What is the IFA
What is the secret of the International Freezone Association (IFA). Is
there a hidden agenda or secret mission to the IFA? Does it have a
purpose other than what is described on the IFA website?
http://internationalfreezone.net
Lets look at what the IFA is and does.
What is the IFA
The IFA is a collection of individuals who agree to the goals, purposes
and aims of the IFA. These are available on the IFA site so I am not
going to repeat them here again. IFA members should be very familiar
with them and they are available for anyone to look at.
The IFA 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 the IFA 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 ofiical 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 IFA Do?
The IFA 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 it's 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.
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 freedom for the individual, it now behooves 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 here.
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 freezone
is IN the IFA and take offense with the next misconception they have,
which is that the IFA is out to control the Freezone. Nothing could be
further from the truth. The IFA is in the Freezone. There is a vast
difference.
The IFA stands alone and is one of many groups in the freezone. Examples
of other groups include ICAUSE, Rons Orgs, FZAO to name but a few.
Each have their own purpose, adherents and agenda.
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 IFA 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 IFA should change with the times, or
encompass a broader approach to technology, accepting technology other
than the original. An honest appraisal of the purposes, of the IFA will
quickly disabuse anyone of that misconception.
People join the IFA knowing that they are bound to the Constitution and
Terms and Conditions of use as laid out in plain English on the IFA
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 the IFA 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 IFA but, it should be noted well that,
when they join it is on the IFA terms of service, not on the applicants
terms of service. The IFA does not change to suit the applicants wishes
or terms of reference.
If a person does not agree with the IFA standards then they are free to
go elsewhere. Indeed the IFA will actively encourage such individuals
to not join or leave the IFA. The Freezone is a big place and there is
room for everyone.
The IFA 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 IFA website, such as
http://internationalfreezone.net/standardtech.shtmlfor example.
Violations will naturally render the membership invalid as there would
be no agreement to uphold the principles previously agreed to.
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 IFA 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 wish to improve their standard of technical
application and would seek certification as a result. Not doing so would
be an indicator of the measure of their commitment.
The Secret of the IFA
So the secret of the IFA 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 IFA 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 IFA.
Mike
IFA
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
