National Bahá’í Review/Issue 22/Text

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[Page 1]

“We O en Our WOLJA5 anc! 361%, (1114 On!” fleartd anal O13)!/e ”

We share reports of the International Youth Project to the Yucatan. The National Teaching Committee of the area writes of the activities of the seven girls participating in the six week program. They were Barbara Gaxiola. Wendy Heller, Joan Barstowt Marilyn Karnes Herrera, Sylvia Cheney, Cynthia Poynter. and Gail Kappus.

“We found the selection of the group to be most extraordinary and exactly the most effective teaching medium that could be desired. Each one so different, and each one so dedicated and with such outstanding possibilities for their future service to the Faith. Their schedule was not easy and not always comfortable. They were rained on. sweltered by the heat, at times exhausted and experiencing effects of the tropics on their health. These are the material aspects which they accepted with humor and love and in turn were greatly loved by all the friends. As they become more accustomed to the type of teaching in areas such as this they developed a remarkable ability in the teaching work and contributed to the deepening in the Faith amongst both the youth and adults. They helped in the opening up of new villages, the delayed election of local assembly officials, the observance of the Nineteen Day Feast as well as conducting two Youth Congresses. They have been examples of the high Bahá’í standards and the spirit of selfless dedication which is the unique banner of Bahá’í youth devoted to building the New World Order of Bahá’u’lláh. They were overnight guests in the homes of the Mayan friends and teachers of their children; they worked through consultation with the Teaching Committee of this area, fulfilled the heavy schedule of monthly visits handed over to them and worked in groups in the teaching field with their Mayan brothers. We would like to describe some of the more outstanding occurrences during their stay but we believe that the girls have expressed them in better and more descriptive ways through Joan Barstow's article. The effect and contribution of this ‘project’ has conferred a blessing from Bahá’u’lláh on this wondrous Mayan land that will not be forgotten, and has further knit together His devoted followers from different lands and races."

The girls also send us their impressions of this valuable experience:

“We’ve found teaching in Yucatan a whole new experience, quite different from teaching in the States. Here we're working in a mass conversion area, struggling to help fulfill a goal of 2,000 new believers in six months, a doubling of the present number. Teaching on such a scale, we necessarily work with communities. not just individu als. Although the goal is the same—the cultivation of mature, dedicated Bahá’ís—the process differs markedly.

“Here, in the early stages of teaching many from a community come into the Faith simultaneously and most only know that Bahá’u’lláh is the Manifestation of God for this Day, that He teaches unity. and that the Bahá’ís seem friendly and sincere. Because of this. much of the teaching work falls under consolidation, slowly drawing our brothers into a deeper and deeper understanding of the Faith. Most are sincere and want to learn, but since the Mayans won't practice what they haven't yet spiritually understood and since we often have trouble communicating such spiritual understanding, the work goes slowly. But we proceed as Shoghi Effendi advised, not emphasizing too much at first all the laws and regulations. but rather cultivating a love for Bahá’u’lláh, kindling the desire to fully comply with His Word. Then we slowly begin teaching His laws. In this way the cream of the Mayan believers slowly rise to the top, until surpassing us in their love, knowledge. and devotion to the Faith as well as their knowledge of their people, they begin teaching and reaching the others far more profoundly than we ever could.

“Teaching techniques also differ radically from the States. The people's lives are simple and not overcrowded with distractions. Thus we can approach them directly with the Faith. At one hacienda we simply drove out, walked in to the central square and explained to the encargado. ‘We have a beautiful message to give your people. May we? ‘ Then we told how in this Day the world is becoming united as Christ and other prophets had promised, how differences of color, class. and religion no longer matter. how all are brothers now, and how God had sent this glorious message and more of its details through a new Messenger. Bahá’u’lláh. Then we explained how to reach us if they wanted more visits since we didn't want to pressure anyone. Such simple, direct teaching demands speaking from the heart, explaining the core of the matter by stories, analogies, and examples. In struggling to do so, we’ve deepened our understanding as well.

“All of us have felt a bit awkward here at times. The Mayans are so loving, so hospitable and generous, and capable of such spiritual depths, yet today we find ourselves their teachers. And the majority still do need to be taught. The importance. responsibility, and need for pioneers remains overwhelming. Yet the position humbles

[Page 2]one. For none can help but realize that he’s working for the day in which these people with their astounding capacity can replace us as the prime leaders, teachers, and developers of the new world order.

“And that's another thing we all gained here, a new feeling and depth of understanding of the world order. It exists and is growing, quietly spreading its branches across the face of the world. It's like a grassroots organization which few people know exist. But when the troubles come, stripping down the old world to the bone, it and its strength will become apparent. But it is so important to build it now, to make it stronger, to hammer and hammer and hammer in its construction. Here we see this. Hopefully we’ll manage to maintain the vision and the dedication it inspires after we’ve returned.

“Finally, we’ve all discovered capabilities in ourselves which we had not known existed and have learned something of the wonder of depending on Bahá’u’lláh. So many times here we've wondered, “What can I say?" “Did they understand me?” or “How can I possibly teach such spiritual people?" And though we've learned much, how much have we given’? Yet we open our mouths and talk, and our hearts and love, and Susan and Valeria, the fulltime pioneers, keep telling us we're doing wonders, and the Mayans keep asking us to stay. We know we haven’t done anything, so it must be Bahá’u’lláh! Thus, we're slowly realizing just how much this Cause is in His Hands and how our biggest job is remaining dependent on Him and open to His guidance."

Chad—Scene ot Bahá’í Victories

Exciting news has come from Chad in French Africa. This large land-locked country in the heart of central Africa was opened to the Faith in December 1967 when Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey Morgan, American pioneers. went there from Uganda. In the year which followed 686 believers in seven localities joyfully accepted the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. At that time the Morgans wrote thus from Ft. Lamy, Chad:

“The people are easy to approach and responsive to the teachings. They themselves are spreading the Faith. We hold deepening and teaching classes every day at our new center and have divided our teaching activities . . . into local committees which operate in each quarter of the city with its own meeting place . . . The people have been very enthusiastic. We could easily use more pioneers as our problem is to reach the people before they have been contaminated by materialism, which is spreading fast."

At Riḍván 1969 the Universal House of Justice called for two American pioneers to go to Chad to assist in the consolidation of the victories already won for the Faith. With the recent announcement (Bahá’í NEWS October, 1969 p. 1) of the National Spiritual Assembly to be formed next Riḍván. (to include Chad) the immediate accomplishment of this goal is even more imperative.

Chad has a tropical climate, most of the people living in the southern section where farming, fishing and herding are carried on. It lies in the belt separating Muslim from nonMuslim Africa with both Islam and Christianity practiced. The government is controlled by Christians.

Pioneers to Chad should know French and be able to use it fluently. There are job openings for secretaries and for medical doctors. Those going to Chad should be prepared to live in a tropical climate and to adjust to the conditions which exist in a country where most of the merchandise

OCTOBER 1969

Participants in the International Youth Project to the Yucatan are: left to right, rear: Wendy Heller. Joan Barstow, Marilyn Karnes Herrera, Sylvia Cheney. Cynthia Poynter: front: Barbara Gaxiola and Gail Kappus.

must be imported and is, therefore, expensive. In the words of the pioneers it is a “most difficult and most rewarding place to pioneer”.

Who can arise to bring the message of Bahá’u’lláh to these people who are so pure hearted and kind and who are so ready and eager to accept His Truth?

Employiment Possibilities in Goal Countries

Taiwan:

Opportunities for employment with Airline Company of Engineers, experts in general airline business and work. Western Samoa:

Samoa is to have its own National Spiritual Assembly next Riḍván with its seat in Apia, Western Samoa. The need is urgent for pioneers. Western Samoa is our goal. There are job possibilities for primary and high school teachers, for teachers at the Trades Training Institute and at the Teachers Training Institute. Art teachers may find employment as art is a required subject. There is a need for surgeons, general practitioners, gynecologists and dentists all of whom must be employed by the government; engineers for proposed electric power systems and for road building. The Department of Agriculture has recently advertised for a fisheries conservationist and is interested in obtaining experienced extension workers in agriculture as well as lecturers on the subject. If you are interested in any of the above positions, it is important to ask the International Goals Committee for specific requirements and information.

