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Announce delegates assembled national conventions glad tidings completion excavation Mount Carmel preparatory raising majestic center legislation God’s Faith that sacred spot, signature Italy five and half million dollar contract for supplying over two thousand five hundred cubic meters Pentelikon marble from Greece and fashioning therefrom the columns facings ornamentation befitting monumental building. Deeply moved enthusiastic response believers all parts world this challenging glorious task. Developments World Center paralleled further unfoldment administrative structure continental national levels through raising number Continental Counsellors to sixty-one by appointment Thelma Khelghati Western Africa, William Masehla Southern Africa, Burhani’ld-Din Af§l_n’n South Central Asia, Hideya Suzuki North-Eastern Asia, Owen Battrick Australasia and Adib Taherzadeh Europe, authorization Boards Counsellors appoint ninety more members Auxiliary Boards, and call for election at Riḍván 1977 of seven new National Spiritual Assemblies: two in Africa, Mali with its seat in Bamako and Upper Volta with its seat in Ouagadougou, two in the Americas, the French Antilles with its seat in ‘Point-A-Paramaribo, and Surinam and French Guiana with its seat in Paramaribo, one in Europe, Greece with its seat in Athens, and two in the Pacific, the New Hebrides with its seat in Port Vila and the Marshall Islands with its seat in Majuro, the latter being supplementary achievement of Plan. Number National Spiritual Assemblies thus raised one hundred twenty four following dissolution account local restrictions National Assemblies Equatorial Guinea Nepal. Of nine hundred fifty three pioneers called for specific posts four hundredninety two already settled. Also four hundred seventy seven other pioneers proceeded goal countries. Great outflow international traveling teachers recorded. Moved pay tribute indefatigable services Hands Cause God past year in promoting above successes and in fields teaching protection preservation proclamation and literature Faith as well as signal services International Teaching Center constituting great accession strength World Center relief burdens resting Universal‘ House Justice. Middle year Five Year Plan now opening will witness gathering followers Bahá’u’lláh eightinternational Teaching Conferences designed generate tremendous impetus progress Plan accomplishment whose goals now lagging seriously behind. Most pressing need Faith this critical juncture its mission redeem mankind is for every believer all Assemblies national local concentrate attainment goals placed before Baha’|' world, promote process entry by troops, achieve _vast increase size community, increase number steadfast self-sacrificing believers dedicated conform every aspect their lives high standards set Sacred Texts.‘The field is vast the time short the laborers lamentably few but on the efforts we followers of the Blessed Beauty now exert, on t-he degree to which we successfully and speedily proclaim and teach His Message to our fellow human beings, depends in great measure the course of human history in the decades immediately ahead.
The Universal House of Justice Naw-Rúz 1976
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'7’ N t' I
Bahai R:v't;’&$'
Message to convention from Continental Counsellors
To the National Bahá’í Convention of the United States
Continental Counsellors Auxiliary Board members serving in North America send loving greetings Hands of the Cause, National Spiritual Assembly and delegates assembled National Bahá’í Convention United States. We supplicate Blessed Beauty insure joyous, productive deliberation National Convention fulfillment goals Five Year Plan. As mid-way point Plan approaches we are conscious that although many victories are recorded, remaining require ments and objectives Plan necessitate careful, sustained attention enviable task propagation Message Bahá’u’lláh, consolidation victories, administering affairs Cause to achieve unity, harmony, distinctive characteristics Bahá’í life and promote process leading to entry by troops. Conti M nental Counsellors pledge continued cooperation and ser vice members our institutions.
Continental Board of Counsellors in North America April 23, 1976
Delegates pledge renewed efforts to win Plan goals
To The Universal House of Justice
One hundred fifty nine delegates gathered at the 67th National Bahá’í Convention under the shadow of Mother Temple of the West express loving appreciation to The Universal House of Justice, the supreme legislative body of the Bahá’í world, for visits of beloved Hands of the Cause of God and Continental Counsellors to Annual Convention and for unceasing guidance to American Bahá’í community in administrative and teaching spheres as we labor to complete assigned goals of Five Year Plan. Message to Annual Convention came like water to thristy traveller whose destination is clearly charted. Keenly aware of magnitude of
, global challenge and homefront responsiblity.-Entire body
of delegates pledge renewed efforts to revivify spiritual life of Bahá’í community, to inflame spark of teaching enthusiasm engendered by visit to our country of the Hand of the Cause Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir, and to enlist troops of believers under the banner of Faith. We proffer at Sacred Threshold of the Blessed Beauty this heartfelt pledge of American Bahá’ís whom Hand of Providence blessed with
soul—stirring presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá over sixty years ago.
We implore Supreme Institution to supplicate at Holy"
Shrines for lordly confirmations ofour labors to unveil light
and glory of Bahá’u’lláh on whom the peace and happiness
of mankind depends. : . Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of the United States May 1, 1976 A
House of Justice response
Greatly cheered action entire body delegates inspired presence Hands Cause Counsellers pledging renewed efforts carry out pressing tasks achieve objectives current stage Divine Plan Master. Assure participants of fervent prayers offered Holy Threshold supplication Bahá’u’lláh bestow bountiful confirmation devoted labors much loved American Bahá’í’community.
The Universal House of Justice May 3, 1976 ‘
Prominent persons should not
In view of the fact that some of the friends do not know about this instruction given to the National Spiritual Assembly by Shoghi Effendi and published in Bahcfi News several times, the National Assembly calls attention to the fact that contacts with persons of national and international prominence, whether directly or in writing, should not be made by individual Bahá’í's.
be contacted by individuals
This is a function of the National Spiritual Assembly. However, the believers are free to make recommendations to the National Assembly that such contacts be made. The National Assembly in turn may wish to authorize some individual or Local Assembly to establish the contact, depending upon the circumstances.
-.‘
/—.
In Memoriam
June 1976 3
Marie Bohmann
Grieved. passing Marie Bohmann. Early believer lifetime devoted servant Cause Chicago. Assure prayers Holy Shrines progress soul Abhá Kingdom.
The Universal House of Justice April 5, 1976
Saichiro Fujita
Dearly-loved tireless steadfast Saichiro Fujita passed to Abhá Kingdom after -long years service Sacred Threshold. His rank in vanguard first Japanese believers his labors World'Center his dedication humility sincerity lovewill forever be remembered and provide shining example to rising generations Japanese Bahá’í' who will view with pride distinction conferred upon him. Praying Holy Shrines progress his radiant soul under loving grace his Master and Guardian both of whom he served so well. Advise hold befitting memorial gatherings Japan. '
The Universal House of Justice
May 9, 1976
To National Spiritual Assembly of Japan
Moved express deep sentiments stirred in our hearts by passing beloved Saichiro Fujita to Abhá Kingdom. Though native your bright land he began his spiritual journey United
States thus linking our two communities in indelible experi ences his exemplary life of devotion to Cause Bahá’u’lláh. Conveybehalf entire American Bahá’í community sympathy loss his radiant spirit. Praying Holiest House Worship for progress his soul Divine Worlds.
