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Scientology Fair Gamed the Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children
Discussion in 'Education, Research and Inside Reports' started by DeathHamster, Oct 26, 2008.
DeathHamster Member
Operation Bunny Bust January 9, 1980, Charles Stafford, Scientology: An in-depth profile of a new force in Clearwater, St. Petersburg Times
This is an old media article, but part of a huge Pulitzer Prize-winning set of stories about the Scilon invasion of Clearwater.
This one covers their Fair Game and Black Propaganda against the Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children of Pinellas County solely as part of Operation Bunny Bust "to get Bette Orsini removed from a position of power and attack at The St. Petersburg Times."
tl;dr, but there's lots of good stuff in there about spies, burglaries of government and lawyer officers, Ben Shaw.
[..] On Feb. 4, the church did threaten Mrs. Orsini and The Times with a libel suit. The Times retaliated eight days later by filing suit to enjoin the church from harassing Mrs. Orsini and other Times' reporters.
The suit never came to trial. Early in 1977, Editor and President Eugene Patterson announced The Times was withdrawing the lawsuit.
"WE MADE NO DEALS with the Scientologists whatsoever," Patterson said. "There was no settlement. We simply instructed our attorneys to file a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice, rather than risk bringing harm to a completely innocent organization that might have lacked the means to defend itself against the Scientologists."
It can now be told that the organization was the Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults of Pinellas County Inc.
On July 15,1976, Dick Weigand informed Morris (Mo) Budlong, deputy guardian for information worldwide, that information had been collected on Mrs. Orsini.
"Preliminary investigation into her husband Andrew Orsini who is the head of Easter Seal of Pinellas County uncovered that the group had their corporation dissolved by the Florida Secretary of State in 1972-1973 for not filing an annual report. A project has been drawn up and is now being implemented to show Easter Seal Society that Orsini (the executive secretary) has been operating as a fraud and has broken laws. This data is intended for a PR (public relations) attack."
THE OPERATION BEGAN that November when an anonymous letter was mailed to various newspapers in Florida and to the St. Petersburg Consumer Affairs Department, the St. Petersburg Charitable Solicitations Board and the state attorney's office. The letter purported to be from a wealthy businessman.
It began: "I have, for many years, supported worthwhile charitable causes which benefit the handicapped, mentally retarded and the needy. Not just for personal reasons guaranteed me under law for tax purposes but because I always cared about the less fortunate than myself, both financially and physically. I have in the past donated large amounts of money to one such organization which, until recently, I thought was a worthwhile group."
Recently, this "businessman" said, he had been informed by his attorney that his contributions to the Easter Seal Society might not be tax deductible. He said he had begun "an exhaustive independent probe" that found criminal misconduct in the financial and administrative affairs of the Easter Seal Society. The letter called for the issuance of an arrest warrant for Executive Director Orsini and his prosecution. It was accompanied by copies of documents from the Florida secretary of state's office.
The Times assigned reporter Chris Cubbison to investigate the allegations. He found them false. The charges were constructed around an administrative mistake. The state had sent the Easter Seal Society's franchise tax form to the wrong address, the tax was not paid, the corporate charter was revoked as forfeited, and the society was dissolved by proclamation. The error had been remedied by payment of the fee long before the Scientologists moved into Clearwater.
BETTE ORSINI WAS assigned to trace the source of the letter. She found that someone had purchased copies of the secretary of state's complete file on the Easter Seal Society on July 12-13,1976. She traced the money order used for payment to Ben A. Shaw, and found that he had represented himself to the Division of Licensing in Miami as a reporter for a University of Florida newspaper. Shaw was, in fact, administrative assistant to the president of the Church of Scientology of Florida.
He was subpoenaed and a deposition was taken. Shaw denied he had written the anonymous letter and claimed he knew nothing about it. He gave as his reason for spending $52 of Scientology funds to copy the entire Easter Seal Society file that it somehow pertained to an investigation of Pinellas County State Attorney James Russell's connection with the society. However, he could not explain anything he had done or planned to do with the information. He said he had given copies to one other person who he refused to name.
