National Bahá’í Review/Issue 93/Text

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[Page 1]

The status of the Fund and the Five Year Plan

How do this year's contributions compare to those of one year ago?

So far there has been an 18% increase in contributions over last year.

Have contributions from Groups, Assemblies, and individuals increased?

Contributions from Assemblies have increased 16%, Groups 5%, and individuals 26%.

Does this mean we are ahead for the year?

Yes, we are ahead of last year's contributions. However, at the beginning of this year a budget was adopted which called for an increase in contributions of 22%. Since contributions, overall, have only risen 18%, we are $211,154 below the expected level, as is shown on the National Fund chart.

Have expenses been cut to adjust for this shortage?

The National Spiritual Assembly has continued to carry out the plans upon which the budget was based. Therefore, total expenditures are at 99% of the budgeted amount.

Did the National Spiritual Assembly have to borrow money?

Not from the bank. The excess has been absorbed temporarily by low-interest loans from individual believers. These loans save the National Spiritual Assembly from paying the high interest rate charged by banks, and are deeply appreciated.

Just how serious is the present shortage in the Fund?

Activities vital to winning our Five Year Plan goals will be jeopardized if we do not win the monthly contributions goal consistently for the remainder of the year.

Why doesn't the National Spiritual Assembly curtail spending?

The Universal House of Justice, in the Five Year Plan Message to America, has called upon the Bahá’ís of the United States and Persia "... to provide the greater part of the financial and human resources necessary to implement the challenging tasks which lie ahead." Rather than decrease the level of our activities, we must constantly strive to increase our giving so that the American Community can play its vital role in the success of this world-wide endeavor.

What are we doing to win the goals of the Five Year Plan?

"A vast and widespread expansion of the Bahá’í Community..."

Over half of our international pioneering goals have already been filled.

"Provide a continuous flow of traveling teachers to various parts of the world. . .

A total of 25 American travel teachers were sent to South America and Africa this summer.

"Develop intensive teaching and consolidation plans in at least three States..

33

Special teaching conferences will soon be held in New York, Illinois and California.

"Develop special expansion and consolidation projects among Indian tribes..."

A conference on Indian teaching was held at the National Center.

"Encourage and organize regular Bahá’í activities and classes for adults, youth and children..

New programs were prepared for the Louis G. Gregory Institute, resulting in a dramatic rise in attendance over the last several months. . . . 51 Youth Conferences were held in June to give added impetus to the Two-Year Youth Program. . . . A program for child education is being developed.

"Individuals and families constantly encourage to unite in a distinctive Bahá’í society

Family Life Conferences are being held in a number of localities throughout the country.

"Strengthening and development of Local Spiritual Assemblies

A Local Spiritual Assembly Development Program was prepared and launched. 1400 Assemblies are scheduled to be trained by the end of the Plan.

"Expand the use of radio and television..."

Construction of an audio-visual recording studio at the National Center is nearing completion, and many radio programs have already been produced.

"Use on an increasing scale the facilities of mass communications..." [Page 2]

National Bahá’í Review

The nation's largest television stations and newspapers are being contacted for coverage of the Faith, and a full-page advertisement was placed in the bicentennial issue of Life magazine.

"Temple sites and endowments must be acquired

Three properties have been acquired. The remainder are being actively sought, and an estimated $300,000 will be required for their purchase.

Jeopardized Local Spiritual Assemblies

Arizona: N. Maricopa Co Peoria Prescott

California: Daly City Thousand Oaks San Juan Capistrano Riverside JD Lakewood Chico JD Livermore Pacifica Colton Westminster San Bernardino Burlingame Coronado Imperial Beach Del Mar San Carlos Salinas Seaside Pittsburg

Colorado: Durango

Florida: Clearwater

Georgia: Cobb Co. South

Illinois: Libertyville Twp Normal Elmhurst

Indiana: Greenfield Terre Haute West Lafayette

Iowa: Marshalltown Ames

Kansas: Hays Emporia Newton

Louisiana: Jefferson Parish

Maine:

