European Coordination Center of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers formed in Brussels to coordinate the activities of more than 2,000 volunteers and to advocate volunteerism in the capital of Europe
Brussels, 13 May 2004
The formation of the European Coordination Centre of the Scientology
Volunteer Ministers (ECCVM) has been announced at a special presentation event
in Brussels with the participation of prominent speakers and delegates of the
Volunteer Ministers Programme from different European countries.
The new Center is located in Brussels and will coordinate the intervention of
the 2,427 trained European Volunteer Ministers in case of major disaster or
catastrophe through a network that span through the European countries. ECCVM
has the additional function to promote the critical role of voluntary service as
a key factor to developing strong communities and to encourage an active
participation to the improvement of social problems. Volunteerism is based on
and promotes solidarity, human development and true help, which is what
motivates the thousand of Scientology Volunteer Ministers throughout the world.
Guest speaker of the event was Lieutenant John McCole, of the New York Fire
Department (NYFD). McCole was on duty on September 11 and was one of the first
firefighter to arrive at Ground Zero right after the terrorist attack at the
Twin Tower. Lieutenant McCole has worked shoulder to shoulder with the Volunteer
Ministers during those dramatic days and he has then written a book, “The
Second Tower’s Down”, which is a detailed account of what really happened at
Ground Zero and how the Volunteer Ministers played a key role in the safety of
the rescuers.
Dr. Umberto Ciancetta, Director of the Civil Protection of the Turin
Province, assisted the presentation of the award to Procivicos, witnessing the
commitment and the value of its volunteers shown in many occasions. In
particular he when mentioned two undetonated bombs — remnants of World War II
— were found at a new ice rink excavation site in Turin. The city called upon
the Church’s Volunteer Ministers in Turin to organize the rapid evacuation of
thousands of civilians while helping to maintain calm. A team of ten Volunteer
Ministers swung into action, organizing five different civil associations to aid
with the evacuation, allowing the army to safely dismantle the bombs.
Afterwards, the mayor expressed his sentiments in no uncertain terms: “The
Volunteer Ministers of Pro.civi.co.s are unique volunteers that are really
expert in handling and controlling people and they avert danger in doing so.”
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During the event, the booklet “Volunteer Ministers - Bringing Effective
Help To the Community” was released, the fourth in a series of publications to
make the Scientology religion it social betterment activities better known in
Europe. The booklet, which has been sent to some 56,000 decision makers in
Europe, describes the European and worldwide activities of the Scientology
Volunteer Ministers, bringing effective help and practical solutions to their
fellow man, based on the discoveries of the Scientology founder, humanitarian L.
Ron Hubbard.
The Scientology Volunteer Ministers is a worldwide corps of volunteers with
members in most of the 25 countries of the European Union. Their activities
range from responding quickly to emergencies, working in disaster relief and
providing humanitarian aid; they also help the individual with his day-to-day
problems.
The Church staff of major centers in Copenhagen, Saint Hill, UK, Milano,
Madrid, Budapest and Moscow are additionally regularly trained in responding to
disasters specific to their areas.
The effectiveness of this organization is also illustrated by the fact that
within hours of the September 11 disaster (and despite the fact that all
entrances to New York City were closed), the Church had dozens of Volunteer
Ministers on site providing assistance to rescue workers. Within days this
number was up to 800 volunteers, who provided services ranging from
organizational and communication assistance, food services, transportation, and
spiritual counseling.
There are 59 Scientology churches in major metropolitan centers in Europe,
each of which can provide facilities for shelter, communications response
centers, emergency distribution centers, feeding stations.
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