In a file memorandum, John M. Bray, a Washington attorney representing The Times, related the attack on the Easter Seal Society to Scientology policies of founder L. Ron Hubbard. He said:
"The technique of using anonymous or covert methods to destroy an enemy's reputation is a Hubbard tactic called 'Black Propaganda.' Instruction in the use of this technique is contained in a set of books used by all Scientology organizations... This policy directive states that 'the most involved employment of PR (public relations)is its covert use in destroying the repute of individuals and groups. More correctly, this is technically called BLACK PROPAGANDA. Basically, it is an intelligence technique.' He cautions that 'it can be a serious error to cross intelligence and PR.' 'Noisy Investigations' are described as follows...: "When we investigate we do so noisily always. And usually mere investigation damps out the trouble even when we discover no really pertinent facts. . . Remember, intelligence we get with a whisper. Investigation we do with a yell. Always...'
"Finally, there is the following blunt description of the technique: 'The technique is: A hidden source injects lies and derogatory data into public view.' "
REPORTER ORSINI traced other documents obtained in Tallahassee to R. Wanda Martin who lived in an apartment at 704Va Oak Avenue in Clearwater. A divorcee, she was a former Navy Department employee who had moved to Clearwater in late 75 or early 76 and taken a job with the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce. She gave as a reference Hubbert Alan of Hollywood, Calif., who was found to be a minister of Scientology. Her roommate in Clearwater was June Phillips (also known as June Byrne) from England, who was employed by the Clearwater Sun.
In April 1977, Mary Sue Hubbard, wife of Scientology's founder and commodore staff guardian, wrote Weigand: "Please explain what the scene is - was the same person used in the Easter Seal scene used at the CW Sun and also used in the AMA (American Medical Association)? What are the liabilities here?"
On May 12, Weigand replied: "Basically the scene is that we had two agents one in the CW Sun and one in the CW Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce agent was used in the Easter Seals operation, not the CW Sun agent but the clincher is that both of these agents were in the AMA and had previously been blown." He said the liabilities of the situation were that agents Martin and Phillips could be traced back to Mike Meisner in Washington.
Meisner, the supervisor of "Silver" and other church agents who had infiltrated government agencies in Washington, was then being sought by the FBI on a fugitive warrant.
WEIGAND EXPLAINED to Mrs. Hubbard that June Phillips had been placed at the American Medical Association offices in Washington in 1974, where she stole AMA documents relating to Scientology, but was pulled out in 1975 when her connection with the church became known. She was sent to Clearwater were she worked as a church agent at the Sun. Wanda Martin, or Jodie, was also placed at AMA but transferred to Clearwater after her connection with the church became known.
Weigand said the situation was alarming. "The chain does lead to Orsini uncovering a Church operative network that could be used as a handle for a Grand Jury investigation of the Church activities which would include the Meisner/Silver scene."
Before Bette Orsini could connect the Bunny Bust operatives to a church espionage network, however, Meisner surrendered to the FBI. Information he supplied led to raids on church offices in which documents were seized that led to indictment of 11 Scientologists, including Mary Sue Hubbard.
Naturally the Scilons will respond with an operatic performance on how this was done by the rogue elements of the Guardian Office, [STRIKE]they've never done that[/STRIKE] they don't do that any more, and Davie Miscavige personally dispatched all of these evil-doers just like Batman.
Too bad that when the heat died down, he re-issued the Guardian Office orders as OSA Network Orders, and found jobs for all of the ex-GO spies and burglars. If they don't do it any more, they don't do it any less--except for the falling number of members available to do the dirty jobs.
P.S. in addendum to their story, the FBI raids also resulted in seven members in Canada being convicted of operations against organizations including the Ontario Provincial Police, the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and two convictions of criminal Breach of the Public Trust against the church itself, for infiltration of the offices of the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.
