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[Page 1]

Next Global Plan to be Launched 1974

To: All National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

As the Bahá’í world approaches the triumphant conclusion of the Nine Year Plan it gives us the utmost gratification to see that a few National Spiritual Assemblies have already formulated plans for activity during the coming Bahá’í year.

The next global plan will be launched at Riḍván 1974 and you will therefore have twelve months to prepare for it. We call upon you all to take the greatest possible advantage of that year to:

• Strengthen the foundations of your achievements through developing and enriching Bahá’í community life, fostering youth activity and through all means suited to your circumstances; and
• Continue expansion of the Faith, trying new openings and possibilities not fully explored when you were under the pressure of other priorities.

Obviously conditions differ in the various areas under the jurisdiction of the National Spiritual Assemblies, and the goals which each Assembly adopts must be suited to its particular circumstances and possibilities, but, as the beloved Guardian once pointed out, "The broader the basis" of such a campaign, and "the deeper its roots, the finer the flower into which it shall eventually blossom."

We ask you to make your plans now and to send us your report of them to reach us as soon as possible and not later than 1st April 1973 so that we may present a consolidated summary to the International Convention. We feel that such a summary will be an inspiration and a source of new ideas to the delegates when they are consulting upon the challenges that lie before the Bahá’í community in the years ahead and which must be faced during the next global plan. Moreover, the achievements of the coming year, added to the great victories of the Nine Year Plan, will enable the worldwide Bahá’í community to enter with even greater assurance upon the next stage of its ever-unfolding destiny.

We pray at the Holy Shrines that the blessings of Bahá’u’lláh may guide and assist you with a fresh measure of His divine grace in the few months separating us from the glorious festivities of next Riḍván.

Bahá’í World Centre Haifa, Israel January 14, 1973

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

— The Universal House of Justice [Page 2]

BAHÁ’Í SUMMER SCHOOLS - 1973

ARIZONA/NEW MEXICO Corresponding Secretary: Mr. Raymond Helmick, 1638 East Cinnabar Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85020 Dates: July 8-July 15 School location: Prescott Conference Center, Prescott, Arizona Phone of Secretary: (602) 944-7022

CALIFORNIA, South Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. Marian Lawyer, 16131 LaCubre Drive, Victorville, California 92392 Dates: June 30-July 7 School location: Idyllwild Pines, Idyllwild, California Phone of Secretary: (714) 245-1094

CAROLINAS Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. Charmion Stanley, 12 Mullis Ct., Greensboro, N.C. 27407 Dates: week of July 4 School location: South Carolina, Cherow State Park Phone of Secretary: (919) 375-5155

COLORADO, East Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. Marilyn Fisher, 437 Pine Street, Boulder, Colorado 80302 Phone of Secretary: (303) 443-6422

COLORADO, West Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. Gloria Winter, 139 West 18th Street, Durango, Colorado 81301 Dates: July 28-Aug. 4 School location: Telluride, Colorado

DAVISON BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL COUNCIL Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. Elizabeth Brogan, 870 West Drayton, Ferndale, Michigan 48220 Dates: August 12-Sept. 3 School location: Davison, Michigan Phone of Secretary: (313) 546-0346

FLORIDA Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. Elizabeh Venters, 2250 Southeast 7th Drive, Pompano Beach, Florida 33062 Phone of Secretary: (305) 941-8473

GEORGIA/ALABAMA Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. Donna Gordon, Route 1, Box 223-C, Tuskegee, Alabama 36083. Phone of Secretary: (205) 727-3297

GEYSERVILLE BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL COUNCIL Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. Eva Bishop, 81 Woodland Court, Milpitas, California 95035 Phone of Secretary: (408) 263-3045

GREEN ACRE BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL COUNCIL Corresponding Secretary: Miss Sandra Rhode, Box 6, Montague, Massachusetts 01351 Phone of Secretary: (413) 533-1468

IOWA/ILLINOIS MINNESOTA Corresponding Secretary: Mr. Alan Halm, Box 438, Winsed, Minnesoa 55395 Dates: July 21-28 School location: Enviromental Learning Center, Isabelle, Minnesota Phone of Secretary: no phone

MONTANA Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. Mary Cottrill, Route 3, Bennett Avenue, Billings, Monana 59101 Dates: August 12-18 School location: Red Lodge, Montana Phone of Secretary: (406) 373-5705

NEBRASKA (new Committee) Dates: July 1-7 School location: Doane College, Crete, Nebraska [Page 3]

