Last year we announced the formation of a fledgling group of TOS workers in Mexico. It seems that Lissette Arroyo and her fellow TS members are now confident of being able to start some activities. They are already trying to create a team to help stray animals. One of the members is very devoted to finding homes for them. They hope to organise a series of talks at the Lodge in the next few months on ecology-related themes. They also plan to explore the possibility of starting up the TOS healing ritual, guided by the international coordinator of Spanish-speaking TOS activities, Fernando Pérez Martin. We wish them all the best in their endeavours and look forward to photos of their first activities.

Below we see the TOS in Mexico’s brochure outlining the different areas of service in which the TOS operates. Lissette invites Spanish-speaking TOS members to write to her for the file of both the poster and the brochure if they would like to adapt them for their own country or local group: ots@sociedadteosofica.mx.
Both the poster and brochure are based on information and files received from Fernando Pérez Martin and Maribel Gil Jimenez.

TOS in the USA – supporting Native Americans

For many years now, 85 year old Miles Standish, whom we featured in a recent newsletter in his latest role as a glider pilot (!), has been repairing and delivering computers to the economically disadvantaged residents of Native American Indian reservations.  We asked him for his latest doings.  Here is his reply:

Dear TOS newsletter team,

Very interesting timing! I arrived back home from a delivery trip to the Crystal Boarding & Day School (in New Mexico) this afternoon and when I turned on my computer, there was your message asking for news.  I’m happy to give some here, fresh off the press, so to speak.
Early this year I received a request to provide more computers to a school in the tiny town – village might be a better term – of Crystal, New Mexico. The request came from Zelda Cantrell, who is teacher of the 4th grade class.

Just before our photo session, I made a one or two-minute speech to the parents and children about efforts such as mine to bridge the gap between the white man and the red man (or ‘First Americans’).  I told them about an office on a reservation near my home town where there is a sign on the wall that reads: "With education you are the white man's equal.  Without it, you're his victim."  I told them that this is bad and that I want to do what I can to erase that consciousness.  I told them I wanted to make personal friendships with them, and that we can communicate by email.  They seemed to be responsive to that.

Rosebud Reservation of the Lakota Sioux Indians in South Dakota is not out of the picture. I have bought 25 new winter wool blankets to send them. I also have two backup computers to send for the publisher of the tribal newspaper. I'm hoping to get some contributions to share the expense, and I think that will be forthcoming.

All this work keeps me out of mischief!
With best wishes to you all,

Miles

TOS in Australia – helping with the TS Retreat Centre

Thanks to their energy and enthusiasm, the Centre shone inside and out, with sparkling windows, freshly ironed curtains, steam-cleaned floors, freshened bedrooms, washed walls, clean gutters and roofs and beautifully trimmed gardens.

Despite a few sore muscles, everyone enjoyed working together as well as the opportunities to get to know their fellow theosophists a little better.
The weekend was not without relaxation, however, with time for walks, meditation, a DVD after dinner, and of course, chats over the delicious meals provided by TOS members.

TOS in New Zealand – thanks for thinking of the Christchurch earthquake

The TOS in Canada and the TOS on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia both sent a donation to the TOS in New Zealand in solidarity with the victims of the earthquake that took place in Christchurch on February 22.  To tell the truth, the desperate need of the people there seemed to disappear from public view after the earthquake and tsunami on March 11 in Japan.  Media attention shifted quite naturally to this comparatively enormous disaster and the rescue work in New Zealand has received relatively little international attention since.

The kindness and sensitivity of the Canadian and Australian members in not forgetting the deaths of a ‘mere’ 182 people and the extensive destruction of homes and buildings are therefore very touching.
Touching also are these photos of animals being rescued from Christchurch homes which Pedro Oliveira passed on to us from the internet.

The story begins with the rescuers finding this poor little dog they named Ralphie. Someone had already taken him under their wing but they weren't equipped to adopt him.

TOS in New Zealand – welcoming visitors from the Philippines

New Zealand is a little isolated, way down in the South Pacific, but Theosophists from other countries find their way there surprisingly often.  In late April, the coordinator of the TOS, Renée Sell, and her husband Richard, had the joy of receiving Vicente Hao Chin, Jr and his wife Tessie for a friendly visit to their home.  Vic, Tessie and their four children were on a private visit to NZ (proof that Vic occasionally takes time off from his around-the-clock work for the TS and TOS) and so there was no official gathering to welcome them.  A few key theosophists and TOS workers gathered for dinner and a lovely evening was had by all… discussing TS, TOS and Indo-Pacific work!

Alf and Maureen Paterson are responsible for the collecting of (literally) tonnes of books for the Golden Link School in the Philippines, Elizabeth and John Sell have just finished setting up the Geoffrey Hodson Memorial Scholarship Fund to pay for the education of a child at Golden Link, Renée and Richard Sell have a finger in every TOS pie and John Vorstermans, who is the president of the Indo-Pacific Federation and Margarita Sisam, his partner are wonderful supporters in moving the theosophical cause forward.  The NZ team was very happy to have a chance to chat with Vic and Tessie and hear latest news of the TOS work in the Philippines.

TOS in Orissa, India – promoting the message that animals have rights

Last year TOS workers collaborating with Dr Deepa Padhi in Mahabharat, Orissa, India, barely seemed to pause for breath.  After the environmental awareness campaign conducted amongst students of the Venkateswar English Medium School (tree planting, a rally, a signature drive and the opening of Besant Nature Club), they organised activities for children on the theme of kindness to animals.  A painting competition and an essay competition were organised and prizes awarded at the Annual Meeting of the TOS Mahabharat Group in mid-October, an event attended by the Governor of the State that attracted over 200 people.

Students in the painting competition worked on the theme "Animals are our neighbours".

The Governor launched the project “Save a thalessemic child”, announcing TOS sponsorship of 35 needy thalessemic children and the provision of blood, free of cost.  Here we see the TOS’s first sponsored child, Chinu.