Minnesota: Falcon Hts Anoka

Montana: Missoula

Nebraska: Crete Aurora

New Jersey: Cherry Hill Piscataway Twp Plainfield North Plainfield Morristown

New Mexico: Gallup Ruidoso Roswell

New York: Cheektowaga Syracuse Kittery Eastport Ramapo

Massachusetts: Albany Yarmouth

Ohio:

Michigan: Ypsilanti Taylor Superior Twp Royal Oak

Position open at Bosch School

The Bosch Bahá’í School Maintenance Committee is accepting applications for the following job opening:

Innkeeper: A full-time permanent position with such responsibilities as planning, scheduling, and registration of students utilizing the facility, and supervision of the kitchen and housekeeping staff. Hotel/motel experience or related management skills would be helpful.

Please address all inquiries to: Manager Bosch Bahá’í School 500 Comstock Lane Santa Cruz, Ca. 95060

Xenia Beavercreek Twp Yellow Springs East Cleveland

Warning

The National Spiritual Assembly has found it necessary to remove the Bahá’í administrative rights of , formerly of Puyallup, Washington, present whereabouts unknown, and to warn the believers to exer- cise caution in their relations with him.

Deprivation of administrative rights

The National Spiritual Assembly has been obliged to remove the Bahá’í administrative rights of for flagrant violation of Bahá’í standards of morality.

Oklahoma: Ada

Oregon: Hillsboro Douglas Co Cottage Grove Klamath Co Klamath Falls

Pennsylvania: Lower Merion Twp Middleton Twp West Chester Bethleham Swarthmore

Utah: Logan

Washington: Snohomish Co CD no. 2 Thurston Co CD no. 3 Mason Co CD no. 1 Mason Co CD no. 3 Cowlitz Co CD no. 1

West Virginia: Princeton Huntington Morgantown

Wisconsin: Wausau [Page 3]

The Guardian's statements on firesides

it has been found over the entire world that the most effective method of teaching the Faith is the fireside meeting in the home. Every Bahá’í, as a part of his spiritual birthright, must teach, and the one avenue where he can do this most effectively is by inviting friends into his home once in 19 days, and gradually attracting them to the Cause. After the individuals have confidence in the pioneer, and the pioneer in the individuals, then they can be taught and confirmed in the Faith. This method is far more effective than advertising in newspapers, public lectures, etc. The Guardian is encouraging the believers over the world, including those on the home fronts, to engage in this method of teaching." Bahá’í News, June 1955.

"The friends must realize their individual responsibility. Each must hold a fireside in his or her home, once in 19 days, where new people are invited, and where some phase of the Faith is mentioned and discussed. If this is done with the intent of showing Bahá’í hospitality and love, then there will be results. People will become interested in 'what' you are interested in, and then be interested in studying. Individual firesides will bring the knowledge of the Faith to more people, under favorable circumstances, and thus constantly enrich its circle of friends, and finally its members. There is no substitute for the teaching work of the individual." Bahá’í News, July 1957.

The Universal House of Justice statements

"The second challenge facing us is to raise the intensity of teaching to a pitch never before attained, in order to realize that 'vast increase' called for in the Plan. Universal participation and constant action will win this goal. Every believer has a part to play, and is capable of playing it, for every soul meets others, and as promised by Bahá’u’lláh, 'Whosoever arises to aid Our Cause, God will render him victorious. . .' Now is the golden opportunity; people are willing, in many places eager, to listen to the divine remedy."-insert Bahá’í News, May 1965.

"The healthy development of the Cause requires that this great expansion be accompanied by the dedicated effort of every believer in teaching, in living the Bahá’í life, in contributing to the Fund, and particularly in the persistent effort to understand more and more the significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation." Bahá’í News, June 1964.

The National Spiritual Assembly's statements

"... What is fireside teaching? It is the simple occasion planned and conducted by an individual Bahá’í or Bahá’í family, perhaps with the assistance of one or two other Bahá’ís, for the specific purpose of attracting personal friends or acquaintances to the Faith.

"There is no standard technique for carrying on such an undertaking. Every Bahá’í teaches in his own home in a way that is most natural for him. For most people, conversation is easier than giving a talk. The informal character of conversation is conducive to discussion and asking questions, and questions open the door to teaching.