—International Goals Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette. Illinois 60091

Goal of the Month CHAD

Two pioneers are needed immediately

Write or phone:

International Goals Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, II]. 60091; phone 312-256-4400.

[Page 3]REVIEW

UNITED NATIONS DAYOCTOBER 24th

As friends of the United Nations we must guard ourselves against two fundamental but widespread misunderstandings.

First, the United Nations was not basically created out of idealism or love of humanity but, rather. out of need. The fears and tensions between people and institutions forced governments to create an organization to try to deal with all the things which disturb and frustrate human beings: war, social crises, poverty, colonialism. aggression. etc. etc. The United Nations is a symbol and a focus of all the world’s tensions. But the Bahá’ís know that this must lead “however long and tortuous the way” to the “Lesser Peace".

A second basic misunderstanding is the “romantic notion" that the United Nations is some kind of supergovernment. This wrong idea often leads us to expect so much that we are inevitably frustrated and disappointed. The United Nations is no more than national government plus national government plus national government; it can do no more than what the national governments do. But this is surely not a surprising notion for the Bahá’ís: . . the nations of the earth . . . will themselves establish the Lesser Peace”.

U.S. COMMrrrE1-: roa rm: Unrrnn NATIONS

How to Order Literature for Inter-Community Projects

When ordering materials from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, it should be kept in mind that accounts can be set up only in the name of a community library under the local spiritual assembly (or an organized group), or under a state goals committee. Accounts are not set up in the name of college clubs, youth committees. state convention committees, or special ad hoc committees appointed to take care of a Bahá’í “week." state fair project, or some other similar cooperative endeavour. In the case of such a cooperative event, one assembly should be selected to have its librarian handle the literature order, even though the cost of the literature is going to be shared by the other communities involved in the program. In other words. literature that is being charged to an account must be in the name of some ongoing Bahá’í institution which assumes responsibility for it. If the event or program is entirely within one local community, it naturally follows that all of the literature needs are channeled through the appointed Bahá’í literature representative (or librarian).

Visits to Israel and the Bahá’í World Center

The Bahá’í’s are reminded that it is not permissible for them to visit Israel or the Bahá’í World Center in Haifa without prior permission from the Universal House of

‘Justice. This instruction applies whether the visit is part

of a tour. for business or for personal visits to friends. Requests by Bahá’ís of the United States for pilgrimages are to be sent to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States.

Deepening

Inst

itute at

West Virginia

I

At the statewide deepening/teaching institute held at the State Park in Hinton, West Virginia July 26-27. 196.‘). It was sponsored by the State Goals Committee.

This Bahá’í Booth appeared at the Cork Pine Fair at Vassar, Michigan. home of a Bahá’í group of two, one adult and one youth. Pictured is Miss Martha Cavanagh of Vassar who with friends manned the booth almost constantly for an entire week.

Bahcih’ Distribution and Service

When you are planning: Special event day meetings; Proclamation meetings; Firesides (afternoon teasi’). or

When you need cards for:

Feast notices; Invitations or Greetings; Notes to

friends; “Thank you" or “We're sorry” notes, the “Black and White Notes —Nine Utterances." as described on page two of our catalog. are ideal. Order them through your community librarian who can order the quantities that will help keep shipping costs at a minimum. Also

The Craig 2603 recorders and casette tapes are becoming an essential. See September’s National Bah6’2 Review for prices.

Order all proclamation materials as many weeks in advance of the event as possible. A month or six weeks is none too soon. Bahá’í Distribution & Service 112 Linden Ave., Wilmette, 111. 60091

[Page 4]4 OCTOBER 1969

Yakima Indian Reservation Site of Indian Teaching Conference

As the sun set on August 1 beyond the hills at White

Swan, Washington, Bahá’ís from all over the United Representatives from the eight State Goals Committees States began to arrive on the Yakima Indian Reservation. charged with the primary responsibility of reaching the Their purpose was to take part in an Indian teaching American Indian (Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma. Neconference called for by the NationalTeaching Committee braska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Eastern and West em Washington) assembled with the members of the Bahá’í Indian Council, on more effective ways of teaching our indigenous brothers and sisters.

Members of the National Teaching Committee, left to right: Gary Hillaire, Soo Fouts. Richard Betts. Paul Young, Tony Pelle,

and to witness the formation of the first Bahá’í Indian Council.

Members of the Bahá’í Indian Council. Left to right, rear: Marcus Lufi‘, William Tyler, Gary Hillaire, Duncan Brown; front: Lauretta King, Carol Manuellto, Patricia Glover. Not shown: Mrs. Delores Taken — Olive and Mrs. Nancy Phillips

[Page 5]REVIEW

The spirit of love and fellowship will dwell on and on in the hearts of those who had the privilege of attending this historic and refreshing weekend.

One of the highlights of the conference was a special Indian dinner prepared by Yakima friends. Mrs. Grace Ambrose, her daughters Lila and Tresa, and Mrs. Joe Marek prepared Indian roots, fried bread, venison, salmon, and corn for the hungry Bahá’ís.

Grace Ambrose barbecues salmon.

After a thoroughly delightful meal, Indian drummers and dancers in tribal costumes entertained. The prayers that rose above the murmur of sounds and syllables echoed the spirit of reward in being close to nature and close to God.

What a stir of excitement the friends from Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma. Nebraska, North Dakota, Washington. Oregon, Utah, Illinois, Virginia, California, Wyoming, Wisconsin, and Idaho brought to the Yakima Reservation. and what a chance for teaching! Those friends of the Bahá’ís who attended portions of the conference were presented “Bahá’í F‘aith—The Spirit Way” and invited to see the slide-tape program showing inspirational highlights from the Neah Bay and Tucson Council Fires.

In the shade of a larger tree. the Bahá’ís met for their last interchange of ideas, inspi1‘ation and prayers.

A special thanks goes to the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Toppenish, Washington who most ably hosted their visiting Bahá’í family and handled all the arrangements for this meeting.

Note: The National Teaching Committee calls your attention to the constant need for Bahá’ís on Indian Reservations. If you are interested in pioneering on an American Indian Reservation, please write to the National Teaching Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.

A NOTE TO APPLICANTS FOR PILGRIMAGE

All believers now resident in the United States. except the States of Alaska and Hawaii, who may have made application for pilgrimage in some other country should advise the National Spiritual Assembly immediately of the details. Please state the address from which the application was made and the date of the application; also include any other related information.

— NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Calendar of Evenfs

Feasfs October 16 — ’Ilm (Knowledge) November 4 — Qudrat (Power) November 23 — Qawl (Speech)

Holy Days

October 20 — Birth of the Báb

November 12 —Birth of Bahá’u’lláh November 26 — Day of the Covenant November 28 —Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

(1:00 a.m.)

