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Wales
Promoting animal welfare is one of the activities of TOS groups in North Wales.
The Conwy TOS Group Branch has been supporting World Wildlife Fund projects as well as the Cinnamon Trust. This trust is the only British charity for people in their last years and their much loved companion animals. A network of 8000 volunteers provide loving care such as dog walking and caring for pets when their owners go into hospital. Whenever possible they aim to keep owner and pet together but find a new home for the pet when staying with their owner is no longer an option.
Wales
The Bangor Group in North Wales has supported PETA’s campaign to improve the terrible treatment of animals in China.
India
The Theosophical Order of Service in the Delhi Region has established Vocational Training Centres to provide low technology vocational training to economically disadvantaged rural women. The program’s aim is to empower them with economic independence. Graduates are presented with the certificate shown here.
Canada
The Canadian TS has recently launched its new website with a section for the TOS. Check them out at:
www.theosophical.ca and
http://www.theosophical.ca/aboutus_tos.shtml
Lorraine Christensen, the National Coordinator of the TOS in Canada is in the picture opposite, sorting books for one of the TOS projects.
Australia
The Brisbane TOS group in Australia recently honoured the many years of theosophical service contributed by older members of the Brisbane TS and TOS. As you can see, they transformed the TS Lodge meeting room into a gracious tea-room for this happy occasion.
India
One of the roles of Mr Birendra Bhattacharyya, National Director of the TOS in India, is to appear as guest-of-honour and present items gathered by local TOS groups for the needy. Here we see him on the left with Mr S.S. Gahla, president of the TOS in Kolkata, distributing winter garments.
SEP 09
A series about the TOS in England
1. Maureen Atkinson is the unflappable Captain of the Good Ship TOS (UK), steering its course with a steady hand and keen foresight.
At her initiative the sixth form girls at Westholme School, Blackburn, Lancashire, have been encouraged to knit teddies. Mrs Pamela Martin, Head of her year, as well as her other duties, teaches knitting and encourages the school to work together for the benefit of others. Maureen goes to the school every year to speak to the girls about the TOS and receive the teddies.
Cynthia and Atma Trasi (at right) are the National Coordinator and Secretary of the TOS (UK)
2. . Two more TOS (UK) major helpers:
Maureen Ford and Ivy Pope.
3. Undoubtedly, the biggest project that the TOS (UK) has taken on is knitting teddies. The scheme was set up by an organisation called Teddies for Tragedies and about twelve years ago, the TOS (UK) adopted this scheme and got members, relatives and friends interested in knitting teddy bears. During this period they have sent some 9,000 teddies abroad. Teddies have been donated from as far afield as the Orkney Islands and even from TS members in Italy!
For the Centenary of the TOS in 2008, they produced bookmarks and a set of colourful greeting cards incorporating the teddies. They are being sold to raise money for the various charities that TOS (UK) supports.
4. At Theosophical Society headquarters in London, Cornelia Crowther has a stall of items to sell to raise funds for the TOS. She also organises music concerts to raise funds for the TOS.
Greta Walker (at right) is the TOS (UK) Treasurer.
Canada - In April, the Calgary Branch of the TOS in Canada helped out in sorting books and packing boxes of books for an early May book sale to assist Calgary Reads Society, an early literacy initiative that provides support to children in the school setting who are experiencing difficulties in learning to read.
From left to right, Raelyn Gerun, Svetlana Borovko, Lorraine Christensen, Henning Christensen and Kali Readwin (TOS Project Coordinator). They are outside the CBC Radio headquarters in Calgary which hosted the book packing.
Orissa, India - 1
The Governor of the State of Orissa inaugurates the Centenary function by formally lighting the lamp.
Deepa Padhi, the energetic and compassionate Secretary of the Mahabharat TOS Group, Orissa Region is on the left in the white sari with black border.
Orissa, India - 2
The Governor of Orissa presents Shri Kailash Satpathy with the Besant Selfless Service Award, 2008 for his personal sacrifice and service to society.
Brisbane, Australia
In March 2009 the Brisbane TOS Group in Australia held a fabric painting workshop to raise funds to support a literacy home-school in Pakistan. This was a wonderful opportunity for members and friends to share their creativity and support TOS projects.
