Jan. 2018
The 2018 Psychology of Vision annual trainers training was, as usual, held at a luxury resort on the Big Island. Only the affluent need attend.
The Psychology of Vision Trainers Manual dictates that all POV trainers are required to pay a yearly fee for the honor of holding a franchise in this for-profit commercial enterprise. The cost is based on what official position the trainer has attained in this steep hierarchy. The most recent figures I could find are thus:
PoV Trainer 1: $ 5.000,- USD
PoV Trainer 2: $ 6.750,- USD
PoV Trainer 3: $ 7.500,- USD
PoV Trainer 4: $ 8.000,- USD
PoV Trainer 2: $ 6.750,- USD
PoV Trainer 3: $ 7.500,- USD
PoV Trainer 4: $ 8.000,- USD
The Spezzanos also hire translators at these events, which adds to the cost for some. Based on the group photo above I see POV is down to a mere 18 trainers, which is quite a drop from over double the number just a few years ago. Interesting to note the trainers are grouped in the portrait according to rank, with the 3 and 4 trainers next to the Spezzanos and the 1 trainers on the margins.
Being familiar with the status level of most of the individuals in the shot, I calculate the collective fee of the trainers to be over $93,000, not counting the extra charges.
The trainers' travel and lodging are not covered in the fees. And by the time they have labored to reach these heights in this dying cult, they have already invested tens of thousands of dollars.
