Posts by Tech49

20

Just wanting clarification on the RBC

by joe134cd in

jw
friends

i have been reading threads about how the rbc operates, so i sort of have a fair idea of what the answers will be.

but i would like to have a more direct answer to my questions.. where do the orders come from that a hall is in need of a remodel, or a new one to be built.. can the elders refuse a remodel or quickly built.. out side contractors are only allowed with rbc approval.

what are the consequences if say a kh needed a new roof, and secular contractor was hired.. is it a case that orders a given that a hall needs a remodel, and that the rbc will have total control, and look out for who ever gets in the way, and elders just have to simply comply.. this is the question i most want answered.

Tech49

Just wanted to chime in here, after the comments of James Jackson, and Partisan.

I will concur 100% that what you are hearing is true. After many, many years as a Trade Overseer, I was moved to Architecture, and then to Purchasing and Estimating.

When onsite for the actual construction project, smaller, necessary on-the-spot purchases can be made by a "purchasing agent" that has a credit card and a truck, and can go down to the local store and pay full retail (short on bricks? short on siding? short on roofing?? short on paint?? who forgot nails? every single project...).... mostly because incompetant RBC members cant run a tape measure or read a set of plans.

The RBC purchases materials from Home Depot where it can. The pricing is a whopping 10% below full retail, as was mentioned. Holy Spirit is saving WT BILLIONS !!

Big deal. I can go to the local lumber yard and have them put together a package price that will beat HD every time. The pricing structure the RBC has in place does NOT benefit the local congregations. WT gets kickbacks and rebates, that go directly into their coffers. As stated previously, most prices are overinflated, and are far above retail. I also know several local "contractors" that are "vendors" to the RBC, that provide things like cabinets, podiums, artwork, decorations, etc to the RBC, and charge them a very PADDED pricetag. I saw the invoices that came through the office for these "brother" "vendors", and thought to myself ..... WTH??? Double dipping much??!! Seriously, $1200 for a podium/lecturn that could have been built in the garage on a Saturday night with a couple of beers??? Or $800 for an Information Board?

No way these guys could ever get away with charging this much on a commercial jobsite! Brother "vendor" just happens to also be a reg pioneer and a prominent elder in the circuit, so shut up and dont worry about it. Multiple times, many different brothers.

Or how about free reign to take a weekend with your wife and go on a buying spree to buy whatever fancies you to "decorate" a new KH, with artwork, vases, tables, pretty bathroom gizmoes, doilies, fainting couches and a rocker for the ladies, changing room wallpaper and art, mood lights for the babies.... have a ball! Here's a credit card! Gobs of money you would NEVER feel right spending on your own household, its suddenly OK for the KH, no matter the cost! Holy Spirit loves a cheerful giver buyer. !

And dont even think for a second about getting any other "bids" for materials or cabinets or carpet or windows or lecturns or info boards from anyone else! RBC comes down on you like a ton of bricks, for "not submitting to Theocratic Order". BULL...... SHIT. Guess why I got kicked out of purchasing...... Apparently Holy Spirit didnt approve of me trying to save the poorer congregations some cash.

25

New "Research Guide" released today

by leaving_quietly in

without a lot of fanfare, the much anticipated "research guide" has been released.. to view it:.

http://wol.jw.org.

click on publications.

Tech49

It's there:

Click in this order:

JW.ORG -----> Publications ------> Online Library -----> Publications -----> Research Guide (4th item down the list)

25

New "Research Guide" released today

by leaving_quietly in

without a lot of fanfare, the much anticipated "research guide" has been released.. to view it:.

http://wol.jw.org.

click on publications.

Tech49

None of the references publications are older than 2000.

Soon, the WT CD containing all the old publications will be out of production, and you will have the sanitized, bleached, and re-worded online version only.

186

Just out of curiosity, how many elders (current & ex) do we have here?

by mrquik in

jw
friends

me.

