Centennial celebrations

A photo-gallery of celebrations around the world

	Mrs Radha Burnier, International President of the TOS, addressed the international gathering that took place at Adyar in early January to celebrate the centenary of the TOS which was founded in February 1908 by Dr Annie Besant. A very full programme of activities on and off the campus was organised by Mr C.V.K. & Dr Sunita Maithreya and the TOS International Secretary.
Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu State, Mr Naresh Gupta, lights a lamp at the concluding session of the Adyar Centenary gathering, organised by the TOS, Chennai Region. Looking on are Mrs Radha Burnier, Mr C.V.K. Maithreya and Mrs Radha Muthaia.
	Under the enthusiastic leadership of Regina Celi Medina (left), the TOS in Brazil celebrate the centenary with a cake decorated with the beautiful logo its members designed for international use.
The Brazilian members make music to celebrate the centenary!
	In early March, the TOS and TS in New Zealand collaborated in a weekend programme celebrating the TOS centenary under the title Joy & the Spiritual Life. Overseas guests included the Hon. Sec. and Treasurer of the TOS in Pakistan, Fareeda and Aman Amir, Australian TOS member, Dorothy Bell, the National President of the TOS in France, Michel Chapotin and the TOS International Secretary. Time was taken on the second day to celebrate the centenary of a sister organisation called the Round Table, a ceremonial movement for children designed to inculcate spiritual values.
Kenya marked the centenary of the TOS with a stamp. The TOS Centennial special postage stamp was officially launched by the Minister for Gender and Children's Affairs, Hon. Esther Murugi, M.P. on Monday, 17th November 2008. Among other invited guests who attended this function was the Postmaster General, Mr Fred Odhiambo. Here, children from the Don Bosco School perform a dance of welcome to the official party.
	Blavatsky Hall in Nairobi was packed with members and guests. Master of Ceremonies for the launching of the stamp was Mr Narendra Shah.
The Centennial stamp is unveiled.
	The Postmaster General and the Minister planting the TOS Centennial Tree.
After an afternoon of celebratory activities in April, members the TOS in France enjoy refreshments. US$600 was collected for the education of Tibetan monks in Dharamsala.
	The TOS in Chennai Region had T-shirts made with the centenary logo. They were modelled by four participants at the centenary celebrations in Auckland, New Zealand.
On a crisp sunny May afternoon, TS and TOS members in Canberra, Australia celebrated the centenary of the TOS with a workshop on meditation, led by teacher, Birthe Ross. The entry fee and generous contributions by participants were donated to the TOS literacy home-schools project in Pakistan. TS member, Birthe Ross, the meditation teacher, is in the centre with Tony Fearnside to the right and Karyn Fearnside and Peter Fokker, President of Canberra TS, to the left.
	In February 2008, TOS and TS members in Brisbane, Australia celebrated the 100^th Anniversary of the founding of the TOS with an afternoon tea. Long term TOS members were honoured and the TOS President, Lynette Muller, spoke about Annie Besant, the formation of the TOS and its work today.
Members and friends of the TOS Brisbane, Australia participated in a craft workshop to support a Centennial project. This was an opportunity to have fun, meet old and new friends, learn about the work of the TOS and contribute to funding a literacy home-school in Pakistan.
	The TOS Group on the Sunshine Coast, Australia, celebrated the 100^th Anniversary of the TOS with a day of sharing approaches to meditation from various religious traditions including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sufism and Christianity.
A TOS variety night in September marked the Centennial in Perth, Australia. Members and friends came dressed as their favourite character.  The entertainment included a play, dances and songs and the night finished with supper and dancing.