REVIEW

NEW YORK, Eastern

Mrs. Pearl Fleischacker 2173 Jacqueline Avenue No. Bellmoro, N.Y. 11710 July 21-Aug. 5 Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (516) SU 1-0668 Oakwood School

OKLAHOMA/TEXAS

Dr. Virginia Harden 320 East Hurd Edmond, Oklahoma 73034 August 6-11 Lake Bridgeport, Texas. (405) 341-4179

OREGON

Mrs. Doris Miller 153 Kensington Avenue Astoria, Oregon 97103 June 10-15 Silver Creek, Oregon (503) 325-6236

WASHINGTON, East

Ms. Wendy Burns June 17-22 July 5-8 416 N. Date Street Toppenish, Washington 98948

Rates: 1-4 $2.00 5-8 4.00 9-14 15-

Camp facilities are dormitory style. Camp limited to 130 people. YMCA Lake Wenatchee, Washington (309) 865-4782 $ 9.00 15.00

Camp facilities include: swimming, hiking and other recreational activities (outdoor classrooms).

For more information: Registrar, Washington East Bahá’í Schools Committee Mr. Keith Brown P.O. Box 1245 E. Wenatchee, Wash. 98801

WASHINGTON, West

Mrs. Virginia Martig 409 Oak Street Shelton, Washington 98584 July 1-7 Seabeck, Washington (206) 426-6473

Assemblies in Jeopardy

Revised, March 7, 1973

As the following communities have less than nine adult believers, their Local Spiritual Assemblies are in jeopardy of not being reformed next Riḍván. Homefront settlers are needed in these localities to maintain these nascent Local Houses of Justice.

NORTHEASTERN REGION:

Membership Mansfield, Ct. 8 Norwark, Ct. 8 Wallingford, Ct. 7 Eastport, Maine 8 Woodstock, N.H. Morristown, N.J. 7 Albany, East N.Y. 8 Brockport, N. Y. 5 Greenburg, N. Y. 5 Hamburg Village, N.Y. 8

For information on how you may assist these communities, contact: Northeastern Regional Teaching Committee Mrs. Patricia Rothman, Secretary 12 Carol Drive Rockville, Connecticut 06066 (203) 875-7088 (H) (203) 289-7231 (W)

SOUTHERN REGION:

Arkadelphia, Arkansas 8 Dania, Florida 6 Alachua, Florida Davie, Florida Deerfield Beach, Florida Ft. Myers, Florida Hallandale, Florida Micanopy, Florida Naples, Florida Lee County, Florida 6 Orlando, Florida 8 Riviera Beach, Florida Tallahassee, Florida Jefferson County, Kentucky Lancaster, Kentucky East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana Gretna, Louisiana Shreveport, Louisiana 8 [Page 4]Jay, Oklahoma Knoxville, Tennessee Beaumont, Texas Bryan, Texas Eagle Pass, Texas Killeen, Texas Pasadena, Texas Wheeling, West Virginia

For information on how you may assist these communities, contact: Southern Regional Teaching Committee Mr. James Taylor, Secretary 507 W. Fortification Street Jackson, Mississippi 39203 (601) 355-0136

CENTRAL REGION

Membership Alton, Illinois Decatur, Illinois Morton Grove, Illinois Northbrook, Illinois Rock Island, Illinois Zion, Illinois Terre Haute, Indiana Warsaw, Indiana Council Bluffs, Iowa Emporia, Kansas Alpena, Michigan Battle Creek, Michigan Anoka, Minnesota Bismarck, North Dakota (Capital) Fargo, North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota Hastings, Nebraska Kettering, Ohio Janesville, Wisconsin Racine, Wisconsin

For information on how you may assist these communities, contact: Central Regional Teaching Committee Mrs. Jeanette Brayton, Secretary 415 Rice Street Anoka, Minnesota 55303 (612) 421-2326

WESTERN REGION

Peoria, Arizona Pima County, Arizona Alamosa, Colorado Jefferson County, Colorado Moscow, Idaho Butte, Montana Carlsbad, New Mexico Grant’s Pass, Oregon Marion County North, Oregon Marion County, South, Oregon Klamath Falls, Oregon Kitsap County C.C.D. #1, Washington Mason County C.C.D. #1, Washington Marysville, Washington Toppenish, Washington Cheyenne, Wyoming

For information on how you may assist these communities, contact: Western Regional Teaching Committee Mrs. Eleanore Conkling, Secretary 1088 Nixon Avenue Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401 (208) 524-2817

