Account of expulsion of two TS Dutch members

[Nick the Pilot]

Go to

http://members.lycos.nl/adyarman/Engels/indexeng.htm

and click on the link Expulsion in Holland on the left side of the screen.

"A conflict arose between the council of the Dutch section and a committee which was appointed by the general assembly of may 12th 2007 for the purpose of assessing the possibilities for reviving the Dutch section of the TS. This assessment would include affiliated foundations and organizations and it would also include an investigation into the members’ views on the ‘theosophical landscape’ and the way the participating organizations serve the theosophical cause. After four months, on September 8th 2007, there was a meeting of this committee and several members of the council, which was called for by the president of the Dutch section, in order to abolish the committee. I understand that harsh words were spoken and angry emotions erupted. The next day the council decided unanimously that two members of this committee, Mr. LS and Mr. ND, behaved in such a way that they should be expulsed from the Theosophical Society and acted accordingly.

"Of course some individual members and several lodges demanded an explanation from the council and called for a meeting of the general assembly in order to consider the expulsions. This meeting took place November 10th 2007. Mr. LS and Mr. ND were present and were able to give their views, but were denied an opportunity to react to other participants.

"I never witnessed (in more than 20 years) a meeting of the general assembly which after hours of deliberation came no further than the second item on the agenda (the agenda had 8 items).

"I was astonished to see how the council provided a list of incidents to show the unacceptability of the behavior of LS and ND, without being able to link any incident to any rule concerning reasons that may lead to their expulsion.

"I witnessed how, three hours into the meeting, at least five of those present voiced their opinion that the council could not explain how the rules and regulations of my section justify expulsion in the case of the behaviors brought forward by it. None of the prerequisites which are mentioned in the rules that may lead to expulsion, apply.

"I was astonished to witness that upon finding that the council had expelled members of the Theosophical Society, using arguments that find no justification in the rules, in the aftermath of a conflict that the council itself had caused, the general assembly voted not to vote on a motion that called for its resignation. This procedure of voting on voting on this type of motion, is unruly.

"Both expelled members have appealed to Ms. Burnier, the international president. After a long silence (not even a confirmation that the appeal of LS or ND was received) she issued a brief statement that she investigated the cases en therefore decided not to reinstate the membership.

"In a continuation of the meeting the president of the Dutch section stated that she had prepared the expulsion well in advance and that this was not an emotional ill advised step following the September 8th meeting. This shed an even more peculiar light on the events. A motion that called for disapproval also was voted down in the same unruly way."

[Katinka Hesselink]

That's certainly often the best way to change things on the lodge level: just start a new group. At the national level however that's not possible.

[Janeth]

>"..At the national level however that's not possible.."<---IT IS POSSIBLE!!

It is possible when the majority of members have the guts, will, determination, integrity, and endurance to do the right thing by Theosophy and the TS.

Nobody else but them can do what's best for them. It would be nice to have an independent (no connections/personal interests and/or personal agenda in regards to Adyar) committee of at least 3 people, visit the TS group (when National fails to fix the problems and/or challenges its group or groups are facing) having the challenges, and/or a national Section, when the challenges are at the National level.

The committee then should issue an unbias report with its suggestions on how best to solve the challenges in a Theosophical manner. Unfortunately, we all know to do that is unfeasible at present. As it is, until a sense of integrity is perceived from TS Adyar, every TS Section is on its own.

Every Section has challenges but all of them together do not begin to compare to the impropriaty and irrationality and anti-Theosophical behavior from those who should know better and should be teaching others by their example.

Leadership
Promises for every day -John C. Maxwell
"Integrity is about the small things.
...Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation!
Ethical principles are not flexible. A little white lie is still a lie. Theft is theft--whether it is $1, $1,000, or $1 million. Integrity commits itself to character over personal gain, to people over things, to service over power, to principle over convenience, to the long view over the immediate.
Anytime you break a moral principle, you create a small crack in the foundation of your integrity. And when people get taugh, it becomes harder to act with integrity, no easier, character isn't created in a crisis; it only comes to light. Everything you have done in the past--and the things you have neglected to do--come to a head when you are under pressure.-(end of quote)

Becoming a person of influence-

[Janeth]

Re: Reply by Katinka Hesselink 20 hours ago

>"..I do think the TS as a whole has a closed management culture.."<---The TS 'alleged' democratic system is in fact an autocratic system supported by each and every single TS selfish member with an attitude of 'that's not my problem', and/or 'I don't care'.

[Katinka Hesselink]

I didn't mean the laws and regulations. I meant the habit of managers in the TS, presidents, committee members, ES, of assuming members don't want to know. This attitude results in not communicating essentials to members, which in turn CAUSES indifference in members.

