ello, my name is DOROTHY VAN DER POEL, and here is a little bit about myself:

     My mother died while I was still at school and it was shortly thereafter that I wanted to know what it was that had made her run all the way home after attending a beginning lecture on Scientology to tell my father that she'd found what she'd been looking for all her life.

     So in 1961 I decided to find out for myself. Having lived in the quaint little English city of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, I set off for Johannesburg where I did the most advanced course in Scientology available at that time - and changed my life.

     Now I am married to a fellow Scientologist and have two lovely daughters whom we are extremely proud of. They are both in Scientology by choice and our eldest daughter is also married to a Scientologist, so it's really quite a family affair.

     I have worked in the Church of Scientology for many years, doing both counselling and supervisor training. At present I am running our own business with my husband while continuing my studies in Scientology and helping in the other sectors of Scientology such as "The Way to Happiness," "Citizens Commission on Human Rights," "Education Alive" and am an Honorary LRH PRO.

     In addition I have a strong interest in and enjoy embroidery in particular, writing to pen friends around the world, reading, gardening and have just added watercolour painting to the list.