A letter to St. Martin’s Press from Suzanne Bolstad, Audio Division Office Administrator, Golden Era Productions
My name is Suzanne Bolstad and I am the Audio Division Office Administrator of Golden Era Productions.
I understand Ron Miscavige is writing a book about the Church of Scientology, its management and official affairs and Mr. David Miscavige. This is really preposterous when after working directly with Ron Miscavige for 7 years I know he never held a managerial position in Scientology, nor was he ever privy to the details of ongoing projects because he never attended such meetings, nor had any dealings with their execution, he was just a horn player and someone who dabbled in scoring music that was rarely if ever used. I have held management level positions for 26 years of my 40 years as a Sea Org member and never once saw Ron Miscavige at a single one of the meetings we frequently held nor did I ever see him perform any management related actions.
Ron would often speak highly of his son’s accomplishments and about how proud he was to be his father.
What is even more strange is when I worked with Ron as the Audio Division Office Administrator, a position I have held since 2007, I never heard him complain of Church Management staff and actions; in fact, we had many discussions of the successful management projects of opening up new areas, reaches from others for Dianetics and Scientology technology and our own personal successes we were both experiencing from studying Mr. Hubbard’s scriptures. Ron would often speak highly of his son’s accomplishments and about how proud he was to be his father. And I certainly concur. I would be more than proud to have had such a son. Ron would also frequently tell me how amazing were his personal accomplishments from Scientology counseling. He would talk about the profound discoveries of Mr. Hubbard and express his continual amazement at how perfect and unerring Mr. Hubbard’s technologies are.
While each person is entitled to their own view and religious beliefs, I consider that to be the case as long as one does not endanger nor slander another’s beliefs. I was born into a Scientology family, my great grandparents and grandparents—on both sides of my family—found out about Dianetics in the 1950’s. Many of my family members; aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., are Scientologists and those that are not are treated with respect and included in all family functions and activities. None of my family members that are not Scientologists are treated badly nor are they “pummeled or lectured” into becoming a Scientologist—they are granted the right to believe in what they believe. I believe each person is entitled to their religious beliefs and activities and one who is not of that faith, does not have the right to slander and make nothing of it. Ron has made it clear he is not a Scientologist and thus has no right to make nothing of something he obviously does not understand nor care for.
I was shocked to hear Ron Miscavige is complaining about his work environment and the working conditions while he was here. Yet he was given the best facilities possible, in order to perform his duties:
As the Audio Division Office Administrator I was at the beck and call of the Music Department staff, and that most definitely included Ron. I organized their travel arrangements, special training programs, tutoring, counseling and care. For every piece of new equipment, new software programs and new music libraries, I do the research and written requests for purchase. I was the one who organized getting any broken equipment or upgrades handled either here at our facilities or with outside companies. I was the one who made sure the musical instruments and music mixing equipment arrived operational and safely packed for any overseas events the Musicians performed—none of them had to even worry about it—it all got taken care of for Ron and the rest of the band. It was all done in an effort to help make it easier for staff to fulfill their duties and achieve their goals. And yet Ron is complaining about the working conditions here. While the rest of the Music Band would make appreciative comments for such service, Ron never once even said “thank you,” not once.
As the Office Administrator, I spent quite some time trying to help sort out conflicts between Ron and other Music staff. I never once complained to Ron or made him wrong for such, I did not assume he was wrong and they were right, such as when Ron had screaming fights with the Musical Director. Not once did I complain to Ron about his actions, no, instead I spent hours trying to sort things out for him. It is interesting that since he took off unannounced (and never wrote me nor communicated back to the band in any way), I have not spent a single minute of my time sorting out conflicts in this area, the staff are just happily working.
In order to help Ron improve his skills as a musician, I spent many hours searching through L. Ron Hubbard materials, 6 different times, putting L. Ron Hubbard issues into packs and study orders for Ron in an effort to help him be more able at his job.
During one video project, there were several melodies and scores that had to be redone as a result of Ron’s shoddy work. It cost an additional $25,000.00 to get those videos re-music mixed and final mixed. There was no real or imagined “punishment” for this we simply got Ron to study up on different types of music and see what he missed, in an effort to help him do his job properly. Anywhere else, he would have been fired. But out of respect for his son, we treated Ron with kindness and care and helped him understand. His son did not know this occurred. The problem was though, in looking back, that Ron did not actually change his ways and continued to be found not doing music research before creating music scores and I found him on numerous occasions failing to properly use the many musical instruments, music scoring equipment and a huge music library that was at his disposal to perform a good job.
Through all the years Ron was in the Music Department he was allowed to keep his own schedule, going home early, time allotted for exercise, job training, medical attention any time he asked for it. The food and living arrangements Ron had access to were superior and never ever denied him. He got away with his office and living space being kept in any state he felt like keeping it in, and he had very low standards with both spaces kept dusty, unclean and untidy. No one ever denied him any facilities or service. He could have left here any time he wanted to in any manner of ways—the rooms here are not locked up.
Now it appears Ron has viciously twisted that help and service into something wicked.
Out of a tremendous respect for his son and all he has done to help mankind in forwarding the aims of our founder, L. Ron Hubbard, many of us serviced and helped Ron to the hilt—we wanted him to do well, we wanted him to succeed. It was a thankless endeavor at the time and yet regardless of this the service and help was always given—over many years. Now it appears Ron has viciously twisted that help and service into something wicked.
Publishing a book of false statements and allegations from someone who was never involved in anything other than being a musician, someone who could not accept help and use it to the benefit of himself and others, who has now turned on a group of people and his own son after years of trying to help and service him, could only lead to trouble. One could say he was just in it for the money, but knowing Ron it is not just that and as “his” publisher I am sure he has another hidden agenda for you and your company, you are his next target for attack with his lies and false allegations at some date near or far off.
Best,
Suzanne Bolstad
Audio Division Office Administrator