For instance: in the West only 40% (or something) people voted for the presidential elections. WHY? My best guess: they did not have enough information to make a decision. And instead of concluding from that that the members needed to be more involved in the election in future, our leaders then decided (or several did anyhow) that in future members should not elect the president at all, because it seems they did not care enough.

That's a closed management culture: where lack of information becomes normal. Members feel they can't make a difference anyhow, so they become passive. Which makes the leaders feel they're on their own and communicate even less.

[Janeth]

►".. I meant the habit of managers in the TS, presidents, committee members, ES, of assuming members don't want to know. This attitude results in not communicating essentials to members, which in turn CAUSES indifference in members.."<---Such attitude results not only in indifference but also distrust, frustration, contempt, and the sense that there is a hidden agenda in the works—more often than not, there is one going on. And however long it takes TS members with enough inner valor and the right mental, emotional and spiritual energy to speak up, the longer it takes to do the right thing, and the more people will continue to get hurt.

[Janeth]

►"..that in future members should not elect the president at all, because it seems they did not care enough.."<---Excellent decision!!

I do not know the time frame the decision at TSND was made but you have concluded (it is presumed that said change in the voting system in your Section has been implemented), and put in practice precisely what courageous and intrepid TS GC members and upper TS leaders proposed last year should be done. I have just posted a blog with a statement to this regard made by one of said leaders. I would like to direct your attention to paragraph 4 of--

http://theosophical.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-theosophical-societ...

I sincerely hope that TS members around the globe have, by now, come to realize and accept, among other important things:

a) Said courageous TS leaders did nothing wrong.

b) It has been said their timing was not the best.

c) Had it not been for the “Draft” TS members world-wide would not have become aware of the current depressing circumstances surrounding TS multinational center-commonly known headquarters.

d) Indifference and lack of proactive and corrective action is not the best course of action ever.

e) TS members should make an effort to keep in touch with their own TS Section and GC member.

f) A good way to practice “e)” is by reading reports we, active TS members, receive from the Section we belong to. We, in America, are fortunate to have our GC member keeping us informed through TSA’s “Messenger”. I imagine every TS Section does the same thing—If not, work on it!!

[Katinka Hesselink]

It turns out I was mistaken about Jane - I did not ever know her. There are two 'Jane's' associated with John and apparently I mistook one for the other. Please disregard anything I said about her.

[Janeth]

►"..Please disregard anything I said about her.."<---Just like that? Ms. Jane's name was posted on a site visited by people all over the world 24/7 (24 hours/7 days a week); her identity was mistaken and we theosophists say "Please disregard anything I said about her."?? Not even an apology for such a colossal mistake?

Wouldn't it bother you (anyone) having your name mentioned in such an unfortunate situation as the one this forum is about?

I believe the reputation of an individual, such as the unfortunate lady whose name was mistaken, is worth something, wouldn't you (anyone) say? Is it not worthy of an apology? I am confused. I have to ask, and please, this is no joke, what kind of brotherhood is this?

Isn't issuing a proper apology a form of the greatest virtue there is, humility?

Isn't humility an integral part of brotherhood?

By the way, 'brotherhood' is the first and most important Object of the Society, what is your (anyone) understanding of 'brotherhood', anyways?

[Katinka Hesselink]

I did NOT post her name. Someone else did that. But otherwise - point taken & posts deleted. A bit late. I am sorry about that.

As to the brotherhood thing - hard to practice is what I think it is. And that does go both ways. I feel, on the one hand, that the Dutch board was unfairly attacked in this thread. On the other, that the people involved have a right to move on.

When is it time to defend the people you know are working their hardest to keep the TS alive? Don't we owe THEM some brotherhood and support too?

[Janeth]

Re: Reply by Katinka Hesselink on November 13, 2009 at 10:15am

Katinka, first of all I would like you to know you had already earned my respect when you posted this: "Reply by Katinka Hesselink on January 16, 2009 at 1:57am" - http://theosophical.ning.com/forum/topics/the-2008-adyar-convention
Now you have my admiration as well.-☺ It takes uncommon inner valor and tons of humility to do what you did on 13 Nov. 09. What a perfect sample, from one physically young, of practicing the Society's cornerstone, "Others" and its First Object, "Brotherhood"!! Thank you so very much for teaching us by your example!!☺

Second, I would like to say, you did good defending your Section!!☺ It was lovely seeing you doing that!!☺ You showed us how much you care about your TS Section-there is nothing to be sorry about it!!☺

