Theos-Talk Archives (December 1995 Message tl00332)

Dear Fellow Members of TSA:

We have seen a lot of messages on TSA Bylaws Revision which is being
voted on my the members. There was a lingering notion in my mind that there
is still some aspects which are either not clear or does not fully make much
sense.

So I went back and reviewed the Early Autumn 1995 issue of The
American Theosophist in which the Bylaws Revision was published. There is an
elequent introduction to the changes which is commendable.

In re-reading the bylaws revisions there are three underlying yet
related factors cited when dealing with the substantial and fundamental
changes proposed. The are 01 General Council of TS has asked that certain
features be incorporated into all national rules 02 Requests by General
Council 03 To comply with international rules/regulations 04
International President has recommended certain provision be placed in
national bylaws.

Due to the citation of the above underlying/related factors there
appears to be a perception in the minds of some members that somehow the
General Council and International President are calling the shots and the
National Board is zealous in following them and trying to implement them
and that too in a very great hurry and without giving any time for
discussing them.

The General Council consists of representatives from all over the
world and many of them with long full time experience with Theosophical
Society and many of them have made great personal sacrifices for the cause
of Theosophy. Our International President also has made long-term full-time
personal sacrifice for the cause of Theosophy.

One can be sure that the General Council and International President
would have carefully analysed and deliberated all the issues over a period
of time before coming up with any recommendation to be suggested to National
Sections. The easy availability of the background information written as
well as informal on the recommendation would make all TSA members
intelligently understand the recommendations. So far we have not seen full
disclosure of any of this background information as well as any other
related facts.

The person who represents TSA in the General Council is the National
President. So he is privy to the above information and at least I am yet to
see him disclosing or communicating them to the general dues paying
Membership of TSA. Lack of such information makes it difficult to understand
what the recommendations of the General Council are and how they are sought
to be implemented in TSA. Such lack of information may be used by the
National Board to hide any well-intentioned zealous misguided impractical
implementation. One also may wonder what information is being withheld from
general membership and for what reason. It is a great puzzle. The way the
whole issue being approached also appears to give cover to the National
President and Board of Directors for unpopular and impractical unworkable
extreme changes proposed however well motivated they may be.

It is an injustice to the International President or General
Council or National President or the National Board to be misperceived by
the members of TSA due to lack of full disclosure of information. If such
potential misperceptions are not promptly and fully corrected by full and
immediate disclosure to members the effects are likely to linger for a long
time to the detriment of TSA and TS as some of these questions are not going
to go away easily. The price paid by TSA in terms of unity and cooperation
between members and Wheaton between lodges and Wheaton may be very
substantial and may hinder the the cause of Theosophy.

It is my humble hope that the National Board of TSA does something
and does it quickly before it is too late.

With seasons greetings

MK Ramadoss

PS: As most of the members of the National Board and the International
President are not on this newslist I am mailing a copy to them by Snailmail
for information.

Scribed at 6.00pm 191912 1995