing the Success
By Guy Riekeman, D.C., President, Life University
In his op-ed piece titled “The Worst Ads on TV,” in the March 4,
2005 issue of Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King, novelist and filmmaker, identifies
the levels television drug advertisements have reached, their impact on today’s
society and the profitability of the drug companies. With this he also reveals
an alarming fact—that “Merck’s U.S. ad budget is bigger than
PepsiCo’s!”
It’s interesting that “Merck’s U.S. ad budget is bigger than
PepsiCo’s,” and chiropractic doesn’t even have an ad budget.
We spent $200,000 in 1995 as part of the profession’s Centennial celebration
on a one-time TV commercial that aired on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox. We bought the
first commercial slot on the evening’s national news, but the ad almost
didn’t run because the network lawyers wanted us to provide evidence for
every word in the ad. When we brought up that most advertisements made unsubstantiated
statements, they didn’t seem to care that others were not being held to
the same standards to which chiropractic would be held. And, what about all
the other programs for which we wait in line, waiting for the “powers
that be” to bestow some “scraps” upon us? We get a paltry
few million a year from NIH for research, virtually to direct funding for our
colleges; foundations rarely look at us as candidates for inclusion in their
giving budgets and, with rare exceptions, there are no equipment companies knocking
at our doors offering to donate and install standing MRIs or other new technologies.
Malcolm X said that it was “immoral to wait for those in power to, of
their own will, grant us rights that were already ours.” He also advocated
taking our rights rather than waiting for those with prejudiced hearts to decide
when and how they would create equality. So, isn’t it time for us to stand
together and do for ourselves? Isn’t it time to break down the barriers,
not by compromising our principles, but by exercising our right to access the
“systems” readily open to others, for the development of our profession
and the well-being of our patients?
Enter Life University’s President’s Circle
How many of us individually could finance a public relations campaign, conduct
world-class research, install standing MRIs or accomplish other major feats
and purchases required to advance educational and business programs—none
of us. But, collectively we could do many of these things and more, because
as we all know “there is power in numbers.” That is why we need
you to become part of this vision.
How Do You Expend Your Life’s Resources?
Each of us has limited resources of time, money and energy. So, how do we allocate
these between family, practice and personal needs? Some choose to withdraw from
professional obligations altogether; others waste precious resources supporting
organizations that have turned their backs on them, mistakenly rationalizing
that they must work from the inside of a broken organization if they are to
change it. Yet, the reality is that there is no real hope for these people to
enact change, because there is only one who holds authority and power in dictatorship.
But, in their need to believe and to belong, they will continue to give unaware
that their resources could be used to make a difference if directed to supporting
organizations whose missions are congruent with their values.
Today almost 500 people belong to the President’s Circle at Life University,
promoting the vision by sharing both in the responsibility and the successes.
They give from $100 to $10,000, and range in age from 12 to 83. They come from
different backgrounds and different colleges, but they are unified in their
love for chiropractic, and they share in the vision that our profession is growing
and changing the world of health care.
Life Still Needs Your Help
Last year Life received contributions of $4.85 million in a six-month period,
contributions that literally saved the school and helped us achieve reaffirmation
of our accreditation. And, although this incredible outpouring moved us out
of a state of crisis at the end of September 2004, our need did not end Oct.
1. There is still much to do—we are working to achieve an enrollment goal
of 1,000 students in our D.C. program, a goal we expect to reach within the
year (we have grown to a current D.C. enrollment of 825 students and almost
500 undergraduate students). We must raise $1.2 million by June 30, 2005. Last
year’s accomplishment shows us that this is very doable, as long as people
will act, rather than assume someone else will do it.
To achieve these goals we need all of you to join the President’s Circle
before the June 30 deadline. We have 10 Diamond level memberships available
at $24,000 each and 50 Platinum memberships at $12,000 each. If you can join
at these levels, I want to talk to you personally.
If this is not possible, we are equally grateful for those that join at the
Gold, Silver and Bronze levels, $500, $200 and $100 a month respectively. We
need to see your support manifested in your membership. After June 30 we will
begin working on projects to help advance chiropractic through the national
media, provide new housing for students, develop a pediatrics research program,
and establish relationships with organizations like the VA Hospital that will
provide opportunities to implement new clinics within their facilities.
Join us today so that together we can continue Promoting the Vision and Sharing
the Success of Chiropractic. Please contact Dr. Cynthia Boyd or Ms. Sherry Jackson
in the Life University Development Office at (770) 426-2634 or (800) 440-2861
to secure your membership in the President’s Circle.
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© Copyright 2005 Today's Chiropractic