The American Bahá’í/Volume 11/Issue 10/Text
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The real treasury of man is his knowledge.’—Baha’u'llah
October 1980
Aidisieon Baha
Tribune article recounts Iran persecutions
(The following article about the recent persecution of Baha’is in Iran appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Monday, August 25.)
By JAMES YUENGER
In May of 1979, three months after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took power in Iran, the nation saw the beginnings of a reign of terror that masqueraded as an Islamic “cleansing.”
Despite insistent denials by the regime that religious repression was being practiced, particularly against Jews and Baha'is, the signs of persecution were overwhelming.
AT THAT TIME, more than 100 Baha’i religious centers were occupied by armed goons, the homes of numerous Baha’is had been burned or damaged, and two Baha'is had been killed in rioting in the central Iranian town of Shiraz.
Since then, according to a variety of reputable sources inside and outside the country, the treatment of Baha'is in Iran—where the sect originated in the 19th Century—has degenerated into systematic savagery.
Trumped up charges have been employed again and again in an attempt to provide a veneer of legitimacy for gun-barrel justice.
The murders continue, and due process is a mockery; among accusations against two leading Baha'is who were executed in the street on July 14 was one that they had “run the Baha'i center in Tabri:
Another, more ominous charge against them—‘“collaborating with Israel” —cuts closer to the real thinking of the Iranian authorities because it illustrates, despite the regime's repeated denials, that the essential character of its persecution is religious rather than political.
The Shi'ite Moslems who con Please See NEWSPAPER Page 25
GR a What’s inside
LOUHELEN construction project has target date of August 1981 to raise needed funds. Page 4
NATIVE American believer coproduces new TV series, “Images of Indians.” Page 6
15-YEAR-OLD Baha'i wins world AAU wrestling championship. Page 7
BELIZE hosts large-scale international teaching campaign. Page
NATIONAL Teaching Committee is profiled in National Center series. Page 15
ASSEMBLIES that have adopted extension teaching goals are listed. Pages 31-35
National Assembly of Iran is arrested
WITH HEARTS BURNING INDIGNATION DISTRESS ANNOUNCE ALL MEMBERS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IRAN TOGETHER WITH TWO AUXILIARY BOARD MEMBERS FORCIBLY AND PEREMPTORILY TAKEN FROM MEETING IN PRIVATE HOME ON EVENING 21 AUGUST TO UNKNOWN DESTINATION. VIEWING RISING TIDE PERSECUTIONS STEADFAST HEROIC LEADERS HARASSED COMMUNITY HAD ALREADY ANTICIPATED POSSIBILITY SUCH AN UNWARRANTED ACTION AND HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR NINE ALTERNATIVE MEMBERS ASSUME RESPONSIBILITIES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN CASE THEY WERE UNABLE FUNCTION. NINE MEMBERS APPOINTED BODY NOW AT HELM DETERMINED DISCHARGE SACRED DUTIES FOLLOW IN FOOTSTEPS THEIR COURAGEOUS PREDECESSORS, REMINISCENT SPIRIT EVINCED UNDAUNTED HEROES FAITH DURING MEMORABLE EPISODE BARFURUSH. NEW NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TOGETHER WITH WIVES CLOSE RELATIVES ARRESTED FRIENDS
Bulletin! 7 martyred in Yazd, Iran
ANNOUNCE WITH DEEP SORROW HEARTRENDING NEWS MARTYRDOM ON MORNING MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8 IN YAZD SEVEN DEVOTED STEADFAST BELIEVERS TWO OF WHOM WERE AUXILIARY BOARD MEMBERS AND FIVE PROMINENT BAHA'IS YAZD INCLUDING ONE SEVENTY-EIGHT YEAR OLD BELIEVER. LOCAL REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS WHO PERPETRATED THIS DASTARDLY ACT CHARGED INNOCENT FRIENDS ON LOCAL RADIO WITH FALSE IMPUTATIONS SUCH AS SPYING AND SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES. THIS EPISODE WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ANOTHER EVIDENCE PATIENCE LONG‘SUFFERING INNOCENT PERSIAN BRETHREN IN FACE OF UNABATED HATRED VIRULENT MALICE INVETERATE ENEMIES FAITH. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE September 9, 1980
HAVE APPEALED AUTHORITIES FOR RELEASE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS. THROUGH THEIR CONSTANCY AND VALOUR PERSIAN FRIENDS HAVE ONCE AGAIN SET AN EXAMPLE OF SERVITUDE AT SACRED THRESHOLD WORTHY EMULATION ALL FRIENDS EVERY LAND PARTICULARLY THOSE PRIVILEGED SERVE ACTIVELY ON BAHA'I INSTITUTIONS. CALL ON FRIENDS EVERYWHERE JOIN US IN FERVENT PRAYERS THAT SELF-SACRIFICE PERSIAN BRETHREN MAY AT LAST YIELD GOLDEN FRUIT THEIR RELEASE FROM YOKE TRIBULATION OPPRESSION SO NOBLY BORNE IN PATH HIS LOVE MORE THAN ONE CENTURY. WILL INFORM NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES AS EPISODE UNFOLDS ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE THIS LATEST WAVE PERSECUTION FAITH LAND ITS BIRTH.
UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE August 24, 1980
no
Five prominent members of the Baha'i community of Yazd, Iran, and two Auxiliary Board members were executed September 8 in Yazd.
to death were Akhtar-Khavari, Mahmud
Those put Nuru’llah Firaydun Faridani,
Please See MARTYRS Page 29
‘Trail of Light’ campaign blazes in North America
Sixty-two declarations in Saskatchewan, Canada, including 35 on one Indian Reservation, and the possible formation of a Spiritual Assembly on the Lummi Reservation in northwest Washington state are among the preliminary results of a “Trail of Light” teaching campaign that followed the historic second North American Baha'i Native Council held July 11-13 in Wilmette, Illinois.
At the close of the Native Council, three “Trail of Light” teaching teams were formed to visit native communities on Indian Reservations and in cities, towns and villages in Alaska, Canada and the US.
THE TEAM that traveled to Saskatchewan included Henry Bainbridge, a Navajo believer from Teec-Nos-Pos, Arizona; his 9-yearold son, Dennis; and Ernestine Moore, a Paiute-Washoe from Reno, Nevada.
The six-member team that visited villages in Alaska included three American Baha'is: Tina Salomon, an Osage-Cherokee from Sparks, Nevada; Regina Steffes, a Navajo-Oneida youth from Fontana, California; and Chester Kahn, a Navajo from Houck, Arizona.
Doris Eckroth, a Cherokee from Malone, New York, was the only U.S. believer on the eight-member teaching team that visited Indian Reservations in Washington state, Oregon and Idaho.
That team reported five declarations on the Lummi Indian Reservation north of Seattle, according
Please See LIGHT Page 14
A tree-planting was held September 1 at the Louhelen Baha'i School near Davison, Michigan, to inaugurate the $1.8-million construction project to renovate the school. Shown manning the shovel is Counsellor Peter Khan of Australia. Looking on (left to right) are John Nash of the Spiritual Assembly of Flint, Michigan; Sam
Clark, a member of the Louhelen Pro:
ject Committee; Tolu Avaregan of the Louhelen Council; and David Smith, secretary of the National Education Committee. More than 350 people attended the ceremony at which $1,600 was raised to aid the project.
(Related story on Page 4)
Joliet project sees 50 new declarants
Fifty residents of Joliet, Illinois, declared their belief in Baha’u’llah during the week of August 16-23 as a result of an ongoing teaching project named in honor of the Hand of the Cause of God Enoch Olinga.
The goals of “Project Olinga”’ are to double the number of believers in Joliet and to raise Assemblies in other nearby goal localities. Financial help and Prayers for the success of the campaign have come from communities and individuals in 10 central states.
Watch for more details of “Project Olinga” in the November issue of The American Baha'i.
Youth direct successful teaching campaign among Laotian people
DELIGHTED EFFORTS TEACHING SOUTHEAST ASIAN GROUPS CALIFORNIA CONGRATULATIONS ALL PARTICIPANTS. PURSUE TEACHING TRAIN NEW BELIEVERS TO BE ENTHUSED AND RISE TEACH CAUSE THEIR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN. AS SURE PRAYERS. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE August 11, 1980
Thirty Laotian refugees who now live in the San‘Diego, California, area have recently declared their belief in Baha'u'llah, and declarations by another 30 or more Southeast Asians are ex pected soon, according to a spokesperson for the National Teaching Committee.
The new enroliments came as a result of a teaching campaign in San Diego's substantial Asian refugee community that was initiated and led by Baha'i youth.
THE SAN DIEGO Youth Committee planned a week-long proclamation program following the Regional Youth Conference June 20-22, one of seven such conferences sponsored by the National Youth Committee.
Please See SAN DIEGO Page 14
[Page 2]
COMMENT
The American Baha’i
Editorial The persecutions in Iran
Once again our beleaguered Baha'i brethren in the Cradle of the Faith are facing cruel and merciless persecution and harassment.
Baha'is in Iran have been driven from their homes, their properties confiscated, their civil rights routinely violated, and some have even given up their lives in this latest wave of senseless violence directed against the heroic and stainless followers of Baha'u'llah.
IN THIS MOMENT of extreme distress, reminiscent of the earliest days of the Faith when so many staunch and valiant believers offered their lives in the Path of God, the believers in Iran are sustained solely by their unwavering faith in the Revelation set forth by the Messenger of God for this Day, and turn for guidance and inspiration to the exhortations of His Son and appointed Successor, ‘Abdu’l-Baha:
“0 ye loved ones of God! Be ye firm of foot, and fixed of heart, and through the power of the Blessed Beauty's help, stand ye committed to your purpose.
“Serve ye the Cause of God. Face ye all nations of the world with the constancy and the endurance of the people of Baha, that all men may be astounded and ask how this could be, that your hearts are as wellsprings of confidence and faith, and as mines so rich in the love of God.
“Be ye so, that ye shall neither fail nor falter on account of these tragedies in the Holy Land; let not these dread events make you despondent.
“AND IF ALL the believers be put to the sword, and only one be left, let that one cry out in the name of the Lord and tell the joyous tidings; let that one rise up and confront all the peoples of the earth.”
The Baha'is of Iran, faced with adversity such as few others must endure, have arisen with courage and audacity to proclaim the Message of Baha'u'llah throughout that troubled land, unmindful of the threat of persecution, banishment or even death.
Can we, who are blessed with freedom and the capacity to teach His Cause “‘to all who are in heaven and on earth,” afford to do less in this calamitous day when the clouds of darkness and ignorance have encompassed the earth and threaten to shield the eyes of men from His
holy and redeeming Light?
Sharaf designated ‘Baha’i History Month’
To encourage the Baha'i community to appreciate the history of the Faith and increase its understanding of the present crisis in Iran, the National Spiritual Assembly has designated the
month of Sharaf (December 31-January 18) “Baha'i History Month.”
Look for further details in the November issue of The American B
Virginia town welcomes friends from Norfolk
itual Assembly of Norfolk, Virginia, responding to a request from Richard Temura, a non-Baha’i who lives in Boykins, an unopened. locality near the North Carolina border, held a picnic June 1 in Boykins at which local townspeople could meet Baha'is and “expand their views a little.”
The friends were greeted warm: ly by Mr. Temura who introduced them to residents of the town of about 800. As mealtime approach: ed, Mr. Temura gathered everyone in a circle and had them introduce themselves.
He expressed the great joy he felt whenever various races and religions gathered together in unity, and offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the fellowship that was being enjoyed
By the end of the day, the residents of Boykins had invited the Baha'is to return and hold meetings, with some offering their homes to Baha'is who wished to remain overnight.
The Spiritual Assembly of Norfolk, impressed by the warmth and hospitality of the people of Boykins, adopted the town as an extension teaching goal
A second picnic was held in Boykins on July 6, again as a result of a request by Mr. Temura
On July 17, several residents of Boykins traveled one and one-half hours to attend a fireside in Norfolk.
Glentord E. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, receiv: ed an honorary Doctor of Letters degree August 16 during the summer commencement at the National College of Education in Wilmette, I
linois. Mr. Mitchell is shown as he
was invested with the hood,symbolic ‘of doctoral honors by Dr. Jack Sturch, administrative assistant to the president of the college and associate dean for Special Programs and Continuing Education.
Comment
Strong community fabric can help transform world
By CHRIS S. CHOLAS
Educators and social scientists increasingly lament the lack of a “sense of community’ in our cities and towns. Many experts have said that the only way in which to redeem society from its present ills is through grassroots community interaction.
While Baha'is usually applaud and support such efforts, we know that no matter how beneficial they eee ae
The American Baha’i
(USPS 042-430) Published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahd's of the United States, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091. Second class postage paid at Wilmette, IL.
Editor: Jack Bowers Associate Editor: David E. Ogron
‘The American Bahá'i welcomes news, letters
and other items of interest {rom individuals and the various institutions of the Faith. Articles should be written in a clear and concise
Copyright © 1980 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. . World rights reserved. Printed in the US.A.
might be, they cannot compare with the power we have through Baha'u'llah’s Revelation to unite the hearts of humanity.
THE UNIVERSAL House of Justice’s message to the Oceanic Conference held in Palermo, Sicily, in August 1968 is of particular importance to us as Bahai.
In that weighty message, the Supreme Body advances two main themes. One is that only the Baha'i Revelation can ultimately transform the world:
“That the violent disruption which has seized the entire planet is beyond the ability of men to assuage, unaided by God's revelation, is a truth repeatedly and forcibly set forth in our Writings. The old order cannot be repaired; it is being rolled up before our eyes. The moral decay and disorder convulsing human society must run their course; we can neither arrest nor divert them.”
Second, the message emphasizes the characteristics that
must distinguish Baha'i communities from all other communities:
“Wherever a Baha'i community exists, whether large or small, let it be distinguished for its abiding sense of security and faith, its
This month’s column, “Developing Baha’i Community Life,” was written by Chris S. Cholas of Belen, New Mexico.
high standard of rectitude, its complete freedom from all forms of prejudice, the spirit of love among its members, and for the closely knit fabric of its social life.” Herein lies a warning and a promise. A warning of where the old order is headed; a promise of what Baha'i communities can accomplish. The Universal House of Justice further explains in that same message:
“THE ACUTE distinction between this and present day society will inevitably arouse the interest of the more enlightened, and as the world’s gloom deepens the light of Baha’i life will shine brighter and brighter until its brilliance must eventually attract the disillusioned masses and cause them to enter the haven of the Covenant of Baha'u'llah, Who alone can bring them peace and justice and an ordered life.”
Because this promise is so vast and far-reaching in its implica
tions, it would do our communities well to look closely at
those characteristics alluded to
by the House of Justice.
An Abiding Sense of Security and Faith
As we look at our Baha'i communities, we must ask ourselves: Do we feel secure in them?
Do we feel a part of the activities and affairs of the Faith in our community? Do we feel that divine protection that the local Baha'i community has to offer us? Does our community feel that if it were suddenly to be cut off from the rest of the Baha'i world it would continue to grow and develop?
‘Abdu'l-Baha has defined faith as “first, conscious knowledge, and second, the practice of good deeds.” (Baha'i World Faith, p. 383)
As we develop a conscious knowledge about Baha'u'llah's Revelation, and reflect that knowledge in our actions, we spiritualize ourselves.
A LETTER written on behalf of the Guardian to Melba King, the first Eskimo Baha'i, says in part, “The Baha'is seek to lead people back to a knowledge of their true
selves and the purpose for which they were created, and thus to their greatest happiness and highest good.” (High Endeavours: Messages to Alaska, p. 7)
As we draw nearer to God, we draw closer to our true selves. Consider the power our communities can release when we simultaneously and consciously begin to practice our Faith.
A High Standard of Rectitude
Conforming to the Revelation of Baha'u'llah reveals latent attributes within us, as ‘Abdu'l-Baha has written: “It is certain that man’s highest inction is to be lowly before and obedient to his God; that his greatest glory, his most exalted rank and honor, depend on his close observance of the Divine commands and prohibitions.” (The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 71)
A high standard of rectitude is really the underlying theme of The Secret of Divine Civilization. It is the secret.
As we learn from our ex periences, the soul that rebels against the laws of God remains
Please See COMMENT Page 28
| ce as RRS RE SSS A SEE SE ES SESS A RS
[Page 3]
LETTERS
October 1980
Iranian persecutions must spark service to Cause
To the Editor:
| am sure that Baha'is everywhere are deeply grieved and shocked by the letter from the National Spiritual Assembly for the Feast of Kamal regarding the senseless killing of Baha’is in Iran.
It seems to me only proper that we feel outraged and appalled by this tragic news from the Cradle of the Faith; unless, however, we turn that outrage and sorrow into positive actions, those deaths will have lost much of their meaning.
THE GUARDIAN warned the American believers repeatedly that the freedom to teach the Cause we now enjoy will be replaced in the future by severe opposition (please see pp. 17-18 of The World Order of Baha'u'llah).
While we are able, we must make a commitment to serve our beloved Faith as fervently as we can.
It's easy to say “I can't give more the Fund’ or “I can’t possibly pioneer,” for whatever reason.
There is no doubt that increasing our contributions to the Fund or pioneering, on the homefront or overseas, involve a certain amount of sacrifice, but what is more praiseworthy or glorious than sacrifice?
Our Persian brothers and sisters are making the ultimate sacrifice, a sacrifice that we in America are not presently called
upon to make.
But this does not mean we do not have an obligation to serve the Cause with the same steadfastness and stewardship as they.
Until we give our lives, there is always more that we can give for the inestimable privilege and bounty of living in the Day of God.
Lawrence A. Nylin Albuquerque, New Mexico
To the Editor:
1 am a homefront pioneer who until recently was isolated from other Baha'is.
Now four waiting souls have been found here and enrolled in the Faith.
None of them can speak, read or write English. Thank you for the Spanish page in The American Baha'i. Please keep it up without fail.
Alice V. Lovejoy King City, California
To the Editor:
The Spiritual Assembly of Jamestown, North Dakota, wishes to acknowledge the gift of The American Baha'i that is sent to all American believers on a regular basis.
The newest member of our community, a Persian, has told us how in Iran the Baha'is must pay for all such publications.
The information confirms for us again the importance of giving
The American Baha’i welcomes letters to the editor on ai of general interest. Lett be as brief as possible, and are subject to editing for length: and style. Please address letters to The Editor, The American Bal 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmet 60091.
regularly to the National Baha'i Fund, without which such a gift
would not be possible. Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Jamestown, North Dakota
To the Editor:
When | think about the sacrifices that are being made daily by the friends in Iran, it fills me with shame to read the National Treasurer's monthly plea for funds.
Always there are thanks for the generosity shown in supporting the Fund, and yet when the letter is opened further it shows our collective failure to reach our goal.
WHEN | entered the Faith nine years ago, my Baha'i education began with the glories of the Dawn-breakers and stories of the Master told by a Persian woman whose tearful eyes and joyous
smile | always remember whenever | close my eyes in prayer.
If | had a thousand lifetimes it still would not be enough time to express my gratitude to God that |
National Assembly acquires 205-acre Conifer Hill school
The National Spiritual Assembly has acquired ownership of 205 acres of land at the site of the Conifer Hill Baha'i School about 24 miles northwest of Boulder, Colorado.
The land was presented as a gift to the National Spiritual Assembly by its owner, Rose Jean Harris of Sterling, Colorado.
Dr. Daniel C. Jordan, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, accepted the deed to the property on its behalf during a special ceremony’held July 5 as a part of this summer's Conifer Hill session.
The wooded property, which in cludes a 2 1/2-acre lake, is about 8,000 feet high in the Rocky Mountains. There presently are no buildings on the land.
Ownership of the donated property remains subject to leases on portions of the land held by individual Baha'is, according to Stephen Koehi, general manager of NSA Properties Inc., a nonprofit corporation created by the National Spiritual Assembly to hold and manage its properties.
Some of these believers, says Mr. Koehl, already have relinquished their leases to the National Assembly.
W. Hollywood holds ‘Community Day’
On Sunday, July 20, the Baha'i community of West Hollywood, California, observed its monthly “Community Day” with many nonBaha’is attending.
The gathering, at Hollywood Park, included Afternoon of Sharing Poetry.”
ORIGINAL poems were shared by members of John Angelo’s Dramatic Workshop, and of a group called The Poet's Gathering.
Selma Salomon, a member of The Poet's Gathering, read her poems, as did Gloria Dorlan, a Baha'i from Los Angeles.
West “AN
The performance also included a Baha'i prayer interpreted in movement choreographed by Mr. Angelo, who is a member of the West Hollywood Baha'i community.
Afterward, the performers and audience—a total of about 75 people—enjoyed a potluck dinner at the West Hollywood Baha’i Center.
Forty people; many of them seekers, remained for a fireside that followed the dinner. The speakers were Tim and Cindy Macy of Huntington Beach, California.
Dr. Daniel C. Jordan, representing the National Spiritual Assembly, accepts a deed to the 205-acre Conifer Hill Baha'i School property north: west of Boulder, Colorado, from its former owner, Rose Jean Harris of Sterling, Colorado, during a ceremony July 5 at the school.
Logo contest slated
The Green Acre Council is sponsoring a contest to design a logo for the Green Acre Baha'i School.
The logo should be simple, of ‘one color, distinctive, in keeping with the dignity of a Baha'i school, and should include the words “Green Acre Baha'i School.”
Please send ideas and entries to the Green Acre Baha'i School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903, before December 1, 1980.
All entries become the property of the Green Acre Council.
have the bounty to be a Baha'i in America—in a country that recognizes my right to choose my own religion, to congregate with my fellow Baha'is, and to teach my Faith to those who will listen.
But Baha'u'llah does not ask for a thousand lifetimes of gratitude. He only asks that | give Him one. And at the moment, he isn’t even asking that | give up my life. He only asks that | give up those things that He in His grace has given me.
And He doesn’t even ask for of it—only for what | don’t need!
We always speak of the Faith as being in the embryonic stage of development. Years ago, the Guardian used those words to describe our community.
Isn't it about time we emerged from the embryo and faced our responsibility with all its awesomeness and glory?
The martyrdoms in Iran are calling us to maturity. Let each of us re-evaluate his needs, and then let us give our all that the world may receive the bounties and blessings of our Beloved.
Deborah K. O'Connor Harrisonburg, Virginia
To the Editor:
Our Assembly would like to express its appreciation for the efforts you have made to include a Spanish-language page in The
American Baha'i.
In communities like ours, where a predominant number of the friends are Spanish-speaking, itis an additional consolidation and deepening tool. We can never have too many of those!
We only wish that this sorely needed addition to the paper can become a monthly occurrence.
If the Spanish-speaking friends can come to expect this section every month, we think that in the long run it will not only reach a greater number of the Spanishspeaking Baha'is, but will become a habit-forming relationship besides.
Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Watsonville, California
To the Editor:
This is a plea that you not neglect the “Hispanic page” in The American Baha'i.
The Persian pages are appreciated. They are very helpful to our brothers and sisters who are new to this country.
However, The American Baha'i is probably the only medium we can depend on that reaches the fast-growing numbers of Spanishspeaking believers.
There has been much positive feedback from Spanish-speaking Baha'is about the Spanish page.
Linda Cholas Belen, New Mexico
Catalog,
YES! Please send me and Sing at $7.50 each and at $8.
minimum $1.00) for $. Publishing Trust.
You are invited to Come and Sing!
This appealing collection of songs will assist your children to understand and develop the attributes of God. Produced by Warren Kime and Susan Engle for the Bahd‘i Publishing Trust.
No. 6-35-21 LP Album Catalog No. 6-32-20 Stereo Cassette $8.00
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THE FUNDS
The American Baha’i
Louhelen Baha'i
Smith, secretary of the National Education Committee.
included stops Muskegon, St.
Smith outlined for
taking.
THE PLAN for the reconstruction of the Louhelen school near Davison, Michigan, was accepted by the National Spiritual Assemoly at its meeting May 31.
The new facilities will include classrooms, lodging units, and a school center containing a cafeteria, bookstore and library.
The project will be financed by contributions and the sale of promissory notes, available to the Baha'is in 26 states starting this fall.
While savings in over-all construction costs can be made if sufficient funds are raised by this fall, the goal is to raise the entire amount by August 31, 1981.
Lr
These cabins, long a part of the land: scape at the Louhelen Baha'i Schoo! in Michigan, no longer exist. They
The project to reconstruct the School in Michigan was recently explained to Baha'is in that state by David
In a trip through the state that in Portage, Joseph and Wayland (the site of this year's Louhelen Summer School), Mr. the friends details of the $1.8 million under A great step forward was taken recently when the Davison Township Board approved construction of the school. A conditional use permit was issued, allowing construction in an area that was previously zoned for agricultural and residential use.
The Township Board also approved the extension of sewer facilities to the school site. Sewer construction is expected to begin in the spring.
SOME INITIAL steps in preparing the Louhelen campus have already been taken. Small cabins next to the Eggleston house have been removed, and the Pullman building, which served for years
as a dormitory, has been demolished.
Other buildings such as the library, Louhelen building, and auditorium will be restored and will serve as_ archives, maintenance shop, and storage area, respectively.
The project continues to gather momentum. The Offering Circular for the promissory notes has been sent to the states for registration, after which sale of the notes will begin.
Information about the Offering Circular or contributions to the project can be obtained from the National Treasurer's Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. Phone 312-256-4400.
