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Eyewitness report: Scientology’s LA orgy of praise for the new TV network

 
Last week we published a report from an eyewitness at the third “Maiden Voyage” event held on L. Ron Hubbard Way at Scientology’s “Big Blue” headquarters in Los Angeles. This week, our inside source was once again in attendance Saturday night when the fourth Maiden Voyage event took place. Our source had some pretty interesting observations about what went down…

 
Maiden Voyage Night Four on LRH Way: Ideal Orgs, Dissemination, and the Scientology Media Production studios.

Joy Villa attended and sat in the front row. I did not see Nation of Islam Minister Tony Muhammad or Fred Shaw, who were so prominent the week before. It is possible they were there somewhere and I missed them, but don’t think so.

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David Miscavige did not appear in tonight’s Maiden Voyage video. Instead, the presenters were executives from Public Relations, the Landlord Office, the SMP television department, the SMP Internet department, and the Ideal Org office.

The following facts stood out: There are many Ideal Orgs on the runway and coming in 2018 and 2019. The Scientology TV Network has trained and dispatched teams of correspondents to each Scientology region to produce new content for SMP and the Scientology Network. Scientology Network shows are available on demand over the Internet and via apps in 17 languages.

Each Ideal Org already has televisions dedicated to current Scientology Network programming as it is broadcast on DirecTV. A new development is that each Ideal Org is now being outfitted with an on-demand Scientology Network kiosk prominently located in the public information area. The new kiosks will provide every Scientology Network show that has ever been aired on demand in 17 languages. New shows will be automatically downloaded to the kiosks after they have been aired on DirecTV.

The most important information from Night Four concerns the statistics regarding claimed results from the creation of the Scientology Network. There is a claimed 3X increase in First Service Starts throughout the Ideal Org Network since the March 12 inaugural of the network. This was led by a claimed 11X increase at the Inglewood Ideal Org, a claimed 10X increase at the Harlem Ideal Org, a claimed 7X increase at the San Diego Ideal Org, a claimed 5X increase at the Mexico Ideal Org, and a claimed 4X increase at the Kaoshung Ideal Org.

There has been a consistent change in regging behavior during not only the four Ideal Org Events but also at prior events on LRH Way this year. I didn’t want to report this until I was sure the pattern was consistent and stable. The change in behavior clearly indicates a change in policy. Before, regging pressure for the IAS, Ideal Orgs, SMP, Fourth Dynamic campaigns, etc. at LRH Way events on a 1 – 10 scale with 10 being highest was a consistent, solid 10, and quite frankly rude. It is now consistently at 2 or maybe 3 at worst. No more double or triple teaming. If one contributes, one is acknowledged, sincerely thanked and not pressured to increase their contribution. If one has already contributed and is approached by another Sea Org member, one is generally acknowledged, thanked and not pressured to increase their contribution. Most importantly, and unprecedented in my experience in Scientology, if one says one cannot afford to contribute, etc., that answer is politely accepted with no pressure, no invalidation, no questions about one’s income, and no attempt to convince one to “flow something.”

I say the regging pressure at LRH Way events is still at 2 or maybe 3 at worst because in the scenario where one has already contributed and is approached a second time, some Sea Org staff are still clueless and rude enough to ask how much one previously contributed, but even that comes across more as a young Sea Org member’s ignorant lack of manners than real pressure. They back off quickly, easily and politely. I cannot overstate the positive change in behavior in this specific area. In general, the Sea Org members are operating with higher ARC for the public. It makes attending events much more pleasant.

My Conclusions and Predictions: The Church of Scientology continues to be all-in with the Ideal Org program. Expect a lot of new Ideal Orgs coming relatively quickly. The Church of Scientology is serious about making every Org ideal.

The Church of Scientology is all-in on the Scientology Network. There will be no cut-backs, decrease in budget, or decrease in original programming. I predict an increase in programming. They believe this is working, or are completely committed to making it work.

 
Thank you, correspondent, for your eyewitness account and your observations over time about the dialed-down regging. Could David Miscavige be letting up, or is it a sign that the desperation is finally having its effect? Let us know what you think, readers.

 
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Class-action lawsuit coming?

Yesterday, Scientology and the Aftermath costar Mike Rinder posted a notice to many Facebook groups, as well as at his website. Here is the crucial language from it:

I am looking for people who have left the Sea Org in the last ten years, and particularly people who feel they had a hard time leaving due to physical or psychological coercion.

Please let me know if you or someone you know fits this bill, and would be willing to talk about it.

I am in contact with a sophisticated law firm that is potentially willing to assist in the matter.

Sophisticated law firm? That certainly sounds good. If you fit Mike’s description, please get in touch with him.

And we look forward to reporting on any new litigation against the church.

 
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MEANWHILE, AT FACEBOOK…

 

 
Please join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.

 
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,184 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 1,787 days
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 330 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 218 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,393 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,167 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 2,941 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,287 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 10,853 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,521 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,781 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 1,821 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,533 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,059 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,148 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,288 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,608 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,583 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 939 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,241 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,347 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,750 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,622 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,204 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,709 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 1,953 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,062 days.

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3D-UnbreakablePosted by Tony Ortega on July 23, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news

 

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