Drug-Free Tennessee Works with Community Leaders to Spread Hope

For International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Drug-Free Tennessee held a roundtable discussion about ending the drug demand in Nashville.

Community leaders, police and clergy sat down together just before International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to talk not just the facts, but solutions.

A member of the Metro Vice Unit was present to give statistics about the current “drugs of choice,” and information related to prescription drug abuse, one of the major fads of today. Clergy and community leaders led discussions of how to reach youth before dealers, and Drug-Free Tennessee shared its many educational materials that can be used by anyone to help young people.

Drug-Free Tennessee is a chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, which provides booklets, videos, brochures, and even an educational curriculum for students designed to give all of the basic facts of how drugs affect the body and mind, common street names and more. The Foundation holds events each year that tie into the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987.

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is leading the global campaign to raise awareness about the major challenge that illicit drugs represent to society as a whole, and especially to the young. The goal of the campaign is to mobilize support and inspire people to act against drug use, according to unodc.org.

Rev. Brian Fesler who coordinates Drug-Free Tennessee said, “We are committed to bringing the truth about drugs to everyone.  When youth know what they are really getting into, they have a chance to avoid a lot of pain and suffering.” Fesler says it can’t be done in a day and his organization is committed to working continuously to curb the drug epidemic. “We will go to anyone, anywhere in the region to spread the Truth About Drugs message,” he says, referring to the educational component of the program.

To learn more, order booklets or schedule a visit to your school, group or congregation, visit drugfreetn.org. 

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee Participates in Father’s Day Celebration

“Honor and Help Your Parents,” is but one precept from the common sense guide, The Way to Happiness, but it was with this in mind, that volunteers from The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee took to the Edgehill neighborhood for a Father’s Day celebration where they distributed copies of the booklet to parents and children alike.

The Way to Happiness, which was written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s, sparked a movement and has been reprinted and passed hand to hand to a wide variety of cultures and peoples.

In Tennessee, The Way to Happiness Association has been on an all-out effort to spread its message even further. The reason? Organizers for the group say where it is distributed crime rates plummet, as proven by statistics.

“This book spreads a calmness that is unparalleled by anything else. It contains common sense moral messages that anyone can agree with and apply,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, the regional coordinator for the program.

According to thewaytohappiness.org, “This code of conduct can be followed by anyone, of any race, color or creed and works to restore the bonds that unite humankind.” In the three decades since it was authored, some 80 million copies of the book passed hand to hand.

The Tennessee Association launched its campaign in 2009. During the Father’s Day celebration, dozens of copies of the booklet were distributed. For more information, visit twthtn.org.

Drug-Free Tennessee Blankets the Edgehill Neighborhood with Truth

For International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Drug-Free Tennessee took to the Edgehill neighborhood to distribute copies of the Truth About Drugs booklet.

In 2013, neighborhoodscout.com listed Edgehill as the 18^th most dangerous neighborhood in the United States. And in 2015, the Tennessean newspaper reported that police were cracking down on drug production in the area, with two individuals sentenced to prison after police found several pounds of methamphetamine in each of their homes, one home had roughly $20,000 worth. So the Drug-Free Tennessee marched through the area this past weekend on International Day Against Drug Abuse to distribute more than 300 booklets to residents.

International Day Against Drug Abuse was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is leading the global campaign to raise awareness about the major challenge that illicit drugs represent to society as a whole, and especially to the young. The goal of the campaign is to mobilize support and inspire people to act against drug use, according to unodc.org.

Drug-Free Tennessee is a chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, which has the goal to educate children and youth across the world to effectively prevent the demand for drugs. Every year, the Foundation holds events that tie into the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Rev. Brian Fesler who coordinates Drug-Free Tennessee said, “We are committed to bringing the truth about drugs to everyone.  When youth know what they are really getting into, they have a chance to avoid a lot of pain and suffering.” Fesler says it can’t be done in a day and his organization is committed to working continuously to curb the drug epidemic. “We will go to anyone, anywhere in the region to spread the Truth About Drugs message,” he says, referring to the educational component of the program.

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World provides an educational curriculum for students designed to give all of the basic facts of how drugs affect the body and mind, common street names and more. In Tennessee, volunteers travel to schools and give lectures to students on these materials and provide more information for teachers to use after they’ve gone.

To learn more, order booklets or schedule a visit to your school, group or congregation, visit drugfreetn.org. 

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee Prepares for Summer of Events

“True joy and happiness are valuable,” begins the common sense guide, The Way to Happiness, written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s. Since then, the book has sparked a movement and has been reprinted and passed hand to hand to a wide variety of cultures and peoples.

In Tennessee, The Way to Happiness Association has begun an all-out effort to spread its message even further. The reason? Organizers for the group say where it is distributed crime rates plummet, as proven by statistics.

