I do agree that’s one of the issues we need to discuss: is membership numbers something we need to focus on? Underlying question: what is the main role the TS ought to be playing on the world scene?

I speak from experience. Took me very many years to personally ‘work out’ what TS is really all about…..it may never have happened had I not reached out and got involved with the wider membership outside of local lodge life.

Exposure to knowledgeable theosophists was the main key that unlocked the door to my personal growth, whilst ‘non theosophical savvy members’ were the other side of the coin who might have seen me fly the coop had I not been so fortunate to get the balance. Mentors in the brotherhood got me over the ‘tests’ to my continued membership.

I may have saved years of time had I been in a lodge which paid some attention to basic theosophical programmes. I do believe many who ‘rightfully’ belong in TS don’t waste so much of their precious time. Unfortunately, but that is a fact of life today….very busy.

Experienced (in theosophy) members can provide bullet points of teachings for busy people who come their way which can make a great difference to their life, or direction.

I believe it incumbent on individual lodges to be governed by members who know theosophy and it’s purpose as well as a moral obligation of Sections leadership to hold individual lodges accountable in that regard. Otherwise, membership is short changed. Observation within N Z reveals branches who provide core study in basic TS principles produce ‘real theosophists’ in their membership. One of those is worth dozens of others in terms of usefulness to TS in an evolving world.

TS has the most broad and credible knowledge base of information on offer anywhere. Members whose mental faculties are able to ‘get it’ usually effect great change in their own personal lives as well as those around them. A person who has become ‘a theosophist’ more than simply a member of TS cannot help having growth and transformations of some kind. Study is the key to activating the neurons productively.

When individuals own needs are met, most cannot help themselves from reaching out to others in the world in some serviceable way…. it does not necessarily have to involve being a recruitment officer for TS membership either. Again, we can cite Vic Hao Chin from the Philippines as an example….his own growth as a knowledgeable member has led to extraordinary worldworks….

personal self transformation programmes used by people throughout the whole world; schools educating students in a more appropriate way for these evolutionary times; (staffed by faculty who have been through the self transformation programmes with the result they are more effective teachers etc.)
This is only 2 of the worldworks coming out of Philippines section.
Why? Because their General Secretary knows his Theosophy and uses it in service.

From that example we can all learn.
Quality members = Quality programmes = Quality results = Quality world?

Number of members is not the issue to address….Quality membership is in my opinion.

What I’m not sure of is to what extent the lodges in the US are being helped by the general section the way they used to be.

Other than that – sure, membership isn’t the only thing. And in part it’s about what we think the TS needs to provide to the world. Is it ideas? If so – then the US TS is doing fabulously well with it’s Quest Books. Certainly no need to improve that area of work.

I think the TS is also a place for serious conversation, learning from each other etc. Sure, that may never be a big deal – but I am pretty sure we can do a better job at that than we’re doing.