$1800,000-Reconstruction Louhelen fund-raising has August 1981 target date
Sam Clark of Ferndale, Michigan, a member of the Louhelen Project
Committee, shares plans for rebuilding the school with Baha'is
who gathered at Louhelen on June 15. Standing at the left is Bruce Rey: nolds, a member of the Louhelen Baha'i Schoo! Council
Vahid’s life a lesson in Baha’i love, detachment
“The essence of detachment is for man to turn his face towards the courts of the Lord, to enter His presence, behold His countenance, and stand as witness before Him.’ (Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 155)
These words of Baha'u'llah describe one of the most important
have been demolished to make room for newer and more modern facilities soon to be built there.
qualities that every servant of God must attain. For as the old world order is rolled up, those who place their affections upon it will also be lost.
In the same way, we can never fully serve the Cause of God, never really fulfill our purpose, if we Cling to the material world.
THOSE WHO have experienced martyrdom for the Cause are shining examples of believers who have learned the essence of detachment.
These individuals, even to the present day, have offered their all in the path of God.
The stories of these souls are many, and can be found throughout the literature of the Faith. Their sacrifices serve, by Baha’u'llah’s own testimony, as a proof of the validity of the Manifestation, and as an element for the spread of His Teachings.
Among these examples of detachment is the story of Siyyid Yahyay-i-Darabi, known as Vahid.
Vahid was one of the most learned men of his time, and was highly respected by the Shah. He was renowned throughout Persia, and held pre-eminence among the leading figures of the day.
It was Vahid whom the Shah confidently sent to investigate the claims of the Bab.
Vahid eagerly set out on his journey, determined to inquire into and possibly refute the Bab’s teachings.
DURING THE COURSE of three meetings with the Bab, however, Vahid’s feelings of superiority and pride were completely dispelled, and with great joy and humility he embraced the Bab’s Cause.
Vahiid immediately arose to serve the Bab. Unable to join the defenders of Fort Tabarsi, he was able to stay for a time with Baha'u'llah.
Vahid continued in his teaching efforts across Persia, moving
from town to town, staying long enough to touch the hearts of the inhabitants with the Message of the New Day, but moving on before arousing the hostility of the enemies of the Faith.
Finally, however, his great teaching successes were interrupted by the plotting of his enemies at his home in Yazd.
As his enemies gathered, Vahid dispersed the Babis and sent his wife and children to the home of her father. He asked his wife to leave behind whatever was his personal property.
“This palatial residence,” Vahid is reported to have said to her, “'I have built with the sole intention that it should be eventually demolished in the path of the Cause, and the stately furnishings with which | have adorned it have been purchased in the hope that one day I shall be able to sacrifice them for the sake of my Beloved.
“THEN WILL friend and foe alike realize that he who owned this house was endowed with so great and priceless a heritage that an earthly mansion, however sumptuously adorned and magnificently equipped, had no worth in his eyes; that it had sunk, in his estimation, to the state of a heap of bones to which only the dogs of the earth could feel attracted.
“Would that such compelling evidence of the spirit of renunciation were able to open the eyes of this perverse people ...”
Vahid was forced to leave Yazd. He continued teaching until he reached Nayriz. There, he and a small band of fellow-believers were forced to take refuge in the fort of Khajih.
They defended themselves against the attacks of a much larger, well-trained force. Only through a false promise, sworn to on the Qu’ran by the enemy leaders, were the defenders removed from the fort and scat
tered, many suffering martrydom.
Vahid was led through the streets of Nayriz, with a wild mob pursuing him and finally taking his life. After his death, the enemies rounded up the adherents of the Faith in that city, and through the most atrocious tortures, put most of them to death.
Speaking of those who have offered their lives in the path of God, Baha'u'llah wrote:
“These Essences of-being are the shining Exemplars of sacrifice. They have offered, and will continue to offer up their lives, their substance, their souls, their spirit, their all, in the path of the Well-Beloved.
“By them, no station, however exalted, could be more dearly cherished. For lovers have no desire but the good-pleasure of their Beloved, and have no aim except reunion with Him.” (The Kitab-i-lqan, p. 129)
The Oftice of the Treasurer recently received a letter from a 10-year-old
Baha'i, Hoda Samadani of Arden Hills, Minnesota, which said in part. “Three months ago | started a penny collection for the Fund. Each day my family puts alll their pennies in the jar. Today we took them to the bank and my father wrote a check. Already | have more pennies in the jar.
[Page 5]
THE FUNDS
October 1980
Mr. Robarts participant in NTR Institute
The Hand of the Cause of God John Robarts participated August 28-September 1 in the fourth Training Institute for National Treasurer's Representatives sponsored by the Office of the Treasurer and held at the National College of Education in Wilmette, Illinois.
More than 100 NTRs from across the country heard Mr. Robarts speak on “The Spirit of e” and “The Baha'i Spiritual Institution.”
OTHER SPEAKERS were Dr. Magdalene M. Carney, assistant secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly; Or. Floyd Tucker, director of Personnel Affairs at the Baha'i National Center; and Dr. John Hatcher of Temple Terrace, Florida.
The training institute included sessions for newly-appointed NTRs as well as a “veteran NTR workshop.”
Sessions on effective public speaking, how to educate local treasurers, and the present status ofthe Baha'i Fund were offered.
The NTRs were introduced to the newest audio-visual program developed for their use by the National Treasurer's Office.
The program, entitled “The Mystery of Sacrifice,” is now available to local communities who request it from their NTR.
Other audio-visual programs available to local communities are “A Call to Remembrance,” focus
Classes on the Funds were an integral part of the NTR Institute held
ing on the life of Baha'u'llah; “Rich Ones on Earth,” which chronicles the lives of Amelia Collins and Martha Root; “The Greatest Undertaking,” describ: ing construction of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice; “Material Man,” unveiled at this year’s National and District Conventions; and “A Testimony of Love,” which traces the history of the Baha'i Fund in the U.S.
IN ADDITION to offering these programs, NTRs are trained to pre
over the Labor Day weekend in
Wilmette, Mlinois.
sent two major deepening courses: “The Secret of Wealth,” a practical course on personal financial management, and “The Surest Way,” focusing on how to deal with the excessive and destructive forces of materialism in the U.S,
Bookkeeping procedures for local Baha'i treasurers and deepening programs on the role of the Baha'i Fund in community life are also provided by the Treasurer's Office for use by NTRs.
Above: The Hand of the Cause of God John Robarts addresses par. ticipants at the NTR Institute. Below: Bob Amerson (standing) of
Waukesha, Wisconsin, conducts a class on ‘The Secret of Wealth’ for new National Treasurer's Representatives.
C
CAST YOUR BALLOT FOR UNIVERSAL PARTICIPATION |
Spirit of love, encouragement among friends is real secret behind universal participation
This is the fifth and last article in a series prepared by the Office of the Treasurer on the basic principles of the Fund.
Universal Participation ...
“The real secret of universal participation lies in the Master's oft-expressed wish that the friends should love each other, constantly encourage each other, work together, be as one soul in ‘one body, and in so doing become a true, organic, healthy body animated and illumined by the ."" (The Universal House of Justice, Wellspring of Guidance, pp. 38-39)
Some Baha'is lack the material means to make substantial contributions to the Faith and ave expressed reluctance to make a small contribution, saying that processing such an insignificant sum is more trouble than it’s worth.
To them we reply that it is God Who judges the worth of a contribution, not man.
The Cause of God does not derive its strength from a few people who give large sums, but from a great number of believers who willingly give their support, be it large or small.
The importance of participation
in giving by all Baha'is has been emphasized by the Universal House of Justice:
“The backbone of the Fund must be the regular contributions of every believer. Even though such contributions may be small because of the poverty of the donors, large numbers of small sums combine into a mighty river that can carry along the work of the Cause. Moreover the unity of the friends in sacrifice draws upon them the confirmations of the Blessed Beauty.” (Messages from the Universal House of Justice: 1968-1973, pp. 59-60)
Every contribution an individual believer makes—whether in the form of a monetary gift, time spent typing a newsletter for his community or writing an article for the paper, gasoline expended driving believers to Feast, or accomplishing a mission for the Local Assembly—helps spread the teachings of Baha'u'llah and build the Kingdom of God on earth through the development of the new World Order.
The strength of the Baha'i Fund, the “lifeblood” of the institutions that will bring about this world-wide transformation, lies in the hands of every individual believer.
Guidelines offered for direct giving to overseas Funds
Because the Office of the Treasurer has received a number of inquiries about direct contributions to the International and Continental Baha'i Funds from individual believers, in addition to the amounts contributed to these Funds by local communities, we offer the following quotations by the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice that clarify this issue:
“Emergence of independent sovereign state in Holy Land, synchronizing with the rise and consolidation of the Administrative Centre of the World Faith of Baha'u'llah ... demand henceforth reorientation and necessitate increasi financial support by Baha'i National Communities of East and West, through curtailment of national and local budgets.
“The extent of appropriations from national and local budgets of communities in both hemispheres is regarded as a spiritual obligation and left to the discretion of the elected representatives of the believers.
“Moreover, participation of individual believers, through contributions directly transmitted to the Holy Land are imperative and beyond the scope of the jurisdic Please See FUNDS Page 14
a EE EE
[Page 6]
THE MEDIA
The American Baha’i
Native believer repairs Indian’s ‘image’
The inaccurate portrayal of American Indians in Hollywood films is the theme of “Images of Indians,” a five-part Public Broadcasting Service television series that was co-produced by Phil Lucas, a Choctaw Indian believer from Issaquah, Washington.
“Images of Indians,” narrated by American Indian. actor Will Sampson, an Academy Award nominee for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,” made its debut in
July on the PBS station in Seattle, Washington, and was broadcast in September by PBS stations in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. It is being telecast this month in New York City.
DEBUNKING the myth of the
Phil Lucas (right), co-producer of the television series ‘Images of Indians," gives actor Larry Gibbs’ make-up a final touch before filming one of the series’ episodes. The five-part PBS series examines the inaccurate por trayal of the American Indian in Hollywood films.
“savage Indian” has been a longtime ambition of Mr. Lucas, whois chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Issaquah and a performer whose work can be heard on the album “Fire and Snow” that is available from the Baha'i Publishing Trust.
“The history (of American Indians) that is learned by most people is false,” he says. “It exalts the wrong kinds of heroes.
“The real heroes were those who wouldn't compromise their morality, and there were plenty of them throughout history.”
Noting that both ‘Abdu'l-Baha and the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, referred to historians and held them in high regard, Mr. Lucas says he is taking advantage of his involvement in film-making to show history from the Indian's point of view.
“That is something,” he says, “that hasn't been done before in this country.”
The present series, he adds, is part of an educational process that has to take place if people in our society are ever to be brought together in love and unity.
“YOU CAN'T grow up with lies all your life,”’ says Mr, Lucas, ‘and then expect to have a valid picture ‘of what is going on, how you fit into society, and how you can accomplish something.”
Mr. Lucas is now involved in raising funds for a proposed miniseries based on the book Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, which covers the history of the American West during the last half of the 19th century from an indian perspective.
While he hopes to be able to help Native Americans through his film-making efforts, he is quick to acknowledge the enormity of the task.
“This is my craft and | apply it,”
he says, “but I'm not making any grandiose claims about what I'll be able to accomplish.
“1 don’t know that Wounded. Knee is going to do it. It’s simply one more piece in a giant jigsaw puzzle.”
The series “Images of Indians” fits some of those pieces solidly into place by examining the Indian's warrior ae in “The Great Massacre”; looking at the doctrine of Manifest Destiny (the white man's “right” to territory) in “How Hollywood Wins the West”; dealing with the stereotype of the “noble savage” in “Warpaint and Wigs,” and pointing out the erroneous portrayal of Indian religions in “Heathen Injuns and the Hollywood Gospel.””
THE FINAL segment in the series looks at the effect of the Hollywood image of Indians on their own self-image.
The high rates of suicide and alcoholism among Native Americans, Mr. Lucas points out, might possibly be reduced by correcting false ideas about Indian history and providing a more correct and positive Indian identity.
“My efforts, and those of others like me,” he says, “may give Indian children the hope they've never had before.”
One of the more telling scenes in “Images of Indians” occurs during the second episode when a group of Indian children, watching the movie “Stagecoach” on television, cheer the U.S. cavalry as it rides to the rescue of a group of whites who are besieged by Indians.
At that point an adult Indian in the room turns off the TV set and takes the children into another room to discuss what they have seen:
“When | wrote that piece into the series,” says Mr. Lucas, “I did
‘Christian Century’ article describes Baha’i repression, martyrdoms in Iran
An article about recent developments In Iran in the August 13-20 issue of “The Christian Century,” a weekly ecumenical magazine, includes a two-page report of the repression of Baha'is in that country.
Of all the religious minorities in Iran, the article by Linda Marie Delloff states, the Faith “stands out as being the most subject to continual harassment,” since it is “regarded by Muslims as a heresy—a particularly galling one that has prompted more than a century of repression against the group.
“THE MUSLIMS do not believe that Baha'u'llah was the Promised One, whom they still await, and for them the Baha'is’ claim is a constant irritant.”
The present conditions in Iran, the article continues, are seen to be even worse than those in 1955, when the government issued
orders for the suppression of the Faith
The decree was followed by riots “in which Muslims looted the homes and temples of Baha'is and drove them from their communities. The violence also includ: ed arson, rape, desecration of graves and mutilation of exhumed bodies.”
The article mentions the destruction by mobs of the Holy House of the Bab in Shiraz, and says that “thousands of Baha'is have been turned out of their homes, have lost their jobs and had their properties confiscated.
“Their schools and other centers have been taken over, along with their Tehran headquarters.
“Their executive officer (they have no clergy) has been kidnapped, and his whereabouts is unknown. On July 15 the New York
Times reported that two Baha'is were put to death in the northwestern city of Tabriz. Charges against them included ‘running the Baha'i center’ in that city.
THE ARTICLE catalogs other charges ordinarily made against Baha'is, including “aiding Israel,” plotting against the state religion, and “immorality.”
Ironically,” the section on the Faith concludes, “Iran, as its country of origin, holds a special place in the writings of (the Faith) and is dear to the Baha'i faithful worldwide.”
About Iran itself, the article says, “Whether one sees in Iran a nation on the brink of disintegration, a fascist revolution, or a healthy struggle toward fulfillment, the present situation holds out little hope for religious
so because that’s exactly what happened to me when | was about 12 years old. | suddenly found myself rooting for the cavalry! It really affected me, and has stayed with me all these years.”
Mr. Lucas, a Baha'i since 1964, was a professional entertainer on the West Coast before attending college and starting his career as a producer.
He served as an Auxiliary Board member while pioneering in Nicaragua, and was among the performers at the second North American Baha'i Native Council held in July at the House of Worship in Wilmette.
Phil Lucas (right) discusses script changes with actor Will Sa host-narrator for the television series ‘Images of Indians,‘ which Mr. Luc
PHIL LUCAS Co-Producer of PBS Series
co-produced. The five-part series ex: amines the inaccurate portrayal. ot the American Indian. in-Hollywood films.
47 U.S. regional deepenings slated by Counsellors
The first in a series of 47 regional Auxiliary Board Team Deepening Conferences sponsored in 31 states and the District of Columbia area by the Continental Board of Counsellors for North America was held August 30 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The regional conferences, which resulted from consultation between the Counsellors and Na tional Spiritual Assembly, have as their theme ‘The Impending Challenges.”
Topics to be covered at each gathering include “The Covenant and Opposition,” “Teaching and the Quality of Baha’i Life,” and “The Baha'i Electoral Process: Its Significance.”
Each of the conferences is being conducted by an Auxiliary Board member. Members of the Board of Counsellors will be present at some of the meetings, and members of the National Spiritual Assembly also have been invited to attend.
The conferences are to continue each weekend November 15, when the final gathering will be held in Fresno, California.
through |
| Clone year (6 issues) $6.00 | C1) two years $11.00
! | ' name aa) ey | street _ Sel | city, -1 | state &zip | | send to: 1 | child's way 1
Baha'i Subscriber Service ,
415 Linden Ave. \
' Wilmette, 111.60091
[Page 7]
YOUTH NEWS
October 1980
SEAN SMITH
Young Baha’i captures world wrestling title
Sean Smith, a 15-year-old Baha'i from Longview, Washington, won a world Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) wrestling championship in August in com: petition at Stockholm, Sweden.
Young Sean, who began wrest: ling four years ago, won three of four matches in Stockholm in his weight class (he weighs 83 1/2 pounds) to become one of only two American champions in Greco-Roman wrestling.
In 1977, wrestling for the Kelso. Youth Club, Sean won 59 of 69 matches in the 11-12 age group and captured the Greco-Roman championship at the AAU Zone Meet in Hayward, California.
In 1978 he was unbeatable, winning the 13-14 age group title in the federation’s equivalent of a Zone Meet in Tumwater, Washington.
Last year Sean qualified for the Northwest Cultural Exchange wrestling team that toured Japan for three weeks.
Because of the tour, however, he missed training for the AAU’s grand national championships. He competed anyway and finished sixth.
Sean fared much better this year, winning seven straight matches in the AAU Nationals at Lincoln, Nebraska, to qualify for the trip to Stockholm.
14 youth participate | | in work/study effort ©
Fourteen Baha'i youth from across the U.S. participated August 17-24 in the 17th Youth Work/Study Project at the Baha'i National Center.
These projects, currently being held three times each year, give younger believers a unique opportunity to observe and participate in administrative operations at the National Center, to deepen, and to attend special activities.
THE YOUTH heard presentations by Glenford E. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, and by representatives of the various national committees.
They toured the House of Worship and attended daily classes ‘on the Administrative Order.
The youth also worked as volunteers in various offices and departments including the Baha’i Publishing Trust, National Archives, National Teaching Commit tee, International Goals Committee, National Education Committee, Baha'i Periodicals, National Treasurer's and Persian Affairs offices, and the Department of Community Administration.
Participants served as guides at the House of Worship, attended a party hosted by the North Shore Baha'i Youth Council, and a pig roast sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly for members of the National Center staff and their families.
“The unity developed among youth attending a work/study project is very strong,” says Linnea Brush, who helped coordinate the project and worked closely with the youth, “and the friendships that develop are long-lasting.
“For most youth, of course, simply coming to the House of Worship is an unforgettable experience in itself.”
™
Fourteen Baha'i youth participated .Program at the Baha'i National August 17-24 in a Youth Work/Study Center in Wilmette, Illinois.
Youth Committee’s goal:
Baha'i
Plans for a National Youth Conference in the summer of 1981 are being discussed by the recently-appointed National
Members of the recently-appointed
National Youth Committee are (left to
right) Sharon Allen of Clarkston,
Georgia; Charles (Cap) Cornwell
(secretary) of Plantation, Florida;
Karin Ryan (vice-chairman) of San
Youth Committee.
The committee has two new members, Dawn Haghighi of Rocky River, Ohio, and Charles — et
Diego, California; Edward White of
Newton, Massachusetts; Walter Heinecke (chairman) of Berkeley, California; Dawn Haghighi of Rocky River, Ohio.
Double Baha’i youth
(Cap) Cornwell of Plantation, Florida, the committee secretary.
THE OTHER committee members are Chairman Walter Heinecke of Berkeley, California; Vice-Chairman Karin Ryan of San Diego, California; Sharon Allen of Decatur, Georgia, and Edward White of Newton, Massachusetts.
Consultation at the committee's organizational meeting July 25-27 focused on the goal of doubling the number of Baha'i youth in the U.S. by Ridvan 1981; solidifying plans for Baha'i college and youth clubs, and discussing the basic steps to be taken in preparation for holding a National Youth Conference next year.
The conference would be an integral part of the National Spiritual Assembly's plan for winning the goals of the Seven Year Plan.
National Youth Conferences are to be held in alternate years with Regional Youth Conferences such as the seven gatherings held last June 20-22 and June 27-29.
Participants in a workshop session eld during a Baha'i youth con ference May 3-4 for youth in south
cluded planning and organizing one's
life, and the importance of upholding
Baha'i moral standards.
Southern Minnesota youth gather for two-day deepening conference
A group of 20 Baha’ youth from southern Minnesota participated May 3-4 in a weekend conference that included an evening of social activity.
The conference, planned and hosted by the Olmsted County Baha'i Youth Club in cooperation with the District Teaching Committee of Southern Minnesota, was designed to bring youth together in fellowship and to help organize a District Youth Committee.
and Douglas Samimi-Moore of South St. Paul, Minnesota, discussed techniques for planning and organizing one’s life, and the importance of youth upholding Baha'i standards of morality.
Participants enjoyed an evening meal at a Rochester, Minnesota, park and a party at the home of ‘one of the participants.
The youth also participated in a deepening session conducted by the Baha’i community of Olmsted
According to Mr. Cornwell, the committee is centering its attention on reaching foreign students at American colleges and universities.
Freshmen are another target group being suggested by the committee to Baha'i college clubs.
“We're looking to instill a renewed enthusiasm in ail of the youth clubs,” says Mr. Cornwell.
AS A PART of its emphasis on college clubs, the committee plans to encourage campus proclamations and to work on the possibility of having classes on the Faith offered in schools.
Most of the college clubs, says Mr. Cornwell, have sought the sponsorship of an Assembly.
“Every youth club and college club should be sponsored by an Assembly,” he says, “and should have the benefit of guidance from that institution.”
District Teaching Committees, he says, “no longer are responsible for sponsoring local youth clubs or district youth committees.”
The National Youth Committee's objectives include revitalizing all of the local youth clubs and committees as well as establishing more of them.
The committee is organizing a task force to help plan a National Baha'i Children’s Conference on Peace tentatively scheduled to be held in 1982. Other future plans include the development of teacher training institutes for youth in various parts of the country.
The committee will meet with the National Teaching Committee in Wilmette every other month, according to the committee
ern Minnesota. Workshop topics in- Guest speakers William Harley County. secretary.
[Page 8]
PROCLAMATION
The American Baha'i
Ga. Baha’is host author-educator Stanwood Cobb
Dr. Stanwood Cobb, a noted Baha’i educator, author and lecturer, spoke at two meetings in June at the University of Georgia that were sponsored by the Baha'i communities of Athens and Clarke County.
Dr. Cobb, who will be 99 years old on November 6 and has been a Baha'i since 1906, is the founder of the Chevy Chase Country Day School near Washington, D.C.
HE HAS authored approximately 20 books dealing with religion including Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Security for a Failing World, Discovering the Genius Within You, and The Importance of Creativeness.
In 1918 Dr. Cobb founded and was later president of the Progressive Education Association.
He was invited to Georgia to lecture to students and faculty at
the university on progressive education, and to speak at a public meeting.
Upon learning of his acceptance, the Spiritual Assembly of Athens contacted the School of Education at the University and the professional education fraternities, Phi Delta Kappa and Kappa Delta Pi, who not only welcomed the idea of Dr. Cobb's vi but agreed to help underwrite the cost.
It was later noted by Dr. H. Hawn of Phi Delta Kappa that Dr. Cobb's visit marked the first time the three organizations had ever cooperated in helping to sponsor a campus event.
More than 200 people, most of whom were students and faculty members, packed the auditorium June 26 for Dr. Cobb's lecture on “The Story of Progressive Educa tion.”
DR. COBB stood at the podium for more than an hour, presenting a lucid and moving talk.
Two days later, about 100 people including many seekers and several others who had attended his first talk heard Dr. Cobb address a public meeting at which his topic was ‘Universal Spiritualization: Key to World Progress in the Coming Age.”
After the talk, Dr. Cobb was given a standing ovation.
His visit, the Baha'is of Athens report, was marked by unity and close cooperation among all the friends in that area.
Some designed and mounted posters announcing the events; others helped send 192 personal invitations to educators and others; and many unselfishly
devoted their photographic, media and audio skills so that the visit
Dr. Stanwood Cobb, a noted educator and author who will be 99 years old on November 6 and has been a Baha'isince 1906, delivers an
could be remembered and shared with others for years to come.
address on progressive education at the University of Georgia in Athens during a'visit there June 26-28.
Believer celebrates 79th birthday teaching Cause
On August 1, Mrs. Lillian Dake of Medina, Ohio, celebrated her birthday the way she always does—by teaching the Faith.
This year Mrs. Dake spent a part of her 79th birthday helping to man the Baha'i booth at the Medina County Fair, marking the fifth year in a row she has served in that manner.
MRS. DAKE, who was a Sunday school teacher and an active member of her church before becoming a Baha'i in 1940, collaborated, in 1975 with another isolated believer, Mrs. Emma Roepke, to use the county fair as a proclamation vehicle for the Faith.
Since then the Baha'i booth has been an integral part of every fair. Its theme this year was “Let the Religions Agree.”
Official estimates placed the attendance at this year’s six-day fair at about 130,000.
Before it opened, local newspapers carried articles announcing that Baha'is would be there. One of them, on the religion page, included a large photo of the Baha'i House of Worship.
Mrs. Dake recalls how, as an 11-year-old, she had heard a minister say he felt it was about time for Christ to return.
‘On her way home from church that day, she remembers having said to herself, “I'll know Him when He comes.”
IN 1940 she attended a Baha'i meeting at the home of Mrs. Anna Beach, and realized immediately that her childhood promise to herself had at last been kept.
“I kept saying over and over to my husband (Frank Dake), ‘This is it! This is it!’ she recalls.
Among the high points of her 40 years in the Faith, she says, was the visit in 1953 with her sister and brother-in-law to the public dedication of the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette.
Asked about the impact of the Faith on U.S. society since she became a Baha'i in 1940, Mrs. Dake says, “People are somewhat more tolerant of others, and of religious beliefs too. This was quite noticeable at this year's fair.”
For the past year, Mrs. Dake has hosted a weekly study class attended by Baha'is and guests from as far away as 35 miles.
Next year’s Medina County Fair runs from July 28 through August 2. And, God willing, Lillian Dake will celebrate her 80th birthday in the usual way—teaching the Faith she knew she would one day find and embrace.
MRS. LILLIAN DAKE Another ‘Ordinary’ Birthday
2 Arkansas newspapers feature Faith
The two major statewide newspapers in Arkansas have recently given widespread publicity to the Faith.
