Scientology Volunteers

People helping people all over the world.

 

Boston Scientology Volunteer Ministry

The Boston Scientology Volunteer Ministry was covered in the Boston Globe a while back and here's a letter to the editor about it:

Ministry is all about literacy

October 29, 2006

Thank you for this interesting article on literacy ("A new word in literacy-- Scientology, Oct. 22, City Weekly). I read Adrienne P. Samuels' article on the Boston Scientology Ministry in Roxbury and was puzzled about her repeated reference to religion and suspicions of local residents.

The learning program using L. Ron Hubbard's Study Technology has everything to do with literacy and nothing to do with religion. More emphasis should be placed on the very good results that the ministry has produced (improved, literate students), and the outreach of the volunteers to the community.

It is noteworthy that when a student has difficulty learning in public school, the technology there is to drug them. There are countless examples of violence in schools related to psychiatric drugs.

I suggest that the community open their eyes to the honest help that is being given by the Scientologists and relax their suspicion. It is far more appropriate to be suspicious of the use of psychotropic drugs in public schools as part of their education program.

Fred Hall Plaistow, N.H.

posted by: jbasoon at 02:22 | link | |
volunteering, scientology, l ron hubbard, church of scientology, study technology

Community Watch

One good thing that can help reduce crime and is very simple is for people to form up a community watch.

This is usually done on a volunteer basis, although you can also hire security guards.

Just by making sure the neighborhood is well lit, and posting signs that you have a community watch, it can do a lot to keep people who would otherwise be tempted to break into your home or car away.

Another good idea is to get the neighbors together and work out what to do if someone spots something suspicious.

Also, having a buddy system, where you have a neighbor who watches out for your house while you're away and in exchange you do the same for his/hers is often enough to prevent thefts when someone is on vacation.

Just some helpful tips.

posted by: jbasoon at 19:58 | link | |
volunteering

Boston Scientology Ministry

I found this great article on the Boston Scientology Ministry.

As the South End is experiencing a revival as the one of Boston's hip and trendy neighborhoods attracting the artistic and yuppie set, Scientologist Rev. Robert Castangasaid he thought he was being innovative when he moved the operation of the Boston Scientology Ministry to an area that is stereotypically fit to express curiosity for his new-age religion.

But the Rev. Castagna said the Boston Scientology Ministry was not placed in the South End to pique the interest of those who only know something about Scientology from reading about Tom Cruise, but instead is there "to offer some help to the less privileged residents of the area."

"Our mission here is to reduce crime and violence in the area by handling some of its underlying factors," Castanga said. The Boston Scientology Volunteer Ministry offers on-site community assistance by offering phonics and after school study skills programs. To the best of his knowledge Castanga believes that the volunteer ministry "is a new concept" although the Church of Scientology has other literacy centers and sponsors other types of programs like the Hollywood Education and Literacy Project.

The ministry, which is located where Washington Street meets Massachusetts Avenue, is funded by the Church of Scientology of Boston and despite initial doubts by other area Scientologists, Castanga said that the response has been "phenomenal."

Each day Castanga and his small volunteer staff get visits from a cross section of the community. Sometimes it is the retired lady looking for an excuse to leave the house. "Sometimes people come in and they stay for a month, sometimes they stay for one year," Castanga said "even if they are here for a short period of time, I can rest assured knowing I have helped them out."

The Rev. Ksenia Castanga, is married to Robert Castanga, and is also a Scientologist who spends much of her free time away from her musical career volunteering at the ministry. The Castangas have no children, so what Ksenia Castanga said she enjoyes most about the South End ministry is working closely with children. "Just today I took a sixth grader (and one adult) to the Museum of Fine Arts and it was amazing to see she perceived the experience…she had fun as she had never been to a museum before," she said.

So where does the future lie for this project that is new in the world of Scientology? "I would like us to have enough funds that we could hire a full time staff because we need a more intensive effort to deal with the crime and violence in the community," Robert Castanga said.

I've written about the Boston Scientology Volunteer Ministery before. I'm impressed with the program they've put together and wish them all the best!

posted by: jbasoon at 15:37 | link | |

After the Tsunami

More on this beautiful web site.

