Theos-Talk Archives (July 2010 Message tt00086)

Hi MKR,

You wrote: 
> In the recent world Congress, I thought the leaders from the Sections will
> have an informal or formal session addressing the membership growth issue. I
> am disappointed that there was none and are we to take it that Section
> leaders do not consider membership growth as a priority issue or is it
> possible the issue is too hot for anyone to touch it.
I share your disappointment, and would like to add that it's due to Radha being unwilling to schedule any extra sessions. I know for a fact that at least one general secretary tried to organize such a meeting. The same person also tried doing conflict resolution during the General Council meeting 18 months ago BTW (with the same result: Radha Burnier being unwilling to even try). 

Radha's formalism and unwillingness to openly discuss issues is one of the causes of the lack of real discussion during the world congress. 

However, of course people did informally discuss things. Some of the workshops were even actual workshops. It's just that more would have been possible. 

The one lecture that DID discuss the issues on how to move the TS forward was by Vicente Hao Chin - the general secretary of the Philippine section. He certainly knows how to make things happen, as his TOS record clearly shows. I'd personally love to see him run for president next election. He talked PR, Internet and how we're perceived in the world. 

He was also the only person to interrogate me on how to do online work - I know many wanted me to have a talk with Radha on that issue, but despite me offering to talk with her: that didn't happen. 

Vic is setting up a page on the Philippine section site with how-to's on TS work and would welcome any-body's contribution. He's a clear example of the fact that we really don't need Radha to change things. We can go 'bottom-up'. Let's face it: our sections are independent, so are most of our lodges. Who needs Radha? More transparency on her side would help, but for most work around the world she's irrelevant. 

Some of the best TS work is done through the TOS. I think members need to stop looking at the TOS with suspicion and recognize it's the one area of TS work that has grown in the past decade. It's also work with a long history: Olcott started the work that we now call 'TOS' work. 

The TOS is also the one place I've heard of in the TS where there is a sense of knowing how to deal with volunteers.

More about the world congress: http://www.moderntheosophy.com/

Katinka

--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, MKR <mkr777@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the clarification and correcting the facts.
> 
> The key important fact in all Sections is to develop leaders so that any
> untoward situation can be addressed and the transition is smooth.
> 
> The record of the membership growth outside India is either frozen or
> declining and this is not good news for any organization. Growth has a
> correlation with the leadership for any organization. In addition, since the
> trend is pervasive among the Sections outside India, we all need to try to
> identify the systemic causes so that possible solutions can be found.
> 
> In the recent world Congress, I thought the leaders from the Sections will
> have an informal or formal session addressing the membership growth issue. I
> am disappointed that there was none and are we to take it that Section
> leaders do not consider membership growth as a priority issue or is it
> possible the issue is too hot for anyone to touch it.
> 
> MY .02
> 
> MKR
> 
> On Mon, Jul 19, 2010 at 8:10 AM, Charles Sitwell <csitwell@...>wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> > MKR and everyone
> > I just want to correct the impression one gains from MKR's last posting
> > that
> > the NZ election process is due to our current NP (Gen Sec equivalent)
> > "unexpectedly taking leave of absence". This is our scheduled three yearly
> > election with the new National President taking office early next year
> > after
> > our Convention (national AGM), as per our Constitution. The only part ill
> > health may have played, is/was the current holder of office deciding not to
> >
> > stand for a second term. The comments about inexperience were a little
> > unnecessary, but we are all, of course, entitled to our point of view!
> > Best wishes,
> > Charles.
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>