CALIFORNIA REGION

Bakersfield, J.D. Carmel Coronado Covina Crescenta-Canada Daly City Del Mar Fremont Gardena Imperial Beach Inglewood J.D. Lakewood Livermore Los Gatos Lynwood Manhatten Beach Monterey Newport Beach Orange County Central J.D. Pismo Beach San Leandro San Marcos Santa Maria Stockton Vallejo

For information on how you may assist these communities, contact: California Regional Teaching Committee Mrs. Joan Bulkin, Secretary 551 S. Parish Place Burbank, California 91506 (213) 842-8555 (213) 843-7077 [Page 5]

The Continental Bahá’í Fund

In a cablegram dated April 6, 1954, addressed to all the Hands of the Cause and all National Assemblies of the Bahá’í world, the beloved Guardian called for the appointment, by the fifteen Hands outside of the Holy Land, of Auxiliary Boards. Foreseeing the growth of the activities of these Auxiliary Boards, Shoghi Effendi also included in this cable the following: "Urge the initiation of five Continental Bahá’í Funds which, as they develop, will increasingly facilitate the discharge of the functions assigned to the Boards. Transmitting five thousand pounds as my initial contribution to be equally divided among the five continents. Appeal to the twelve National Assemblies and individuals to insure a steady augmentation of these Funds through annual assignment in National Budgets and by individual contributions. Fervently supplicating at the Holy Threshold for an unprecedented measure of blessings on this vital and indispensable organ of the embryonic and steadily unfolding Bahá’í Administrative Order" (Messages to the Bahá’í World, p. 59).

Thus the Continental Bahá’í Fund was established by the beloved Guardian and initiated by his own generous contribution to it at the very moment that he called for the creation of the Auxiliary Boards to assist and advise the Hands of the Cause in the development of their special areas of service to the Faith.

Again the importance of the Continental Fund was emphasized by The Universal House of Justice in a letter to the believers throughout the world dated December 18, 1963: "Nor should the believers, individually or in their Assemblies, forget the vitally important Continental Funds which provide for the work of the Hands of the Cause of God and their Auxiliary Boards. This divine institution, so assiduously fostered by the Guardian, and which has already played a unique role in the history of the Faith, is destined to render increasingly important services in the years to come." (Wellspring of Guidance, p. 20)

With the appointment by The Universal House of Justice of the Continental Boards of Counsellors in June 1968, the responsibilities for the activities of the Auxiliary Boards and for the Continental Funds to support them, passed to each Board of Counsellors for its respective continent.

The Communities of Alaska, Canada and the United States form the area of responsibility of the Continental Board of Counsellors for North America, and the Continental Fund, supported, as requested by the Guardian and The Universal House of Justice, by allocations from the National and Local Assemblies and by the individual believers in these three countries is to be used for the activities of the Counsellors and Auxiliary Board members in these same areas.

Direct contributions to the Continental Bahá’í Fund for North America from the Assemblies and individual Bahá’ís should be sent to:

Continental Bahá’í Fund Edna M. True, Trustee 418 Forest Avenue Wilmette, Illinois 60091

The Counsellors for North America wish to take this opportunity to express their most loving appreciation and gratitude for the contributions received.

CONTINENTAL BOARD OF COUNSELLORS FOR THE PROTECTION AND PROPAGATION OF THE BAHÁ’Í FAITH IN NORTH AMERICA

In Memory of Anna Petersen Beach

On December 9, 1972 Mrs. Anna Petersen Beach, one of the very earliest Bahá’ís in the United States passed away in Hinckley, Ohio after seventy-three years of continuous service to Bahá’u’lláh.

She and her mother, Mrs. Christine Petersen, became believers in Fruitport, Michigan in 1899, learning of the Faith from a neighbor who had been given the Message by Mrs. Corinne True. Anna was fourteen years old at the time. Her sister, Mrs. Edna McManamey of Fruitport, Michigan, also a Bahá’í, preceded her in entrance to the Abhá Kingdom in January 1972.

Mrs. Beach and her husband, Burt, worked continuously for the Faith, building over a period of thirty-five years a [Page 6]Local Spiritual Assembly in Hinckley, Ohio, where they made their home and raised their family.

In 1970 at the age of eighty-five Mrs. Beach spent six months in the Deep South assisting her daughter, Mrs. Merle Borden, in consolidating the teaching work among new believers. During that trip she suffered her third heart attack, two years before her death.