National Spiritual Assembly of the United States May 10, 1976
Mark Tobey
Deeply grieved announce passing distinguished dedicated servant Bahá’u’lláh Mark Tobey. Ever remembered his constant support Bahá’í’I’ community participation activities devoted services England Japan Switzerland United States unstinting testimony inspiration Faith as his fame increased. Ardent prayers offered Sacred Threshold progress his soul Abhá Kingdom.
The Universal House of Justice April 26, 1976
gardens in I 971 .
Alice Tyler
Grieved loss dedicated servant Bahá’u’lláh Alice Tyler ascended Abhá Kingdom morning fifth February. Greatly miss her radiant warm personality. Gratefully remember her selfless services World Center. Praying Holy Threshold progress her soul.
The Universal House of Justice February 5, 1976
Notify National Assembly when early believers pass away
Local Spiritual Assemblies and groups should notify the National Spiritual Assembly immediately by telephone or telegraph upon the passing of early believers in their communities. Such information is often transmitted to the World Center and it is necessary that the National Assembly know about such deaths immediately.
Mr. F ujita, rtght, with L. Wyatt Cooper at the House of Worship ‘
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'1' N t‘ I
Bahat Rag?‘
Text of National Spiritual Assembly annual report
Bahá’í' activities during the year 132 exceeded by far those of the previous year. And some have become land . ‘ marks of progress. Yet, easy as it would be to assume that
large teaching successes resulted, we must admit to slight numerical increases, even to a lagging behind in certain objectives, though there appears to have been some strengthening of the comtnunity
At the top of the catalog of activities for the year ntust be placed:
—The gathering of the senior Bahá’í institutions on the North American continent of July 4th when the three resident Hands of the Cause of God, the Continental ,Board of Counsellors, National Spiritual Assemblies of Alaska, Canada, and the United States, in company with a representative of the International Teaching Center and a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the "Hawaiian Islands, met in Wilmette to confer on the current challenges of protecting the Faith against opposition; —The launching of a comprehensive program of,training for Local Spiritual Assemblies; —The proclamation activities associated with the observance of the Bicentennial of the United States; ——The gathering on the same day, March 27th, of friends at teaching conferences in all eighty-eight teaching districts throughout the country andin the Bahamas and Bermuda. 2 ’
These events alone were enough to tax the abundant
energy of the community but they must be seen as high? lights amid a plethora of other activities and programs which claimed the attention of the friends. International Teaching
Barely had the year begun when the lntemational Teaching Center announced through the Continental Board of Counsellors the approval by The Universal House oflustice of a program designed to intensify traveling teaching throughout the world.ANew flight was given to the international teaching activities of the American believers and-a record now exists which more than doubles that for international traveling teaching during the previous year: 322 trips this year as against 139 previously. The lntemational Goals Committee devised more instruments by which to encourage systematic short-term teaching abroad. Figuring prominently among them were the teams sent to six Latin American countries to assist with the formation of Local Spiritual Assemblies, and the team of 12 which went to Asia last winter, spending two weeks in India and one week in Sri Lanka. A development this year which portends a signific M ant future for our part in international teaching was the
agreement reached between the Mexican and United States National Assemblies to foster teaching‘ activities along the border of the two countries at the southwestern portion of the United States. Moreover, we await with positive antici , pation the final decisions of the National Spiritual Assemb lies concerned on the details of a three—year project along the Pacific coast from the State of Washington to Alaska.
The achievement ofpioneer goals was enhanced by these activities and there developed a distinct momentum in conjunction with the request of The Universal House of Justice that all such goals be met by the next Anniversary of the Birth of the Báb. As ifthat were not enough, the Committee made a valiant effort with the stout encouragement of the Hand of The Cause Rahmatu'lláh Muhájir to settle all goals by Riḍván 1976. This, alas, has not occurred, despite Dr. Muhájir’s mighty support of the recruitment of pioneers thoughout the community. But progress has been impressive: a total of 240 pioneers have settled at their posts to date; some 70 more must and will, the Committee is-confident, be settled by the 20th of October 1976.
Progress has been encouraging also in the overseas territories for which our National Assembly has administrative responsibilities, namely: the Bahamas, Bermuda, Falkland Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
In the Bahamas a major push has been initiated in the -as
teaching field largely as a result of efforts to strengthen the , Bahama Teaching Committee, recruit and prepare traveling teachers from South Carolina and other Southern states, and to settle at least six pioneers this year. The teaching conference held in Nassau on 27 March and the training given the Local Spiritual Assemblies of Freeport and Nassau went far to boost the activities of the believers in that country.
The wheels of progress have begun to turn at a faster rate in Bermuda. Not only have they received pioneers from the United Kingdom, they have sent pioneers to Grand Turk and embarked upon a plan to exchange traveling teachers with the Bahamas.
The settlement in the Falkland Islands of pioneers from the United States just before this Riḍván ensured the continued life of the sole Local Spiritual Assembly_there; while the movement of other pioneers has established a group there. ‘
A pioneer couple from Bermuda settled in Grand Turk, aided the re-establishme nt of the Local Assembly there, and thus strengthened our efforts to consolidate the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Homefront Teaching
\
Proclamation. Proclamation activities both on the na _.‘
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June 1976 5
tional and local levels achieved an unprecedented range and intensity this year. Three major observances constituted the mainsprings of our national proclamation activities, namely: the fiftieth anniversary of the National Spiritual Assembly, International Women’s Year, and the Bicentennial of the United States.
The National Spiritual Assembly’s anniversary booklet, which was released at the last National Convention, made a tremendous impression in many quarters. For the first time
many important persons and institutions gainedan appreci ation of the standards_of the Faith and the achievements of the United States Bahá’í community. In several instances brought to our attention, the booklet was the ‘key which opened doors to beneficial negotiations with non-Bahá’í’ establishments or to publicity of the Faith.
