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Goals set for Illinois believers
To the Bahá’ís of Illinois
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The unique edifice of the Mother Temple of the West rises from the soil ofIllinois as an ever-present symbol of the special blessings and potentialities of the people who have become its proud custodians. Implied in this majestic symbol is a host of distinctions: among them, the transcendent position of Chicago as the first place in America where the Name of Bahá’u’lláh was publicly mentioned, the repeated inclusion of that city in the itinerary which the Center of the Covenant, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, followed during His epic journey to the West, His laying of the foundation stone of the sacred structure which would become, in Shoghi Effendi’s words, the “ordained Source from which rays of spiritual guidance will radiate.”
To these honors must now be added the selection of your state for a special endeavor in consonance with the high expectations outlined in the Master’s Divine Plan and with the particular goal of the Five Year Plan to “develop intensive teaching and consolidation plans in at least 3 states chosen from among those visited by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, designed to attract great numbers to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh thereby initiating a process leading to the entry into the Faith by troops alluded to by the Master.”
You are nowjoined with California and New York in this remarkable enterprise, and we are confident that within the framework of the three major objectives of the Plan, you will enthusiastically seize the following tasks.
0 Raise the number of localities where Bahá’ís reside in Illinois to 400;
0 Open to the Faith all counties where Bahá’ís do not now exist;
o Maintain existing Local Spiritual Assemblies, ensuring that a minimum of 15 adults reside in each Bahá’í community;
0 Raise the number ofLocal Spiritual Assemblies to 99;
0 Increase the number of incorporated Assemblies to 40;
0 Take determined steps in each local community to expand the teaching work among those representing at least one of the minority groupsAmerican Indian, Armenian, Chinese, Greek, Spanish—speaking—-designated in the Five Year Plan;
0 Expand the use of radio and television for Bahá’í’ broadcasts aimed at proclamation of the Faith to greater numbers of listeners on a regular basis; at the same time the regular use of the press should be maintained and even increased;
9 Encourage and organize regular Bahá’í activities and classes for adults, youth and children;
0 Organize regular classes to educate Bahá’í children in the teachings of the Faith;
0 Foster and encourage youth activities, including firesides, study classes, teaching institutes, local youth clubs, College clubs, circuit teaching projects, and pioneering;
o Strive toward universal participation in support of the Bahá’í Funds.
These tasks are, of course, only mile posts toward the distinctive goal called for in the Five Year Plan, namely, “entry into the Faith by troops”, the attainment of which depends principally upon the response of each believer in Illinois, who must be constantly teaching, constantly studying the Holy Texts and their authentic interpretations, constantly exercising the discipline of enlightened souls whose thoughts and deeds are guided by the standards of Bahá’u’lláh. We call upon each of you to strive earnestly to attract to the Faith at least one person each year.
Your immediate supporters and assistants in these strivings are the diligent members of the Institution of the Continental Counsellors and Local Spiritual Assemblies; in addition, a Regional Teaching Committee, Regional Information Committee and District Teaching Committees have been established as instruments for stimulating and coordinating your
Review
activities. We urgently invite each of you to offer a portion of his or her time and talents to these instruments of the Illinois teaching program.
In a tablet to the Central States, the beloved Master observed that “everything that appears in and manifests from the heart influences all the organs of the body.” Illinois is at the heart of our national community, whose God—given responsibilities embrace the entire international field; the entire body of the American believers can therefore be influenced by the heroic deeds to which you are now summoned—deeds which, transcending the mere achievement ofstatistical objectives, must reach into
the core of the population, cutting across every stratum with the clear message that the Lord of Hosts has come with authority to unify and guide mankind toward the promised and long awaited dawn of peace.
May the confirmations of Bahá’u’lláh be showered upon your devoted labors in His Cause.
