Articles & Opinions

"Management Seminar" Harrowing Experience

CHEROKEE COUNTY HERALD,
Centre, Alabama, Wednesday December 12, 1990.

by
TERRY DEAN, Staff Writer

"We now feel like we've been raped. We feel so invaded. We say, "l still can't believe this happened to us."

Dee Rowe, wife of local dentist Glover Rowe D.M.D., described their recent harrowing experience in what was supposed to be a "management seminar" in California. Dr. and Mrs. Rowe said they were held against their will by a religious cult and were forced to endure brainwashing attempts.

MRS. ROWE identified the organization responsible for luring dentists, chiropractors, veterinarians and other medical professionals into this "scam" as a management systems firm with facilities in Glendale, Calif.

"They advertise business management courses that cost $15,000 for seven days," said Mrs. Rowe. "They usually get a dentist who has been in your area and print a success story on him. This dentist gets 10 percent of the $15,000 if you buy the package."

Mrs. Rowe. who could not reveal the name of the dentist who introduced them to the seminar, said that she and Dr. Rowe took out a loan for S15,000, not knowing how they would pay it back. ____________________________________________________________

They advertise business management courses that cost $15,000 for seven days... They usually get a dentist who has been in your area and print a success story on him... This dentist gets 10 percent of the $15,000 if you buy the package. Mrs. Dee Rowe

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"We went to California to a seven-day seminar," said Mrs. Rowe. "These people participate in a type of mind control. I now look back at some of the things I was doing. They were having a big influence on me."

DR. ROWE became a different person, Mrs. Rowe said. "They had a lot of meetings with him. They talked him into bumping up our credit cards to buy more courses, basically life-improvement courses."

The first seminar the Rowe attended was held Oct. 18-25 in Glendale, Calif., and they attended a second seminar Nov. 15-22 in Orange County, Calif. "I went in and begged Glover not to sign anything," said Mrs. Rowe. "Glover said 'I've already signed it and feel good about it.'"

According to Priscilla Coates, with Cult Awareness, a national organization, these people are so sophisticated at mind control, they do not need drugs or other mind-altering devices. "You see people walking around with this glazed look in their eyes," said Mrs. Rowe.

The Rowes returned to California for their other courses a few weeks later, which were $5,000 and $2,500 each.

"I FOUND OUT they had done personality tests on us and were lecturing him on our marriage." said Mrs. Rowe. "They said we're in serious trouble and that if we didn't take these courses, we would be divorced in a year and I would become a child abuser."

On her second trip, Mrs. Rowe said she wasn't happy the first three days, but could not put her finger on a specific reason for her mood. The third night, however, things started coming to a head.

"They put a telephone in front of me and said I should call every member of my family and tell them I was a member of the Church of Scientology. I refused," said Mrs. Rowe. "At that point, they said, 'but you see Dee, you have to.' I said, 'No I don't have to,' and they said I couldn't leave until I did."

After arguing with them for two hours, Mrs. Rowe convinced them to let her leave, saying she would call her family from her hotel room.

"WHEN I STARTED complaining to Glover about this, he said, 'You don't understand, because you've never been to dental school. You have to do what they tell you to pass.'