In May, the Arkansas Democrat included on its editorial page a column headed “The Baha'i Approach” that dealt with the unique
aspects of the Baha'i electoral process.
The article concluded with this statement: “At a time when it is critical that the nation unify its approach to solving monumental problems, perhaps the Baha’i
Participants in the fifth Archives Training Institute held August 13-17 at the Baha'i National Center gain valuable experience organizing and handling archival materials under the guidance of National Archivist Roger Dahl. The seven participants at th
year’s Institute organized the per sonal papers of Louis Bourgeois, ar chitect of the Baha'i House of Wor ship in Wilmette. Participants are (clockwise from left) Ross Sapp of
Port Angeles, Washington; Leighton
Rochester, archivist for the Baha’ community of Bermuda; Carolyn Henderer of Peoria, Illinois, a
member of the National Archives Committee; Janet Stout of Palmer, Alaska, the archivist for the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska; Mr. Dahl; Gisu Muhdjir of Cambridge. Massachusetts; Ann Keehner of Ur bana, Illinois; Mary Lou Martin of Batavia, Mlinois.
Md. believers attend interfaith service
On June 28, the Spiritual Assembly of Frederick City, Maryland, and the Baha'i Group of Frederick County participated in an interfaith ecumenical service sponsored by Trinity United Methodist Church.
The theme of the service was “A Celebration of Brotherhood” whose purpose was “a gathering of all races and religions to reaffirm man’s common brotherhood in unity and love.”
Community response was enthusii with eight religions
represented: Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, Hebrew, Christian, Islamic, and Baha’
About 200 people attended the service, which was well publicized in the local newspaper. The service also was covered by news media in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.
Because of the large community response, the City Council in Frederick has declared the last Sunday in June “Brotherhood Day.”
election process is worth thinking about.”
In July, the Arkansas Gazette printed two articles about the Faith side-by-side on the front page of its ‘Omnibus’ section, considered to be the most widely read page in the state.
The first of these articles dealt with the background, history and teachings of the Faith, and was continued inside for nearly half a page.
The second article was based on an interview with Dr. Allan L. Ward, vice-chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Little Rock.
Under its main headline, “Leader Discusses Change Freely," appeared the sub-head, “What's a German Baptist Like You Doing in a Faith Like This?”
Both articles, written by the paper's religion editor, were accurate and balanced in their approach. They help to fulfill a goal of the Little Rock Assembly to bet ter acquaint the public with contributions the Faith is making through the activities of its members.
Baha'i House of Worship Wilmette, Illinois
Winter Hours: October 15 to May 14 Auditorium 7 a.m. to 10 a.m worship) 10 a.m. visitors)
Visitors Center (Foundation Hall) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Book Shop 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday Activities Devotional Program—3 p.m. Public Meeting—3:40 p.m. Information on transportation, food and lodging is available from the Baha'i House of Worship Acities Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Imette, IL 60091.
(Open for
to 5 p.m. (Open to
[Page 9]
nt
HOMEFRONT PIONEERING
October 1980
HOUSSEIN AND MERTAJ ROUHIPOUR
Teaching:
By JAMES MOCK
Throughout the history of the Faith, individuals have struggled to overcome numerous obstacles and difficulties in an effort to spread the Glad Tidings brought to us by Baha'u'llah.
By scanning the literature, we can see the sacrifices made by early believers as they raised an infant Faith from obscurity to recognition as an independent world religion.
THIS HEROISM, shown to us so vividly by those early Dawnbreakers, continues to pervade and influence our teaching, as a new generation of selfless, devoted believers arises to carry forward the Banner of Baha'u'llah.
Houssein and Mertaj Rouhipour of Niles, Illinois, are shining examples of such heroism.
Since their arrival in the U.S. from Iran, the Rouhipours have continually sought to overcome the barriers that hold them back from teaching.
Having little knowledge of the culture, and no knowledge of the language, they nevertheless were determined to spread the Message of Baha'u'llah.
Though he could speak almost no English, that could not stop Mr. Rouhipour from saying, simply, “tl am Baha'i.”
Institutes set in 9 cities for homefront pioneers
“The assemblies of the North American continent, constituting the base for the gigantic opera: tions destifed to warm and luminate, under American Baha'i auspices, the five continents of the globe, must, at no time and under no circumstances, be allowed to diminish in number or decline in strength and in influence.
“The movement of pioneers ... must, within the limits of homeland itself, be neither interrupted nor suffer a decline. The groups and isolated centers so painstakingly formed and established must, conjointly with this highly commendable and essential duty, be maintained, fostered and if possible multiplied.” (Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p. 75)
YOU CAN BE A PIONEER. No Passport needed. No visas need
ed. No shots needed.
You can move to a goal locality to either open it, bring it to Group Status, bring it to Assembly Status, or help save a jeopardized Assembly.
What is involved? How can it be done? What are the goals?
These and many other questions will be discussed and answered at a series of one-day Homefront Pioneering Institutes to be held during November and December in the following cities:
Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, California; Chicago, Illinois; New
York City; Portland, Oregon; Dallas, Texas; Seattle, Washington.
Please fill out the form below and send it to the National Teaching Committee to let them know which of these institutes you can attend:
YES! | am interested in being a hometront pioneer.
Name.
Address —__
Telephone Area code/
Please return to the National Teaching Committee, 112 Linden Avenue,
Wilmette, IL 60091
Friends labor to restore N.C. Assembly
Leah and Sigurt Schmidt from Austria and Glen Mommsen from Florida have pioneered to Boone, North Carolina, and are determined to restore Boone to Assembly Status,
Toward the end of the Five Year Plan, Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt decided to settle in the U.S. They wanted to go where Bah: were needed, and after consulting with the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, decided to pioneer to Boone, whose Assembly was in jeopardy.
BOONE IS a college town in the mountains of western North Carolina where employment is scarce.
Mr. Schmidt, a portrait artist by profession, found little demand for such artists in Boone, and had to find other employment. present job pays very little, forcing the family to live at a subsistence level.
However, the Schmidts have made many friends in Boone, and have begun weekly personal awareness Classes in their home using psychology and philosophy, and gradually introducing the Faith.
No fee is charged for these intimate discussion groups, and participants eventually are invited to a fireside.
As a result of these classe:
two people have become Baha’! Please See BOONE Page 11
No obstacle too big
After settling in Niles as homefront pioneers, the Rouhipours enrolled in English classes at the local high school and at a nearby church. \
Before a month had passed, they had found an opportunity to teach the Faith. Responding to a question from the professor, Mr. Rouhipour professed that he is a Baha'i.
UPON HEARING that, the professor told the class that the Baha'is are “very good people,” and then told them about the building the Baha'is have in Wilmette (the House of Worship).
At the next class, the Rouhipours gave literature to classmates who had inquired about the Faith, and invited the instructor to their home for a fireside/supper.
Since then, several of their classmates have attended firesides, both English instructors (from the high school and the church) have come to their home, and the principal of the high school has attended a fireside.
Now, nine months later, the Rouhipours host firesides every Saturday night. Although they still can’t speak English very well, this does not hinder them; they have learned to overcome such difficulties.
Mr, Rouhipour is constantly mentioning the Faith to those he meets. Since he has the freedom to teach openty here, which he did not have in Iran, he takes full advantage of that blessing.
The Rouhipours are excellent examples of individuals who truly dedicate themselves to the teaching work and use every resource and ingenuity to pursue
that goal. RECENTLY, when Mr. Rouhipour was hospitalized, he
taught the Faith to doctors, nurses, fellow patients—even toa minister who came to see another patient. And he invited every one
of those people to a fireside.
Several humorous stories come to mind when thinking of the teaching efforts of this devoted couple.
While in the hospital, Mr. Rouhipour had invited one of the nurses to come to his home for supper. But the day before she was to come, she phone to tell him she couldn't come because she had hurt her ankle.
Not understanding her well on the phone, Mr. Rouhipour misunderstood the word “ankle.” In his usually warm and hospitable way, he invited the nurse to bring her “uncle” too.
Even with their language problems, the Rouhipours make every effort to mention the Faith.
And if individuals such a6 the Rouhipours can overcome their serious cultural and language barriers to spread the Faith, surely those of us who don’t have such problems can overcome whatever minor difficulties face us.
NOW IS the time for every Baha'i to “ ...arise with redoubled energy to pursue our mighty task, confident that the Lord of Hosts will continue to reward our efforts
Houssein and Mertaj Rouhipour are examples for all of us. With only six months remaining in the first phase of the Seven Year Plan, each individual must follow their example, and, with absolute faith and unconquerable determination, pursue the teaching work as never before.
“By the Lord of the Kingdom! If one arise to promote the Word of God with a pure heart, overflowing with the love of God and severed from the world, the Lord of Hosts will assist him with such power as will penetrate the core of the existent beings.”
[Page 10]
TEACHING
The American Bahai
Bend, Oregon, host to Dr. Janet Khan
Bend, Oregon, was among a number of Baha'i communities visited in June and July by Dr. Janet Khan, vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia.
Dr. Khan, who offered her services to the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly while on a sabbatical leave from her position as assistant professor of psychology at the University of Queensland, spoke at the Regional Youth Conference in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and visited Baha'i communities in Idaho, Oregon, Washington state, and Northern California.
While in Bend on June 25, Dr. Khan taped a television interview that was aired a week later on the evening news.
Northern Virginia believers sponsor ‘naming parties’
Several Baha'i women in Northern Virginia recently sponsored “naming parties” for Baha'i and non-Baha’i children.
Fourteen women participated in the first of these events, which was for Baha'is only.
The second party, for a nonBaha'i family, differed in format,
as guests were mainly non-Baha’is from diverse backgrounds.
The Tablet regarding the naming of children (from Tablets of ‘Abdu'l-Baha, pp. 149-150) was read, followed by a Baha’i prayer for unity, a prayer from the Torah, the Lord's Prayer, guidance from the Qu’ran, a Baha'i marriage prayer, and a prayer for children.
Several Baha'i songs for children were sung, after which delicious sweets were enjoyed in an atmosphere of warmth and fellowship.
Dr. Janet Khan, vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia, displays a map of her home ‘down under’ while visiting the Baha'is of Bend, Oregon, in June.
It’s easy to be traveling teacher
In Wellspring of Guidance, page 76, the Universal House of Justice states:
“The challenge to the local and national administrative institutions of the Faith is to organize and promote the teaching work
ing not only the regular fireside meetings in the homes of the believers, ...but in addition through a constant stream of visiting teachers to every locality. The forces released by this latter process have been extolled by Baha'u'llah in these words:
“The movement itself from place to place when undertaken for the sake of God hath always exerted, and can now exert, its influence in the world. In the Books of old the station of them that have voyaged far and near in order to guide the servants of God hath been set forth and written down.’ ...””
But I’m Not a good speaker and | don’t know all the quotes and references.
“The thing the world needs today is the Baha'i spirit. People are craving for love, for a high standard to look up to, as well as for solutions to their many grave problems.
“The Baha'is should shower on those whom they meet the warm and loving spirit of the Cause, and this, combined with teaching, cannot but attract the sincere truthseekers to the Faith." (From a letter dated December 13, 1943, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an. individual believer. Printed in Life, p. 10)
“Every Baha'i, however humble or inarticulate, must become intent on fulfilling his role as a bearer of the Divine Message. Indeed, how can a true believer remain silent while around us men cry out in anguish for truth, love and unity to descend upon this world.”” (From a letter of November 16, 1969, from the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'is of the world. Printed in Messages from the Universal House of Justice, p. 34)
211 attend Carolinas school
Two hundred eleven Baha'is and guests attended the Carolinas Baha'i Summer School held June 29-July 5 at Lander College in Greenwood, South Carolina.
Participants came from Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Florida, Alabama, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and the Carolinas.
The school theme was “‘Arise to the Challenge,” with adult classes developed and coordinated on that theme.
The faculty was composed of Soo Fouts, a member of the Nanal Spiritual Assembly; Auxiliary Board member Elizabeth Martin; Dr. Wilma Brady; Dr. Robert Henderson, and Dr. Riaz Khadem.
There were five separate children’s classes grouped according to age. The youth attended adult classes.
There were also a few sessions in Farsi given for the benefit of the 55 Persian Baha'is present who were not yet fluent in English.
Evening programs featured entertainment, dancing, and dramatic presentations.
Saturday's final session included all five adult faculty members who encouraged the friends to take the inspiration they had received from the school and arise to meet the challenge facing the Baha'i community by serving Baha'u'llah with renewed vigor, zeal and determination.
The friends were moved to contribute $1,406.51 to the Baha'i Funds.
Marieal eeatus:
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TLAWCUAGES SPOKEN:
LIST ANY SPECIAL TOPICS OP INTEREST, SPECIAL PROGRAMS (slides, fms, etc.), ETC.YOU MAY HAVE:
CCIVE AE OTHER INFORMATION YOU MIGHT THERK HELPFUL:
WREKINDS: Once a month
VACATION TINE (apectfy dates)
ONLY HAVE A DAY OR TWO EVERY ONCE IN A IALILE (I w1I1 tet you know)
ONLY HAVE OME DAY, BUT I WILL, BE GLAD TO TEAGK
OTHER TIMES (npect fy)
"I awear by God! That treasures of the earth.”
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iq (Bahf'a'ILah, quoted “A ‘best teacher’ and an ‘ex emplary teacher’ is ultimately
neither more nor less than an or dinary Baha'i who has con-"
secrated himself to the work of
the Faith, deepened his know ledge and understanding of its
Teachings, placed his confidence
in Baha'u'llah, and arisen to serve
Him to the best of his ability.”
(From a letter dated September 21,
1957, written on behalf of Shoghi
Effendi to the National Spiritual
Assembly of the U.S. Printed in
The individual and Teaching, p. 40)
‘twice a woth _
Behote or cultural background: ware Pesan ORLENTAL, MIsPaxtc
LACK asta AMERICAN’ THOTAN ‘TAMERS (opecity)
Tor Wim vio aideth Wy Cause excelleth the
' ' ( ' ' ‘ ' 1 ' ' in The Advent of Divine i
tee, p. 12),
What does a traveling teacher do? He or she visits Baha'i communities for the purpose of assisting with the teaching work, such as by speaking at firesides.
“Unloosé your tongues, and proclaim unceasingly His Cause. This shall be better for you than all the treasures of the past and of the future, if ye be of them that comprehend this Truth.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 330)
Please See TRAVELING Page 29
TWO-YEAR PHASE GOALS
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TRAVELING TEACHING
October 1980
Texas couple combines service, teaching, traveling
Eldon and Judy Dennis of San Angelo, Texas, had two desires when they contacted the Nation Teaching Committee office in June.
They wanted to visit an old friend in Port Charlo! Florida and they wanted to be of service to the Faith.
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis had pioneered for 5 1/2 of the last seven years on the island of St Helena, where Napoleon had been exiled, and in Lib Africa.
THEY KNEW impact a
the
traveling teacher can have on a community in stirring up personal teaching and providing oppor. tunities for publicity.
Working in conjunction with the teaching office, a teaching trip was arranged that included night ly stops in some 13 communities on their way to and from Port Charlotte.
On the way, visits to San Marcos and Beaumont, Texas; Biloxi, Mississippi; and Tallahassee and Lakeland, Florida, were planned.
On the return, stop-overs were
Vacation, teaching do mix
Vacations. Most people take them—one week, two—and some of us have three weeks or even more to devote to rest and relaxa tion, a trip to Yellowstone or Yosemite, or a visit to the relatives.
Vacation time can also be
teaching time, however, with just a little advance planning.
Consider the case of the Kendalls, Ann and Dick and children, of St. Anthony, Idaho.
THEY HAD a month's vacation coming, but couldn't decide where to go.
Since they had their own motor home, the thought occurred to them to phone the National Teaching Committee, ask where there were Baha'is who needed visiting, then go and visit them.
The children wanted to see the West Coast, Baha'i friends in Moscow, Idaho, wanted to have them visit for a day or two of teaching there, and there were relatives in Tacoma, Washington.
What Baha’! communities could use traveing teachers between Idaho and the Washington coast, and down into Oregon and Califor nia?
‘Ann Kendall gave the National Teaching Committee a call.
“We're delighted to know of your wish to combine your vaca: tion with traveling teaching,” was. the Teaching Committee's response.
A list of 26 Local Assemblies and Groups was mailed to the Kendalls. Ann and Dick contacted the communities, offering their services and setting up an inerary.
THE FRIENDS responded with invitations to come. The vacation/teaching trip was on.
“Just returned from month-long teaching trip,” Mrs. Kendall wrote when it was over. “We'd heard you receive more than you give when you do this, and we've found out that it's really true. What a bounty! We hope to do it again next year.”
Dick handled the deepenings along the way. His subject was “Baha'is in a Materialistic World.”” Ann presented the firesides on progressive revelation.
The Kendalls participated in two teaching events in Moscow and a deepening in Tacoma. Mrs. Kendall wrote: “Our son, who will be 15 in September and is spend
ing his summer in Washington,
met us there and signed his card
Visits to Aberdeen, Wash. ington, and Astoria, Oregon, consisted of deepenings with the friends.
In North Bend, Oregon, the believers mustered some 14 Baha'is and four non-Baha’is for a combined fireside and deepening.
In California, the Kendalls conducted a deepening in Arcata, then participated in a proclamation in Fort Bragg that included Mr. Kendall's half-hour radio interview on the local station
WHILE IN Rhonert Park, the Kendalis had the interesting experience of meeting with a Baha'i from Africa who had come to this country to attend school and had been here for three months without knowing there were Baha'is here too.
“He came into the Faith," Mrs Kendall wrote, ‘‘with 10 schoolmates while in high schoo! as a result of a travel teacher who spent one month there.”
He attended the Kendalls’ fireside in Rhonert Park (his first opportunity to be with American Baha'is), and brought his roommate who was very receptive to the Message.
The Kendalls visited the San. Francisco Baha'i Center and
spent two days at the Bosch Baha'i School, their first visit there.
‘A deepening in Merced; a
fireside in Sacramento; deepenings in Reno, Nevada; Alturas, California, and Ontario, Oregon—so many Baha'i friends were visited and with such benefit to all.
One of the Baha'is in Ontario new to the Faith, said the visit of the traveling teachers “confirmed my faith.”
The trip continued to have its effect on the Kendalls even after they arrived home.
“Personally, | could hardly wait to get back to our community to do more teaching and deepening,” Mrs. Kendall wrote. “I've been walking around town on cloud nine and made two new con: tacts in less than a week.
“We've met with the Rigby, Idaho, Group and made teaching plans to help both communities and are taking a seeker to their fireside tomorrow night, a psychologist who works with Dick.”
scheduled in Gainesville, Florida; Valdosta, Georgia; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Huntsville and Round Rock, Texas.
The Dennis’ arranged most of the details of the trip. The Teaching Committee provided the names of communities where their offer of service would be of greatest benefit, and Mr. and Mrs. Dennis put together a list of suggested discussion topics and biographical material complete with photos for publicity purposes and sent them to each community.
The suggested discussion items were provocative and topical, such as “Are Scientists Religious?” and ‘Are There Things We Gan Do to Help Prevent World War 11?"
MR. DENNIS had been involved in world-minded organizations as far back as the 1920s, long before he became a Baha'i, and the Dennis’ drew on their personal interest in the Lesser Peace.
Regarding scientists and religion, Mr. Dennis is himself an example of a scientist who .is religious.
He worked for about 24 years as a hydro-geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, and taught geology at schools such as Brigham Young University, Texas
Boone
Continued From Page 9
while a third has expressed an interest in becoming a Baha't.
Glen Mommsen was graduated four years ago from Appalachian State University in Boone; but rather than leaving the town, as most graduates do, and despite criticism from family and friends, he stayed.
ALTHOUGH he had a degree in education, Mr Mommsen was unable to find a teaching position in Boone.
But he was (and is) determined to stay in Boone to heip form an Assembly, and has taken two jobs (one in a gift shop, the other in a delicatessen) to make ends meet.
Mr. Mommsen helped form an Assembly in Boone in 1976. But since Boone is a college town and most of the Baha'is were students, membership in the community fluctuated greatly, and in 1979 the Assembly was lost.
Leah and Sigurt Schmidt and Glen Mommsen have stayed at their posts in spite of many hardships. Mrs. Schmidt is physically handicapped, and finds that the weather in western North Carolina is not conducive to her health.
These pioneers could be in another city, earning more money, but they have decided to remain in the small mountain community of Boone, where they feel confident that with continued teaching the Assembly will be restored at Ridvan.
Thanks largely to their efforts, Boone now has an active Baha’ community of seven adults with weekly firesides and other activities.
JUDY DENNIS
Tech, Arizona State University and the Engineering College of Baghdad, Iraq
He also had served on various technical assistance missions for United Nations agencies that took him to Southern Rhodesia and Afghanistan, in addition to Iraq
At some 14 public meetings about 22 non-Baha’is were in attendance. All but one of the meetings was publicized, most of them by posters, radio and newspaper. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis. witnessed one declaration during their trip.
Upon their return home, they wrote:
“For us the trip was ‘cloud nine’ from beginning to end, and the results were beyond our fondest
ELDON DENNIS.
expectations. Not a single jarring note occurred in any meeting, although there was the spark of lively differences of opinion in several. :
“Even on the three stops where we stayed with personal friends or relatives, they showed an interest and participated in the Baha'i activities.”
The secretary of one of the communities, Ann Haskell of Leon County, outside of Tallahassee, Florida, wrote to send a copy of the press coverage. She noted:
“Six non-Baha’is came to the meeting and we felt it was a success. Please contact us if there's any possibility of any future travel teachers. Please pass on our thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis.”
[Page 12]
IGC: PIONEERING
The American Baha’i
Letters. ... from pioneers
The following are excerpts from a letter from Michael Stokes, a poner from the U.S. to Ecuador who has been working for Radio jaha’i.
Beloved friends, we are witnessing miracles here every day. It is as though one were watching the visible progress of a house being built, brick by brick, to watch the advancement of the Faith here.
Just now a German couple is in Otavalo, a stop on a teaching trip that has taken them already to three other countries.
THEY TELL US that the progress of the Faith in this part of the world astounds them, but that in no other country have they seen as much activity as in Ecuador.
The amount of constant activity here is impressive. One of the centers of that activity, constantly being stimulated and encouraged by the World Centre, the National Spiritual Assembly, and the various national committees is, as one might suspect, Radio Baha'i.
This dream of Counsellor Raul Pavén has become a reality and is still largely nurtured by his guidance.
He recently reflected on why things take so long to bear fruit in other places, while here the acceleration is so rapid, and he concluded that it must have to do with harnessing the power of radio for the proclamation and teaching work.
Especially here in the north, but now more on a national scale with the new short wave frequency, we see how radio has opened the doors and facilitated the teaching work.
Radio Baha'i has many, many tasks to accomplish to fulfill the high hopes held for it by the Universal House of Justice.
BUT LITTLE by little, we are tackling each one in order to better serve the Baha'is and those who have not yet accepted Baha'u'llah, even though they have learned to pronounce His sacred Name perfectly.
Pioneering is a wonderful experience—not easy, to be sure, but immensely rewarding spiritually, and a work on which | am completely sold. It is difficult now to imagine not being a pioneer.
Yes, it is true that a part of my enthusiasm comes from an enchantment with the Latin culture that makes me feel as though | should have been born here, and from a great love and respect for the indigenous people who have such great dignity despite their tragic history.
Most of all, however, it has to do with the privilege of serving the Faith here in Ecuador.
Michael J. Stokes Otavalo, Ecuador
Dr. William Huitt, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, presents an award on behalf of its Baha'i community to Mrs. Patricia Suplee (left), chairman of the board of the Family Support Center, and the Center's director, Dr. Yvonne Fraley. The award was
the first to be presented annually to an individual or group that has made a significant contribution to community lite and demonstrated an attitude of service to humanity. The award received wide publicity in local newspapers and elsewhere.
More than 225 Baha'is and guests attended the Great Plains Baha'i Summer School held June 30-July 6 near
Aurora, Nebraska. Participants in cluded 85 children and youth and 14
infants, one only two weeks old. There were six declarations at the school whose teachers included Auxiliary Board member Darrell Borland, assistants to the Auxiliary
Board Charlotte Babcock and Ernie
Ochsner, and Richard Hoff of
Jacksonville, Illinois. Classes were
held for children and youth
Goals Committee answers pioneering goals questions
French Antilles Paraguay Windward Islands Botswana Seychelles
Togo
Uganda
Zaire
Denmark
+ens+snans
3
Total Status of U.S. Goals
Goal Filled
Open
76 59 17
Realizing the critically short time before Ridvan and noting that at least 17 pioneers still need to arise before then, we took some questions to the International Goals Committee and hope that its answers will stimulate and inspire more souls to arise and help win the remaining goals of the initial phase of the Seven Year Plan.
Question: Is the desire to pioneer enough?
IGC: A desire to pioneer is always the priority. The International Goals Committee exists primarily to give practical assistance to the friends who wish to fulfill that desire.
Question: But would | feel right about approaching the committee if | hadn't first made some preparation myself?
IGC: The best way to prepare is to start planning as soon as you can, and the best way is to approach the International Goals Committee, which can help you
start thinking about the real, rather than simply imagined, possibilities.
Question: | only speak English. What if | can’t speak the language of the country?
IGC: Most of our pioneers learn the language while at their posts. Since many of our remaining goals are in countries where French is the major language, it would be helpful to improve your French.
Question: I’m not sure | could live under some of the conditions | hear about in other parts of the Wouldn't | need a lot of
preparation before considering such a move?
