Lodge (Branch) Programme Policy

Suggestions for a policies document

See also Psychic Phenomena And The Theosophical Society 
as reference and background material.

What is a Policies document?

A Policies document is simply a record of motions or decisions.

See the Download button above for an example policy.

Changes to National Rules and Lodge Rules are passed by Resolutions involving Lodges/Branches at the national level and Lodge (Branch) members at a local level. Decisions by the National Council are compiled into a National Policies document. There is also National and Lodge (Branch) Executives responsible for the day to day running of the respective organisations. Their non-housekeeping or ad-hoc decisions are regulations that need to be recorded in a convenient place in addition to their place in the various Minutes.

In summary, at a National level, we have a Constitution or the National Rules, below that, we have the decisions of the National Council in their Policies document, and below that, we have the minor decisions or policies of the National Executive.

Advantages of a Policies document at a Lodge (Branch) level.

Each year, new members join the various committees, and much valuable time is spent returning to explanations and discussions of past decisions, or explaining the rationale behind some local conventions. Sometimes decisions have been forgotten and new discussions arise, again wasting time. It is healthy to review past decisions but it is unhealthy to ignore or to forget them, as they are still binding until rescinded or expired.

What goes into a Policies document?

Lodge Policies may include all ad hoc or non-housekeeping decisions, grouped by subject.

The motion, and background material, and the date of the decision, are all useful additions.

For example, the Executive of a Lodge (Branch) with building premises may choose to have only vegetarian food prepared and served on the premises. This may then be included into the policies document, along with the date of the decision. Other items which may be useful:

• Sub-committee names, functions, composition (eg President, Secretary, and three other members), responsibilities or duties, meeting times, reporting, and spending powers/limits
• Education policy such as how much of the lecture programme would involve TS members, whether there is encouragement of talks by new members with short talks or panels, whether the audience at events may be allowed to practice psychic exercises and so on
• Guidelines for staff and volunteers, equipment use, meal and travel allowances etc
• Members and attendance policy for meetings 

Programme Organisers

Organising programmes can be fun for Lodges/Branches and Groups. A few points:

Purpose

• Keep in mind that all programmes need to subscribe to our purpose, a Society concerned with Theosophy or Divine Wisdom, and the Three Objects stated elsewhere on our official website
• The purpose of a single Lecture, talk or presentation is to give an overview of a topic or subject
• The purpose of a study or discussion group is to investigate a subject more deeply and thoroughly, with greater attention to detail

Members Meetings to strengthen membership

• Members meetings restricted to members only have an important role. Most of our activities are open to the general public. But just as individuals need time alone, and families need some quality time together to engage meaningfully, it is necessary that all those who have made a commitment to the TS in their hearts have some regular quality time together to share and to bond in meaningful relationships, and to strengthen our own nucleus of universal brotherhood. Often members feel refreshed from these meetings, ready to engage in our more public activities
• Try to provide some variety so that our members feel that there is something of interest for each. If one talk is very complex, make the next a little lighter, and so on

Organising Presentations

Our members are our greatest resource.

• An example spreadsheet is provided for organizing presenters. Be aware of who has presented and how often. Many organisers complain that members do not want to give talks and turn to outside speakers as an easy option. Yet it is important that our members do not feel ignored, no-one is asking them to speak, or conversely that they feel harassed, they are constantly being asked.

Presenters Spreadsheet.

• Mark on the spreadsheet if a member is willing to give presentations and list the number of presentations given each period, such as each quarter. If a member does not want to give a presentation, mark the quarter in which they were asked. With that on the record ask again a year later. Some members may refuse because they are nervous. Offer to give them a spot for a short talk with others, or to speak on a panel. Make sure the panel facilitator is more experienced so that the speakers feel supported. Some refuse because they have other commitments, work or grandchildren for example. However, if gently asked at infrequent intervals, many will often say that they are ready to give a presentation, though they may have been asked and refused a dozen times previously.

Example spreadsheet. Use formulas to derive totals.

See the Download button above for an example policy. Or select here.

EXAMPLE PROGRAMME POLICY

Example Programme Policy

1 General Programme Policy

While there is Freedom of Thought within The Theosophical Society, and great opportunities to explore Theosophy within the scope of The Theosophical Society’s Three Objects, it is equally apparent that there is the need to preserve several things for our members that relate to the programming of Lodge activities.

1.1 The Finer Aspects Of The Existing Tradition And Culture

Firstly, that there is a need to preserve the finer aspects of the existing culture and free spirit of inquiry within the TS, exemplified in the Society’s Three Objects and Resolutions of the General Council regarding Freedom of Thought and Freedom of the Society. Our programmes are meant to show the world that such a thing as Theosophy exists.

1.2 Best Use Of Limited Resources

Secondly, that there are limited resources available in terms of room space, meeting space etc, and so the priority will be given to the work of The Theosophical Society and to the published material of the TS, and, in a respectful, open and non-sectarian way, to the greater writings and ideas of the world’s great religions and philosophies.

