Theos-Talk Archives (May 1996 Message tl00059)

> From:	Sy Ginsburg, 72724,413
> DATE:	4/30/96 6:26 AM

RE:	Copy of: TSA Elections-2 Year Voting Requirement

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