Theos-Talk Archives (May 1996 Message tl00003)

>>On Tue, 30 Apr 1996, m.k. ramadoss wrote:

> To: Theos-l, Theos-buds, theos@netcom,com
> =======================================================
> 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
> >
> >