We made the most of International Women’s Year by distributing far and wide a number of statements and publications on the theme of women’s rights. Pre-eminent among these was the Spring 1975 issue of World Order, which was devoted to the subject of the equality of men and women. Hundreds of copies were given out at the International Women’s Year Conference held in Mexico City last summer. The result was a number of subsequent requests for more copies of the magazine and for other materials
published by Bahá’ís. A black and white design, using as its
motif the figures of a bird in various stages of flight, was prepared by the National Information Office for the Bahá’í exhibit at the Women’s Year Conference. Its simplicity and force, when combined with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s statement likening men and women to the two wings ofa bird, drove home the principle of the equality of the sexes. The design was again used successfully at the World Peace through Law Conference which brought together in Washington, D.C. last October delegates from 131 countries. One of the six citations given to women lawyers for their contributions toward peace went to a Bahá’í. This fact enhanced the effectiveness of the Bahá’í exhibit at the Conference. A significant accomplishment in connection with Interna « tional Women's Year was the wide exposure given a thirty second television spot produced by the National Information Office. Going by the theme “Light of Unity” and distributed by Modern Talking Picture Service, Inc., the spot was shown almost one thousand times to an audience estimated at over fifty million.
Concerning the Bicentennial of the United States, three accomplishments have highlighted th-us far the involvement of the national community in this observance. These are: the placement of a full-page color advertisement in the Bicentennial number of Life magazine, the display of Bahá’í exhibits at three major transportation centers: O’Hare Air ' port in Chicago, Penn Central Station in New York, and
Dulles International Airport in Virginia; and the publication of the winter 1975-76 issue of World Order which is en _tirely devoted to the Bicentennial. The plans of the National
Spiritual Assembly and local communities involved the distribution of over 50,000 copies of the magazine. One result is that the magazine is one of several special publications by religious bodies selected for deposit in the Government Archives of Americas Bicentennial. The entire long editorial in that issue has been recorded in the Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina, this being the outcome of an action in that body to honor John Birkes Gillespie, the prominent jazz musician. Mr. Gillespie read the World Order editorial to the legislators as a response to their speeches in his honor.
No report of proclamation activities could ignore the increasing prestige accruing to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh through the diligent efforts of Bahá’í representatives at the United Nations. Just recently a number of NonGovernmental Organization representatives at the United Nations were gathered especially to hear a lecture on the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. It was an event of transcendent importance to the Bahá’í community. There could be glimpsed in it the beloved Guardian’s pupose when he advised the Bahá’í community over thirty years ago to associate with the'work of the United Nations. Contemplating this endeavor, along with those to publicize the Faith, Shoghi Effendi firmly stated the following in a letter to the United States believers dated 5 June 1947: “National advertising and publicity should be further developed, the Contact with newspapers, magazines and trade papers should be maintained and the public relationslprograms amplified. Association, as distinct from affiliation, and untainted by any;participation in political matters, with the various'organs, leaders and representatives of the United Nations and kindred organizations should be stimulated for the purpose ofgiving, on the one hand, greater publicity to the aims and
‘purposes of the Faith, and of paving the way, on the other,
for the eventual conversion of a selected number of capable and receptive souls who will reinforce the ranks of its active and unreserved supporters.”
The record ofother proclamation activities undertaken by the community is too lenghty to by incorporated in this
report. It must be said, however, that these activities have _
created a heightened awareness of the Faith in everwidening circles and generated more than .l0,000 inches of newspaper articles about the Cause. Local communities
have contributed much creative endeavor to the overall '
power of the thrust of Bahá’í proclamation in the United States. It was only nine years ago that The Universal House oflustice pointed us to worldwide proclamation, describing it in anticipatory terms as “the unknown sea on which we must soon sail." Today the American believers can confidently say that the ship of proclamation is far out at sea and in the midmost waters. Expansion. A natural corollary of proclamation is, of course, expansion. We have not done well in this respect
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’7'N ‘ I
Bahal Rgiliérlf
this year. It was easy to expect that our intensified proclamation activities would result in large enrollments, many new localities and Spiritual Assemblies. Indeed, the very purpose of proclamation is to open the door to the more profound activity of confirming new believers. Much to the contrary,'we have lagged behind on virtually all expansion goals on the homefront, making only sight increases where there has been any increase at all, and experiencing some painful reverses. For instance, our records now show 5,644 localities as against 5,453 the previous year; approximately 920 Local Spiritual Assemblies, showing a decrease from last Riḍván’s 924. The youth membership dropped markedly. Nonetheless, some contrasting details were most encouraging, For example, the work among the Indian and Spanish-speaking minorities assumed an intensity and produced immediate results which augured well for our ultimate success in these fields of teaching. Of more than passing interest is the revitalized program of homefront circuit teaching and the fortification of all teaching endeavors through the efforts of Auxiliary Board members and their newly-appointed assistants. Yet, in sum, it must be solemnly reported again this year that enrollments fell far short of expectations.
Already last year the National Assembly sensed apathy creeping over our teaching work and sounded a warning in the last annual report. If manfully contended in the interin against the debilit_ating influences ofa society rapidly growing morose. Fifty—one youth conferences were held in June; four regional teaching conferences, followed by numerous local conferences were held in November and December in Illinois, New York, and California. A revitalized teaching program was begun in the Southern states with the dynamic assistance of Dr. Muhájir. The Hands of the Cause, Continental Counsellors, Auxiliary Board members and their assistants took great initiatives tostimulate teaching, and they joined with the National Spiritual Assembly and its auxiliaries to focus the attention of the friends on this primary necessity of Bahá’í live. During last Fall the Counsellors invited the entire community to join them on the
Anniversary of Bahá’u’lláh’s Birth in prayers for the suc—.
cess of the teaching work. These efforts found their ultimate expression in the teaching conferences held simultaneously on March 27th in the eighty-eight teaching districts of the Continental United States and in the Bahamas and Bermuda. The accumulated impact ofthese numerous activities
‘ seems finally to have been made. As the year closed, reports
began coming in about new enrollments in various parts of the country; a sense of urgency seemed slowly to be stirring the friends to new action.
Consolidation. It has been amply demonstrated that the foundation ofexpansion is laid in those efforts which enable the friends to obtain a deeper understanding of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh. The Blessed Beauty brings this reality forcefully to our attention in his exhortations on teaching.
