Theos-Talk Archives (November 2009 Message tt00079)

Thanks for the feedback.

Travel these days can be done quite economically. Usually, the visiting
lecturers when they visit a lodge, are hosted by a member. They are met at
the airport and housed and fed by the member and hence the only cost is
actual airfare. Lodges can even give a token gift of money to meet pocket
expenses.

Communication is no problem. With wireless phones, one can be in touch with
everyone round the clock. Now we have fixed rate unlimited usage plans are
available.

After the American Section followed Judge and split from Adyar, Besant
travelled to the USA and lectured in many cities and that is how the
American Section was rebuilt.

In addition to the National Secretary/President, I think the elected
representatives should travel and visit each lodge at least once a year so
that they can meet and see for themselves the conditions in the lodges and
also spur the growth.

Let me hope to see the elected leaders soon in our lodge. By the way, Texas,
one of the largest states in the USA has only four Lodges and San Antonio
where I live is the 7th largest city in the USA with 1.3 million population.

MKR


On Sun, Nov 8, 2009 at 6:14 AM, Spirituality <mail@katinkahesselink.net>wrote:

>
>
> This is a good point. Olcott certainly traveled to the most obscure places
> when he was president. I don't doubt Besant did likewise, both before she
> became president and after.
>
> Locally - I'm happy to say our new (dutch) chair lady is visiting local
> lodges, even while she's editor in chief of our magazine and has a full time
> job 'on the side'. I don't see where she gets her energy, but I do think
> it's amazing. And yes, it is likely to help in two ways: stimulate the local
> lodge and help her keep in touch what's cooking among members. Of course the
> Netherlands is a small country, so it's doable to visit a lot of lodges and
> still do a lot of other things. But on the other hand - with the Internet
> communication is so much easier, even on the road, that it should be
> possible for a president that travels a lot to keep in touch with what's
> going on at HQ.
>
> Katinka
>
> http://www.katinkahesselink.net/
> http://www.overpeinzende.nl/
> http://www.allconsidering.com/
>
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com <theos-talk%40yahoogroups.com>, MKR
> <mkr777@...> wrote:
> >
> > The developments in the nomination and election of International
> President
> > and subsequent events has brought into focus several things which never
> > caught attention of the membership in various sections. Membership growth
> is
> > one key objective measure to gauge the growth of the Section.
> >
> > Over the last several decades, the membership in the Indian Section was
> > steadily growing while at the same time, in the Sections outside India,
> > membership is either stagnant or declining. So this indicates that the
> > Indian Section is doing something right which has resulted in the growth.
> >
> > The issue of membership growth and retention outside India is a hot
> potato
> > which no one wants to talk about it. It does not make the leaders and
> > sections look good. It is a pity that even in the General Council
> meeting,
> > there is no evidence that this issue was discussed at all.
> >
> > A classic example that the world has seen in terms of the involvement of
> the
> > chief executive in the matters of the branches is set by Sam Walton of
> the
> > Walmart (largest employer in the US!!!) fame.
> >
> > When he was alive, he made it a point to personally visit every store at
> > least once a year and see for himself what is going on. This is in spite
> of
> > the fact that Walmart has most computing power and communication
> capability
> > next only to the Pentagon.
> >
> > It is reported that TS in America once had as many as 8,000 members and
> for
> > several years it is hovering around half that number.
> >
> > In the last three decades I have resided in San Antonio, rarely we have
> seen
> > the National Presidents visit the local lodge. I think this pattern is
> > repeated around the country. No wonder the membership numbers are
> stagnant
> > and turnover high.
> >
> > Human nature has not changed for ages. That is why in person contact
> works.
> > Even the President of the US who has at his command all the latest
> gadgets
> > to get in touch with the citizens, routinely travels around the country
> and
> > keep in touch with the citizens.
> >
> > The article about A P WarringtonÃââs travels show how useful it was for
> him to
> > travel around the country.
> >
> >
> > MKR
> > .
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>  
>


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