Her obituary which was read at her funeral service, included this high tribute:

"Anna Beach's life was characterized by her love for and commitment to the Bahá’í Faith. It was to the Bahá’í Faith that her energies in life were directed, and from it that she drew her strength. From her Faith she drew her qualities of the love of all mankind, of compassion, kindness, and a desire to serve. To her Faith she brought her qualities of strength of will, of courage, and of undying dedication."

IN MEMORIAM

Mr. Andy B. Allen, Casper, Wyoming, December 19, 1972

Mr. Edwin Anderson, Edmond, Okla., January 11, 1973

Mrs. Mathilde H. Barrus, San Jose, Calif., January 22, 1973

Mrs. Gladys Brice, Terrell, Tex., February 7, 1973

Mr. William L. Buczek, Monkton, Maryland, January 21, 1973

Mr. Matthew Bullock, Sr., Detroit, Mich., December 22, 1972

Mrs. Carolyn Dary, Bradenton, Florida, January 6, 1973

Mrs. Joy Earl, Ann Arbor, Michigan, November 27, 1972

Mr. Paul Eldridge, Blackfoot, Idaho, November 13, 1972

Mr. Harold C. Ellison, Temple, Texas, January 25, 1973

Mrs. Viola Eston, Josephine, Penn., January 24, 1973

Mr. Winston G. Evans, Sewanee, Tennessee, January 13, 1973

Mr. Perry Gordon, Genevia, Ark., Unknown

Mrs. Jeanette Hines, Niles, Mich., January 17, 1973

Mrs. Gail Lampkins, Inkster, Mich., December 27, 1972

Miss Elsa Ledebuhr, Milwaukee, Wisc., December 29, 1972

Miss Ann MacMillan, Everett, Massachusetts, May 11, 1972

Mr. William McSee, Chicago, Ill., January 1, 1973

Mr. Sanford G. Miller, West Chesterfield, Mass., August 6, 1971

Mrs. Katherine Mills, Ann Arbor, Mich., December 21, 1972

Mr. Clyde Mosley, Shreveport, Louisiana, December 1972

Mr. Edgar C. Nebel, Roswell, New Mex., December 9, 1972

Mr. M. D. Roach, Evanston, Ill., February 3, 1973

Mrs. Leonora Rodgers, Susanville, Calif., November 1, 1972

Mr. Jon E. Sevsy, Salina, Kansas, February 9, 1973

Miss Brenda Lee Tasker, Edgewood, Maryland, November 16, 1972

Mr. Percival C. Waller, Lakeland, Florida, January 1, 1973

Mr. George Williams, Rock Hill, S.C., 1972

Mr. Virgil McLain Wilson, Eagle Grove, Iowa, August 30, 1971

Bahá’í Funeral Services and Interment

"Death proffereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed. It bestoweth joy, and is the bearer of gladness. It conferreth the gift of everlasting life." —Bahá’u’lláh

Bahá’ís firmly believe in the life of the soul after death. Bahá’u’lláh, Prophet-Founder of the Faith, writes:

Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God, His sovereignty, His dominion and power will endure. It will manifest the signs of God and His attributes, and will reveal His loving kindness and bounty.

The Bahá’í writings teach that not only is the individuality of the soul retained in the eternal realm, but also that it's life [Page 7]on earth is remembered, and that it will recognize and associate with the loved ones and others it had known during its life here on earth.

No rites or rituals are required for Bahá’í funerals. Memorial services are usually simple and joyous and are based on the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh: “O Son of the Supreme! I have made death a messenger of joy to thee. Wherefore dost thou grieve?” Readings of Bahá’í prayers and other passages from Bahá’í sacred scriptures are used and appropriate musical selections may be included. Whether the casket is open or closed during the funeral service is left to the decision of the family concerned. Since there is no professional clergy in the Bahá’í Faith, any Bahá’í or group of Bahá’ís may conduct services for the departed. Bahá’ís are also happy to conduct funeral services for others on request.

Although there are no rituals to be observed, there are certain Bahá’í laws regarding burial which should be known to those who make funeral arrangements. The body is not to be embalmed, unless this is a requirement of state law; interment must take place within an hour’s travel time from the place of death; and cremation is forbidden. In their wills Bahá’ís can, and sometimes do, donate their bodies for medical teaching and research, or for restorative purposes in living persons.