Says He: “Whoso ariseth among you to teach the Cause of His Lord, let him, above all else, teach his own self, that his speech may attract the hearts of them that hear him. Unless he teacheth his own self, the words of his mouth will not influence the heart of the seeker.” Here it becomes plain that knowledge is power—power which transforms, which attracts new souls, which creates community. The energy of the National Spiritual Assembly continues, then, to be
heavily invested in programs of Bahá’í’ education. This year deliberate steps were taken to increase the education of individuals, families, and Local Spiritual Assemblies. Opportunities for the education of individuals continued to be provided by the permanent schools and seventeen other summer and winter schools in various parts of the
. country. The highlights of the year’s efforts to educate
individuals and families must be seen in the National Education Committee’s program to foster child education and in the Family Life Conferences held in Los Angeles; New York City; Emporia, Kansas; Orlando, Florida; and Woodbridge, Virginia. ’
A note on the development of the Louis Gregory Institute is unavoidable at this juncture. The fortunes of the Institute
I rise like a morning star. Thanks to thediligence and creative
drive of the Gregory Council and its able administrative staff, an average of 800 people a month participated in events there, comprising of deepening classes, children’s programs, work/study projects, and social functions. Moreover, it has become established as a site for the prep aration of pioneers and traveling teachers to various parts of '
the world, particularly the Carribean areas. The visits there
' this year of the Hand of the Cause Dr. Muhájir; a member of
The Universal House of Justice, Mr. Hugh Chance; Continental Counsellor, Sarah M. Pereira, and the loving attention lavished upon it by Auxiliary Board member, Elizabeth Martin combined to nourish the life of this nascent institution, the lodestarofour educational endeavors in the South.
Developing Local Spiritual Assemblies. By far the greatest investment in the education of the community was directed toward the Local Spiritual Assemblies. And for good reason, The beloved Master tells us that they “are the potent sources of the progress of man, at all times and under all conditions.” And The Universal House of Justice has challenged us in the Five year Plan to strengthen and develop these basic institutions of the Faith, saying that “Suc - cess in this one goal will greatly enrich the quality of Bahá’í
life, will heighten the capacity of the Faith to deal with entry by troops which is even now taking place and, above all, will demonstrate the solidarity and ever—growing distinctiveness of the Bahá’í community, thereby attracting more and more thoughful souls to the Faith and offering a refuge to the leaderless and hapless millions of the spiritually bankrupt, moribund present order."
Compelled by the potency of these statements, the Na tional Spiritual Assembly announced at the sixty—sixth Nara
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June 1976 7
tional Convention its plans to undertake an intensive and extensive program of Local Spiritual Assembly development.' Therefore, it is with great happiness that we now report the successful launching of this program during the year. Beginning with the orientation of 40 master trainers last August, the program has forged ahead buoyantly with the training of 21! two-person teams who have already taken the thirty—hour program to scores of Local Spiritual Assemblies. The materials of the program comprise over 600 pages oftypewritten matter and l6video—taped presentations. Its launching involved Continental Counsellors and an Auxiliary Board member in addition to National Spiritual Assembly members’ and an eager staff of volunteers. At the National Center an Assembly Development Office was established to ensure the ongoing administration of the program until the end of the Five Year Plan. Briefly stated, of 700 persons invited to become trainers, 423 accepted; of the 402 Assemblies invited to take the program between October to April, 150 have fulfilled its requirements. As can be seen, the figure for those which completed the program is less than half of the number invited. We do not yet have reports of the outcome of the program for 95 Assemblies. But we do know that 18 did not respond to the invitations, 54 declined the program, ll cancelle_d their training schedule, and 74 did not complete their training. Even so, the program has enjoyed, on the whole, a strong positive response. Whatever doubts the National Spiritual Assembly may have harbored about its efficacy were dispelled by several encouraging references to the program by The Universal House of Justice. On 23 December 1975, for instance, the Supreme Institution wrote: it would be rightto suppose that the successful carrying out of this program would do much to accomplish the third objective of the Five Year Plan.” And again: “The warm response of the Local Spiritual Assemblies which first undertook your development program should encourage you to be confident that the time may soon come when the majority of your Assemblies will be ‘shining lamps and heavenly gardens’ from which the Master promised ‘the spirit of life streameth in every direction. They, indeed, are the potent sources of the progress of man, at all times and under all conditions.’ ”
A feature of the program which has immediate benefits for all members of the Bahá’í community is the new manual entitled “Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assembliesf’ This has now been published for general release and use as an administrative reference tool.
Publications
The services of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust were indispensable to the launching of the Local Spiritual Assembly Development Program, as were indeed those rendered by .the Video Production Office of the National Information Committee. The final editing and printing of the training
manuals fell heavily to the meager editorial staff of the Trust. Besides, the Trust provided materials for proclamation programs and for the numerous teaching conferences held thoughout thevcountiy. At the same time, it published the second volume of messages from The Universal House of Justice; a childnen’s book entitled The Gift appearing in English and Spanish editions; revised editions of Selected Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and Selected Writings of Shoghi Effendi; and several new compilations from the Writings on the subjects of teaching, meetings, and the Nineteen Day Feast.
It was a good year for the various periodicals. Child's Way took on a new format under the editorial management ofa new committee. Subscriptions to it increased steadily. The combined editorial staff of Bahá’í News and The American Bahá’í’ was strengthened by the appointment of a managing editor. World Order, as has already been stated, enjoyed an extraordinary publishing year with the appearance of the Womens and Bicentennial numbers, the latter establishing a record for copies printed: 60,000.
Properties
The work of the Faith was further consolidated by the acquisition of a Temple site in the Bahamas, the allotment of $30,000 for the purchase of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Sierra Leone; and the acceptance of our down payment on a building in Bermuda to serve as the local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds called for in the Five Year Plan. At home the drapes in the Auditorium of the House of Worship and the seats and lights in Foundation Hall were replaced; an audio-video production studio was constructed in the Temple basement; and an annex to the main building at the Gregory Institute was completed,
National Administation
Much was done to strengthen the operations of the National Spiritual Assembly. Attempts were made to streamline the functions of the Secretariat, the executive hub of the Assembly. The Secretariat staff was reorganized to assist the Assembly to facilitate the handling of the everincreasing volume of personal status cases. Communications were enhaced by the installation of a Telex communications unit which put the National Center in direct contact with the World Center and enables it to communicate quickly in the international field and with Local Spiritual Assemblies. The ability of the Assembly effectively to administer the National Center staff continues to be strained by the separation of the staff between Wilmette and Evanston due to inadequate office space in Wilmette. Nonetheless, the various a encies of the administration became more coherent and t erefore more productive. The cohesive power of the administration was reinforced by the varied
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'2' N t’ I
Bahal l:lg\liC;r\]/3
activities of the Hands of the Cause of God. The visit of ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum with the National Spiritual Assembly in January; the seminal activities ofDr. Muhzijir in assisting since December with the recruitment of pioneers, the launching of the Southern teaching program, and the stimulation of teaching in general; the vigorous participation of the Hands of the Cause Zikru’lláh fihadem and William Sears in major teaching conferences in Illinois and California—all boosted the programs and administrative activities of the national community.