“This book spreads a calmness that is unparalleled by anything else. It contains common sense moral messages that anyone can agree with and apply,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, the regional coordinator for the program.

The Way to Happiness booklet details 21 precepts predicated on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others. According to thewaytohappiness.org, “This code of conduct can be followed by anyone, of any race, color or creed and works to restore the bonds that unite humankind.” The Way to Happiness aims at giving people back a sense of what is right and wrong in a way that is easy to understand. In the three decades since it was authored, some 80 million copies of the book passed hand to hand.

The Tennessee Association launched its campaign to distribute the booklet in 2009. Since that time, the group has visited local health fairs, festivals and community gatherings. It is currently gearing up for two events in June, and more in July, where the booklet will be distributed and its messages spread.

For more information, visit thewaytohappiness.org.

Nashville Church of Scientology Gearing Up for Second Annual Friendship Day Event

International Day of Friendship was created to inspire peace and bridge building. At the end of July, the Church of Scientology will bring together a diverse crowd to dialogue for the occasion a second time. 

Terrorism, mass shootings, war—it’s become commonplace to hear of these things day after day in a stream of news. Yet, there is a group of people determined to bring people together despite differences of race, color and creed. It’s all happening at the International Day of Friendship dialogue at the end of July in the community hall of the Nashville Church of Scientology.

International Day of Friendship is an annual observance, dignified in 2011 by the United Nations General Assembly with the idea that “friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities,” according to un.org.  The resolution emphasizes that young people, as future leaders, can be brought together in activities with different cultures. This promotes international understanding and respect for diversity.

The Church of Scientology will hold its second annual dialogue for the day at the end of July, with several community leaders coming together to participate. The theme this year is “Intentional Friendship,” and organizers say the event won’t end that afternoon. “We will organize different people to stay in touch with one another for a Friendship Project,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology.

“There are so many problems in the world today caused by a basic misunderstanding of each other. If we learn something about other people we might end these problems, disputes and upsets altogether,” he says.

The Church of Scientology is partnering for this effort with The Way To Happiness Association of Tennessee (TWTH-TN).  TWTH-TN provides a community betterment program based on the book The Way To Happiness by L. Ron Hubbard. The program is predicated on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others—and that without the survival of others, neither joy nor happiness are attainable. Several concepts in the book promote dialogue and friendship. Among them, “Respect the Religious Beliefs of Others,” “Be Worthy of Trust,” and “Try to Treat Others As You Would Want them to Treat You.”

For more information on the Church of Scientology, its programs or upcoming events, visit scientology-ccnashville.org. 

Drug-Free South Hitting the Streets of Downtown Nashville with Truth

Drug-Free South made a splash in Music City by distributing The Truth About Marijuana this past weekend to hundreds of country music fans outside the CMA Music Festival.

There were 23,184 arrests for marijuana offenses in Tennessee in 2007, representing an arrest rate of 377 per 100,000, which ranks Tennessee at number 11 in the nation, according to a report from drugscience.org.  Additionally, the 7th annual Community Needs Evaluation from Metro Social Services in Nashville reported that drug overdoses are a leading cause of death in Tennessee, with over 1,100 in 2013 alone—surpassing murder, suicide and motor vehicle accidents.

So Drug-Free South hit the streets to distribute copies of the “Truth About Marijuana” booklet to people heading for the Country Music Association Music Festival this past weekend.  Hundreds of copies of the booklet were distributed by the chapter, which has its international office located in Los Angeles – the Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW).

Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for FDFW, said, “We are changing lives. Each person to receive this booklet could be a person saved from a lifetime of suffering and addiction.”

The “Truth About Drugs” booklets cover all basic side effects of drugs, common street names, and how to recognize when you are being persuaded by a dealer. To learn more or order booklets, visit drugfreesouth.org.

Church of Scientology Making a Positive Impact on the Environment

What happens when a horticulturist, a recycling buff and several active community members sit around one table? They talk about ways and means to make a real impact on improving the environment. And that is exactly what happened in the Church of Scientology this past week in honor of World Environment Day.

World Environment Day occurs each year on June 5th and is celebrated by the United Nations. Last year, the worldwide theme for the day was “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care,” while this year’s theme was “Go Wild for Life.” According to unep.org, World Environment Day “…has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated by stakeholders in over 100 countries.”

The Church of Scientology honored the day by inviting key environmental advocates to a roundtable discussion on the theme: “It’s Your City – Green it Up.” Officials at the church say that this initiative is bringing people together that care about the environment so they can connect and can do bigger things together.

“Our members care about the Earth. We all depend on it, it’s up to all of us to take care of it,” says Pastor of the Church, Rev. Brian Fesler.

