Best as my memory serves me, the earliest bylaw change to filter out
unwanted candidates came about by or before 1980 when a then young Nathaniel
Altman had recently published a book on vegetarianism with Quest, and
decided to run for National President. The Board then passed a bylaw
setting the minimum age for a Presidential candidate at thirty-five. This
effectively disqualified Nate--at least for that election.
I suspect that the process has always been politically closed, but as far as
I know, it was only in the 1970s that any ordinary members ever thought
about trying to get into this inner circle without going through the hoops.
Perhaps John Coates indirectly had something to do with this.
I understand now that the number of Board members are going to be reduced.
Since a recent bylaw requires that a Presidential candidate must first serve
on the Board, the loopholes are tightening still.
Unless there have been recent changes that I'm not aware, I think we can
expect to welcome Betty Bland as our next "democratically elected" National
President.
jhe
> You and Doss are right on Jerry,
>
> Ever since the too-close-for-comfort race, between Bing Escudero and
Dorothy
> Abbenhouse back in the mid eighties, Wheaton has been steadily changing
the
> National by-laws to put the nomination procedure more and more in their
> control. Gone are the days, when a well known and skillful representative
of
> the membership could be considered and nominated for National Office. It
has
> been a politically closed, ongoing dynasty ever since Dora left office.
The
> ignorance and apathy of the membership allows the situation to continue.
The
> situation with Radha is simply a higher reflection of the way the
democratic
> process is interpreted and manifested within the Adyar Theosophical
> Organizations. I suspect that this cancer may be widespread, throughout
the
> body. However, I readily apologize to any TS organization which remains
> uninfluenced by National, International or the E.S and still enjoys the
> benefits of a well informed, clean and free election process.
>
> In my opinion, the salvation and future of the Theosophical Movement lies
in
> the potential of the computer age. Here, we do not need organizational
> politics. Here, all we need is each other, the ability to communicate and
of
> course, our beloved subject, which binds us all together.
>
> Louis
>
