Premie Response, in a post below claims that a number of posters have seriously misrepresented TPRF and it's funding provisions - as Premie Response can't or won't explain just what is so wrong with what has been said I'll do the charitable thing and help him out.

The first thing to address is why people may not be willing to take TPRF's statements at face value, there are two reasons.

Firstly the thirty years of hidden funding by so many Rawat related organisations - just because an organisation doesn't have to publish its accounts, doesn't mean it shouldn't do so - has left many of us very suspicious of the competence of their managers. Secondly, like all other Rawat related organisations there is no independent representation on the Board of Management nor is there an active membership to which the board is answerable. The TPRF board is made up of long term Rawat supporters - one is married to a lawyer who is said to have acted personally for Rawat and has certainly had a private business relationship with Rawat via a SEVA Corp. subsidiary. Another board member has been closely involved with the Amaroo development in which Rawat has a huge personal interest. It may well be the case that nothing 'illegal' has taken place but no self respecting philanthropic organisation would put itself in the position of being so lacking in independence. A third issue arises from this narrow Board membership - TPRF is claiming to have 'Humanitarian' purpose - to be effective in this field requires the Board to have independent and experienced members - that is experienced in the actual work of delivering humanitarian aid and services.

Premies can complain about the motives and intentions of the TPRF Board being questioned - but the present Board has only itself to blame; the resolution of the questionable status of TPRF is easily achieved - appointment of independent and experienced charity administrators to its Board.

The second thing to get to grips with is the presentation of information and accounts. What premies, particularly those closely involved with the Rawat organisations seem to have a great problem with, is grasping the fact that organisations  that claim to have charitable purpose are publicly accountable. If an organisation does not explain itself properly - the fault lies with it - not the public that receives the information. It should not be necessary to have to know the meaning of special terms or understand the principles of accountancy to be able to grasp what an organisation is actually doing with its money. If the Board of TPRF wants to be better understood - then it should be clearer and give more details in the presentation of its accounts.

What Premie Response appears to be complaining about is that some F8 posters have not made a distinction between 'the costs of managing the Foundation' and the 'costs incurred by the Foundation in promoting Rawat'. As the discussion on F8 was about contributions to Humanitarian relief - PR's complaint is fairly irrelevant - the actual costs that go to Rawat related stuff  massively outweigh anything that goes to Humanitarian activities. Still lets acknowledge that on paper TPRF costs very little to run - however as no information on salaries and overheads is published we have no way of knowing what costs are allocated where.

The TPRF figures for 2003 show Expenses of $971,934 of which 9% went on marketing ($87,470), 20% on Print Materials ($194,387), and 43% on Production ($417,932).

A figure of 1% is given for Charitable - not otherwise defined and equal to a mere $9,719 and somewhat less than the $45,596 acknowledged as admin costs.

Hopefully that clears up the issue raised by Premie Response - if those who have commented on TPRF feel they have done so unfairly no doubt they will apologise. I've got three questions for Premie Response - or anyone else who thinks they have an answer.

Why when TPRF offers all it's material for download is it spending nearly $200,000 per annum on printing ?

Given that over 40% of its income is going toward 'Production' - does TPRF pay any licensing or other fees connected with copyright to any other entity ?

Does TPRF have a commercial relationship with any subsidiary of Elan Vital or private company, from which Prem Rawat, members of his family or individuals who hold positions in either TPRF or Elan Vital derive income or other benefit ?