Mr. Overgaard has done such a beautiful job of showing what it was like to be a Scientology Volunteer Minister after the tsunami.

On one page on this site he even explains his photography techniques, used in creating the book and web site.

Enjoy!

posted by: jbasoon at 22:25 | link | |
tsunami, scientology, david miscavige, disaster relief, church of scientology

David Miscavige is the Guest of Honor at the Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology of London

I just found this great story on Creativexpression

LONDON – More than 3,000 members and friends of the Church of Scientology of London packed Queen Victoria Street in the heart of London for the sensational grand opening of the new home of the UK’s oldest Scientology church. 

 

Steps away from the Tate Gallery and St. Paul’s Cathedral, the beautifully restored historic building at 146 Queen Victoria Street now serves the growing membership of London-area Scientologists.  Its opening marks the largest expansion for Scientology in the Church’s 50-year history in London.

 Guest of honor, Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center and leader of the Scientology religion, stressed the historical importance of London. “This is the city L. Ron Hubbard himself [founder of the Scientology religion] selected as home to the first Scientology organization. This is also the city wherein he first defined the human spirit as an immortal being possessed of capabilities beyond anything predicted, and so arrived at the axiomatic truths on which the whole of Scientology is founded.  Your early London organizations were also the original proving ground for the bulk of Mr. Hubbard’s social betterment programs which are used to uplift neighborhoods just like this one.”

 The London Church on Tottenham Court Road, which served the community for the past 38 years, was also completely refurbished and re-opened on Sunday as a Scientology Life Improvement Center. It now features a full public information exhibition, including audio-visual presentations of the Church’s work across society, and introductory film showings, live lectures and materials for anyone to learn more about Scientology for themselves.

 To add to the import of the day was the announcement that the Church had acquired and renovated the very building where, in 1957, Mr. Hubbard established that first Scientology organization in the UK at 35-37 Fitzroy Street.

 The Church of Scientology of London was welcomed to its new premises on Queen Victoria Street by Alderman Ian Luder, representing the Lord Mayor of the City.  He spoke of the effective help the Church provides to get people off drugs and its successful programs to reduce crime.

Mr. Kevin Hurley, Divisional Commander of London’s Snow Hill Police Station, called upon the Scientologists to “tenaciously focus on bettering this world,” and said that he knows with “complete personal certainty” that the members are “raising the spiritual wealth of society” with their charitable works.  He presented a special recognition for their valuable assistance and support following the city’s tragic bombings of July 2005.

 United Nations Peace Envoy, Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed Ayaz, spoke of his personal insight into the work done by Scientology around the world.  “It is my personal belief,” he said “this Church can restore what this world has lately lost – namely, much of the dignity and respect with which it was created.”

The Church’s new home is an 1866 Italian-styled Victorian landmark designed by architect Edward l’Anson for the British and Foreign Bible Society.  Redevelopment in the mid-80s transformed it into a fully functioning modern office facility that served British Petroleum for two decades.  The stunning period staircase and double-height entrance hall have been restored to create a welcoming and elegant atmosphere for parishioners and visitors.

           Beyond the aesthetics of the building itself, David Miscavige spoke of the role of the programs that will roll out from within the London church’s walls: “Our gift of literacy to disadvantaged children; restoring self-respect to those who’ve gone astray; easing suffering; eradicating racial prejudice; and, repairing the bonds that bind man together.

           “This new church packs the full body of L Ron Hubbard’s technologies as derived from the greater well of Scientology knowledge,” said Mr. Miscavige, “and, as such, it provides the full gamut of Scientology activities for the betterment of mankind.”

posted by: jbasoon at 05:30 | link | |
london, scientology, david miscavige, church of scientology

Sunday Times on the Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology of London

The Sunday Times October 22, 2006

Cruise expected at opening of Scientology's London HQ

Robert Booth

SCIENTOLOGY, the controversial church supported by Tom Cruise and John Travolta, will today open its biggest British centre yet.

Several thousand members are expected to witness the inauguration of a new London headquarters that scientology's leaders say will "make history in one of the most important and vibrant cities on earth".

Cruise is expected to attend, along with other celebrity adherents including Anne Archer, the actress.

