Rod Keller has another lesson for us today about Scientology’s front groups and fundraising…
Being a Scientologist means constant exposure to fundraising efforts. Above the cost of the Bridge to Total Freedom and the cost to open Ideal Orgs there are solicitations for donations for causes large and small. The large donations are always to the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) and donors can attend the annual Patron’s Ball for answering the call to fund Scientology’s many Fourth Dynamic, or 4D causes. But where is the IAS when each 4D group needs money? Apparently absent as members regularly receive requests from these groups.
Is this campaign for the Foundation for a Drug Free World or is it United for Human Rights? It doesn’t matter much as Sea Org member Betsy at the Los Angeles Org apparently runs them both and needs copies of L. Ron Hubbard lectures in Chinese to give to visiting human rights activists. The IAS apparently doesn’t have the $560 to make that a reality. Not that it really costs Scientology $14 per copy to print. It’s probably a dollar or two and the rest is profit.
Leslie Farrow of Los Angeles is asking for donations to send Drug Free World booklets to Liberia. There are no donations yet. Raising money for Scientology can have several benefits to a member such as Farrow. Working 4D campaigns is one way to get “invited” to do the OT levels at an Advanced Org, or a member can try to make up the alleged harm they have done to Scientology as part of an ethics formula. Scientology’s Freedom Medal can be awarded to those who recruit a large number of volunteers and raise significant money for these groups.
Also out of Los Angeles, with no donations yet is Adam Harrison with a drive to train drug education specialists in South Africa.
Jörg-Karl Fekesa at Narconon Europe and Charley Banks are raising money to distribute Drug Free World booklets in London. Banks is a graduate of Narconon Eslov in Sweden and plans to be Executive Director of the long-delayed Narconon South Africa. As an Field Staff Member, Feska earns 10 percent of the donations to Banks’ charity, which means he will pocket €31 as of this writing.
A newly formed front group, the Restored Valor Project is seeking donations to bring Dianetics therapy to veterans. They promise to release the pain out of specific memories.
There are dozens, perhaps hundreds of online fundraising campaigns to benefit Scientology’s 4D campaigns. Facebook’s birthday donation system raised over $300 million for all charities in its first year, and many Scientologists use it to ask their Facebook friends to donate to their favorite front group. Across the Internet the large number of fundraising drives using small donation systems such as Facebook, Gofundme and Donorbox is causing donor fatigue and this reflects in the number of Scientology causes that have no donations at all. But in theory the IAS’ purpose is to fund these projects, and the top donors receive trophies for millions of dollars donated. Where is the IAS, and why do the 4D campaigns go online to seek donations?
— Rod Keller
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HOWDYCON UPDATE
More news about this year’s HowdyCon.
Janis Grady has set the June 22 combined event. Her annual reunion and barbecue will coincide with the Saturday event for HowdyCon. If you wish to attend that event, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady@gmail.com), and there will be a small contribution she’ll be asking for to help pay for the cost of the event.
We are very close to securing our Friday night venue in Los Angeles, and we’ll provide another update on that as soon as we have it confirmed. All we can tell you at this time is the Friday night event will be more like a presentation in a theater (like the final night last year in Chicago), and the Saturday event will be a more casual barbecue setting.
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology fires back at the Garcias, but reveals absolutely bonkers ‘arbitration’ instructions
[TWO years ago] Whale watching, 2017 edition: Who’s keeping Scientology from sinking?
[THREE years ago] Monique Rathbun is on the clock at the Texas Supreme Court
[FOUR years ago] New government release contains a surprise: L. Ron Hubbard flunked out of high school, too!
[FIVE years ago] Monique Rathbun files motion for contempt against Scientology defendants
[SIX years ago] Marisol Nichols prepares for her greatest role: Scientology space cadet!
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology on the High Seas: Hubbard Welcomes the New Meat!
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,370 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,501 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,003 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,483 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 546 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 434 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,741 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,609 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,383 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,157 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,503 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,069 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 6,989 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,156 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,737 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,997 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,037 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,749 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,275 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,364 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,504 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,824 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,680 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,799 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,155 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,457 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,563 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,965 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,837 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,420 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,915 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,169 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,278 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 24, 2019 at 07:00
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Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, 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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | 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 | 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
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