Theos-Talk Archives (October 2008 Message tt00036)

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, "Katinka Hesselink" <mail@...> wrote:


> I'm not HOPING that the Executive Committee will infringe on the rules
> and regulations - that's what they seem to be doing. Apparently the
> executive council decides what will make it onto the agenda, and the
> majority of the members there decided against it. 
> 
> I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand I was not looking
> forward to three months of hoping this proposal would not make it. On
> the other hand it seems weird (to say the least) that it is not going
> to be discussed at all. 
> 
> Katinka


Katinka,

Not being an expert in the international Rules of the TS, I would like
to offer a view on this matter. Below is the text of Betty Bland's
message to the International Secretary of the TS at Adyar: 

"Under the provisions of international rules 5 and 49, I request and
move that the attached be included as a resolution in the agenda of
the next meeting of the General Council. I am joined in this request
by other members of the Council: Wies Kuiper, Kim-Dieu, and John Algeo."

I reproduce below the text of Rules 5 and 49 of the Rules of The
Theosophical Society:

"5. Resolutions

(a) On the request of any member of the General Council any resolution
or other item of business proposed by such member shall be placed on
the Agenda, and circulated with brief supporting statements, for
consideration at the next meeting of the General Council, provided
that not less than three months' notice of such resolution or item of
business shall be given to the Secretary."

"49. Changes in Rules and Regulations

The General Council, of their own motion or on the motion of the
Executive Committee and after at least three months' notice has been
given to each member of said Council, may, by a three-fourths vote of
those members who vote in person, in writing, or by proxy, make, alter
or repeal the Rules and Regulations of the Society, in such manner as
it may deem expedient."

Now the document Betty Bland sent as an attachment to her message to
the Secretary of the TS is headed "DRAFT PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE
SOCIETY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS". Thanks to you, people can see the
proposals here: 

http://www.katinkahesselink.net/other/Theosophical-soc-reg-08.html

If you read the Proposed Amendments they are not just a "Resolution" -
they are in fact proposals to substantially change the Rules and
Regulations of the TS. Now Rule 49 clearly states that only the
General Council as a whole, or the Executive Committee, whose members
are appointed by the GC every year, can move such a change, which then
needs to be approved by a three-fourths vote. The proposed amendments
were sent to the Secretary of the TS with the support of four members
of the General Council which is composed of 37 members. 

The General Council's decisions over the decades have been balanced
and sober, although perhaps unpopular to some. This must be so because
it is the governing body of the TS and the guardian of its Rules and
Regulations. 


Pedro