Proclamation Events October 24 — United Nations Day November 12— Birth of Bahá’u’lláh

U.S. State Conventions November 2

U.S. National Spiritual Assembly Meetings October 17-19 December 19-21

[Page 6]5 ocronsn 1969

Groups for Assembly Status

STRATEGY FOR VlCTORY— PHASE TWO

Riḍván 1970 History is being made in these days. The Bahá’ís of the State Group No. adults present day are, by their courage, their ceaseless service Sept 1959 and their absolute obedience, forging the foundation of the C°““'31 Slales World Order of Bahá’u’lláh. Southern Illinois Biooniington 7 Take your place in history. Help to raise one of the g:‘;‘lVéit1°L u_ E: mighty institutions of the Faith and bring the Golden Age mwarésv‘i’u;s 5 of the Revelation just a little bit closer! Godfrey 4 Grou s for Asscmbl Status P°°“a Hugh“ 7 P _ I Y Riḍván 1970 Kansas Empmia 4 State Group No. adults . _ Se t 1969 Michigan Clinton Township 8 Northeastern States P ' ML Pleasant 5 Niles Township 8 Connecticut Bridgeport 3 Twy 5 Massachusetts Greenfield 6 Missouri A“"°" 6 Somerville 6 6 South Dakota Mapleton Township New Hampshire Bristol 7 Wisconsin Beloit 2 Eastern New York Beacon 7 Delaiield Township 5 Town of Babylon 8 Menomonee Falls 4 Town of Cortland 6 Muskego Township 7 Town of Greenburgh 3 Oconomowoc 7 Town of Yorktown 5 Stoughton 3 Wilson Township 8 Western New York Brockport 5 Town of Tonawanda 6 w¢5t¢Tn Slates Vestal 4 Arizona North Maricopa Co. 4 Pennsylvania Swarthmore 5 Yuma 2 Rh°d9 Island N9WP°1"- 5 Northern California Chico 3 Oroville J .D. 8 Southern States pan-neld 5 Alabama Fairfield 3 Grass Valley J .D. 5 Mobile 8 c 1c 1'; N 2 Stockton 7 entra a 1 . o. A'ka"sas Cmksvme 4 Southern cam No 2 Ontario 6 Florida F0" Meyers 7 Perris .I.D. 8 Gainesville 3 Redlands 5 Key west 7 San Clemente 5 Riviera Beach 8 Seal 993°“ 3 Tallahassee 7 YUWP3 5 Louisiana Monroe 4 Southern Calif. No.3 Santa Paula 5 C 1 d Greeley 7 Maryland Ann Arundel Co. 5 0 Ora 0 Loveland 5 Green Belt 4 Mississippi Clarksdale 5 Idaho r:csac‘°e\;'lo 2 North Carolina High Point 5 MONN13 Helena 4 South Carolina Charlezton Co. 13 Missoula 6 C°1”"' "" Utah Roosevelt 3 Tennessee Mcmmnvme 6 Eastern Washington Franklin Co. 6 ’ 7 Eastern Texas 7 Western Washington Aberdeen 5 Victoria 2 Kent 5 Shelton 5 Virginia Charlottesville 7 Richmond 3 WHICH GOAL WILL YOU FILL 7

[Page 7]REVIEW

Bahá’í Indian Council Formed

The National Teaching Committee, in keeping with its resolve to spread the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh to the minority peoples of America, has recently called into being a Bahá’í Indian Council to assist in the proclamation, expansion and consolidation of our Faith among the American Indians. An account of its first meeting is on pages 4-5 of this issue of the NATIONAL Bahá’í REVIEW.

The Council also represented the National Teaching Committee at the Continental Conference on Indigenous Teaching in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan. August 29-September 1. 1969 where Indian teaching was discussed as a cooperative and united continental effort.

Anthony Lee, left with Mrs. Carol Allen and Robert Phillips at the National Center.

National Teaching Committee Announces New Staff Personnel

Mr. Robert T. Phillips has recently joined the National Teaching Committee staff as Administrative Assistant for Youth and Student Activities. Mr. Phillips, who attended Dartmouth College (B.A. in Government) Stanford University (M.A. in Political Science) and American University in Beruit, Lebanon (Stanford exchange scholar). has had a wide range of experience with youth, both here and abroad. His work as Foreign Student Advisor at Stanford University and Program Director for Fellowship Workshop (a summer institute on human relations) augments his wide activity as a Bahá’í (Member of the Geyserville Bahá’í School Council, Chairman of the Youth and Human Rights Conference, Coordinator of the Bay Area Bahá’í Youth, Traveling teacher, administrator and consultant on youth activities).

Joining Mr. Phillips in Youth and Student Activities is Mr. Anthony A. Lee. Mr. Lee, a graduate of U.C.L.A. in International Relations, joins_ the staff after completing a year of graduate work in Political Science at the University of Michigan under a full fellowship grant. Mr. Lee’s Bahá’í experience is extensive and includes chairmanship of the Southern Californian Bahá’í Youth Committee. participation in an international youth project as well as here in the United States, traveling teacher and lecturer at Geyserville Bahá’í Summer School and the Southern Californian Bahá’í Summer Schools.

Mrs. Carol Allen, as Administrative Assistant for Expansion, has the duties of coordinating the State Goals Committees, circuit teachers and the growth of localities where Bahá’ís reside to Assembly status. Mrs. Allen has had a wide range of Bahá’í teaching and administrative experience. As secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles, secretary of the California Victory Committee, coordinator of Bahá’í Youth Projects, homefront pioneers to Oklahoma, traveling teacher. consolidator and entertainer, Mrs. Allen has the experience and background to handle the important responsibilities of her work for the National Teaching Committee.

Needless to say, the National Teaching Committee is proud to have such high calibre Bahá’ís administering the work and assisting all of us in winning the goals of the Nine Year Plan.

Goal localities: Seedbed lor the Future

The National Teaching Committee asked state goals committees throughout the United States to designate a combined total of 1000 localities where Bahá’ís did not yet reside. These goal localities were to be widely dispersed throughout their state or district and were purposely chosen as smaller cities, towns and villages. The objective: a seed bed for future groups and assemblies, not only for the Nine Year Plan, but for those future plans that will be launched by the Universal House of Justice.

Marked Increase in Localities Where Bahá’ís Reside

The localities where Bahá’ís reside have grown significantly for the past year and a half. At Riḍván 1968 there were some 2200 places where one or more Bahá’ís lived. By Riḍván 1969 there were over 2500 localities opened to the Faith and we have recently exceeded 2600 localities where Bahá’ís reside! The phased goal for this Riḍván is 2700 localities which will bring us within reach of the Nine Year Plan goal of 3000 localities by Riḍván 1971.

State Goals Committees Spearhead Opening of New Localities

In reviewing the list of goal localities you will no doubt wonder why you don’t see any towns listed in California, Northern Illinois, Michigan, Eastern New York, and Wisconsin. The reason is that there are, relatively speaking, enough Bahá’ís in these areas and a need for Bahá’ís to disperse to regions of more sparse Bahá’í population. Goal localities should be exactly that: a place that will in every way strengthen the homefront by spreading far and wide the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh.

The state goals committees are preparing the way for homefront pioneers by visiting their goal localities and saying prayers and placing books in the libraries. This. systematic approach will no doubt bear fruit in dramatic and mysterious ways as the Hand of Destiny guides us in assisting to create and bring into operation “ . . . that World Order which is now incubating within the worldwide administrative institutions of their Faith.”

As you read the names of these towns and villages can you see each with a local Spiritual Assembly?

[Page 8]OCTOBER ‘1969

LETSGETTHEJOBDONE...............BY1971 AND SCORE A GREATER VICTORY . . . . . . . . . . BY 1973

FROM YOUR PRESENT ADDRESS THESE PIONEERING POSTS MAY BE ONLY A FEW STREETS . . . OR A FEW STATES DISTANT. PLEASE STUDY THESE PIONEERING OPENINGS CAREFULLY . . . AND PRAYERFULLY . . . AND LET GOD BE YOUR GUIDE

IF YOU LIVE IN A Bahá’í COMMUNITY OF MORE THAN FIFTEEN MEMBERS THE PIONEERING

PRIVILEGE MAY BE YOURS. REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE BELOVED MASTER:

Therefore, the believers of God throughout all the Republics of America. through the divine power, must become the cause of the promotion of heavenly teachings and the establishment of the oneness of humanity. Every one of the important souls must arise, blowing over all parts of America the breath of life, conferring upon the people a new spirit, baptizing them with the fire of the love of God, the water of life, and the breaths of the Holy Spirit.