A matter ofgreat pottent is the steadily deepening relationship between the Continental Board of Counsellors and the National Spiritual Assembly. which held several joint meetings this year. One of these meetings included Counsellor Aziz Yazdi. member of the International Teaching Center. Without a doubt the National Spiritual Assembly was enriched by the spiritual endowments accruing from these frequent encounters with the, learned. With the appointments of assistants to the Auxiliary Board members and the immediate impression which they have made on the activities of the Faith this year, we can appreciate more adequately the meaning of the House oflustice when it says “Through the work of the International Teaching Center, which supervises and coordinates the work of the Boards of Counsellors,their Auxiliary Board members and their assistants, permeates the entire structure of Bahá’í society.” We note here our abiding gratitude for their unstinting devotion to the tasks set before the American Bahá’í community.
Strong as has been the steps taken toward a more efficient national administration, the staggering blow it sustained from the sudden, serious illness of the Assistant Secretary of the Assembly must be recognized. Charlotte Linfoot‘s illness abrubtly interrupted over twenty years of constant, heroic service at the National Center. We openly lament her absence and her pain. A sterling example of undaunted faith, uncommon loyalty, selfless devotion, and tireless vigor was removed from the administrative scene last December, perhaps never to return to its pristine radiance. No doubt her spirit helps us yet. We record in this report our testimony, however brief, to the inestimable magnitude of her gifts of mind and spirit to the progress of the Administrative Order in the United States. May able future scholars amplify this record’ with the details of her rich Bahá’í accomplishments. It suffices now to recall Wordsworthian
Committee reports
The annual reports of the committees of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States for the year 1975-76 are now available upon request. Any Bahá’í who would like to receive a copy should write to the Bahá’í National Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091. '
lines to express the sentiments her colleagues bear towards her: « I
And now I see with eye serene
The very pulse of the machine;
A Being breathing thoughtful breath,
A Traveller between life and death;
The reason firm. the temperate will, Endurance, foresight, strengh, and skill; A perfect Woman, nobly planned.
To warn, to comfort, and command; And yet a Spirit still. and bright
With something of angelic light.
Prospect
- To conclude: an overview of the yearjust ended presents a picture of menacing riddles. We had the greatest period of proclamation activities, but no significant gains in expasion; outstanding participation by the youth in international and domestic traveling teaching, but a marked decline in youth membership; an extensive program of education for Local Spiritual Assemblies. but a persistence of jeopardized cornrnunities—all of which can be summarized and unriddled in one fact; namely. a serious deficiency in individual teaching. '
We turn now to the path immediately ahead with a resolute feeling that more of last year’s good must be done but particularly that the lag in teaching must be no more. Considering the tangible impact of the voluminous proclamation activities, undertaken at such great cost in human energy and material means, and viewing the current mood of society, we sense that the atmosphere throughout the country is charged with new possibilities. But time is running out. We must seize our chance before it is too late. The voice of our beloved Guardian reaches across the decades from a similar moment in our fortunes to warn the believers that “They can neither retrace their steps, nor falter, nor even afford to mark time.”
We, the members ofthis year’s Assembly, hold out to our successors the prospects of “A Design for Victory,” an outline of teaching goals for every district in the country, prepared by the National Teaching Committee in collaboration with other national committees. The intention is to have it serve as the guide for individuals, groups, and local communities in their efforts to win all the remaining goals assigned to the American Bahá’í community in the Five Year Plan. May the friends throughout the length and breadth of the land ponder its offerings and act accordingly, putting the accent on action. For with such an agenda of prospects and expectations, we can confidently be poised for entry by troops.
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY or THE BAHAIS or THE UNITED STATES Riḍván 1976
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June 1976 9
Annual report on the National Bahá’í Fund
1
You may recall from last year’s report that the budget provided for expenditures of $3,600,000, anticipated revenue of $3,300,000 and, hence, a deficit of $300,000. The plan was then to provide for a surplus in the budgets of the remaining three years of the Five Year Plan to replace this deficit. The results of this year’s activities, however, eliminated the deficit. This was due primarily to a single large estate bequest combined with an unprecedented year-end rally.
The 1977 proposed budget was submitted to the National Spiritual Assembly twice. Each time Committees were asked to reduce their planned expenditures—an especially difficult task at his stage of the Five Year Plan when opportunities to spread the Faithtare particularly abundant. The primary reason is that the probable decline in revenue from estate bequests will not be completely offset by the anticipted increase in contributions. As a result, the National Spiritual Assembly will have approximately the same amount ofmoney to work with next year as we had this past year. The consequences of this situation are as yet unknown. It is certain, however, that many worthy plans will have to be cancelled or reduced substantially. This only serves to underscore the necessity of not only winning but exceeding the national contrubutions goal next year.
What actually was accomplished this past year? Highlights of the year were:
0 The International and Continental Bahá’í Funds were supported on a regular basis;
0 Most oft-he Five Year Plan properties were purchased;
0 Two hundred and thirty-seven of the 3 l 2_ pioneer posts assigned to our Community in the Five Year Plan have already been filled, 147 in this year alone;.
0 Three hundred and sixty traveling teaching trips were taken, 60 of which were made by youth;
0 An audio—visual studio was built and programs,developed;
o The Bicentennial effort resulted in a full-page color ad in Life, three airport exhibits and a special issue of World Order magazine;
0 Assembly and community development programs
were started, undertakings that should play a significant role in winning the major goals o_f the Five Year Plan;
0 A new classroom facility was constructed at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute;
0 And, finally, 92 “Each One Teach One” Conferences were held across the nation, including 4 special confer
ences in the goal states of California, Illinois, and New
York.
OFFICE OF THE TREASURER
What a year it has been for the Office of the Treasurer! The sheer volume of statistics reflects activities both at the Bahá’í National Center and around the country.
0 A total of 3,000 individual letters were written in answer to a multitude of questions.
0 The office paid 4,200 bills ofall sizes and complexity.
0 There were aproximately 2,000 inquiries made by phone.
0 We received and processed 51,000 separate contribu tions from Assemblies, Bahá’í Groups and individual
believers. _ W
One of the most exciting highlights of the year was our involvement in developing and teaching a course on the Fund for summer and winter Bahá’í Schools. Entitled "The Surest Way,” this course presented a varied and often humorous approach to the subject of money. It provided insights into the principles of giving and sacrifice and outlined a practical approach to setting goals and making plans to reach them.