IGC: The picture most Baha'is have of pioneering is exaggerated. Life isn't easy in many places, of course, but most of our pioneers have the basic material comforts. It would be unrealistic to say there is no difference in the standard of living; however, any pioneer would tell you that the bounties of pioneering balance, if not outweigh, the growth-stimulating trials.
Question: | feel so alone when considering such a move. Is that realistic?
IGC: Don't forget that there is an existing Baha'i community in almost every overseas goal. Also, Baha'u'llah has promised that a company of His chosen angels would accompany you. There will be Baha’i institutions to help you and other pioneers, and local believers to welcome you.
Question: That makes me feel better, but | still have a fear in my stomach. Can you tell me why?
IGC: That's only natural. The unknown is always disquieting Prayer and knowledge will lessen that fear. Pioneering will eliminate it.
Question: Can | use my studies to that end? Is it better to get a “good” degree here or transfer to a goal country and finish my studies as a pioneer?
IGC: Have you read the letter written by the Universal House of Justice in October 1968 to Baha’i youth? Your question invites a
wide answer, and that choice rests with the individual. Much depends on your training, and if you need training in an underdeveloped country your decision would be different than it would if you were getting a degree that required you to remain in one of the large urban centers in the West, for instance. Besides, in many of our goal countries it is possible to get a student visa while other kinds of long-term visas are difficult if not impossible to obtain.
Question: There is such a lack of permanence in the world today. What if | am unable to make a decision about the length of time! can stay? Does pioneering have to be an absolute commitment, or can | go for a few years, try it out, and perhaps decide to come back?
IGC: We have some strange and exaggerated notions of pioneering. We always think of it as a lofty ideal, and when we consider ourselves we say, ‘I couldn't do that!” But how can there be a definition of a true pioneer any more than there could be of a true believer? Of course, it would be preferable if pioneers could remain for a lifetime at their post, but if they are able to establish a well-functioning Assembly or replace themselves with other capable and devoted Baha'is from the local community, then their leaving in one or two years would not necessarily handicap the com: munity. Please don’t think there is ‘only one kind of pioneer; one can pioneer for a lifetime or for a year and still be of great service to the Cause. What you are really doing is expanding the horizons of your mind while becoming a world citizen.
Question: Yes, but isn’t it a bit late now for Ridvan? | mean, you seem to need so much time to prepare for pioneering
IGC: It can never be too late, any more than it can be too early. At whatever stage we are in our individual lives, at whatever time it is during the Plan, Baha'u'llah is calling on us to respond, for as we respond to His call, so will we
Please See PIONEERING Page 13
[Page 13]
IGC: PIONEERING
October 1980
Large-scale campaign spreads the
LAUNCHING MOST ‘AUGUST’ UNPRECEDENTED CONSOLIDATION-TEACHING PROJECT 30 PROJECTEERS UNITED STATES PANAMA DEDICATE HEARTS BLESSED BEAUTY BELOVED MASTER CAUSE BELIZE. BESEECH PRAYERS MOST HOLY SHRINES. NSA BELIZE
The above cable was sent to the Universal House of Justice by the National Spiritual Assembly of Belize, requesting prayers for the success of a month-long international teaching project held in Belize in August
The project, the first of its kind to take place in Belize, was the result of nine months of careful planning by the National Spiritual Assembly and National Teaching Committee of Belize and the U.S. International Goals Committee.
THE OBJECTIVE of the campaign was primarily consolidation: deepening and strengthening the believers and activating Local Spiritual Assemblies.
Its specific goals were:
1, To attract 300 new believers at each base. Hold Feasts, public meetings, deepening classes, etc. Meet prominent people.
2. To educate Local Spiritual Assemblies about their, station and functions.
3. To raise the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies from 51 to 60 and to have 14 of them adopt ex: tension teaching goals.
4. To concentrate on teaching
Above: The going wasn’t always easy for teachers on the Belize project; sometimes roads and bridges were
literally washed away. Below.
and consolidating the Indian believers.
5. To encourage Belizian youth to participate in the project.
6. To train at least one believer at each base to hold children's
classes.
7. TO HOLD at least three regional Teacher Training Institutes.
8. To prepare materials for radio broadcasts.
Although several Spanish and regional languages are spoken in
Belize, it is the only Englishspeaking country in Central America.
The country has six districts, each of which is culturally and geographically unique. The population of 145,000 consists of Mayan Indians, Creoles, Garifuna Indians, Chinese, Europeans, and Lebanese.
The literacy rate in Belize is nearly 90 per cent. The people are extremely friendly, and the concepts of the unity of mankind and the harmony of religions are a natural part of their culture.
The Faith was established in Belize 27 years ago, and the National Spiritual Assembly was formed in 1967.
Today there are 51 Local Spiritual Assemblies, concentrated mainly in the northern and central regions of the country.
MOST BELIZIAN Baha'is were enrolled through mass teaching efforts, and the spirit of the Faith is kept alive in their hearts
Counsellor Hedi Ahmadiyyih briefs the teachers prior to the start of the campaign.
through weekly radio programs and the quarterly Baha'i newsletter.
The radio programs have brought an awareness of the Faith as a distinct religion to the people of Belize. For that reason; it is felt that a great potential exists for the rapid development and progress of the Faith in that country.
Five towns in five districts were chosen for teaching and con solidation work in the August Campaign: Gorozal Town, Orange Walk Town, Burrel Boom, Dangriga, and Punta Gorda.
Groups of projecteers along with local Baha'is were assigned to a town, which then served as their base for the duration of the project.
Houses in each town were rented for the projecteers to live in. One team lived in Seine Bight, a town on an island accessible only by boat.
The first event in any town was a meeting with the Local Spiritual Assembly to consult about the best way in which to accomplish the goals in that town.
ALSO STRESSED at that initial meeting were the importance and functions of the Assembly, which was encouraged to plan Nineteen Day Feasts, initiate children's classes, and urge the friends to contribute regularly to the local Fund.
After early prayers and breakfast, participants taught until lunch, then again until the dinner break at about 5:30 p.m. Evenings were devoted to public meetings or firesides.
At 9:30 each night, the team members would meet to discuss the day’s events and plan activities for the following day.
Teams also conducted children’s classes. One team, consisting of four men who had never before taught children’s classes, nevertheless had more than 50 children attending their classes in Punta Gorda.
In one village, a 10-year-old child proudly announced that he was a Baha'i. His uncle was a Baha'i, but other members of his family were not.
Team members accompanied the youngster to his home, where the others in his family accepted the Faith.
It was suggested that the projecteers in larger towns visit the local Baha'is and ask them to invite their non-Baha’i relatives and friends to firesides or public meetings. In smaller towns, they were often able to gather everyone together for a meeting.
THE TEACHERS also sought out local Baha'is of demonstrated devotion and capacity who could later act as catalysts in that area, encouraging the friends to continue their Baha’ activities.
The National Teaching Committee of Belize pointed out that successful follow-up to the project would depend upon whether the momentum generated in August were maintained in the months to come.
A few of the projecteers plan to
Above: Belizian Baha'is and believers from the U.S. and Panama participated in the month-long teaching campaign in Belize in
pioneer to Belize. Another couple plan to return there this month and devote a month to continuing the work begun in August.
“There is no time to lose. There is no room left for vacillation. Multitudes hunger for the Bread of Life. The stage is set. The firm and irrevocable Promise is given God's own Plan has been set in motion. It is gathering momentum
Faith in Belize
August. Below: A Baha'i children’s class in the village of Punta Gorda, Belize. ,
with every passing day. The
powers of heaven and earth mysteriously assist its execution “Such an opportunity is irreplaceable. Let the doubter arise and himself verify the truth of such assertions. To try, to persevere, is to insure ultimate victory and complete victory.” (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to America: 1932-1946, p. 17)
Pioneering
Continued From Page 12
grow. And remember that after all the information, the advice and the consultation that the committee can share with prospective pioneers, the decision about whether to go or not rests squarely with you. You are free to choose, for your commitment is ultimately between you and Baha'u'llah.
Question: How soon may | attend a Pioneer Training Institute?
IGC: Preparation can be smoother and less harried if you attend a Pioneer Training Institute a year, or even two, before you plan to leave the country. Certainly, you should attend one sometime before you pioneer, but the sooner and the more often, the easier it should be for you. Traveling teachers also are welcome to attend. Institutes are held every two months in various parts of the country, so phone the committee at 312-256-4400, or write to 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 and ask to be invited to the one
that is most convenient for you.
UN official shares life in new book
Robert Muller, a ranking United Nations official, shares memorable anecdotes from his life and years of experience in the international struggle for peace in an autobiographical book entitled Most of All, They Taught Me Happiness.
The book, published by Doubleday & Company of Garden City, New York ($7.95), includes a foreword by Norman Cousins.
Mr. Muller, a native of Belgium, has been with the UN for more than 30 years, and is presently director and deputy to the UnderSecretary General for InterAgency Affairs and Coordination.
The book offers a vibrant account of Mr. Muller's positive Philosophy of life and his years of striving to help bring about a lasting peace on earth.
Autographed copies are available from the United Nations Bookshop, United Nations, NY 10017.
[Page 14]
The American Baha'i
San Diego Laotian community —
proves fertile teaching ground
Continued From Page 1
A group of five youth who had come to San Diego for the conference remained after its close to residents of the city’s Asian community. Their warm reception led to a six-week teaching effort.
“We were limited only by time and transportation,” said Grant Suhm of Davis, California, one of the five youths who were initially involved in the teaching.
The other youths who helped initiate the campaign were Sousan Parvin of Bethany, Oklahoma; Ramin Yavrom of Chico, California; Julie Longaker of La Mesa, California, and Geesoo Javanmardi of Davis, California.
Four Laotian residents of San Diego declared their belief in Baha'u'llah on the first day.
One of them, 19-year-old Srioudom Thotskang, who first heard of the Faith in Laos. later
visited the Baha'i National Cer :er and met with Glenford E. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, while on a trip to see relatives in the Chicago area.
THE SIZE of the teaching team in San Diego grew larger as youth from that community joined the effort.
Daily visits to the Asian corfimunity were made by the Baha'is. Firesides were held several evenings each week, and deepening classes for new declarants were begun.
Children’s classes also were started. The number of Laotians at the Baha'i Center swelled to 70 in one evening.
During the teaching campaign, in family of Baha'is was g in San Diego's Asian refugee community.
Meanwhile, in Portland, Oregon, more than 100 Laotian Baha'is
were located over a nine-month period by members of that city’s Baha'i community.
One of the refugees, Chong Khue Cha, had been a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Laos.
Many of the Laotian Baha'is are related, and many are members of the Mong tribe.
“THEY ARE incredibly beautiful people in every way,” said Jan Klutke, secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Portland.
Because most have not been in this country very long, she said, language is still a big problem.
The Assembly in Portland contacts the Laotian believers each Baha'i month and visits them before each Nineteen Day Feast.
“Sometimes one or two of the Laotians will join the Portland community at Feast,” said Mrs. Klutke.
Srioudom Thotskang (right), a newlydeclared believer from San Diego's Laotian community, talks with Glenford Mitchell, secretary of the Na
The Laotian Baha'is have asked the Spiritual Assembly of Portland for help in finding a suitable place for them to meet, and the Assembly has been looking for ‘such a place.
tional Spiritual Assembly, during a recent visit to the Baha'i National Center in Wilmette.
“Right now,” said Mrs. Klutke, “it's a matter of being patient while the Laotian friends here learn English, which many of them must do while holding several jobs.”
The first Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Bedford, Texas, was form: ed at Ridvan. Members are (seated left to right) Dinah Afsahi, Guity Yeganeh, Afsaneh Missaghi, Mitra
Ws Precht, and (standing left to right) Frouzan Afsahi, Bijan Yeganeh, Ronald Precht, Dennis Koskelin, Diane Koskelin
‘Light’ Continued From Page 1
to Cathy Cook, secretary of the American Indian Teaching Committee and a member of the Continental Indigenous Council that organized the “Trail of Light” campaign.
The “Trail of Light” originated during consultation earlier this year among the National Spiritual Assemblies of Alaska, Canada and the U.S.
A further inspiration for the effort was the “Pacific Rim” teaching concept for indigenous peoples described two years ago by the Hand of the Cause of God Rahmatu'll4h Muhdjir.
WHILE ON the Umatilia Reseron in northeastern Oregon, the team was joined by Auxiliary
rd member Paul Pettit. A
minute interview on a local
Jio. station was among the
res of this stop on the
teaching trip to the Pacific Northwest Six declarations resulted from
the team’s visit to the Yakima Reservation in Washington, where there are presently three Indian Assemblies, said Mrs. Cook.
While on the Yakima Reserva: tion, she added, the team received 17 interest cards, several of which were filled out by Spanishspeaking residents of Yakima
Another result of the US team's teaching efforts, acc ording to Mrs. Cook, was the opening of a new locality to the Faith—Kamiah, Idaho, on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation.
This was the second “Trail of Light” teaching campaign, the in itial one having followed the first North American Baha'i Native Council held in October 1978 on the Yakima Reservation in Washington state.
That first spontaneous teaching effort took the native believers to
communities in British Columbia
Canada These most recent “Trail of Light” endeavors were more refully planned, and followed a three-day training and deepening
program at the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette.
Funds
Continued From Page 5
tion of National and local Assemblies. Upon the response of the privileged builders of the World Order of Baha'u'llah depend the nature and the rapidity of the evolution of the World Administrative Centre designed to culminate in the erection of the last unit crowning the structure of the embryonic World Order of Baha'u'llah.” (Shog' Effendi, Messages to the Baha'i World, pp. 13-14)
“Urge the initiation of five Continental Baha’i 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.” (Shoghi_ Effendi, Messages to the Baha’i World, p. 59)
“It should therefore be the aim of every local and national community to become not only selfsupporting, but to expend its funds with such wisdom and economy as to be able to contribute substantially to the Baha'i International Fund, thus enabling the House of Justice to aid the work in fruitful but impoverished areas, to assist new national assemblies to start their work, to ntribute to major international ndertakings of the Nine Year such as oceanic con Nces, and to carry forward the
| __ The Fund Is the | | Life-Blood of the Faith |
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work of beautifying the land surrounding the holy shrines at the World Centre of the Faith. “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.” (The Universal House of Justice, Wellspring of Guidance, p. 20)
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[Page 15]
NATIONAL CENTER
October 1980
15
Teaching Committee aids, stimulates vital endeavor
Teaching, Writings of primary spiritual every believer.
Encouraging, stimulating and assisting the Baha'is in this most important work is the constant challenge and goal of the National Teaching Committee and its office at the Baha'i National Center.
ONE OF THE primary means for the committee and its staff to accomplish its task is to keep well informed about the current condition and needs of the American Baha'i community.
“We must know the state of the community at any given time,” says Rose Lopez, the National Teaching Committee secretary. ‘If we understand what the friends are thinking and feeling, we can better provide them with the proper plans or ideas as channels through which they can win the goals.”
Winning the goals is more than a matter of statistics and recordkeeping for the National Committee office.
The committee strives always, says Mrs. Lopez, to learn all it can about the Baha'i community—why, for example, some areas are vital and functioning well while others are not.
“There are times," she explains, “when you think that what the friends really need is to be encouraged and inspired rather than given specific plans. We must know when it is better to concentrate on consolidation than on expansion.
“We know you can’t expand all the time. At some point you have to breathe in and consolidate, but always with the knowledge, of course,’ that expansion and consolidation go hand-in-hand.”
THE TEACHING Committee and its staff see themselves in very human terms.
“We're not a committee working here and the community is somewhere out there,” says Mrs. Lopez. “We see ourselves as a part of the community while we're working together with it. We want
according to the the Faith, is the obligation of
Staff member Ginny Gregg is one of
three regional coordinator:
to be responsive to the community, not simply directive.”
Mrs. Lopez and her six-person staff interact and collaborate on a regular basis with other commit: tees and offices at the National Center, especially the National Education Committee, the Office of Community Adi istration, and the Baha'i Publishing Trust
Carol Allen, the newest member. of the National Teaching Committee staff, who worked with Assemblies in the Office of Community Administration, continues to provide help to Assemblies in her present position.
Mrs. Allen's primary responsibility is to assure that all jeopardized Assemblies and those that have adopted extension teaching goals are given assistance. She also is in charge of the homefront pioneering program and the new traveling teacher program.
Under that new program, believers who have been trained as master trainers for the Assembly Development Program are being asked to serve as traveling teachers.
THE NEW cadre of traveling teachers are to visit specific Assemblies including those that have taken on extension teaching goals and those that are jeopardized. They use the Assembly Development Program, adapting it to fill particular needs.
Homefront pioneers are being directed to open new localities, to help raise an Assembly in a goal area, or to help save a jeopardized Assembly.
Neither of these programs stands alone, says Mrs. Lopez. They are part of a coordinated program of teaching activities that includes increasing enrollments as
well as forming, nurturing, strengthening and saving Assemblies.
The District Teaching Committees now concentrate wholly on forming Groups and raising them to Assembly status, while the Na: tional Teaching Committee works directly with Assemblies.
Ginny Gregg, Robert James and George Dannells are the Teaching Committee staff members who work with District Teaching Committees in the Central and Northeastern, Southern, and Western regions of the country, respective ly.
As regional coordinators, they act as a liaison between the District Teaching Committees in their areas of responsibility and the National Center.
The recently-appointed National Teaching Committee plans to alter the specific assignments of its staff members.
ONE MEMBER will work fulltime with the four minority teaching committees—the American Indian Teaching Com: mittee, the Asian Teaching Committee, the Vietnamese Teaching Committee, and the Spanish Teaching Committee.
Jan Uebel, the office’s administrative secretary, helps prepare agendas and minutes for
Rose Lopez (left), secretary of the National Teaching Committee, meets with staff members (left to right)
National Teaching Committee meetings. She also is responsible for travel and meeting arrangements.
In addition, she helps other staff members in monitoring membership on the 88 District Teaching Committees.
Information about the status of the Seven Year Plan goals is supplied to James Mock who is responsible for preparing statistical reports.
That information provides the Teaching Committee and its staff with an overview of the condition of the American Baha'i community.
By examining the statistics, the staff can determine where the teaching work is going well and study the reasons for such progress, as well as determine where assistance is needed most.
“What is needed in one place is often not what is needed in another,"’ says Mrs. Lopez. “Besides providing us with a tally of where we are with respect to the goals, statistics give us help in formulating an effective plan of action.”
ANOTHER of Mr. Mock’s responsibilities is responding to inquiries about the Faith from visitors to the Baha'i House of Worship.
Visitors to the Temple often fill out cards that are provided there, indicating a desire to acquire Baha'i literature, attend a class on the Faith, or even to become a Baha'i. Mr. Mock responds according to the level of interest expressed.
This involves writing letters, phoning inquirers, and contacting Baha'i communities to inform them about residents in their areas who are interested in learning about the Faith.
Copies of letters sent to seekers are sent also to Assemblies in their home towns or to the District Teaching Commi
Carol Allen, George Dannells, James Mock and Jan Uebel.
tee. This allows local munities to follow up.
For those individuals who expressed a desire to become a Baha'i, Mr. Mock writes to the Assembly to learn what has happened to that person, and whether he or she was enrolled.
“We feel that answering inquiries is an important teaching function,” says Mr. Mock, “not simply one in which we can send a quick response.”
MRS. LOPEZ is in daily contact with Glenford £. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, reporting all events of consequence.
Mr. Mitchell receives copies of all National Teaching Committee correspondence and weekly updated statistical reports that are shared with the Continental Board of Counsellors.
The National Spiritual Assembly has asked that the National Teaching Committee hold its meetings on the same weekend as the National Assembly so that they might consult together on a regular basis.
Mrs. Lopez speaks by phone at a scheduled time each week with Charles (Cap) Cornwell, secretary of the National Youth Committee, a sub-committee of the National Teaching Committee.
Mr. Cornwell lives in Florida where the Youth Committee office is maintained. Because of this physical separation, it is essential that the two secretaries keep in touch regularly.
The National Teaching Committee anticipates that youth will
com:
become increasingly active in teaching, especially among minorities.
The effectiveness of youth in teaching was demonstrated recently with the declaration of about 30 Asians now living in San Diego, California, and the pending enrollment of at least 30 more.
MOST OF THE new believers in
National Teaching Committee statfers such as Bob James spend hours each day on the telephone
San Diego are Laotian refugees who were contacted during a teaching effort undertaken by Baha'i youth.
“We feel that the youth are more audacious and open to teaching minorities,” says Mrs. Lopez. “We'd like to pursue that, using their special vitality in this area of teaching.”
The secretary has been consulting with the Publishing Trust about obtaining Baha'i literature in the Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian languages to help in deepening the newly-enrolled believers and for use in teaching| other Asians.
The National Teaching Committee, says Mrs. Lopez, is now sending out less mail and relying heavily on The American Bahi communicate with the friends.
“We don't feel we have to send a flood of letters to the community,” she points out. “We are sending teachers. We have District Teaching Committees across the country, and we are using The American Baha’i.”
Two major messages, she says,
Please See TEACHING Page 30
[Page 16]
——
RACE UNITY
The American Baha’i
Little Rock Assembly plays key role in race talks
Members of the Spiritual Assembly of Little Rock, Arkansas, are playing key roles in citywide discussions sponsored by church leaders concerning interracial communication and harmony.
Last fall, the superintendent of public schools in Little Rock spoke of the need for bold leadership to stop the “white flight” to areas outside the city that was in effect “re-segregating” public education there.
A COMMITTEE was appointed to investigate what could be done
to help.
The committee felt that a "day of consultation” among 50 key people from government, education, religion and elsewhere might result in the organization of task forces to meet the multiple needs involved in better interracial communication.
The committee asked Albert Porter, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Little Rock, to serve as ‘keynote speaker at the conSultation, and to identify the spectrum of needs in the community.
Mr. Porter's presentation, sum:
Twenty-four adults and 12 children celebrated Race Unity Day in June at the home of Mrs. Helen Legault, a member of the Tribal Council on the Eastern Pequot Indian Reservation in
Ledyard, Connecticut, Shown here (left to right) are Chief Atwood Williams of the Eastern Pequot Tribe; Mrs. Legault, and Kay Garland.
marizing Shoghi Effendi’s description of “the Most Challenging Issue” and the ways to deal with it, had an electrifying impact on the group.
The roundtable asked the vicechairman of the Assembly, Dr. Allan L. Ward, to organize and develop the task force, in his capacity as a communication consultant.
Also invited to participate was B.L. McCoy, a member of the Baha'i community who serves in the Cabinet of Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas.
THE STORY of the meeting was broadcast on radio throughout the State, and by the end of the week the local newspaper had featured
an editorial emphasizing the positive aspects of the con: ference.
At a meeting called to plan further steps, a roundtable officer said that without the direction given by the Baha’i participants, the activity never could have been carried out.
The Little Rock Assembly now has permanent representation on roundtable along with the oppor: tunity to address many other social and religious issues.
Another activity in which the Baha'is have been involved was a program last winter known as “Sweeping Away the Cobwebs of Religious Prejudice.”
As its name implies, the program brought together concerned people of several religious backgrounds to strive toward a deeper understanding and appreciation
Guidelines for rating children’s books
Young children are constantly exposed to racist attitudes in books. These attitudes insidiously distort their perception until myths and stereotypes about minorities become accepted as reality.
The Race Unity Committee offers these guidelines as a starting point in evaluating children’s books:
1. Check the Illustrations
Look for stereotypes. Are there oversimplified generalizations about particular groups? For example, are blacks shown as happy-go-lucky, watermeloneating types? Are Native Americans represented as naked savages or primitive craftsmen? Do Mexicans appear as bandits or sombrero-wearing, fiesta-loving “macho men'’?
Look for tokenism. Do minority characters look just like whites, but with tinted or colore’ in skins, or are they shown as ge’ uine individuals with disiinctive qualities?
See who does what. Are minorities shown only in passive or subservient roles? Who takes roles of leadership and action?
2. Check the Story Line
Standard for success. Do minorities have to “act white” to get ahead? Is white approval the
only ideal? To become accepted, do minorities have to be “superpeople”—the fastest runner, the smartest child in class, etc.?
Resolution of the problem. Are minority characters considered to be “the problem"? In black-white interaction, does the black forgive and understand more than the white? Does the minority character succeed only through the goodwill and intervention of a white character?
3. Examine the Lifestyles
Are minority persons shown in unfavorable ways—living in a ghetto, barrio or migrant camp—exclusively? Are differences depicted as negative? Are cultural differences accurately portrayed?
Relationships Be
Do whites possess the power,
take leaders! make the important decisions? Are minorities
shown mainly in supporting roles?
5. Note the Heroes
Are only the “safe,” generally approved minority heroes referred to? Do the minority heroes avoid conflict with the white establishment? Whose interests do the minority heroes really represent?
6. Consider the Author's or Illustrator’s Background
What are his qualifications to deal with a minority theme? Does he have special experience that recommend him as a creator of this book?
7. Watch for Loaded Words
Are there words with insulting overtones? Are words such as savage, primitive, backward, wily, crafty, docile, carefree and childlike used in minority contexts? Are there subtle descriptions that achieve the same result?
8. Evaluate the Author's Perspective
No author is completely objective. Does this book reflect the author's cultural and personal bias to such a degree that the over-all theme is marred by omissions or distortions?
9. Consider the Book’s Effect on a Child’s Self-Image
Are standards established that limit a minority child's self-esteem and aspir ns? Does a white child see himself as the ultimate in beauty and ability as a result of this book?
These guidelines are based ona pamphlet published by the Council on Interracial Books for Children,
of one another's beliefs through unbiased investigation and study.
Shirley Pleasant, a member of the Baha'i community of Little Rock, requested at one of the meetings that the Baha'i Faith be included in the program as.one of the religions worthy of. further
study.
