Theos-Talk Archives (October 1997 Message tl00338)

On Mon, 20 Oct 1997, M K Ramadoss wrote:
> It is my normal practice that on very important matters like this, I go to
> the very top. It was a formal request by a dues paying member to the elected
> head of the organization. I think the top elected official has the
> responsibility to respond. Also the request was put in writing and in a
> couple of followup letters/msgs, I did remind the National President about
> his being silent.
> 
> The silence speaks for itself, and at least we have theos-l to let everybody
> know about it.

Yes. This last year the President of the Montana Federation wrote the
National Secretary and requested a list of the Montana members - it is
something he had been able to get in the past ... the Federation is
somewhat important in Montana, as we have very few people, and the members
are scattered across a huge geographical area, Lodges are difficult to
form. The President wanted to do a mailing, and hold a meeting to see
about putting energy back into Theosophy in Montana, and to have a
discussion about the By-Law changes (all but one member of the branch I
belong to quit paying dues after the By-Laws "housekeeping" changes were
pushed through). Well, the Federation President got a letter back saying
that Wheaton didn't "recognize" the Montana Federation (odd, since the
President had gotten mail as Federation President from both Wheaton and
the Northwest Federation in past years). What might the motive be? Perhaps
that he had represented Bing when Headquarters was engaged in its noble
crusade (an *ugly* story), or had actually run for office against one of
HQ's chosen ones ... and did uncomfortably well. 

So most Theosophists in Montana no longer affiliate with Wheaton. They
still live the life. They still sometimes actually meet. They just see
little reason to pay $30 dollars a year to an organization that does not
facilitate their activities, but instead often appears as though it wants
to inhibit them. -JRC