How the Church of Scientology and its leader David Miscavige uses personal information to manipulate and entrap people inside and outside the Church.

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About half of the attendees before we embarked on a Sunday-afternoon boat ride.

We held the 3rd annual Indie Celebration on the 7th and 8th of July, 2012 on the shores of Gull Lake at Cragun's Resort in beautiful, lush Minnesota. I wanted to do a little review for those who could not attend so everyone can share the experience, hear what it was like and possibly attend next year.

The event was organized by Christie Colbrand and Natalie Hagemo.

Cragun’s is located in Brainerd, about 2 hours northwest of Minneapolis for anyone that might have seen the movie Fargo. Green rolling hills full of trees under a beautiful blue sky, Minneapolis is the closet large city, and in case you are wondering what mni means, it is the Dakota word for "water" and there is plenty of that in the land of 10,000 lakes which is actually 5,000 short of the true figure.

Lucky us — David Miscavige did not send any of his brain-fried dolts with cameras on their head. It’s always great to be anywhere they are not.

We had a very special guest who was the center of attention: 3-month-old Jack Rinder, Mike and Christie’s son. Photogenic and well behaved, he was by far the most photographed personage at the event.

About 60 Indie Scientologists where in attendance. Plus journalists from NBC and a local pod caster formerly a news anchor in Minneapolis. I could be wrong, but I believe Dallas had the most attendees of any city (7) and Texas had the most attendees from any state with at least 15. If I missed anyone, or if another location had more, please let me know.

We had our own banquet room and outdoor patio right on the beachfront. Activities included golfing, swimming along Cragun’s mile-long sandy beach, fishing, boating, laughing and telling stories, dining, and karoke. There were plenty of other activities, but mostly people wanted to visit with each other and one thing more: get Marty to autograph copies of his new book, What is Wrong with Scientology. This book, better than any other source, explains from a technical perspective precisely how David Miscavige has altered the subject at every level to corrupt and destroy Scientology's workability. If you haven't read a copy of this book yet, you really should do so. It is a must read for anyone with any connection to the subject.

On Saturday Marty organized a special video conference with the staff of the new Dror Center in Israel, the first mission to leave the Church intact and declare their independence! The history-making conference was filmed by NBC.

Craguns has a karoke bar and attendees sang from 9 pm to 12:30 am on both Saturday and Sunday night.

Temperatures varied from the upper ‘60s to the lower ‘80s — perfect, with no rain. And the lake was the perfect temp for a refreshing dip.

As a private party, attendance was open to anyone who had publicly declared their independence and/or departure from corporate Scientology. Some faces were missed, but overall it helped make it a safe, distraction-free environment that added up to a very relaxed non-PTS atmosphere throughout the party.

On Sunday everyone had breakfast and dinner together and the food was delicious.

What this party was really all about was friendship — something that doesn’t exist in Dave Miscavige’s corporation.

I’m already looking forward to next year’s event. Hope to see you there.

Christie and Jack

Relaxing on our private party patio overlooking the beach

Lana, Natalie, Marty and Mosey

Sleepy time

Free boat rides touring the lake.

Dueling cameras...

Plane prepares for take off.

Exploring nearby Excelsior on Monday

Lake Minnetonka in Excelsior

Mike and Tony by Lake Minnetonka

These photos don't show everyone. There are lots more photos on facebook!

Thoughtful

It has come to my attention that there are still a few Scientologists in Germany who are afraid to attend the meeting because they feel if anyone found out they are a Scientologist, they might lose their job.

The point is not to come out as a "Scientologist" -- The CoS is a suppressive group to say the least and so if you say you are one of them, YES you certainly may be shunned.

But an Independent Scientologist is not the same thing. So that brings up the issue, what IS an Independent Scientologist?

An Independent Scientologist is a Scientologist who PUBLICALLY condemns the criminality and corruption of David Miscavige and his supporters. One has to actually DO something to PUBLICALLY expose the conspiracy within the CoS to ruin lives for the sake of money and power.

If one refuses to do that, then naturally in the publical eye one still retains the color of an enemy. No one is going to trust you and you will be viewed at best as a coward. Why? Because you are condoning the violation of human rights.

To be an Independent Scientologist, you have to stand up against the Church. Sorry, but there is no other way because there IS a condition running. The CoS has blood on their hands.

Independent Scientologists wherever they are, need to throw off this suppression of years and stand up for what is right. All good things will come to you if you do this. I don't like to hear that people are still allowing themselves to be cowed by SPs (the CoS).

The reason Scientologists in Europe (or anywhere) have a hard time is because they refuse to come out against the Church. Thus they are actually condoning criminality and that gives them a bad name.

The CoS is criminal and corrupt. If it is not OUR job as Independent Scientologists to do something about it, then whose job is it?

The tremendous ARC you can see on the Markus Lanz TV show (you can see it on Marty's blog) is the result of someone publically taking a stand as a Scientologist against the Church. Independent Scientologists are accepted by everyone. That's how it goes in America and Europe and anywhere. People who strike a blow against enslavement are universally loved and respected. They become instant VIPs. Everywhere we go Germans open their hearts to us. That is the light every Independent Scientologist must go to. Go into that light. Joy will fill your heart and wash away the despair.

By striking a blow publically to expose the corporate conspiracy inside the Church of Scientology, you will personally move UP a little higher and the 4th dynamic will support you because they WANT people like us around. They see clearly that we are protecting the public and setting a spectacular example of courage, honor, moral fiber and personal integrity.

The concept of the knight who roams freely standing up for freedom and truth is not dead. It is NOT a thing of the past. It is as alive as the heart beating in your chest. Why not be that knight? LRH defined Prime thought as the decision TO BE.

Decide TO BE and feel the life flowing back into your soul.

As Mike Rinder pointed out to me, the LRH handling for a suppressive group is to disband them. It is up to us to cut the head off the fire-breathing dragon.

Well, on the day we disband David Miscavige's mafia-church and his Stasi-like OSA, we can all take back the name of Scientologist. Until then, it is only honorable to be an Independent Scientologist. And that is a title you have to earn. But it is easy and fun and even joyous to do so. Taking action against the Church puts you instantly into a suit of gleaming armor.

Get your knight on.

Thoughtful