Tech49

Previously served as an elder for about 10 years, up until about a year ago. Just couldnt do it anymore...too much hypocrisy, backstabbing, personal agendas, politics, ass kissing, and general disregard for real love. It was becomming all about numbers, stats, and who you were friends with. The nepotism was rampant, double standards were blatantly obvious. Holy Spirit had left the building long ago.

I told Vic.... fu*# this, I'm out. Im not serving with these "brothers" ever again. I handed in my book and keys and left them dangling in the wind.

63

The " HIGHER EDUCATION" thread!!!

by DATA-DOG in

jw
friends

alright.

let's have the ultimate discussion on "higher education.

" let's talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Tech49

Jack Harper, Tech49:

Age: Mid 40's

Highest Formal Education: HS

Graduated late 80's when it was absolutely NOT in the cards to even THINK about college. Turned down multiple scholarships, after graduating with Honors, top of the class in HS. My poor student counselor was beside herself, and just couldnt understand it (cause it didnt make sense, that's why!). Huge aptitude towards architecture and engineering. Turned down an offer to intern at an Architects office upon graduation, right when computerized drafting and design was just breaking ground. It was an exciting time! I wanted it soooo bad, but turned it down, to do the "right" thing. UGH. Looking back, I hate the decisions I made when I was 18 and 19, based on what others told me, or pressured me to do, 'cause the "system is going to end VERRRRRY soon!". However, I knew for a fact that there was no way I was going to be a pioneer tho. I grunted it out in the construction field for about 10 years (with the young wife and i slaving away at nighttime janitorial jobs to make ends meet..), until I met an older man one day on a jobsite, and he gave me a good talking to, and made me see where my future was, career-wise, if I continued on the current path. He made me think.... alot. I still think about that conversation we had. Fast forward about 15 years.........

Currently: Self employed, CEO and owner of a commercial company in the construction field, but at the higher end of the food chain, as architecture and engineering are a very important part of what we do. I made the decision to take extracurricular classes and CE courses in my industry about 10 years ago, yearly, to stay on top of things. The family and I live very comfortably, not rich, but fairly simply and comfortably. We get chastised for "working too much", or being "distracted" by "material things"...... sorry, how about YOU provide for my family then??? Morons.

I see many, even just this last weekend, that are "pioneers" all their lives, and are just plain dumb. No skills, no hobbies, nothing. Washing windows, cleaning houses, mopping floors. They aren't happy, no fulfillment, no joy. Sad, just sad.

PS.. My oldest just got accepted into the local Community College, studying Hybrid Vehicle Technologies, and Hybrid/Solar Utility Sciences. He's stoked, as are Vic and I !! No floor mopping for our kinfolk!

21

Can WTBTS legally do this for international conventions.

by joe134cd in

jw
friends

i was just reading this on jwservey with regard to the international conventions.

if an individual selected to attend a special convention loses his exemplary status and is no longer qualified to attend, the delegate should be thoroughly informed of the reason for your decision.

such a person would be fully responsible for any financial loss associated with his abrupt disqualification as a delegate, even up to the time he was supposed to depart.. .

Tech49

Simply put, no, they cant stop you, and dont have the authority or ability to do so. They dont have mall cops on duty, checking ID. Its all a percieved power trip, one that you would essentially have to allow youself to be a victim of.

That being said, I have seen it a few years ago, where a brother in our congregation became "disqualified" from attending an international convention, for allowing his DF son to live in his home.

He "allowed" himself to be pressured into forfeiting the trip with his family, with non-refundible tickets. He was pretty upset about it.

Its all a mind game, its all about control, .... but control that you willingly give up.

With this recent set of instructions regarding the upcoming international conventions, I mentioned to someone that we may just go to one on our own, without making special arrangements with the WT tour groups and packages. They were truly horrified! "You can't do that !!!" Um, yes I can.... who's gonna stop me? They dont have guards at the doors, for goodness sake. And yes, they are open to the public...they are just another DC with more people from different areas. Its just another way to forcefeed you with control and fearmongering for being disobedient to "instructions" from the Most Holy GB.

