With the Austin ‘Ideal Org’ preparing to open, this leak is especially timely.
It comes from Kat, a comedian who took classes at the Austin org to spoof it, and who you may remember from an interview she did with Chris Shelton in September.
What Kat has given us is pretty spectacular footage, shot on a good camera and at an event in 2015 that not only wasn’t intended for the general public, it was of a gathering that only included “OT” Scientologists who were being pressured to fork over huge amounts of money for the planned renovation.
During that hour-long event, you’ll see Austin’s Ideal Org Fundraising I/C (“in charge”) Stacy Sass leading the charge as the people stuck in the room are encouraged to donate enough money to reach “Texas Ranger” ($50,000), “Humanitarian” ($100,000), “Humanitarian with Honors” ($150,000) and higher “status levels.”
Kat also gave us a few other videos, and we’ve taken out the best parts and put them into one video. Here’s how it breaks down:
1. A few minutes from a 2012 promotional video introducing the OT committee and Stacy Sass and the slogan of “Texas Hot.”
2. A short portion of a 2014 music video that we had posted seven years ago, with Stacy singing the official song of the Austin Org.
3. The hourlong OT fundraising rally, with Texas Scientologists being urged to raise enough in the room to bring total giving for the Ideal Org to $4 million.
This is really remarkable stuff and please keep in mind this was repeated in similar fundraising efforts at orgs around the world over the last 18 years in David Miscavige’s scheme to turn every city “ideal.”
After the video, we have some comments on it from Kat.
“The fundraiser wasn’t open to all Austin Scientology public, but was meant just for OTs and high level donors from the Austin area,” Kat says. “The reason that the video isn’t just from a cell phone is that they had Golden Era Productions there filming the fundraiser. The hope being that they would reach their goal and be able to show footage of the fundraiser at the upcoming Maiden Voyage event for the rest of the orgs to see. Of course, they didn’t finish their fundraising until 2018 at a fundraiser at the rather upscale Hotel Van Zandt in downtown Austin.”
As for how she came into possession of the video, Kat explains that it was freely given to her on a disc at the church. “At some point when I was in the org, I was shown the basement and was told I could grab one of the IAS videos from down there. After I watched it, I came back the next day and asked if I could take any more CDs from down there and was given the OK because they thought it was just more promo junk and that I was a dedicated Scientologist. I say this only to head off any accusations they might have that I stole the footage.”
Kat says that the business at the Austin org had been “quite bad,” and so making a big showing of raising money for the new org was a big deal.
“When the org was established, it was purchased outright I believe by Mary Sue Hubbard and they thought they’d have an easy time getting UT students. As you’ll hear in many of the speeches, they’re confused as to why that hasn’t happened,” she says.
“As you’ll see in the video, they all give speeches that simultaneously sound like they’re trying to convince themselves that it’s OK to give all that money, and pressure others to start donating as well. When there is a lull, I’m sure the fundraiser I/Cs have trained on the patter to use.”
To explain what she means, Kat gave us these images of ‘patter’ that Scientologists are encouraged to use while making the hard sell.
“I saw this at every fundraiser: the creepy laughter and forced ‘having a good time’ vibe. They’re essentially all trapped in that room being squeezed to donate tens of thousands of dollars, but it’s supposed to feel like a ‘party’,” Kat says.
“At 17:50 in the first fundraiser video, Cathy Norman gets up and donates around $6,000, which gets a muted response (because it’s a ‘mere $6,000). Cathy is the longtime Director of Special Affairs in Austin. She is one of the people sued by Gerry Armstrong in 1997 for defamation over a letter she wrote.”
This is great stuff. Thank you for giving this glimpse of the fundraising madness, Kat.
