Dear friends,

It seems that once again an attempt to make an impartial observation
is needed in regard to the authority and due acting of certain bodies
of the TS regarding the election process. As there are not all data
available some presumptions will be included.

I/1 Rules and Regulations:

(a) Seven months before the expiration of a President's term of
office, or within three days of the office becoming vacant, the
Executive Committee shall appoint a special Committee consisting of
three members of The Theosophical Society in good standing including
the Secretary, but excluding any candidate for the office of
President, to carry out the election procedure as herein under
detailed. This Committee shall be known as the Election Committee and
shall be answerable only to the Executive Committee.

I/2 Execution:

In December (data not available) 2007 the Executive Committee
appointed the Election Committee.

…………

II/1 Rules and Regulations:

(b) Immediately on its appointment; the Election Committee shall
instruct the Secretary to send out to the members of the General
Council a written call for nominations for the office of President.
The call for nominations shall be sent by airmail or other
expeditious means if airmail be unavailable, followed one week later
by a second (duplicate) call.

II/2 Execution:

18 December 2007 the call for nominations was sent by airmail by
International Secretary.

19 December 2007 an email letter was sent to members of the General
Council by assistant to the International Secretary regarding the
nominations.

II/3 Comment:

There are no restrictions present in the Rules and Regulations
regarding the material sent by whomsoever regarding the nominations.

…………

III/1 Rules and Regulations:

(d) At the expiration of ten weeks, the Election Committee shall
place all the nominations received, together with the relevant
papers, before the Executive Committee at a meeting especially
convened for the purpose. At such meeting the Executive Committee
shall examine the nominations.

III/2 Execution:

Presumably in March (data not available) the Election Committee
placed the nominations received, together with the relevant papers,
before the Executive Committee.

III/3 Comment:

Presumably the Election Committee and the Executive Committee didn't
find any point of the nomination process disputable.

…………

IV/1 Rules and Regulations:

(e) The Secretary shall then immediately communicate in writing by
airmail or other expeditious means (followed one week later by a
second and duplicate communication) the voting list together with
biographical data of the candidates in accordance with Appendix A to
these Rules, to the General Secretaries, Regional Secretaries,
Organizing Secretaries, and Presidential Representatives and to the
Lodges (Branches) and Fellows-at-large attached to Headquarters.

Other material concerning the candidates shall not be circulated. ...
Other information may be included but must be factual and shall not
contain statements of opinion or policy. The biographical data for
circulation shall be drawn up by the Election Committee on the basis
of the information supplied by the candidates, and shall be approved
by the Executive Committee (excluding any candidates for election)
before being issued.

IV/2 Execution:

Presumably in March (data not available) the Executive Committee
communicated in writing by airmail the voting list together with
biographical data of the candidates to the General Secretaries,
Regional Secretaries, Organizing Secretaries, and Presidential
Representatives and to the Lodges (Branches) and Fellows-at-large
attached to Headquarters.

12 March 2008 the President (one of the candidates) wrote a letter to
all General Secretaries of the TS regarding the elections. The letter
is delivered to the members at least in some countries.

19 March 2008 the National President of the TS in America sent an
email message to all General Secretaries regarding the elections.

29 March 2008 the French TS Board issued a circular letter to all TS
members in France regarding the elections.

11 April 2008 the National President of the TS in America issued a
personal letter to all American TS members regarding the elections.

Other correspondence between officials and members regarding the
elections were taking place.

IV/3 Comment:

Presumably the Election Committee didn't report to the Executive
Committee that violations of the Rules and Regulations regarding the
elections were going on. Presumably members of the Executive
Committee themselves didn't react to the violations and didn't find
necessary to call a special meeting regarding the elections.
Presumably the President didn't react in regard to the violations of
the Rules and Regulations concerning the elections and functioning of
the Election Committee and the Executive Committee.

……………

V/1 Rules and Regulations:

Other material concerning the candidates shall not be circulated. ...
Other information may be included but must be factual and shall not
contain statements of opinion or policy. The biographical data for
circulation shall be drawn up by the Election Committee on the basis
of the information supplied by the candidates, and shall be approved
by the Executive Committee (excluding any candidates for election)
before being issued.

V/2 Execution:

19 April 2008 the Election Committee at Adyar issues a letter to the
General Secretary of the Theosophical Society in France regarding the
elections (in favor of one candidate).

V/3 Comment:

Presumably the Election Committee didn't seek that the letter should
be approved by the Executive Committee, so it itself violated the
Rules and Regulations.

……………..

Summary:

Obviously the violations of the Rules and Regulations in regard to
the elections took place and the fact that it seems that none of the
responsible bodies of the TS (members of the General Council, the
President, the Election Committee and the Executive Committee) didn't
react officially to settle the problems shows that there is present
serious dysfunction of the TS administration. So, it seems that there
is an urgent activation of all unifying forces and the TS' bodies
needed, not to investigate quite clear situation, but to bring the
functioning of the TS within the constitutional frame and to propose
the best solutions for the near future. In my view, a pragmatic
solution in the best interest of the TS would be to indeed nominate
for that purpose an extended and provisory council formed out of
respected and capable members as Sections' representatives. And then
encourage, help and support young members, unconditioned by the past
wounds, to create the Theosophical Society they want and deserve in
the future.

Best regards,
Anton


p.s. If an independent inquiry should be anyway conducted into the
election process as a whole then the standards which are usual for
the democratic inquiries may be of help:

1. Inquiry is taken up on the basis of the description of matter of
public significance which has to be the subject of inquiry, the
statement of purpose of inquiry and the expected extend of inquiry.
2. For the execution of inquiry a special Commission is formed.
3. A Commission has to determine the procedure. The rules of
procedure have to safeguard the right of the parties to a fair
procedure. Its work is based on the principles of impartiality,
independence and competency.
4. A Commission does not confine its work to an examination of
information furnished by parties themselves or in support of their
contentions but takes all necessary measures to obtain as complete
and objective information as possible on the matters at issue.
5. It is essential for the execution of inquiry that interested
public has as much information about the proceedings to assure the
transparency of inquiry.
6. A Commission draws exact records of inquiry (including the full
registration of public hearings) and finishes it with the report and
suggested measures.