Printed in the Fall 2024 issue of Quest magazine.
Citation: Keene, Douglas, "President's Diary Fall 2024" Quest 112:4, pg 38-39
As cooler breezes blow and the colors on our campus of the trees blaze its annual palette of reds, oranges, and yellows, we know the seasons are shifting and summer is in retreat. The festivities of the warmer months have faded, but the Theosophical teachings and programs continue. Fall is an energetic time of year at Olcott. The gardens are put to sleep, but the renewal of spirit continues, perhaps more subtly.
Since our last communication, there has been a good deal of activity at the national headquarters. We have made a substantial investment in the infrastructure of the property, including upgrades. We have had major repairs done to our roof, which will ultimately take place in three phases. Phase I was completed in July, and phases II and III will be forthcoming. We have had the many potholes on our property filled, and extensive sealcoating has been performed for maintenance of our pavement throughout the campus. Several of the residential rooms have been renovated, and we hope to continue to improve the comfort of each of these. Inside the Rogers building, we added lighting to the lobby. This had been long planned, and through the generosity of the donor, we were able to add this in July. The lighting adds significantly to the display of the mural, which had been professionally restored a few years ago. We hope you were able to enjoy this new feature during the Summer National Convention.
Speaking of the Summer National Convention, I hope you were able to experience our excellent annual assembly, either in person or virtually. The talks and workshops were superb. The presenters were William Meader, Kurt Leland, Pablo Sender, Tran-Thi-Kim-Dieu, and Nicole Goott. The theme was “Elevating Consciousness: Illuminating the Path to a Better World.” The SNC itself was held July 19‒21, with an extension of July 22‒23 for workshops and an additional panel discussion. The convention was very well attended, and reviews were enthusiastic. It was again offered as a hybrid format, and we are grateful to our AV and webinar staff are making it happen.
Earlier in July, I attended the meetings of the annual General Council (governing body of the international TS) in Naarden, Netherlands. Representatives of the major Sections were present, along with other council members and observers. This is an opportunity for your international organization to discuss topics and create initiatives that affect the Theosophical Society as a whole. There were reports on the various activities of the Society, review of the Society’s rules, and a session on the Adyar Eco Development (AED) initiative in partnership with the ecologist Joss Brooks (see profile on ts-adyar website) for a vegetation restoration project on the grounds at the international headquarters in Adyar. Joss has more than a thirty-year track record with forest restoration in southeast India, with remarkable results. This project will run for many years. It will help protect the beautiful sanctuary of Adyar and bring it to an even more spectacular condition.
I hope by now most of you are aware of the Virtual Study Centers that are being launched this month (see ad on the inside back over). This is our effort to create virtual meeting space especially for those that may not be near a larger study center geographically. We are offering four specific programs that are open to members and nonmembers alike, for which there is no fee. Simply choose the program and timetable that works for you and register at our website. Our national secretary, Juliana Cesano, and course facilitators have done an enormous amount of work to provide you with a variety of high-quality opportunities.
As I’ve mentioned in previous reports, the twelfth World Congress of the TS will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, July 23‒27, 2025. This will also be the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Theosophical Society, and there will be a commemoration and celebration at this event. Many festivities are planned. The theme will be “Toward Insight and Wholeness: Our Role in Shaping the Future.” There is great enthusiasm for this meeting across the globe, and we hope to have a substantial representation from the TSA.
The international Theosophical Society convention will be held again this year in Adyar, India. The dates will be December 31 through January 4. For those of you that are able to travel to India, it is always an uplifting and exciting opportunity to meet members from around the world. There is still time to make travel arrangements. For those who have not traveled to Adyar previously, it might be helpful to connect with those planning the trip this year. More information can be obtained at www.ts-adyar.org.
Each year, we submit an annual report to our international organization. A copy of this report is contained on page TK of this issue. It provides additional details about our organization’s accomplishments during the preceding twelve months and the staff responsible for such professional output. It is our opportunity to highlight our strengths and the many projects that go on each and every day, which might not be fully appreciated by our membership. Please take a look at it to gain a full understanding of how the Society is working to fulfill its mission, which is to “encourage open-minded inquiry into world religions, philosophy, science, and the arts in order to understand the wisdom of all the ages, respect the unity of all life, and help people explore spiritual self-transformation.” Please remember that membership, in addition to the tangible benefits, supports the TSA’s efforts in this direction.
As you see, there is a great deal of activity both within the American Section and internationally. We wish to be able to provide you with diverse and inspiring programming, lodge and study center support, library services, a spiritually centered bookshop, and other resources that may be valuable to you in your exploration of spirituality, humanism, parenting, and interaction with the natural world. Please come to visit us if you are able, and join us virtually when you are not. It is an honor to have you as members. Together we can accomplish extraordinary things.
Douglas Keene