Well, Divona is pushing this daisies now not schlock. https://tonyortega.org/2020/07/25/scientology-to-the-rescue-after-losing-son-and-wife-johnny-lewis-dad-is-happier-than-ever/

Real, I figure maybe around 3,500 truly active members in the US taking into account the 35 to 50 people we see in major event photos at local orgs (around 40 of those in the US), plus around 1,000 in Clearwater and probably a similar number in LA who are only really involved in upper level orgs like AOLA.

Add in missions and be generous, and maybe it would come out to more like 5,000. Plus then there are reportedly about 2,500 left in the Sea Org – which also points the sort of totally disproportionate overhead that is part of the reason that scientology has to try get inordinate amounts of money out of each remaining member. On top of it all there are apparently a lot of largely inactive members who do little more than show up for major annual events, and then completely inactive people who hold IAS memberships — mostly lifetime memberships long ago paid for — but haven’t been involved at all for years.

And if nothing else, 5 people could probably count all the active US indies on their fingers and toes….

Peridot,
Well said!
May the scam soon be over…

I could see many of our local OT 8’s were retired, they have pensions, a wealthy spouse, etc. If the rumors are true that you don’t earn much being on staff, then these individuals seem to have the financial wherewithal to be on staff. Plus, at that level “on the Bridge,” wouldn’t they bring the OT strength and moral fortitude to unflinchingly do a good job?

Cognitive dissonance striking again. If an OT 8 wants nothing to do with staff, with all they know and all of they have done, then…why would anyone else volunteer to join staff?

Have we mentioned here that the staff themselves are commonly a poor advertisement for joining staff because they often look miserable and harried? As a public, one experiences “the mass” of being on staff by routine exposure and observation.

I am reminded too of a skilled carpenter (and public) that the org was continuously hammering to join staff. (Forgive the feeble pun.) He was someone that the org frequently called in, hired and paid to do fix-its. To his credit, he saw through the ruse. He called them out, “Why would I join staff and earn low if any pay—taking on now two 2 full-time jobs, since I would have to maintain my carpentry business—when I can continue as I am: when the org needs me, you call me and you hire me. I do the work, I invoice you, and the org pays me fairly for the job.”

Darn, it’s so scammy. Ugh.

@Mark: Precisely. Just in recent months in the U.S., major gun violence stories in both Minneapolis, Minnesota and Columbus, Ohio: two cities that boast orgs, and Ideal Orgs. Not that any sane person is “blaming” any church or group for these things. We know there are complex factors, and complex history leading up to these tragedies. Here we are examining the non-stop boasts and PROMISES presented by C of S as to WHY you need to take on loans to donate $150,000 or $250,000 toward making an ideal org in your area: it is because this is what is necessary to reverse the dwindling spiral of your state and your community. This is only way to do it. And you can be assured, once you have an ideal org in your area, the rushing in of a sane ‘new civilization’ is guaranteed.

I think those in this blog community know, this is how the ideal org fundraising demand is sold and how (darn them) they get so many often MODEST-earning people to go into massive debt and fork over their cash.

Mark, I agree: Where is the tangible fulfillment of those promises?

I found that the first Chicago org in Evanston was 3 blocks South of Northwestern University, at 1555 Maple Ave. The address from old orgs lists matches the picture in the video, though the building has apparently been renumbered 919 Grove St. and given a somewhat more modern look.

The current org is sort of midway between Evanston and downtown Chicago. It’s in dated old retail space rather similar to their first location, though its big display windows give it the look of originally having been something like a variety or clothing store. It also appears to be rented, not owned by the org.

p.s. My apologies for typos in the original post

Wow, amazing story. And now the man who tried to help him by auditing him, is in the Hole at Int, probably never to escape in this lifetime.

Mat that’s nuts!
And Ray follows his orders anyway fully knowing he is psychotic.
But a lot still listen to him including my X.
Wishing there was an easy way to break the spell.

Skyler23,

Thank you Sir

Glenn