"Since individuals differ in their interests and background, a different approach to the Faith is necessary with practically every person. e Faith to him.

"There are two ways of teaching. First, there is the logical approach. No matter how we view the affairs of the world, the Bahá’í Faith is the next stop. This is the logical approach which is usually employed in public meetings. But an individual is always more impressed by the sense of confidence, serenity, poise and deep faith expressed by the believer than he is by the number of persons present at the fireside and the eloquence of the talk. Curiosity about the source of that inner peace and confidence usually stimulates questions and at that point real teaching begins.

"To be confident, full of vitality and enthusiasm is the basic requirement for teaching and these qualities come from the believer's own understanding of the essential verities of the Faith and from his full recognition and acceptance of the Divine Manifestation and His Teachings

"The National Assembly, judging by letters and reports received in recent months, feels that there are some misunderstandings about the aim and conduct of intimate fireside teaching meetings which can readily be cleared away and thus release more potential teaching energy for effective service to the Faith.

"What the Assembly has in mind is the need for some simple definition of the nature of the home meeting started by one or more members of a family in order to awaken interest in the teachings among their neighbors and personal friends.

"Such a meeting is a direct response to the universal command that every believer teach the Cause. It is also one of the very best methods for bringing new people into the community. As such its value depends almost entirely upon two factors: first, control of the attendance and the program by the host or hostess; and second, continuity and development in the teaching and discussion.

"The National Assembly wants this type of intimate [Page 4]gathering safeguarded. Experience from all over the coun- try shows that the intention cannot be carried out if the other Bahá’ís look upon such a fireside as an open 'party' or community teaching meeting' and come and go as they feel inclined, join in the discussion and in general adopt the meeting as their own.

"Believers should not attend a home fireside meeting unless they are specifically invited by the host or hostess. More than courtesy is involved, important though courtesy is in this Faith. What is involved are the rights of the non-Bahá’í guests to receive the Message, enter into study and discussion, and when prepared, declare their faith.

"The home fireside conducted for a few non-Bahá’í friends and neighbors is not subject to administrative con- trol. The Assembly has no grounds for exerting its author- ity but on the contrary should uphold the right of every Bahá’í to gather his own friends together in the hope of confirming them. Assembly authority does not apply until there are applications for enrollment, unless the Assembly has fair reason to believe that erroneous and harmful teachings are being given out as 'Bahá’í." Bahá’í News, June 1948.

Where you are needed to win the special goals of the Plan

Below is a list of the current goals in those areas of the country chosen for intensive teaching and consolidation during the Five Year Plan. The list is long-the responsi- bility of every Bahá’í is great-the need is urgent for each believer to look at the goals and respond to the measure he or she is able.

If you live in the same district, contact your Local Spiritual Assembly or your District Teaching Committee to help in winning any of these goals. If you live outside the districts mentioned, contact the Regional Teaching Committee for the area in which you can assist.

Regional Teaching Committee of California Mrs. Virginia Healy, Office Manager 2401 West Olive Avenue, Suite 205 Burbank, California 91506 213/846-1441

Regional Teaching Committee of Illinois Mrs. Nancy Allison, Office Manager 2809 West Gilbert Peoria, Illinois 61604 309/688-7984

Regional Teaching Committee of New York Mrs. Kathleen Javid, Office Manager 43 Lockwood Road Scarsdale, New York 10583 914/472-5127

NEW YORK

Assemblies to be formed

• Cortlandt

Localities to be opened

• Babylon
• Marion
• Brightwaters
• Amityville
• Lindenhurst
• Clarkstown
• Smithtown
• Mt. Vernon
• Mineola
• Garden City
• East Berne
• Thomaston
• Mexico
• Endicott
• Syracuse
• Potsdam
• Lynnbrook
• Rhinebeck
• Arlington
• Colonie
• Duanesburg
• Ellenville
• Champlain
• Malone
• Richfield
• Keeseville
• Cold Spring
• Athens
• Sidney
• Ilion
• Watertown
• Alfred
• Olean
• Hamilton
• North Tonawanda
• Deer River
• Fredonia
• Webster
• Clarence
• Watkins
• Batavia
• Belmont
• Little Valley
• Port Byron
• Lowville
• Bath
• Warsaw
• Canton
• Wampsville
• Troy
• Hudson Falls
• Lake Placid
• Amsterdam
• Long Beach