(BWF, pp 420-1)

GOAL CITIES AND TOWNS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW BAHA'I LOCALITIES

N ORTHEASTERN STATES

CONNECTICUT

Danbury Litchfield Manchester Mystic Naugatuck New Canaan Norwich Ridgefield Simsbury Stafford Springs Torrington Waterbury Watertown Willimantic

MAINE

Auburn

Bar Harbor Bethel Biddeford Brooks Dover-Foxcroft Eastport Ellsworth Farmington Fort Kent Hartland Norway

Old Town Orland Presque Isle Rockland Watervilie

MASSACHUSETTS

Adams Andover Auburn Fall River °Fitchburg Gardner Lawrence Maiden New Bedford Norton Sharon Somerset Spencer Taunton Ware

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Berlin Charlestown Colebrook Derry Franklin Hanover Lebanon New London North Conw ay Plymouth Raymond Salem Wilton

NEW JERSEY

Belleville Bound Brook Burlington Camden Denville East Brunswick Fanwood Garfield Glassboro Griggstown Hackettstown Hammonton Lawrence Township Linden Madison Middlesex Millville " Mo rristo wn ‘Pennington

Philiipsburg Rahway Tenafly Verona Vineland

WEST NEW YORK

Auburn

Batavia

Corning

Cortland

Elmira

Geneseo

Hornell

Illion

Malone

Massena

Olean

Oneida.

Oneonta Salamanca

Town of Arcadia Town of Alabama Town of Jerusalem Utica

Waterloo Wellsville

PENNSYLVANIA

Arendtsville Bloomsburg Carlisle Chambersburg DuBois Hazeltown Indiana

J ohnstown Lewistown Lock Haven McKeesport Meadville

'Millersville New Castle Reading Stroudsburg Washington Williamspori. ‘York

RHODE ISLAND

‘Barrington ‘Bristol

Central Falls Coventry

East Greenwich Gloucester Johnston Lincoln Smithfield South Kingstown Tiverton

West Warwick Westerly Woonsocket

VERMONT

Fair Haven Hardwick Ludlow Montpelier Morrisville Newport

St. Albans

St. Johnsbury Springfield Stowe Vergennes White River Jet. Woodstock

SOUTHERN STATES

ALABAMA

Anniston Atmore Bay Minette ‘Bessemer Boaz Center Point Cullman Decatur Demopolis Dothan ‘Florence Foley Greenville Headland Jackson Jacksonville Marion Phenix City Prattville Selma Sylacauga Talledega Wilmer

ARKANSAS

Ba tesville Bella Vista Ben ton Blytheville Booneville Camden

ARKANSAS (con.)

Cherokee Village Conway Crossett

Forest City Greenville Harrison Magnolia Malvern Monticello Morrilton Mountain Home Newport Paragould Russellville Stuttgart Texarkana Warren

‘West Memphis

DELAWARE

Bellefonte Bridgeville Clayton Delaware City Georgetown Harrington Kent County Laurel

Lewes Middletown Milford

Milton

Odessa Rehoboth Beach Seaford Selbyville Smyrna Sussex County

FLORIDA

Arlington Belle Glade Carol City Chattahoochee Cocoa ‘Dania Daytona Beach De Land Eau Gallie Fort Pierce Fort Walton Beach Immokalee Indiantown Jacksonville Beach Kissimmee Lake City Lake Worth Leesburg Melbourne Miami Springs Ocala Palatka Panama City Pembroke Pines Pensacola Pinellas Park Plant City Sanford Stuart Venice Venus

SOUTHERN STATES

FLORIDA (Con.)

Vero Beach Warrington West Hollywood West Pensacola

GEORGIA

‘Albany Americus Bainbridge Barnesville Brunswick

• Cartersville

Chattahoochee County Cordele Gainesville Garden City Grovetown Macon Monroe Moultrie Rome Statesboro Thomasville Tifton Valdosta Warm Springs Warner Robbins Washington Waycross

KENTUCKY

Belleview Campbellsville Covington Elizabethtown Fort Thomas Frankfort Glasgow Henderson Madisonville Maysville Middlesboro Morehead Murray Newport Owensboro Paris Pikeville Richmond Winchester

LOUISIANA

Abbeville Arabi Baker Bastrop 'Bogaiusa Covington

Denham Springs

Donaldsonvilie

‘East Baton Rouge

Parish Eunice Gonzales Goosport Hammond Harvey

LOUISIANA (con.)

Houma Jennings Kenner ‘Lafayette Minden Morgan City New Iberia Onelousas Tallulah Thibodaux

MARYLAND

Aberdeen Annapolis Bel Air Cambridge Centerville Crisfield Cumberland Denton Easton Elkton Emittsburg Frederick

• 1-‘rostburg

Gaithersburg Hagerstown Havre de Grace La Plata Leonardtown Oakland

• Ocean City

Port Deposit Prince Frederick Princess Anne Queenstown Rockville Snow Hill Stevensville Upper Marlboro Westminster

MISSISSIPPI Biloxi Brookhaven Cleveland Columbus Corinth Forest Greenwood Holly Springs Kosciusko Laurel Leland Mccomb Meridian Natchez Oxford Pascagoula Picayune Philadelphia Raymond Starkville Tupelo Vicksburg Yazoo City

NORTH CAROLINA

Ahoskie Asheboro Boone Clinton Concord Cullowhee Dobson

Eden Elizabeth City Goldsboro Henderson Henersonville Hickory Jacksonville Kinston Laurinburg Lumberton Marion Monroe

‘Morehead City

Murphy Salisbury Smithtield Washington Wilmington Wilson

OKLAHOMA

Altus Ardmore ‘Bartlesville Bristow Chandler Chickasaw Claremore Elk City Enid Guthrie Langston Lawton

• McAlester

Miami _ Ponca City Sand Springs Sapulpa Shawnee Skiatook Stillwater Tahiequah Tecumseh Weatherford

SOUTH CAROLINA

Abbeville Aiken Allendale Bamberg Beaufort Camden Cheraw Chester Conway Georgetown Greenwood Hartsville Kingstree Lancaster Laurens Leesville

[Page 9]REVIEW

GOAL CITIES AND TOWNS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW BAHA'I LOCALITIES CENTRAL STATES

SOUTH CAROLINA VIRGINIA

(con.)

Manning Newberry Orangeburg Seneca Sumter Walter boro Whitm ire York

TENNESSEE

Arlington Bristol Brownsville Brunswick Clarksville Cleveland Collegedale Cookeville Covington Dyersburg Harrogate Humboldt Jackson Jamestown Lexington Manchester Maryville Millington Pulaski Rockwood Sewanee Smithville SDl'_lI'lE City Union City Woodbury

EAST TEXAS

Angleton Athens Bay City Beeville Brady Brenham Bridgeport _ Carrizo Springs Columbus Ennis Edinburg Freeport Hillsboro Huntsville Kerrville

• Kingsville

Lampasas Laredo Lockhart Longview Lufkin Mineral Wells New Braunfels Paris Port Arthur Prairie View Rockdale Taylor Temple Texas City Uvalde ‘Vernon ‘Victoria

WEST TEXAS

Abilene Alpine Ballinger Borger Brownfield Canyon Clarendon Colorado City Dalhart Del Rio Dumas El Dorado Fort Stockton Lamesa Levelland Maria Monohans ‘Pampa Plainview Pecos Sierra Blanca Snyder

Sonora Sweetwater Van Horn Blacksburg Clifton Forge Culpepper Falls Church Farmville Fredericksburg Front Royal Ham ton l-larrisonburg Highland Springs Lawrenceville Leesburg Lexington Marion Martinsville Nassawadox Norton Radford Ruckersville Salem

South Boston Westmoreland County Winchester Wytheville

WEST VIRGINIA

Boone County Buckhannon Clarksburg Clendenin Elkins Glenville Hamlin Institute Logan Martinsburg Mercer County Moundsville _ “New Martmsville Richwood Romney White Sulphur Springs Wyoming County

