IAS Event and London Grand Opening

What a weekend in the UK! Not only was the IAS event held at Saint Hill, but the next day there were incredible seminars, Sunday was the Grand Opening of the Church of Scientology of London and today is the Charity Concert.

Anyone who went sure got their money's worth!

Here's a little news on the Grand Opening, that I got from religion4life blog.

David Miscavige Drives the Message Home about Scientology

"We are about to drive home the message 'This is Scientology ' like you have never seen," said David Miscavige , chairman of the Church of Scientology (sic.) [David Miscavige is actually the Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center.]

So reports Robert Booth on Saturday in the Sunday Times - a story that got picked up internationally.

And Sunday's grand opening was everything Mr. Miscavige promised.

The Scientology Press Office announces the news as follows:

With thousands of Scientologists, local residents and officials in attendance, the new Church of Scientology of London opened its doors.

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."

Thorsten Overgaard

I ran across this page of Thorsten Overgaard's web site yesterday and found his entire site on the Scientologists who went to South Asia After the Tsunami

It's a beautiful site -- a recommend a visit.

"Freewinds" Adds a Special and For Free

I found this story on the web site of the St. Lucia Mirror:

People paused while looking over the line up of performers for the 2006 St. Lucia Jazz Festival.

Of course, there were the superstars like Al Green and Seal, with the younger ones such as Ciara and Rihanna making their mark on the music scene. Then there was one unusual act, the Freewinds Band.

There were whispers and questions. “Is that the band from the ship, The Freewinds?” many asked. Some wondered what the producers of the festival were thinking. A cruise ship band on the main stage for the Jazz Festival? Would they entertain the crowd with Karaoke-like songs and come dressed in the usual tropical getup of Hawaiian shirts and Bermuda shorts while singing ‘Feeling hot, hot, hot’?

Instead, the band came on stage after Rihanna did her thing and instantly ended all speculation and questions about their position in the Festival. With multi platinum recording artist John Novello leading the group, the Freewinds band had the crowd moving from the start. Two female vocalists including Dominican Michele Henderson added to the great performance of the ensemble. So, no, these guys were not at all a karaoke sounding cruise ship band. Not only did the Freewinds band add something special to Saturday mainstage, but also they did it all for free. Yes, unlike other performers, the band was not paid for participating in the show.

Ludwig Alpers, the Port Captain of the Freewinds, spoke to the MIRROR earlier this week to explain why. The Freewinds, which is described as not the smallest cruise ship but the biggest yacht, has been sailing to St. Lucia since 1988. Alpers explained that the crew was committed from the beginning to not only be involved economically with St. Lucia , but to also contribute something to the community, charities and culture.

“Last year, we were here for the festival and the Chamber of Commerce took a gamble on us and allowed us to perform during Jazz on the Square. We had a great performance last year and this year the festival was part of the ship’s itinerary so we contacted the Tourist board so we could put something together for the mainstage. We really wanted to contribute to the festival,” explained Alpers.

The band performs over 200 concerts a year and invites artists from all over the world to join for months at a time. Most performances are done on board but many times the band takes part in shows in countries where the ship docks. Novello, who played on the ship during the Christmas season, headlined the band for Jazz.

“We wanted to contribute to the 15th anniversary of the St. Lucia Jazz festival and we really wanted to say thank you to the St. Lucian people. So we said let’s do it complimentary and we put a lot of time and work into it. We also brought in Michele ( Henderson ) who performs with the band about three months out of the year. We really felt honoured to be part of the festival,” said Alpers.

The band has performed in many festivals around the region but feels that St. Lucia Jazz is the best one, especially because of its longevity and diverse locations.

Barbados

Jamaica

The Freewinds occasionally visits Jamaica too.

Just another island paradise.

Okay everyone in Buffalo. Don't you wish you were here this weekend?

Martinique

Quite a far cry from Buffalo, eh?

Bonaire

Imagine looking out your porthole to see this in the morning!

Bonaire is a frequent stop for the Freewinds.

Bonaire

Bonaire is anothere paradise of an island, part of the Netherland Antilles, which is one of the regular ports for the Freewinds.

Is this chilled out or what?

I just ran across this picture in Google Images.

It looks like a postage stamp with a picture of the Freewinds.

Anyone know what this is about?

Aruba

Friends of mine told me how they went scuba diving off the coast of Aruba the last time they went to the Freewinds.

Imagine, having the best Scientology training in the world, in an idylic environment, and being able to go scuba diving too!

(Plus the food is the best!)

Description of the Freewinds

Scientology Today (the Scientology News Site) has a very good description of the Freewinds.

"A |unique Church of Scientology is the Flag Ship Service Organization — located aboard the Motor Vessel Freewinds, a 440-foot ship based in the Caribbean. The ship was acquired in the mid-1980s shortly before the release of the highest advanced auditing level now available. Needing a safe, aesthetic, distraction-free environment appropriate for ministration of this level of auditing, it was decided to return to the sea, far from the crossroads of the workaday world.unique Church of Scientology is the Flag Ship Service Organization — located aboard the Motor Vessel Freewinds, a 440-foot ship based in the Caribbean. The ship was acquired in the mid-1980s shortly before the release of the highest advanced auditing level now available. Needing a safe, aesthetic, distraction-free environment appropriate for ministration of this level of auditing, it was decided to return to the sea, far from the crossroads of the workaday world."

But you have to experience the Freewinds to really understand it.

It is by far the friendliest, safest place I've ever been too.

I always look forward to my visits to the ship with great anticipation, and come home with my "spiritual batteries" completely recharched.