Theos-Talk Archives (March 2006 Message tt01535)

	That's pretty much what most members do. The only issue that I 
personally care about (as opposed to care about in theory) is the 
downgrading of the lodges, and the lack of communication between lodges. 
I used to be on the board of directors of my local lodge, and was, for 
one term, vice president of the Northeast Federation (the latter mostly 
as a seat-warmer).

	One major problem is that the Theosophical Society has a large amount 
of property, all of which was donated, much of which was donated by 
people who are either still alive, or whose heirs are still alive and 
active in TS business. Due to its technically democratic structure and 
relatively low membership, it makes the lodges and sections very 
tempting targets for hostile takeovers by outside organizations (the 
Arcane School has been particularly active in these hostile takeovers). 
Those who donated the property and moneys, and their heirs, are 
understandably concerned that these donations will go to an organization 
which they consider to be (and, in many cases, rightly so) hostile 
towards the cause for which the donations were made in the first place.

	The major problem is that the measures that have been taken to prevent 
a hostile takeover also tend to prevent a non-hostile takeover; 
dedicated Theosophists who believe that the current management is moving 
in incorrect directions, but have no problem with the TS itself. For 
example, there are many Theosophists who believe that if the Mahatmas 
couldn't find someone who could be both a managerial and spiritual 
leader of the TS, then an electoral process almost certainly can't, 
either, and that the directors of the Theosophical Society should stick 
to management, and not set themselves up as spiritual leaders, as well. 
Others feel that the Mahatmas said that the Esoteric Section shouldn't 
interfere with TS business, and if it's good enough for the Mahatmas, 
it's good enough for them.

	Bart