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY or THE BAHp1’I’s or THE UNITED STATES Glenford E. Mitchell, Secretary
November 23, 1974
Five Year
Africa (E) Botswana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
(F)(E) Cameroon Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
(F) Dahomey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(E) Ghana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(F) Malagasy Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(E) Malawi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(E) British Indian Ocean Terr. . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(E) Tanzania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
(E) Gambia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(F) Zaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 l
Americas
(S) Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
(S) Chile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(S) Dominican Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(S) Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
(E) Guyana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(F) Haiti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(S) Honduras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(E) Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 (E) Leeward and Virgin Islands: Montserrat or St. Kitts . . . . . . . . . , . . .2
(S) Panama . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(S) Peru: Cuzco, Puno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(D)(E)(H) Surinam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(E) Trinidad and Tobago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
(S) Uruguay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
(E) Windward Islands, St. Lucia, Grenada . .2 g
Asia
(C)(P) Macau . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(E)(H) India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(K)(E) Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
(F) Laos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(F)(E) Lebanon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Plan goals
(E) Nepal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(E) Philippine Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
(E) Taiwan . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
(E) Vietnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . .4
(F) Cambodia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2* T9 Australasia (E) Western Samoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 (E) Caroline Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 4 Europe (F) Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 (N) -Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 (P) Portugal . . . . . . . . . . . , .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 _8 TOTALS Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17"
Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Australasia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 » % Language Key C—Chinese (Southern dialect) D-Dutch E—English F—French H-Hindi -K-Korean
N-Norwegian P-Portuguese S-Spanish
- Newly—assigned goal
[Page 3]
1 975
January
Directory Changes
Assembly Secretaries
Arizona
Hard Rock Chapter: correct name for Dinnebito, Arizona Assembly*
California Buena Park: Janet Stoddard, 7051 9th St., #202, 90620
Citrus J.D.: Mrs. Laura M. Johnson, 18569 Colimma Rd., Apt. D, Rowland Heights, 91748
Clovis: Mrs. Melodi Durand, 647 W. Barrow,
- 118, 93612
Fresno: Ms. Lalonne Trammer, 3876 E. Harvard Ave., 93703
Fresno J.D. : Mrs. Joan Varellas, 708 E. Gettysburg, 93704
Fullerton: new telephone number—714-525-6105
Monterey: Ms. Jana Curtice, 212 Soledad Dr., 93940 (tel. 408-375-6987)
Petaluma: new address—P.O. Box 23, 94952
Sonoma County North J.D.: Mr. Robert Jordan, P.O. Box 46, Geyserville, 95441 South Pasadena: new address—P.O_. Box 644,
' 95926
Westminster: Ms. Elaine Calli, P.O. Box 974,
93940 (tel. 714-894-7406)
Colorado
Alamosaz new address——P.O. Box 877, 81101
Mesa County: Mrs. Gloria Kohls, 23-5 Arriba Dr., Grand Junction, 8150l- (tel. 303-243-0231)*
Florida
Lee County: Mrs. Alice Davis, 8524 Dominican Ct., Fort Myers, 33901 (tel. 813-936-7312)
Plantation: Mrs. Viki Robinson, 640 NW 74th Ave. ,
- 1, 33317
Indiana
Richmond: new address—P.O. Box 1623, 47374
South Bend: Mr. Lawrence Rice, 4021 S. Manor Dr., 46614
