Thos psuedo Naval duds can’t hold a candle to a real Pope’s vestments. Popes always look fabulous!

Don’t give them any ideas. If Sherman ever read Gilbert lyrics, he might learn something about English.

Thanks for the info Mabu. 🙂

I agree Sheldon.

How did Trey Lotz get the processes for “supper power”? (local cuisine?) OT10 and above ….interesting. OK, I’m having some fun here, but you know, I say … go for it Helmut. This stuff might be better than the current OT levels ….. or it might not be. Marketplace of ideas and all that.

What Sheldon said.

So Mike, do you still have permission to read the text of Scientology.org or has this been revoked?

My understanding is that the group in Ann Arbor was a mission of Detroit that was stat pushed to become an “Org” when such things meant LRH Birthday Game points. This “Org” was physically in a rented house and moved into quarters downtown that they could not afford. Unpaid bills stacked up and the few staff that did exist ( Judy Bulduc, Donna Rybacki and a few others ) all blew. The “Org” was later moved to a location on the west side of Ann Arbor to reduce financial stress. A cycle occurred where the weekly financial planning would be done normally for many weeks until the rent got far enough behind that the landlord would send an eviction notice. Then the regulars would be squeezed, the org income spent completely on the rent, rinse, repeat. The situation was better than downtown but still bad. Bills greater than Income and constant unreal orders to an “Org” of maybe 5 staff.

An analysis was performed using BIC Building Inspection Checklist. Past income was calculated and multiplied by 15% to get the maximum rent that should be paid. In addition an analysis of the current regulars and where they lived was performed. Well over 80% of the public were from outside Ann Arbor. Some would drive hours from Ft. Wayne or northern Michigan. A search started with every option in Ann Arbor being at least double the amount that should be spent. A site in one of my favorite towns to say and spell – Ypsilanti (which is just east of Ann Arbor) was identified but the BIC was not approved and the financial flaps continued.

Mike Clark of Mannetron fame ( http://mannetron.com/about-us/ ) is from Battle Creek and was one of the ones routinely being leaned on to save the day. My understanding is that he identified a low cost building for the “org” that should/could be renovated and grown into. This was before the Ideal Org program really hit. Nearly all the remaining staff were from the western side of the state and after more and more late nights to just pay rent I’m sure it began to sound good. I believe the current lease at the time was also ending and there was no chance of renewal due to continual late payment. So they had to go somewhere.

I’m not sure how much of the building and renos Mike has paid for but i’m sure it is significant. But of course rather than just getting it ready to be used and using it it is being made “Ideal” at great expense and sits unfinished.

Battle Creek is even farther away from Management in New York City and I can’t help but feel this was a factor.

Of course there should be something in Grand Rapids, which is the second largest metro in Michigan, but that would be thinking in futures and way too strategically.

I’ve pulled some goodies from a Policy Letter I don’t see quoted enough when discussing Ideal Org Buildings:

HCO POLICY LETTER OF 23 SEPTEMBER 1970
QUARTERS, POLICY REGARDING HISTORICAL

…
A. VIABILITY of the org (its economic survival including its security from political enemy motivated attack) is the first and foremost consideration. In terms of quarters an org can afford just so much expense. Therefore Viability is the first consideration-not how posh or what repute or what image. Thus we have the policy that THE FIRST CONSIDERATION IN PROCURING QUARTERS IS THE VIABILITY OF THE ORG.
…
CONCLUSION: Viability of economics must not exceed the income of the org. The SAFE figure for rent and mortgage payments must not exceed 15% to 17% of the gross income of the org.

B. Quarters must be close to ample and cheap student and pc housing, restaurants and transport.
…
CONCLUSION: The presence of ample cheap housing and restaurants and general and local transport is a main factor in the viability of an org.

C. Image is a secondary consideration.
…
CONCLUSION: One does all he can by staff work to improve the image. If image is the reason why one must move from an area where the org was viable or had student housing, forget it. Polish up what you have already. Image is gratifying. If A and B exist, one can think about image. Image of the outer building does not much affect A and B. Cleanliness and order of what you have is the image to concentrate upon. Staff pay and food and cheap student housing do more for an org than a posh building.

D. DON’T SELL IN ORDER TO RENT IF YOU’RE VIABLE
…
CONCLUSION: Purchase is superior to renting unless political viability is very bad. And when an org owns quarters and is viable it is not clever to sell and rent.

E. Expensive office equipment is not a first priority.
…
CONCLUSION: Enough desks and chairs and furnishings is far superior to top grade office furniture. Reserves tied up in furniture are never recoverable. Furniture quality does not influence production. Furniture lack does reduce production.

F. Renovations are destructive if extensive.
…
CONCLUSION: Don’t renovate at vast expense. Use and make it better as you can with your own people.

G. Other businesses or rentals to support an org wind up very costly.
…
CONCLUSION: Schemes to use other than Scientology actions or partial rentals, etc can be a bad nuisance. Scientology supports Scientology orgs and we learn this over and over.

H. Depending on political viability it is better to buy than rent.
…
CONCLUSION: In politically troubled areas use a downstat hotel and promise student room rentals. One can move in hours. Or one can stay.

I. Where possible, don’t split up units of the same org unless you have to.
…
CONCLUSION: The functioning public line units (Aced, HGC) should not be in separate buildings from the org.

However working units such as Mimeo or even Div 2, except the Body Reg. have sometimes been separate from an org and no trouble was experienced. Housing and food for a staff can of course be separate and should be.

SUMMARY

The above are the major policies relating to obtaining and situating quarters. A and B are much more important than the remainder. An org which adventures more than 15% of its current gross income for rent or purchase payments can get into far more serious trouble than an org with a poor building image. Hopeful thinking contrary to these policies, especially A and B. can smash an org.

The switch of address alone can cost an org a great deal unless loudly remedied.
One maxim is, if you have a going concern with enough income and pay, don’t monkey with it until you can realize a total purchase price with A and B in mind.

Sarge was a good friend back in the day, and ran a first rate mission before it was stolen from him in the Great Mission Debacle which, to me, truly signaled the beginning of the end for the czerch. It’s taken a long while and Misconceived seems to be eagerly pushing the envelope of its destruction. Patience, dear friends.

Sheldon, you are right — Mike’s blog took over just in time. The infighting that was going on got pretty disgusting, and seemed made-to-order by Miscavige. It was and is great to be able to come to this place where people seem mostly to concentrate on what we can agree on. Mike brings a friendly, courteous, and welcoming presence, while still running a pretty tight ship. Thanks, Mike!