The American Bahá’í/Volume 11/Issue 2/Text
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Hand of Cause Muhájir Dies in Ecuador[edit]
DR. RAḤMATU’LLÁH MUHÁJIR
Succumbs to Heart Attack in Quito
PROFOUNDLY LAMENT UNTIMELY PASSING IN QUITO ECUADOR BELOVED HAND CAUSE RAḤMATU’LLÁH MUHÁJIR FOLLOWING HEART ATTACK COURSE HIS LATEST SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR. UNSTINTED UNRESTRAINED OUTPOURING OF PHYSICAL SPIRITUAL ENERGIES BY ONE WHO OFFERED HIS ALL PATH SERVICE NOW CEASED. POSTERITY WILL RECORD HIS DEVOTED SERVICES YOUTHFUL YEARS CRADLE FAITH HIS SUBSEQUENT UNIQUE EXPLOITS PIONEERING FIELD SOUTHEAST ASIA WHERE HE WON ACCOLADE KNIGHTHOOD BAHÁ’U’LLÁH HIS CEASELESS EFFORTS OVER TWO DECADES SINCE HIS APPOINTMENT HAND CAUSE STIMULATING IN MANY LANDS EAST WEST PROCESS ENTRY BY TROOPS. FRIENDS ALL CONTINENTS WHO MOURN THIS TRAGIC LOSS NOW SUDDENLY DEPRIVED COLLABORATION ONE WHO ENDEARED HIMSELF TO THEM THROUGH HIS GENTLENESS HIS LUMINOUS PERSONALITY HIS EXEMPLARY UNFLAGGING ZEAL HIS CREATIVE ENTHUSIASTIC APPROACH TO FULFILLMENT ASSIGNED GOALS. URGE FRIENDS EVERYWHERE HOLD MEMORIAL GATHERINGS BEFITTING HIS HIGH STATION UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENTS. MAY HIS RADIANT SOUL ABHÁ KINGDOM REAP RICH HARVEST HIS DEDICATED SELF-SACRIFICING SERVICES CAUSE GOD.
December 30,1979
WITH SORROWFUL HEAVY HEARTS WE MOURN THE SUDDEN LOSS DISTINGUISHED ILLUSTRIOUS HAND CAUSE RAḤMATU’LLÁH MUHÁJIR. HIS VAST EXPERIENCE TEACHING PIONEERING FIELDS GENEROUSLY SHARED WITH BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA. HIS NUMEROUS AND WELCOME VISITS THIS COMMUNITY CREATED NEW IMPETUS FOR ACHIEVEMENT EXPANSION CONSOLIDATION GOALS. ASSURE FAMILY, RELATIVES, FRIENDS PROFOUND LOVING SYMPATHY. SPECIAL MEMORIAL GATHERING MASHRIQU’L-ADHKÁR TO BE ANNOUNCED LATER.
December 31,1979
Fireside Month Reports Show Teaching Rise[edit]
The National Teaching Committee has begun to receive reports from communities concerning the month of firesides held last November.
These accounts indicate an increase in the level of fireside teaching, with many communities participating in the proposed month of firesides.
Some communities adapted the plan to their specific situations, while others were unable to complete the number requested because of previously scheduled events.
Following are some typical reports of community activities:
Ponca City, Oklahoma, had seekers attend every night but one during its month of firesides. On the last evening, one of the two seekers who had attended almost every fireside declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh, raising to 12 the number of believers in that city of 35,000.
Rock Hill, South Carolina, was the first Bahá’í community in that state to hold 21 consecutive days of firesides. Among the results: 14 enrollments, a Youth Club and singing group formed, and a greater spirit of love and unity.
Ada, Oklahoma, whose Assembly is numerically jeopardized, had 10 seekers who attended one or more firesides, one enrollment (of a person who lives just outside the city limits).
Texas Bahá’ís Enjoy 9 Days With Hand of Cause Khadem[edit]
By EUNICE BRAUN
Believers from Texas and neighboring states had the bounty last November of nine days of meetings in the Dallas area with the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem.
The gatherings sparked such joyous expressions of gratitude as these from the friends:
“Thank you for bringing the Hand of the Cause Mr. Khadem to Texas!”
“WE WISH to thank you for the super weekend with the beloved Hand of the Cause Mr. Khadem and Mrs. Khadem. We pray this rededication lasts—there is so much to do.”
And from a mother in Texas, writing of her 15-year-old son’s first meeting with a Hand of the Cause:
“He was so impressed... He (Mr. Khadem) is a precious gift, and we feel thankful for this opportunity to experience the pure pleasure of his presence.”
Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem also participated in many of the events that were sponsored by the Continental Board of Counsellors and the Auxiliary Board.
The visit was planned and coordinated by Auxiliary Board members Hormoz Bastani and Eunice Braun with the Spiritual Assemblies of Houston and Dallas acting as hosts.
THE VISIT began Saturday afternoon, November 3, when the four Auxiliary Board members who were present and 10 of their assistants met with Mr. Khadem. That evening, they spread out to attend many of the Nineteen Day Feasts in the Dallas area.
Among the highlights of the visit were two day-long conferences—in Dallas on Sunday, November 4, and in Houston on Sunday, November 11, with a total of nearly 800 Bahá’ís from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and other nearby states attending.
The first of these conferences, held on the 22nd anniversary of the passing of the beloved Guardian, was dedicated to his memory.
Mr. Khadem, who was appointed a Hand of the Cause by Shoghi Effendi in 1952, shared many memories of the Guardian—memories that included Mr. Khadem’s many visits with Shoghi Effendi, as well as many tasks carried out on his behalf.
The Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem greets visitors to a Bahá’í conference last November in Dallas, Texas, during his nine-day visit to that state. Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem is second from right in the photo.
