January 25, 2002

CONTACT:
Linda Simmons Hight
Media Relations Director
Church of Scientology International
6331 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 1200
Los Angeles, CA 90028-6329
Phone (323) 960-3500
Fax (323) 960-3508
E-mail mediarelationsdir@scientology.net

SCIENTOLOGY VOLUNTEER MINISTER USES GROUND ZERO PROCEDURES TO CALM CRIME SCENE

HOLLYWOOD—Following an armed robbery at a drug store at Vermont and Hollywood, Zoe Vineyard put to good use skills she learned as a Scientology Volunteer Minister. She used a simple procedure called an “assist” to help a traumatized clerk recover rapidly from shock after being held at gunpoint. This was the same procedure used at Ground Zero to help fire fighters and other rescue workers recover from exhaustion, shock and pain.

“My daughter and I were standing in line behind a young man,” says Vineyard. “Suddenly he was gone and the cashier was wailing loudly. She ran into the office and tried to explain to her supervisor that she had been robbed at gun point. She was hysterical.

“I followed her into the office and proceeded to give her an ’assist’, which simply directs the attention of the person out of the traumatic experience and back into their present environment.

“The clerk was shaking and crying uncontrollably when I started. She could barely speak and could not stand. Then we started the assist and within 20 minutes she was back in control of herself and able to speak calmly to the police when they arrived.”

David Ng, the store manager, said, “She [the store employee] was crying and screaming and I didn’t know what to do, and the Scientologist just came in and did a wonderful job of calming her down [with the assist]. Once the employee was calmed down, the whole area calmed down. She was able to talk to the police. She’s a valuable employee and has been with the company for a long time. She was able to go back on the job the next day.”

Rev. Jeanie Ibert, executive director of Church of Scientology Los Angeles located at Sunset and L. Ron Hubbard Way, just a few blocks from the crime scene, said, “I was relieved to know that one of our Volunteer Ministers was on hand to help a neighbor at a dangerous and traumatic moment. Since September 11, when 800 of our Volunteer Ministers assisted rescue workers at Ground Zero, we have seen that the need for help is all around us, right in our own back yard.”

The Volunteer Minister training program prepares enrollees to help friends, families and their communities with the challenges of daily life. Volunteer Ministers can help with problems involving substance abuse, marital discord, parenting, job loss. “Any condition in a person’s life can be improved if the right action is taken, and the Volunteer Minister is trained to help a person help himself to improve any situation,” said Rev. Ibert.

The Church of Scientology has launched a nationwide campaign to make the services of Volunteer Ministers easily available to anyone who wants help. In the past 30 days, more than 1,100 billboards with the Volunteer Minister credo, “Something CAN be done about it”, and the 1-800-HELP-4-YU hotline number have gone up in New York City, Cincinnati, San Jose, San Diego and throughout Orange County and Los Angeles, including in Hollywood. When the 24-hour hotline receives a call for help, a Volunteer Minister is contacted who in turn contacts the caller. They then meet and proceed to go to work on whatever situation the person is facing and wants help with.

“Helping in times of need has always been the role of religion,” says Church of Scientology International Vice President Janet Weiland. “Since September 11, this role has become more vital and nearly 6,000 individuals have started the Volunteer Minister training program, and 1,000 have completed so far. They are now out in their communities working with veteran Volunteer Ministers offering practical help to those in need.”

The Scientology Volunteer Minister program was developed in 1976 by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Scientology religion, to enable people from all walks of life to provide practical assistance to help people deal with problems they encounter in their lives.

More information on the Volunteer Minister program is available at www.volunteerministers.org. Assistance from a Volunteer Minister may be requested by calling 1-800-HELP-4-YU.