The imposing six-storey Victorian office building in the City of London cost £23m to buy and refurbish, with some

of the funds coming from the church's 124,000 British members, who pay to take courses to attain what scientology, based in Los Angeles, calls "true spiritual release and freedom".

The building will be the most visible symbol in Britain of the movement founded by L Ron Hubbard, the American science fiction writer, in the 1950s.

The group's most controversial teachings include what it has said about modern medicine. Cruise and other adherents have claimed that psychiatry is "Nazi science" and that its medicines are all about mind control.

Cruise rebuked Brooke Shields, the actress, for taking medicine to help overcome postnatal depression, while crediting scientology for helping him overcome dyslexia.

Last year, Cruise announced a scientology programme to "purify" firefighters still suffering from smoke inhalation after September 11, 2001. The project advises them to dispose of their medication and inhalers and opt instead for exercise, saunas, and vitamin, mineral and oil supplements.

The scientologists' 10th British church is located in Queen Victoria Street, not far from St Paul's Cathedral, among the banks and trading floors of the Square Mile.

It is seven times the size of its current London building, a shop among electrical retailers on Tottenham Court Road. "We are about to drive home the message 'This is Scientology' like you have never seen," said David Miscavige[Religious Technology Center].

"We were bursting at the seams before and we had room for only 50 worshippers at Tottenham Court Road," said Janet Laveau, a spokeswoman for Scientology. She said that the group had experienced "tremendous growth" but numbers in the past three years have gone up by only 5%.

posted by: jbasoon at 01:32 | link | |

Scientology Volunteer Ministers Featured in Book

"Danish photographer and feature writer Thorsten Overgaard traveled 12,000 miles throughout South East Asia after the tsunami, a virtual fly-on-the-wall, documenting the day-to-day lives of the Scientology Tsunami Relief Team.

"After The Tsunami presents in detail a behind-the-scenes look at relief work when everyday western people – from the a real estate agent from Germany to a student from Los Angeles – leave behind families, studies, careers and businesses to help strangers in crisis, whom they only know from media reports.

"It is a heartwarming story of the spiritual bonds between religions, ordinary western world people engaged in dangerous but important work that will change their lives forever and daily miracles. It is a story in pictures that is in a sharp contrast to the seemingly endless pictures of overwhelming devastation that played again and again on televised newscasts and on the front pages of the world for weeks and months.

"It is a story that brings hope to the world and shows how ordinary people can make a difference – that something can be done about it." The book itself is available as a free ebook, and can be ordered at eBook@afterthetsunami.org

A beautifully crafter slide show of some of these images, set to music, can be viewed online at YouTube.

posted by: jbasoon at 16:19 | link | |
photography, book, volunteering, tsunami, scientology, disaster relief

Why They Volunteer

I aksed a friend of mine who dropped everything at his business last year to go to Katrina as part of the Scientology Disaster Relief Team, why he went.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers
Disaster Relief

Here's what he said: "I took one look at what was going on, on TV - saw the people crammed into the Superdome, and realized I just couldn't leave it to someone else.

"As a Scientology Volunteer Minister, I felt like - okay - I can do something to handle this mess. There are enough people sitting around watching this. I need to ACT.

"I knew my business would suffer - it's an important time for my company. We do a lot of our business leading up to Christmas, and September is a crucial month for us. But could I live with myself if I didn't go? No.

"And it was the most rewarding thing I've ever done."

There's one thing I could add to what he said, and that is from "The Code of a Scientologist,"

As a Scientologist, I pledge myself to ... use the best I know of Scientology to the best of my ability to help my family, friends, groups and the world."

posted by: jbasoon at 19:56 | link | |

UN humanitarian chief points to disaster relief fund as example of successful reform

"12 October 2006 – The landmark United Nations fund set up to jump-start relief operations for natural and man-made disasters and save thousands of lives that would otherwise be lost to delay offers 'living proof' that the world body can reform, the UN’s top humanitarian official said today.

"The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) – which has committed $174 million to more than 250 projects in 26 countries since its launch in March – has ensured there are no longer discussions on why there is not enough money for emergencies, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland told a press conference in Geneva.

