2-19-04

Shared by: Mary Flannery, DC
Esserboo@hotmail.com

The press in the Quad Cities is beginning to come up to speed on the 

larger issues behind what was initially perceived as student unrest 

following an administrative change.  The press is now beginning to ask 

questions about how alumni feel about what is transpiring, if the 

school will lose financial support and student referrals, and the major 

question, if there is a smoking gun of inappropriate activity by Dr. 

Riekeman and his administration, where is the bullet? If the board has 

valid allegations of misbehavior, you would think they would have 

presented them as quickly as possible to quell the rising tide of 

negative press and fiscal instability.  What are they waiting for?  Why 

are they hiding?  Vickie stated publicly that she was „surprisedū by 

what she characterized as Riekemanžs sudden departure.  Yet, she 

retained the services of a public relations firm in Cedar Rapids weeks 

before Dr. Riekeman resigned.  Their story so far is not adding up.



The funds already lost and potentially lost, as supporters pull out, do 

not seem to be persuading the board that the school is in jeopardy.  

Money does not appear to be an immediate issue.  I have been asked many 

times now if alumni should be withdrawing financial and student 

support.  After much thought and soul searching I must say; each of us 

must carefully consider the potential outcomes of these decisions.  If 

all principled chiropractors pull up their oars and abandon the ship of 

Palmer, the ship will remain, but we will no longer have any ability to 

influence its direction.  The students who remain at Palmer, and 

continue to enter Palmer, will do so because although the quality of 

the education has been altered, it remains in many minds, the best 

school the profession has to offer at this time.  While you may agree 

or not agree with that idea, the fact remains that many future 

chiropractors, who will mold the future of Chiropractic tomorrow (just 

as we do today) will be left on this rudderless boat, drifting or 

driven into dangerous territory for the future of Chiropractic.  Who do 

you see at the helm?



I urge each of you to do what your Innate Intelligence and your heart 

guide you to do as you decide how to react to the changes at Palmer.  

Remember that we cannot change a thing or a place that we are not 

active within.  And ultimately, those who suffer most will be the 

students, and eventually the profession.  If we withdraw funds from 

Palmer at large, we must search for ways to give time, money, and 

service to student groups and active associations who represent the 

stance that you are hoping to see flourish on Palmeržs campuses.   

There are many ways to support those principles that so many admired in 

Dr. Riekemanžs message to the profession and keep him alive on Palmeržs 

campuses.



I do not presume to know what any one of us should do.  I only wish to 

caution each of you to not burn your bridges behind you without looking 

at the potential consequences of each course of action.  I, for today, 

will pledge my money and my time to the students of Palmer. I will 

continue to support them in their efforts to challenge the Board that 

allowed this situation to come to be.  I pledge to continue to gather 

your votes and your voices so that the constituency of Palmer College 

does not go unheard and does not allow the behavior of the Board of 

Trustees to continue unchallenged.  There is still a battle here; but 

it is not against Palmer College, it is against the Palmer Board of 

Trustees.  Donžt give up hope!



„What people say you cannot do, you try and find that you can.ū 

--Thoreau



Please pick up the phone and contact your classmates and colleagues and 

urge them to cast their votes at www.dc2be.com   Do not assume that 

everyone already knows what is happening.  When the polls close on 

Monday, February 23rd, we need every single vote possible represented.  

There are almost 60,000 chiropractors in the field.  I am willing to 

compile the voices of Palmer and bring your vote to the board of 

Trustees.  I only ask that you help me make sure that we are reaching 

the many field doctors, doing the real daily work of chiropractic, so 

that we can show the world how unified we can be.  Donžt let them say 

we didnžt care when it was time to be counted.  As always, feel free to 

forward this as needed.



Chiropractically Yours,



Mary Flannery, DC

Esserboo@hotmail.com