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The International Freezone Association operating as

The Association of Professional Independent Scientologists

Preserve, Protect & Promote

The Association of Professional Independent Scientologists is a non-profit association
dedicated to the promotion and practice of the original philosophy of Lafayette Ron Hubbard.

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known as the Church of Spiritual Technology or its companies and churches such as the Religious Technology Centre,
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  • What is the Association of Professional Independent Scientologists?

    What is the Association of Professional Independent Scientologists (APIS), formally known as the IFA? Is there a hidden agenda or secret mission to APIS? Does it have a purpose other than what is described on the APIS website?

    Lets look at what APIS is and does.

    What is the Association of Professional Independent Scientologists
    APIS is a collection of individuals who agree to the goals, purposes and aims of the APIS. These are available on the APIS site so I am not going to repeat them here again. APIS members should be very familiar with them and they are available for anyone to look at.

    The Association of Professional Independent Scientologists is an association.

    According to Wikipedia an association is:

    " A professional body or professional organization, also known as a professional association or professional society, is an organization, usually non-profit, that exists to further a particular profession, to protect both the public interest and the interests of professionals. The balance between these two may be a matter of opinion. On the one hand, professional bodies may act to protect the public by maintaining and enforcing standards of training and ethics in their profession. On the other hand, they may also act like a cartel or a labor union (trade union) for the members of the profession, though this description is commonly rejected by the body concerned."

    "Many professional bodies perform professional certification to indicate a person possesses qualifications in the subject area, and sometimes membership in a professional body is synonymous with certification, but not always. Sometimes membership in a professional body is required for one to be legally able to practice the profession; see licensure."

    "Many professional bodies also act as learned societies for the academic disciplines underlying their professions." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_body"

    Other applicable definitions of an association include:

    "An organized body of people who have an interest, activity, or purpose in common; a society."
    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/association

    "An organization of persons having a common interest :"
    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/association

    So APIS is a professional association set up to pursue the goals, purposes and aims as clearly outlined on the website. In the pursuance of these goals, the association has been set up as a custodian of the original philosophy and technology of L. Ron Hubbard. It is an association of people who agree that the original technology and the standards by which it is administered and utilized, should follow the applications originally laid down by the founder. It is also agreed that each person in the association should follow those principles originally laid down including following a specific standard of application of the technology.

    This is called standard technology, or standard tech. Here are the offical definitions of Standard and Technology.

    Standard, 1. A definite level or degree of quality that is proper and adequate for a specific purpose. (Class VIII, No 4) 2. "Standard' in standard tech auditing is a precise activity, done with good TRs, exact grade processes and exact actions. (HCOB 10 Sept 68)

    Technology, 1. The methods of application of an art or science as opposed to mere knowledge of the science or art itself. (HCOB 13 Sept 65) 2.. a body of truths. (Class VIII No 4.)
    Dianetics and Scientology Technical Dictionary 1975 by L. Ron Hubbard

    What does the APIS Do?
    The APIS pursues its purposes of Preserving, Protecting and Promoting the original philosophy and technology of L. Ron Hubbard.

    Come what may the prime purpose is to ensure that, even if in other areas the philosophy and technology is lost, hidden, suppressed, put out of reach, altered, damaged or any other activity set upon to make the philosophy and technology unavailable, then at least there will be a custodian to ensure that the technology can be revived and applied in its original form. It is not sufficient to "leave it to others" as it has become plainly evident that "leaving it to others" has resulted in a denial of the technology through the above activities of suppression.

    In addition it provides a number of services, resources and publications for it's own members as well as the general public.

    The Reason Why
    It has been established, and is now accepted, that the Church of Scientology has deteriorated, under its current management, to the point where it no longer practices scientology but practices something else. It does not adhere to the basic tenets of scientology but blindly sticks to the new regime's policy. The church is Scientology in name only, not in fact or practice.

    This has resulted in an alteration of the philosophy with consequent loss of and alteration of the original technology.

    Since the future of mankind depends upon the retention of this technology in its original form and application, as that is the proven way to rehabilitate the individual, it now behoves upon us to take responsibility to ensure this technology is preserved in its original form and that it is protected from those who would seek to destroy it and that it is continued to be promoted so that it is available to others.

    The Church, originally set up for the preservation, protection and promotion of the technology, has stopped short of its goal and duty and is now operating under a more ulterior motive resulting in the absence of the original philosophy and technology and the application thereof.

    Whether it can be revived and put back on the course originally set out for it by LRH is a moot point and not one we can establish right here and now. Suffice to say that we cannot afford to make any assumptions as to the future of the Church and therefore must assume some responsibility for retaining the original philosophy and technology for the future.

    Misconceptions
    The first misconception of note is that some people believe the independent field is IN the IFA and take offense with the next misconception they have, which is that the APIS is out to control the independent field. Nothing could be further from the truth. The APIS simply operates distinctly different to the church or any other squirrel organisation. There is a vast difference.

    The Association of Professional Independent Scientologists stands alone and is one of many groups in the scientology field.

