National Bahá’í Review/Issue 89/Text
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Hands of Cause to represent
House of Justice at International Conferences
To all National Spiritual Assemblies Dear Bahá’í Friends,
We joyfully announce that the following Hands of the Cause of God have been named as our
representatives to the International Conferences:
Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih KhánIIIn Ugo Giachery
‘Ali Akbar Furútan
Paul Haney
Enoch Olinga
William Sears
Collis Featherstone
Abu’l-Qasim Faizi
With loving Bahá’í greetings, THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
May 27, 1975
Paris, France
Helsinki, Finland
Hong Kong
Mérida, Mexico
Bahia, Brazil
Nairobi. Kenya Anchorage, Alaska Auckland. New Zealand
August 3-6. 1976 July 6-8, 1976 November 5-8, 1976 February 4-6, 1977 January 28-30. 1977 October 15-17, 1976 July 23-25. 1976 January 19-22, 1977
we
Treasurer’s Report/National Bahá’í Convention/1975
To: All delegates at the 1975 National Baha'I’Convention
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
This years Treasurer’s Report to the National Convention is most encouraging. Contributions increased by 23% over last year. Participation by Local Spiritual Assemblies reached an all-time high of 682, exceeding last year's record by 100. The monthly National Contributions Goal has been won an unprecedented four times. We have a lot to be thankful for, but much Inore remains to be done.
The continued regular support of the friends has allowed the National Spiritual Assembly to make plans with the assurance that money will be available to carry them out. The first year of the Five Year Plan has brought an increase in activity both at the National Bahá’í Center and in communities across the country. The stage is now set for a rapid succession of victories in the remaining four years.
We hope you will read this repon carefully and share its contents in your state or district. We pray that God will sustain your efforts as we face the challenges ahead.
With loving Bahá’í greetings. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY or THE BAHA‘I's or THE UNITED STATES Dorothy W. Nelson, Treasurer
The Fund
In the Five Year Plan. The Universal House oflustice. referring to the American Bahá’í Community. explains. “The members ofthis Community. in company with their brethren in the Cradle of the Faith, are called upon to provide the greater part of the financial and human resources necessary to implement the challenging tasks which lie ahead."
One of the most significant advances of the American
Review
Bahá’í Community during the past year has been the growth of contributions and regularity of meeting national Fund goals. This is not to say that all of the goals have been met or that all of the National Spiritual Assembly's teaching initiatives could be implemented. Many important projects still await funding. The fact remains, however, that the National Spiritual Assembly has been able to step up its activities significantly in the first year of the Five Year Plan and still maintain a balanced budget.
The Office of the Treasurer Expenditures The Office of the Treasurer spent money last year in two major areas: $87,000. or 2/3 of its budget. was spent to record contributions, keep records, pay bills and make reports to the National Spiritual Assembly. $38,000, or ‘/3 of its budget, was spent on education. This is the area of greatest priority due to the importance of explaining the principles of the Fund to believers and encouraging the winning of Fund goals.
Highlights of the Year
In all, it was a busy year for the Office of the Treasurer. The St. Louis Conference brought a flurry ofactivity from this office. This included a slide presentation on the Fund shown in Kiel Auditorium, a comprehensive pamphlet on the Fund from the National Treasurer and a Fund booth at the Trade Fair in the Jefferson Hotel.
A major step forward was taken in the implementation of a two-part receipt system. This has reduced the number of staff handling contributions from three persons to one, allowing us the opportunity to strengthen the accounting and communications activities without increasing staff. Last year alone the office processed over 50,000 contributions.
In addition, the office has been preparing monthly financial statements in accordance with the latest generally accepted accounting principles and procedures of fund accounting. The budget has been made to conform with these statements on a line item basis. This provides the National Spiritual Assembly with the necessary management tools to make cost evaluation of the activities being conducted by various offices and committees.
In February. the Office of the Treasurer published a
National Bahci'I' Fund
Revenues W Tomi Rgyenugs \\\\\\‘\ (name. other - Connibunom Income Millions of dollars
/1].