ILLINOIS

Assemblies to be formed

• Aurora
• Downers Grove
• Villa Park

Localities to be opened

• Princeton
• Mt. Carroll
• Putnam County

[Page 5]

Northern 2 District

Crete Joliet Sandwich Galena Libertyville Pecatonica Winfield Long Grove Rolling Meadows Berkely Westchester Barrington Des Plains Park Ridge Township of of Palatine Broadview Calumet Park Forest View Harwood Heights McCook Merrionette Park Norridge Forest Park Evergreen Park North Lake Morris Phoenix Park Forest South Robbins Jerome Peoria Heights Township of Gardner Sauk Village Stickney Stone Park Summit Thornton Township of Norwood Park

Southern District

Clark County Crawford County Albion Effingham County Rayette County Lawrence County Wood River Kankakee City Washington Marion County Monroe County Monticello Olney Mt. Carmel Canton Lewistown Granite City Highland

Central 1 District

Lafayette Watsonville Union City Pleasanton

Central 2

Sierra J.D.

Southern 1

Carson El Secundo Montevello

Southern 2

San Dieguito San Clemente Yucaipa Irvine LaHabra West Orange J.D.

Southern 3

Lompoc J.D. Santa Maria

Localities to opened

To meet the goals of the Five Year Plan, there are 275 localities which must be opened in California. Divided into the time left in the plan, we must open 71 new California localities each year.

San Luis Obispo J.D. 2 South San Luis Obispo J.D. 4

Northern 1

Fair Oaks Folsom J.D.

Northern 2

Napa J.D. Arcata J.D.

WASHINGTON D.C. ASSEMBLY GOALS

Raise Assemblies Bowie, MD Frederick City, MD

Open following localities Middleton Seat Pleasant District Heights Glen Ecco Clinton

Status of U.S. pioneer goals

Africa (P) 200 (E)

Angola (E) Assigned Filled Open 2 2 (F)

Botswana (E) 2 0 (E)

British Indian Ocean Terr.** (F,E) 2

Cameroon Republic (F) 2 (F)

Central African Republic (F) 1

Dahomey (F) 1

Gabon Gambia Ghana 22 2 (P) 1 1

(F) Guinea-Bissau (Port. Guinea) Ivory Coast. 32 32 0 (E)

Kenya 0 (E)

Lesotho

Assigned Filled Open 2 2 0 2 2 0 1 1 0 2 1 1 3 2 0 3 3 2 3 3 3 [Page 6](B,E) Bangladesh 1 2 1 1 (E) Liberia (F) Malagasy Republic .2 1 Assigned Filled Open 3 1 (S) 2 (F) Assigned Filled Open (E) Malawi 2 0 (F) (P,S) Mozambique .2 1 1 (S) (E) Nigeria .3 3 0 (E) Rhodesia 4 1 (F) (E) Sierra Leone 2 (E) South Africa 1 (S) 2 (E) (E) St. Helena 1 (E) (E) Tanzania .4 3 1 (F) Togo .3 3 (F) Zaire 66 39

Asia

(E) India (J) Japan (F) Khmer Republic (Cambodia) (K,E) Korea (F) Laos (F,E) Lebanon 30000000000000 d D Q Q El Salvador .4 1 3 French Antilles .4 2 2 French Guiana .2 2 0 Guatemala .5 4 1 (E) Guyana .4 Haiti .4 4 Honduras .6 5 Jamaica. .4 2 4012 Leeward/Virgin Is., 0 (S) .7 3 4 (S) 27 (S) (S) (S) 240 1-3 253 0 (S,E) San Andrés Island (H,E,Dn) Surinam (E) Trinidad/Tobago Montserrat, St. Kitts Nicaragua (Granada) .9 .6 644 030210-042232 9342343532 Panama Paraguay .4 Peru (Cuczo, Puño) .4 Puerto Rico .4 1 .3 .4 (S) Uruguay .2 (S) Venezuela .7 (E) Windward Islands .6 150 98 52 (C,P) Macau 2