Third, you asked two valid/important questions: "When is it time to defend the people you know are working their hardest to keep the TS alive? Don't we owe THEM some brotherhood and support too?"<---All the time, Katinka. The time to defend the people you know work very hard to keep the TS alive is all the time, while at the same time having courage to do the right thing at all costs!!☺ And yes!! “We owe THEM” all the brotherhood and support we might be able to give to them!!☺ Well.., what can I say.., you have seen me defending my TS Section since the moment we met in this 'community', haven't you?!!☺ Ha, ha, ha...I can go back now to the time when the furore on the 'Draft' was at its peak and I can actually laugh with you and Anand, and Anton, and Kathy, and Warwick, and the rest of us, active in this ‘community’, who fiercely tried to defend that which we hold dear to our hearts!!☺ A lot has happened since, and those with the biggest understanding, altruism and compassion have remained loyal while at the same time undergoing significant mental and emotional growth!!☺ That is what true and blue students of Theosophy do, like the best of the best do, we make mistakes, we learn from them and we move on!!☺

A dear friend of mine told me recently: "I subscribe to what the Masters say: "Try. All we ask is that you TRY." I subscribe to the same thing, Katinka, and I know you do too!!☺

Another dear friend of mine gave me a gift as a reply to an e-mail I sent my TC-friends list on welcoming back a TC member who came back recently: " It is a true manhood when one boldly accepts one's share of the collective Karma of the group one works with , and does not permit oneself to be embittered , and to see others in blacker colours than reality , or to throw all blame upon some one 'black sheep' , a victim , specially selected."
Master KH” (end of quote)

I believe my friend’s gift said more than a thousand words would have!! What Master KH said applied to the response I received from my TC-friends list (over 150)-zero replies except for the gift my friend gave me, as it applies here now as well as other situations in this ‘community’!!☺ You have what it takes to be a TS leader, Katinka…, provided physically young TS members, serious and conscientious student of Theosophy like yourself, be provided with the right support, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn you, and others with similar virtues—honesty, valor, humble, determined to persevere and triumph-- have become TS leaders in the not-too-distant future. The TS needs all of you out there with said virtues, ready to do the right thing at all costs!!☺

Fraternally,
Janeth

[Katinka Hesselink]

One other way of approaching this is as follows.

The main point of the Threesome was that the TS needs to change in the way it presents itself and in the way the three objects are practically approached. The approach of the threesome was to try and change things by way of a committee - and then getting the board to implement what the committee thought out.

Many of the principles that this committee came up with are hardly new. They include: taking the three objects seriously and getting more modern in our way of communication. To give you an idea: the Dutch magazine Theosofia is closer in content to The Theosophist than to Quest. I really liked Luc's outline for a future Theosofia. However, implementing it is not self evident. And since Luc wasn't willing to join the magazine staff (all volunteers), they were left to continue as they wanted. A magazine staff is after all INDEPENDENT. Even if the Dutch board had been minded to interfere, they had no right to as the magazine really IS independent.

As to the PR - Luc's specialty is online video. He could have forced the hand of the Dutch TS website group (of which I'm a member) by simply offering to tape lectures and giving them to us digitally. In fact we joked after the whole thing was over that he could have made us very busy deciding how to put them online, where to publish them and how to integrate them into the Dutch TS website. Instead we deliberated about other issues at that particular meeting. The fact is: there is nothing stopping the Dutch TS from having online video except the very mundane: nobody has stepped forward to create them. Our section is mostly run by volunteers, so all that gets done is done by someone who has been found willing to do it.

I'm even pretty positive that had he taken that first PRACTICAL step, the response of the members would have been so overwhelmingly positive that the next year the TS or the ITC would have bought the necessary video equipment themselves to help increase the quality of the images.

Let's say the board would have stopped him - possible. He could have worked around them by asking the individual lecturers, one at least of which would have been sure to agree and would have appealed to the board. That would have removed any doubts they might have had (I don't know if they would have had doubts, just that this procedure would have gotten rid of them).

In other words: the HOW is always very important if you want to change things and the easiest way to get things done is simply to DO them.

[It's one a clock at night over here and I hope I can now finally get some sleep. ]

[Janeth]

►"..Many of the principles that this committee came up with are hardly new. They include: taking the three objects seriously and getting more modern in our way of communication. To give you an idea: the Dutch magazine Theosofia is closer in content to The Theosophist than to Quest..<---Are you implying my TS Section's, The TSA (The Theosophical Society in America), theosophical magazine, Quest, does not promote taking the three objects seriously and is not getting, as you put it, "more modern in our way of communication", while your (Dutch) magazine Theosofia is promoting them because ‘it’ (Theosofia magazine) is closer in content to Adyar's theosophical magazine, The Theosophist?