TS WORLD CONGRESS IN ROME  10-15 JULY  2010

Report by TOS International Secretary, Diana Dunningham Chapotin

6 - Summing up: What touched people the most at the Congress?

 I posed this question to some people on the last day and the thing that was mentioned the most often was the friendliness, efficiency, indefatigability and generosity of the Italian team running the event. 

Dr H.K. Rawal (of Kenya, the U.K. and elsewhere) said: “The hospitality of this Congress was incredible.  What a dance of brotherhood!  There were so many instant friendships that I’ll treasure the rest of my life.”

Maija Wenzel, long-time member of the French TOS, identified ease of communication with participants as the thing that touched her the most at the Congress.  “Whether they were from Brazil, Africa or Australia, one could sit down beside anyone at all and have no need to hunt for a subject of conversation.  Exchanges sprang up spontaneously and naturally.”

Deepa Kapur, the coordinator of the TOS work in Dar es Salaam, unable to attend the Congress, sent this message to Antonio Girardi:  “Brother Dubal arrived home in Tanzania yesterday full of exciting news about a World Congress that was a stupendous success!

"He conveyed the wonderful news about the charity bazaar and the brilliant collection of 2000 euros for the Tanzanian heart surgery babies.  We are overwhelmed with this kind of encouraging response from our fellow TS members.  I extend my heartiest congratulations to you all on supporting the TOS work across the globe. Tanzania was highlighted in a way that touched everyone's hearts.

"Antonio, Patrizia, Sergio, Enrico: the hard work you and so many others put in prior to the Congress, the many months of planning, co-ordinating and organising truly came to fruition as this World Congress was the most 'hi-tech, internet savvy' Congress the TS must ever have had.  I was able to watch some programmes live over the net.

"Words are scant to express the sense of brotherhood we feel with all of you who have stretched out your hands a thousand miles across the planet to create a chain of human compassion with us.  This is true Theosophy in action.

"I have already informed the hospital and the chairman of the project, Dr Kanabar, that we have received this contribution and we shall be handing over the travel incidental expense envelopes as soon as the next batch of babies leaves for surgery in India.”

President of the TOS in Chennai, C.V.K. Maithreya, wrote: “The 10th World Congress was a great opportunity to meet old friends, make new ones, share ideas and experiences and enjoy a feeling of fraternity.  The charity bazaar organised by the TS and TOS in Italy was a resounding success; we at TOS, Chennai are deeply grateful for the display of posters on the SEE Project, the sale of products made by the tsunami-affected women and the generous donation to support our work."

Since the Congress ended, Antonio Girardi has written to us: “The whole Italian Section now hopes that the brotherly spirit of Rome will give strength and energy to everyone's work in the sign of faithfulness to the Masters and to the Aims of the Theosophical Society.”

The Rome Congress has indeed given us strength and energy for the work, dear Antonio.  Heartfelt thanks from us all…

For lots more photos of the Congress see page 7, the last page.

    To top      To page: Previous  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   Next     Back to newsletter