Theos-Talk Archives (July 2008 Message tt00061)

Dear Brother/Sister:

I posted a message some time back, giving my views on the drop in membership
world-wide, except in India where there is a significant increase.

The link to the message is:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theos_talk/message/44302

Due to the de-centralized nature of the theosophical work, now may be timely
for representatives from all the countries to travel to the East. Now it may
be a good time for a group of individuals from the West to visit the lodges
in India and study and learn how they carry on their activities and find out
what is the secret to they being able to attract new members and retain
existing members. Attracting new members and retaining them are the key to
increased membership.

One of the phenomenon, I have seen in Indian Lodges, is that generally the
entire family will be attending the lodge meetings and functions even though
only the head of the family may be formally a member. Meetings and functions
are generally open to all including non-members. Another interesting fact is
that in many lodges, you can see three generations present at their meetings
and functions. Such is not the case, at least in the USA where you will
normally find either a man or woman attending the meetings, rarely finding
the spouse or children.

Also, some may be day-dreaming that modern technology and management
techniques are the simple answers to poor membership recruitment and
retention in the West. They are not. In India, the increase in the
membership has happened without application of any of the modern
communication technology. It is all done by personal one-on-one contact
which beats any technology any day.

I am no stranger to modern communication technology and management
techniques. It looks like they can be used very effectively for highly
routine and uncomplicated/complex work like production and distribution of
reading and study materials, in addition to communication and exchange of
information. How it will boost membership is a question which needs to be
tested.
Talking of communications and remote management, we recently saw what
happened with AT&T, the world's largest telecommunication company. It was
headquartered for the last decade, at San Antonio, Texas. It just decided to
move to Dallas, Texas. It is a company which has all the leading edge
communication technology and tools for use. Theoretically, the President
could run the business from his bed room because he has at his disposal
every communication tool available today and cost is no consideration.
However, he and the Board of Directors, chose to move the HQ to Dallas for
efficient administration. This shows that telecommunication and remote
management are not solutions to run organizations. I think it is a lesson
everyone of us can learn from.

Fraternally,

M K Ramadoss, Member, TS, San Antonio, Texas


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