Theos-Talk Archives (August 2009 Message tt00064)

I think that was why the TS went away from calling the groups lodges to  
calling them branches in the first place.  Lodge is a pretty archaic  concept 
now and we don't do secret handshakes and mumbo jumbo in Theosophy, at  
least we aren't supposed to.
 
Chuck the Heretic
 
 
In a message dated 8/9/2009 10:55:45 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
mkr777@gmail.com writes:

 
 
 
Good first step. Thanks Chuck.

MKR

On Sun, Aug 9, 2009 at  10:51 AM, <_Drpsionic@aol.Drp_ 
(mailto:Drpsionic@aol.com) >  wrote:

>
>
> Well, if we could stop calling them lodges  it might be a good idea. Lodge
> sort brings to mind the image of Ralph  Cramden with the dead animal on 
his
> head.
>
> Chuck the  Heretic
>
>
> In a message dated 8/9/2009 12:51:24 A.M.  Central Daylight Time,
> _mkr777@gmail.mkr_ (mailto:mkr777@gmail.com)   <mkr777%40gmail.mkr> 
writes:
>
> One of the unfortunate  patterns one sometimes see in many lodges is that
> even though they are  located in large metropolitan areas and have been
> active for a long  time, they have a small membership, around a dozen. 
Some
> times, these  lodges may own substantial assets. Over time, these lodges 
may
> tend to  go down in numbers and activity and finally if the bylaws are
> properly  drawn up, their assets go to the custody of Wheaton. And then
>  comes
> the question of Wheaton using its discretion how the money gets  spent.
> Human
> nature being the same everywhere, there is  potential for tweaking how it 
is
> spent.
>
> This is a sad  situation that needs to be addressed. We do not know if the
> top  leaders make it a point to personally visit the lodges which fit into
>  the pattern and see how they can be helped to make them more active  and
> more
> involved locally so that the lodge can attract new  younger members.
>
> The actual situation in these lodges and  their special problems can only 
be
> understood by personal visits where  one can see and talk person to person
> and get a feel for the  situation. No email or snailmail or telephone talk
>  works.
>
> Many successful business entrepreneurs know a simple  secret. They have a
> policy of periodical visiting their branches to  get a first hand look at
> what is going on. I still recall that when  Sam Walton, the founder of
> Walmart was alive, he had a policy of  visiting each branch at least once 
a
> year. He had several thousand  stores. Early in his career, he use pilot 
his
> own plane and travel so  as efficiently spend his time. When he visited 
the
> store, he will put  on the Walmart jacket and greet the customers and talk
> to
> them  as well as the employees and got a feel for the local issues.
>
>  I think a plan like this should be tried by TSA. Traveling can be done  
very
> economically and there is no need to spend any money on hotels  and food 
and
> transportation. These can be taken care of by the local  lodge members. 
All
> one has to do is to ask.
>
> When HPB  & HSO started TS, they traveled a lot. They did not stay in
>  Fivestar hotels serving three martini lunches, since they did not have  
the
> money. They were guests of the members and public interested in  theosophy
> and ate whatever food that was available. They were very  successful in
> spreading theosophy.
>
> I think it is time  to think about some actions in the above lines and
> quickly implement a  plan without waiting for an elaborate plan to be
> developed with all  the academicians giving their unworkable inputs. We 
need
> some real  immediate action. That perhaps can help a lot of lodges and in
> turn  the TS.
>
> MKR
>
> Visit  www.theosophy. Vi
>
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>
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>
> 
>

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