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“Frankly it’s pure idiocy to cure somebody of an illness. This is idiocy. They just go and get sick again. You talk about a thankless task! It’s actually thankless, endless, does nothing for the society, gains nothing for the individual or anything else to amount to anything. This guy’s got an earache. So you work like mad to get this guy to recover from this earache, see. And so you cure him from his earache. Well, great day in the morning, he has now not got an earache. Great. How to raise society heroically onward and forward! Now, if you cure his earache, if you’re foolish enough to cure his earache, and work in just-in no direction but to cure his earache, you’re working exactly against his hidden standard. And, you aren’t really trying to remove the causes of having a hidden standard. So what’s he going to do? Well, next day he’s got ulcers. See?” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 13, 1963
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“SHORE STORY: Crew are reminded of our shore story — to know it and use it. QMs are reminded of our handouts — to use them (French ones). All crew are reminded that PR actions must also take security into mind. Some things you as Crew know about and should — that doesn’t mean “everyone” should know about them. Our operations in any country should be known by all crew and officers but only crew and officers. You are all now very aware of PR. Thank you — it’s really great and we can even improve it more — but lets become more aware now that security goes along with it.” — Lt. Barry Watson, PO, June 13, 1970
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“An individual can create a space of his own and it has no existence in this physical universe except by the postulate of its creator. Others can be invited to view and even enter this universe. It can grow and take on a life of its own. It can even become as large and ‘real’ as this universe, still having no existence in this universe. And so it has been. Another confusion that has been intentionally introduced, is that separate universes have their own timeline. So, to say that two or more universes can exist simultaneously is a bit hard to grasp and sort out. But with a good look, it can be understood.”
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2000: A transcript of John McLaughlin’s One on One TV show was posted to a.r.s this week, on the subject of religious discrimination and mentioning Scientology. “MR. MCLAUGHLIN: At the dawn of the 21st century, one of mankind’s age-old curses still afflicts us. It is religious intolerance. In China, Christians and so-called ‘cults’ are the targets of brutal government crack-downs. In the Sudan, antichristian riots have killed hundreds. In Russia, antisemitism is rearing its despicable head…And let’s move on to Scientology. It’s called a cult, which is kind of a dismissive word, which almost invites a certain amount of oppression, doesn’t it? To those who practice Scientology, a true faith. SEN. BROWNBACK: It is. And where I get concerned is, like the First Amendment, when you start cutting somebody’s speech out somewhere, I get concerned anywhere about it. What people choose to do with their own souls is their right, and it should be protected.”
“Hubbard was already in the process of killing the golden goose before he croaked.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for August 9. Trial tentatively scheduled for early November.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference August 21 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for June 18.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition to US Supreme Court submitted on May 26. Scientology has until June 25 to respond.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court grants review on May 26, asks Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 24.
Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] A strange and unsettling update to one of Scientology’s most awful recent scandals
[TWO years ago] Jon Atack: Seduction, recruitment, and Scientology’s hard sell
[THREE years ago] Why are New York politicians such easy marks for Scientology?
[FOUR years ago] Photos shot by L. Ron Hubbard in 1975 capture how the founder wanted Scientology marketed
[FIVE years ago] Karla Zamudio on Scientology, and capturing Marc and Claire Headley in the short film ‘Escape’
[SIX years ago] Google helps Scientology billionaire Bob Duggan hide a dark family secret
[SEVEN years ago] Why Giovanni Ribisi told Marc Maron there are no aliens in Scientology: A theory
[EIGHT years ago] This is Your Dianetics on Drugs: The Nitrous Engram
[NINE years ago] How a Scientologist Loses Faith in His Church: A Case Study
[TEN years ago] ‘Inside Scientology’ Promises a Lot, And Delivers: David Miscavige Has Much to Worry About
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,330 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,835 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,355 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,375 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,266 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,573 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,441 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,215 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,545 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,019 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,335 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,901 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,820 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,988 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,569 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,830 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,868 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,581 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,106 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 461 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,636 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,187 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,336 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,656 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,511 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,630 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,986 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,289 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,395 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,797 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,669 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,252 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,747 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,001 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,110 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 13, 2021 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post 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 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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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, 15 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
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
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
