President's Diary: Betty Bland, President

December, 2004 Our fall programming season had a great kickoff with picture-perfect weather for the traditional Open House, held on the first Sunday after Labor Day. Approximately three hundred people of all ages, from small children to the elderly, enjoyed the rich fullness of the late summer flowers and manicured lawns. The tent set up by the Theosophical Publishing House overflowed with guests as they stacked up their selections of free books, which were being given away due to an overstocked warehouse. The flags at the entrances and large signs brought in people who had never visited before. Our enthusiastic staff and volunteer greeters, environmental displays (including an all-electric car), free books, and other programs won the appreciation of visitors. As she left, one woman stopped to thank me equally for the beautiful weather and the free books. I assured her that we couldn’t take credit for the weather, but for the rest I said, “You are welcome—now and in the future.”

Following closely on the heels of the Open House was the Kern Lecture and Seminar at the end of September. At a well-advertised Thursday evening presentation in downtown Chicago, Dr. Ian Stevenson spoke about children who claim to remember past lives, based on over forty years of painstaking research. That talk was followed on Saturday at Olcott with a question-and-answer format for his discussion of evidence for life after death, apparitions, and deathbed visions. Dr. Stevenson is a remarkable man who dedicated his time and talents to what was a controversial subject, particularly during the earlier years.

Dr. Ian Stevenson

Our usual schedule was interrupted by an emergency call to rush to the bedside of David’s mother. Her passing, the memorial service, and the cleaning-out of her apartment consumed the last week of September. It was a quite stressful time, but her wish not to linger was granted, and with time it has become easier. Moreover, we have been comforted by our Theosophical understandings and many kind expressions of sympathy.

Construction has begun on the renovation project in the Mills building. Staff and other part-time workers barely had time to clean out the shipping room before phase one began, which involves creating new office space in the old shipping area. We are grateful to the Sellon Charitable Trust for some initial funding, without which we could not have pursued this project.

My mini-speaking tour of four groups in the Miami area in late October brought me back to see old friends and make new ones. The Miami area is blessed with a number of study groups and lodges, two of which are Spanish-speaking.

Olcott staff took advantage of the Halloween theme for a lunch party on Friday, October 29 (costumes optional). “Ghastly” decorations and trick-or-treat candies adorned the tables for the gala affair, which provided a little respite and reward at midday.

Halloween weekend also brought national board member Tom Ockerse, professor of graphic design at Rhode Island School of Design for over twenty years, to Olcott for a general image and design workshop for staff and artists, as we explore new ways to attract people to the ancient wisdom teachings. He highlighted for everyone the importance of visual presentation in all the materials we produce. There are lots of ideas and hard work ahead for all staff in this arena.