A Letter From Fredrick Hyde-Chambers Welcoming Tibet Society’s New Co-Chairs

Dear Friends of Tibet, 

2019 is well under way and I am sure that you are all busy going about your lives and hopefully looking after yourselves and loved ones. Here at the Tibet Society, we have also been very busy putting down plans for the upcoming year. Like many other non-profits, we are faced with many challenges and a difficult landscpe to operate in and this is not likley to change any time soon. It is therefore criitcal that we do everything we can to ensure we give ourselves the best chance as an organisation to see through this difficult climate. And on that note, I have some very positive news to share with you.

I would like to announce that I will be stepping down as Chairman of the Council and in my place, I am delighted to introduce two new Co-Chairmen, Mr Tomer Ben and Mr Pempa Lobsang. I will still serve on the Council as Honorary President alongside our fourth Council member, Mr. Dalha Tsering, Chairman of the Tibetan Community.

After many years of service to the Tibet Society, our President Norman Baker will be taking a sabbatical due to a book commitment. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing council members Mr Thupten Tenzin Dompo, Mr Karma Chura-tsang and Mr Tsering Tashi for all immense work for the Tibet Society over many years. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

This new and reinvigorated Council is charged with overseeing the affairs of the Society through this crucial period to the end of June. We will reassess the situation at the half-year point with the aim of establishing a long-term and permanent Council for the Society.

TOMER BEN 
Tomer is the CEO & Founder of Solomon Mines Luxury Jewish Magazine and The International Jewish Buddhist Council (IJBC). He serves as an Adviser to The Nepalese Buddhist Community Centre (BCCUK) and The Buddhist Chaplaincy – Kalyana Mitra. With an extensive background in business developments and entrepreneurship, Tomer is well placed to accelerate growth and sustainability of Tibet Society.

PEMPA LOBSANG 
Pempa is a former Chairman of the Tibetan Community in Britain, an accountant by trade and has been involved with the UK Tibet scene for a number of years. He brings a diverse range of skills and is well placed to act as an ideal link between the Society and Tibetan Community.

Tim Loughton MP and Chris Law MP will continue in their positions as Chairs of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet (APPGT). We will also continue with the services of Gloria Montgomery in the office and our highly valued newsletter editor, Jenny James. Both have done a fantastic job under difficult circumstances.

I am genuinely reinvigorated and excited by the challenges that lie ahead and with a strong committed team, I look forward to facing them together. I would like reach out to all of our members to continue to give the team all the support you can. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your unwavering support over the years. I cannot tell you how valuable your support is and how grateful we are that we have wonderful people like you making it possible for us to shine the light on Tibet and to amplify the voice of the brave and resistent Tibetans inside Tibet.

Tibet Society would like to pay our special thanks to Mr. Sonam Tsering Frasi, the representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his team at the Office of Tibet for the valuable advice, courtesy and sensitivity they have shown to us during the past few critical months when our very survival and existence was in doubt.This year will mark the 60th anniversary of the Tibetan people’s Uprising in Lhasa (1959). It is also the 60th year since the Tibet Society was formed, just days after His Holiness The Dalai Lama along with thousands of Tibetans fled into exile. The Tibet Society, along with our partner Tibet Support Groups, will be organising various initiatives to raise awareness of the critical state of Tibet’s struggle. Please continue to give us all the suport you can.