Theos-Talk Archives (July 2008 Message tt00077)

I am pretty sure only dues paying members of two years or more (one member
dues = one vote) is the policy all over the world. However, I think you
should forward this to the International Secretary who should be able to
clarify it.

mkr
On 7/7/08, Concerned Member <amusedwiththis@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>   MKR
>
> I am curious about membership in India? I have heard rumors that if one
> person joins the Theosophical Society in India that all the family members
> are included in the number of members of the Indian Section.
> If a man has a family of 10 and pays for one, one year membership, then
> does this mean that the membership of India swells by 10. Is this true? If
> so, could this have colored the elections. I mean, do all 10 family members
> get a vote, for one paid membership?. Seems like a deal to me. If this is
> true, perhaps we should look at the Indian Sections voter turnout and vote
> tally to see how they run their elections? Based on this, then perhaps give
> all the other sections the same deal and revote.
>
> AWT
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: "mkr777@gmail.com <mkr777%40gmail.com>" <mkr777@gmail.com<mkr777%40gmail.com>
> >
> To: M K Ramadoss <mkr777@gmail.com <mkr777%40gmail.com>>
> Sent: Sunday, July 6, 2008 1:23:46 AM
> Subject: Theos-World TS - Membership Decline outside India
>
> Dear Brother/Sister:
>
> I posted a message some time back, giving my views on the drop in
> membership
> world-wide, except in India where there is a significant increase.
>
> The link to the message is:
>
> http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/theos_ talk/message/ 44302
>
> Due to the de-centralized nature of the theosophical work, now may be
> timely
> for representatives from all the countries to travel to the East. Now it
> may
> be a good time for a group of individuals from the West to visit the lodges
> in India and study and learn how they carry on their activities and find
> out
> what is the secret to they being able to attract new members and retain
> existing members. Attracting new members and retaining them are the key to
> increased membership.
>
> One of the phenomenon, I have seen in Indian Lodges, is that generally the
> entire family will be attending the lodge meetings and functions even
> though
> only the head of the family may be formally a member. Meetings and
> functions
> are generally open to all including non-members. Another interesting fact
> is
> that in many lodges, you can see three generations present at their
> meetings
> and functions. Such is not the case, at least in the USA where you will
> normally find either a man or woman attending the meetings, rarely finding
> the spouse or children.
>
> Also, some may be day-dreaming that modern technology and management
> techniques are the simple answers to poor membership recruitment and
> retention in the West. They are not. In India, the increase in the
> membership has happened without application of any of the modern
> communication technology. It is all done by personal one-on-one contact
> which beats any technology any day.
>
> I am no stranger to modern communication technology and management
> techniques. It looks like they can be used very effectively for highly
> routine and uncomplicated/ complex work like production and distribution of
> reading and study materials, in addition to communication and exchange of
> information. How it will boost membership is a question which needs to be
> tested.
> Talking of communications and remote management, we recently saw what
> happened with AT&T, the world's largest telecommunication company. It was
> headquartered for the last decade, at San Antonio, Texas. It just decided
> to
> move to Dallas, Texas. It is a company which has all the leading edge
> communication technology and tools for use. Theoretically, the President
> could run the business from his bed room because he has at his disposal
> every communication tool available today and cost is no consideration.
> However, he and the Board of Directors, chose to move the HQ to Dallas for
> efficient administration. This shows that telecommunication and remote
> management are not solutions to run organizations. I think it is a lesson
> everyone of us can learn from.
>
> Fraternally,
>
> M K Ramadoss, Member, TS, San Antonio, Texas
>
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>
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>
>  
>


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