In addition to “The Surest Way,‘”the Office of the Treasurer will be developing two additional programs. One is a slide program on the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds which emphasizes the significance of the _Fund in building these institutions so vital to the development of the New World Order. The second is a course in family finance. This five—hour pilot program will coversuch things as the spiritual foundation of wealth; the importance of a moderate lifestyle; the factors that affect the way we handle our assets in achieving life goals; and how we should view thrift, security, generosity, and debt. The course-will provide several practical tools for managing personal finances. .
Of particular significance to local Treasurers is the plan
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B h ’ ’ National
8. Review
to conduct accounting workshops in the fall which would provide every Treasurer with an opportunity to improve his or her accounting skills. A new handbook entitled “Accounting Procedures for Local Treasurers” is being completed and will be sent to Assemblies and Bahá’í’ Groups by early summer. National Treasurer’s representatives will be trained to conduct a one—day course. This program, in conjuction with the Local Spiritual Assembly Development Program, will help to strengthen Assemblies and provide Group Treasurers with information needed to establish a local Fund.
These activities were carried out with a budget of $153,000: Two—thirds of this,amount was expended for accounting and bookkeeping, and one—third was used to develop and present educational programs on the Fund and carry on the communications workload of the office.
NATIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE
This Committee bears the responsibilty of helping the National Spiritual Assembly in the homefront objectives of
i the Five Year Plan: Opening new localities, raising Groups
to Assembly status, and expanding the teaching work among minorities. Enrollments did not occur in large numbers last year, but much progress was made, planting seeds to be harvested in the remaining years of the Plan. Expenditures occurred in the following areas: I
0 Implementing a new teaching program in the Southern I
SIEIICS.
0 Sponsoring four major teaching conferences in ll—g
linois, New York, and California.
0 Sponsoring 88 action—oriented “Each One Teach One” conferences in all 48 states.
0 Developingand publishing a comprehensive list of teaching goals for every District entitled “Design for Victory."
0 Coordinating and helping to support 94 District and
Regional Teaching Committees.
These activities were sustained by a budget of $234.000—half of which supported the work of the Regional and District Teaching Committees.
NATIONAL INFORMATION COMMITTEE
This Committee is charged with the following responsibilities: publicizing the Faith on a nationwide scale. exploiting the unique teaching potential of the Bahá’í House of Worship. informing the news media ofdevelopments in the Bah£t’iCommunity. facilitating local publicity. and reviewing materials released to the public. In addition. this Committee is responsible for publishing Bahá’í’Newx, Buha"z’ National Review, and The A/m>ri('an Bahá’í on a regular
10
National Bahá’í Fund — Contributions Goal
33,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
'72
'74 '75
'75 '77 Deficit
'73 - Actual
basis. Last year funds were spent on the following areas: 0 A special Bicentennial Year full—page color ad inL1fe. 0 Large displays at three major airports.
0 Developing new technical facilities to produce radio and television programs.
0' Preparing hundreds ofvideo tapes for use inthe Local Spiritual Assembly Development Program and the “Each One Teach One" conferences. .
0 Building a display for the International Women’s Year
Conference in Mexico City.
These activities, in addition to the administration of the Committee. were sustained by a budget of $350,000.
NATIONAL YOUTH COMMITTEE
The overriding theme of this Committee is to encourage youth to plan a life of service to the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. Efforts were expended to increase the number of Bahá’í youth and thus provide the American Bahffi Community with those special qualities of the young—spiritual and physical energy so essential to winning the goals of the Five Year Plan: Expenditures occurred in the following areas:
9 Organizing 5() Regional Youth Conferences.
0 Mailing special letters of encouragement to every
Bahá’í youth in the country.
9 Holding three work/study projects at the Bahá’í Na tional Center.
0 Developing a National Youth Advisory program.
Most of the National Youth Committee’s budget of
$4 I .000 provided materials used throughout the year and supported administrative staff at the National Center.
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(/‘
June 1976 11
INTERNATIONAL GOALS COMMITTEE
This Committee directs its energies toward filling the international pioneering, travel teaching and consolidation goals assigned to the American Bahá’í’ Community in the Five Year Plan. It was a year of intense activity, spurred to a feverish pace by the visits of Hands of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Ruhfyyih Khánum and Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir and by a sense of urgency in having to fill every goal before the midway point of the Plan. Expenditures occurred in carrying out the following activites:
o 260 pioneers left our shores last year—l47 to fill Five Year Plan goals. Thirteen were Bahá’í youth.
0 360 travel teaching trips were undertaken.
0 Border teachingiprojects were initiated with the National Spiritual Assemblies of Mexico, Canada and Alaska.
0 International projects were undertaken in Africa, Bolivia, Brazil, and India.
0 Five pioneertraining institutes were held in Wilmette.
These activites were supported by a budget of $200,000—more than half of which was spent recruiting and training pioneers, assisting their travel to goal area posts, providing assistance for travel teachers and deputizing pioneers living in countries were work is difficult or impossible to find. NATIONAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The work of the National Education Committee is focused on developing programs to strengthen the distinctive character of Bahá’í life. Last year funds were spent in the following areas:
0 Continuing the Family Life Conference series.
o_ Sponsoring 3 permanent and 19 temporary Bahá’í School programs. .
o Launching a teacher-training program for child education. '
o Piloting a special program for study of the Comprehensive Deepening Program.
These activities were sustained by expenditures of $127,000. Approximately half of this amount went to suppport the Bahá’í Schools. The remaining portion was used to develop materials, fund the Family Life Conferences, and support the Committee’s administrative work at the Bahá’í National Center.
NATIONAL PROPERTIES COMMITTEE
The National Properties Committee is charged with the
National Baha”r’ Fund — Assembly Participation
600 400 ——-T
200 I I I
0 '70 '71 '72 '73 '74 '75_ ’76- '77 ' Anticipated task of purchasing foreign properties, building new structures, and maintaining existing Bahá’í’properties around the country. Expenses for carrying out these responsibilities last year occurred in the following areas:
0 Purchasing three Five Year Plan property goals—a Temple site in the Bahamas, a l-.laz1’ratu’l-Quds and national endowment in Bermuda.
0 Building an audio-visual studio in the basement of the House of Worship.
0 Constucting a classroom facility at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute.
0 Installing new hardback chairs in Foundation Hall.
The Schools’ program of the National Education Committee will require many new and improved facilities to carry out their programs. This is a natural outgrowth of an expanding Bahá’í Community.
NATIONAL BAHA’I FUND BUDGET SUMMARY (In Thousands of Dollars)
1976 A
1976 Proposed Budget ‘Estimated 1977 Budget
Revenue 3,700 3,560 3,400 Expenditures 3,713 3,600 3,400 ‘Excess revenue (I3) (40) 0 (expenditures) Surplus (deficit) , At beginning of Year , 40 40 0
Surplus (deficit) ' at end of year 27 0 0
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'2' N t’ i
Bahal 921$?