Kansas Topeka: Mrs. Ruth Ashworth, P.O. Box 4434, 66604
Maine
Eastport: Mrs. Barbara Vaillancourt, P.O. Box 191 , 04631
Portland: new address-69 Inverness St., 04103
South Portland: Ms. Sherilee Baker, 7 Brigham St., 04106
Maryland Takoma Park: Ms. Yvonne Merritt, P.O. Box 4276, 20012
Massachusetts
Boston: Mrs. Catherine Fetters, P.O. Box 1207, 02124 (tel. 617-288-6552)
Holyoke: new address—299 Appleton St., 01040
Michigan Mount Pleasant: correct telephone number 517-772-6568
Minnesota St. Louis Park: new address—2920 Jersey Ave. S., 55426
Nebraska
Aurora: Mrs. Geraldine Marshall, P.O. Box 74, 68818*
Lincoln: Mr. George A. Marietta, P.O. Box 80601 (tel. 402-489-3089)
New Jersey
Montclair: Ms. Frances Edelstein, pro-tem, 22 St. Lukes P1., 07042
Piscataway Township: Mrs. Collette Sklios, 546 Mettars Lane, Piscataway,’ 08854
New Mexico
Roswell: Mrs. Hildegarde Humphreys, 610-B Wyoming Ave., 88201
Santa Fe County: Ms. Barbara Vlahos, -Country Club Gardens, Space 99, Rt. 2, Airport Rd., 87501 (tel. 505-471-3921)
New York Humburg, Town of: new telephone number 716-824-0904)
Ohio
Beavercreek Township: new address——P.O. Box 16, Alpha, 4530]
Cincinnati: Mrs. Lorene Duston, 2533 Homestead Pl., 45211 (tel. 515-481-3307)
Cleveland Heights: Mr. Neil Krandall, 2108 Bellfield Ave., 44106
Kent: Ms. Cindy Grieve, 1937 Chippewa P1,, 44240
Oregon
Ashland: correct telephone number—503—482-0764
Clatsop County: change secretary’s name—Mrs. Marylin Spurgeon
Hillsboro: Ms. Guity Sohrab, 2661 SE Goldenrod Ct., 97123
Pennsylvania Pittsburgh: new address—P.O. Box 7190, 15213
South Carolina
St. Helena Island: correct name for Frogmore Assembly
Richland, Upper Magisterial District: new address—P.O. Box 3737, Columbia 29203
Texas Arlington: Mr. Mansour Ahangarzadeh, 1803 Elder, 76010 (tel. 817-460-6368)
Washington
Cowlitz County Commissioner’s District #3: Mr. Paul C. Warme, 5051 Columbia Heights Rd., Longview 98632 (tel. 206-425-7727)
Pierce County Commissioner's District #1: new address—P.O. Box 216, Sumner 98390
Wisconsin
Kenosha: Ms. Jacqueline Willems, 6701 29th Ave., 53140 (tel. 414-652-4901)
Oshkosh: Ms. Linda Binning, 352 W. 8th Ave., 54901
District Teaching Committee Secretaries Central States
J eopardized
Arkansas Central California No. 2 Fayetteville (8) Bakersfield J .D. (8) Stuttgart (8')
Southern California No. 2
Northern Arizona Desert J .D. (7) Mesa (8) El Centro (5) San Carlos (8) Fremont (7-)
Ontario (8) Southern Arizona Yucaipa (8) Bisbee (8) Douglas (7) Eastern Colorado Sierra Vista (5) Aurora (8)
Boulder, County of (5) Canon City (8) Englewood (6)
Lake County (8)
Northern California No. 1 Paradise J.D. (8) Roseville (8)
Northern California No. 2 Western Colorado
Eureka JD. (8) Alamosa (6) Central California No. 1 Connecticut Albany (7) East Haven (8) _ El Cerrito Hamden, Township of (7)
Mountain View (6) Delmarva
Review
Northern Illinois #1: Mr. Robert W. Allen, 1275 Briarbrook Dr., Wheaton 60187 (tel. 312-682-9766)
Northeastern States Western Pennsylvania: Mr. Craig Parke, 221 5th St. , Donora, 15033 (tel. 412-379-5625)
Southern States
Northern Florida: Mr. Isaac Welch, P.O. Box 244, Micanopy 32667 (tel. 904-466-3709)
Eastern Oklahoma: new address—500 E. Downing
East Texas #1: Mrs. Linda Milne, 1704 Ann Ave., Sherman 75090 (tel. 214-892-9865)
Southern Texas: correct address—709 E. Tyler (tel. 512-423-3358)
Northern Virginia: Mrs. Kay Balter, pro-tem, 503 Timer Lane, Falls Church 22046 (tel.
703-534-8654)
Western States
Northern California #2: Mrs. Irma M. Nyby, 1524
Dutton Ave. , 707-546-8651)
Santa Rosa 95401
(tel.
Western Colorado: Mrs. Lesley M. Harriss, 119 Floresta, Gunnison 81230 (tel. 303-641-0597) Oregon: Ms. Lisa Carole Spiro, 430 11th Ave.,
Seaside 97138 (tel. 503-738-7936) ‘A Utah: correct zip code—84l 17
- New formations at Riḍván
Assemblies Newark, Delaware (8) Indiana Columbus (7) Central Florida Greenfield (7) Orange County (5) Richmond (8) St. Joseph Township (7) Southern Florida Lee County (9) Western Iowa Miami Beach (6) Council Bluffs (7) North Miami (8) Palm Beach, City of (7) Kansas Emporia (4) Northern'Georgia Eatonon (8) Northern Louisiana Natchitoches (8) Southern Idaho Blackfoot (7) Maine Augusta (8) Northern Illinois No. 1 Gorham (6) Deerfield (8) Kittery (6) Northern Illinois No. 2 Massachusetts F Morton Grove (8) Brockton (8) ‘ Salem Southern Illinois Upton (6)
Alton
Yarmouth (4)
[Page 5]
January 1975
Mainland Michigan
Royal Oak Township (6)
