We want to thank the reader who forwarded to us a flier they received from the New York Scientology org, which is planning on showing a video of the recent IAS Patrons Ball this Saturday.
Why is this significant? Well, in a number of ways we think, and we want to get your thoughts on it as well.
You already know that the annual IAS gala returned to Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, England on the weekend of November 3-5 for the first time since 2019. It’s traditionally one of Scientology’s big annual events, and it takes place under a big tent on the property.
The first night, on Friday, Scientology leader David Miscavige gives a big speech about how great everything is and how Scientology is expanding by leaps and bounds, and he then announces the year’s winners of “Freedom Medals.”
Normally, a week or two later video of this event is shown at Scientology’s other orgs around the world for those Scientologists who were unable to go to the event in person.
The second night of the event, on Saturday, is when everyone dresses in black tie and Miscavige recognizes the year’s biggest donors. This is known as the Patrons Ball, it’s a smaller affair, and video of this event is not normally shown to the rest of the orgs in subsequent weeks.
But this year is different. We’re learning that video of the Patrons Ball has been showing up at the orgs, typically a week after the Friday night event was shown.
And another difference this time was that actor Tom Cruise not only made the scene (as he has in the past), but that his involvement was so public, with many photos of him mugging with his fellow Scientologists getting out to social media.
What this flier tells us is that the Patrons Ball video will be shown at the New York org this Saturday, and that it’s for the first time ever. This just wasn’t done in past years.
So not only has David Miscavige, post-pandemic, returned the IAS event to England, he wants the rest of the Scientology world to see him handing out trophies to this year’s biggest donors, which he has not done in past years.
Also, the flier makes this claim about that night of trophies: “It’s also a record-breaker, with the highest number of Patrons ever acknowledged on stage at an IAS Ball.”
Oh really? We’d definitely like to see some images of that.
We’ve pointed out in recent years that although everything we’ve seen indicates that Scientology’s membership is still dwindling, Miscavige is somehow still getting more and more wealthy people to make huge, $1 million-plus donations to the IAS war chest. How does he do it?
Let us know what you think about the flier’s claims, and about Dave’s decision to show the rest of Scientology what it’s like when he’s stroking the big donors at the IAS Patrons Ball.
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Maybe its the highest number ever because they are acknowledging everyone who contributed since the shut down. What is that, 4 or 5 years of donations packed into one event?
This is Scientology BS PR at its finest.
Part of their highest evers might include Patron With Honors($100k) so that would add a lot of Patrons Ball attendees.
I applaud Tom Cruise for rewarding attendees with his presence. His gladhanding encourages the big bucks zombies whose only claim to fame is an inflated bank account or huge credit card limit. And now they get a photo with the movie star shill.
This years IAS gathering at St. Hill should have been called FLEECE THE SHEEP - 2023.
I’m sorry I won’t be able to attend the New York org showing of the Patrons Ball Saturday night.
I’ll be attending the Dances With Films Festival(in the top 10 indie film festivals ) in NYC at Union Square for our documentary BROTHERS BROKEN. The film has been getting the word out through our unique story: “Rock and Roll Triumphs Over the Cult of Scientology”.