Theos-Talk Archives (May 2008 Message tt00519)

>"Dr. Algeo who is around 78, does not like the climate here, nor can 
he leave the United States for more than a short time, in view of his 
wife's condition. I believe that if elected he intends to work 
largely from America through e-mail and video conversations."

We need to thank Radha Burnier for the letter. But for it, all of us 
would be in total darkness on these critical issues, because no one 
including John Algeo has explicitly addressed them. Nor any of his 
supporting Secretaries have touched on them.<

.......

It is obvious that the local people are best accustomed to the 
climate at Adyar and that apparently it can be pretty unpleasant for 
the persons from other parts of the world; at least it seems that 
this was so in the case of John Coats and Jean Raymond.

We all know that the Biographical Data of Presidential Candidates 
didn't bring us the information about the health situation of the 
candidates and that this fact largely affected the ongoing election 
process in a negative way. This situation should be promptly settled 
by the Executive Committee, but this wasn't the case and therefore 
this unpleasant situation will probably last till the end of the 
elections.

But in regard to the way of work I think that John Algeo presents his 
point of view in an extensive manner on his web site.

>Adyar must remain the administrative focus and the spiritual center 
of the Society, preferably with a skilled resident supervisor to 
oversee its upkeep and to interface effectively with civil 
authorities. But the international rules do not require residence at 
Adyar for administrators. Moreover, modern communication makes it 
possible for able and dedicated people around the world to serve in 
key administrative posts, without having to relocate from their 
homes. ?<

To run efficiently the Adyar Estate probably an Estate Manager is 
needed with quite specific abilities and knowledge which do not have 
much in common with those needed by the President of the Theosophical 
Society. And it seems that Government of India is making great 
progress in this field - I came across this web site: 
http://www.tn.nic.in/estate/

But really promising for the decentralization and democracy in the 
Society is in my opinion the following:

>The rules of the Theosophical Society establish the General Council 
as its governing and policy-making body. However, the Society has 
organizations in 51 nations, of which only 26 are Sections, 
represented on the General Council. We need regular ways of 
consulting the other 25 national bodies. ? the General Council 
normally meets only once a year at Adyar, and the number of those who 
are able to attend is usually only a minority of those eligible. But 
consultative meetings of available Council members can be held ? 
Communication, to be effective, needs to be mutual. We cannot just 
talk to people, we need to talk with them. We need to consult 
Theosophists around the world, to hear what they have to say.<

These words offer solutions regarding quite a lot of issues we 
discussed on this mail list.

And, Anand, thank you for your opinion in regard to the President's 
health condition; as said, truth is always somewhere in the middle.

Best regards,
Anton


--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, MKR <mkr777@...> wrote:
>
> May 13, 2008
> 
> Dear Brother:
> 
> We have been discussing a lot about Radha Burnier's health. Very 
little
> attention has been paid to two other very important key issues. One 
is
> residence of the President at Adyar and second is Algeo's wife's 
health.
> 
> In Radha Burnier's letter, see link below, she stated:
> 
> "Dr. Algeo who is around 78, does not like the climate here, nor 
can he
> leave the United States for more than a short time, in view of his 
wife's
> condition. I believe that if elected he intends to work largely 
from America
> through e-mail and video conversations."
> 
> We need to thank Radha Burnier for the letter. But for it, all of 
us would
> be in total darkness on these critical issues, because no one 
including John
> Algeo has explicitly addressed them. Nor any of his supporting 
Secretaries
> have touched on them.
> 
> This letter has been circulated far and wide. As an ordinary 
member, I was
> expecting a very simple and forthright refutal from John Algeo or 
one of his
> supporters if any part of the above statement is not true. We 
waited and
> waited and waited. All we have seen is silence.
> 
> So, the only conclusion we can reach is that, if elected, he is NOT 
planning
> to reside in Adyar and is planning to discharge his duties as 
International
> President from the USA, perhaps from his home in Athens, Georgia, 
USA.
> 
> Secondly, due to his wife's health, he will not be able to be away 
from home
> for more than a short time. Simply translated, he may be stuck at 
his home.
> Anyone who has to take care of a sick spouse can understand this 
very well.
> After all "Duty" has highest priority in life.
> 
> There are several concerns, which I am sure many of you will share. 
We want
> theosophists, especially one who aspire to occupy the highest 
position, be
> fully transparent and forthright on such basic issues, because it 
affects
> the future of TS. TRUTH never hurts.
> 
> So far John Algeo or his supporters have not refuted Radha Burnier's
> statement. So one has to logically reach the conclusion that is 
what he is
> planning to do, even though later he may claim he never committed 
he is
> going live in Adyar.
> 
> I live in the USA, and even here, in spite of today's communication
> technology, businesses have not succeeded in remote operation. 
While on
> paper, it looks great, in real life it is not. Ask any businessman 
or woman
> who owns a business. They will tell you their hands-on presence is 
critical.
> Business leaders have always lived at the Headquarters. It is 
important to
> note this, because these owners will be personally ruined if they 
try to
> remotely run their business. They are dealing with something they 
own and
> operate.
> 
> When such is the case with businesses, with Theosophical Society, 
we are
> dealing with an organization built at tremendous odds, by untold 
sacrifices
> of many who gave their prime of lives to build TS. All you have to 
do is to
> read the history of TS.
> 
> And the plan discussed above, may WRECK TS.
> 
> I want all the members to ponder over the above matter and come to 
their own
> conclusion.
> 
> Fraternally yours,
> 
> 
> 
> M K Ramadoss
> 
> Member, TS, San Antonio, Texas, USA
> 
> PS: The full letter is at:
> 
*http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theos_talk/message/43516*<http://groups
.yahoo.com/group/theos_talk/message/43516>
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>