3
O
. . \ '71 '72 '73 '74
'75
/7o
'76
letter and fact sheet on the Fund and sent it to all Baha‘ is in the United States. The purpose ofthis letter was to inform the friends about the Fund and to remind them of their obligation to support it. This initiative was warmly received. The effect has been a marked increase in the number of contributions from individual believers.
In March of this year, the Office of the Treasurer published a cassette recording, “The Fund—Stories and Talks on the Spirit of Sacrifice." Accompanying this cassette was a booklet which provided an outline of each part of the tape along with suggested questions to stimulate discussions on the Fund. This program was also well received.
Looking to the Future
The Office of the Treasurer is ready to take another step forward by monitoring the number of times a Local Spiritual Assembly or Bahá’í Groups wins its local Fund goal. In the near future, the computer will print on the return portion of the receipt “Monthly Goal Won—Yes ( ) No ( )". The number of goals won will be tallied and reported in the Treasurer's Letter. The purpose, of course, is to focus attention on the ability ofa local community to set realistic monetary goals and meet them regularly. This should help develop fiscal responsibility in the local
I community.
Finally. the Office of the Treasurer is preparing a sixpart course on the Fund to be given at Bahá’í Schools. Several of the topics to be covered include: a review of the history of the Fund, a look at the important role the Fund must play in the establishment of World Order. an overview of procedures in giving to the Fund, and a discussion of the spiritual significance of sacrifice. This will be the first time that a course on the Fund has been developed and formally presented.
Office of the Secretary
The Office of the Secretary is responsible for communicating the actions of the National Spiritual Assembly for all of the Committee and offices at the National Bahá’í Center. In addition, this office is responsible for “strengthening and development of Local Spiritual Assemblies," a vital objective of the Five Year Plan. To assist in this work, the office has on its staff a number of
National Bahá’í Fund Expenditures
Millions of dollars
4
.4
'73
'70 '72 '74 '75
'7o
[Page 3]
June 1975
3
skilled assistants to help with the workload.‘
Expenditures The Office of the Secretary spent money in two major areas last year:
$204,000 went to support office operations. $1 10,000 was spent on personnel and business services that support the entire National Bahá’í Center.
Looking to the Future
The Office of the Secretary, under the National Spiritual Assembly, will place a much greater emphasis on strengthening and development of Local Spiritual Assemblies. A total of $200,000 has been budgeted next year for that purpose. The reason, according to the Plan, is that “the divinely ordained institution of the Local Spiritual Assembly operates at the first levels of human society and is the basic administrative unit of Bahá’u’lláh’s World Order.“
International Goals Committee
Under the Five Year Plan, the International Goals Committee has been assigned the responsibility to “extend pioneer assistance to countries throughout the world." The American Bahá’í Community has been asked to fill 305 such goals. In addition, The Universal House of Justice has urged filling these goals as soon as possible as it has become increasingly difficult to findjobs in, or even to obtain visas to, certain countries. To date, one—third of the goals have already been won.
Expenditures The International Goals Committee spent money last year in three major areas:
$45,000 went to support National Committee and office operations.
$123,000 was spent for deputization, including support of Nine Year Plan pioneers.
$12,000 was spent on consolidation and collaboration efforts. These take the form of providing support to assist the teaching efforts in‘ the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Falkland Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands——goals of the Plan.
Looking to the Future
National Bahd‘I' Fund Contribution.
\ Millions of dollars
3
§\\\W Budget Deficit : Contributions
2 . \ \x\‘ —_§
'75 '76
The International Goals Committee is making a special effort to find qualified believers to fill all of the pioneering needs as-soon as possible. It tries to meet the friends face-to-face at conferences and institutes to exchange information.
In training a prospective pioneer, a major effort is made to instill from the very beginning the proper attitude and a willingness to accept the tests which are sure to come. Romantic notions about living in a foreign country are being replaced with a more realistic view of what pioneering is all about. Jobs are available in a number ofcountries for individuals with a skill or a profession.
