PRESS RELEASES
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA •
Scientology auditing—spiritual counseling—inspired Scientologist Karla Bartholomew to venture into the art world as a professional.
One of Scientologist Karla Bartholomew’s earliest memories is of a painting of the Grand Canyon by American artist, Thomas Moran. The painting, which hung in her grandmother’s home, has continued to inspire her work as an artist to this day.
I painted and drew for years, but it was only recently that I started displaying my work and considered painting as a career,” she says.
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA •
Scientologist Graham Payne, a New Zealand-born business consultant living in Florida, found in Scientology the answers he was looking for.
Scientologist Graham Payne is a firm believer in the power of intention.
Just one example was a decision he made some 17 years ago.
“I was living in Chicago at the time,” says Payne. “Although my life was going fine, I sensed something was missing. I thought to myself, ‘I just want to be in love again.’”
GREATER CINCINNATI •
The Church of Scientology Greater Cincinnati celebrated the opening of its expansive new home Saturday, February 25. The inauguration was attended by more than a thousand Scientologists and state, county and city officials.
PARIS, FRANCE •
With the weatherman finally announcing a break in record low temperatures, ”No to Drugs, Yes to Life” Association volunteers from the Church of Scientology of Paris braved the weather Sunday—still unseasonably cold—to distribute more than 2,000 drug education and prevention booklets in the 17th arrondissement.
According to the Inter-departmental Mission for the Fight Against Drugs and Drug Addiction, more than 5 million people in France have experimented with cannabis, 1.2 million use the drug on a regular basis and more than 500,000 are addicted.
HARLEM, NEW YORK •
Verlene Cheeseboro, Director of Public Affairs of the Church of Scientology Harlem, is now the first Scientology minister ordained at the Church of Scientology of Harlem. Executive Director of the Harlem Church, Rev. Phyllis Mack, conducted the ceremony.
REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA •
A drug education seminar was held for a team of Christian ministers at the Evangelical Christian Church on the Hill in Redlands, California, February 21. Rev. Edith Reuveni, President of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles, trained the ministers to conduct The Truth About Drugs drug education lessons to help young people in Riverside County and abroad live drug-free.
MADRID, SPAIN •
Venezuelan actress, model and businesswoman Ruddy Rodriguez was guest speaker at the Church of Scientology of Spain in Madrid. The subject of her presentation: The Way to Happiness, an entirely nonreligious, common-sense moral code that can be followed by anyone of any race, culture or creed.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM •
Religious leaders, community officials, representatives of nongovernment organizations and scholars joined Scientologists from throughout Europe to celebrate the second anniversary of the dedication and opening of Churches of Scientology for Europe in Brussels, Belgium.
This unique Scientology Church caters to the spiritual needs of Scientologists throughout Belgium and makes its humanitarian campaigns available to representatives of the 27 member states of the European Union and embassy and consulate staff from 200 nations.
SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA •
Scientology helps Lea Wilson accomplish her goals in life.
Growing up, Lea Wilson knew what she wanted. And that’s exactly what she got. But life wasn’t always as straightforward or satisfying as it is today.
“What was really important to me was getting married and raising a family, but my attempts to find the right guy weren’t working,” says Wilson.
She had just ended a terrible relationship when her brother called her one day and asked how it was going.
“I burst into tears. It was horrible,” she says.
TAIWAN •
For Mei-Hui Huang of Ji’an Township, Taiwan, Dianetics and Scientology opened new vistas and improved the quality of her life. Her video is one of more than 200 “Meet a Scientologist” videos available on the Scientology website at www.Scientology.org.
UNITED STATES •
The secret behind Scientologist Todd Wilson’s smile.
Scientologist Todd Wilson never learned that life has to be serious. Maybe that’s why he always has such a good time.
“What I look forward to most in life is playing,” he says.
In fact, for Wilson, 47, there is hardly anything in his life that he doesn’t enjoy. He loves his wife, his three children, sports, volunteering and work.
COLORADO •
Through Scientology, what was once a liability to Colleen May has proved to be one of her greatest assets.
Colleen May has never been satisfied with a pat answer. She remembers trying the patience of teachers and other grown-ups who demanded she take their word for things. She always insisted on knowing more.
So it came as a surprise to her, when introduced to Scientology by her fiancé Shawn in 2003, to discover that no one objected to her “attitude.”
PASADENA •
The City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Commission for Human Relations presented the “Models of Unity” award to Scientologist Tim Bowles and Youth for Human Rights International in council chambers January 30, “In recognition of a group that fosters collaboration in the areas of programs and resources while connecting individuals among the diverse community of Pasadena.”
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA •
Scientologist Meghan Panek proves the point that good things come in small packages.
Meghan Panek is a 4-foot-9-inch ball of energy whose favorite activity is—work.
HARLEM, NEW YORK •
Having found the answers she was looking for, Scientologist Phyllis Hargrow now helps others sort out their own lives.
Before finding Scientology, Phyllis Hargrow knew exactly what the problem was—it was the other guy. How things have changed.
FLORIDA •
Scientologist, singer and songwriter Dustin McGahee uses music to teach human rights.
Dustin McGahee, 21, combines a love of music with a passion for human rights. A singer and songwriter, McGahee uses his music to educate youth on the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the little-known document adopted by the United Nations in 1948.
“At 18, I began to realize there was more to life than just me, my friends, my family—I was living in a ‘bubble’,” says McGahee.
TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA •
For the past 10 years, Scientologist Judy Fagerman has been coordinating the Scientology Volunteer Ministers of Tampa Bay, Florida. This is her story.
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA •
Scientologist Monroe Kleiderman has been using Scientology to help others for more than three decades.
Traditional values and a strong sense of duty set the direction of Monroe Kleiderman’s life.
“I grew up in New York watching John Wayne take on the bad guys on TV,” he says. “It was important to me to help my country. From a young age, people were my priority. I wanted to take responsibility for others.”
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA •
California’s capital celebrated the grand opening of the new Church of Scientology of Sacramento on Saturday, January 28. The dedication ceremony was attended by more than 2,500 Scientologists, guests and city, state and national officials.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE •
The Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre Nashville opens its new industry seminar series this weekend, with Tony Harnell presenting an inside look into lasting success in entertainment. The seminar will take place January 28 at the Church—1130 8th Avenue South.