“Green it Up” is one of many initiatives the Church of Scientology is working on to better the environment. For more information about the church or its programs, visit scientology-ccnashville.org. 

Nashville Church of Scientology Prepares for Second Annual Friendship Day Dialogue

International Day of Friendship was created to inspire peace and bridge building. At the end of July, the Church of Scientology will bring together a diverse crowd to dialogue for the occasion a second time.  

With a constant stream of terror in the news across the country, it may seem that there’s no hope. But that is exactly why the Nashville Church of Scientology is working with other community organizations to plan an event with dialogue and activity aimed at raising awareness and friendship among even the most disparate peoples.

The occasion is the International Day of Friendship, an observance dignified in 2011 by the United Nations General Assembly with the idea that “friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities,” according to un.org.

The resolution emphasizes that young people, as future leaders, can be brought together in activities with different cultures. This promotes international understanding and respect for diversity.

The Church of Scientology will hold its second annual dialogue for the day at the end of July, and will help people participate and open up amongst those with whom they might not otherwise associate.

Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology says, “This event is needed. There are too many problems arising from basic misunderstanding that could be cleared up with honest and open communication.”

The Church of Scientology is involved in this effort through its community betterment program, The Way to Happiness. Based on the book of the same name by L. Ron Hubbard, the program is predicated on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others—and that without the survival of others, neither joy nor happiness are attainable. Several concepts in the book promote dialogue and friendship. Among them, “Respect the Religious Beliefs of Others,” “Be Worthy of Trust,” and “Try to Treat Others As You Would Want them to Treat You.”

For more information on the Church of Scientology, its programs or upcoming events, visit scientology-ccnashville.org.

Hubbard Dianetics Foundation Celebrates 66th Anniversary

For anyone who has experienced self-doubt, depression, anxiety or unreasonable fears, the book Dianetics: the Modern Science of Mental Health is the resource to turn to for answers and guidance. This book was authored and published in 1950, launching a movement for Man to know and help himself.

L. Ron Hubbard began the book with these words, “Dianetics is an adventure. It is an exploration into Terra Incognita, the human mind, that vast and hitherto unknown realm half an inch back of our foreheads.” He further invited readers to “Treat it as an adventure. And may you never be the same again.” Millions have done just that.

To commemorate this anniversary, the Nashville Church of Scientology held a Dianetics anniversary celebration last week to share news of the application of Dianetics technology across the South. Awards were given to those who have done the most to spread the message contained within, those who have counseled others using the materials, and to groups who have helped great numbers of people.

Now available in 165 nations in 50 languages, more than 21 million copies of Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health have been sold and it has appeared on a record 116 bestseller lists. Dianetics sparked the movement that ultimately led to the founding of the Scientology religion, the only major religion to emerge in the 20th century. L. Ron Hubbard went on to document his research into the spirit, mind and life in 18 Basic books, thousands of other written materials and nearly 2,500 recorded lectures—the Scripture of Scientology.

Today, L. Ron Hubbard's works are studied and applied daily in over a thousand Dianetics centers, Scientology churches, missions and organizations around the world. The Dianetics Seminar has seen much success in Nashville where it is delivered out of the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation, a department within the Church of Scientology.

For more information on Dianetics, visit the Dianetics website at www.Dianetics.org. For an interactive audiovisual overview of the life and works of L. Ron Hubbard, visit www.LRonHubbard.org.

Drug-Free South Prepares for Roundtable Discussion on Drug Prevention

The Drug-Free South is bringing several organizations together to discuss the drug epidemic and solutions to counter it in honor of International Day Against Drug Abuse on June 23^rd.

Drug-Free South (DFS) has long forwarded its message of a drug-free life and promoted education and prevention for young people. According to drugfreesouth.org, the group has reached more than 18,000 people across Tennessee in the last four years. But now DFS is going full throttle ahead and wants to get this message out to the masses.

So DFS is organizing a roundtable discussion with like-minded leaders in the field of drug prevention and education. It will take place on June 23^rd in the afternoon at the Nashville Church of Scientology, a longtime supporter of drug-free initiatives.

The roundtable discussion is taking place under the theme “Come Together: Make Drugs A Bad Deal.” This is the second event to take place in this series, the first being “Fight Back: Make Drugs A Bad Deal.”

DFS is the local chapter for the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, an international non-profit organization aimed at providing children the truth about drugs so they are equipped with correct information and won’t become a victim to dealer’s lies. DFS has visited over 30 counties across Tennessee providing informational seminars and lectures for school children and other groups.

“Make Drugs a Bad Deal” takes place on June 23^rd at the Nashville Church of Scientology, 1130 8^th Ave South. For more information or to participate, contact Julie Brinker at the church, 615-687-4600.