National Education Committee
Two of the three major objectives of the Five Year Plan have significant bearing on the work of the National Education Committee: the “preservation and consolidation of victories won," and the “development of the distinctive character of Bahá’í life, particularly in the local communities." During this past year, the National Schools Committee. with its nineteen temporary and three permanent schools. was integrated into the National Education Committee. In bringing about this change, the National Spiritual Assembly has recognized the need for a coordinated approach to all aspects of Bahá’í education.
Expenditures Funds were spent last year in two major areas:
$30,000 went to support National Committee and office operations including a program on the quality of Bahá’í life.
$67,000 was spent to support Bahá’í Schools including the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Teacher Training Institute.
Looking to the Future
A program of Family Life Conferences has been initiated in five major cities. Two conferences have been held so far, one in San Francisco and the other in Chicago. Reports are most favorable. A conference highlight is a videotape by the Hand of the Cause of God A.Q. Faizi on the education of children. The National Education Committee is also planning to develop a large number of teachers to expand Bahá’í education throughout the coun National Bahá’í Fund Average Number of Assemblies Contributing
Hundreds
'70 '72 '73 '74 '75 '76
[Page 4]
Fiscal Year 1974—I 975
$2,646,000
Revenues
Estates Other I 0%
Assemblies 46%
Individuals
34%
Expenditures $2,670,000
Properties
22%
International 28%
Administration 25%
Teaching 25%
Review
try by the end of the Five Year Plan. National Teaching Committee
The National Teaching Committee bears the major shareof responsibility to assist the National Spiritual Assembly in winning homefront objectives of the Five Year Plan. They are to:
Raise the number of the localities where Bahá’í's reside in the continental United States to at least 7,000.
_ Raise the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies in the continental United States to a minimum of 1,400 including at least 25 in Indian Reservations. . . .
Expand the teaching work among those of Armenian, Basque, Chinese, Greek, Japanese and Spanishspeaking background; develop special expansion and consolidation projects among Indian tribes.
Expenditures The National Teaching Committee spent money last year in three major areas:
$100,000 went to support National Committee and office operations.
$105,000 was spent on 95 Regional and District Teaching Committees.
$10,000 was spent for the American Indian Teaching Committee effort. Emphasis was placed on Indian teaching because there are special problems that must be overcome.
Looking to the Future
The National Teaching Committee has had to take time to assess its tasks and re-direct the teaching effort, not just for the first year, but for the entire Five Year Plan.
New materials will be channeled into conferences and workshops. The Committee will meet the friends face-toface in various locations in support of the teaching effort. The work with Indians will continue to expand.
National Information Committee
The National Information Committee has two primary responsibilities: (1) informing the public of Bahá’í activities and (2) keeping the American Bahá’í Community informed of what is happening in the Bahá’í world. The first area includes publicizing the Bahá’í Faith on a nationwide scale through all forms of mass communication media. The second area includes being responsible for the publication of four monthly organs: Bahá’í News, National Bahá’í Review, The American Bahá’í and Baha"z’ Digest. The work of the National‘ Information Committee is communciation and, as such, serves all of the committees and offices at the National Bahá’í Center as well as the entire American Baha’r' Community.
Expenditures The National Information Committee spent money last year in three major areas:
$44,000 went to support National Committee and offree operations. ‘ $139,000 was spent on publications. $85,000 was spent in support of mass communication media activities. Looking to the Future Through the efforts of its recently appointed information officer, the Committee has been able to place a
[Page 5]
June 1975
special advertisement in Life magazine’s Bicentennial issue to be published in the fall. The CBS series, “Lamp Unto My Feet,” has agreed to do a follow-up of the program “And His Name Shall Be One." With a few well placed national articles, ads, and programs on the Faith, the Committee feels that the friends will have a better chance of attracting local publicity.
National Youth Committee
Under the Five Year Plan the National Youth Committee is charged with the responsibility to “encourage and offer guidance to Bahá’í youth to plan their lives to be of greatest service to the Faith and provide means whereby their offers of specific periods of teaching and other services beyond their normal teaching activities can be organized and used to the best advantage.” Just as youth played a strong role in winning the goals of the Nine Year Plan, the successful completion of the Two Year Youth Plan will help to spark all Bahá’ís in their efforts toward winning the goals of the Five Year Plan.