Through activities such as these, the Little Rock Baha'i community is striving to fulfill the desire of the Universal House of Justice, as stated in the Seven Year Plan, that Baha’is become more active and visible in every phase of community life.
‘Child’s Way’ devotes issue to race relations
The Race Unity Committee is delighted that the March-April 1980 issue of Child’s Way magazine is devoted to better race relations.
We present the following excerpt from the Parents’ Page in the hope that you will read this editorial in its entirety and use it as a basis for thought, discussion and action:
- ...The value to the child of frequent and int. ate association at
this age (schoo! age) with those of a different race cannot be understated.
“It is most unfortunate for Baha'i families that in America families of different races and cultures do not live close to one another, we can remedy this diffioulty for our-families. by choos ing to live in racially mixed neigh bothoods, or by transporting our
children to and from their friends, or by actively seeking out friends of other races, or by encouraging frequent’ attendance at Bahai schools, institutes, and meetings where many races gather.
“It is not enough even however to enjoy proximity; if our children do not learn to negotiate the very real conflicts which emerge from racial and) cultural differences—with good models and active diplomacy on behalf of parents—how can they lead the world in this example?
“Are we really living up to the high standard raised for us by Baha'u'llah? The oneness of mankind cannot be for us only a principle—it must be so. fundamental an expression of our daily life that our-children-will. im: bibe it from the very atmosphere of our homes.”
Boston area Assemblies host Race Unity Day conference
More than 100 people attended a Race Unity Day conference and public meeting June 8 sponsored by the Spiritual Assemblies of the Greater Boston, Massachusetts, area.
The events were organized by the Spiritual Assembly of Arlington, Massachusetts, and cosponsored by the S| tual Assemblies of Boston and Cambridge.
ABOUT 55 people attended a conference on “The Most Challenging Issue” at which the speakers were Dr. Richard Thomas of East Lansing, Michigan; William Barnes of Arlington, and Mary Hatcher of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Dr. Thomas, a professor at Michigan State University, delivered the keynote address, “American Race Relations: An Historical Perspective.”
Mr. Barnes’ topic was “Racial Harmony: Problems and Prospects for the Future.”
After workshop sessions, Mrs.
Teaching Fever Is CONTAGIOUS! — have YOU Caught the Fever Yet?
Hatcher closed the conference with a talk describing her personal experiences in dealing with racial discrimination.
During the conference one person declared his belief in Baha'u'llah.
Later, more than 100 people heard Dr. Thomas give a public talk on “The Most Challenging Issue: America’s Need for Racial Unity.’
Music at the meeting was provided by the New Light Ensemble.
That evening, Dr. Thomas was a guest on a radio talk show heard in 37 states, and answered questions about the Faith phoned in from nd the country
Prayer for unity suggested as aid to boost diversity
Dear Baha’i Friends:
Are we not thankful to God for endowing us with His blessings and bounty in giving us the excitement of living in diversity?
Let us therefore try to say the prayer for unity at least once a day ‘SO we Can go on having and enjoying the beauty and productiveness of diversity.
Gim Saik Oh Poland Baha'i Group Poland, Ohio
[Page 17]
RACE UNITY
October 1980
“When the racial elements of the oneness of humanity will shine, the day favours descend.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, The
American nation unite
fellowship and accord, the lights of the spirit of God encompass and the divine
Editorial
in actual of eternal glory and bliss will dawn, the Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 54)
How many of us have heard the remark, “Oh, I'm color blind when it comes to race. | just don’t see color. When | look at a person, | see him as an individual, not as a member of a racial group or category.”
There was a time in America when people of good will urged one another to develop this point of view as a solution to race prejudice.
SINCE AMERICAN racism is based largely on color, they thought that if everyone strived to become “‘color blind,” race prejudice ultimately would be eliminated.
This thinking developed as a natural corollary to the “melting pot” concept—that is, if various races and nationalities were melted down and blended together into a common human soup, there would be no basis for either exalting or abasing any race, cultural group or nationality.
Such ploys obviously haven't been effective; race prejudice remains an inherent characteristic of American life. Now, as Baha'is, we see that these methods, aside from being ineffective, are not even desirable.
The Baha'i Writings teach the explicit value and beauty of diversity and distinction.
Whereas in the past, unity was sought in an attempted sameness and blurring of differences, we now understand the importance of recognizing and appreciating contrasts as we seek unity in diversity.
Far from being color blind to differences of race—skin color, hair texture, facial contours, body type, etc.—we are encouraged to develop visual acuity and appreciation in all instances of human intermingling.
RATHER THAN USING racial differences as a means of excluding 7 groups and shutting individuals out of activities, we Baha'is take these Tse sy distinctions into account in our efforts to include all groups while ad- | At /east two declarations and alarge Workshop. The group's second pervancing individual growth and development. number of interest cards were formance was necessitated by a
Our keenness of vision therefore discerns and appreciates racial | among the results of two recent per- capacity audience of more than 200 distinction; it acknowledges physical facts and leads to spiritual growth | formances in Davis, California, by for its first performance with long
tion costs for the group's 400-mile trip to Davis were paid by the Los Angeles Baha'i community.
Youth
as we recognize and cherish a God-created phenomenon.
Master found racial differences unique, beautiful
The delightful story about a group of boys who came to visit the Master in New. York City shows that ‘Abdu'l-Baha was not “color blind.” Rather, He found racial differences a thing of beau ty
The boys had been invited to come after they started following
the Master when He was on His way to speak to the men gathered at the Bowery Mission. No doubt the sight of a group of Orientals adorned in robes and turbans had attracted their attention.
A WOMAN in the Master's party, embarrassed by what she con:
the Los Angeles Baha'i
sidered the boys’ rude behavior as they followed along, dropped behind to speak with them and tell them Who ‘Abdu'l-Baha was.
She went so far as to extend an invitation to them to comé to her home in a few days to be with the Master. She hardly expected that they would accept it
But at the appointed time the boys appeared, all tidied up for the occasion
‘Abdu'l-Baha greeted each of them at the door—perhaps with a handshake or an arm placed lovingly on the boy's shoulder—but always with boyish laughter and a warm smile.
mn
aah |
TO BE ALL DS a Tals
The Baha'i community of Paraatse, California, recently placed signs representing the Faith on each of the two main highways leading into and out of that city. The Baha'i signs are of pine wood, 27 inches long, with let tering painted by one of the local believers
‘Diversity should cause love, harmony
‘Behold a beautiful garden full of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Each flower has a different charm. a peculiar beauty, its own delicious perfume and beautiful colour. The trees too, how varied are they in size, in growth, in foliage—and what different fruits they bear!
Yet all these flowers, shrubs and trees spring from the self same earth, the same sun shines upon them and the same clouds give them rain
“Thus should it be among the children of men! The diversity in the human. family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the mak: ing of a perfect chord
“If you meet those of different race and colour from yourself, do not mistrust them and withdraw yourself into your shell of conventionality, but rather be glad and show them kindness. Think of them as different coloured roses growing in the beautiful garden of
humanity, and rejoice to be among them." (‘Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, 9th ed., 1951, pp. 52-53)
‘The only difference lies in the degree of faithfulness, of obedience to the laws of God. There are some who are as lighted torch es, there are others who shine as stars in the sky of humanity
The lovers of mankind, these are the superior men, of whatever nation, creed, or colour they may be. For it is they to whom God will say these blessed words, ‘Well done, My good and faithful servants." In that day He will not ask, ‘Are you English, French, or perhaps Persian? Do you come from the East, or from the West?’
“The only division that is real is this: There are heavenly men and earthly men; self-sacrificing servants of humanity in the love of the Most High, bringing harmony and unity, teaching peace and goodwill to men. On the other hand there are those selfish men, haters of their brethren, in whose hearts prejudice has replaced loving kindness, and whose influence breeds discord and strife.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, pp. 148-149)
“In every century a particular and central theme is, in accord. ance with the requirements of that
3
century, confirmed by God. In this illumined age that which is confirmed is the oneness of the world of humanity. Every soul who serveth this oneness will undoubtedly be assisted and confirmed.” (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, p. 114)
The Baha'is are commanded to establish the oneness of ankind; if they cannot unite around one point how will they be able to bring about the unity of mankind?” (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, p. 209)
Think ye of love and good fellowship as the delights of heaven, think ye of hostility and hatred as the torments of hell.” (Selections from the Writings of “Abdu’l-Baha, p. 245)
“But there is need of a superior power to overcome human prejudices; a power which nothing in the world of mankind can withstand and which will overshadow the effect of all other forces at work in human conditions. That irresistible power is the love of God." (‘Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, Vol. 1, p. 65)
His happiest welcome,
however, seemed to be directed
toward a little 13-year-old at the
end of the line.
The boy’s skin was dark— would he too be welcome? The Master beamed when He saw him, and in a loud voice that all could hear, exclaimed with delight that “here is a black rose.”
Silence fell across the room. The other boys looked at their companion with a new awareness. He was black—and beautiful!
THE MASTER did not end the simple lesson in race relations there.
He had asked that a five-pound box of chocolates be brought in. With this He walked around the room, giving chocolates by the handful to each boy.
Finally, with only a few left, He picked out a very black piece, walked across the room, and held the chocolate next to the cheek of the little black boy.
The Master was radiant as He lovingly put his arm around the boy, whose entire attention was drawn to this Man Who saw his color and found it a thing of beauty and delight.
‘Abdu’l-Baha’s heart was free from hostility and prejudice. He delighted in human differences, for were not all people part of God's beautiful human garden?
The Master was not “color blind"—He saw differences in skin color and found them beautiful.
(The above story appears in the book, Portals to Freedom, by Howard Colby Ives.)
The American Baha’i 1 8
i l \%
New Materia S jor YOU!
New This Season The Birth of the Baha’i Faith: NEW Paper 7-52-55 $1.25
for Consolidation
A brief illustrated history of major events in the :
Selections from the Letters of ‘Abdu’l-Baha: Cloth 7-89-46 $10.00 Heroic Age of the Baha’i Faith, from the time of bt attan
NEW Persian edition Paper 7-89-47 $5.00 __ the Bab to the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Attrac- Ebene
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some volume contains many priceless selections vide meaty material for lively discussions at NEU
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the Devotional Attitude: NEW Booklet My Baby Book: NEW Book Cloth 7-52-53 $14.00
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passages previously unavailable. Plan a deep- x records of your child’s physical and spiritual
ening on spiritual foundations. Compiled by the growth. For your child it is a book to which he
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Contains a brief common history and presenta- “Unity. forces that have brought a crisis in culture and
tion of the Baha'i Faith; extracts from the Baha'i education. After analyzing the effect of these
writings; a short discussion of the National forces on individuals, he proposes that the eduSpiritual Assembly and profiles of its members; cation of man—“‘the supreme talisman” —
representative Indian activities; and a list of hinges on the emergence of a culture in which
American Indian tribes represented in the spiritual values dominate. Cover design by
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The Baha'i Faith teaching Paper 7-67-02 $1.00 Back in Stock
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For your teaching and consolidation programs.
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photographs. Let Counselor Ahmadiyyih and Not Incarnation)
the National Teaching Committee help you and — oa
your local community teach the Faith. Each 10 Women: Attaining Their Birthright Pamphlet 7-40-73 G
eee byrguidelings Foy sing The Meaning of Worship Pamphlet 7-40-34 D
Sunflower Books, Set of 4: NEW Paper 7-53-05 $7.50 The Faith of Bahd‘u‘lláh pi cll pate Di
Includes My Baha'i Book, My Favorite Prayers ;
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and suggestions about the individual book. Can’t You See the New Day Cassette 6-31-13 $6.50
Text and design by Deborah Christensen. Illustrations by John Solarz.8¥2x 11 inches. 16-19 pp. Commentary on the Kitab-i-Aqdas Cassette 6-30-51 $6.50
Gift ideas for the holidays The GiftEl Regalo Cassette 6-31-23 $6.50
coming in November World Unity with Security Cassette 6-30-73 $6.50
ace 7a ORR ESSEC SCRE APSE SEES SARTRE IA AN SR RES EU GR RR
[Page 19]
The American Baha'i
October 1980
1981 Calendars
Special Poster Close-Out Sale
1981 Baha’i Date Book: NEW
Need to keep track ofall your appointments and meetings, Feasts, and Holy Days? The 1981 Baha'i date book is a must. Includes 15 months (January 1981-March 1982), larger squares for each day, and Gregorian and Baha’ days of the month. Weeks begin on Sunday, end on Saturday. New gatefold cover allows you to mark the month or carry extra notes. Metallic silver cover features filagree ornamentation on Wilmette House of Worship. 32 x 62 inches.
Date Book 6-69-31
~~
$1.50
1981 Baha’ Wall Calendar: NEW
New format features a 10-inch picture of the Seat of The Universal House of Justice (suitable for framing) and an 8¥2 x 11-inch, 15-month calendar that is easier than ever to read. The type is larger than last year’s, Feasts and Holy Days are color coded, and Baha’i months for the year 138 alternate in white and yellow. Hang the calendar on the wall for easy reference and a conversation piece; fold picture over and carry to meetings. 842 x 11 inches, folded.
$1.00
1981 Baha’i Pocket Calendar: NEW Fits conveniently in purse or billfold. 2% x 3/2 inches.
Calendar
6-69-61
$.10
1981 Bahai Memo Pad Calendar: NEW
Back again! A 15-month calendar pad with one Gregorian month per tear-off sheet. Indicates all Baha’i Holy Days and Nineteen Day Feasts. Includes ample space for writing in dates of your appointments, meetings, and firesides. Use flat on desk, hang on wall, or carry in three-ring binder. Perfect for use at committee and Local Spiritual Assembly meetings. 8Y/2 x 11 inches.
Calendar
6-69-91
$1.50
For Your Fall Deepenings
Bahd’i Laws: Star Study Program
Booklet
7-64-60
$1.00
Bahd‘e'llah: Star Study Program
Booklet
7-6A-50
$1.00
The Local Spiritual Assembly: Star Study Program
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7-64-58
$1.00
Spiritual Teachings: Star Study Program
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7-64-56
$1.00
A Special Measure of Love: The Importance and Nature of the Teaching Work Among, the Masses
Booklet
7-15-47
$1.50
The Individual and Teaching: Raising the Divine Call
Booklet
7-15-60
The Greatest Gift: A Community Enrichment Program on Teaching the Cause of God .
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7-65-07
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A New World Order: Deepening Portfolio No. 1
7-65-10
$1.50
A New Race of Men: Deepening Portfolio No. 2
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7-65-11
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The Suffering of Bahs‘w'lláh: Deepenit Portfolio No. 3 roe
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7-65-12
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Deepening Packet for New Believers
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7-65-15
4.00
The Local Spiritual Assembly
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7-15-40
$1.50
The Trusted Ones of God: The Local Spiritual Assembly
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7-68-13
$ 50
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7-68-37
$4.00
The Development of Local Spiritual Assemblies
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Set of two: Development LSAs/Guidelines LSAs
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The National Spiritual Assembly
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7-15-42
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Bahá‘i Faith: Equality of Men and Women, 18x24 Close Out 6-58-75 ¢c Bahdu'llah, 24 x 36 green Close Out 6-58-29 c Bahá‘i Faith Unifies Mankind, 11x17 purple Close Out 6-59-04 A Bah4‘é Faith Unifies Mankind, 11 x 17 red Close Out 6-59-05 A Baha‘{ Faith Unifies Mankind, 11 x 17 blue Close Out 6-59-06 A Baha’ Faith Unifies Mankind Asst. ofthree colors Close Ou! 6-59-07 B “Consort with the followers of all religions...” Close Out 6-58-77 B English, 10 x 13 “Consort with the followers of all religions...” Close Out 6-58-78 B
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i I I I Cat.No. Quantity Price Amount Cat. No. Quantity Price Amount ff ae 1.50 a 4.00 Base 3.0 76702) 1.00 1 7-15-47 1.50 —_ 7-68-13, 30 tee I El z1sse > 1.50 7-66-31 8.50 I 7215-60 (CT ER SE GI ACK A ER OC) 1 yo 75 7-68-39 4.00 I pe —— 0 268-40 6.00 I WONG ote Ge 280, SESE 7.69.46, 10g
- 7-40-15 D so, |
7-40-19 D CMe es B70 _ D Cia 9 740308 D 659: ee | 7 G 6.50 1 l TAT) as D 6.50 __ | I TAN-OD 1.00 6.50 1 7-52-53 14.00 Ce RS T7525 1.25 ey eel 1 750 Bie ae I 1.00 Bian I 1.00 Gs emer I 1.00 Wey = cee i 1.50 Lspeeneenl t 1.50 1,00 a 1 t 1.50 10. : | 1.50 A i
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[Page 20]
PERSIAN PAGE
The American Baha'i
20
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[Page 21]
PERSIAN PAGE
October 1980
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[Page 22]
PERSIAN PAGE
The American Baha'i
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The American Baha'i
October 1980
23
Construction began June 12 on a new four-room student housing facility at the Bosch Baha'i School in Santa Cruz, California. Construction of the 1,300-square-foot structure that will accommodate eight guests and include full access for wheel chairs in entrance, halls, bedrooms and bath was made possible by a con tribution from one of the Baha'i friends. Along with the new cabin, the school also received county ap: proval to build an 800-square-foot crafts building, the construction of which should begin in the near future.
Idea Exchange
The Spiritual Assembly of Bosque Farms, New Mexico, sponsored a day-long seminar on the compilation on marriage and divorce issued recently by the National Spiritual Assembly. They used skits, dramatic readings, small and large discussion groups, and thought-provoking question-and-answer sessions to explore the compilation. They report that many misconceptions and questions were cleared up, and those attending felt that they had achieved a much better understanding of the importance of marriage.
The Spiritual Assembly of Linn County, Oregon, suggests that a “share-a-ride” service be incorporated in the planning of conferences, conventions and similar gatherings of a statewide or regional nature. Using one central phone number to receive offers of and requests for transportation, the “share-a-ride” coordinator can then match rider and driver as calls come in (an especially good idea for youth conferences)!
.
To help plant more firmly its historical roots, the Baha'i community of Green Bay, Wisconsin, planned a picnic honoring the founding members of that community. The history of the Faith in Green Bay was shared with the friends, and a tour around the city was made with stops at places with historic significance for the Faith. Photos were taken at the picnic and tour, and a scrapbook was compiled for the community archives. Donations to the Universal House of Justice were made by the community in honor of two founding members still serving in the community.
The 50th anniversary of the Faith in Binghamton, New York, was celebrated with a large reception at a civic center. Guests came from as far away as: Italy, and from the neighboring states of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, to hear an Auxiliary Board member, Nat Rutstein, and a former member of the Spiritual Assembly of Binghamton, Ida Noyes Hawley, speak. There was a large, interesting display of Assembly archives, including a letter from the beloved Guardian written in response to a letter telling him about the founding of the Baha’! Group in Binghamton.
Roseville, Minnesota, sponsored a luncheon conference to assess the interest of women in forming a Women’s Committee. Using ideas suggested at the luncheon, a yearly plan was designed with monthly activities. These included a study of current events, quilting classes, a ceremony honoring the Greatest Holy Leaf, a Bargello pillow class, and a class on vegetarian cooking. All of the events were open to non-Baha’is, and more than 70 people attended some of them.
In an effort to counteract the effects of William Miller's book that attacks’the Faith and is in its college library, the Spiritual Assembly of Mount Airy, North Carolina, obtained a reprint of Douglas Martin's review of Mr. Miller's book from World Order magazine and plans to have it bound and presented to the college library. It will be on the same shelf as Mr. Miller's book, and will give non-Baha’i readers an excellent critique of this error-ridden work.
In areas where there are few Baha'is and the response of the nonBaha'i community has been apathetic, Judy Orloff of Foxboro, Massachusetts, suggests that we try reversing the situation. If they won't come to you, go to them! Have a bake sale and donate the money to a charitable project in town; visit churches; offer to play the piano regularly at nursing homes; offer to help with a service project at the local YMCA; give weekly devotions at a campground; tutor children in schools. BE OUT THERE WHERE THE NEEDS ARE! Invite the interested people you meet to firesides, and take full advantage of media opportunities that are generated.
Do you know of an idea (teaching, deepening, proclamation, or other) that has worked well in your community? We'd like to hear about it Please write to The idea Exchange, in care of the Department of Community Administration, Baha’! National Center, Wilmette, iL 60091
Auxiliary Board member D. Thelma Jackson addresses the Southern Il: linois Baha'i Community Life Con ference held June 7 in Bloomington
150 attend 2nd S. Illinois meet
About 150 Baha'is attended the second Southern Illinois Community Life Conference held June 7 in Bloomington.
Among the speakers were Counsellor Edna M. True, Auxiliary Board member D. Thelma Jackson, and Mary K. Yntema, an assistant to the Auxiliary Board.
Miss True spoke. of her meetings with ‘Abdu'l-Baha in Chicago in 1912 and in Haifa in 1919, and recalled that the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, was the guide during her pilgrimage that year.
Two auctions conducted during the conference raised $940.45 for the District Teaching Committee.
The third and last in this series of conferences was to be held August 16 in Carbondale.
Longtime editor dies in Hawaii
Mrs. Shirley Colman Lombard, who served for nearly 17 years as editor of the Hawaiian Baha’ newsletter, Light of the Pacific, died March 31 at her home in Kamuela on the Big Island.
A woman of varied talents and nterests, Mrs. Lombard had been a cashier, governess, hotel manager, dramatics teacher, color film technician, and x-ray techni cian.
She was an accompiished pianist and organist, an. artist in oils and water colors, and a poet whose published.works included a volume of her poems about
Bosch School adds new programs to its schedule
The Bosch Baha'i School in Santa Cruz, California, has announced its program schedule for the fall and winter of 1980-81.
In an effort to better serve the Baha'i community, the Bosch School council has increased the number of programs to be presented. All told, the council will present a total of 20 different sessions throughout the year.
The complete fall-winter-spring schedule:
October 10-13—"Baha’i Parenting.” Adults, 15 and older.
November 27-30—‘The Impulse of Sacrifice.”’ Adults, 15 and older.
December 20-22—“All Forces Propel the Faith Forward.’ Adults, 15 and older.
December 24-28—“Oh God! Increase My Astonishment.”’ General, classes for all ages.
December 31-January 4—“All Forces Propel the Faith Forward.” Adults, 15 and older.
February 13-16—‘Baha’i Marriage.” Adults, 15 and older.
April 15-19—To be announced
General, classes for all ages.
May 22-25—“Baha’i Marriage.” Adults, 15 and older.
The Bosch Baha'i School is in the Santa Cruz mountains, about 17 miles northeast of the city of Santa Cruz.
Students are housed in semidormitory style in 14 cabins that can accommodate five to seven people apiece. Each cabin has a central bath. The maximum student capacity is 88.
The 67-acre campus is densely populated with large stands of coastal redwood, madrone and oak trees.
To register for one of the sessions, a deposit of $15 per person should be sent to the Registrar, Bosch Baha'i School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Include your name, age, sex, home address and phone number.
Your receipt for the deposit, along with confirmation of the reservation(s) and other instructions, will be sent by mail.
The Secret in the Garden, a delightful book for 5- to 10-yearolds and all the young in heart, written and illustrated by Winifred Barnum Newman, was recently released by the Baha'i Publishing Trust.
A warm, realistic story enhanced with four-color and black-andwhite illustrations that reveal layers of meaning, The Secret in the Garden tells the story of an old woman who sets out to bring happiness to a troubled village.
THE SELF-CENTERED villagers are intrigued by the happiness she brings, but miss the secret she has to share. That secret is found by a young girl who eventually wins the villagers’ attention by her deeds
Because of the book's indirect presentation of a Baha’i principle, it is excellent for gifts to nonBaha'i relatives and friends and for presentations to school and public libraries.
Winifred Newman, an_ artist, writer and designer, is an instructor in the program for the gifted at Trinity University.
Her drawings, paintings, sculptures and murals can be found in private collections throughout the U.S. and Mexico. The Secret in the Garden is her first published book for children,
Also released with the book was a cassette recording of The Secret in the Garden, narrated by Susan | Engle who also sings a song | created for the book. The cassette has a musical background provid ed by Collins Trier and sound ef fects.
The Secret in the Garden (Catalog No. 7-53-13) is priced at ' $5, The issette (Catalog No.
‘Secret in Garden’ a warm, enchanting children’s story
WINIFRED B. NEWMAN
6-32-05) is $5. The book and cassette (Catalog No. 7-53-15) are available together at a special price of $9.
To order either the book or cassette, see your local Baha'i librarian or order directly from the Baha'i Publishing Trust, 523 Green Bay Road, Wilmette, IL 60091
Please include 10 per cent to cover postage and handling on orders under $100.
Why Deepen?
“The Sacred Literature
of the Baha’i Faith
conveys enlightenment.
It inspires life.
It frees the mind,
it disciplines the heart.
For believers, the Word is not a philosophy to be learned, but the sustenance of being throughout the span
of mortal existence.”
—Horace Holley
Religion for Mankind, p. 64
CLASSIFIEDS
The American Bahai
CLASSIFIED notices in The American Baha'i are printed free of charge as a service to the Baha'i community. Notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no commercial or personal messages can be accepted for publication.
THE BAHA'I National Center is in need of qualified office personnel to assist with typing correspondence, minutes and reports, researching information, and compiling statistics. Expertise in many areas of daily office operations is required. For more information, please contact the Office of Personnel Affairs, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-256-4400.