"'The CERF is living proof that the United Nations can reform, is reforming and is getting better,' he said, adding that the Fund has been helped by the comparative lack of emergencies around the world so far this year.>>

posted by: jbasoon at 21:50 | link | |
disaster relief

Lend a Hand

This weekend in the UK is the IAS event (IAS stands for International Association of Scientologists), where Chairman of the Board of Relgious Technology Center, David Miscavige, will present an overview of what the Scientology religious movement has accomplished in its humanitarian mission over the past year.

Every year, this day is dedicated to those who are making a difference in helping their fellow man.

For example, two years ago, the Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tour was launched at this event. Last year it was doubled in terms of the number of countries being visited.

Scientology Volunteer Ministers bring hope and help to peoples' lives. Now isn't that worth putting some time into doing?

Learn more about the Scientology Volunteer Ministers at the Scientology News site.

posted by: jbasoon at 21:55 | link | |
volunteering, scientology

Scientology Volunteers in Washington DC

This is a photo of some very dedicated volunteers at the Church of Scientology of Washinton DC.

They put up a new blog, that you can see here.

posted by: jbasoon at 04:46 | link | |

the Red Cross

The first place I ever volunteered was for the Red Cross.

One think that's great about the Red Cross is they are always willing to accept help.

When I was a kid there weren't too many grown ups who were willing for me to help them, and I really appreciated being able to volunteer there.

posted by: jbasoon at 23:11 | link | |
volunteering

Children at a school in Java. The Scientology Disaster Relief Team gave them a seminar in assist technology. Just look at those happy faces. Makes it all worthwhile, doesn't it?

posted by: jbasoon at 00:29 | link | |
volunteering, scientology

a Freewebs Site

I found a site that has some good information about Scientology.

Check it out.

Freewebs seems to be pretty cool too, by the way.

posted by: jbasoon at 17:58 | link | |

The kids in Java

I've been following the work of the Scientology Disaster Relief Team in Yogyakarta, Indonesia (on the island of Java). They get covered pretty regularly on the Scientology Today web site.

I think it's pretty incredible what they've done over the past four months.

The dedication of these people to even go, not to mention stay for all that time, living in really bad conditions -- food, lodging etc. -- really roughing it.

But I am sure if I were to talk to one of them, all I'd hear would be how fantastic it was to be able to help these people.

I mean LOOK at these kids. Have you ever seen anything like them?

posted by: jbasoon at 02:35 | link | |
scientology

Scientology Today

I've been watching the Scientology Today web site. Ever since they redesigned it about a month ago there's been news posted just about every day. Now they have a link where you can upload your own story, for the editors to review and include.

I'm going to submit one.

It makes it really interesting.

posted by: jbasoon at 06:04 | link | |

Volunteer Ministers in Gaborone, Botswana

This story on the Scientology News site is pretty incredible.

These guys were real heroes.

Have every spent any time around smoke and fire? It is a real ordeal. And for them to keep it up for hours like that, helping the fire department -- that's intense.

posted by: jbasoon at 02:29 | link | |

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers South Pacific Goodwill Tour and the Soccer Team of Suva, Fiji

I thought this was a great article -on ScientologyToday.org It's about the Minister of Sport in Fiji having the Volunteer Ministers train the Suva soccer team so they can recover from injuries more quickly and become less accident prone (turns out the Minister was a Suva fan!)

I got a kick out of this one.

posted by: jbasoon at 19:19 | link | |
volunteering, scientology

Helping kids

I am so glad ScientolgyToday is being updated so often with news.

I always love keeping up with what is going on with other Scientologists around the world, and I particularly like the work Volunteer Ministers are doing.

Friends of a friend of mine are in Tamin Nadu, and have been there since the tsunami in Dec 2004 - almost 2 years now.

She gets emails with their photos from time to time, and I always love seeing them.

This area is an enchanting part of the world (or it seems that way to me) and seeing the good her friends are doing, and how much they love their work and the people of Pondicherry -- well it's very special.

Anyway, today there was a story on ScientologyToday about these same people, and the volunteer work they are doing.

I really admire them for what they are doing.

posted by: jbasoon at 04:15 | link | |
volunteering, scientology

Anti-Drug Activities

My church is gearing up to do even more drug prevention work than before - which was already considerable.

Drugs and kids are a badmix, and it's up to each of us to do something about it.

posted by: jbasoon at 06:15 | link | |