Theos-Talk Archives (December 1995 Message tl00466)

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Movement towards Central Control

There is a very interesting case litigated in the Denver Federal
District Court. This case was filed by the US representatives of a
world-wide fraternal organization whose headquarters is located in
Paris and is dominated by the French. There were several branches in
the US and the branches were working harmoniously with the Paris
headquarters for the past several decades. The branches in the US
were organized under a Colorado Non Profit Corporation.

About two years ago in a very bold and swift move and *it appears*
to be with the active help and suggestion and support of some of well
known members of the US branches the headquarters wanted to change
the long standing rules. Paris in a blatant move tried to seize *de
facto* control of the *entire* organization and *its assets* in this
country in a move reminiscent of the colonial days of "Residents" the
colonialists had in their colonies.

Under the change demanded by the Paris headquarters its
representative *unilaterally* *appointed by* it shall have
*absolute* and *unquestionable* *veto* powers on *all* and *any*
decision made by the membership in the US and/or the legally and
democratically elected Board of Directors of the US non-profit
corporation. This representative is answerable to no one in the US
but only to the higher ups in Paris.

When Paris' demand was presented to the members in the US the
majority of the members saw thru the power grab attempt and also the
*irrevocable* and *non negotiable* nature of the demand and decided
to reject the demand. It appears that the officers of the non profit
US Corporation personally visited Paris to present their case and the
mood of the US membership with a view to see how things could be
worked out. Paris was it appears was adamant and in no mood to
change its demands and they US officers returned empty handed with no
choices left. As it is the most un-American way to accept such
potentially dictatorial terms imposed by a small group of people from
a foreign land the members of the branches overwhelmingly voted to
reject the Paris demands thus severing its connection with Paris.

The rejection of the demand resulted in the formation of a new US
organization not answerable to Paris or any other foreign entity. Due
to the legal status of the Colorado Nonprofit Corporation the new
organization continues under the Colorado Nonprofit Corporation and
retaining all the assets.

A very small minority of members who wanted to continue to owe
allegiance to Paris and submit themselves to Paris' requirements of
being watched over by the *veto wielding* appointed representative
sued in Denver Federal District Court the Colorado Nonprofit
Corporation claiming rights to all the property owned by the
corporation. All the court records are in public domain and anyone
can have access to them. The litigation is proceeding and I do not
know how many thousands of dollars have been wasted on legal fees by
both sides. Anyone in the legal field knows that litigation in
Federal Courts is very very expensive.

There are several underlying factors in the above situation that many
may not be aware. Many of the members of the above organization are
also members of the Theosophical Society in America. While
Theosophical Society has *no* legal or *formal* connection
*whatsoever* with the above organization over the years all over
the world many of the well known members of the Theosophical Society
were active participants in the organization and their participation
was in their *personal capacity* and *not* in any way as representing
any *office* they may hold in the Theosophical Society. Secondly
*it appears* that some of the well known names in the TSA who are
members of the above organization were *it appears* actively
supported the unilateral non negotiable demands of Paris and tried
to induce others to follow them.

In the Olcott Institute program following the TS Annual Meeting of
1994 a meeting of the members following Paris line was formally
included. It was the very first time that I have been around TS for
nearly four decades that the meeting of this organization was
formally included in the program in the USA or at Adyar. Even at the
International Headquarters during the annual meeting of the TS the
meetings of this organization are never announced as part of the
official program and also the meetings if any were always held very
quietly *outside* the campus of the International Headquarters at
Adyar.

I felt that it was very inappropriate to include the above meeting
as part of the TS program and also it does no good to TSA to be seen
or perceived as being siding one side or the other. As soon as I saw
the Annual Meeting program I presented my concerns and the facts as
stated above to the National President and the Board of Directors.
But my appeal and requests to the National President and the Board of
Directors were of no avail and they went ahead with the program as
part of the Olcott Institute.

When the TSA bylaws changes were published in AT especially those
relating to the financial *micro management* clauses I noticed that
it appears to show unmistakable de facto similarities even though
couched in clever legal lingo that an average member may not
recognize the full significance. Some of those who are supportive of
the Paris line of *power grab* thinking *appears to have had*
something to do with the fast tactics adopted for a speedy formal
referendum approval of bylaw changes by TSA members with no publicity
and almost no discussion of opposing views.

I am still wondering what's going on? Is it the cyclical changes
occurring at the end this century? Any thoughts?

MK Ramadoss