CENTRAL STATES

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

Anna Beardstown Cairo 'Carlinville

Centr alia Chillicothe Clinton Galesburg Greenville Jacksonville J erseyville Lebanon Leland Grove Litchfield Mahomet Marion Mccomb Rochester Taylorville

INDIANA

Auburn Clinton Connelton Decatur Fowler Frankfort Greencastle Greensburg Huntington Jasper Lebanon Liberty New Castle North Vernon Plymouth Portland Rushville Sullivan Vincennes Versailles

IOWA

Atlantic Burlington Centerville Charles City Cherokee Creston Correctionville Ft. Dodge Ft. Madison Manchester Manson Mason City Nevada Oskaloosa Red Oak Spencer

KANSAS

Arkansas City Atchison Chanute Coffeeville Colby . Concordia Dodge City Ft. Scott Garden City Great Bend Hays Hutchinson Liberal Manhattan McPherson Newton Ottawa Parsons Phillipsburg Pittsburg Pratt

Scott City

MINNESOTA Atkin

Austin Crookston Fairbault Fergus Falls Houston International Falls Morris

New Ulm Ponemah Red Lake Rousseau

St. James Virginia Willmar Winona Worthington

MISSOURI

Boonville Boone Terre Cape Girardeau Carthage Caruthersville Chillicothe Clinton Farmington Fulton Jefferson City Liberty Lebanon Marshall Mexico Moberly Perryville Poplar Bluff Sedalia Sikeston ‘Trenton

Warrensburg Washington

NEBRASKA

Alliance Beatrice Columbus Chadron Falls City Hastings Kearney Mccook

‘Goal already filled since Riḍván 1969 Localities in bold type represent goals in American Indian reservation areas

NEBRASKA (contd.)

Nebraska City Norfolk

North Platte Scottsbluff Schuyler Valentine Winnebago

NORTH DAKOTA

Beach Bismarck Carrington Devils Lake Dickinson Ellendale Ft. Totten Garrison Grafton Mandan Minot Mott

New Town Pembina Rolla Williston

OHIO

Alliance Ashland Ashtabula Bellefontaine Chillicothe Conneaut Coshocton Defiance Delaware East Liverpool Fairview Park Hiram Lancaster Lorain Marietta Marion Mount Vernon New Philadelphia Norwalk Portsmouth ‘Ravenna Steubenville

Tiffm

Washington Court House

Westerville

Wilberforce

Wooster

‘Yellow Springs Zanesville

SOUTH DAKOTA

Aberdeen Brookings Chamberlain Huron

Lead Lemmon Mitchell Pierre

Pine Ridge

SOUTH DAKOTA (contd.)

Sisseton Spearfish Springfield Sturges Watertown Yankton

WE STERN STATES

ARIZONA Ajo Avondale Bisbee Buckeye Casa Grande Eloy Florence Ft. Apache Gila Bend ‘Globe Grand Canyon Holbrook Keams Canyon Lake Havasu City Nogales Page Peoria Safford-Thatcher Sedona Sprmgerville Superior Wickenburg Williams

COLORADO

Cortez

Del Norte

Delta

Florence Glenwood Springs

=i‘~Gunnison

LaJ unta

Las Animas Longmont Montrose Pagosa Springs Rockyford Trinidad Walsenberg

IDAHO

American Falls Blackfoot Burley Gooding Grangeville Kellogg Montpelier Mountain Home Plummer Potlatch Preston Rexburg Salmon_ Sandpoint

St. Anthony

MONTANA

Anaconda Broadus Browning Conrad Dillon Glasgow Glendive Kalispell Laurel 'Lewistown Libby Poison Shelby Townsend Thompson Falls

NEVADA

Babbitt Battle Mountain Carlin Churchill County Dayton Ely Fallon ‘Gardnerville Hawthorne Lovelock ‘Lyon County Minden Reno Rural Area-North Tonopah Wells

NEW MEXICO

’Bernalillo

‘Carlsbad Chuska Clovis Deming Fort Wingate Grants l-lobbs lsleta Los Alamos County Madrid Portales Roswell Santa Rosa

‘Silver City Springer Truth or

Consequences

OREGON

‘Albany Bend Florence Gold Beach Gresham Lakeview Lebanon

‘Monmouth Ontario Oregon City

‘Roseburg Seaside

WESTERN STATES

UTAH

Beaver Blanding Brigham City Cedar City Farmington Green River l-leber Kanab Moab

Price Richfield

St. George Toole Vernal Wendover

EASTERN WASHINGTON

Colfax Colville Connell Dayton Deer Park Easton Ellensburg Ephrata Grandview Lind Odessa Omak Oroville Othello Ritzville Selah Sprague Sun nyside Tanasket Wenatchee

WESTERN WASHINGTON

Algona ‘Anacortes Auburn Chehalis Hoquiam Jefferson County Medina Mukilteo ‘Oak Harbor Port Orchard Port Townsend

• Puyallup

Raymond Sedro Wooley 'Snohomish Tumwater

WYOMING

Buffalo

Douglas

Lander

Medicine Bow ‘Rawlins

Rock Springs

MAIL THIS PIONEERING POSTSCRIPT OB. WRITE TO: National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091

MY NAME IS

MY ADDRESS IS

MY COMMUNITY IS

THE PIONEERING POST I MAY BE ABLE TO FILL IS

MY ALTERNATE CHOICE IS

Signature

(TOWN AND STATE)

[Page 10]OCTOBER 1969

Change of Name

Effective August 28, 1969. Youth and College Activities will be known as Youth and Student Activities. That in itself is not enough to blow your mind or stretch your soul, but the growth of the Faith among high school students (that’s what prompted the change!) is. High school students in mounting numbers demonstrate that 15 is the age of spiritual maturity and that the high school is often a more open and receptive teaching environment than the college. Let us have teaching-competition as well as cooperation between Bahá’í Youth to reach these kids! Remember the title “Spiritual Descendants of the Dawnbreakers" is ours by achievement, not inheritance.

Youth and Student Activities will aid in coordinating youth activities throughout the country along lines developed in the past with special emphasis this year in developing summer projects for 1970 and preparing for the International Youth Conference, June 1970. The Y.O.W. Proclamation program will be run through the Youth and Student Activities Office. We pray for a chance to serve you.

Youfh Fund Crisis

Confinues

It behooveth the people of Bahri to die to the world and all that is therein, to be so detached from all earthly things that the inmates of Paradise may inhale from their garment the sweet smelling savor of sanctity, that all the peoples of the earth may recognize in their faces the brightness of the All-Merciful, and that through them may be spread abroad the signs and tokens of God, the Almighty, the All-Wise. They that have tarnished the fair name of the Cause of God, by following the things of the flesh — these are in palpable error! (Gleanings,

p. 100-1)

Dear Friends: The crisis in the youth fund continues without improvement. The Bahá’í

even at this early date, to face the possibility of FAILURE— IF, there is not a tremendous increase in the number and amount of youth contributions. As of August 28th only $22,451.32 had been received towards the youth fund. This is the total for youth contributions to the National Fund since last Riḍván. This represents an average of about $1.60 only PER MONTH for every Bahá’í youth in the nation. Obviously, greater sacrifice is called for.

Before next Riḍván, the American Bahá’í youth should contribute $177,548, repeat $177,548 to the fund. This means $726 per day must be received by the National Office until Riḍván. (It should be noted that this amounts to only 22¢ a day for each Bahá’í youth.) We can easily meet this goal and we must.

The following letter from an American youth can encourage us all.

To: Treasury of Bahá’u’lláh:

I wish to give everything that I have to the Cause and so I looked through my belongings and found that outside of my energy all that I have to give is my wedding ring which I no longer need.