THE NATIONAL Spiritual Assembly of Paraguay desperately needs a single Baha'i pioneer or family, preferably self-supporting, to serve as resident(s) at the Baha'i Institute in Mariscal Estigarribia, Chaco, and to help deepen the 18 Indian Local Spiritual Assemblies in that region. The area is a hub of indigenous teaching with a desert climate that is ideal for adventurous Baha'is who do not mind being relatively isolated. For more information please contact the International Goals Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
AN EXCELLENT opportunity exists to become the manager of quality assurance at a Rockwell International plant in Texarkana, Arkansas, The job requires an engineering background with QA/ace experience in steel fabrication and precision machining and assembly (mechanical metrology). A Baha'i could open Texarkana, Arkansas, to the Faith while assisting the Spiritual Assembly of Texarkana, Texas. Please phone Fuad Akhtar Khavari at 214-792-2545 or send a resumé to 2300 Cedar Hill, Texarkana, TX 75503.
ZION, Illinois, needs you! The community. presently includes six adults; three more are needed to maintain its Assembly. Zion is a city of about 19,000 midway between Chicago and Milwaukee, only 35 miles north of the Baha’i House of Worship. There is a wide variety of jobs in the area. For information, write to the Baha'is of Zion, P.O. Box 482, Zion, IL 60099.
WANTED to buy: The Baha'i World, Volumes |, III, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X, XII. My daughter and granddaughters are Baha'is, and my library will be passed on to my children. Please write to Mrs. Jene Bellows, 9018 Niles Center Road, Skokie, IL 60076, or phone 312-677-3663.
AN OPPORTUNITY exists to teach the Faith and help form an Assembly where there has never been one before. King City, California, opened to the Faith by a single believer at the end of the Five Year Plan, now has a functioning Group of five adults (with eight small children). These newer are Spanish-speakin:
quite poor, and often move from place to place to. harvest crops. Needed to help assure a strong Assembly by next Ridvan are 1. a retired couple or other adult Baha'is to settle in King City and have English-language firesides in their home; and 2. someone who can speak both Spanish and English and can help bring the community together. King City, in the lovely Salinas Valley, is an ideal place to live, with special advantages for senior citizens, excellent schools, and dozens of jobs in every category for those who speak Spanish and English. For more information, please write to Alice V. Lovejoy, P.O. Box 954, King City, CA 93930.
BAHA?{ pre-school teacher wanted to assist Baha'i day care director in a non-Baha’i school. Prefer training in early childhood education. Possible salary and live-in situation available. For more information, please contact Sue White, 8386 N. 95th St., Longmont, CO 80501, or phone 303-772-2678.
WANTED: Retired couple or two retired gentlemen who would like to serve the Faith as pioneers and live RENT FREE in peaceful, beautiful surroundings to become caretakers at the Martha Root National Baha’i Institute in Yucatan, Mexico. Vehicle preferred; some Spanish helpful. For more information, please contact the International Goals Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091; phone 312-256-4400.
HOMEFRONT pioneers and prayers are needed to help bring our numerically. jeopardized Assembly back to full strength. You can take your choice of city living, Suburban living, or country living in Sarpy County, Nebraska, adjacent to Omaha. Sarpy County is within 10 miles of the metro Omaha area, where there are employment possibilities in the medical field (two medical centers and many hospitals in Omaha), as well as clerical, social work, and industry. There are two large universities and many smaller colleges and tech schools in Omaha. If you can't pioneer, please say prayers for us. If we should get an excess of pioneers, there are two Groups in the Omaha area with six members each that could use you, too. Please write to Laurie Mason, secretary, Spiritual Assembly of Sarpy County, P.O. Box 766, Omaha, NE 68123, or phone Dave Clarke, 402-291-0275.
TWO HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed to help save the Spiritual Assembly of Petaluma, California, a lovely city of 32,000 about 38 miles north of San Francisco and near the University of California‘Sonoma and several junior colleges. Petaluma has good schools and a mild climate with local employment in dairying, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, construction, retail trades, government and service industries. Also easy to commute to the San Francisco area. For more information, please write to the Baha'is of Petaluma, Box 23, Petaluma, CA 94952,
or phone Kathy or Tim Kraft at 707-763-4022.
COME TO FOOTVILLE, Wisconsin, a town of 750 near a city of 45,000. A Baha'i Group of two adults with one child requests racially diverse homefront pioneers of Persian or other backgrounds to enrich our community. Ideal for a retired couple. Will help in finding employment and housing, if needed. Near several colleges. ESL (English as a Second Language) instruction is available in Footville. If interested, please contact the Baha'is of Footville, P.O. Box 292, Footville, WI 53537, or phone 608-876-6926.
SCHOLAR seeking more sources for a Baha’i chapter in a forthcoming book, The Lost Christianity of Peter (on the Ebionites). Especially need pilgrims’ notes beyond those listed in the Spring 1979 issue of World Order magazine. Also seeking relevant Persian or Arabic sources in the Writings on Peter, Paul and James. All contributions will be acknowledged. Write to Christopher Buck, P.O. Box 2341, Bellingham, WA 98225.
LOOKING FOR a challenging homefront pioneer post? A pioneer is needed to move onto or near the Ute Indian Reservation in eastern Utah to help deepen the Baha'is there, form a Group, and eventually establish a Spiritual Assembly. Plenty of oil-drilling related jobs are available, e.g., drillers, rig, pipe, construction, and clerical. Housing is tight, but some apartments are being built. For more information, please contact the District Teaching Committee of Utah, 5634 Whispering Pine Circle, Murray, UT 84107.
FILMS, videotapes, scripts and other materials are being sought by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Liberia and Guinea for a proposed series of television and radio programs for children. Programs would be 15-30 minutes long, and broadcast by the Liberian Broadcasting Corporation either monthly or every two weeks. Please air mail materials to the National Spiritual Assembly of Liberia and Guinea, P.O. Box 735, Monrovia, Liberia.
BAHA’i STUDENTS are welcome at Montana State University in Bozeman, which offers a comprehensive university curriculum in a rural setting. Bozeman, a city of 25,000 at an altitude of 5,000 feet, is in south central Montana, about 90 miles from Yellowstone National Park and minutes away from summer and winter recreational areas. The Baha'i College Club at MSU welcomes you to the challenge of teaching the Faith on campus and in the community. Please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Bozeman, P.O. Box 1991, Bozeman, MT 59715, or phone 406-587-9321.
BAHA'I FAMILY (parents and two teen-age sons) returning from pioneering in Ponape, a Pacific island, need to relocate in the U.S. in October or November. Job r¢
quirement: Community development, administrative, office management, planning, community organization. Thirty years of employment and volunteer experience in various fields in the U.S. and abroad; most jobs have been with agencies that serve people, such as community action, medical rehabilitation, housing services, etc. A complete resumé is available from the International Goals Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. Phone 312-256-4400.
CONSOLIDAT! mature, welldeepened Baha'i, preferably Spanish-speaking, is needed to help the District Teaching Committee of Texas Central No. 2 consolidate a community of 23 adult believers. If you are willing to move to a West Texas community of about 30,000 population, please contact the District Teaching Committee, clo Wig De Moville, secretary, 1626 South Monroe, San Angelo, TX 76901.
WE HAVE an extra copy of Vol. 1V (1930-32) and one of Vol. XIII (1954-63) of The Baha’i World. We need Vol. | to complete our set. Please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Providence, Rhode Island, clo Elmer P. Carpenter, librarian, 70 Miller Avenue, Providence, RI 02905, or phone 401-461-7904.
THE GREEN ACRE Council announces a contest to design a logo for the Green Acre Baha'i School. The logo should be simple, of one color, distinctive, in keeping with the dignity of a Baha'i school, and should include the words “Green Acre Baha'i School.” Please send ideas and entries to the Green Acre Baha'i School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903, by December 1, 1980. All entries become the property of the Green Acre Council.
AT THE REQUEST of the Universal se of Justice, the National Bah Archives Committee is seeking to locate original letters from the Guardian to the following individuals: Ralph C. Browne, Pearl Burke, Helen Campbell, Dorothy Dent Dopieralske, Walter Guy, Priscilla Hassan, and Laura D. Walsh. Originals or photocopies of these letters are needed by the Universal House of Justice in its efforts to study and compile the letters of the Guardian. Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of these letters is requested to contact the National Baha’i Archives Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
BEAUTIFUL southwestern Washington is alive and well! Mt. St. Helens is no longer a threat. We need homefront pioneers in McCleary, Cosmopolis, Rochester and Tenino (to join isolated believers), and in Kalama, Woodland, Lewis CCD No. 1, and Wahkiakum County (with Groups). These goals are all near Assemblies, and the District Teaching Committee promises regular teaching assistance. A homefront pioneer consultant will help in fin ding jobs for pioneers and in making a survey of general living conditions and costs in the goal areas. Please send your personal and career goals with a resumé to Barbara Haluapo, 111 Nob Lane Drive, Kelso, WA 98626, or phone 206-423-3354.
THE SPIRITUAL Assembly of Grand Junction, Colorado, is sponsoring a three-day conference on Self, Psychology and the Spiritual Being October 31-November 2. The conference is open to Baha'is and non-Baha’is, but registration is limited to 75. Non-Baha’is will attend as guests. Limited hospitality is available. The format includes workshops ‘on 18 subjects, six general sessions, panel discussions, and question-and-answer sessions. To register, please send $5 per person to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Grand Junction, Box 2805, Grand Junction, CO 81501.
THE BAHA’i Mass Media Committee of the Carolinas needs materials suitable for presentation to radio and television stations in the two states. Interested only in quality works that have been approved by some Baha'i administrative body and including short public service announcements and 15- and 30-minute Baha'i proclamation and consolidation materials. Please contact Elwin Howard, 1420 Sumter St., Columbia, SC 29201.
BAHA’IS who are relocating to the New York City area are asked to consider settling in the Town of Oyster Bay, Long Island. Oyster Bay, a bedroom community about 30-35 miles from New York City, has good recreation and shopping. It includes the eastern end of Nassau County and runs from the Atlantic Ocean north to Long Island Sound. The Assembly presently is jeopardized. Please contact Mrs. Barbara B. Fox, secretary, 7 Harbour Lane, Apt. 3-A, Oyster Bay, NY 11771.
AN INTERNATIONAL Baha’i Summer School will be held December 21-28 in the Seychelles, a group of islands in the Indian Ocean about 1,000 miles east of Kenya that are noted for their wide variety of flora and fauna. The school will be held at a government training school that has living accommodations for students. For further information, please contact the International Goals Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, 1L 60091.
FRANTIC in the Big City? Come down home to the Magnolia State. Homefront pioneers are needed in Oxford, Mississippi, the birthplace of James Faulkner, and in Hinds County. Oxford, home of the University of Mississippi, would be an ideal educational setting for a Baha’i undergraduate or graduate student. Hinds County, which surrounds Jackson, the state capital, has an unorganized Baha'i Group. It is a semiindustrial area with a garment in Please See CLASSIFIEDS Page 30
[Page 25]
October 1980
29
PARKS SCOTT
The National Spiritual Assembly recently filled two key positions at the Baha'i National Center, naming Arthur Conow of Hacienda Heights, California, assistant to the secretary for planning and coordination, and Parks Scott of Birmingham, Alabama, public affairs officer.
Mr. Conow, who was a quality engineer and member of the senior technical staff at Teledyne Systems Company, assumed his new post at the National Center on August 1.
Newspaper recounts persecutions
Continued From Page 1
stitute the majority in tran view the Baha'is as Islamic renegades because of their belief that Mohammed was not the sole true messenger of God.
IN ADDITION, the deeply nationalistic Persians cannot abide Baha'i preachments in favor of the oneness of mankind, the essential harmony of all religions, and the equality of the sexes.
Moreover, it is far more widely recognized in Iran than here that the holiest shrines of Baha'i are in Israel, where its founder died in exile in 1892.
The Baha'is have. been asserting for more than a century that their special brand of oneworldism and the brotherhood of man is rigorously non-political. For the most part, those assertions have fallen on deaf ears.
That is ‘especially true in today’s Middle East, where a wave of Islamic fundamentalism has been sweeping aside any hint of modernism or tolerance.
Added to that, suspicion fanned by Iran's revolutionary fervor has aggravated the case—no matter how spurious—against “renegade” beliefs.
That fervor seems to overlook
the inconvenient fact that the Baha'is, whose 500,000 members in Iran make it that nation’s largest non-Mosiem religious minority, were enthusiastically persecuted both by the late shah and by his father, Reza the Great, a brutal cossack who wrested power from the ruling dynasty in the mid-1920s.
PERSECUTION reached its height in 1955, when Moslem clergymen, with the government's tacit support, whipped up an antiBaha'i campaign characterized by robbery, murder, and rape.
It lessened temporarily after a worldwide pressure campaign spearheaded by the late Dag Hammerskjold, then United Nations secretary-general.
From time to time after that, repression was reinstituted under the shah, even though some of his children were tutored by Baha’is.
His wrath redoubled in 1975 when Baha'is refused to join his puppet Rastakhiz (Resurgence) Party, the only party permitted in the country.
Baha'i marriages could not be registered, more than 30 of their schools were closed, their literature could not be circulated, and many were denied jobs.
For the second year in a row, the Baha'is of Beacon, New York, were asked to participate in June in the Strawberry Festival, an annual event
jing of the Hudson River. Shown at the Baha'i booth are (left to right) Reanie Tomanio and Pete McComish.
supporting the cleaning and preserv- rights reserved.) Hossei ndrew DiMauro and were enrolled in the French clas:
It is a testament to their singular steadfastness that some Baha'is were nonetheless able to win a measure of economic power and to obtain high government positions.
Since the revolution, all those gains have been wiped out with a vengeance. Some recent examples:
- ABOUT 50 Baha’is in Tehran,
Tabriz, and Shiraz were imprisoned without charge. Companies in which thousands of Baha'is had invested were dismantled and their assets confiscated.
- Old people were turned out of
a branch of a Baha'i hospital where, ironically, doctors had treated people injured in street riots during the revolution early last year.
- The holiest Baha'i center in
Iran, known as the House of the Bab, was razed. Other holy places and community centers were confiscated.
- In February, 50 Baha'is were
summarily purged from their jobs in a provincial education ministry. Its director threatened to turn them over to the revolutionary courts unless they converted to Islam.
An ayatollah named Sadoughi, in a sermon on June 20 in the town of Yazd, proclaimed that he had documents proving the Baha'is were ‘plotting’ against the regime. He asked the faithful to turn over the Baha’is they knew to the authorities. A wave of arrests reportedly followed.
It was especially distressing that the ayatollah’s remarks were reprinted by the newspaper controlled by Iran’s beleaguered president, Abolhassan Bani-Sadr.
So the Baha'is in Iran have themselves become hostages to an uncertain fate.
Some people in the U.S., when they think about it at all, think the Baha'is are somehow “odd,” that ‘their beliefs are quirky, and that what they practice is at best quasi-religious.
But the Bahd’is haven't hurt anyone. And there is something far more disturbing about murder.
(Copyright © 1980 the Chicago Tribune. Ali
Mr. Conow is presently involved in coordinating the changeover to the National Center's new computer system and the Baha'i Publishing Trust's change to computer inventory contro! and order filling.
The forthcoming move of National Center personnel to the new administrative office building in Evanston, Illinois, is another of his areas of involvement.
Mr. Conow has served as chairman of the National Baha'i Public Information Committee (in 1972), as a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Hacienda Heights, and as an assistant to Auxiliary Board member Joyce Dahl.
He also served for four years as chairman of the California State Goals Committee.
MR. CONOW and his wife, Betty, are the parents of a son, John, and a daughter, Mrs. Linnea Conow Brush.
Mr. Scott, who camé to the National Center on September 2, was Birmingham manager of public relations for South Central Bell Telephone Company.
_ National Assembly fills two _ key posts at National Center
The new public affairs officer has served as a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Jefferson County, Alabama, as an assistant to Auxiliary Board member Sam McClellan, and as chairman of the Birmingham-Jefferson County Baha'i Media Committee.
He and his wife, Peggy, live with the two youngest of their five children, 14-year-old Parks Jr. and 12-year-old Amy.
AIRE EERE
Service for Blind AVAILABLE NOW:
In Braille or on tape—
- Tablets of Baha'u'llah
- The Priceless Pearl
- Selections from the Writings
of the Bab
© The Revelation of Baha’u'llah (Vols. 1 and 2)
PLUS more than 80 other titles
For a printed catalog write: Baha'i Service for the Blind
3110 East Lester St. Tucson, AZ 85716
Habib Hosseiny (at blackboard) was one of the teachers in a week-long program on teaching English as a
second language held in July at the Green Acre Baha'i School in Eliot, Maine.
Green Acre hosts 3rd annual language preparation institute
For the third year in a row, the Green Acre Baha'i School in Eliot, Maine, held a special institute on language preparation for pioneers.
This summer, the institute was expanded to include five programs over a five-week period.
ON JULY 12-13, a dozen people attended a weekend session on cultural awareness and adjustment conducted by Randie Gottlieb.
Twenty-five people were pres: ent for the third annual week-long program on teaching English as a second language (TESL). The program was presented by Dr. Thomas Sousa of Concord, New Hampshire, assisted by Habib
Nancy Ackerman.
More than a dozen people attended a course July 19-20 taught by Dr. Sousa that dealt with learning any foreign language.
Finally, from July 21-25, intensive week-long classes were held in French and Spanish.
The French class was taught by Mrs. Helen Sousa, and the Spanish by Lionel Gonzales, a member of the Spanish Teaching Committee, assisted by Juan and Braulia Caban.
Fourteen people were enrolled in the French class, 13 in the Spanish.
Several non-Baha’is took the course on English as a second language, while several others
[Page 26]
at eto
PUBLICATIONS
The American Baha'i
Trust has wide variety of films to assist friends
Have you thought of renting films to add variety and interest to your fall and winter teaching, deepening and proclamation ac
vities?
The Bahai Publishing Trust
ow has 13 color, 16 mm films for
ent, according to Gil Muro,
manager of special materials at ne Trust.
Three of the films—Baha’i Jubilee Samoa, And His Name Shall Be One, and Sands of Time—are designed for television, public meetings, and civic,
igious or college groups. Jubilee Samoa, a new film produced by Ciné Baha'i in Canada, is a half-hour documen: tary based on the laying of the cor. nerstone of the Baha'i House of Worship in Samoa. Film rental fee O applies (see details at the end of this article).
And His Name Shall Be One, a 30-minute CBS presentation about ihe Faith, features scenes of the World Centre, views of the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, and an interview with Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh, who was the United Nations representative for the
Baha'i International Community at that time. Film rental fee B applies.
Sands of Time focuses on the accomplishments of David Villasenor, a Baha'i artist who developed the art of permanent sand paintin,
In the 28-minute film, the artist discusses the harmony between Indian and Baha'i teachings and demonstrates the art of, sand painting. Film rental fee B applies.
Five films, one in Spanish, are suitable for teaching and deepening as well as for proclamation. These include Blessed Is the Spot, Have You Heard the News, My Friend?, Step by Step, Paso a Paso, and It’s Just the Beginning.
Blessed Is the Spot, like Baha’i Jubilee Samoa, highlights the lay. ing of the cornerstone of the Baha'i Temple in Samoa
The film provides a charming glimpse of Samoan village life and an opportunity to. become ac quainted with the Samoan Baha'i community.
His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili 11 and the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Baha
General manager, operations head named at Publishing Trust
KEITH CORNELISON
The National Spiritual Assembly has named Dr. John Bustard of Urbana, Illinois, general manager of the Baha’ Publishing Trust
Dr. Bustard, whose previous position as principal of the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary Schoo! in Urbana was profiled in The American Baha'i ‘ast April, assumed his new duties at the Publishing Trust on August 4.
DR. BUSTARD and his wife, Margaret, a retired school teacher who is now working in the Department of Community Administra tion at the National Center, have served as members of the Spiritual Assembly of Urbana.
Dr. Bustard also served on that community's Baha'i Center and finance committees.
The Bustards have two grown children—a son, James, and a daughter, Marian.
Shortly after arriving at the Trust, Dr. Bustard named Keith Cornelison of Evanston, Iilinois, as manager of operations and finance.
Mr. Cornelison’s responsibilities range from guiding book manuscripts and special materials through the various stages of production to stocking warehouse shelves and mailing materials.to fill orders received.
Mr. Cornelison, who has served as a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Evanston, was district manager and a member of the strategic planning committee of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce.
He and his wife, Marie, reside in Evanston with their 17-year-old daughter, Beth, and 9-year-old son, Jonah,
RGbiyyih Khanum both make brief statements about the central theme of the Faith—unity. Film rental fee D applies.
Have You Heard the News, My Friend? documents Bahai teaching activities in the Deep South and during the Baha'i Caribbean Conference held in Jamaica in May 1971. Film rental fee C applies.
Step by Step takes the viewer to yet another part of the globe, depicting the growth of the Baha'i Faith among Indians, blacks, and Latins in Mexico, Honduras, Ef Salvador, and Panama
The film records the views of number of Baha'is from diverse backgrounds on such widely varied topics as prophecy, the uni ty of mankind, world peace, universal governing bodies, and a divine civilization. Film rental fee B applies
Paso a Paso, a Spanishlanguage version of the same 29-minute film, is excellent for ex: panding the teaching work among Spanish-speaking seekers and Baha'is. Film renta! fee B applies.
It’s Just the Beginning was filrn ed at the first National Baha'i Youth Conference in Wilmette in 1970. It shows Baha’! youth of dif. ferent races and strata of society as they offer their views on such topics as peace, unity, and justice in the world
The 24-minute film includes talks by the Hand of the Cause Ruhiyyin Knanum and Glenford E. Mitchell, secretary of the National
Spirituat Assembiy. Fiim rental
ies. ms—The Dedication, EI Alba, Invitation, and Retro spective—are primarily for Baha'is. A fifth film, A New Wind, is recommended for Baha'is and seekers who are acquainted with the Faith.
The Dedication is an inspiring film showing the simple beauty of the Panama House of Worship and recreating the sights, sounds and uplifting atmosphere of its dedication in April 1972. Film ren
Bahai pioneers and Japanese believers in a scene from the film A
tal fee C applies.
El Alba, a Spanish version of the same 15-minute film, is also available. Like Paso a Paso, it can te helpful in deepening Spanish speaking Baha'is. Film rental fee C applies.
Invitation was filmed by Ciné Baha'i in Montreal, Canada, on the occasion of the commemora tion in 1975 of Abdu'l-Baha’s visit to Canada in 1912
The guest of honor at the event was the Hand of the Cause of God Rubiyyih Khanum, whose distinguished parents welcomed the Master to Canada nearly 60 years ago.
The .60-minute film brings the viewer a warm and personal inter view with Rubiyyih Khanum, in her former home, as she shares anecdotes from the Master's visit and reminisces about the life and times of her family in Montreal Film rental fee A applies.
Retrospective is a 50-minute film tribute to the Hand of the Cause of God John Robarts on the occasion of his 40th anniversary in the Faith.
in his inimitable style, Mr. Robarts shares anecdotes and reflections on major events of the
Trust slates large number
of important new releases
During the coming months the Baha'i Publishing Trust plans to release a number of important new titles, according to Dr. Betty J. Fisher, general editor of the Trust.
Among these is the first fullscale biography of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory, Gayle Morrison's To Move the World, scheduled for publication early in 1981
Three extracts from the book appear in the Summer 1979, Fall 1979, and Winter 1979-80 issues of World Order magazine.
ANOTHER WORK in prepara: tion is Marion Yazdi’s recollections of the early days of the Baha'i Faith in Stanford and
The book will appeal to those interested in the development of the Faith in that state. It will be of particular interest to youth, as the author recounts her college days at Stanford University and the University of California
The East Coast also is represented in forthcoming works. The memoirs of Nancy Douglas Bowditch tells the story, in a lifeand-letters format, of a long-time New England Baha'i who came from a distinguished family of painters.
Sarah Jane Farmer, by Douglas Martin, will tell the. fascinating story of the founder of Green Acre
Please See NEW Page 28
New Wind
Baha'i
decades of history: the Ten Year Crusade, the passing of the beloved Guardian, the trusteeship of the Hands, and the emergence of the Universal House of Justice. Film rental fee A applies.
past four
A New Wind /s a 30-minute film showing scenes of the Baha'i World Centre as well as of Baha'i communities in india, Japan and the U.S
It illustrates the unity and diversity of the Baha’) community and portrays the scope of a fastgrowing, worldwide religious com: munity. The documentary was produced by George C. Stoney. Film rentai fee C applies.
Film rental fees are as follows.
Rental fee A \s $29 for three days for three showings; fees for three additional showings are $11 each.
Rental fee B is $25 for three days for three showings; fees for three additional showings are $10 2ach
Rental fee C is $15 for three days for three showings; fees for three additional showings are $6 each.
Rental fee D is $35 for three days for three showings; fees for three additional showings are $12 each.
To rent any of the 13 films listed here, send a letter to the Baha'i Publishing Trust, 523 Green Bay Road, Wilmette, iL 60091, with the following information: (1) the name of the film; (2) your first, second and third choices of dates desired; and (3) the number of showings planned up to a maximum of six.
Letters concerning film rentals should not be mailed with other orders to the Publishing Trust. They should be mailed at least one month in advance of the first choice date.
Full payment, plus 10 per cent for postage and handling on orders under $100, must accompany your rental order.
For immediate film rental information, phone the Baha'i Book Shop at 312-256-4400, extension 166, any working day between 10
[Page 27]
PUBLICATIONS |
October 1980
27
‘The Secret in the Garden’
New concordance will aid in finding ‘Hidden Words’
Have you always wished for a handy and efficient way to find your favorite Hidden Word to share with a friend?
If so, A Concordance to The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah, compiled by Dr. Jalil Mahmoudi and recently released by the Baha'i Publishing Trust, should be of great interest to you.
THE CONCORDANCE, Dr. Mahmoudi notes, “was prepared to aid the reader in finding quotations easily.” It is the first concordance devoted to a single Baha'i book.