Europe

(E) Nepal 1 1 (F) Belgium .6 2 4 (E) Philippine Islands 1 1 (Dn) Denmark 3 (E) Sri Lanka (Ceylon) 1 2 (Fn) Finland .4 4 (E) Taiwan 2 0 (Gr) Greece 2 1 (E) Thailand 2 2 0 (I) Iceland .2 2 (T,A,E) Turkey 2 (N) Norway 2 1 (E) Vietnam 1 (P) Portugal .8 8 35 13 22 (S) Spain .2 2 0 (F,G,It) Switzerland

Australasia

63 .6 2 4 (E) Caroline Islands .2 (E) Fiji Islands 3 (E) Mariana Islands* (E) Marshall Islands* (F) New Caledonia (E) (E) North-East New Guinea American Samoa (E) Western Samoa (E) Tonga Islands. 21215 0 37 10 27 2 2

• Newly assigned countries

3 0 2 Total Assignments to be

• • Circumstances permitting

2 Completed by October 1976 2 AFRICA .66 39 27 150 98 52 .35 13 22

Americas

22 7 15 ASIA Americas (S) Argentina (S,E) Belize AUSTRALASIA (S) Bolivia (P) Brazil 10 .14 (S) Chile (S) Colombia 63046∞ .6 10 .8 (S) Costa Rica .4 (S) Dominican Republic .5 (S) Ecuador .7 57 63704542- 0 EUROPE 0 3 4 Language Key 2 A-Arabic 3 B-Bengali E-English F-French Fn-Finnish G-German .22 7 15 .37 10 27 310 167 143 J-Japanese K-Korean N-Norwegian P-Portuguese 0 C-Chinese Gr―Greek S-Spanish (So. Dialect) 3 H-Hindi T-Turkish D-Dutch I-Icelandic 1 6 Dn-Danish It-Italian [Page 7]

Where international traveling teaching is needed the most

One of the goals of the Five Year Plan is to engage in international traveling teaching to various parts of the world. The table below is designed to show where teachers have been since May 1 and where teachers are needed the most.

The International Goals Committee would like to remind the friends that preparation is a key to success. It is vital for those considering pioneering and an essential factor for traveling teaching. Just as you would wish to be alerted well in advance of traveling teachers coming to your local community, so, too, do our sister communities abroad wish the same notice. Other National Spiritual Assemblies must have sufficient time to plan activities to take advantage of your generous offer and to use any special talents you may have.

AFRICA

Cameroon Republic Dahomey Ethiopia Ghana Ivory Coast Lesotho Liberia Nigeria. Rhodesia South Africa Swaziland Togo Zaire

Duration: up to 2 wks - 1 mo. or more

AMERICAS

Alaska Argentina. Belize Bolivia Brazil. Canada.. Chile Colombia. Costa Rica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador French Antilles Guatemala 225 | | 4 2 2 wks 1 mo. Guyana 4 Haiti. Honduras Jamaica 6 Leeward and Virgin Islands 4 Mexico 4 Nicaragua 2 Panama 8 Paraguay Peru Puerto Rico Surinam Tobago Trinidad Uruguay Venezuela Windward Islands

ASIA

Hong Kong India 10 Japan Khmer Republic Korea.. Laos Lebanon. Philippines Sri Lanka. Taiwan..

AUSTRALASIA

Fiji Islands North West Pacific Ocean 2 Samoa South West Pacific Ocean 3 Tonga Islands 4

EUROPE

Finland France Germany Iceland. Ireland Italy 3 Luxembourg Norway 1 Portugal Spain Sweden United Kingdom 1 [Page 8]

National Bahá’í Fund

Regular contributions vital in campaign to spread healing Message

To: All Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í Groups

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

Have you seen the full-page advertisement in the special Bicentennial edition of Life magazine? Our national community may well take pride in the fact that we were the only religious organization to secure space in this highly sought-after issue. Entitled "The 100 Events That Shaped America," it traces the struggle of a young country to ahcieve justice, peace, freedom and equality.