I don't know how to express myself too well, and I know that it is nothing. but it is all I have except for my books and clothes. And I hope and pray that this insignificant contribution will be accepted.

My only desire is to serve and I pray to God that I may do so every waking and sleeping moment.

Announcement

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the South Pacific has announced its first Youth Conference to be held in Western Samoa from December 29, 1969 to January 2, 1970. They have hoped “that some youth from other countries will be able to attend this conference and help to give our youth first hand knowledge of what youth can do in the service of Bahá’u’lláh.” They go on to say that they “have allocated sessions on our programme for youth from the United States.”

While there are no funds available to support an official delegation, Youth

and Student Activities is hopeful that one of you either knows of an American youth in the Samoan area around December, or someone (like you) who might be able to go. There would also be a need for youth from the United States, if possible. to stay on to do village teaching in the area. Call or write International Goals Committee in Wilmette if there is any possibility you could go and stay— Western Samoa is a goal area!

Act now, as it takes one month to get a visa for Western Samoa!

Youth Conference in South Bend

Fifty youth, ages 12-75, convened at a neighborhood center in South Bend, Indiana, August 8-10 to discuss the role of the Bahá’í Faith in the world today. Approximately half of those in attendance were inquirers. Through the lectures by Bill Qualls, of Bloomington. Indiana, Clayton Taylor of Evanston. Illinois, and Fred Sudhop, of South Bend, but especially through discussion during free time, these youth were made acquainted with the Faith and learned the implications of a world-encompassing religion.

Al Williams of South Bend, former director of the center where the conference was held, gave a talk which led to a genuine exchange of ideas. While Mr. Williams was learning about the Faith, the conference-goers learned much from him.

An immediate result was that after the conclusion of the conference on Sunday afternoon eight of the people traveled to the House of Worship in Wilmette where one of the group declared himself.

The Youth Conference in South Bend, Indiana was attended by believers from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Kansas and New Mexico.

[Page 11]REVIEW

Monterey Peninsula Youth Conference

The first local Spiritual Assembly of Seaside, California sponsored a successful youth conference June 16 through 23. Originally planned around the “Youth for One World” theme, it was finally opened to Bahá’ís of all ages because so much interest was shown by the older Bahá’í friends. Invitations were sent to all the youth in the central California area. and maximum attendance was about 60 people, at least half of them being from out of town. These travelers were put up in the homes of the Peninsula Bahá’ís. Friends even came to the conference from as far away as Eugene, Oregon!

Each day the conference began with a class on the history of Christianity given by Stephen Dracopoulis. an ex-Orthodox priest who covered Christianity from its beginnings until the time of the Bábi dispensation and also explained in detail such things from the life of a priest as the administering of the sacraments during Mass.

Next came a Bahá’í law class given by Beatrice Rinde. This was a very detailed and informative class, and was much appreciated by all of those who aren’t as familiar with the laws as they might be.

Mrs. Javidukht Khádem, Auxiliary Board member, gave a class each afternoon on the historical progress of the Faith and its institutions, and words cannot express the happiness at having her at the conference. On Wednesday evening she gave a talk for Bahá’ís only, and at least 50 of the friends took advantage of this privilege. She explained very clearly many facets of Bahá’í administration and

aims, and very lovingly reminded those present through her example, of

.1‘. I

At the Monterey Peninsuhz Youth Conference. June 16-23. 1.069.

‘g

the great bounty it is to be a Bahá’í.

Evenings were left open for slides and discussions. On Tuesday evening Mrs. Laura Smithson of Carmel held her weekly fireside. Henry Wigfall of San Jose discussed Bahá’í college clubs and on-campus teaching on Thursday evening. Slide programs shown other nights included “The Spreading Flame" and “Second International Bahá’í Conference."

On Saturday evening, after the dinner a public fireside was held. Again Mrs. Khádem spoke. Although the events of Saturday evening and Mrs. Smithson’s Tuesday fireside were the only meetings open to non-Bahá’ís, there were two declarations by the end of the week.

On Sunday morning the three guest speakers gave their final talks, summing up the whole week’s happenings. Many people present were moved to tears. When asked for criticism. none was given. There was just the hope that another conference would be held soon. It was judged an outstanding success.

Bellingham Bahá’ís Active

The Bahá’ís of Bellingham, Washington were pleased with a public meeting held July 6th on the campus of Western Washington State College with Mr. Vinson Brown speaking on “Indian Prophecy." Mr. Brown’s presentation was enthusiastically received by the more than 50 persons in attendance.

The Bahá’í Club on the campus is maintaining continual contact with the

11

student body through a weekly “open forum” Wednesday evenings and a daytime class in the “Divine Art of Living” on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Phil and Cynthia Lucas and Jack and Sue Tingstad continue to maintain firesides in the town on Friday and Saturday nights respectively.

Four college youth have formed a Bahá’í youth panel and plan to travel about the region speaking at other area schools. They will be accompanied by Phil Lucas, advisor.

“The opportunities which the turmoil of the present age presents. . . must. . . be exploited for the purpose of spreading far and wide the knowledge of the redemptive power of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.”

(The Advent of Divine Justice. 17. ~40)

“I would like to share this story with all of the believers, but particularly with those who teach school. I am in my third year of teaching. My school is a continuation high school i.e. a public school for ‘drop outs, rejects’ etc. During my first semester the word Bahá’í wasn’t mentioned. Frankly. I was afraid to try to mix religion and school, although my students were the most seeking and open souls one could hope to find. A Bahá’í’ who was a skin diver did come to speak to the classes. He brought a car load of equipment including a bathisphere helmet. This was using the subtle approach.

“During the second semester I was a bit more relaxed. but as I look back now. I think that I was second only to an obstacle course. A married student

'1

Auxiliary Board teaches class at

member Mrs. Khádem Monterey Conference.

[Page 12]‘I2

OCTOBER ‘1969

asked me about my thoughts on religion. I told her that I was a Bahá’í and perhaps a thought beyond that before I clammed up. I guess that I still wasn’t sure that I had the right to teach the Faith at school. She asked me where she could get more information and, although we were having firesides at our home, I told her to try the telephone directory. Both she and her husband did pursue and they both declared two weeks later in spite of me. I did teach the Faith to another teacher at school and she declared that summer. Our total faculty is eight. At the beginning of my second semester I was still unsure of my position. Several Bahá’ís visited my classes as guest speakers on non-Bahá’í topics and one wonderful Bahá’í consented to do the architectural plans and design for the patio and landscaping that the school board forgot to appropriate money for.

“I was beginning to get a bit depressed by now. My troubled. turned on, drop outs found it very difficult to relate to U.S. History or Government. The rate of pregnancy seemed to be increasing as did the number of kids coming to school out of their minds on speed and grass etc. A few had to be hospitalized. They were shooting everything they could find into their arms. I still continued to push the Bill of Rights at them. About that time, Chris Ruhe. who was teaching at a similar kind of school and I had a talk. He said that if he didn't teach his students about the Faith that he would be a failure as a teacher and as a Bahá’í. I think that this was what I needed to hear from another teacher.

In June, the Richmond Bahá’í Community sponsored the ‘Youth in Human Rights’ Conference. Six of my students attended for two days. They spent the night at a Bahá’í home and were besieged with the teachings and a clear demonstration of Bahá’í love and concern. One of the students mentioned the Conference in our school paper later. She said. ‘I can’t tell you much in detail. but it was all about love and brotherhood and stuff like that.’ When the time came to say goodby for the summer this nucleus of love literally kissed goodby and agreed to come to Geyserville for Unity Feast a month away. They did.