Almost every word in The Hidden Words is listed in alphabetical order in the concordance. Then every phrase in which the word appears is listed under that word. Arabic or Persian Hidden Word numbers direct the reader to the passage he is seeking.
Articles, conjunctions, and most common prepositions, such as “the,” “a,” “an,” “by,” “to,” “as,” “of,” and the like are not listed.
The foreword to the concordance was written by the Hand of the Cause of God A.Q. Faizi.
A Concordance to The Hidden Words is available in a paper edition only. It is the same size as The Hidden Words, and its over-all design complements that of The Hidden Words.
Dr. Mahmoudi is professor emeritus of sociology and language at the University of Utah and is an Auxiliary Board member for protection in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.
He has published a number of books, monographs, and articles.
Mailing reminder
Whenever an Assembly or Group does not receive mail from the Baha'i National Center for more than a few weeks, there is most likely a mailing problem. If this happens, please contact the Office of Membership and Records, Wilmette, IL 60091.
His book The Story As Told (Catalog No. 7-32-24, $6) was released earlier this year.
To order A Concordance to The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah (Catalog No. 7-68-52, $5) or The Story As Told, see your local Baha'i librarian, or order directly from the Baha'i Publishing Trust, 523 Green Bay Road, Wilmette, IL 60091.
Please inciude 10 per cent for postage and handling on orders under $100.
Compilation on Baha’ schools headlines Trust’s fall releases
Centers of Baha’i Learning, a new compilation on Baha'i schools and institutes, heads the list of fall releases from the Baha'i Publishing Trust.
Centers of Baha’i Learning (Catalog No. 7-15-58, $1.50), compiled by the Universal House of Justice, covers the importance, purpose, administration, courses, and curricula of Baha'i schools, as well as prospects for the future.
THE 20-PAGE booklet also covers teaching the public, attracting ethnic minorities, youth activities, and pioneers and pioneering. It will be useful to everyon terested in Baha'i schools and institutes.
Other fall releases include Spiritual Foundations: Pra‘ Meditation, and the Devotional titude; In rch of the Supreme Talisman; Becoming Your True Self; A Concordance to the Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah; and The Secret in the Garden.
Spiritual Foundations (Catalog No. 7-15-66, $1.50), compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, is designed to help Baha'is attain a goal of the Seven Year Plan—nurturing the spiritual life of the Baha'i community.
The 20-page pamphlet contains many passages previously unavailable.
Trust releases ‘Come and Sing’ as record album, cassette tape
Come and Sing, a new record album for children and their families, is being released by the Baha'i Publishing Trust as a cassette as well as a 33 1/3 rpm record.
For the first time, the Publishing Trust is introducing a stereo cassette in addition to an album because of the demand for cassettes.
“WE'VE HAD several letters requesting that our albums be made into tapes for pioneers and for the growing number of people who use cassette decks at home and in their cars,” says Gil Muro, manager of special materials.
“We're -going to see what response this cassette brings. If it sells well, we'll bring out Flight, The Hidden Words, The Lote Tree and Happy Ayyam-i-Ha in stereo cassettes too.”
The Publishing Trust hopes that the release of an album and cassette at the same time will give more people the opportunity to make use of this charming collection of songs and prayers.
Both are suitable as gifts for non-Baha’i family and friends and are attractively packaged with a full-color cover depicting happy children gathering to sing in a verdant garden.
Lyrics for all of the selections are included with the album.
Come and Sing (Catalog No. 6-35-21) is priced at $7.50. The stereo cassette tape (Catalog No. 6-32-20) is $8.
To order, see your local Baha'i librarian, or order directly from the Baha'i Publishing Trust, 523 Green Bay Road, Wilmette, IL 60091.
Please include 10 per cent for postage and handling on orders under $100.
World Order sets 2nd Gregory article
The second in a_ three-part series of articles by Gayle Morrison about the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory highlights the Fall 1979 issue of World Order magazine.
Other articles include “Aesthetics and Spiritual Education” by Glen A. Eyford; “Entities of a New Creation” by Julie Oeming Badiee; and ‘Coming to Terms with a Technological World,” a review by Carlos Martin Pereira of Guy Murchie's book, The Seven Mysteries of Life: An Exploration in Science and Philosophy.
Also in the Fall issue is a poem, “Louis G. Gregory: 1874-1951,” reprinted from Roger White's book of poetry, Another Song, Another Season.
In Search of the Supreme Talisman (Catalog No. 7-40-77, 50 cents; 10/$4; 25/$8; 100/$25) is a companion piece to the popular Becoming Your True Self.
In the new booklet, Dr. Daniel C. Jordan surveys the forces that have brought a crisis in culture and education. After analyzing their effect on individuals, Dr. Jordan proposes that the proper education of man—the “supreme talisman—hinges on the emergence of a culture in which spiritual values predominate.
Becoming Your True Self (Catalog No. 7-40-15, 50 cents; 10/$4; 25/$8; 100/$25) is now available in a revised edition that features an attractive new cover design by Pepper Peterson.
The pamphlet describes the nature of human potential and explains how the Baha'i Faith enables the individual to release his potential.
A Condordance to The Hidden Words (Catalog No. 7-68-52, $5), compiled by Dr. Jalil Mahmoudi, includes a foreword by the Hand of the Cause of God A.Q. Faizi.
The concordance lists alphabetically almost every word in The Hidden Words, Then each phrase in which the word appears is listed under that word. Arabic or
Persian Hidden Word numbers guide the reader to the passage he is seeking.
The Secret in the Garden (Catalog No. 7-53-13, $5), written and illustrated by Winifred B. Newman, is a warm, realistic story about an old woman who sets out to bring happiness to a troubicd village.
When the villagers fail to discover the woman's secret, a young girl determines to share the secret, and ultimately wins the villagers’ attention by her deeds. The book is for 5- to 10-year-olds.
A cassette recording of The Secret in the Garden may be purchased with the book or separately. The cassette is narrated by Susan Engle, who wrote a song for the book.
The cassette alone (Catalog No. 6-32-05) is priced at $5. The book and cassette purchased together (Catalog No. 7-53-15) are $9.
To order any of these titles, see your Baha'i community librarian or order directly from the Baha’i Publishing Trust, 523 Green Bay Road, Wilmette, IL 60091.
Pleasevinclude 10 per cent to cover poStage and handling on orders under $100 (minimum $1).
an old woman’s secret and who shares the secret with the
Catalog No. 6-32-05 Catalog No. 7-53-15
YES! the Garden at $5.00 each; each; and copies of the
enclose a check or money order (including 10% for postage and
handling on orders under $1 $—_____ made payable to the
My name
What is the secret in the garden?
Winifred Barnum Newman’s winning book about
5-10 year olds, friends, and libraries. Illustrations also by Winifred Barnum Newman. Catalog No. 7-53-13 Cloth
Please send me copies of the book The Secret in
the observant young girl mystified village is a must for
$5.00 Cassette $5.00 BookiCassette $9.00
copies of the cassette at $5.00 book and cassette at $9.00. I
00.00; minimum $1.00) for Baha’i Publishing Trust.
is (please print)
‘Street, Rural Route, or P.O. Box Number
1 | | 1
- Ship to:
| | | | |
City State Zip
Send order with payment to: Bahai Publishing Trust 523 Gree
pene 10/80
n Bay Road/Wilmette, IL 60091
Ee 2S eee ae
[Page 28]
The American Baha'i
New releases Continued From Page 26
Baha'i School
A biography of the Hand of the Cause Martha Root, by Mabel Garis, is yet another work in preparation. The Guardian referred to Martha Root as “that archetype of Baha'i itinerant teachers and the foremost Hand raised by Baha'u'llah. ...”
Another early believer—Juliet Thompson —will be the focus of a fifth work. The Publishing Trust plans to release an edition of Ms. Thompson's diary, which includes many accounts of the time she
spent in the presence of ‘Abdu'l-Baha. TWO DELUXE, coffee-table
books also are being prepared. Bruce Whitmore's The DawningPlace will tell the story of the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, while Paul Slaughter’s book on the Shrine of the Bab wil evoke the essence of that Bah: landmark in text and photographs.
The release, over a period of a f the first 12 volumes of The
World will be welcome news to those who haunt usedbook stores looking for missing volumes.
Volume 1 will be released in January 1981. Subsequent volumes will become available monthly on a subscription basis.
Anumber of compilations of the Baha’i Writings are also in preparation.
Selected Writings of the Bab and Selected Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha will round out the series of small, blue pocket-sized books begun several years ago.
Selected Writings of Baha'u'llah and Selected Writings of Shoghi Effendi already are available.
lit
i ‘ i =
Andrew A. Ken (right), a Baha’ from the Pacific island of Yap in the Carolines, chats with George Dannells, a member of the National Teaching Committee staff, during a visit August 18 to the House of Worship in Wilmette. Mr. Ken, an assis: tant to the Auxiliary Board in the Caroline Islands and former member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Mariana Islands, was in the U.S. as part of an around-the-world trip that included a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and stops at every Baha'i House of Worship including the Temple sites in India and Western Samoa
The Continental Boards of Counsellors, a lengthy compilation of letters concerning this important institution. of the Faith, will be released in December.
TWO COMPILATIONS by the Universal House of Justice are planned—Baha’i Funds and Contributions and Baha’i Writings on Music.
A compilation of messages from the Universal House of Justice, between 1973 and 1978, is also planned. The format will be similar to that of Messages from the Universal House of Justice: 1968-1973.
The Chalice of Immortality will be welcomed by those interested in life after death. The compilation will be the most extensive yet published on the topic.
Baha’i Answers, compiled by Olivia Kelsey, will make available a variety of Baha'i quotations in a question-and-answer format.
Two publications of works by Mirza Abdu'l-Fadl are planned, as is an anthology of articles from World Order.
New deepening materials will include a nine-chapter book that includes the nine major categories covered in the Star Study Program.
The five Star Study booklets already published will be included in the new book, along with four others not yet published.
A SERIES of 19 daily-devotional booklets, also part of the Star Study Program, are scheduled for release next spring. Each booklet will include a devotional passage for each day of the Baha’i month.
The National Teaching Committee is completing work on a deepening and consolidation booklet to be used as a follow-up to the popular orange (formerly green) teaching booklet.
For parents, Beacon of Light will provide practical advice, based on the Baha’i Writings, on rearing children
A modular handbook for parents also is being planned, as is a book of crafts and games for Baha'i Holy Days.
Revised editions of God’s Great Plan and the Baha’i House of Worship picture booklet will be released. A new edition of Know Your Bahá’i Literature will include a section on special materials.
Reports on The Promulgation of Universal Peace and Some Answered Questions having been sent to the Universal House of Justice, it is hoped that revised editions of these two volumes will be available in 1981. A revised edition of Message to America is also planned.
NEW CHILDREN’S books will include a simple prayer book for one- to three-year-olds and four more Sunflower Books for threeto seven-year-olds.
Two character development stories by Gail Radley are also being designed—Zahra’s Journey and The Eagle's Wings. These will appeal to seven- to eleven-yearolds.
Details on all of these new and revised titles will be announced to all Baha’i librarians and published in The American Baha’i as they are released.
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The Spiritual Assembly of Kalamazoo Township, Michigan, sponsored this exhibit that was seen by approx imately 600 people at. the recent Kalamazoo Women's Festival at
Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Baha'i introductory pamphlets and pamphlets on the equality of men and women were offered to vis:
itors at the Festival. The exhibit, mounted in an excellent location, was conceived, designedands ex: * ecuted by local Baha'is. .
- ae a
Comment
Continued From Page 2
restless and full of anxiety. Contentment involves conquering our inner agitation, the satisfaction of accepting what God has given us.
If He deems through His chosen Manifestation that what we enjoy is forbidden, we will conform happily; and if he commands us to do that which we don't like, we will unhesitatingly respond, because by such rectitude we remove the worldly chains from our souls and taste the fruits of “true liberty.”
SUCH RECTITUDE nurtures human interactive qualities such as trust, love, honesty, charity, forbearance—qualities that enhance human relationships.
It is on the plain of rectitude that Baha'i communities are able to distinguish themselves from the non-Baha’i world.
Complete Freedom from All Forms of Prejudice
Baha'u'llah has revealed:
“He Who is the Eternal Truth hath, from the Day Spring of Glory, directed His eyes towards the people of Baha, and is addressing them in these words: ‘Address yourselves to the promotion of the well-being and tranquillity of the children of men. Bend your minds and wills to the education of the peoples and kindreds of the earth, that haply the dissensions that divide it may, through the power of the Most Great Name, be blotted out from its face, and all mankind become the upholders of one Order, and the inhabitants of one City. Illumine and hallow your hearts; let them not be profaned
by the thorns of hate or the thistles of malice. Ye dwell in one world, and have been created through the operation of one Will. Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love.” (Gleanings, pp. 333-334)
Learning to “mingle with all men” is the key to eliminating prejudices that exist in our lives and our communities.
We must strive to emulate the example set by believers such as Martha Root, who mingled with al! strata of society to become known, in the words of the Guardian, as “first finest fruit Formative Age Faith.”
The Spirit of Love Among Its Members
In radiating a spirit of love, we become the embodiment of these words of the Master:
“HOW GOOD it is if the friends be as close as sheaves of light, if they stand together side by side in a firm unbroken line ... therefore must all souls become as one soul, and all hearts as one heart.
“Let all be set free from the multiple identities that were born of passion and desire, and in the oneness of their love for God find a new way of life.” (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha,
p. 76)
What is the atmosphere like when we meet one another? Are we like the thirsty one coming at last to the fountain of water?
‘Abdu'l-Baha asked that we become “an attractive force.” (Baha’i World Faith, p. 323) One definition of attraction is “a force acting mutually between particles of matter (or bodies) tending to draw them together, and resisting their separation.” Between
Baha’is, the spirit of love is the attracting force.
The Closely Knit Fabric of Its Social Life
The strength of our Baha’i communities’ social fabric is the real test of our unity. It reveals how well we have established the other characteristics.
If we feel that we have a healthy Baha'i community, but lack a closely knit social fabric, we probably need to re-evaluate our progress and development.
OUR SOCIAL LIFE as Baha'is clearly distinguishes us from the sick world around us. Through that social fabric we demonstrate how Baha'u'llah has raised us up and cemented our hearts together, how He has brightened our lives in a world of deepening gloom.
There is a direct correlation between the strength of any Baha'i community and the closeness of its social fabric. We cannot attract people to the Cause of God and nurture them in His Word if we are socially distant from one another.
The Universal House of Justice writes:
“Our task is to build the Order of Baha'u'llah. Undeflected by the desperate expedients of those who seek to subdue the storm convulsing human life by political, economic, social or educational programs, let us, with singleminded devotion and concentrating all our efforts on our objective, raise His Divine System and sheltered within its impregnable stronghold, safe from the darts of doubtfulness, demonstrate the Baha'i way of life.” (Messages from the Universal House of Justice: 1968-1973, p. 12)
|x SSS
[Page 29]
The American Baha'i
October 1980
The Baha'i community of Wyckoff, New Jersey, sponsored this window display for the entire month of April
at the Wyckoff Public School library. It marked the second year in a row in
which the Wyckoff community was able to place such a display.
Bill and Elsa Meyer, Baha'is from Harlem Township, Illinois, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year. Mrs. Meyer's mother, Mrs. Mollie Anderson of Kenosha Wisconsin, became a Baha'i in the early 1900s, and Mrs. Meyer remembers ‘Abdu'l-Baha's visit to Kenosha in September 1912. Mr. Meyer has been a Baha'i since 1932. The Meyers have raised four children, two of whom—Mrs. George Dezek of Spooner, Wisconsin, and Mrs. Astrid Rundle of Rockford, II: linois—are Baha'is. Harlem Township, where the Meyers have lived since 1945, formed its first Spiritual Assembly in November 1978.
‘Spiritual being’ conference set
The Spiritual Assembly of Grand’ Junction, Colorado, is sponsoring a three-day conference on Self, Psychology and the Spiritual Being to be held October 31-November 2.
The conference is open to Baha'is and non-Baha’is, with registration limited to 75. NonBaha'is will attend free as guests of the Assembly.
The format includes workshops on 18 subjects, six general ses: sions, panel discussions, and question-and-answer sessions.
Limited hospitality is available.
Traveling
Continued From Page 10
Do | pay my own expenses?
Yes. Since the condition of the National Fund is critical, the friends are being called upon to volunteer their services.
In many instances hospitality can be provided by the local Baha'i community, and in some cases, financial assistance for gasoline can be provided. This can be determined on an individual basis
You know, maybe | could be a volunteer traveling teacher. How do | volunteer or apply?
Simply fill out the Volunteer Traveling Teacher Information Form, cut it out and send it to the National Teaching Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. Then be prepared to discover the exhilaration and confirmation experienced by sharing the healing Message of Baha'u'llah with people throughout the country.
Remember, anyone can be a traveling teacher, even if he or she only has one day to offer.
The Baha'is of Lincoln, Nebraska, designed and constructed this self.
propelled float for the 1980 In: dependence Day celebration in Seward, Nebraska, an extension teaching goal. Its theme was ‘Mankind Is One.’ Music by the
Baha'i Victory Chorus was amplified by speakers hidden under the globe atop the float. A photo of the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette was on the front with a sign that read ‘Baha'is of Lincoln.’
The first Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Sandy, Oregon, was form ed this year. Shown are (front row left to right) Sabrina deCoteau, James Connet, Michael Lauderback; (second row left to right) irene
Knight-Weiler, Melody Gunter; and
(back row left to right) William Knight-Weiler, Donald Gunter, Barry Bevan, Schuyler Lininger, Jane Lin inger.
Martyrs
Continued From Page 1
Hasanzadih, ‘Abdu'l-Vahhab Kazimi Manshadi, Jalal Mustaqim, ‘Ali. Mutahhari, and ‘Azizu'llah Zabihiyan.
ACCORDING to a report received at the Baha'i National Center in Wilmette shortly after the executions, the families of the seven prisoners in Yazd were invited on Sunday, September 7, to see the prisoners.
The families were given to understand that the prisoners were to be moved to another prison.
At 4 a.m. the following day the prisoners were executed.
Three hours later Radio Yazd announced the executions, citing as charges against the Baha'is cooperation with the previous regime, spying for the U.S. and Israel, and “corruption on earth.”
These latest killings bring to 12 the number of known executions of Baha'is in Iran in the last few months.
In July two members of the Spiritual Assembly of Tabriz, Yadu'llah Astani and Faramarz Samandari, were shot to death in that city
Earlier, Bahar Vujdani of Mahabad, Ghulam-Husayn A’zami of Sangsar and Asadu’llah
Mukhtari of Birjand were martyred in those cities.
FOLLOWING the radio report of the executions in Yazd, the Baha'is there sought to find the bodies of the executed men and were told the bodies were at the cemetery.
The Baha'i cemetery at Yazd was confiscated and destroyed sometime during the past two years. The bodies of the executed prisoners were dumped on ground adjacent to the Zoroastrian cemetery.
During that day some 500 Baha'is of Yazd went to the scene and buried their dead.
While they were doing so, gunmen from the “Komiteh” (representing the local govern: ment of Yazd) came to view the proceedings and confiscated cameras to prevent the taking of photographs.
Coming next month: Green Lake wrap-up
Watch for a complete report of the historic 20th annual Green Lake (Wisconsin) Baha'i Conference in the November issue of The American Baha'i.
The conference, held September 12-14, was the largest in its history.
More than 60 attend Naw-Ruz dinner in Montgomery, Alabama
More than 60 people, about half of whom were non-Baha’is, attended an international dinner sponsored by the Baha'is of Montgomery, Alabama, to celebrate Naw-Roz.
The guest speaker was Jack Perrin, a Baha'i from Atlanta, Georgia.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation by the Baha'is of a human relations award to Joel Sanders, a state employee who has been active in refugee resettlement.
In his acceptance speech, Mr.
Sanders praised the efforts of the Baha'i community in promoting better human relations, and said he was deeply touched to be honored by an organization with such high ideals.
The buffet supper was enjoyed by guests of many nationalities representing the Jewish, Christian, Hindu and Buddhist religions.
Press coverage included an article announcing the meeting, and another the day afterward that included a photo of the award presentation.
The American Bahai
30
More than 25 Baha'is and friends in the Town of Brookhaven, New York, gathered recently for a surprise baby shower for four women in the community who are preparing to welcome new children this fall and
winter. The four are Irene Bush, a Baha'i who recently moved to Brookhaven; Marie McNair, the secretary of the Spiritual Assembly; Fahimeh Rouhani, who will be a mother for the first time; and Marge Scheidet, a
relatively new Baha'i. ‘The celebration, held outside at the home of John and Marie McNair, opened with the reading of the prayer for expectant mothers by ‘Abdu'I-Bahá, and included a buffet breakfast.
Classifieds
Continued From Page 24
dustry and other companies. For information, please write to the District Teaching Committee of Mississippi, Route 1, Box 300-A, Starkville, MS 39759, or phone 601-323-3900.
YOUTH AND ADULT students needed to strengthen a northern
Minnesota community and help reactivate a college club at Bemidji State University, Bemidji, Minnesota. The university offers undergraduate and advanced programs in a variety of fields including Indian studies, education, and environmental studies. The cost of living is moderate, and there are a number of employment opportunities. Bemidji is four hours from Minneapolis in the heart of Minnesota’s beautiful
YES! Please send me
$.
Publishing Trust.
Ship to: __
ity
‘TAB 10180
prose ss======
Revised edition now available in paperback!
The Promised Day Is Come is Shoghi perspective on current world events. This revised edition of the Guardian’s 1941 letter to Western Bahd‘is is indispensable—an eloquent and forceful analysis of the main trends of the last hundred years. Catalog No. 7-08-17 Cloth Catalog No. 7-08-18 Paper $ 5.00 pe mo ee ee ee ee copi Promised Day Is Come at $5.00 each and cloth edition at $10.00 each. enclose a check or money order for _ (including 10% for postage and handling, on orders under $100; minimum $1.00) made payable to the Baha'i
“Wy name's (please print) ~ Street, Rural Route, or P-O. Box Number
-sabviy bee Side ieee Sond order with paynent w: Baht Publishing Trust
523 Green Bay Road/Wilmette, IL 60091
= 44) January 1975
authoritative
$10.00
s of the paper edition of The copies of the
State Zi
L
north woods. Recreational, educational, and teaching opportunities abound. For more information, write to Marsha Qualey, P.O. Box 56, Bemidji, MN 56601, or phone 218-751-5765.
POETRY wanted for a collection of poetry on Baha’i-related subjects. Please send as many poems as you wish (each on 8 x 10 paper, double-spaced) with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Beau Rafaat, 301 Cortsen Road, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523.
NEEDED: Four adult Baha'is to help save a Spiritual Assembly in Huntington, West Virginia, home of Marshall University (specializing in education and other programs). Huntington is a city of 60,000-70,000 in a lovely mountain setting. Jobs are scarce, but some are available, especially in specialized fields. Huntington offers friendly people plus the convenience of a city with the beauty of the countryside. For more information, please contact Patricia Lynne Orr, secretary, the Spiritual Assembly of Huntington, P.O. Box 1361, Huntington, WV 25713.
Teaching Continued From Page 15
have emerged from her conversations with believers across the country.
THE FIRST of these is the importance of the individual's role, echoing the idea of ‘each one teach one.”
The other message that comes across is “let's not talk about the goals; let's win them.”
“Everyone is in the mood to get things done and not simply talk about it," says Mrs. Lopez. “In other words, less paper work and more field work.”
The importance of the work carried out by the National Teaching Committee was emphasized by the Guardian, who described it as “the chief auxiliary institution” of the National Spiritual Assembly. (The Advent of Divine Justice, p.
Dr. Kazemzadeh outlines prospects for world order
Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, vicechairman of the National Spiritual Assembly and professor of history at Yale University, addressed more than 60 members of the International Policy Institute (IPI) July 31 on the history and prospects for a world government and the Baha'i vision of the future world order.
IP! is an independent organization designed to foster international education, investment, trade, culture and understanding.
IN A PRESENTATION cosponsored by the Baha'i community of Washington, D.C., and IPI, Dr. Kazemzadeh traced the history of the concept of world government from Greek and Roman visions of world unity through conquest to the medieval and Renaissance Christian theory of European federation and the Muslim doctrine of unifying secular and spiritual authority in the Caliph or Imam.
The flowering of nationalism in the 19th century, he said, could only be celebrated by those who felt secure in the relative quiescence of a period that ended abruptly with the First World War.
Our growing sense of the vulnerability of civilization to world war, Dr. Kazemzadeh continued, together with the converging efforts of those who struggle against racism, ignorance and sectarianism, can help to promote world government.
But, he explained, we must channel spiritual energy into our efforts to unify mankind if we are to combat successfully the nationalism that has so long animated and ravaged the 20th century and realize fully the potential of human beings.
Baha'is work for such ideals, said Dr. Kazemzadeh, including the equality of men and women
and the eradication of prejudice, and demonstrate in their community life the needed principles of world unity that serve as prototypes for the establishment of world order.
Participants in previous IPI seminars, held regularly since 1975, have included officials from the State, Defense, Commerce and Treasury Departments, members of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, members of Congress, and executives of multi-national cofporations and trade associations.
Dr. Kazemzadeh’s address generated a lively question-andanswer session and considerable interest in the Faith among IPI members.
Howard Larson, coach of the Rolling Meadows (Illinois) Baha'i Track Club, is shown after placing fourth (third in the 20-29 age division) in the annual ‘Meadows Miles for Muscular Dystrophy’ race. The club was formed a year ago as a means of proclaiming the Faith while engaging in a fitness program. Anyone interested in join: jing may contact Mr. Larson at 2702 St. James, Rolling Meadows, iL 60008.
