

Scientology leader David Miscavige continues to push for new Ideal Org openings around the world, and tells his followers that the new orgs will bring in lots of new public to Scientology. That hasn’t happened, and Miscavige has blamed it on a number of reasons — most recently, that the orgs aren’t staffed up enough. But even that excuse is wearing thin. Our Rod Keller finds that with another Ideal Org on the horizon, Scientology has come up with a new formula that it expects will finally make the new Ideal Orgs boom.

Birmingham Ideal Org will be the next to open, set for this fall. As we previously reported fundraising has long since been finished to renovate the Pittmaston House, a Grade II listed building which protects the historic structure from major changes. The only question remaining is whether the opening will be before or after the IAS Anniversary extravaganza being held at Saint Hill in East Grinstead, England on October 6-8. We’re betting after, since the org is still recruiting staff who will have to fly to the U.S. for training and be back in time for the opening.










At last count the org had 125 staff, and they want to recruit 75 more. That number is ambitious, but we count more than 25 new staff in August, each signing a standard 2.5-year or 5-year contract. Some auditors go to Flag Land Base in Clearwater, Florida for technical training, while staff in administrative positions fly to Los Angeles, where they train with the Sea Org-staffed LA Org. The idea is that in the past Ideal Orgs didn’t meet expectations because they didn’t fully understand L. Ron Hubbard’s organizational policies. Now instead of the usual handful of executive trainees, Birmingham is sending them by the dozens.





[Birmingham trainees in Los Angeles]









[Birmingham staffer doing an internship in LA]

In the past you would expect only executives to go to LA for training. Now staff at the department-head level or lower are also going. Registrars, Volunteer Minister coordinators, Dianetics lecturers and others are doing courses and internships in LA. The cost of opening an Ideal Org is increasing. Money is needed for airplane tickets, housing, and payments to LA Org for training, and it goes up with every recruit. It’s a significant expenditure for the org, or perhaps some of the cost is being picked up by the IAS.







Success stories written by staff and videos predicting that Birmingham will boom are being used to generate donations for more staff training. Rachel Givergidze is the Deputy Executive Director of the Birmingham Day org. She is taking the Executive Training Program, a shortened version of the OEC/FEBC course. In the video she expresses certainty that Birmingham can boom. Unsaid is the assumption that by sending so many staff the org can avoid the bust that has followed the boom in many ideal orgs.







All the signs point to Birmingham opening in the fall. This special edition of Dianetics is a traditional fundraiser for Ideal Orgs. Another sign is that central files are being reorganized. The difference with Birmingham over previous openings is the large increase in staff training in Los Angeles. Time will tell if this is the key to Ideal Org success or not.



— Rod Keller



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Last night from the Scientology Armageddon

Last night, Hurricane Irma was bearing down on Clearwater while in Los Angeles, Leah Remini and Mike Rinder were winning an Emmy for their series, Scientology and the Aftermath. Somehow, that all made sense.

At the Fort Harrison Hotel, of course there were regging materials on the tables where Scientologists were taking shelter.







Meanwhile, in Hollywood…







And make sure you look at Bryan Seymour’s strong editorial about Leah’s win and what people in Australia can do about putting Scientology on notice.



Also, a reminder…







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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 10, 2017 at 07:00

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Our book, 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, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward

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

Other links: 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 | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…

Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield