Retrospects-1980s
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1980s
1980
TAT SOCIETY RETROSPECT FOR 1980. Labor Day Meeting.
1980 is a memorable year for the TAT Society. It marks the emergence of TAT from something of a slump, which persisted for several years, beginning in late 1977.
Recently we have seen the revival of the TAT Journal. It has been produced on a better scale than before,--more and better material and more sophisticated style. The circulation has more than doubled. We have accomplished this as the result of tireless and volunteer services of the Journal staff,--Louis Khourey, Paul Cramer Robert Cergol, Doron Fried, Mark Jaqua, Bill Weimer, Craig Smucker, Mike Whitely, and many others working in supportive, part-time jobs.
The TAT farm has been a busy place this year. The Chautauquas have been revived. In the past we tried to arrange for Chautauquas of a diversified nature, bringing in speakers from the fields of holistic health, astrology, Psi phenomena, Dream-analysis, Kirlian Photography, or from topics or incidents of a phenomenal nature,--which by their uniqueness might broaden the scope of searching philosophers.
We have decided to put an emphasis on two directions for future Chautauquas, or until better inspirations descend upon us. First, we wish to make the two annual Chautauquas primarily a forum for TAT members, giving a preference to the ideas of the TAT members, or to speakers that the TAT members might like to hear. Secondly, we will pursue, to the best of our ability, a focus on Psychology and topics which relate social sciences, re1igion, metaphysics, or that which are considered to be psychic sciences to the field of Psychology.
In shorter words it is possible that knowledge of the inner man may help us to know the outer man, and it is possible that the pursuit of psychology, while making for more understanding people, may also provide systems for finding the inner man.
Many things are happening at the TAT farm, due to outstanding efforts of a small group of people, who have taken on the tasks of managing and developing the farm. TAT, despite its diverse activities has never made enough money to the point where TAT could hire or contract work with outside contractors, or even pay wages to one TAT member. The construction of the Chautauqua building and all of the buildings other than the house, has been done by volunteer labor, the volunteers consisting of a small core of TAT people who have worked most of their spare time (and some full time) at the tasks of building, repairing and clear¬ing land.
We have recently heard criticism by visitors, and a few new TAT members about the primitive conditions at the farm. We can only reply that the critics should have seen it before, and in the present should help improve the facility by volunteering some help. Some TAT members have labored for over five years to bring the facilities to their present state of presentability . . . so that others could be invited to share the effects of that labor. Our staff now is overworked because of one or two projects too many at the same time. Please do not come to the TAT meetings expecting to be served or attended as in a hotel.
At the Labor Day meeting, the TAT Society voted to raise its dues. The dues were never intended for use as other than the minimum amount of organizational expenses, such as postage, printing, business calls (phone bills), and important travel expenses connected with group work.
Costs of all these things have doubled since TAT was formed seven years ago, and it was deemed appropriate by some that the fee should double. Others estimated that having membership fees which were too cheap detracted from the value or appreciation of our work. A vote was taken and the fee was raised to twenty dollars per calendar-year, for participating members.
Associate membership would still remain ten dollars per year, as would the founding members and retired (over 65) members. Associate members are those who are unable to come to the farm or take advantage of the benefits of membership by coming to the farm regularly, or receiving discounts from TAT-sponsored events. In most cases this associate-type of member approves of our efforts, but cannot share our meetings, --and yet wishes to make some sort of contribution.
Also discussed at the Labor Day TAT meeting was the tardiness of some TAT members in sending in their dues. All membership dues are payable before the first of the year, and they cover the calendar year. In other words it is not advisable to delay paying until late in the year, expecting the receipt to cover a year from that date. To obtain discounts a TAT member must have prior membership, --must have paid his dues at least 30 days before the event for which any discount would apply. This of course is to prevent people from deciding to join the TAT Society as an afterthought for a momentary convenience and to prevent potential members from waiting until June to pay dues, implying by the late payment that it would depend upon considerations for a particular discount only.
TAT has been in existence for seven years. In those seven years I have met more good people than in the previous fifty-six years. I have seen the beginning of a group-effort, and the beginning of friendships through TAT that are more meaningful than I ever anticipated seven years ago. With your help, we can perpetuate this sensible search for Reality, and enjoy brotherhood and friendship for many years to come.
(Richard Rose signature)
1981
1981 RETROSPECT
1981 has been the year of happenings at the farm, happenings long overdue, --because some projects had been initiated that needed to be finished.
By Labor Day, the brick work was completed on the house on the hill which will ultimately be a community meeting place, and residence. This was only achieved by many months of dedicated help by Donald Seebach, Keith McWilliams, Eric Hadidian, and many others giving part time assistance.
With the roof on, the interior walnut woodwork will be protected. The roof work is continuing with the help of Larry Ferraris, Chuck Conrad,, Keith McWilliams and Eric Hadidian. We expect a few more volunteers as time goes on.
Early this year we put in a water system to the house. This involved the making of a large concrete holding tank which was completed in 1980. The purchase of a metal pressure tank, electric hot water heater and pump were made possible through contributions. Another member paid for the excavation of 400 feet of trenching for the two pipes from the house to the spring. Another donation came in the form of the PVC pipe for the line.
Also this year the men at the farm managed to log seven thousand feet of lumber from the woods which has been sawed into boards since the Labor Day meeting.
Another very important step has been made in setting up a town house for single women who might come to live in this area.
The farm house has several beautiful cabinets, as a result of the labor and skill of Mike Casari.
In the publication department, we have discontinued the TAT Journal because of a lack of sales-personnel and distributers. We still hope to put out an issue on an irregular schedule if we can get the commitments from people interested in managing ad sales and distribution.
The Meditation Paper has been printed for the first time in book form.
Nearly all of the achievements mentioned above were outstanding in the 1ight that great skill and effort was given to make the TAT farm a more comfortable place for TAT members to visit or use. Still I look for a greater contribution to good people in general who have or have not yet joined the TAT group. Among the people who did the building, the logging, the plumbing and carpenter work at the farm were people with college degrees in psychology, teaching, (education), biology and social sciences. Two men who worked with their hands in the woods were attorneys. Our membership includes at least six certified public accountants, several electronic engineers, several men and women with degrees in photography and art.
While I am very proud of the efforts which these men gave to the TAT farm, I feel that collectively they have a potentia1 to serve mankind in a better capacity, or in a capacity which will involve the mental well-being of the general public . . . that is work that will be aimed at saving at least some people from the mental chaos which seems to be an outgrowth of our time and culture.
My particular efforts in the future shall be to encourage the membership to focus some attention and talent toward the organization of and encouragement of psychological systems which will genuinely help people with mental problems. The help or work shall consist of all possible phases of psychological enquiry, from the analyzation of psychological systems, and psychological techniques, to the search for the mind itself.
It is my observation from reading many books by psychiatrists, that much is known about the chemistry of the brain and nervous system, but very little is known about the nature or essence of thought.
There are implications in the wide diversity of psychological authorities as noted in their books. The questions that are most important to mental patients are often unanswered by the therapist, or are answered contrarily by different therapists, leading us to believe that psychology is not yet a true science capable of giving a uniform opinion on matters of sanity, nor is it in all cases able to prescribe for the patient with the precision and conviction that a medical doctor (meaning a general practitioner) might have.
Quite a bit of research has’ been done by our members who have graduated with degrees in psychology, and this research indicates two salient findings: first that the authorities in the psychological field are divergent in their opinions and diagnoses and seemed inclined to form "camps" or "schools" of opinion rather than true scientific findings, and secondly there is a pervasive emphasis on social compatibility for patients rather than the pinpointing of ailments, more exact diagnoses and definitions, and finding more exact cures rather than generalizing, speculation and sedation.
At this point I wonder if our goals are not too inclusive, --if we really expect to be of help. And yet, on the other hand we have seen some of the results of our efforts which serves as a green light for further effort.
We will be grateful for any help in our endeavors. We would also enjoy your presence at future TAT meetings. To celebrate the completion of the TAT Community Building, we are planning a party on the 28th of November. The next TAT meeting will be on the Thanksgiving holiday, from the 26th of November through the 29th. We will have our meetings for business and future planning on the 27th. Come for the entire four days if you are able.
(Richard Rose signature)
1982
1982 RETROSPECT
We are approaching the end of 1982 with no great changes in the TAT Foundation. Our membership remains about the same, but our active or participating members are not as numerous, which places more work upon the remaining members who have already given tremendously of their time and energy. We can always use a few altruistic people at the center here.
AT THE FARM: More land was cleared this spring, and more fence was built, than at any previous year. It has meant the doubling of our pasture area. Lumber and roofing have been obtained for the finishing of Larry’s barn, and for other smaller buildings.
THE CHAUTAUQUA: The Chautauquas were resumed this year. David Gold and Louis Khourey took care of the promotion. Considerable work was done in pre-Chautauqua lectures given at Cleveland, Columbus, Akron, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Like many of the group ventures, the success of the lectures and Chautauquas cannot be evaluated from the point of financial sensations. However, it means that we are capable of getting together, and doing a lot of non-reimbursed work for principles, or “magnificent obsessions”.
I announced last year that the direction of TAT in the future would be in the line of Psychology, in the hope of developing psychological research into and through more scientific methods, as opposed to questionable psychological inventions and theories which are created for professional comfort, or a sociological manipula¬tion of the trusting public.
Along the line of bringing this kind of valid psychological information to the public, members of our staff will continue researching books and journals for new discoveries along the total spectrum from brain chemistry, to subjective analysis of such means of gathering information as statistical tests to presently used psy¬chological systems, and philosophic evaluations of data as well
PUBLICATIONS: The book CARILLON has been published, and will be available at the Thanksgiving meeting. Cecy Rose created the illustrations for the book and did the layout and typesetting. Louis Khourey took care of the editing and planning along with Paul Cramer who did the photographic work and press-super¬vision.
BLUEPRINTS AND PLANNING: We are still working on the development of a TAT center for women. I am certain that the present imbalance will be corrected, and membership will increase with such a residence.
We have not permanently discarded the idea of a Journal. When the time is ripe, meaning when a few members simultaneously are inspired again, we may see the revival of the Journal.
In regard to Chautauquas, it is in the plans for future events that the first one shall be in the second or third week of June rather than the first week. We hope to avoid the rains that have plagued us in the past June meetings. The June Chautauqua will be aimed at psychological education, the study of healing in relation to mental states, and a basic forum and audience discussion.
The August Chautauqua will be an esoteric, philosophic meeting. The format hope¬fully will be a workshop on Saturday, and a discussion or forum on Sunday. It will be the first weekend in August unless the first of the month comes on a Sunday, then it will be the following or first full-weekend of the month.
Hoping to see you all in the near future,
(Richard Rose signature)
1983 missing
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1984
1984 RETROSPECT
This year has been one of prospecting for new ways to bring philosophic stimulation to more people. Some of the members have looked into the exercises of other groups. Dave Gold has been testing the waters of Florida while looking for kindred souls.
Phil Osgood and Bill Weimer have gone in for “Lifespring,” having traded/exchanged $400.00 for a rose and some hugs. Mike Casari managed to outspring Lifespring. Mike has shown surprising resilience in the art of pouncing.
Bob Cergol and Doron Fried are strongly entrenched in the Baltimore, D.C. area. Mark Scott is still working in Denver. Paul Campbell is back from Denver. Bill King is awaiting the third prince.
Dan Niebauer stopped by before Christmas, as did Mike Casari.
At the farm some work was accomplished at the Community Building. Another fifty foot wall has been finished with the help of Don Seebach and Keith McWilliams, and concrete has been poured for the floor of the new wing. Chuck Conrad has been working on the inside of the building.
This year Al Fitzpatrick built a corduroy bridge from section B to section C, opening up access to another field of timber.
The group has completed extensive improvements on the TAT house in town, with new wiring, plumbing and heating. Don Seebach constructed a furnace for the house.
We had only one Chautauqua at the farm this year, it occurring in August. We have had many new members this year, but unfortunately, some of them we have not yet had the pleasure of meeting. They joined by mail, but were not able to attend any TAT meetings.
This year the TAT meeting will be the weekend of April 13 and 14; July 4, 5, 6 and 7; weekend of August 31 and September 1; and November 28, 29, 30 and December 1.
We hope that those who joined in 1984 will find time to visit the farm this coming year. These new TAT members need not wait for a TAT meeting date, but will be welcome on any weekend except the first weekend in August (because of the Chautauqua.) Write to us if you do not have directions to the farm. This invitation is extended to any member who paid in 1984, but has never bad the chance to visit the farm, and they will be welcome whether their membership is renewed or not.
If you have a camper, we have electric plug-in sites which can be occupied without charge on TAT meeting days. There are rooms available in the house, but you should call in ahead of time to reserve a room (we ask that you bring your own blankets or sleeping bag.) There is no charge for these rooms on TAT meeting days. (Phone: 304-845-4613.)
As for myself, I have started the task of another book. For some time I will not be available for visits or consultations except for those who are coming to the farm for the first time, and those who attend the August Chautauqua.
Those coming for the first time should call 304-232-2799 to determine if I will be in the area at the time of their visit.
The group is larger than it ever was in terms of activities, unfinished projects, real estate management, book distribution and bookkeeping. And there are less people here at the home base to do the job. Consequently, besides taking on the new task of writing another book, I am required to finish commitments which other people found too burdensome.
The only alternative to laying more burdens on the members who work for nothing, is a retrenchment of certain programs and services.
I want to thank all those who sent Christmas cards, and extend excuses in the event that they did not receive an answer. We had a rush of mail during the Christmas season for the TAT Book Service and all of this had to be handled by Cecy and myself.
We will at this point thank all of the members who have contributed time and energy to maintaining the Ashram and the group activities, and welcome sincerely all new members.
(Richard Rose signature)
1985
1985 RETROSPECT
On the physical side of TAT, 1985 saw the completion of more pillars in the foundation of the community building, and the lay¬ing of twenty feet of concrete floor. Chuck Conrad has been making progress on the interior of the community building.
On the historical side of TAT we have had many letters and per¬sonal visits from older and previous members of the group. I find that there is a mutual warmth to these meetings that assures that regardless of the directions each of us takes in life, bonds have developed between us that are more permanent than anyone expected.
I saw Lenny Schwartz a few days ago, and met his two wonder¬ful little girls. We also heard from Bob Unger who is deeply interested in Dianetics. Phil Franta has reappeared after a couple years absence seemingly younger and wiser than when he left. Craig Smucker was married this year, and has been pretending that this momentous occasion can be viewed as simply a continuation of his previous serenity . . . or imperturbability. A letter from Michael Baldridge tells us that he is starting a new religion, to be known as "Christian Zen". Mike Casari has just returned from two bouts with Lifespring, and a crash course in instant mogul-making with DeLorean. Phil Osgood is very happy (to judge from his photos). He has found a lady that he does not fear or hate. Jim Cornie has reached international fame. He is Spearheading M.I.T.'s scientific role in star-wars.
A new book has been published. I have Direct Mind Experience now available. The main work was done by Cecy Rose. The beautiful cover and typesetting were Cecy's contribution, on top of consider¬able typesetting and record-keeping in relation to the TAT Book Service which has gotten to be a heavier task, but which has also produced more sales for the Pyramid books. Tatia Rose has taken on the task of overseer, to make sure that Cecy does not make mistakes.
The group ladder work is now focused in Florida. Dave Gold has returned from Purgatory there, where he went through the stations of the Cross of Gold, taking one month for each station.
At this point the group seems to be making history, --which just happens. One feature that has improved is the Chautauqua event that occurs on the first weekend of August. This year saw the best one yet. Our restrictions on attendance have born some fruit.
(Richard Rose signature)
1986 missing
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1987 missing
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1988 missing
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1989 missing
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