President's Blog

The Cosmic Song as a Pathway to Peace

July 23, 2025

Sometimes we nail it on the first try.  Such was the case in 1955 when Sy Miller and Jill Jackson wrote their much-beloved song, “Let There Be Peace On Earth.”  Within one short set of lyrics, they identified a profound universal truth: that peace on earth is possible only to the extent to which we each feel peace [node:read-more:link]

DOING THE HARD STUFF

November 15, 2024

In the movie, “Ticket to Paradise,” Georgia (played by Julia Roberts) is the ex-wife of David (played by George Clooney).  During their marriage, it always fell to Georgia to “do the hard stuff.”  Near the end of the movie, Georgia encourages David to take on a difficult task, smiling warmly and whispering, “You can do the [node:read-more:link]

DOING THE HARD STUFF

November 15, 2024

In the movie, “Ticket to Paradise,” Georgia (played by Julia Roberts) is the ex-wife of David (played by George Clooney).  During their marriage, it always fell to Georgia to “do the hard stuff.”  Near the end of the movie, Georgia encourages David to take on a difficult task, smiling warmly and whispering, “You can do the hard stuff too.”  It is one of the pivotal moments of the movie, and the concept of “doing the hard stuff” has stuck with me. [node:read-more:link]

Seeding Peace

AI generated image of a peony and seeds
AI generated image
June 10, 2024

Having recently planted my garden, I’m reminded of one of nature’s miracles: the seed.  The metaphor of a seed is irresistible: the tiny seed can produce greatness and beauty that we can’t begin to imagine from the mere outer appearance of the seed.  Their lesson for us: greatness, at least in potential form, is present, even [node:read-more:link]

Turn Up the Light!

January 6, 2024

With the passage of the Winter Solstice, we begin a New Year with a slightly increasing amount of light each day. 

The metaphor of increasing light is irresistible, filling us with hope for a peaceful, more enlightened world in the year to come.  Each year we say, "Never has the world needed Light as badly as it needs Light now."  Next, we may ask, “But what can I do?  I’m just one person."   [node:read-more:link]

And Behold . . . Service Really IS Joy!

August 16, 2023

Ah, that archetypal quality, JOY.  We seek it, wish for it, crave it.  And here and there, we genuinely experience it, however fleetingly.  If only human beings were designed with a joy switch that we could flip on at will . . . but it isn’t that easy.  Or could it be very nearly that easy? [node:read-more:link]

How Good Things Really Are

May 20, 2023

To begin, I wish to express a world of gratitude for the six years of service beautifully fulfilled by Ananya Sri Ram Rajan as President of the TOS-USA.  Thanks are due not only to Ananya, but to all those who have served within the TOS since its founding by Annie Besant in 1908.  The TOS stands on solid ground today because so many workers, known and unknown, kept working, doing whatever they could to ease the suffering they saw.  As the TOS emerges from three challenging pandemic years and undergoes its current change in administration, it’s a good time to look within and ask ourselves, “ [node:read-more:link]

Hello, I Must Be Going

March 10, 2023

As I’ve reached the end of my third term as president of the TOS, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the kindness, generosity, compassion, and all-around support that you have provided to this dear organization. In my first year as president, I had to send out our annual appeal. Asking for money was never something I liked to do, but you always made it easy. And you always recognized that we were volunteers. We do this work because we love. It was as simple as that. [node:read-more:link]

An Update on Our Work with Ukraine

March 29, 2022

At the time of this writing, it has been a little over a month since Russia invaded Ukraine. Since then, more than 10 million people have been displaced. They are either moving to cities within Ukraine that are not “hotspots” or to another country altogether. As many know, neighboring countries like Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia have been welcoming the thousands of people fleeing their homeland. The majority are women and children as men between the ages of 18 to 60 have been asked to stay behind to defend the country. The UN now reports that half the children in Ukraine have had to leave their homes. [node:read-more:link]

Pages

From the President's Desk, July 2014

Congratulations! to Tim Boyd the new International President of the Theosophical Society headquartered at Adyar, Chennai, India. All the Best for a fruitful presidency. Besides also being the president of the Theosophical Society in America, Tim is a past president of the Theosophical Order of Service and a current TOS board member. [node:read-more:link]

July 26, 2014

From the President's Desk Winter 2012-2013

​Someone recently asked me “what are the goals and purpose of the Theosophical Order of Service in the USA”.

It seems a simple question.  I could quote our motto:  "A union of those who love in the service of all that suffers." I could quote our mission: "To promote reverence for all life, universal brotherhood, and world peace through service activity." [node:read-more:link]

January 29, 2013

From the President’s Desk By Nancy Secrest

On behalf of the TOS and its board of directors, I extend heartfelt thanks to all of you who responded to our annual fund appeal with your donations and your good wishes. We raised $12,214 in general donations for the work of the TOS. In addition, we received $2,250 designated for specific TOS programs.

This year we again met our $20,000 goal in donations earmarked for the Golden Link College. The funds for the school will be matched by a very generous $20,000 matching grant provided by the Kern Foundation. [node:read-more:link]

April 1, 2012

TOS Annual Report 2011

We think of the Theosophical Society as being dedicated to study, meditation and service. The Theosophical Order of Service is the service arm of the Theosophical Society. The motto of the TOS is – A union of those who love in the service of all that suffers. The TOS operates nationally in many TS countries. The national TOS groups then work together internationally. So that the warm hearts and helping hands of theosophists circle the globe. [node:read-more:link]

December 5, 2011

Meet Our New President-Nancy Secrest

Nancy SecrestAs I’m sure you all know, Tim Boyd has been elected as the president of The Theosophical Society in America. That is really a full time job to say the least; hence Tim has stepped down as president of the Theosophical Order of Service in the USA. He does remain on the TOS board. As the newly elected president of the TOS-USA, I’ve been asked to write a bio so that everyone can get to know me a little better. [node:read-more:link]

July 7, 2011

Helping Haiti

In the face of the recent tragic earthquake in Haiti we have received many requests for information about where people can make contributions of money or time. The TOS has not been directly working in Haiti and so we do not have specific organizations with which we are familiar. Up to this point we have chosen to recommend sending donations to a few accredited organizations (see list below).

[node:read-more:link]

January 17, 2010

Golden Link School: 2009 Matching Grant

Tim BoydEditor's Note:
The matching grant described in this article was effective during year 2009, and has now expired.

The Kern Foundation has committed to another matching grant for the Golden Link School in Manila, The Philippines for 2009. This time the amount is $20,000. Donations can either be made on the TOS website , look for The Golden Link School on the donate page, or by mail to: [node:read-more:link]

February 2, 2009

Golden Link School: Final Figures

I am extremely happy to report that we have met and exceeded our fundraising goal for the Golden Link School in the Philippines. For those who may not be familiar, in February of 2008 John Kern of the Kern Foundation approached the TOS/USA with a challenge. He offered to match dollar for dollar any amount we could raise for the Golden Link School up to $30,000. We had until December 31st to do it. When we began our efforts I felt confident that our global TOS community would respond and that we would reach the $30,000 mark. [node:read-more:link]

January 25, 2009

President's Editorial: Help Golden Link School

by Tim Boyd
President, Theosophical Order of Service USA

From time to time in our attempts to do good an opportunity comes along for us to make a profound difference for a worthy cause. For the Theosophical Order of Service in the USA we find ourselves in that position today. However, in order for us to make this opportunity a reality we need your help. [node:read-more:link]

Submitted by Tim on Wed, 04/02/2008 - 5:16pm

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