“That following September I had copies of Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era, and four or five other books in my classroom. I kept stacks of pamphlets in my desk. Ray and I decided to open our home to the students since we lived near the school. They called with their problems and to try to make contact with an adult who cared. We took three youths to a fireside and I practically passed out when all three declared. I can’t tell you how overwhelmed I was. I knew that the Universal House of Justice said that ‘the time is ripe,’ but I guess that I wasn’t sure. The message got through finally. One of my students in a Contemporary Problems class read The New Era, Portals to Freedom and something made me give him the Kit'z'ib-i-Iqán. He read and soon declared. Several others came into the Faith. One is the student body president. We have study classes after school and it seems as though the day is one continuous fire side. I walked into my room one morning before school and the youth were all sitting around the table with their non-Bahá’í friends talking about the Faith. The place is alive with positive vibrations. I waited to hear the rest of the faculty’s response since many students are walking around with Bahá’í books and our total student population is only one hundred and fifty. The English teacher is going to buy a copy of Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era because a student is using it as a study guide for credit in English.

“Recently, a young Bahá’í couple who visited us from Alabama came to speak to the students. They talked about the social difficulties of a Black Bahá’í being engaged to a Caucasian in the South, but explained that they were protected by prayer and not guns. The teaching assistant who is a very militant black was really charmed by this beautiful couple but he refused to accept this protection without guns. Later on that evening at a faculty party the principal of our school came up to me and to the same teaching assistant and said. ‘you didn't tell me that you were having guest speakers and I have been getting rid of all non-students on campus. When I saw them I was thinking about what to do when somehow, I closed the blinds of my window and pretended that I didn't see them.’ My teaching assistant remembered, they said that they were protected. He is reading The New Era too. This kind of teaching has me living in another dimension. I can’t wait to return to school from vacation."

Youth gathered at the Los Angeles Bahá’í Youth Conference July 11-13 to initiate the nine-month victory program sponsored

by the Los Angeles—Kern County Bahá’í Youth C

ommittee. P

\ .

roclamation and consolidation

were the focuses of

the conference. \ ._ ,_ _

v

[Page 13]

Sonya Segen cleaning windows of auditorium. Jan Wells and Sonya Segen were assigned to the cleaning of the Temple area.

Group picture includes L. Wyatt Cooper, sup't. of grounds: Francis Czerniejewski. tup't. of buildings: and Irving Somerhalder, assistant sup’t. of buildings: along with other Bahá’ís Grant Thomas, Ron Johnson. Ike Speed, Norbert Johnson. Dennis Bowman, William Peed. Steve Worth. Sonya Segen. John Caruana. Jan Wells. Sean Smith. Kamal Zein. Six‘ other youth also shown. some of whom are studying the Faith,

Summer Youth Project — Wilmette

The appeal for workers in the NATIONAL Bahá’í REVIEW for May brought responses from youth from a wide area—New Jersey to California. Their work experience varied from easy to difficult tasks, with some more spectacular than others, but no task at the Holiest House of Worship could be considered dull or tiresome. After rcgular working hours the youth were able to serve as guides and participate in firesides and con

 ‘ V '1 g _ Q .,- ferences.

GT M T) n and John 'Camana (‘;ssme(;b1 SO" a The accompanying pictures show the youth in varied Segen (1)1121 “fin Wells) cleaned sealed and! waxgd working attire doing some of the Summer tasks‘

the auditorium terrazo floor to restore it to its original rose colored beauty.

Grant. Thomas cleaning out the boiler flues. Onefourth inch of soot decreases the efficiency of the boiler by 40%: therefore reducing soot level decreases total fuel bill.

Sean Smith painting steelwork in

dome. After cleaning the debris, the W731”? Kensey ‘W118 P117‘! Of (1 C7910 men applied a protective coating of to help clean the dome steelwork in special paint to prevent corrosion of order to prepare for painting. steel frames.

[Page 14]14

OCTOBER ‘1969

W -__, , . 7, C 7 I ..

r

rustic r~NroRMArioIsi

Producer of Bahá’í Film

Winner of Special Awards

In the September 1969 issue of NA TIONAL Bahá’í Rsvrrzw it was reported that the new film on the Bahá’í Faith titled: “A New Wind," would be ready in November 1969 for general use. The film is on 16 mm color film with sound. The director-producer of the film is George Stoney. Since the 28 minute film will be shown extensively in the United States. it is appropriate that Bahá’ís know something of the background of George Stoney who is not a Bahá’í.

George Stoney has made films for such diverse purposes as the celebration of the Ford Motor Company's 50th Anniversary, the training of policemen to deal with the mentally disturbed, and the examination of architectual theories as applied to the revival of American cities. Most of the 60-odd films and television shows he has written and directed reveal an overriding interest in the social scene.

One of his favorite assignments took him into remote communities in Appalachia where he made friends with unemployed miners and chronicled their migration to the slums of Cincinnati. Another took him into the deep south where he worked for many months as the assistant to a Negro midwife. The result of this assignment was “All My Babies?” a feature documentary that won the Robert Flaherty

Special Award for Documentary films. Other of his films have won first awards at the American Film Festival and at international competitions at Edinburgh, Venice, Melbourne and Tours.

In addition to active film production Stoney has contributed articles on film theory, history and criticism to leading journals of cinema. He has taught film production at Columbia University. Stanford and the University of Southern California.

Currently Stoney is working on a two year assignment with the National Film Board of Canada, serving as Executive Producer of “Challenge for Change.” This is a program designed to generate social action among Canada’s “One in Five"—Indians, Maritime fishermen, small farmers and city unemployed.

“The assignment to make the Bahá’í film, ‘A New Wind’," explains Director Stoney, “was perhaps the most difficult I have ever attempted. For it required me not only to concentrate into less than half an hour of screen time the feel and scope of a worldwide religious community that is growing at a tremendous rate, but to translate into visual terms the spiritual experiences that unite peoples of such incredibly diverse cultures, standards of living and degrees of education.

Even in my own country it is hard to make clear that a university professor and a truck driver can associate as true equals in the Bahá’í community, sharing both intellectual and religious experiences. And how do you make credible the willingness of so many Bahá’í young people in this day and age to live by a code of conduct that would be considered strict by even the more conservative Christian sects?

“To compound the wonder. these young people have developed a life style so full of joy they are counted among the original flower children by their swinging contemporaries.

“Puting a story like this on film calls for a great deal more than recording scenes that will make an audience feel comfortable and amused. No single motion picture can do the job required but we hope we have made a start.”

Special Event Day

The special event day for November is the observance of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh November 12th. Theme of this years observance is: Bahá’u’lláh—His Challenge to Youth. The theme is in line with the overall proclamation

theme of “Youth for One World” for this Bahá’í year.

A Public Information Kit for the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh has been sent to all local spiritual assemblies. state goals committees. college clubs and public information representatives. The kit includes suggested ways of observing the day, feature story on Bahá’u’lláh, sample press and radio releases, sample invitations and advertisement and a report form.

Communities should plan early their observance of this 152nd Anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh. An excellent display for this day can be made with the new Proclamation Posters Color Series A. These four 18" by 24“ posters cover Bahá’u’lláh’s exile, teachings, messages to the rulers and His station.

The next special event day is Human Rights Day, December 10, 1969.

Community Relations

Important

An important aspect of good public relations or public information is having good community relations. Applied to Bahá’í communities this means how well does that Bahá’í community get along with the local community. A Bahá’í community can have excellent press publicity but still have bad community relations. The press may say many complimentary things and give excellent information on the Faith but still the local non-Bahá’í community may not be impressed or have a favorable opinion of the Bahá’ís in their midst.

Community relations is a planned program. on a continuing basis, to earn and maintain understanding of the Bahá’í Faith at the community level.

Developing good community relations first requires a knowledge of the various groups that make up a community (here we are referring to the total community. Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í) in which a Bahá’í community is located. The groups are many and varied and the following, while by no means complete, gives you an idea of some of them: city. county. and state officials; business leaders; school and education officials; newspaper publishers and editors; radio and television executives; service clubs (Lions. Rotary, Kiwanis, etc); labor organizations; women’s organizations; youth groups; welfare and civic organiza [Page 15]REVIEW

I5

tions; other religious organizations: human relations and racial groups: etc.