The mind games are ridiculous, insidious, and infantile.

Tech49

27

Education Double Standard

by Tech49 in

jw
friends

this is the kind of thing that really burns me.. .

wtbts holds out an extreme double standard in regards to education.

most, if not all, of you know how they feel about obtaining an education past high school (in the u.s.).

Tech49

I wanted to revive this thread from a few months ago, as it appears that the same double standard is occuring in other countries, Europe, etc.

Evem here in the US just lately on the West coast, there has been a real ramp up in the RBC's to look for "educated" workers...ie engineers, architects, developers, and the like. Word on the street is that the Regional Building Committes are being told to ramp up remodels and new construction by a factor of 4. Yes, 4 times the construction activity from last year, going into 2014.

Oddly enough though, hard to find that kind of quality workers coming from a non-educated pioneering background!

11

February KM

by pixel in

look at this instructions on the february km:.

announcements .

"when engaging in public witnessing using a table or a cart, publishers should not display bibles.

Tech49

Sad day for the publishing company known formally as Watchtower. I was previously disgusted by the fact that they were campaigning with their rolly carts, and did not display bibles....... because they didnt have any.

And now that they have them in stock...... they don't want them displayed for the general public to see or take at will. What if someone genuinely WANTS a bible, and doesnt want the hassle and sales-pitch of talking to you face-to-face?

Sad that the organization so many grew up with has morphed into this seudo-bible worship. Its more about JW.Org and the WT and AWAKE magazines than anything else, including a book that so many hold as sacred and holy. You used to be able to offer the plain, paperback bible to ANYONE that wanted it. Here, take a dozen!!

Sorry, no bibles for you plebians, unless of course you BEG for it and if they feel you DESERVE to have a copy.

Bleh.

74

The Gall Of WT To Give This Advice To Pioneers:

by JW GoneBad in

this past week's wt study lesson was entitled: 'pioneering strengthens our relationship with god'.. under the subheading 'remaining in the full-time service' in par 14 the wt has the nerve to give this admonition to pioneers: .

'desiring to learn from jesus' example, a pioneer does well to keep in mind that the more material things he has, the more he will have to maintain , repair, or replace.'.

i don't think the gb or anyone in the writing department has the freedom to speak on giving adivce on the matter of 'material things' given the fact that wt has close to a billion dollars in real estate and loads of money in various bank accounts; given the fact that gb is currently building themselves new living quarters with who knows what sort of comforts and other amenities.

Tech49

They might be classified as "pioneers", but you can bet your sweet ass that NONE of them are out knocking on doors for 70 hrs a month, and definitely not the almighty 8, even though thats what they "encourage" the plebian rank-and-file to do....

Fake, pompous, hypocritical, pious, and elitist.

31

USA, Oklahoma | Jehovah's Witness church elder Ronald Lawrence arrested over sex abuse claims dating back to 1980s

by jwleaks in

usa, oklahoma | jehovah's witness church elder ronald lawrence arrested over sex abuse claims dating back to the 1980's.

a 76-year-old mcalester man was arrested tuesday on 19 counts of sexual abuse after police received claims he molested several children while in a position of authority more than 30 years ago.. mcalester police detectives were alerted to the alleged sexual crimes conducted by ronald lawrence back in august when his first accuser reported abuse at the hands of a jehovah's witness church leader.. a woman now in her 40s told detectives lawrence, an elder at mcalester's kingdom hall of jehovah's witnesses, abused her when she was just eight years old, inviting her to his home, where he fondled her and raped her in his bathtub, according to her testimony found in lawrence's arrest warrant, which was issued tuesday.. two other accusers, also in their 40s, then came forward with similar stories of abuse.

both said they were very young, with one telling investigators the molestation took place from the time she was 10 until she was 13 years old.

Tech49

UPDATE: from the local news station in Oklahoma. Dear poor brother Lawrence was released on bail. Holy Spirit directed some kind soul to post his $50,000 bond. On another note, one of the victims' lawyers told reporters that he is working with multiple victims in this case.