Expenditures The National Youth Committee spent money in one major area last year:
$34,000 was spent to support the National Committee and office operations. Much of their work was done in preparation for 51 youth conferences to be held this summer.
Looking to the Future
Plans are already under way for the establishment of 100 local youth clubs which are open to non-Bahá’ís. A goal of the National Youth Committee is to develop youth counseling. Much of this work, however, will have to be done by Local Assemblies under the guidance of the National Committee. Another goal of the National Youth Committee is to involve Bahá’í youth in international travel teaching. This is an excellent source of future permanent pioneers.
Office of Membership & Records/Data Processing
The Data Processing Committee, along with the Office of Membership & Records, provides the means by which the Bahá’í membership list is maintained, mailing labels are made, bookkeeping data is recorded and contribution receipts are produced. This function is oriented toward serving the National Spiritual Assembly and other users both at the National Bahá’í Center and around the country.
Expenditures The Office of Membership & Records and Data Processing spent money last year in three major areas:
$56,000 went to support the Office of Membership & Records.
$56,000 was spent on the Data Processing Committee and office operations. _
$68,000 was spent for computer and terminal equipment rental.
Looking to the Future
The needs for automation will only increase as the Faith expands. The National Spiritual Assembly will have to rely on the Data Processing Committee to keep abreast of techniques for the efficient processing of information. Often the basis for a timely decision depends on the ability
Expenditures
Fiscal Year 1975-] 976
. Revenues
$3,300,000
Estates Other 1 2%
Assemblies 45%
Individuals
33%
$3,590,000
Properties
23% International 28%
Administration 28%
Teaching 2l °/o
to organize a large amount of routine data. For instance, the computer can be used to keep track of thousands of local goals or background information on hundreds of pioneers in the field.
National Bahá’í’ Properties Committee
The ational -Bahá’í Properties Committee is charged with the task of purchasing or assisting in the pruchase of ten foreign property goals of the Five Year Plan. To date, four are in various stages of completion. These include a national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds and national endowment in Nassau, Bahamas; a Temple site in Lomé, Togo; and a national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The Committee is also responsible for maintenance of 13 properties around the country including the Bahá’í House of Worship and four permanent Bahá’í Schools.
Expentitures The National Bahá’í Properties Committee spent money in four major areas last year:
$150,000 went to purchase foreign property goals. In total, $500,000 will be required to win these goals. $51,000 was spent for National Committee and office expenses.
$366,000 was spent for maintenance and capital improvements of National Bahá’í' Center properties. $l79,000.went to maintain Bahá’í School properties.
Looking to the Future For many years a minimum amount of money was spent on the repair and maintenance of Bahá’í’ properties. All
.available funds were directed toward the teaching effort.
Now a larger share of total revenues must be spent for restoration and expansion of our physical properties. The Schools’ program of the National Education Committee will require many new and improved facilities to carry out their educational programs. This is a natural outgrowth of an expanding National Community.
Budget Summary—Exhibit A
($000’ 5) 1974-75 Final Over 1975-76 Actual Budget (Under) Proposed Resources Budget Budget Unexpended Balance from Preceding Year 24 — 24 Revenues (Exhibit B) 2,646 2.872 (226) 3,300 Proceeds from Loans‘ — — - . 300 Total Resources 2,670 2,872 (202) 3,600 Expenditures allocations (Exhibit C) 2,670 2,872 (202) 3,600 Revenues—Exhibit B ($000’s) 1974-75 Final Over 1975-76 Actual Budget (Under) Proposed Revenue Budget Budget Contributions 2,376 2,600 (224) 2,900 Estate bequests 130 120 10 240 Other ‘income 140 I52 (12) 160 Total revenues 2,646 2,872 (226) 3,300
l. The National Bahá’í Fund presently has borrowed $265,000 from various.Bahá’ís at interest rates condiderably below the prime rate. The total amount of borrowing is expected to rise to a minimum of $300,000 net of repayments in fiscal year 1975-1976. The National Spiritual Assembly plans to use the proceeds from these loans, currently invented in short-ten'n corporate notes and United States Treasury Bills, to fi Review
nance the acquisition of international property goals assigned to the United States during the Five Year Plan.