You can make up your own list of the various groups in your area and you can make up various classifications of these depending on your purpose in making up such a list. You can make up lists of the opinion leaders in a community. of those of the same religious beliefs. of those in certain age brackets, etc.

A good community relations program should be geared to identify and relate the activities of the Bahá’ís with the community interest. It should be based on knowledge of the local area and a determination of the attitudes among community friends, neutrals and hostiles toward the Bahá’í community. It is also important to locate those organizations and persons in the community who are natural allies or friends of the Faith and to work with them, where possible and feasible, to multiply the efforts in spreading a knowledge of the Faith.

Community relations has two aspects. One is a positive program to build understanding and friendship for the Faith and the other is correcting or

preventing bad community relations.

An example of the way bad community relations can develop can be seen in the case of Bahá’í firesides. Bahá’ís and their guests attending a fireside meeting. particularly if it is held in a private home. can by their actions annoy or anger the local people. They can. for example. park in areas which inconvenience others or they can hold loud discussions in the streets late at night. If this is done what kind of an image will the Bahá’ís project‘? Will these people think of the Bahá’ís as thoughtful, considerate and courteous‘? All this can be prevented by making sure that Bahá’ís and their friends know where to park when coming to meetings. even including it in the meeting notice if necessary. Also by warning persons when leaving the meeting that they are in a residential area and requesting their cooperation in maintaining good relations in the area.

Again. as always. we come back to

the fact that living the life is not only the best publicity for the Faith but also

Stretching to Reach '/2 Our Budget By Anniversary of the

Birth of The Báb October 20

WANTED Articles On The Fund

Do you have provocative ideas or thoughts about

perience you wish to share?

An invitation is extended to believers to submit inspirational articles and stories on the meaning of the Bahá’í Fund, the nature of giving and true sacrifice for possible use in the NATIONAL BAHA'I REVIEW. Material should be brief. Please submit to the Advisory Committee for the Bahá’í Fund. Mrs. Lois Goebel. Sec

Notes

0 Up and coming television star Leslie

Uggams in an interview story in the July 20. 1969 issue of Columbus(Ohio) Dispatch made mention of the Bahá’í Faith. She is not a Bahá’í. but in speaking of one of her shows she stated. “One thing about that show.—I had a number of people tell me that it brought out my Bahá’í instincts. I. of course. did not know what they meant. But I did learn that if there was any faith. religion. cult. doctrine. belief or way of living to which I might be able to subscribe wholeheartedly it was Bahá’í."

0 The one-minute television public service spot produced by the National Bahá’í’ Public Information Office is being shown by more and more television stations across the nation. Latest to show the spot are two Shreveport. Louisiana television sta

the best for good community relations. tions KTBS-TV and KTAL-TV. - , 1; National Baha I Fund MONTHLY INCOME: 1959-1970 5 |75.000 |50,000 rnshooo Monthly Goal |O0.000 75,000 50,000 25,000 . u >- 4- .. - . . __v GIVING to the Faith, or have you had a personal ex- ;<» § g E‘ 0% 5 is g E § g Fiscal Year INCOME August 1969 to Data Regular Contributions 3 6|.246.00 $3|3.0|0.03 Special Contributions |8,883.00 67,888.24 Total Contributions 5 80,|29.00 3380.898.27 Estates 500.00 |4.720.58 Other Income 2.l78.39 |2,|23.58 Total Income 3 32,807.39 $407,742.43 Budget $ I 25,000.00 $625,000.00

retary, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.

[Page 16]I6

OCTOBER 1969

Bahá’í DIRECTORY CHANGES

Assembly Secretaries

Southern California Dist. No. 1 Altadena: Mrs. Marjorie Torres, 840 E. Mendocino, 91001 Inglewood: L.S.A. of Inglewood, P.O. Box 587, 90301

Southern California Dist. No. 2

Chula Vista: Secretary Chula Vista Assembly, PO. Box 3082, 92011

Jurupa J.D.: William Dunlap, Chr., 10440 N. Lynn No. C, Mira Loma 91752

Laguna Beach: Mr. Ben Ashell, Chr., 671 Glen Eyre 12, 92651

San Bernardino: Mrs. Jane F. Steele, 2590 N. Muscott. Box 14. 92405

Desert J.D.: Mrs. Merle A. Cates (To correct spelling of name)

Southern California Dist. No. 3

Santa Barbara: Miss Carol Kovacs, P.O. Box 1327, 93101

Florida Lee County: Mrs. Doris Corbin, P.O. Box 2897, Fort Myer Beach 33931 Miami: Miss Olive Alexander. Chr., 916 N.W. 59th St., 33127

Georgia Savannah: Mrs. Edna Green, 872 Francis Bartow Pl., 31401 Northern Illinois Wheaton: Mrs. Linda Nixon, pro-tem, 916 College Av., No. 217, 60187

PLANNING TO MOVE DURING THE NEXT 30 DAYS?

Help us keep your address up-to-date CUT OUT OR PROVIDE SAME INFORMATION ON POST OFFICE CARD FORM 3578 AND MAIL TO: NATIONAL BAHA'I CENTER 112 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, ILL. 60091

ATTACH YOUR OLD ADDRESS LABEL HERE

Name (Please Print)

N EW Add res;

City mi.» Zip

NEW Telephone: Area

Name of new locality| (If different from city name)

Ia--n-----------------------u--------u----J

Reminder: Have you ALSO notified your community and SGC secretaries of your new address?

Iowa Waterloo: Mrs. Naomi Darby, Chr., 806 Rainbow Dr., 50701 Maryland Baltimore: Miss F. Mildred Elmer, Secretary Prince Georges County: Mrs. Linda Head, Chr., 2607 Lackawanna St., Adelphi 20783

Massachusetts Amherst: Miss Eloise Cain, 2 Shays St., 01002 Mississippi Jackson: Mrs. Virginia Johnson, 310 Shadowlawn Dr., 39204 Nebraska Lincoln: Mr. W. Jeff England, 652 S. 17th. 68502 New Mexico Bernalillo Co.: Mrs. Pamela S. Womack. 1602 Sunset Gardens Rd., S.W., Albuquerque 87105 Ohio Euclid: Mr. George Kibby, Chr., 560 Birch Dr., 44132 South Carolina: Greenville: Mrs. Katherine Faily. 5 Overbrook Circle, 29607 Wisconsin Racine: Miss Muriel Peterson, pro-tem, 1537 Grange Ave., 53405

State Goals Committee Secretaries

Arkansas Mrs. Julia Shows, 415 Forest Ave., Fayetteville 72701

Central California Dist. No. 1 Mrs. Linda Hendricsen, pro-tem, 2576 Suisun Ave., San Jose 95121

Indiana Mr. Leslie R. Hawthorn, 113 Wiggins St., West LaFayette 47906

Nebraska Mrs. Brenda Hicks, 4909 California, Omaha 68132

In Memoriam

Mrs. Venus McPherson Uhrichsville, Ohio August 16, 1969

Bennett Nathan Laguna Hills, Calif. About November 1968

Mrs. Alice Nathanson Providence, R.I. July 19, 1969

Dr. Dikran Abel Sarkissian Pasadena, Calif. August 15, 1969

Harry A. Saunders Denver, Colo. August 21, 1969

Otto E. Sinatra Miami Beach, Florida August 24, 1969

Fred Walstrom Topeka, Kansas August 16, 1969

Luis Bruin San Diego, Calif. August 1, 1969

Chesley D. Clark Tacoma, Wash. February 13, 1968

Mrs. Josephine Cox Warren, Michigan July 25, 1969

Mike Evans Fairfleld, Montana July 22, 1969

Mrs. Sandra J. Freitas Venice, Calif. July 15, 1969

Mrs. Etty Graete Switzerland July 26, 1969

Mrs. Alberta Johnson North Dade C0,, Florida July 18, 1969