St. Joseph (8)
Southern Minnesota Burnsville (7) Falcon Heights (6) Olmsted County (8) St. Louis Park (8)
Missouri St. Joseph (8)
Montana Bozeman (7)
Nebraska Hastings (8)
Northern Nevada Lyon County (8)
Southern Nevada North Las Vegas (8)
New Hampshire Hinsdale (8)
New Jersey
Cherry Hill (7) V Hamilton Township (8) Middletown (6) Morristown (8)
North Plainfield (8) Patterson (8)
Mr. Will Artis Ayden. North Carolina Summer 1974
Mr. Clinton Ayers Hinton, West Virginia Date unknown
Miss Betty Becker Punta Arenas, Chile Date unknown
Mr. Arthur Brown Effingham, South Carolina April 1974
Mr. Benjamin Brown Seaside, California October 7, 1974
Mrs. Pearl Chambers Richland, Georgia Date unknown
Mr. O. C. Colston Little Rock, Arkansas November 1974
Trenton (4)
Northern New Mexico Valencia County (8)
Southern New Mexico Ruidoso (7)
Eastern New York Fishkill, Town of (8)
Western New York Cheektowaga, Town of (8) Farmington, Town of (8)
Central North Carolina Winston-Salem (8)
Northern Ohio Kent (8)
Southern Ohio Beavercreek Township (8) Xenia (8)
Eastern Oklahoma Stillwater (7)
Oregon
Benton County (8) Coos County (6) Cottage Grove (8) Deschutes (4)
Grants Pass (5) Josephine County (8)
In Memoriam
Mrs. Margaret Cronin San Francisco, California June 23, 1974
Mrs. Maggie Drakeford Heath Springs, South Carolina 1973
Mr. Robert Duckett Greenville, South Carolina Date unknown
Mr. Arthur W. Edwards, Sr. Bernardsville, New Jersey October 27, 1974
Mr. Betty J. Ferguson Orangeburg, South Carolina November 8, 1974
Mrs. Helen Frink Minneapolis, Minnesota November Il, 1974
Miss Patti Grasham Corpus Christi, Texas September 28, 1974
Klamath County (7) Marion County North (7) Newport (8) ’ Springfield (8)
Eastern Pennsylvania Bethlehem (8)
Lower Merion Township (7) Swarthmore (8)
West Chester (8)
Western Pennsylvania Hickory Township (5) State College (7)
Southern South Carolina Goose Creek (7)
South Dakota Vermillion (6)
East Texas No. 1 Longview (7) University Park (8)
East Texas No. 2
Huntsville
Vermont Rochester (8)
Southern Virginia Newport News (7)
Eastern Washington /Northern Idaho
Coeur d‘Alene (8)
Yakima County C.D. No. 1 (8)
Western Washington Anacones (8) \
Cowlitz County C.D. (5) Kent (8)
Mercer Island (8)
Pierce No. 2 (8)
Port Angeles (8)
Northern Wisconsin /Upper Peninsula Door County (4) Wausau (5)
Bryan Southern Wisconsin Galveston Stoughton (8) Whitefish Bay (8)
Total number of jeopardized Assemblies ................ ..1l8 Local Spiritual Assemblies at Riḍván 131 ............... ..935 New Local Spiritual Assemblies since Riḍván 131 ...... ..21 Lost Local Spiritual Assemblies since Riḍván 131 ....... .. 3
Total Local Spiritual Assemblies at this printing ...... ..953
Mrs. Kathie Graves Marion, South Carolina Date unknown
Mrs. Hilda Heberling Pine Grove, Pennsylvania Date unknown
Mr. Danny Ray.Johnson Gloster, Louisiana Date unknown
Mr. Fred Johnson England, Arkansas November 15, 1974
Mr. Lewis Jones Culpeper, Virginia August 1974
Mrs: Fleetwood King Marion, South Carolina Date unknown
Mr. Sebastian Lachester Neah Bay, Washington Date unknown
Mr. David Langley Greenville, North Carolina Fall 1973
Mr. Hans C. Larsen Forsyth, Montana December 12, 1974
Miss Bertha C. Matthiesen Blair, Nebraska August 20, 1974
Mrs. Solonia McCullough Greenville, South Carolina March 1974
Mrs. Carrie Miller Greenville, South Carolina November 10, 1973
Mr. John Mitchell Chinle, Arizona Date unknown Mr. Stephen Owens Marion, South Carolina Date unknown
Mrs. Lovienne Robson Marion, South Carolina Date unknown
Mr. Gregory Sago Mescalero, New Mexico August 1974
Mrs. Parvin Sahihi Iran October 1974
Mrs. Shalrlet Shannon Marion, South Carolina Date unknown
Miss Bertha Sheppard Greenville, South Carolina October I8, 1974
Mrs. Rosalee Simmons Marion, South Carolina Date unknown
Mr. Henry Sloan Mt. Olive, North Carolina Date unknown
Mrs. Hattie Statume Montezuma, Georgia Date unknown
Mr. Grady Stephson V Atlanta, Georgia November 14, 1974
Mr. Glenn Sundayman Mescalero, New Mexico Date unknown
Mr. Willie Templer Miccosukee, Florida September 1974
Mr. A. Russell Tracy Anaheim, California October 22, 1974
Mrs. Marnie Tyre Los Angeles, California
Date unknown
Mr. Rollo S. Vest Beverly Hills. California November 21, 1974
Mr. Thomas Wade Stanwood, Washington 1973
Mr. Raymond Walker Chinle, Arizona Date unknown
Nora Wallace Farmville, North Carolina Date unknown
