Theos-Talk Archives (September 2010 Message tt00078)

In Theosophical Society in America, a very very interesting job search is
going on.



It is looking for a Finance Director and a job posting is at

<http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/acc/1929140195.html>



In TS history, this is the first time I see a job ad for a âwell paidâ key
position. There are some very interesting aspects as discussed below.



1.     One info that came out of the job opening is the expansion of the
bureaucracy at Wheaton by one additional level. Even tough, these things
start off as voluntary, they tend to slowly evolve into highly paid
positions.



2.     The new position is that of Chief of Staff, just like the Chief of
Staff of the President of the United States. The position usually wields
enormous power due to its gate-keeper function. Members, have no idea how
this position is going the improve spreading of theosophy in the USA and
addressing the very critical issue of recruitment and retention of
membership.


 Membership has continued to decline, in spite of leadership of very
dedicated, highly educated, highly qualified theosophists at the top level.
Also members do not know about the compensation in kind or otherwise for the
position. [Traditionally, compensation issues are tightly kept secrets in
all organizations.]



3.     TS is unlike any other business or spiritual organization. I have
never seen a chief of staff even at the International level. Even when Annie
Besant was very active in her theosophical, political and social projects
she did it without the help of a chief of staff. She achieved much and all
she had was a personal assistant. So the current need at TSA is very
intriguing, to say the least.



4.     One of the Job Descriptions of the Finance Director I have seen runs
three pages. An  interesting part reads:



â..the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle,
or feel; and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to reach
with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand and
walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
Specific vision ability required by this job include close vision, distance
vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to
adjust focus.â



[During WWII, President Franklin Roosevelt was confined to wheel chair and
ran the country! Color blind people too were enlisted in the US Army.]



5.     Only thing that is conspicuously missing is whether gays and lesbians
will be considered!



6.     In spite of the position being a key one and highly paid, there is no
requirement or any explicit preference for a theosophist.  TS was built by
dedicated volunteers who usually are twice or thrice as productive as one
who is simply looking for a livelihood.



7.     The three page job description may be a overkill resulting in hiring
a wrong candidate at a very high compensation. When the present incumbent
joined the TS during the days of Dora Kunz Presidency, he was not a heavy
weight. Anyone who has access to the correspondence at the time he came on
board can verify for himself or herself. So an enthusiastic accountant can
be made to come upto speed in short order. I am sure there is enough
accounting expertise within the TSA membership which can be tapped free of
cost when needed.



8.     The person who will be appointed to the job, obviously had to be
physically present at Wheaton. During the last International Election, the
immediate past president of TSA who was a candidate and whose candidature
was strongly supported by the current leadership, in his vision for TS
stated:



âBut the international rules do not require residence at Adyar for
administrators. Moreover, modern communication makes it possible for able
and dedicated people around the world to serve in key administrative posts,
without having to relocate from their homes.â



Thus implying that even the International President can function from
his/her home anywhere in the world.



Would it not now be an ideal opportunity for TSA to run a pilot test and see
if the Finance Director can function from his home anywhere in the USA, so
long there is high speed Internet connection.


This will save a lot of money to TSA at a time of tight budget. Also if the
pilot test succeeds, it can be rolled out world-wide in all sections as well
as at International level.



I am wondering why no one at Wheaton has thought about this possibility and
I hope they will.



It would be very interesting to watch the developments in filling the
Finance Manager position and let us keep tuned.



MKR



There is no religion higher than Truth
.


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