Theos-Talk Archives (February 2005 Message tt00331)

Thank you, Chris Richardson for your thoughtful reply. As you correctly 
say,

>what goes on at the level of the board is 
>financial,
>
And, I might add, that with the Theosophical Investment Trust (managed 
by another Board), the Olcott property and assets, the members should 
also be aware that by "financial" you are talking about tens of millions 
of dollars, of which the National Board and the Directors of the 
Theosophical Investment Trust are stewards. 

Fortunately for you, the TS has been pretty quiet for the past ten 
years. This is because around the time came to Olcott, the former 
administration was completing the process of making significant 
amendments to the National By Laws, and had earlier completely 
reorganized the National Convention, with the result of effectively 
limiting, if not eliminating any meaningful feedback from the members 
which might serve as a way to broaden and balance the leadership's view 
points. I am trying to say that the TS is about more than finances, it 
is also about members. 

As you mentioned, your experience is limited. On the positive side, 
that makes you, from the leaderships perspective, an ideal Board Member. 
Since you lack an historical perspective upon which to evaluate 
decisions (I'm not thinking about finances here), you are less likely to 
slow things down by raising alternatives. On the negative side, that 
also makes the Board that much more insulated from those alternative 
perspectives which a knowledge of history brings. 

You are also quite correct when you write that

>what is 'secret' is generally limited to personnel issues. 
>

Yes. And there is the rub. May I just point out, that the separation 
of the Board's official concerns and "personal issues", as past events 
have revealed, is not easy to do. The Board may have an official reason, 
supported by the by-laws, in order to take an action against an 
individual, lodge or activity, but the real sentiments behind those 
decisions may very well be personal, and therefore, left out of the 
record. 

I also applaud your statement that:

>Those in leadership positions often sacrifice a great deal in order to 
>dedicate their time and energy to the T.S.A., and all because they believe in the 
>mission of keeping theosophy alive in the world.
>

Very true. However, there are many more ordinary members out there who 
have also sacrificed a great deal for Theosophy, sometimes a great deal 
more than some who are holding an elective office. The difference is 
that those members may have never run for office, or tired to do so, 
only to get a lesson in "real politik."

>Jerry is right in that politics are inevitable, but in my experience, which is admittedly 
>limited, politics almost always take a back seat to serving theosophy and our 
>members. As I will serve another three years on the board, I intend to do all I can to 
>keep it that way and trust Betty Bland will do the same.
>

Yes, a well expressed ideal. Yet, your statement of the Board's 
commitment to serve "theosophy and our members" raises some questions: 
Aside from the Board's financial stewardship, what does it mean to the 
Board to "serve theosophy?" Has the Board established guide lines for 
the service of "theosophy"? What is the nature of this "theosophy" 
they are serving? How does the Board determine what the members need? 
In what ways is the Board presently serving those needs? To put it 
more simply: What is the Board's vision concerning the future of the 
"theosophy" and the future of the membership which they have been 
elected to serve? 

>For those of you who wish to add organizational involvement to your spiritual 
>committments, I suggest you run for the board when the opportunity arrives. Or, at 
>the very least, become involved in running the lodge, study center or camp nearest to 
>you. Spiritual work needs a context, and someone has to be responsible for 
>providing it.
> 
>

Yes, the TS needs workers and leaders who will put time into Lodges, 
Study Centers and/or Camps. However, there is a big difference between 
working for the cause of Theosophy and holding an office in the TS. The 
TS is like any other political entity: those who get into office are the 
ones who play the game. As one ex-Board member put it, "you have to 
jump through the hoops." These "hoops" involve more than being a 
devoted to Theosophy and being a capable worker.

You sound like a sincere person who will try to do the right thing. 
I've known Betty from many years back, and I am confident that she will 
"stay the course." 

Best wishes to you and Betty. 

--j





Chris Richardson wrote:

>As an active member for the last ten years, resident-staff member at the National 
>Center and three years on the National Board of Directors, I feel compelled to add a 
>short comment to this discussion.
>
>There is undoubtedly a certain gap in the information the general membership has 
>and what goes on 'behind the scenes', but that gap is due to the nature of institutions 
>and does not stem from any conspiratorial intentions (I do recognize and appreciate 
>that Jerry says the same in the end of this message).
>
>What I would like to clarify is that most of what goes on at the level of the board is 
>financial, and what is 'secret' is generally limited to personnel issues. I can assure 
>you that the board's primary concern is the vitality of theosophy and the needs of our 
>membership. Those in leadership positions often sacrifice a great deal in order to 
>dedicate their time and energy to the T.S.A., and all because they believe in the 
>mission of keeping theosophy alive in the world.
>
>Jerry is right in that politics are inevitable, but in my experience, which is admittedly 
>limited, politics almost always take a back seat to serving theosophy and our 
>members. As I will serve another three years on the board, I intend to do all I can to 
>keep it that way and trust Betty Bland will do the same.
>
>For those of you who wish to add organizational involvement to your spiritual 
>committments, I suggest you run for the board when the opportunity arrives. Or, at 
>the very least, become involved in running the lodge, study center or camp nearest to 
>you. Spiritual work needs a context, and someone has to be responsible for 
>providing it.
>
>Peace to all of you,
>
>Chris Richardson
>
>--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Jerry Hejka-Ekins <jjhe@c...> wrote:
> 
>
>>Daniel,
>>
>>After twenty years, in most cases, I couldn't even tell you "exactly" 
>>what my words were, let alone someone else's. Further, I think you have 
>>been around the TS long enough to have at least intuited that when an 
>> action is taken against an activity, lodge, individual etc. the 
>>officially stated reasons rarely have much to do with what is really 
>>going on. In the TS information travels through what is called "the 
>>Theosophical grapevine." It is not recorded in the journals, and 
>>questions aimed at tracing the source of the information typically 
>>brings the answer: "I heard it on good authority." Even that inner 
>>group meeting at Lake Geneva I mentioned in an earlier post is not 
>>documented in any way. There was no written announcement of that 
>>meeting, no notes were taken, no tape recorder was running. Even at the 
>>level of the National Board, those who attend those meetings are told 
>>not to discuss what goes on. "Privacy" is given as the reason. But 
>>there is more to it than that. Much is discussed and done which does 
>>not show up in the official minutes. I know this from corroborating 
>>statements from several different Board members of the past. Though 
>>there are occasional leaks. Ever since the days of Besant, the mode for 
>>maintaining control has been passive aggressive. Few members are aware 
>>of this, unless they happen to get caught up in one of the currents. 
>> Even then, they often don't get it. If you are interested in how these 
>>things work, you have to look at the underlying process. Published 
>>official statements and "talking points" never reveal the true 
>>complexities. I am not suggesting conspiracy theories. I'm trying to 
>>describe how the political side of any institution which has to deal 
>>with a large voting membership works to maintain power. The TS is no 
>>exception. 
>>
>>--j
>> 
>>
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