AR RE ORT a a In memoriam
Miss Lillian Bell Anderson, S.C. January 30, 1974
Howard T. Gi
Mira Loma, Calif. Date Unknown
raham = Mrs. Katie Reed Whittier, N.C.
May 1, 1980
Miss Elizabeth Clark Mrs. Johanna H. Hall Dure Nathaniel Reese Ferndale, Washington Newhall, California Central, S. Carolina July 28, 1980 dune 20, 1980 July 14, 1980
Mrs. Elaine Dixon Miss Ida Jurgensen Eugene Thomas Yucaipa, Calif. Los Angeles, Calif. | Anderson, S.C.
July 8, 1980 September 14, 1979 Date Unknown
Tom Easterling David Logan Tom White Wagram, N.C. Anderson, S.C. Anderson, S.C.
July 27, 1980 July 8, 1980 Date Unknown Arlen Estes Dr. Kurt Mueller Mrs. Lillian Williams. Los Altos, Calif. San Gabriel, Calif. Goldsboro, N.C. April 29, 1980 November 1978 June 1980
Mrs. Isadora Gardner Hobbs, N. Mexico 1979 May 1980 Preston Giles
Anderson, S.C.
Mrs. Ailene Pearson Gaston, Oregon
Mrs. Thursley Williams Ritter, S. Carolina July 12, 1980
[Page 31]
The American Bahar
=
<x
October 1980 List of Assemblies with extension teaching goals The following is a listing of Assemblies that have adopted extension teaching goals. The | MINNESOTA, NORTHERN Universal House of Justice has called for the adoption of such goals by a minimum of 700 Duluth Proctor x of the Seven ; 418 Superior, WI x sembly has adopted an extension goal but is not listed here, or if your community would like to adopt a goal, please contact the Na- MINNESOTA, SOUTHERN tional Teaching Committee office. Burnsville Apple Valley 7 Falcon Heights. Wright County Minneapolis St. Louis Park x Open Form Group) Help —_ Help Rochester Austin oy Assembly Goal Locality Locality Group LSA LSA Locality Winona x CENTRAL REGION Roseville Arden Hills 1 MISSOURI NOR ORTHERN Oswego es Columbia + Boone County Glen Ellyn Villa Park x Jefferson City New Melle x Joliet Bolingbrook x Springfield aon “5 Rogersville x ILLINOIS, NORTHERN 2 St. Charles County New Melle x Chicago La Grange Park x St. Peters x Norridge x Evanston Mt. x NORTH DAKOTA La Grange La Grange Park x Fargo West Fargo x Park Forest South Park Forest x Grand Forks Climax Wilmette *Hanover Park x Crookston, MN
- Hoffman Estates x East Grand County
- Prospect Heights x Grand Forks County x
Rolling Meadows x OHIO, NORTHERN lumoss, souriern cae ; Alton ‘Wood River x North Baltimore x Belleville Alorton x Cleveland New Philadelphia x Champaign Fayette County x Cleveland Heights University Heights ‘ ek NG, x Lakewood Oberlin x Jacksonville South Jacksonville x Shaker Heights Blackwood! Peoria Galesburg x Elyria x | g Weentngton * Toledo Fostoria i Sylvania x "aigomifgton Nashville x WISCONSINIMICHIGAN ‘Owen Country x Green Bay Ashwaubenon x Evansville Henderson, KY x Brown County, x Indianapolis Beech Grove x DePere Xx Lawrence x Oneida a Koken Fone eae WISCONSIN, SOUTHERN Lafayette Delphi x Fond du Lac Racine x Terre Haute. Vincennes x Sun Prairie x West Terre Haute x Madison Racine x Middleton Waukahee x Milwaukee La Crosse x lowA Menominee Falls x Cedar Rapids Manchester x New Berlin Muskego x Marion x Shorewood *Brookfield Council Bluffs Glenwood x Waukesha Pewaukee Davenport Bettendorf x Waukesha Township Des Moines Ankeny x Wauwatosa Greenfield x lowa City Coralville x NORTHEASTERN REGION KANSAS Hutchinson Kingman x CONNECTICUT Lyons x Bridgeport Trumbull x McPherson x Greenwich Town Port Chester x Kansas City ‘Aichinson' x Manchester East Hartford Edwardsville x =Milford Hamden Independence x New Haven *Milford Leavenwodn x North Haven Town x Topeka Shawnee County x West Haven x Wichita Bel Aire x Vernon Ellington West Harford Simsbury MICHIGAN, MAINLAND MAINE Ann Arbor Chelsea x Augusta Farmington
- Pittsfield Township x Eliot Berwick x
Plymouth Township aK *Kittery Detroit Clinton Township x South Berwick Southfield x York Town *Kittery Flint Grand Blanc x Vassar x MASSACHUSETTS Grand Rapids Holland x Amherst Town Sunderland x Muskegon Dalion Township x Arlington Town Everett x Grand Haven x Barnstable Brewster x Fruitport Township x Harwich Saginaw Vassar x Beverly Manchester Town x Ypsilanti Township Romulus x Boston cy x
- Pittsfield Township x Randolph Town x
The American Baha'i
Cambridge Reading Town Dartmouth Town New Bedford Swansea Gloucester Rockport Malden Everett Montague Town Bernardston Everett Greenfield Town Northampton Hatfield Somerville Lincoln Town Waltham Winchester Town Watertown Belmont Westborough Upton Worchester Warren Town NEW HAMPSHIRE Dover Durham Rochester NEW JERSEY Bergenfield Leonia Hamilton Township Hightstown Jersey City Bayonne North Bergen Union City Montclair East Orange Verona Piscataway Township _ Highland Park Teaneck + Paterson Willingboro: Riverton NEW YORK, EAST Brookhaven Bellport Patchogue Greenburgh Town Rockland Hempstead Town Cedarhurst Garden City
+ Rockville Centre Hempstead Town North + Glen Cove + Great Neck Plaza
Roslyn Thomaston Village Huntington Huntington Bay Islip Town Brightwaters Village Saranac Lake Lake Placid White Plains Harrison NEW YORK, WEST Amherst Town Stafford Town Williamsville Buffalo Cattaraugus Eden Hamburg Village Hamburg Town Ithaca Town “Ithaca City ester *Brighton Town Canandaigua Webster Syracuse Utica Victor Town Farmington Town PENNSYLVANIA, EAST Allentown + Bethlehem Harrisburg York Philadelphia Ft. Washington ~Swarthmore Trainer PENNSYLVANIA, WEST Erie North East Pittsburgh Ross Township RHODE ISLAND Providence “East Providence VERMONT Burlington Winooski SOUTHERN REGION ALABAMA, NORTHERN Birmingham Green County Decatur Lawrence Morgan County -Homewood Green County Huntsville Athens Florence Madison Jefferson County Blount County Mountain Brook Walker County ALABAMA, S/FLORIDA, NW Mobile Mobile County
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ARKANSAS: Little Rock Commac Village ‘Conway Jacksonville Jacksonville North Little Rock Pine Bluff Rogers Fort Smith DELMARVA New Castle County Greater Newark Newark FLORIDA, CENTRAL Hillsborough County + Lutz Orlando: Lakeland Polk County Winter Haven West Pasco Altus County Hernand County FLORIDA, NORTHERN Jacksonville Nasau County Leon County Quincy Tallahasse Havana FLORIDA, SOUTHERN Boca Raton Del Ray Beach Sanibel
Broward County, Central North Lauderdale North Sunrise
Broward Coun! Sunrise
Cape Coral Parkland
Dade County, Central Dade County, South
South Miami
Dade County, North Hialeah
Fort Lauderdale Lauderdale
Fort Myers LaBelle
Port Charlotte
Lauderdale Lakes Plantation
Miami Miami Beach
North Miami Biscayne Bay
EI Portal
Palm Beach, North Bryant
Loxahachee
Pompano Coral Springs
Pompano Beach Oakland Park
Wilton Manors Parkland
Davie Cooper City
GEORGIA, NORTHERN
Cobb County, North Canton
Cobb County, South Austell Habersham
Carroll County Carrollton Newman
De Kalb County, Central Lincoln Park
De Kalb County, North Avondale
Scottsdale De Kalb County, South —_Lithonia North Fulton Rome Richmond County Blythe Roswell Fulton County, South GEORGIA, SOUTHERN Albany Dawson Savannah Glynn County Mcintosh KENTUCKY Lexington Midway Nicholasville Versailles Winchester LOUISIANA, NORTHERN LOUISIANA, SOUTHERN Baton Rouge Hammond Scottlandville East Baton Rouge Hammond New Orleans Kenner MARYLAND/DC Baltimore Frederick
Baltimore County, East Harford Baltimore County, West Reistertown
Carroll County Hampstead Manchester MISSISSIPPI Gulfport Harrison County Jackson Clinton, Hinds County Meridian
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(aS SSS
The American Baha’ October 1980 Madison County Philadelphia x Richardson McKinney x Vicksburg Warren County x Sherman x Texarkana Altoona NORTH CAROLINA, CENTRAL University Park Parkwall x Chapel Hill Chatham County x Waco Hewitt x Durham Durham County x Greater Rowland x TEXAS, EASTERN 2 Roxboro x Baytown Anahuac x Mount Airy Surry County x Dayton x Wadesboro x Bellaire Fayette County x Orange County Hillsboro x Galveston Lake Jackson x Harris County NW Boderville x . NORTH CAROLINA, EASTERN Woodlands x Raleigh ‘Apex x Harris County SE League City x Wake Forest x Houston Bunker Hill x Hedwig Village x NORTH CAROLINA, WESTERN Hillshire x Asheville Madison x Hunterscreek Village x Charlotte Derita/Mallard Creek x Piney Point Village x Monroe x Spring Valley x Huntsville Walker County x OKLAHOMA, EASTERN La Porte Jackson County x Mayes County Muskogee x Morgan's Point x Tulsa Bixby x Livingston Alabama Indian Res. x Sand Springs x Sapulpa x TEXAS, NORTHERN Amarillo Canyon x OKLAHOMA, WESTERN Dumas x Bethany Clinton x Vernon x Weatherford x TEXAS, SOUTHERN State Ree McAllen “Brownsville x a Edinburg x Edmond Enid x = Hariiged x Midwest City Altus x Moore Lawton. x rt atl Giae y 5 Norman Lawton, x nee Oklahoma City Enid x Victoria Port Lavaca x Gutherie x VIRGINIA, NORTHERN Spencer Ree oy , x Albemarle County Crozet x ae - Alexandria Fredericksburg x The Village inton x Arlington NW Fauquier County x Fairfax County North Front Royal ss otto main ee Fairfax County South Manassas x site Corte Fairfax County SE Harrisonburg x Rockingham County Peehiand County Noni emg x Fairfax County West Occoquan x % Falls Church Harrisonburg TENNESSEE: EASTER Rockingham County x enccoe East Ridge x Greater McLean Harrisonburg x Hamilton County x Rockingham County x Cookeville Jackson County x Herndon Purceville x Knoxville Harriman x Loudoun County Leesburg x Reston Manassas x ERNE OEE; WES aa Staunton Highland County x Memphis - Arlington x Rockbridge x Nashville Columbia x Vienna Front Royal Franklin x Middleburg x Murfreesboro x Winchester x TAS, CENTRAL pie 3 VIRGINIA, SOUTHERN ete corral Newport News *Hampton x pelvehe a Norfolk Boykins x Travis County x Portsmouth < Bexar County Clarendon x Richmond Farmville x Dello, as Powhatan x Eagle Pass x Kerrville x i WEST VIRGINIA Maverick x San Antonio Marion x Charleston Belle x New Braunfels x WESTERN REGION | San Marcos Luling x Martindale x ARIZONA, NORTHERN New Braunfels x Flagstaff Coconino County x M M + Gilbert Use Peoria + El Mirage x Addison Farmers Branch x cS Sure x Arlington Grand Prairie x Phoenix + Avondale x Hamilton x Buckeye x Midlothian x Seana Dallas Duncanville x Tolleson x Farmers Branch x jl h x Beh Goiony X Scottsdale + Maricopa County Norti Flower Mound x ‘insvi ARIZONA, SOUTHERN Fewcah + Seale x x Cochise County Apache Junction x Pinal County Apache Junction x waht Sierra Vista San Xavier Reservation x Riverside x Tucson Benson x Weatherford x Garland Alien x CALIFORNIA, CENTRAL 1 Rowland x Berkeley Emeryville x Wylie x Carmel Valley Seaside x Irving Grapevine x Concord Ganeny e ton
Plano Allen
[Page 34]
The American Baha'i
Contra Costa County W JO Pinole x Cupertino j Los Altos Hills x Daly City Colima x Fremont Monte Sereno Gilroy Hillister Los Gatos Monte Sereno Marina Seaside Milpitas + Gjlroy Vallejo Monterey “Pacific Grove Seaside Monterey Carmel JD “Carmel Mountain View Los Altos Oakland Piedmont x Palo Alto *Menlo Park Portola Valley Pittsburg Antioch Redwood City Woodside x Richmond San Pablo Salinas Salinas JD San Carlos *Belmont San Francisco Pacifica x San Jose Morgan Hill San Martin x San Mateo Foster City x
San Mateo CoutyS JD *Menlo Park Santa Clara County SW Monte Sereno
Scotts Valley
Santa Cruz Davenport x Felton x
Santa Cruz County South Freedom x
Saratoga Los Altos
Sunnyvale *Belmont
Wainut Creek Emeryville
Walnut Creek/Danville JD Moraga
CALIFORNIA, CENTRAL 2
Bakersfield Bakersfield JD Taft County
Clovis Reedley
Fresno. Madera
Merced Atwater
Stockton Manteca
CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN 1
Carmichael NW Sacramento
Chico Orland
Fair Oaks/Orangeville Folsum. x
Nevada JD Cedar Ridge x Grass Valley
easkiy
ff Nevada City
Redding + Anderson JD Bumey JO
+ Central Valley JD
CALIFORNIA, NORTHERN 2
Arcata Arcata JD Eureka JD Fortuna Novato Sausalito Tibron San Rafael San Anselmo x Santa Rosa Calistoga x
Sonoma County Central *Sebastopo! Sonoma County North JD Cloverdale Healdsburg
CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN 1
Altadena + Arcadia Burbank + San Gabriel + Sierra Madre Glendale + San Gabriel Hawthorne + El Segundo La Canada/Flintridge +La Crescenta Lawndale Lomita Los Angeles unspecified Newhall/Valencia Acton Agua Dulce San Fernando Fillmore Kagel Canyon Santa Monica + El Segundo Hidden Hills x Malibu West Hollywood Wainut CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN 2 Anaheim + Fullerton “La Habra Carlsbad Lakeside Costa Mesa + Santa Ana
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Dana Point + San Clemente El Cajon Lakeside EI Cajon JD Lakeside El Centro Leucadia Encinitas Leucadia Fullerton Brea x
- La Habra
Placentia x Huntington Beach Stanton x La Mesa Lakeside Newport Beach + Laguna Beach + Seal Beach Oceanside + San Clemente Orange County S JD Capistrano Beach x + San Clemente Paim Springs + Desert JD "Indio Perris JD Perris City x Redlands East Division JD x Riverside Capistrano Beach + San Clemente San Diego North JD Borrego x
- Pala
Palomar x Victor JD + Victorville CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN 3 San Luis Obispo JD 4 Oceano x Simi Valley Moorpark x Thousand Oaks Moorpark x’ Ventura Santa Paula COLORADO, EASTERN Boulder Lafayette x Colorado Springs Manitou Springs Monument Denver Commerce City EI Paso County West _E! Paso County East Englewood Jefferson County Fort Collins La Porte x Lakewood Edgewater x Larimer County Berthoud Pueblo Beulah COLORADO, WESTERN Grand Junction “Clifton Palisade IDAHO, NIWASHINGTON, E Coeur d'Alene, ID Post Falls ~ Spokane, WA Cheney Spokane CCD 2,WA + Millwood. Walla Walla College Station x Dayton Waitsburg x Yakima Union Gap IDAHO, SOUTHERN Boise Ada County Nampa Idaho Falls Rigby Pocatello American Falls x Burley x + Fort Hall Reservation MONTANA Billings Laurel x Bozeman Unspecified isolated locality Gallatin County Park County Great Falls Blackfeet Reservation Fort Belknap Havre Helena East Helena x
- Lewis and Clark County
Missoula Cut Bank Missoula County Clinton Milltown Potomac Z x NEVADA, NORTHERN Carson City Douglas County x NEVADA, SOUTHERN Henderson East Las Vegas Las Vegas Winchester Town Paradise Town + Sunrise NEW MEXICO, NORTHERN Bemallio County Corrales x
“Santa Fe County
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
|i SS SS SE SE
[Page 35]
The American Baha'i
October 1980
NEW MEXICO, S/TEXAS, W Las Cruces + Dona Ana County OREGON Albany Lebanon Astoria Clatsop County Seaside Warrenton Bend + Deschutes County Clackamas North Estacada Molalla Coos Bay Coquille Eastside Corvallis Monroe Eugene Coburg i + Prineville Gresham Fairview Troutdale Wood Village Jackson County Jacksonville Rogue River Lane County Central Veneta McMinnville + Polk County North Bend Coquille Pendleton Enterprise Umatilla County Wallowa County Portland The Dalles Salem Monmouth Washington County Aloha UTAH Ogden Riverdale Salt Lake City *Provo Salt Lake County + Midvale Sandy WASHINGTON, NW Anacortes + Mt. Vernon Sedro-Woolley Bellevue + Greater Bellevue Bellingham Lynden Bremerton Port Madison Res. Silverdale Des Moines Normandy Park Edmonds Mulkiteo Snohomish Greater Bellevue Black Diamond Enumclaw Greater Renton Kirkland Bothell Kingsgate San Lorenzo Kitsap CCD Poulsbo Silverdale Makah Reservation Hoh Res. La Push Res. Queets Tahola Paradise Town unspecified Port Angeles Clallam CCD 1 Clallam CCD 2 Redmond + Carnation Rosehill Sea-tac Tahoma Tukwila Seattle Lake Forest Park Snohomish CCD 1 Arlington Snohomish CCD 2 Snohomish ‘Squak Valley Pine Lake Vashon-Maury Island Maury Island Woodinville Duvall Carnation Snoqualmie Kitsap CCD 2 Poulsbo WASHINGTON, SW Longview Cathlamet Wahkiakum CCD 3 Pierce CCD 3 DuPont Steilacoom Tacoma *Pierce County Peninsula Ruston, WYOMING Cheyenne Laramie County KEY:
+ denotes goals which have been accomplished.
<> x >< ><
xx
xX XX Se
x
oe 2s ee
xx xX
Sx << << ee
x
- d tes localities which had Local Assemblies prior to Ridvan 1980.
-denotes Assemblies which had adopted an extension teaching goal, but has lost its.
Assembly status sinc (corresponding secretary), Nahid Sabhari, Pour.
Participants in the July 31-August 3 Special Visit Program at the Baha'i National Center are shown in Foundation Hail at the House of Worship. Front row (left to right) are Rosemarie Redwood, Naghmeh Tebyanian, Neshat Tebyanian, Cynthia Clarke, Laura vJ.
Befort, Alberta Clarke; second row (left to right) are Zinat Tebyanian, Nelson Wallace Jr., Sousan Wallace, Barakatullah Ramshar ran, Sharon J. Ramsharran, Brent Kilgore;
third row (left to right) are Pedetha Arrington, Shahrbanoo Rashidi, Hooshang Tebyanian, Dorothy Kozlik, Lee McAdam, Jim Honatke, Connie Ellis; fourth row {left to right) are Robin Thiem, Roger Ellis, Douglas McAdam, George Grimmett, John Kozlik. The visitors came from Connecticut, Iilinois, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
= PE
Participants in the Special Visit Program held August 14-17 shown in front of the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette are (first row left to right) Mari Brooks, Risa Brooks, Betty Lou Cave, Ramina Noorassa, Renni Bailey, Noshin Rohani; (second row left to right) Helen Kintz, Ruth Hallstrom, Jeanine Gunasekaran, Diann Boone-Wallis, Kourosh Rohani; (third row left to right) Kathy Johnson,
The first Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Frederick, Maryland, was formed June 16. Members are (seated left to right) Margaret Gorelick (recording secretary), Vivian Cook
Bill Cave, Christine Olson, Gunna, Don Boone-Wallis, Touran Rohani; and (fourth row left to right) Bruce Whitmore, manager of the House of Worship Activities Office; Roxanne Brooks, Gerry Brooks, Lynn Briggs, Ramesh Noorassa, Kamran Ruintan. The visitors came from California, Illinois, lowa, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Virginia,
Washington and Wisconsin.
and (standing left to right) Peter Gorelick (chairman), Fulton Caldwell (treasurer), Judy Caldwell (librarian), Sabet Sabhani_(vicechairman), Charlene Durairaj, Agdas Payami
The American Bahai
ad VW SOW ee Fos eo ake.
October 1980
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“Child's Way,” the bi-monthly Baha'i children’s magazine, offers its youthful readers original stories, craft and science projects, poetry, articles about the Central Figures of the Faith and early believers, letters from readers, a ‘parents’ page,” book reviews, music, and edit:
The publication Way” is the responsi five-member editorial committee.
THESE DEDICATED volunteers are assisted by believers around the country who regularly contribute articles, poetry and art work.
“In addition to the friends who. send in materials for ‘Child's Way,’ we're beginning to identify a number of people whom we can ask for materials that meet certain specifications for a_ particular issue,” says Mary K. Radpour of Hixson, Tennessee, the magazine's editor for the past five years.
Other members of the editorial committee are its secretary, Janet Richards, of Yardville, New Jersey; art director Rita Leydon of Lahaska, Pennsylvania; Mildred (Mimi) McClellan of Danville, Kentucky, who contributes music for each issue; and Keith Boehme of
Richmond, Indiana, who keeps the magazine's financial records.
One of the more significant functions of the magazine, says Mrs. Radpour, is that it helps bolster a Baha'i child’s sense of identity.
“There is a strong sense of ‘lam a Baha'i, and this is my magazine,’ '’ she says.
Baha'i children can get this feeling, she explains, from seeing their stories, drawings and poems published in “Child’s Way” along with contributions from other Baha’i children.
THE EDITOR carries on a voluminous correspondence with subscribers and contributors around the world.
The usefulness of ‘Child's Way,” she says, goes far beyond the intended reading audience of 5: to 11-year-olds.
Mrs. Radpour’s mail includes letters from 13- and 14-year-olds as well as from younger children. She reports that many older children say they read the magazine thoroughly.
“Child's Way” also provides Baha'i pioneers to areas whose people are largely illiterate or semi-literate with easy-to
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Rita. Leydon, art director of Child's Way magazine, implements its layout
understand stories for use with adults. These’ stories, she says, are useful for deepenings and at the Nineteen Day Feasts.
The National Spiritual Assembly, responding to a request by the editorial committee, recently placed “Child’s Way” under the jurisdiction of the National Education Committee.
“The committee felt that the magazine was too valuable a resource for the national community not to use it,” says Mrs. Radpour. “We believe that many more things can be done with the magazine by working in closer touch with the Education Committee.”
PUBLICATION of “Child's Way” as a Baha'i magazine for children was begun in 1969.
It was preceded by a newsletterlike publication entitled “Child's Way: A Guide for Parents and Teachers” that was first published by the National Child Education Committee before it was turned over to the “Child's Way” editorial committee in 1960.
The present editorial committee has a number of specific objectives. These include developing each child's awareness of the ‘oneness of humanity, increasing his awareness of his spiritual nature and the need for its development, and providing practical approaches to dealing with the problems encountered in one's life.
Other goals include development of children’s reasoning powers, provision of a standard for love and justice, and assistance to parents and teacher: discovering and using the child’s hidden talents and virtues.
In spite of the magazine's continual need for new materials, says Mrs. Radpour, it isn’t possi.
at the direction of editor Mary K Radpour and assigns the task of it
ble to use every article that is contributed.
“However,” she says, “we do feel a moral obligation to explain our reasons for not using a particular manuscript to the person who has submitted it. Not only do we write back, but we try also to suggest some options.”
THE PRODUCTION work associated with each issue of “Child’s Way,” once the responsibility of the Baha'i Publishing Trust, is now carried out by the editorial committee.
Mailing and subscriptions continue to be handled by the Trust's Subscriber Services branch.
The publication of the magazine entails a high degree of cooperation, since no two members of the editorial committee live in the same city.
Mrs. Radpour writes articles and edits whatever materials are sent to her.
She then plans the layout of articles and illustrations and sends that material along with instructions to Mrs. Leydon, the art director.
Mrs. Leydon assigns the creation of illustrations for each article to one of a group of 15 artists who have volunteered their services to the magazine.
While waiting for the illustrations to arrive, she has the printed materials typeset.
It was only a year ago that “Child's Way” was it set in type. Prior to that, the editor typed copy for each issue on an electric typewriter.
“TYPESETTING is a welcome improvement,” says Mrs. Radpour, “because it allows more space for illustrations and more artistic freedom for the art director.”
Teamwork keeps ‘Child’s Way’ moving forward
y Se n saith i lustration to one of a group of 15 volunteer artists.
Mrs. Leydon prepares the final version of each page for printing, which is done by a private printer working in his home.
The printing follows proof reading of the issue by Mrs. Richards, who lives within a reasonable driving distance of the art director.
When the job is complete, the printed copies are mailed to Subscriber Service in Wilmette for mailing to individuat subscribers.
Mrs. Radpour says she'd like to see “Child's Way” evolve into a monthly magazine that would include complete sections for each age group.
“Every section of ‘Child's Way’ would then be able to provide craft activities, fiction, poetry, music and the like," she says, “that would be entirely appropriate for a particular age group.”
Mary K. Radpour is editor of Child's Way magazine.