12
National Bahá’í Fund —Total Revenue
it ’75 ’76 ’77 ‘
- Contributions |E"sclg::e& other
\\t‘ N
$3,000,000
2.000.000
\\ ' \‘ \~ \ ‘£00,000 \\
'70 '71 '72 '73 '74
o fl
\\\\\\\W Total Revenue
Anticipated
NATIONAL BAHA’I FUND REVENUE
(In Thousands of Dollars)
1976 1976 Proposed Budget Estimated 1977 Budget Contributions 2,900 2,750 3,000 Estate bequests 650 650 225 Other income I50 I60 175 Total revenue 3,700 3,560 3,400
National Baha”I’ Fund —— Total Expenditures
$3,000,000 ' 1 2,000,000 1,000,000 I 0 '70 ’71 ' '72 '73 ‘T4 ’7S '76 '77
NATIONAL BAHA’I FUND EXPENDITURES
(In Thousands of Dollars) ‘ . Proposed
1976‘ 1976 Budget Estimated 1977 Budget
INTERNATIONAL Int’! Fund , 375 375 ' 375 Int’l Deputization Fund 30 A 30 30 Cont’! Fund 30 30 30
340 132
5 Year Plan Properties (1) 400
Int’l Goals Committee 189 200 176 1,024 975 743 NATIONAL TEACHING & SERVICES . Education Committee 129 I27 110 Teaching Committee 235 234 237 Information Committee 329 350 268 Activities Committee 68 60 56 Youth Committee 44 41 44 Archives Committee 17 V 17 I8 U.S. U.N. Observer 5 5 5 827 834 738 ADMINISTRATION A NSA & Secretariat 236 233 219 Community Adm. (2) — — 104 LSA Development Program 193 I93 I 28 General Business Ser. -1 I56 I55 168 M & RI Data Processing 249 254 289 Treasurer’s Office 153 153 185 Fixed Charges (3) 59 87 104 1,046 1,075 1,197 PROPERTIES ' Properties Committee 70 73 61 Nat‘! Center Properties 427 384 369 Trusteeship’s Properties 319 259 ‘ 250 I 16 680 UNALLOCATED 42 Total Expenditures 3,713 3,600 3,400
NOTE: (1) Includes $25,000 in proposed 1977 budget for the Seat of The Universal House of Justice. (2_)Represents a
new program. (3) Represents cost of insurance, interest and
pension expense.
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY or THE EAHA’I’s or THE UNITED STATES Riḍván 1976
Use caution in associating with Muslims
Over the years, the National Spiritual Assembly has brought to the attention of the American Bahá’í community certain principles governing association with persons from Middle Eastern and other Muslim countries who temporarily reside in the United States. Many new Bahá’ís may not be aware of the caution which must be exercised in such association.
Since American Bahá’ís have a special affection for Persia, the cradle of their Faith, and for Islam, they frequently seek out students and visitors from Muslim nations, attempt to teach them the Faith, and invite them to Bahá’í’ public meetings, firesides, study classes, and summer schools.
As early as January 1926, Shoghi Effendi wrote the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada: ' A
Regarding association with Oriental travelers and resi dents in the United States and Canada, I desire to em phasize afresh the vital necessity for the exercise in these days of the greatest vigilance and reserve, prudence and caution, on the part of the American believers in their dealings with them, either in an official or private capacity, whether in business transactions or for purely religious purposes. As the’ Movement grows in prestige, fame and influence, as the ambitions, malice and ill-will .of strangers and enemies correspondingly wax greater, it becomes increasingly important for every individual and
Spiritual Assembly_ to be on their guard lest they fall
innocent victims of the evil designs of the malevolent, the
self-seeking and the greedy. (BA p. 101-2)
The Guardian also wrote, as quoted in the compilation Principles of Bahá’í Administration,
The attitude of the Friends towards Orientals should be
one of great caution, according to the Master’s own
often—repeated and explicit instructions and warnings.
Any believer in good standing would not leave his home
community without a letter of credentials, and certainly
no Persians, claiming to be Bahá’ís, but lacking credentials, should be accepted until the Persian National
Spiritual Assembly has clarified their status. They can,
naturally, attend public meetings, but should not be per mitted to cometo the Nineteen Day Feast; the Friends may associate with them, but should be very cautious, bearing in mind that many Orientals, who scorned, or were even actively against the Cause while living in the
East, now find it convenient to pass as believers or friends
of the Faith in a Western country where they are stran gers.
While Baha’ is must associate with followers of all relig-_ ions and people of all lands, they must be on their guard lest unwise actions produce harmful results.
They should keep in mind that in most Muslim countries there exist ample opportunities to learn about the Faith. They should also remember that in many Muslim countries Bahá’ís live under constant pressure and that occasionally outright persecution breaks out. endangering their very lives. It is difficult to realize how deep hatred for the Faith can run and how our carelessness can imperil individuals and entire communities in certain countries.
American Bahá’í's should not attempt to teach the Faith to persons from Middle Eastern, North African, and other Muslim countries unless such persons are permanent residents of the United States. Such a Muslim who happens to be in the United States temporarily cannot be enrolled in the Bahá’í community by our National Spiritual Assembly but must be enrolled upon his return home by the appropriate Bahá’í institution in his country. Muslims temporarily in the United States should not be invited to any Bahá’í activities but should they come without invitation, they will, ofcourse, be welcomed in a courteous and friendly manner.
Incorporated Assemblies
'To all incorporated Local Spiritual Assemblies:
Most states require their non—profit corporations to file an annual report and to pay a nominal yearly filing fee. All incorporated Local Spiritual Assemblies should determine
iftheir state has such a requirement and if so, comply with
its details. In most cases the department of your state that requires the annual report will send you a form to fill out. However, the statute is usually written to make it the responsibility of the corporation to file the annual report. The penalty for failure to file is usually involuntary dissolution of the corporation.
Pioneers urgently needed
A total of 72 pioneers from the United States must be at their posts by October 20 in order to fill the goals of the Five Year Plan. '
The International Goals Committee said that the most urgent need at present is for French—speaking and Portugese—speaking Bahá’ís. lfyou can help in this area, or if you can fill other pioneer goals, write to the International Goals Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois
60091 .
