Picket Report - San Francisco Org 83 McAllister Street, Mar 9, 97

Hi Everyone,

This weekend I just HAD to get away from my apartment. There are just too many reminders of my beloved cat Gooby there. I needed some fresh air, sunshine, and to be with others doing something productive to help fill the void, even if this meant doing another picket so soon after her sudden death.

Fortunately the weather in S.F. on Sunday was beautiful and a good day for a picket. It was a great day to be outside. I arrived outside the Org at noon and stayed until 3:50P. I prefer this time frame because I get the largest audience from the members there. First I get them on their lunch hour and then again during their afternoon break.

Today at break there were about twenty gathered out front. Some wandered off to get something to eat. Others bunched up in small groups and appeared to be telling jokes. Still others sat off by themselves and would occasionally glance at me. The ones who bunched up and started laughing conjured up the image of a wagon train pulling itself into a circle to protect itself from some threat. Perhaps for some of them I’ve become something to rally around, something that helps reinforce their Scientology SP beliefs. Who knows what effect I’m REALLY having on those who are already members.

It was all quite a display out there. When I was involved, however, I never saw much substance to that type of cheery behavior. Most of the time that display of cheeriness seemed so contrived, like they were all just trying to live up to each other’s expectations. After all, the rule was "no case on post" so you HAD to act cheerful whether you felt like it or not.

I try not to let any nonchalant display discourage me. Fortunately for me there are always plenty of people passing who have never even heard of Scientology and are attracted to my sign. I am able to direct my attention to them instead. Since in this neighborhood there is the civic center, the UN plaza, the subway and the soup kitchen all nearby you can just imagine the interesting cast of characters I get to meet out there.

Today I had the rare opportunity to talk to one of the members there. She had pulled up and parked her car right in front. When she got out she looked at my sign and then asked me what courses I had taken. When I told her she said, "You know, you have to put in a lot of effort to get the gains that are available." I told her that when I was involved I DID put in the effort. I told her that when I was involved I TO believed that the organization had something to offer me and to the rest of the planet but after taking enough courses and having over 300 hours of auditing I finally came to the realization that it was all a bunch of crap. At this point she went inside. As she approached the door this one staff member who sometimes stands in the doorway wearing this fake priest collar says to her, "Don’t listen to him, he’s just an SP." I don’t know what kind of an impact I made on this woman. I sure hope I managed to plant a seed of doubt in her mind.

Earlier in the day Janet Meinsma (the reg) passed by me. This was her closest approach to me in months. For a few seconds we were almost face to face. I REALLY had the urge to say something to her but decided to hold back. I figured that it was best to just let my actions out front do my speaking for me instead. I did, however, look at her a bit longer then was probably appropriate. I HAD to do SOMETHING with that rare and golden opportunity.

One staff member as he passes me occasionally says, "Hi Wayne" in a cheery voice. I’ve decided to just ignore him. If I respond in kind it tends to take me out of my ‘picketing mood.’ If I were to let that happen too many times I might start getting bored with my picketing. I certainly don't want that to happen, I still have too much I want to accomplish out there.

I’LL BE BACK!

Wayne Whitney