Printed in the Winter 2014issue of Quest magazine.
Citation: Boyd, Tim. "Presidents Diary" Quest 102. 1 (Winter 2014): pg. 34-35
Every year July is a busy month for us. Historically it has been the month when we have our Summer National Convention (SNC). Since we hosted the Dalai Lama’s visit to Chicago in 2011, we have made it a goal to use our Olcott national center to host one or more international events each year. This year we were at it again.
Drawing on the words of Mahatma Gandhi, our SNC theme this year was “Be the Change.†We brought together a truly impressive array of presenters to go into the concepts and practices that support genuine self-transformation. Our presenters were Sister Gabrielle Uhlein, a Franciscan nun who teaches around the world about Christian mysticism; Vic Hao Chin, past president of the TS in the Philippines and founder of the Golden Link School (now Golden Link College);Fernando de Torrijos, longtime TSA member and one of the world's most respected trainers of medical professionals in the practice of mindfulness; our own Maria Parisen, director of the Krotona School; Dorothy Bel lof TS Australia, an educator and international speaker; and Cynthia Overweg, TSA member and former foreign correspondent. (Cynthia's article on Milarepa appears in this issue.) Attendance at the convention exceeded the numbers from our Dalai Lama year. The convention had a distinctly international flair this year because of the many members from overseas who were also attending the Theosophical Order of Service (TOS) event that immediately followed our convention.
On the day the SNC ended, the TOS international conference began. More than forty people from eighteen countries attended. Historically, the event was the third international planning meeting, two of which we have hosted here at Olcott. The sessions were coordinatedby TOS international secretary Diana Dunningham Chapotin and Carolyn Harrod of TOS Australia, who both came early and stayed after the meetings ended. Among those attending was TS international vice-president Mahendra Singhal and his wife, Sashi. This was the third time this year that he and I had been together first in India at the annual convention, then in July in Brazil at that section's international school, and again at Olcott. Barring something unforeseen, we will make it four when I travel to India in December for the General Council and Convention at Adyar.
The TOS conference began with a ceremonial tree planting. One of the projects of the TOS/USA has supported war veterans services by soliciting sponsors for memorial tree planting. This newest tree on the campus was planted in memory of Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, American Civil War veteran and cofounder of the TS.
A week after the two conferences ended, my wife, Lily, my daughter, Angelique, and I were off to camp Indralaya. We were going to attend the Connections program, which takes place annually in August. For the second year in a row I had been asked to conduct the discussion portion of the program. Just to remind you, Indralaya is one of the Theosophical camps founded by Fritz and Dora Kunz and others. It is located on Orcas Island, Washington, in Puget Sound and has been operating for eighty-seven years.
The Connections program is a wonderful model of community. Each year it brings together participants aged eight to eighty. A number of families are now into their fourth generation attending programs at the camp. The daily rhythm for the program is like an ideal day. The day begins with meditation for those so inclined, followed by breakfast. All meals are prepared by an all volunteer kitchen staff, and at each meal some foods from the camp’s garden are featured. After breakfast, people go off to work on one of the various projects that have been planned for the session. This year one of the popular projects for the younger crowd was the demolition of one of the cabins. It was surprising just how soon it was before nothing but the foundation remained. There is always work in the garden. Another rehab project was started on one of the cabins. I helped a small crew to erect a greenhouse in the garden, which will make it possible to get an early start on the summer's crops. After work we came together under the apple trees for the morning discussion—my part. Then lunch; more work; down time; dinner; and an evening campfire, which featured music, entertainment, and on one night some old-school sweaty dancing.
Over the Labor Day weekend Lily and I headed in the opposite direction to our eastern jewel Pumpkin Hollow Retreat Center, our Theosophical camp in Craryville, New York. The Northeast Federation of the TSA does an annual program at this time. This year the program teamed me up with Michael Gomes, our foremost Theosophical historian and all-around fun guy. It was an excellent program in a truly beautiful location. It was especially good for me because I had just had surgery on my shoulder one week earlier. It was a healing experience to sit by the stream, go to sleep at night to the sound of the waterfall below my cabin, and eat meals picked hours before from the abundant garden. It also did not hurt to have Carolyn Wheeler, camp manager along with her husband, Loren, do Therapeutic Touch on me in the evening.
On September 7 we had our annual big event at Olcott TheosoFest. This is the day each year that we invite the community to come and visit. Many people around the area look forward to it. This year 1700 people came. Ninety vendors with all types of services and products set up their stalls. Throughout the day we presented meditation programs and talks on Theosophy and related subjects. Over the course of the day almost fifty talks were presented. A number of our vendors this year sold jewelry and artwork. There was Indian food, pizza, ice cream. There were Tibetan Buddhist groups, Baha’is, healers of all types, nutritional therapists, sound therapies, and children's schools sharing information. We had a variety of Tarot readers, astrologers, and psychics. Again this year we had our well-attended Kids Korner, where parents and kids had a full day of activities everything from tai chi to Therapeutic Touch, from herbal remedies to belly dancing and more.
Later in September I traveled to Houston, Texas. We have three highly functional groups in the Houston area the 102-year-old Houston Lodge, the West Houston Study Center, and the Vietnamese Study Center. All of them came together and hosted my visit in each of their locations over the three days I visited. My visit concluded with the Vietnamese group, hosted at the home of Van and Lien Ly. That meeting was the cherry on top of the sundae. Seventy people attended—all of the women in colorful traditional attire. Before the meeting we had a Vietnamese vegetarian meal, and it required a great deal of self-control to keep from overindulging. Before leaving I told them I would be happy to return any time.
The month ended with seventeen members coming to the national headquarters from around the country for the Olcott Experience (OE). Although we have not done it for the past couple of years, the OE is an opportunity for active members in groups across the country to learn about the people and resources available to them at Olcott. It is also an opportunity to meet and get to know others and to share ideas and issues. David Bruce, our national secretary and head of the education department, organized the program.
As I write, we are midway through October. This month found me in Atlanta, Georgia, for a weekend program. I also traveled back to the fair state of Texas to visit with two more groups— in New Braunfels and in San Antonio. The group in New Braunfels is less than two years old and is a fascinating mix of serious students from a variety of backgrounds.
The San Antonio group is another 102-year-old branch. Apparently back in 1911 Annie Besant made a visit to the area, and as happened everywhere she went, people joined and groups appeared. San Antonio and Houston are the two remaining.
From San Antonio I traveled to New York City. This visit had little to do with TSA work. I was there for my mother's ninety-fifth birthday. My visit was too short to stop by one of the three tai chi classes she attends each week, or follow up on her voracious reading, or help in her gardening. It was just a wonderful opportunity to join with family and friends who came from around the country to celebrate a life well-lived. I do hope the secret to her longevity and clarity is genetic.
Tim Boyd