These aims, so identifiable with those of our Faith, will remain beyond America's grasp, however, until the hearts of its peoples are touched by the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh. Therefore, the National Spiritual Assembly is seizing every opportunity to bring the Faith before the gaze of the public. To sustain campaigns of this magnitude, it is essential to meet our monthly contributions goal regularly!

Shoghi Effendi wrote: ". our contributions to the Faith are the surest way of lifting once and for all time the burden of hunger and misery from mankind.

America and the entire world are crying for the healing balm of the Divine Physician. We who have given our hearts to Bahá’u’lláh bear full financial responsibility for His Cause and, as part of our covenant with God, must ensure that the monetary needs of His Faith are met.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES Dorothy W. Nelson, Treasurer Sept. 18, 1957

1975-1976 Monthly Goal $200,000 $150,000 $100,000 $50,000

CONTRIBUTIONS ANNUAL GOAL $2,900,000

Goal by Ilm 1975-Assemblies 750 700 CONTRIBUTIONS BUDGET Groups & Assemblies Contributing 650 600 450 400 Goal by Ilm 1975-Groups 350 300

PARTICIPATION

Month of Asmá Budget Goal $153,000 Contributions 116,027 Overage (shortage) (36,973)

Year to Date Budget Goal $1,071,000 Contributions 859,846 Overage (shortage) (211,154)

Contributions may be addressed to: National Bahá’í Fund, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091; Bahá’í International Fund, P.O. Box 155, Haifa, Israel; and Continental Bahá’í Fund, 418 Forest Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091.

[Page 9]National Bahá’í Fund

Review 8

Regular contributions vital in campaign to spread

healing Message

To: All Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í Groups Dear Bahffi Friends:

Have you seen the full-page advertisement in the special Bicentennial edition of Life magazine? Our national community may well take pride in the fact that we were the only religious organization to secure space in this highly sought—after issue. Entitled “The 100 Events That Shaped America,” it traces the struggle of a young country to ahcieve justice, peace, freedom and equality.

These aims, so identifiable with those of our Faith, will remain beyond America’s grasp, however, until the hearts of its peoples are touched by the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh. Therefore, the National Spiritual Assembly is seizing every opportunity to bring the Faith before the gaze of the public. To sustain campaigns of this mag nitude, it is essential to meet our monthly contributions goal regularly!

Shoghi Effendi wrote: “. . . our contributions to the

Faith are the surest way of lifting once and for all time the"

99

burden of hunger and misery from mankind. . . . America and the entire world are crying for the healing balm of the Divine Physician. We who have given our hearts to Bahá’u’lláh bear full financial responsibility for His Cause and, as part of our covenant with God, must ensure that the monetary needs of His Faith are met.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA’IS OF THE UNITED STATES Dorothy W. Nelson, Treasurer

Sept. 18, 1957

CONTRIBUTIONS , A PARTICIPATION / $200,000 _ $2,900,000 — ANNUAL com. 75° “"‘ K» __________ I by Hm 1975——Assembl«es H H “$0.000 _ 1975-1976 Monthly Goal H W E, — ___ 3 650 — _, __ E O _ V _ ._, 600 $100,000 —— : : 1 ’

T " E 450

— — —# cu - __ __ aoo ......,.S?r22,'..1?x..f.!!:?1..l9Z§::9:29ep§........ .. $50,000 — —— :3: —- ‘<5 350 E. f 5 : ‘Wt 300 o D E '5 3 E)’. - — V ' ' ‘ E '5 E E 5 3 '0 - .E E -— 5 E § _, U _ in 1.. '5 5 5 _ § - EE5£‘—=E§§3E'gg""c:3g_:3 " '95 g§ou-_é E-u‘§§£ °_ 2-“Z°?.,>g*?“‘5=°°§53543-°-/ comummnlsauncn

Month of Year

of Asma‘ to Date Budget Goal $153,000 $1,071,000 Contributions 1 16,027 859,846 Overage (shortage) (36,973) (211,154)

Contributions may be addressed to: National Bahá’í Fund, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091; Bahá’í International Fund, P.O. Box 155, Haifa, Israel; and Continental Bahá’í Fund, 418 Forest Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091.