    Each has the right to their own tenets, rules and regulations. To impose the rules, regulations and tenets of one upon another would be incorrect. The APIS does not impose it's tenets upon other groups, only it's own members.

    It does not, likewise, expect it's members to impose regulations from other groups upon itself.

    Another misconception is that the APIS should encompass a broader approach to technology or change with the times accepting technology other than the original. An honest appraisal of the purposes of APIS will quickly disabuse anyone of that misconception.

    People join the APIS knowing that they are bound to the Constitution and Terms and Conditions of use as laid out in plain English on the APIS website. The following is also written out in plain English on the application form and acceptance by any prospective member is conditional upon full acceptance of these four points.

    1. I have read understood and fully agree to and will abide by the Terms of Service.
    2. I have read and understand the Constitution and fully agree to abide by it.
    3. I acknowledge Lafayette Ron Hubbard as the source of Standard Technology and fully agree to abide by it to the best of my ability.
    4. I fully agree with and will abide by the principle of Lafayette Ron Hubbard's Policy Letter of 7 February 1965, Keeping Scientology Working and declare I will not mix practices with any other technology.

    Indeed, unless these points are ticked, then the application form will not be able to be completed. If a person ticks each box and completes the application, it is assumed then, that they have understood the commitment they have made to APIS and taken responsibility for it.

    If an individual or group does not feel they should be bound by these regulations then they should not join, as it does both them and the association a disfavor. Both parties would be expecting from the other, something different to that which is required by the association and the individual.

    So people are free to join the APIS but, it should be noted well that, when they join it is on the APIS terms of service, not on the applicants terms of service. The APIS does not change to suit the applicants wishes or terms of reference.

    If a person does not agree with the APIS standards then they are free to go elsewhere. Indeed the APIS will actively encourage such individuals to not join or to leave the APIS. The world is a big place and there is room for everyone.

    The Association of Professional Independent Scientologists expects it members to adhere to:

    1. The Constitution
    2. The Terms and Condition of Use, and
    3. The criteria laid down in various pages of the APIS website, such as http://independent-scientologists-association.net/standardtech.shtml for example.

    Violations will naturally render the membership invalid as there would have been no agreement to uphold the principles previously agreed to. Indeed, saying one is going to agree to the tenets of the group one is joining and not actually doing so would render such an individual a condition of liability at the best or even doubt.

    Certification
    Any professional association may set out guidelines and rules for certification of its members. This is quite common in associations. One of the activities of the association therefore includes certification of its practitioning members to ensure they meet the standards required of the association.

    To Make clear what certification is here is some information from Wikipedia.

    Definition of Certification:

    "Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure that he/she is qualified to perform a job or task."

    "Certifications are earned from a Professional society and, generally, need to be renewed periodically, or may be valid for a specific period of time (e.g. the life-time of the product upon which the individual is certified). As a part of a complete renewal of an individual's certification, it is common for the individual to show evidence of continual learning, often termed continuing education, or earning continuing education units (CEU)."

    "It is important to note that certifications are usually earned from a professional society, not the government. If a demonstration of ability or knowledge is required by law before being allowed to perform a task or job, this is referred to as licensure. In the United States, professional licenses are usually issued by state agencies. The assessment process is often similar, even the same; certification and licensure differ only in terms of legal status."

    "Certifications are very common in aviation, construction, technology and other industrial sectors, as well as health care and finance. In USA, the Federal Aviation Administration regulates aviator certifications." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_certification

    The purpose of the certification process, as described on the association website is to, "... uphold and substantiate a specific standard of application and delivery of standard technology of the original working philosophy of Lafayette Ron Hubbard to the level attained by the individual as originally instituted by Lafayette Ron Hubbard."

    It was LRH himself who originally introduced the concept of certification in the form of certificates and oks to audit, issued by the Qualifications Division of a church and approved by the Hubbard Communications Office and the Keeper of the Tech.

    These were not fanciful titles but in fact a recognition that the individual can and does apply the technology in the way Ron expected.

    The APIS differs from other professional associations, such as accountancy, health etc, in that the certification process is not mandatory but is a purely voluntary process. It is expected, however, that practitioning members who wish to improve their standard of technical application will seek certification as a result. Not doing so would be an indicator of the measure of their lack of commitment.

    The Secret of the Association of Professional Independent Scientologists
    So the secret of the Association of Professional Independent Scientologists is that it is exactly what it says it is. There is no hidden agenda, no hidden standard. It is what it is and one takes it or leaves it as it is.

    The Association of Professional Independent Scientologists is one of the few bastions of standard technology available. There are very few. There should be more. People are encouraged to start up groups and even more associations to preserve, protect and promote the original philosophy and technology of LRH.

    There is absolutely nothing stopping anyone from doing so. As evidenced by the existence of the Association of Professional Independent Scientologists.

    Mike
    APIS

    References:
    http://internationalfreezone.net
    http://internationalfreezone.net/constitution.shtml
    http://internationalfreezone.net/Terms.shtml
    http://internationalfreezone.net/standardtech.shtm
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_body
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_certification
    http://www.answers.com/topic/association
    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/association
    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/association

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