Mrs. Vallie B. Woolston Victor, New York November 20, 1974
Mrs. Annie B. Palmore Cumberland, Virginia April 1974
Mrs. Lorena Pinto Fort Hall, Idaho September 6, 1974
Mr. James B. Pressley Washington D.C. Date unknown
Mr. Herwald M. Price New Orleans, Louisiana September 23, 1974
Mr. Benjamin Rainey Marion, South Carolina Date unknown
Mrs. Louise Riley Orangeburg, South Carolina October I4, 1974
Mr. Samson Rim Marion, South Carolina Date unknown
PosrF
CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE OFFICE or rm; Tnmsunzan
Communities respond to query on Fund
The warm and loving response to the December 4, 1 974 Treasurer's Letter has been a source of inspiration andjoy to the National Spiritual Assembly. We would like to share a number of the replies in the next
Review
several issues of the National Bahá’í’ Review.
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
At your request, we talked about the need for spiritual growth in our national community so that we may meet our financial goals. The following is the result of that discussion:
In order to create more desire to sacrifice, we must become aware of the importance of the Fund. How to become more aware? Well, we believe that this job must ultimately rest upon the local treasurers. We are a world community and this is the thought that local treasurers can make their community conscious of. One way is to show pictures at Feast of Bahá’í’ communities the world over and to tell facts about these communities. This would help us to see how vital our contributions are to the entire Cause.
Dear Friends:
In response to your letter regarding the state of the budget, we offer the following suggestions:
0 That the Office of the Treasurer give special attention to the specific areas of the country that are having difficulties contributing on a regular basis. This could be done possibly by means of special seminars, traveling teachers, etc. _
0 That other communities might follow the example of the Nationalspiritual Assembly Treasurer and use return envelopes from the local treasurer.
0 That there be a sequel to “The Generating Impulse.”
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Our community consulted, as you requested, on the question posed" in the Treasurer’s letter of December 4, 1974. We want to express our appreciation of, and our gratitude for, the letters that come to us from our National Treasurer, Dr. Dorothy Nelson. They are clear, to the point, and inspiring. Our consultation on the question of “how we may bring about this spiritual growth in our National Community,” was of itself an aid to help us in our spiritual growth. ‘Our specific suggestions as to means to spiritual growth were varied and. personally expressed: I M o The importance of prayer. “Intone, O My Servant. . .” was specifically mentioned.
0 The importance of turning to, listening to, and following the directions of The Universal House of Justice. '
o The importance of individual deepening. There was an expression of opinion that we have plenty by way of study. outlines and deepening programs. Direct immersion in the Writings is essential. The means to this is the crux of the problem.
[Page 7]
A/\.
January 1975
Dear Dr. Nelson:
In your newsletter on the Fund, dated December 4,
1974, you asked that each community consider how
to foster on a national basis spiritual awareness of the
importance of the Fund. Our Local Assembly has discussed the question and offers the following suggestions:
1. It might be helpful if more of the monthly letters on the Fund include information concerning the immediate goals to be won which demand financial assistance, how much money we have, and how much is still needed to attain these goals. Perhaps if the friends were aware of how these goals relate to the Five Year Plan, they could better realize the necessity of their participation in developing the New World Order.
A 2. The importance of each community to deepen on
“The Generating Impulse” should be continually emphasized by the Office of the Treasurer. Our community, for one, will be setting aside a day in the near future for this purpose. Your appeal for help has reminded us of “The Bahá’í Fund—— Our Honor and Our Challenge," from The Universal House of Justice’s Riḍván 1967 message. (Wellspring of Guidance, pp. 108-109)
Dear Friends:
Several ideas emerged from our consultation about the Fund at Feast. We hope they will be helpful to you:.
