Printed in the Fall 2014 issue of Quest magazine.
Citation: Boyd, Tim."President's Diary" Quest 102.4 (Fall 2014): pg. 154-155.
Here is an understatement for you: it has been a busy time since my last diary. Although it was just a few weeks ago (I'm writing this in mid-July), April seems a lifetime away. Toward the end of the month was the time to count the votes in the election for the international president of the TS—April 27 to be exact. The way the process works is that each national Section sends out the ballots to its members, receives them back, counts them, and sends the results on to the international headquarters at Adyar. On the given day for the close of the voting, the results received from the sections around the world are tallied up. At Adyar they count all of the votes from those bodies within the TS that do not have enough members or lodges to be full sections, along with the few lodges and members associated directly with Adyar. Then they add them all up and announce the result by e-mail to the candidates and all of the TS bodies around the world.
On April 27 at 4:55 p.m., India time, I got the e-mail announcing that I had been elected the eighth international president of the TS. I had arrived in Chennai, India, the day before in anticipation of the results. By 6 p.m. I was in a taxi pulling up to the headquarters building at Adyar. Because I had not announced my travel to India, my presence at the headquarters so shortly after the declaration of the results came as a surprise to both the election committee and the executive committee, who had gathered to confirm the results. The members of the two committees and I sat down for some short conversation and to arrange the details for a formal inauguration ceremony. We decided that White Lotus Day, May 8, would be the occasion for the inauguration, and that a gathering to introduce myself to Adyar staff and volunteers, and the local press, would be held the next day.
After that, things shifted into high gear. I remained at Adyar for the next three and a half weeks, coming into the office daily and trying to get up to speed on the multilayered business, history, people, and traditions of our international headquarters. Every day, often several times a day, members and people from the Chennai community would stop by the office to introduce themselves and share some piece of history or relationship specific to them.
Congratulatory e-mail streamed in from around the world. At first I tried to answer each one individually. Quickly I realized that this was a losing battle and decided that my well-wishers were generous people and would understand both my appreciation and the overwhelming level of mail I was receiving. So, to all of you who sent your good wishes, thank you for your kind thoughts.
The inauguration ceremony was held in the main hall at Adyar and was attended by a couple of hundred people. It was a brief, simple recognition of the change. The results were announced; I was introduced; some words were said by the international vice-president; then I delivered my inaugural address (reprinted International President's Inaugural Address). After that there was a beautiful ceremony in which all of the people lined up to place flower petals at the foot of a white marble statue of HPB and Olcott that stands in the main hall. Then it was photo time. A number of the people attending had brought traditional scarves and garlands to place around my neck. By the time it was all over I had quite a collection.
On May 12, while I was still at Adyar, the results of the American Section's elections were announced with a similar result—me as president.
Later in the month of May I left India and flew directly to Miami for the Florida Federation's convention. I had not been to Florida in several years and was looking forward to reconnecting with my many TS friends in the area. Nori Rao, a coworker and friend of many years, is currently president of the federation. A year in advance she had invited me to participate. Also presenting were our national secretary, David Bruce, and national speaker, author, and good friend Terry Hunt. Terry has the advantage of being bilingual (in Spanish and English), which has made it possible for him to travel and lecture both in the U.S. and throughout Latin America.
A little over 100 people attended over the course of the weekend. On Sunday I had a chance to meet with our local Spanish-speaking members. Close to forty people came for that meeting. My part was translated by Nori. My association with the very active Spanish lodges in the area goes back about twenty-five years, to the days when RenéRevert was alive and active. One of the special moments for me came in a phone conversation with René's wife, Christina. I had not seen her since his passing. It was a deeply satisfying and emotional moment for both of us.
I returned to Olcott on May 20. Walking in the front door, I was greeted with a surprise welcome from our staff and volunteers. The floor entering the lobby was covered in rose petals, and as I walked in, more petals were raining down from the balcony. Everyone had gathered in the lobby to wish me well. It felt good to be home.
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| Prayers of the Religions at the IATF Congress |
Within a few days we had swung into action preparing for the Inter-American Theosophical Federation Congress. More than seventy people from countries throughout the Americas attended. The places represented were Cuba, Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Puerto Rico, Scotland, the U.S., Colombia, Dominican Republic, Canada, Honduras, Mexico, and Costa Rica. The theme for the congress was "Theosophy as Service."
I have described the event as "super-high energy." There was everything from spiritual upliftment to intellectual stimulation to the emotional and physical expression of poetry and dance. There was something for the entire human being. During the course of the congress new officers were elected. Outgoing president Ligia Montiel, from Costa Rica, was replaced by Isis Resende, from Brazil. By virtue of being the president of the TSA I am one of the members of the IATF board. From my observations and participation in the meetings, I can say that it is a healthy organization with good people running it.
Two days after the end of the IATF my wife, Lily, and I were on a plane again, this time headed for Italy and the 100th annual convention of the Italian Section. The Section is actually 102 years old, but was unable to conduct two conventions because of World War II.
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| Tim Boyd in Italy with Renato Mazzonetto |
The convention was held in northern Italy in the city of Vicenza. The location was a lovely country club and spa outside of the center of town. More than 100 members gathered from all over the mainland and Sicily. There were also a few from Switzerland and France. Ricardo Lindeman, from Brazil, was also one of the invited presenters. I had just left Ricardo a few days earlier in Wheaton, where he had also presented.
The meetings were highly participatory, involving groups from all around the country in sharing new ideas and effective group practices. Again I received an overwhelming welcome from the members. In an unexpected turn of events, I was even adorned with another ceremonial scarf. This time it was given by Renato Mazzanetto, a TS Italy member and longtime student of the Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The scarf had been blessed by the Karmapa himself. The attention that was shown to us by hosts Antonio Girardi (president of the TS in Italy), Patrizia Calvi (longtime official in countless capacities and a boundless source of energy), and the entire Vicenza team was heart-warming and inspiring.
While there, in addition to speaking at the convention, on one evening I spoke at the Vicenza Lodge, which is also the TS Italy headquarters.
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| Tim Boyd with Vicenza Lodge president Enrico Stagni |
From Vicenza it was on to Venice, where I met with and spoke at the Venice TS Lodge. We also allowed for some leisure time to tour and visit the city. It is truly one of the remarkable cities on earth for its wealth of artistic and architectural beauty.
Next month (August) I go to Paris, Holland, and back to Adyar. One of the remarkable aspects of all this travel is that, except for the Adyar portion, all of it was scheduled before anyone had any idea that there would be an international election. Life is funny that way.
Tim Boyd