Theos-Talk Archives (December 1995 Message tl00400)

At 033700 PM 12/20/95 -0500 Liesel wrote:
>Yesterday both Eldon & Doss wrote something about the debate over the by
>laws revisions & I'd like to respond to some of it.
ascinates me about Theosophy... but the infighting doesn't.
>
>ET "...Positive suggestions for changes in Wheaton's policies..." etc.
>LFD I think John Algeo has introduced a number of changes in policy for the
>better. Ex.: When Dorothy presided we were just informed that there were by
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>laws changes. Under John The by laws were published. We were asked to vote
>on the revisions even though discussion was painfully brief. From the
>letters John sent subsequent to some of the protests he's listening. I
>think he really truly believes that these revisions are for the good of the
>TS. The thing is he's inherited an aura of distrust which is hard to dispel.
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MK Ramadoss

I went back and in the Mar/Apr 1993 Vol 81/No 02 issue of
American Theosophist the bylaw changes then under consideration are
discussed in the viewpoint section of Dorothy Abbenhouse the then
President. So from what I have been able to document the way she and the
Board of Directors were handling bylaw changes was that the changes are
first published in AT for purposes of discussion by members and after that
after due consideration at an annual meeting the question shall be put to
membership of TSA for a referendum for their decision. The annual meeting
was scheduled for Aug 1993. That gives a period of five months for
members to discuss and communicate their opinions and views. So it is not
true that at the time of Dorothy Abbenhouse the bylaws were changed and then
the members were just informed. So I would like to present what procedure
was being followed by Dorothy Abbenhouse.

In contrast to what is documented above this time when more
fundamental and serious changes are proposed the procedure exactly opposite
was followed. There was practically no time for discussion by members. The
changes were not published before they were considered at the annual
meeting. The members were asked to vote even before they could hear any
views opposing any one or more of the changes being made. The ballot was
designed in a very tricky manner so that any one who opposes all the changes
has to vote for each item whereas if one wants to vote for all the changes
need only to check one box. Thus making it very tedious to vote against the
proposed changes. No one at the National Board has explained why each of
these actions were taken. I am sure there are valid and good reasons. What
that is needed is a simple convincing explanation. Hope someone will come
out boldly and tell us.

A positive and open and candid communication and quick response for
information requests from interested members is all it takes to improve and
build trust. Trust cannot be built overnight and it takes time like growing
a tree. Early we start on this endeavor better we are. The start has to
come from National Board down and not the other way.

If anyone in the National Board is listening I hope they do
something about the whole situation instead of keeping quite. These problems
are not going to go away that easy. These kinds of problems when continued
to linger only leads to a worser situation and greater problems which
unfortunately becomes more costly and difficult to solve.
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>Like I think I should know & not have to ask whether Radha can shut us down
>& how independent we are of Adyar. After all I've been a member for not
>quite 20 years & I've had contact with the TS for 15 more years beyond
>that. How come these things aren't common knowledge? Seems to me I also
>remember that what happens at Board meetings is kept secret as well. If so
>I'd like to know what for. I think John Algeo has written articles several
>times which gave us insights into what goes on in Wheaton. One article in
>the AT gave a picture of what everyone on the Wheaton staff does & I
>thought that was informative. When I asked for an index of available video &
>audio tapes recording lectures & workshops at Wheaton & Ojai I got back a
>thick list. There's skads of useful material. Well I think there's got to
>be a lot more of this kind of interchange to dispel the aura of distrust
>that's been created. I also think that people in the office of the National
>Secretary could be a little less stand offish especially since they're an
>important point of contact for any new members. I've had some weird
>exchanges with them in connection with my new Study Center that I'm trying
>hard to make a go of.
>
>Doss you raise the question as to what the relationship is between the
>General Council the International President and our national officers.
>Who's calling the shots? I think that's a good question.
>You'd also like some more backgrounds info on the revisions in order to be
>able to vote on them intelligently. I think that's a good request. On some
>of those revisions I voted "No" because I wasn't very clear on what they
>actually meant.
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MK Ramadoss

Glad to know at least someone agrees with some of my questions.

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>
>You talk about unity & cooperation. My greatest objection to all these
>goings on is that after John Algeoall along was mending fences & we were
>beginning to forget the big fight we had over Bing's elections here whamo
>bango comes something else to cause a rift. We need another rift like we
>need a hole in the head but maybe it's too late for that already.
>
>OK that's a couple of suggestions.
>I think there needs to be a build up of basic trust which used to be there
>under Dora but has eroded since then. As for our relationship with Adyar...
>I don't know. I've never been there.
>
>Liesel
>

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MK Ramadoss

It is my hope that in the days and months to come we will get more candid
information on the all the various things many of us have asked for and have
been wondering. Let us wait and see.

..doss
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