At present Bahá’í communities do not own cemeteries, and because of the pivotal teaching of their Faith that all men are brothers, prefer to be interred in integrated burial grounds. The only Bahá’í symbol which has been approved for use on monuments, headstones or markers is the nine-pointed star or rosette.

The Local Spiritual Assembly is our LIFELINE

“These Spiritual Assemblies are aided by the Spirit of God. Their defender is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Over them He spreadeth His Wings. What bounty is there greater than this? . . . From them 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.”

Since a Local Spiritual Assembly has the “. . . sacred obligation to help, advise, protect and guide the believers . . .” there are many occasions when it will not wish to instruct in an absolute manner, but will, rather, make suggestions and offer guidance and encouragement to an individual in order to assist him to make his own prayerful determination in the resolution of a problem.

“One of the healing remedies Bahá’u’lláh has given to a sick world is the Assembly . . . its members have very sacred and heavy responsibilities, its power to steer the Community, to protect and assist its members is likewise very great.”

“. . . you should turn to your local Assembly, in the strictest confidence, and seek their aid and advice. . . . You should go to them as a child would to its parents...”

(All quoted passages are from The Local Spiritual Assembly, a compilation by The Universal House of Justice.)

CALENDAR

Feasts

• March 21: Bahá (Splendor)
• April 9: Jalál (Glory)
• April 28: Jamál (Beauty)

Fast

• Begins March 2, ends March 20

Bahá’í Holy Days

• March 21: Naw-Rúz* (New Year)
• April 21 – May 2: Feast of Riḍván (Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh)
• April 21: First Day of Riḍván* (Election, Local Spiritual Assemblies)
• April 29: Ninth Day of Riḍván*
• May 2: Twelfth Day of Riḍván*
• *Day on which work should be suspended

National Spiritual Assembly Meetings

• March 23-25: Election of The Universal House of Justice
• April 29-May 1: U.S. National Convention

Conference

• National Bahá’í Youth Conference
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• June 20-24, 1973

[Page 8]

ASSEMBLIES

GOAL BY RIḌVÁN 1973: 550

Total Number of Assemblies Contributing 322 351 432 408 461 453 474 394 505

Total Youth and Adult Contributions $ 50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000

1972-1973 MONTHLY GOAL

The Office of the Treasurer has found that local Treasurers are often unaware of the standard set by the National Spiritual Assembly for regularity in contributing to the National Bahá’í Fund. A regularly contributing community is one that sends at least one contribution during the period between Feasts. When all our local Treasurers are contributing on this schedule to the National Fund, we will undoubtedly make and overshoot our goals of 550 Local Spiritual Assemblies contributing to the National Fund by Riḍván.

To All Believers

February 22, 1973

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

With this Feast we enter once again into the mystery of the Fast. This is a time when as Bahá’ís we make a conscious effort to readjust ourselves to our material surroundings and to reorder the relationship between the material and the spiritual in our lives.

Let us reflect for a moment upon the similarities between what we will be doing in the coming nineteen days and what we do in contributing throughout the year to the Bahá’í Fund. First, we are exercising a privilege that belongs to us alone as servants of Bahá’u’lláh. We are also being obedient to His command in both contributing and fasting, thus strengthening a vital attribute of the soul. Our renunciation of food and drink, like sacrifice of our material wealth, affirms our severance from the things of this world and our desire for those of the Kingdom.

Many other parallels could be drawn, but these will suffice to remind us that in ordaining the Fast, as well as in providing for material sacrifice in the Fund, God has richly blessed us by allowing us to show our love for Him in "deeds, not words."

With deep Bahá’í love,

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES Dorothy W. Nelson Treasurer

INCOME

Sultán (Sovereignty)

• Regular Contr.: $ 79,849.93
• Special Contr.: $ 8,990.63
• Total Contr.: $ 88,840.56
• Estates: $ 10,800.74
• Other Income: $ 91.10
• Total Income: $ 99,732.40
• Budget: $132,000.00

Fiscal Year to Date

• Regular Contr.: $1,230,321.00
• Special Contr.: $ 114,442.59
• Total Contr.: $1,344,763.59
• Estates: $ 133,890.37
• Other Income: $ 7,051.37
• Total Income: $1,485,705.33
• Budget: $1,980,000.00

Contributions may be addressed to:

National Bahá’í Fund 112 Linden Ave. Wilmette, Ill. 60091

Bahá’í International Fund P.O. Box 155 Haifa, Israel

Continental Bahá’í Fund 418 Forest Ave. Wilmette, Ill. 60091