Theos-Talk Archives (April 1996 Message tl01422)

=======================================================
Hi:

The message posted by Sy is very informative in both on a policy level of
disenfranchisement and its potential to affect election outcomes in more
than one part of the country. Sy being a lawyer, I am confident that he
has carefully looked into the whole range of issues involved.

I do not know what the situation in various other lodges in the country
whose members may be disenfranchised. Theosophist's are presumed to have
a high sense of real *justice* no matter what it costs -- this is at least
the ideal that you will find in much of the correspondence in ML to APS.

To me it appears that it is a very serious issue which should not be
treated in a cavalier way for any short term objectives. It can turn off
a lot of new potential future leaders of TSA and can have a lasting
effect on the future perception of the ethics of TSA and if such bad
perception is formed, no amount of PR or appeal to higher values or
mysteries is going to help.

If any of the subscribers to theos-l and theos-buds who are members of
TSA know of anyone, I would suggest that they should officially and
immediately contact their district directors and national president to
get votes sent to them. Due to the delay in delivery of ballots, it may
also require extension of time for ballots to be returned to TSA,
Wheaton. I am not a lawyer, but using common sense, it may require a non
partisan legal advise, which of course may cost some money. Here, IMHO,
lot more than money is at stake.

It is my hope that things will be set right and is done quickly.

MK Ramadoss
Member TSA - San Antonio Lodge





=======================================================================

On 30 Apr 1996, Sy Ginsburg wrote:

> The following is the text of a letter sent by me, Sy Ginsburg, President of the
> Theosophical Society in Miami, via Federal Express on April 29, 1996, to John
> Algeo, President of the Theosophical Society in America.  Your comments are
> welcome.
>
> April 29, 1996
> Dr. John Algeo, President			BY FEDERAL EXPRESS
> The Theosophical Society in America
> 1926 N. Main Street, Wheaton, IL. 60189
>
> Dear John:
>
> 	In accordance with the resolution passed by The Theosophical Society in
> Miami, at its business meeting on April 28, 1996, I have been delegated to write
> this letter to you on behalf of all our members who are also members of The
> Theosophical Society in America  (TSA) for  two years or longer.  In addition to
> my signature there is appended, the signatures of 2 other members of The
> Theosophical Society in America as well as of The Theosophical Society in Miami
> (TSM), and the signature of 1 other member of The Theosophical Society in
> America who is a member of another Study Center.
>
> 	It has come to our attention that ballots to vote in the national
> election of officers and directors of TSA were not sent to members of TSA who
> have not been members for two years or longer, in application of bylaw change #8
> passed in referendum in January 1996, but applied retroactively to exclude
> members who voted in the bylaw referendum.  Because of this failure to send
> ballots by the National Secretary under your instruction, 59 members of The
> Theosophical Society in Miami have been disenfranchised from voting.  A group of
> these members are writing to you separately to demand their ballots.  We are
> writing on behalf of members who did receive ballots, and similarly urge that
> you send ballots to these disenfranchised members so that they can vote, and
> urge you to send ballots to other disenfranchised members of TSA throughout the
> country. We call to your attention that the bylaw changes passed in January,
> even if they had been adopted legally, were voted on by all members in good
> standing of TSA at that time.  It is a large group of these very same members,
> 59 from The Theosophical Society in Miami alone, who voted on these bylaw
> changes, to whom you now deny a ballot retroactively. It is our view that such
> retroactive disenfranchisement is a serious violation of members rights.
> 	
> 	We would like to think that your retroactive disenfranchisement of
> members' voting rights was an oversight.  However, 2 of our members, Roxanne
> Nadolsky (member since December, 1994) and Diana Alboum, both telephoned Nathan
> Greer, National Secretary of TSA to request their ballots.  Nathan told them,
> after consulting with you, that they were not entitled to vote. We regard your
> actions in this matter as objectionable and urge you to reconsider them.
>
> 	On a personal note, the fact has not gone unnoticed, that since I am a
> candidate for Southeast District Director, your disenfranchisement of 59 members
> of TSM, many of whom could be expected to vote for me as I am the President of
> TSM, could change the election result.  It is imperative that you act quickly to
> rectify your action and send these members their ballots.
> 							Yours very truly
>
> 							THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
> IN MIAMI
>
> 							
> 							Seymour B. (Sy) Ginsburg,
> President
> copy: Nathan Greer, National Secretary
> copy: will be posted to the INTERNET Theos-L Discussion Group to reach other TSA
> members
>
>