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David Miscavige’s pet projects result in constant fundraising pressure

 
A constant theme of Scientology watching is that we see church members getting hit up for money in so many ways. For their progress up the ‘Bridge to Total Freedom,’ for new (and unnecessary) buildings, for book campaigns, for their status as donors, and on and on.

But even we were surprised when a tipster showed us that a mission in California had literally gone to the Internet to beg for money so it could go “Ideal.”

By the time we looked, the Riverpark Mission’s GoFundMe had been taken down, but not before our tipster had grabbed screenshots of its $20,000 appeal.

“I see increasing numbers of desperate and usually very ill Scientologists using crowdsourcing like GoFundme,” says our tipster, “but I don’t recall seeing a Scientology mission holder begging for money to go ‘Ideal.’ Isn’t that what the registrars are for? It sounds like the church even makes the missions pay for their signage — ‘We have some internal demolition and reconstruction to do, some cosmetic improvements, landscaping and of course all the signage that comes from the Scientology Mill and completes the image.’ Wow.”

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The whole point of missions was that it could attract new local people to become Scientologists, pass them on eventually to the larger orgs and ultimately the advanced orgs, and in the process make a nice living for the mission holder. They were feeder points and they were money makers, and when new people were actually joining Scientology, they could be thriving enterprises.

But raising money so a mission can purchase fancy signs from the mother church in order to go ‘Ideal’? That has nothing to do with growing Scientology, it’s all about Scientology leader David Miscavige pushing for his Ideal Org program to make it look like Scientology is healthier than it is. What a scam.

Here’s the pitch that Riverpark Mission holder Tree Nebeker included on the now removed GoFundMe campaign. What a sad glimpse into Scientology’s current state.

The Riverpark Mission in Sacramento CA is celebrating its 50th year of continuous service. Originally the Mission of Davis, we moved to Sacramento in 1988 and that necessitated a name change, for obvious reasons, it wasn’t the same city! Many are aware that our expansion and products over these 50 years is legendary — and if you don’t know, trust me, it is! Our longevity alone tells you something!

Scientology Missions International (SMI) has us on their list of the Missions that are closest to achieving Ideal standards this year.

This is all with the eye to having enough space and that very modern and aesthetic look you see replicated from Org to Org and the Missions that have been featured in various events.

We are not all that far off as we have been at it for a while and the majority of it is done. Now we have the final push to wrap it up and, frankly, it comes down to having the dinero. ($$)

For those who do not know us our Mission is right in the heart of Sacramento, the capitol of California, in the USA. The city is very diverse and we have people on lines from all over the world.

We have 21 dedicated staff members: more than half been on staff longer than a decade, some over 40 years. We have 5 OTs and 3 Clears — 5 who have done Superpower and 2 who have done L’s. Seven staff are Tech Trained — we have our own auditor for the staff who are not Clear, we have a trained Establishment Officer to help the staff win on post AND we are capable of delivering everything a Mission has to offer. Year to year we are always in the top 10 for US Missions.

We are strongly allied to our Org and our regional sister Missions. We are constantly creating and involved in 4th dynamic campaigns. We are determined to fulfill all that a Mission is meant to be; to flood people up both sides of the Bridge to Total Freedom. We really do love what we do and we are already a great Mission — now we are ready to take it all to the next level.

We are asking for $20,000 to help finish our upgrades. We are keenly aware that most of you are donating to a lot of causes in our constellation of organizations and campaigns. Thus, wee hope that a LOT of people pitching in a little will create this without it being a strain. For instance, if 200 people did $100 or 400 people did $50 and so on, it would get done easily. I am not opposed to big donations! That would be awesome, but this is a way to make it happen and not have to be a BIG donor. Just sayin’.

We are lucky that we have a lot of talented volunteers that are donating their labor very generously at no cost (except cookies and commendations). That helps a lot to stretch this money to cover material etc.

Thanks in advance for helping. And, if we caught you at a bad time and you can’t flow anything right now, please consider forwarding this to some of your friends.

Much Love, Tree Nebeker Mission Holder

 
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Ebner confronts and shatters

Our old friend Mark Ebner sent us this video yesterday, showing him trying to inform actors lined up for an audition that they were being targeted by Scientology recruitment. Classic Ebner.

 
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Bonus items from our tipsters

Another dog and pony show from Scientology’s “Youth for Human Rights” at the United Nations. This time, the nations of El Salvador, Ghana, Moldova, The Gambia and Sierra Leone were convinced that having some Scientologists pretending to be concerned about human rights was a good way to use up a UN conference room.

 

 
Meanwhile, on the Freewinds: Remember our friend Rob Meister? Well, he snapped a photo of himself on the barge with Scientology celebrity James Barbour, who you might remember has some extracurricular issues. Looks like David Miscavige’s favorite Broadway singer was back to entertain at this year’s Maiden Voyage week.

 

 
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Erika Christensen, Ethan Suplee, and Juliette Lewis]

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] In Scientology, going Clear is like leasing a car, and David Miscavige is Repo Man
[TWO years ago] HowdyCon: Aussie journalist Steve Cannane’s response to Marty Rathbun
[THREE years ago] Why Lisa Marie Presley’s custody battle likely has nothing to do with Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Augustine: Taking a hard look at Scientology’s slush fund, the unlicensed and unregulated IAS
[FIVE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Nancy Cartwright freak-out edition
[SIX years ago] When Jon Atack Declared David Miscavige a Suppressive Person
[SEVEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY ABANDONED BY L. RON HUBBARD’S GRANDDAUGHTER AND DAVID MISCAVIGE’S FATHER

 
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,492 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,621 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,125 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,645 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 665 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 556 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,863 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,731 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,505 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,279 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,625 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,191 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,110 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,278 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,859 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,120 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,159 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,871 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,397 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,486 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,626 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,946 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,802 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,921 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,276 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,579 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,685 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,087 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,959 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,542 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,037 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,291 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,400 days.

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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 29, 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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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 | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele

 

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