0 Each community should raise its goal on contributions to a challenging level so that it would have a sense of striving to meet the goal and not reach it simply as a matter of course.
0 A periodic deepening on the Fund using the program “The Generating Impulse.”
0 Have a different member of the community do a short deepening on the Fund at each Feast. This method would add variety to the treasurer’s report and encourage the friends to deepen on the Fund independently.
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
In answer to your recent letter, we have several suggestions which we feel might be of interest to the National Spiritual Assembly. In our area, many of the friends are somewhat cut off from the mainstream of Bahá’í activity. They either live far from communities where Feasts are held or, for other reasons, do not participate in the Feasts observed by their Groups or Assemblies. We suggest that the National Spiritual Assembly strengthen the lines of communication with both isolated Baha’ is and small Groups. We think that more frequent contact with these friends would result in their contributing to the Fund. Often, they seem unaware of the importance
7
of regular contribution and that they must take the initiative to contribute.
We would also like to suggest that active Baha’ is, who are in contact with many Bahá’í Assemblies, Groups and—- isolated believers, be encouraged to mention the Fund in a general way. This would help to deepen others in awareness of the spiritual nature of the Bahá’í Fund and of the obligation-all Bahá’ is have to participate.
Dear Friends:
Our Assembly wishes to share with you a plan that we have used successfully for the past several months that has encouraged greater participation in the Fund by members of our community.
We send a mid-month report to all believers on the condition of the Fund with hope that those who did not make a contribution at the last Feast will do so before the next one. It also gives the believers a chance to make an additional contribution in order to make the budget. It has happened that the amount short of the goal has been only a few cents and all the friends were deeply saddened to discover that a small additional contribution would have made the difference between lighting a candle or not. The midmonth report makes all feel a real concern for the budget goal and a more concerted effort is made "to get contributions in before the end of the month.
Beloved Friends: ,
It was with much concern that we read your letter of December 4, 1974 at our Feast. If we use the Fund as a measure of our Faith, as the Guardian suggested, we see how much our understanding must be deepened! One immediate action we took was to show the filmstrip “A Testimony of Love” at the Feast. The friends were quite impressed by the degree of sacrifice and devotion that has been the sustaining power of the institution of the Fund. They realize more than ever that such sacrifice can only stem from a profound faith in the power of Bahá’u’lláh. .
Reminder on copyrights
The National Spiritual Assembly would like to remind the friends that it is not permissible to copy Bahá’í books and pamphlets, whether by typewriter, Xerox, or other photographic means. Such personal projects are costly, and they jeopardize copyright protection secured by the National Spiritual Assembly on its works.
The duplicating of Bahá’í tapes is also not permissible. These tapes, like books and pamphlets, are protected by copyright. Moreover, the sale of cassette programs by the Publishing Trust provides capital for the development of new programs. .
[Page 8]
Review
National Bahá’í Fund
Contributions for Masa’il exceed goal
To: All Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í Groups
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
We are pleased to announce that for the month of Masé’il contributions totaled $175,217 — $38,217 over our monthly goal. Congratulations!
With this forward thrust our spirits are lifted; our determination strengthened that within the next six Bahá’í’ months we will meet our annual goal of $2.6 million.
Addressing the North American believers
‘Abdu’l-Bahá prophesied, “The full measure of your success is as yet unrevealed, its significance unapprehended. . . .Ifervently hope thatinthe near future the whole earth may be stirred and shaken by the results of your achievements.”
With warmest Bahá’í love, NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY or THE BAHA’I’s OF THE UNITED STATES Dorothy W. Nelson, Treasurer
January 10, 1975
National Fund charts
i Contributions
$ 200 000
$ 150,000
Isu 1915
Ionmv sun
6 4..a:=E... .AIIIIIlIIIIIIIh 32500000
ANNUAL GOAL
lolul Number cl Assemblies Convnbuhng
750
GOAL av rut_>vAN 1975
S lDU.lJ00
5 50 000
Im a u
Month Year of Mas2i'il to Date Budget Goal $l37.000 $1,781 .000 Contributions l75 ,2 I 7 1,475,546 Hmmm Overage (Shortage) 38.2l'/ S (305,454)
ASSEMBLIES
Contributions may be addressed to: National Bahá’í Fund, 112 Linden Ave, Wilmette, Illinois 6009]; Bahá’í International Fund, P.O. Box 155, Haifa, Israel; and Continental Bahá‘I' Fund, 418 Forest Ave., Wilmette, Illinois 60091.
