Theos-Talk Archives (March 2009 Message tt00090)

It will take more than organizational change.  It is reaching a point  where 
to be among Theosophists is a near-death experience because the folks  around 
you may die at any moment.
 
Chuck the Heretic
 
 
In a message dated 3/3/2009 8:30:02 A.M. Central Standard Time,  
mkr777@gmail.com writes:

 
 
 
TS Membership world-wide is aging. Except in India, the numbers are  going
south or have not changed for decades. Retention outside India is  poor. TS
is not attracting younger members. Organizational setup is such  that until
one gets real grey hair and part of the clique, one cannot get  into any
leadership position and one has to jump thru hoops. Credibility  and trust in
current leaders are at the lowest ever due to their actions  since the start
of International Elections. All of this can be  Googled.

It is reported that there was a recent brainstorming attempt,  funded by Kern
Foundation, and we all should be thankful for their funding  it in the
current tough financial climate. It is not clear if during  the
brainstorming, the issue of credibility and trust of current leadership  was
raised by anyone. It is a very touchy and sensitive one, especially if  your
room and board is depends on the organizational leaders.

We can  come up with very creative ideas and plans to attract young members.
One  key factor among younger members is that they grew up in computer  and
modern communication environment whose backbone is Internet. When  any
potential young member gets interested in TS, one visit to Google will  throw
them into utter confusion when they read the archives of the  recent
activities of leaders of TS.

On one hand, there is the motto  â There is No Religion Higher than Truth. On
the other, the First Object â  Brotherhood/the other, the First Object
actions of leadership viewed  within the background of the Motto and the
First Object, there is very  serious disconnect. This leads to the question
of Trust in leaders, which  in the minds of many current members is lowest in
many many  decades.

Unless the Trust issue is quickly addressed transparently and  fixed, any
amount of any other creative ideas are not going to be saleable  to the new
and young members. May be it is time for the leadership to move  on and make
room for younger ones. Trust cannot be restored in the  continued environment
of unnecessary secrecy, in this Internet era of  Transparency.

My 0.02.

MKR

There is no Religion Higher  Than Truth

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