DeathHamster, Oct 26, 2008
basil Member
Re: Scientology Fair Gamed the Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children
A society for disabled kids... way to go scientology, why not pick an easier target next time?
basil, Oct 26, 2008
indeedindeed Member
seems that more than half of the OSA Network Orders are censored somehow, e.g. here (####):
OSA Network Order 32
indeedindeed, Oct 26, 2008
Anonynamefag Member
God damn... could $cientology possibly sink any lower?
Anonynamefag, Oct 26, 2008
me57 Member
scientology is the lowest of lows
me57, Oct 26, 2008
A.Non Hubbard Member
In all fairness, those kids are just dramatizing an engram.
A.Non Hubbard, Oct 26, 2008
indeedindeed;596596 said:
CoS sent legal thugs after the site and mirrors, so the actual orders were taken down. (Probably Fair Use, but it would have be expensive and risky to fight it back in the days when CoS wanted critic heads on pikes as Copyright Terrorists.)
There should be less edited copies floating around or in the leak packs. Apparently a number of them were posted to ARS in Sept 1997. I'll bet that something has happened to Google's archived copies, but luckily a lot of paranoid people have been keeping their own archives.
Anonyymous77 Member
old info sure, but nonetheless informative. i mean really, cant the scilons leave ANYONE alone? thats just cruel to fair game an organization for crippled kids. *smacks miscavige across the face*
Anonyymous77, Oct 26, 2008
Anonyymous77;597202 said:
Heh. This is old old info. In 1976, Davie was still a Commodore's Messenger, learning his lessons at Hubbard knee.
The fatard himself was in Clearwater giving the orders and calling the shots, and wouldn't go into hiding for another 4 years.
Thom Member
Sometimes you have to start with old info, thats what got me off my ass. Its also easier to find in places they cant regulate as well like used book shops. Old news also is there for people who want out if they can get at it.
If they see something that they relate to like Magoo or Cooper its going back to a time they might not of been so brainwashed.
Thom, Oct 29, 2008
moxie Member
I just read that a couple days ago. The pdf file has a great period-piece cover. Psychedelic (sp?)
The lesson in that award winning journalism is that Florida has really suffered from the most appalling crap from scientology... from a mayor getting set up and run out of office to the covert take over of Clearwater. And, yes, the fair gaming of a bona fide charity for disabled kids. Obviously they are capable of anything.
Scientologists are psychotic and paranoid, cunning and ruthless. They will bulldoze anything in their path to clearing the world for Davey and fascism. And replace it with the kind of world that does all those things they have always done. And more.
Clearwater is as close to Hubbard's Belgravia fantasy as they got. So far. Creepy town. They would like lots more just like it.
moxie, Oct 29, 2008
Etain Member
Okay, that is just plain sick and dirty.
Even if it's an old article, it shows how little the COS has changed in the years since then. That is to say, NOT AT ALL.
Etain, Oct 30, 2008
moxie;601693 said:
This is sadly closer to true than not. All of what you said. I have watched 2 generations of people from Fla. lose friends family and neighbors, all in Clearwater. It wasnt always creepy. Whats creeping me out is that those 2 generations are now losing thier kids to these criminals. The families moved away but that group found their children. It may look easy to victimise crippled kids, its sick and low. Think how hard it was for them to sink their claws into 20somethings that knew all about them. They did it. Theyre doing it. It doesnt stop in Fla., they find you. You know this. Can they sink lower? Yeh. Going after charities is a walk in the park compared to managing to brainwash an escapees adult kid.
Im not just talking one person. They got 2 more people while were raiding and thats just what I heard about this last 2 weeks. Im OT, I think. I'm finally not lurking but I dont know all the rules. It makes me wish some of the oldest guard were still alive, tho. I know at least 2 that would be doing wheelies in their chairs to see Anons in action.
AlabamaAnon Member
Oh, you have got to be FUCKING KIDDING ME! Seriously Sci? Crippled kids? What's next? Holocaust survivors?