Expenditures Allocations—Exhibit C
(30003) 1974-75 Final Over 1975-76 Actual Budget (U nder) Proposed International Expendimres Budge‘ Budge‘ Bahá’í International Fund 375 375 — 375 International Deputization Fund 30 30 — 30 Continental Bahá’í Fund 25 25 — 30 Five Year Plan Properties‘ 150 100 50 400 lntemational Goals Committee 160 I80 (20) 184 740 710 30 1,019 National Teaching & Services National Education Committee’ 90 97 (7) 129 National Teaching Committee 200 215 (15) 225 National Information Committee 268 268 — 276 House of Worship Activities Committee 62 62 — 70 National Youth Committee 28 34 (6) 44 National Archives Committee l4 l7 (3) 17 U.S.—UN Observer 5 5 — 5 667 698 (31) 766 Administration National Assembly & Secretariat 204 204 — 236 L.S.A. Administrative Training Office — — — 200 General Business Services I 10 110 — 153 Offices of M&R and Data Processing 180 180 — 216 Office of the Treasurer 122 125 (3) 131 Fixed Charges’ 51 58 (7) 59 667 677 (10) 995 Properties National Properties Committee 51 52 (1) 70 National Center Propenies 326 334 (8) 345 Trusteeships’ Funds‘ 179 143 36 269 Captial Projects Fund5 40 67 (27) 126 596 596 — 810 Total Allocated Expenditures 2,670 2,681 (l 1) 3,590 Unallocated Expenditures — I91 (191) 10 Total Expenditures ‘ Allocations 2,670 2,872 (202) 3,600
1. The $400,000 included in the proposed budget will cover the remaining international property goals assigned to the United States.
2. Includes support to all Bahá’í School Councils.
3. Represents cost of insurance, interest and pension expense.
4. Represents support to Bahá’í School Maintenance Committees.
5. Represents allocations for captital projects at the National Bahá’í' Center and Bahá’í Schools.
[Page 7]
June 1975
In Memoriam
Mr. Charlie Bellamy North Myrtle Beach. South Carolina Date Unknown
Mrs. Jane Bellamy North Mynle Beach. South Carolina Date Unknown
Mr. Willia Buckner Columbia, South Carolina Date Unknown
Mrs. Frances Coburn Chicago, Illinois March ll. 1975
Mr. Leroy Edge . North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Date unknown
Mr. Mark Edwards Lake Harbor. Florida Date Unknown
Mrs. Dulcy Furbush Salinas, California March 19, 1975
Mrs. Gomalia Gore North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina February 1975
Mr. 0. Neal Gore North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Date Unknown
Mrs. Blanche Kerkelis Aztec, New Mexico March I4, 1975
Mr. Charlie Miller Charleston Heights. South Carolina
Mrs. Rocie Miller England, Arkansas 1974
Mr. Burl Savage Franklin, Minnesota 1973
Mr. James Smith Atlantic Beach, South Carolina Date Unknown
Mr. Roland Wenzel Milwaukee, Wisconsin Date Unknown
Mr. Fawzi Zein Glendale, California February 23, 1975
K 1973
Bahá’í’ Identification
All believers are advised to have current Bahá’í identification cards at all times. Those who travel to diffierent localities should have current Bahá’í credentials to present to the Bahá’í authorities in these localities, so that they can be admitted to Bahá’í events.
Concerning international travel, each believer should be sure to secure proper credentials from the National Spiritual Assembly before going to another country.