A series of photos of TOS activities in New Zealand -
1. John Sell of Auckland designs bookmarks with uplifting theosophical quotations for sale within New Zealand and overseas.
For many years Lois Pollock from New Plymouth has knitted stuffed toys and baby clothes for the TOS in addition to making generous donations out of her pension.
New Zealand 3 -
Elizabeth Sell donates her paintings for sale, auction or raffle in aid of TOS projects.
In 2008 Maureen Paterson of Warkworth organised the filling of a container of over 11,000 books which the TOS shipped to Manila, along with sports equipment, teaching tools, musical instruments, computers and much more. Here we see her working with her husband, Alf.
New Zealand 5 -
Golden Link School students helping to unload the container of books and educational equipment sent from New Zealand.
Top
Brazil - In 2008 the Centenary of the TOS was celebrated by publishing a calendar for 2009. This showed photos selected from a comptetion among members on the theme of 'Nature'. and carried promotional messages for the TOS (OTS in Portuguese) and its activities.
Cardiff, Wales
The Cardiff TOS Group organised a White Poppy Meditation for World Peace to mark Remembrance Day and the 90th anniversary of the end of World War One.
The Poppy Collage centrepiece.
Lighting the Candles for Peace on entering the room.
Chennai, India - Flood relief
There were floods in Chennai at the end of November 2008, which left many on the streets as waters had entered their homes. For three days, the TOS Chennai Region arranged for one meal a day for the villagers of Injambakkam. About 350 people were fed each day.
Happy not to be hungry!
Chennai, India - Peace Gathering
The TOS and Round Table in Chennai held a Peace Gathering in December 2008 to send loving thoughts to the victims of the Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008.
The gathering began with prayers of all religions, then devotional songs, reading of a passage from the Dhammapada, a few words for world peace, a few moments of silence and finally, lighting of candles.
Chennai, India - Eye clinic
In December 2008, 470 school children at the Raghavendra Primary School run by the Maratha Education Trust were screened for eye problems. Forty-three of them were referred for further examination at the hospital. Mr Amudanathan coordinated this activity with the Udhi Eye Hospitals.
Sunshine Coast, Australia
The Sunshine Coast TOS held a Garden Party at the home and extensive gardens of one of their members. Visitors shared information on helping the environment and sold plants and raffle tickets. As well as an enjoyable day it raised $1,000 for three cleft palate operations.
- In the Springbrook kitchen: Rohzi, Kay, Carmen & Janet.
Canada
TOS Delegates at the Canadian Theosophical Convention, August 2008
Back Row: Donald Johnston, Jean-Guy Fournier, Ernest Fechner, Fiona Odgren, Ken Madden, Donna Erickson, Frank Schornagel, and Henning Christensen.
Front Row Seated: Jutta Mildner, Terezinha Franca Kind (TOS guest from Brazil), Charles Sequeira, Lorraine Christensen (TOS Director in Canada), and Rita Sequeira.
Singapore
Singapore TOS members regularly visit residents of Bright Hill Evergreen Home. They provide afternoon tea and entertainment.
Singapore
A fourth collection of new and used books was sent to the Golden Link School in the Philippines by the Singapore TOS. Here a member, brother Vivek, sorts and packs books.
Chennai, India
We wish great happiness to a long-time and faithful team member of the TOS in Chennai, physiotherapist Dr P. Nagaraj, who married N. Subalakshmi in October 2008. In the photo, we see Nagaraj and Subalakshmi surrounded by their ‘TOS family’.
Left to Right: Mr S. Harihara Raghavan, V. Gopalan, S.K. Srinivasan, Dr R.Revathy, Subalakshmi Nagaraj, P. Nagaraj, Chaganti V.K. Maithreya, Dr. Sunita Maithreya and Dr Geetha Jaikumar.
Wearing the TOS Centennial T-shirts
Left to Right: Renée Sell, (National Coordinator of the TOS in New Zealand), Richard Sell, Diana Dunningham Chapotin (TOS International Secretary) and Michel Chapotin (National President of the TOS in France).
