Theos-Talk Archives (March 2010 Message tt00066)

Â
Orlando lodge closure.
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ÂThis small excerpt from the Theosophical Society in Wheaten Ill. by laws clearly states that upon dissolution of a chartered lodge assets all go to National. This form must be filled out and signed byÂthe individuals seeking application for lodge status. Once this document is signed it is very difficult to get a reversal in a court of law.
Â
Bylaw 9: Lodges, Study Centers, and FederationsA. Lodges
Section 1. Application for a Lodge Charter..............ÂSection 2. Designation of Lodges.......................... 
Â(c) 
ceasing to be an active Lodge of the Theosophical Society in America, for whatever reason, or its
failure to remain a tax-exempt organization for federal purposes (such tax exemption having
been once attained), then all of its property and assets shall be distributed to the Theosophical
Society in America, an Illinois not-for-profit corporation having its principal offices at 1926
North Main Street, P. O. Box 270, Wheaton, Illinois 60189-0270, for the sole purpose of
promoting Theosophy in ____________; 
the Theosophical Society in ___________, the Theosophical Society in America is not qualified
as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or the
corresponding section of any future federal tax code), is not in existence, or is unwilling to
accept the assets of the Theosophical Society in __________, then such assets shall be
distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3), or shall be
distributed to a federal, state, or local government for a public purpose. Any such assets not so
disposed of shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction of the county in which the
principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such
organization or organizations, as the court shall determine which are organized and operated
exclusively for such purposes.In the event of the dissolution of the Theosophical Society in _____________, or itsprovided, however, that if, at the time of dissolution of
Section 3. Lodge Organization.........................



________________________________
From: MKR <mkr777@gmail.com>
To: theos-talk <theos-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, March 16, 2010 3:29:30 PM
Subject: Theos-World TSA Elected Officials and Lodges

 
Recently a question arose if the local district directors who represent our
district have visited our lodge since their election. The answer is no. We
have not seen any of them nor any other elected official during the last
several years. If I were to run into any of them in the street, I would not
recognize them except the National President who was in this city quite
several years ago. By the way, at this time our lodge does not own any real
estate property and hence this lack of interest from the elected officials
may have something to do with this. Usually money talks.

This brings up an important issue. The elected officials who make critical
decisions for TSA and theosophy and the question is simply why they do not
take time to visit the lodges in their âdistrictâ and get to know the lodges
and the members.

In the early days of TS when membership was growing, we find the leaders
traveling and lecturing and this had a very positive effect on the lodges
and had an effect on the membership. Now we have seen for decades, the
membership is going south and it looks like the lack of personal visits by
elected officials and interaction with lodges and members seem to adversely
affect the growth of lodges and members. Apparently, nice scholarly writings
on theosophical magazine and other publications are not helping membership
and lodge growth.

We all are aware of the elaborate attempt to identify how to grow membership
and lodges. Why not try simple methods which have proven their effectiveness
in the past before launching on complex methods whose outcome is unsure.

IMHO, the elected officials by not visiting the lodges in their area are
definitely distancing themselves from the membership whom they are supposed
to serve and represent.

MKR

There is no religion higher than truth

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