Programmes which are predominately physical in nature such as Hatha Yoga and Tai-Chi, and room hirings for business purposes, though helpful to some people, have a lower priority than those which help to develop Brotherhood and Wisdom.

1.3 Continuous Development Of Theosophical Speakers And Writers

Thirdly, there is a need to develop Theosophical speakers and writers to ensure a healthy continuity of the Society and its work. The Society is in a position to provide a nurturing environment with many possibilities and opportunities over the longer term.

For this to be effective, it would be necessary to devote 25% of the Theosophical platform to speakers and writers who have been members of the Society for less than 10 years. It is not unusual for an advanced company to spend a similar amount, a quarter of the overall profit, on the research and development of new ideas and initiatives. In other words, if there were 4 lectures in the month, then 1 lecture would be set aside for developmental purposes. Experienced members could enhance the ideal of brotherhood by supporting this training as much as possible through mentoring and attendance.

Of course, new speakers are traditionally reluctant to step forward as the opportunity presents itself, so the Lodge may frequently find the figure of 25% to be an unattainable ideal. Nevertheless it is a worthy ideal to strive for, with the hope that as the Society grows, and speakers increase in numbers and experience, that the Society will eventually be in a position to provide a platform for many new speakers, writers and presenters.

1.4 Theosophical Platform To Be Free Of Domination By Other Organisations’ Propaganda

We may modify, for our Lodge magazine and speaking platform, the original policy of ‘The Theosophist’ magazine, written by H P Blavatsky, from its first issue. She brings out a very important point, in that the Theosophical Society is composed of individual members who each have the right to express their personal views to others within the Society, but that organisations do not have this right within the Society. Individuals alone join the Theosophical Society, it is not that other organisations may join the Society. Nor can speakers and contributors from other organisations use the Theosophical Society’s platform exclusively in pursuit of those organisations’ particular objects and goals, no matter how good or noble those organisations may be. As she reminds us, “neither Aryan, Buddhist, nor any other representative of a particular religion, whether an editor or a contributor, can, under the Society’s rules, be allowed to use these editorial columns exclusively in the interest of the same, or unreservedly commit the paper to its propaganda.” The great strength of the Theosophical Society has always been its unifying principle of Brotherhood, free of partisan allegiances, a position it has often defended in an uncompromising exploration and inquiry of the unknown.

2 Policy regarding psychic and similar phenomena

The Third Object of the Theosophical Society, Freedom of Thought Resolution and the Society’s historical development indicates that there is no opposition to the study of subtle energies and phenomena. However, there is a necessity to be mindful of the safety and well being of people who visit the Society. Just as a scientist is free to experiment and to present the results of those experiments, so are Theosophists. The conscientious, and ideal, Scientist takes every precaution as to safety and does not endanger either themselves or a visiting audience. Likewise, in a similar manner, presentations open to non-members of The Theosophical Society should be free of experimental practices, including the giving of advice that can lead to experimental practices during the presentation, which may endanger the health and well-being of the members of the audience.

3 Policy regarding presenters

3.1 Individual presentations and extended presentations

That individual presentations and extended presentations less than 5 consecutive sessions or one month, whichever is the shorter period, be conducted predominately by members of The Theosophical Society, and that non-member presenters be selected for making a significant contribution to the work of The Theosophical Society and to increasing the sense of Brotherhood and Wisdom of the existing membership. Non-member presenters should be aware that these sessions should not be for propaganda purposes and that there should be an opportunity provided, if possible, for a reciprocal arrangement by a member of The Theosophical Society nominated by the Lodge’s representatives.

3.2 Short courses and classes

That Presenters, Class and Course Facilitators for short courses longer than 5 consecutive sessions or one month, whichever is the shorter period, be members of The Theosophical Society for at least two consecutive years prior to the beginning of the first session.

3.3 Longer term courses and classes

That Presenters, Class and Course Facilitators for courses continuous throughout the year, or perennial, must be members of The Theosophical Society for at least five consecutive years prior to the beginning of the first session of the year. Long term courses are subject to the approval of the Programmes Sub-committee representing the Executive Committee.

3.4 Bookshop presentations

That programmes which include any presentations, book launches and so on under the auspices of the Bookshop be held with the appropriate signage to distinguish it from The Theosophical Society, and that there be no representations to indicate that The Theosophical Society endorses any presenter in an official capacity. Presentations on Lodge premises should not be contrary to the spirit and objects of The Theosophical Society.

4 Final approval is vested in the Lodge Executive Committee

Final approval of all programmes rests with the Lodge (Branch) Executive and its representatives. Programs which continue into a new calendar year must be approved by the Lodge (Branch) Executive Committee. Programmes may be terminated at any time by the Lodge (Branch) Executive Committee.