[Page 14]
Status of US "pioneer goals “‘
Africa Assigned Filled Open Americas Assigned Filled Open
(P) Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (S) Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 6 0
(E) Botswana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (S,E) . Belize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0
(E) British Indian Ocean Terr.** . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (S) Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 10 0
(RE) Cameroon Republic . . . . . .‘ . . . , . . . . . . .2 1 1 (P) Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 12 2
(F) Central African Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 A 3 0 (S) Chile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 3 3
(F) Dahomey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (S) Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 8 _ 0
(F) Gabon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 — l (S) Costa Rica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‘. . . . . . .4 4 O
(E) Gambia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 i 1 1 (S) Dominican Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 5 0
(E) Ghana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 ' (S) Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...-./ . . . . . . . . . . .7 4 3
(P) Guinea—Bissau (Port. Guinea) . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (S) El Salvador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 I 3
(F) Ivory Coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (F) French Antilles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2 2
(E) Kenya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (F) French Guiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0
(E) Lesotho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (S) Guatemala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 5 0
(E) Liberia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0 (E) Guyana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 1 3
(F) Malagasy Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (F) Haiti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0
(E) Malawi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (S) Honduras. . .- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 6 0
(RS) Mozambique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 I l (E) Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0
(E) Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 A O (E) Leeward/Virgin Is., Montsenat, St. Kitts . . .9 9 0
(E) Rhodesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 5 0 (S) Nicaragua (Granada) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 6 0
(E) Sierra Leone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (S) Panama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 O
(E) South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (S) Paraguay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2 2
(E) _ St. Helena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 — 1 (S) Peru (Cuczo, Pufio) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 3 l
(E) Tanzania . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0 (S) Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0
(F) Togo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (S,E) San Andrés Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 — 1
(F) Upper Volta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 —_ 2 (H,E,D) Surinam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0
(F) Zaire . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 6 1 (E) Trinidad/Tobago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0
63 54 14 (S) Uruguay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 O
A (S) Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 5 2
Asia (E) Windward Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 4 2
(BE) Bangladesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 ‘ 150 126 24
(E) India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 5 0
(J) Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 Europe
(F) Khmer Republic (Cambodia) . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (F) Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . .6 4 2
(K,E) Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . .._ . . . . . ..«. . . .3 2 1 (Dn) Denmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 — 3
(F) Laos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (Fn) Finland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 l 3
(RE) Lebanon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 l (Gr) Greece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0
(GP) Macau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 O (1) Iceland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0
(E) Nepal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . .2 2 0 (N) Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 2 l
(E) Philippine Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (P) Portugal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 l 7
(E) Sri Lanka (Ceylon) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (S) Spain‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0
(E) Taiwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (F,G,It) Switzerland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 3 3
(E) Thailand . . . . . . . . . ..« . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 7 I8 19
(T,A,E) Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 **Circumstances permitting
(E) Vietnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 — 1 Total assignments to be ‘ 35 25 9 completed by October 20, 1976 ‘ AFRICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 521 14
Australasia AMERICAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:2 2:
(E) Caroline Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 ASIA - - - — - ' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (E) Fiji Islands _ _ _ _ ' _ . _ I _ _ ' _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ . ‘ _ _3 I 2 AUSTRALASIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 I5 7
(E) Mariana lsmndsl _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ > . . _ _2 I 1 EUROPE . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 l8 19
(E) Ir:/Iarshcalg Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 Language Key 312 239 73
(F) ew a e onia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. _ ._ _ _
(E) N0rth_-East New Guinea . . . . . . . . . . . .3 1 2 §_§;::;ji _ Enjgggfsh :( 11.3236
(E) American Samoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 l 0 C—Chinese G—German N——Norwegian
(E) Western Samoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 O ([§o.[gDial}ect) gr-—}E'f:=je_l< P—§0l’IU_g:6SC
(E) Tonga Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 Dn‘_[‘)’;°niSh [_’lce']’;n'diC 22 15 7 E—English It—Italian
Progress of Two Year Youth Program
Homefront pioneering
84—: 100 homefrom pioneers
14 ‘ |4O to unopened localities 7 _V:|10 of 40 to unopened counties 53 55 to existing communities 2 —”';_:l 5 to Indian reservations
Homefront teaching 500 domestic 550 traveling teaching trips
8 —:]10 lasting two months or more
,. International pioneering
20 —: 25 imernauonar pioneers
9 5 filling specific Five Year Plan goals
International teaching
75 international
60 traveling teaching trips
College clubs
350 Bahá’í
321 ' college clubs
Youth Clubs
l ’ 100 local Bahá’í 59 youth clubs /,~, I
[Page 16]
National Bahá’í Fund
16!
Year-‘end rally eliminates National Fund deficit
To: The American Bahá’í' Community Dear Bahá’í Friends: _
You should have heard the burst of applause which greeted the unveiling of this month’s contributionschart at the National Convention! The excitement continued when the delegates learned that the year—end rally had eliminated the deficit, wiping theslate clean for the new fiscal year! Not only did we meet a crisis——we proved to ourselves what we are capable of achieving when everyone works together. Could it be that we have turned a new leaf and are Close to solving what essentially has been a spiritual problem? _
As you can see from the contributions chart, much of the final two months’ outpourings came from individual believers. Indeed, when we observe the effects of giving by individuals throughout the year, we see that these believers always play a major role in winning our monthly goal. And yet, on the average, only l,000 individuals contribute directly to the National Fund each month. Considering the size of the American Bahá’í Community, it seems clear that we could easily surpass our goal every month next year if
many more individuals would, in addition to contributing to their local Fund, give regularly to the National Fund. The Guardian pointed the way to success when he wrote that: “As the activities of the American Bahá’í' Community expand, and it’s world-wide prestige correspondingly increases, the institution of the National Fund...acquires added importance, and should be increasingly supported by the entire body of the believers, both in their individual capacities, and through thier collective efforts..." Next year's $158,000 monthly goal represents a severely reduced Abudget-—the minimum required to carry forward our vital programs. Having twice scaled new heights througha unified effort, let us see how far we can exceed the goal every month from now on and, for the first time in recent history, surpass our annual contributions goal next year!
With loving Bahá’í greetings, NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE Bahá’ís or THE UNITED STATES Dorothy W. Nelson, Treasurer
May 7, 1976
Contributions
3 200,000
$ l50,000
S 100,000
Monthly Contributions I Assembly and Bahá’í Groups kW Individuals
it .
5 50,000 0 Month of Bahá’í / ‘ . Jalél Year 132 Budget goal $153,000 $2,907,000 Contributions 286,645 2,753,160 Overage (Shortage)! $133,645 $ (153,840) 5
Contributions may be addressed to: National Bahá’í Fund, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091; Bahá’í International Fund, P.O. Box 155, Haifa, Israel; and Continental Bahá’í Fund, 418 Forest Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091.