AlabamaAnon, Nov 19, 2008
skidmark Member
I remember that these allegations lasted well into the 90s - it's like even though it was proven fake, the doubts never faded away. The Easter Seal in question also helped the elderly and disabled community. I used to go with my grandfather as a little girl to his physical therapy sessions. I remember he was always staunchly protective of the Easter Seals and I never understood why. Now I do!
skidmark, Nov 19, 2008
AlabamaAnon;615522 said:
They're working on it.
Scientology's "Holocaust" February 25, 1997, David Hudson, Salon
U.S. tries to have it both ways in Scientology battle January 30, 1997, Jack R. Payton, St. Petersburg Times
DeathHamster, Nov 19, 2008
AlabamaAnon said: ↑
And who would have predicted that Holocaust survivors would give Tom Cruise a medal? Wottaworld!
DeathHamster, May 18, 2011
Anonymous Member
Brilliant story. Should be written up and emailed to every media contact you have.
Anonymous, May 18, 2011
amaX Member
Bette Orsini was another fearless reporter who went after the cult of Scientology. Sadly, she passed away this year.
http://www.cremation-america.com/obituary.aspx?MemberId=87556&MName=Bette Orsini
Bette S. Orsini
12/2/1925 - 3/26/2011
Bette Swenson Orsini, 85, of St. Petersburg passed away peacefully in her home March 26, 2011. Born in St Petersburg, FL on December 2, 1925, she worked as an Investigative Reporter for the St Petersburg Times for 38 years. Bette was predeceased by her loving son Andrew "Punky" and her beloved husband Andrew A. Orsini. Survivors include her daughter Candi Orsini, her son William Orsini, and her two brothers, Bill Swenson (Flip) of Charlotte, NC and Ole Swenson (Sara) of Fernandina Beach, FL.
Funeral services will be 1 PM Monday, April 4, 2011 in the Goodwin Chapel of Pasadena Community Church, 227 70th Street South. The family will receive friends at the church from noon until service time.
Burial will follow in Royal Palm Cemetery South.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the scholarship programs for young journalists at the Poynter Institute.
David C. Gross Funeral Homes, Central Avenue Chapel, St. Petersburg, is serving the family.
amaX, May 18, 2011
LocalSP Member
"The technique of using anonymous or covert methods to destroy an enemy's reputation is a Hubbard tactic called 'Black Propaganda.'
Did anyone else get a chuckle from the irony here?
LocalSP, May 18, 2011
Triumph Member
Pulitzer-winning former St. Petersburg Times reporter Bette Orsini dies at 85
http://www.tampabay.com/news/obitua...g-times-reporter-bette-orsini-dies-at/1160199
Bette Orsin passed away a few months ago
the mention bunny bust here
The stories by Mrs. Orsini and colleague Charles Stafford landed the Times atop the church's list of "enemies" whose ranks needed to be infiltrated, according to a 1976 church memo marked secret. The church also instigated litigation against her and tried to smear her husband's reputation.
An FBI seizure of more than 48,000 documents in 1977 turned up other church documents on how to treat its "attackers," including a 1966 memo from Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard to regard critics as "simply an anti-Scientology agency so far as we are concerned.
"Make it rough, rough on attackers all the way," the memo advises.
With Mrs. Orsini as the prime source of stories about Scientology's financial and social structure, the church tried repeatedly to get her fired. Around the same time, an anonymous letter accused her husband, Andrew, of tax malfeasance in his role as head of the Pinellas County Easter Seals Foundation. The late payment, the result of a wrong billing address, was soon paid.
A group calling itself the Guardians of Scientology called their plan to "restrain Orsini" Operation Bunny Bust.
"When she got on the story, she could not be shaken off of it by pressure or complaint or difficulty," said Eugene Patterson, former editor of the Times. "She stayed with it. Of course, Scientology tested her to the max."
Her family felt the strain.
"It was definitely a difficult set of circumstances," said Candi Orsini, her daughter. "The closeness of the family and the strength of the family got us through those times."
Triumph, May 18, 2011
Triumph said: ↑
Can't pay that back, so .. just gotta pay it forward.
Can't pay that kind of debt back, so .. just gotta keep paying it forward.