Theos-Talk Archives (May 2008 Message tt00731)

Dear friends,

It seems that once again an attempt to make an impartial observation 
is needed in regard to the authority and due acting of certain bodies 
of the TS regarding the election process. As there are not all data 
available some presumptions will be included.

I/1 Rules and Regulations:

(a) Seven months before the expiration of a President's term of 
office, or within three days of the office becoming vacant, the 
Executive Committee shall appoint a special Committee consisting of 
three members of The Theosophical Society in good standing including 
the Secretary, but excluding any candidate for the office of 
President, to carry out the election procedure as herein under 
detailed. This Committee shall be known as the Election Committee and 
shall be answerable only to the Executive Committee.

I/2 Execution:

In December (data not available) 2007 the Executive Committee 
appointed the Election Committee.

????

II/1 Rules and Regulations:

(b) Immediately on its appointment; the Election Committee shall 
instruct the Secretary to send out to the members of the General 
Council a written call for nominations for the office of President. 
The call for nominations shall be sent by airmail or other 
expeditious means if airmail be unavailable, followed one week later 
by a second (duplicate) call.

II/2 Execution:

18 December 2007 the call for nominations was sent by airmail by 
International Secretary. 

19 December 2007 an email letter was sent to members of the General 
Council by assistant to the International Secretary regarding the 
nominations.

II/3 Comment:

There are no restrictions present in the Rules and Regulations 
regarding the material sent by whomsoever regarding the nominations. 

????

III/1 Rules and Regulations:

(d) At the expiration of ten weeks, the Election Committee shall 
place all the nominations received, together with the relevant 
papers, before the Executive Committee at a meeting especially 
convened for the purpose. At such meeting the Executive Committee 
shall examine the nominations.

III/2 Execution:

Presumably in March (data not available) the Election Committee 
placed the nominations received, together with the relevant papers, 
before the Executive Committee.

III/3 Comment:

Presumably the Election Committee and the Executive Committee didn't 
find any point of the nomination process disputable.

????

IV/1 Rules and Regulations:

(e) The Secretary shall then immediately communicate in writing by 
airmail or other expeditious means (followed one week later by a 
second and duplicate communication) the voting list together with 
biographical data of the candidates in accordance with Appendix A to 
these Rules, to the General Secretaries, Regional Secretaries, 
Organizing Secretaries, and Presidential Representatives and to the 
Lodges (Branches) and Fellows-at-large attached to Headquarters.

Other material concerning the candidates shall not be circulated. ... 
Other information may be included but must be factual and shall not 
contain statements of opinion or policy. The biographical data for 
circulation shall be drawn up by the Election Committee on the basis 
of the information supplied by the candidates, and shall be approved 
by the Executive Committee (excluding any candidates for election) 
before being issued.

IV/2 Execution:

Presumably in March (data not available) the Executive Committee 
communicated in writing by airmail the voting list together with 
biographical data of the candidates to the General Secretaries, 
Regional Secretaries, Organizing Secretaries, and Presidential 
Representatives and to the Lodges (Branches) and Fellows-at-large 
attached to Headquarters.

12 March 2008 the President (one of the candidates) wrote a letter to 
all General Secretaries of the TS regarding the elections. The letter 
is delivered to the members at least in some countries.

19 March 2008 the National President of the TS in America sent an 
email message to all General Secretaries regarding the elections.

29 March 2008 the French TS Board issued a circular letter to all TS 
members in France regarding the elections.

11 April 2008 the National President of the TS in America issued a 
personal letter to all American TS members regarding the elections.

Other correspondence between officials and members regarding the 
elections were taking place.

IV/3 Comment:

Presumably the Election Committee didn't report to the Executive 
Committee that violations of the Rules and Regulations regarding the 
elections were going on. Presumably members of the Executive 
Committee themselves didn't react to the violations and didn't find 
necessary to call a special meeting regarding the elections. 
Presumably the President didn't react in regard to the violations of 
the Rules and Regulations concerning the elections and functioning of 
the Election Committee and the Executive Committee.

?????

V/1 Rules and Regulations:

Other material concerning the candidates shall not be circulated. ... 
Other information may be included but must be factual and shall not 
contain statements of opinion or policy. The biographical data for 
circulation shall be drawn up by the Election Committee on the basis 
of the information supplied by the candidates, and shall be approved 
by the Executive Committee (excluding any candidates for election) 
before being issued.

V/2 Execution:

19 April 2008 the Election Committee at Adyar issues a letter to the 
General Secretary of the Theosophical Society in France regarding the 
elections (in favor of one candidate). 

V/3 Comment:

Presumably the Election Committee didn't seek that the letter should 
be approved by the Executive Committee, so it itself violated the 
Rules and Regulations.

?????..

Summary: 

Obviously the violations of the Rules and Regulations in regard to 
the elections took place and the fact that it seems that none of the 
responsible bodies of the TS (members of the General Council, the 
President, the Election Committee and the Executive Committee) didn't 
react officially to settle the problems shows that there is present 
serious dysfunction of the TS administration. So, it seems that there 
is an urgent activation of all unifying forces and the TS' bodies 
needed, not to investigate quite clear situation, but to bring the 
functioning of the TS within the constitutional frame and to propose 
the best solutions for the near future. In my view, a pragmatic 
solution in the best interest of the TS would be to indeed nominate 
for that purpose an extended and provisory council formed out of 
respected and capable members as Sections' representatives. And then 
encourage, help and support young members, unconditioned by the past 
wounds, to create the Theosophical Society they want and deserve in 
the future.

Best regards,
Anton


p.s. If an independent inquiry should be anyway conducted into the 
election process as a whole then the standards which are usual for 
the democratic inquiries may be of help:

1. Inquiry is taken up on the basis of the description of matter of 
public significance which has to be the subject of inquiry, the 
statement of purpose of inquiry and the expected extend of inquiry. 
2. For the execution of inquiry a special Commission is formed. 
3. A Commission has to determine the procedure. The rules of 
procedure have to safeguard the right of the parties to a fair 
procedure. Its work is based on the principles of impartiality, 
independence and competency. 
4. A Commission does not confine its work to an examination of 
information furnished by parties themselves or in support of their 
contentions but takes all necessary measures to obtain as complete 
and objective information as possible on the matters at issue. 
5. It is essential for the execution of inquiry that interested 
public has as much information about the proceedings to assure the 
transparency of inquiry. 
6. A Commission draws exact records of inquiry (including the full 
registration of public hearings) and finishes it with the report and 
suggested measures.