A traveling member of the American Bahá’í community should also inform our National Spiritual Assembly if he or she intends to contact believers in another country, so that an official
Warmng
, Regina, Saskatchewan, is traveling in the U nited States presenting himself as a Bahá’í’ and asking for assistance of various kinds.
application for enrollment as a
Bahá’í was not accepted by the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada which reported that he left Regina before he could be informed that hsi application for enrollment was not acceptable because of his abuse of the confidence and hospitality of the Bahá’í’s and his disregard of the requirements of other Bahá’í’ Laws. is not to be accepted as a Bahá’í’ and should not be provided with
notification may be forwarded to the National Spiritual Assembly of that country
No Bahá’í’ may travel to the Bahá’í World Centre for any purpose, without prior permission and without proper credentials.
In view of the fact that some of the friends have forgotten, or do not know about this instruction given to the National Spiritual Assembly by ‘Shoghi Effendi, the National Assembly finds it necessary to call attention to the fact that contacts with persons of national and international prominence, whether directly or in writing, should not be made by individual Bahá’ís.
hospitality or material assistance.
The National Spiritual Assembly has found it necessary to remove the Bahá’í administrative rights of and his wife Mrs. , formerly of Chicago Heights, Illinois, for flagrant misconduct. It is believed that Mr. and Mrs. may be residing now in Pennsylvania or Washington, D.C. The friends should be warned against becoming involved with them or loaning them money.
[Page 8]
Review
National Bahá’í Fund
The story of Nettie Tobin’s sacrifice
To: All Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í Groups
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The story of Nettie Tobin is one which will inspire the friends for years to come. It was she who, in her longing to serve the Cause, laboriously carried to the Temple site a stone which had been discarded by builders in her neighborhood. This stone, later blessed by the hands of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, now lies forever enshrined as the cornerstone of the Temple.
Widowed and supporting two sons, Mrs. Tobin was barely able to earn enough money to maintain her family by sewing for a living. Nevertheless, each time she was paid, she gave something—sometimes a nickel, sometimes a dime—to the Temple Fund. Here was a woman who, poor as she was, unfailingly supported the Cause throughout her Bahá’í life.
At the time of her death, some friends found it difficult to open the center drawer of her sewing machine cabinet. After a brief struggle, they finally succeeded in discovering its treasured secret. It contained hundreds of receipts made out to Nettie Tobin, for her contributions to the Temple Fund. Each gift, though small. represented a great sacrifice. Each one spoke of a burning desire to see a dream become reality.
This endearing story calls each of us to discover within ourselves that same spirit of sacrifice which will enable the goals of the Five Year Plan to be won.
With loving Bahá’í greetings, NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY or THE BAHA'Is or THE UNITED STATES Dorothy W. Nelson, Treasurer
May 27, 1975
_ CONTRIBUTIONS z FL PARTICIPATION $2D0.000~ s2.9oo.ooo V :50 """“‘L 6°“ 700 V_(;9_(_,I“I,V, Ilm l‘)7§ A-9 .._r_,_u. , r‘ "I? 19754976 MONTHLV GOAL ' 3 I50.000- {E “O ’ 8 V bO0 E is <’ S 100,000 g 450 06 , 400 909.‘ “I. ""' “775 'C""“l?.'... . Q 3 250.000 no H ’o.*~" 300 .. b 0 ‘:1 If ‘ x, — uni. IMAM]! -in IIIIIII mum mm IXIA IIIAI Iisitimt III ’ ‘ 1 E, E B _ fl. _ _:
.. ,.. . .0 In)! UNI nu‘ ma 3L,_z§vn-;; E—;3‘§g___‘ c_
LfiIIIIluII0nIE.0.I Egéégééggggaggaggéi
Nur Year (Light) to Date Budget Goal $153,000 $459,000 Contributions l07,459 400,782 Overage (Shortage) $(45.54l) $(58,2l8)
Contributions may be addressed to: National Bahá’í Fund, 112 Linden Ave.. Wilmette, Illinois 60091; Bahá’í International Fund, P.O. Box 155. Haifa, Israel; and Continental Bahá’í Fund. 418 Forest Ave., Wilmette, Illinois 60091.