Mr. Khadem spoke of the Guardian’s great confidence in the American Bahá’í community; of his unremitting labors throughout his 36 years of Guardianship in laying the groundwork for the institutions of the Faith, and in launching the Divine Plan—including the world-embracing Ten Year Crusade that spread the Faith to nearly every country and territory.
“DEAR FRIENDS,” he said. “Shoghi Effendi did not leave us until he had done everything for the Cause of God, and had set in motion everything the Cause needed.”
With zeal and humor. Mrs. Khadem offered her own perspective on implementing the Seven Year Plan.
“Each successive chapter or stage of God’s Divine Plan,” she said, “is the unifying force for the believers as each of us works for the established goals.”
In Houston the following week, the Hand of the Cause stressed the importance of studying the Guardian’s writings.
“If you study his writings,” said Mr. Khadem, “you will learn what your station is. And when we know our station, we will also know our responsibilities.”
AT EACH conference, Mr. Khadem shared his memories of the Hand of the Cause of God Enoch Olinga—of his great, hearty spirit, his wonderful sense of humor, and his desire always to see the Bahá’ís happy.
“He is happy now,” said Mr. Khadem.
The vital need to create unity and harmony among the believers was strongly emphasized.
“Take the first step,” Mr. Khadem urged. “Even if you think you are right, it is good to tell another believer with whom you have had a difference that you are sorry.
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Inside ... LOS ANGELES Bahá’ís present 11th annual Human Rights Awards. Page 4 BAHÁ’Í YOUTH from Illinois and Indiana gather for College Club Conference. Page 5 UNITED NATIONS luncheon hosted by the Bahá’í International Community celebrates the International Year of the Child. Page 6 THE NATIONAL Teaching Committee charts the progress of Assembly and Locality goals during the first phase of the Seven Year Plan. Page 8 NATIONAL SPIRITUAL Assembly member Richard D. Betts resigns to pioneer with his family to Portugal. Page 9 |
“God Himself will right the wrong in due time, for He knows everything, but meanwhile the Faith is not harmed.”
Again and again. Mr. Khadem said, “Bahá’u’lláh knows our hearts. He knows everything we say and do!”
AT THE AFTERNOON session in Houston, Mrs. Braun spoke about the new Seven Year Plan, stressing the need to plant our feet firmly in the soil of the local community and to contribute our best efforts toward strengthening the Local Spiritual Assembly, “to pray for its success, and to cherish, nurture, love, assist and
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Editorials The Most Fitting Memorial Within the last five months, the Bahá’í world has suffered the cruel loss of two of its youngest Hands of the Cause of God, one brutally murdered by unknown assailants, the other succumbing to a heart attack while on a teaching trip to South America. Mr. Olinga’s senseless and tragic death leaves us angry and bewildered, while Dr. Muhájir’s untimely passing evokes acute feelings of loss and emptiness. We search our hearts for an explanation for these dreadful occurrences. THE HAND of the Cause William Sears’ challenge, forcefully delivered at the end of his talk at the House of Worship following the memorial service for Mr. Olinga, to “Make it count!” still rings in our ears. How can we make these devastating losses count? How can we assuage our sorrow and pay a fitting tribute to these great heralds of God’s Cause, “through whom the sea of bestowal hath moved, and the breeze of the favour of God, the Lord of mankind, hath wafted”? The most befitting way to redeem the deaths of these illustrious souls is to offer, in their names, sacrificial efforts in the path of service to the Cause they championed so magnificently. Let every individual, every family, every community perform at least one special deed in their memory. A special contribution to the Fund, a traveling teaching trip, a fireside, an act of service to one in need—these are the sort of deeds that will bring consolation to a bereaved community and joy to the souls of our beloved Hands who now consort in the Abhá Kingdom with their beloved Guardian, whom they served so faithfully. No doubt the Concourse on High, having welcomed these redoubtable warriors in God’s Army into its midst with great fanfare, stands ready to unleash a new outpouring of spiritual power upon the world. Let our sacrificial deeds, performed in their names, become the magnet that attracts these spiritual energies. Youth Need Our Support There are definite indications that Bahá’í youth activity is on the upswing. Following a meeting in October with 24 youth from around the country, the National Teaching Committee reported that an extraordinary amount of activity has been initiated by the conference participants. The National Youth Committee, operating under the guidance of the National Teaching Committee, is off to an ambitious start. At its first meeting, January 4-6, the committee outlined a promising plan to stimulate teaching and deepening among the youth. AS THE GOOD NEWS of youth activities comes in, so does news about the concerns of youth. There seems to be a real and pressing need for social activities—dances, parties, hay rides, roller skating outings and the like seem quite popular now. Such activities fill a need the youth have for fellowship with each other. They help strengthen the bonds of trust and friendship, foster identification with their Bahá’í friends as their primary peer group, and form the basis for teaching and deepening activities. There are indications, however, that in some quarters adults are not giving the youth the encouragement and support they need. Some older people object to the dances the youth want to arrange on the grounds that the type of dancing presently in vogue is not in keeping with Bahá’í standards. We find this view unfortunate. There is nothing in the Bahá’í Writings that prohibits dancing of any kind. The dancing that is popular among youth may indeed seem strange to some adults, but this is surely no cause for objection. While certain forms of dancing and the lyrics to some songs are lewd or suggestive, other forms of dancing and songs more in keeping with Bahá’í standards can be used. IT IS ESSENTIAL that we provide a release for the energies of our youth and not stifle them. If we fail to offer an outlet for the youths’ natural urgings for social activities, they will turn elsewhere and the Bahá’í community will seem devoid of relevance and spirit. Our youth are our most precious resource. They are a gold mine of energy and enthusiasm. They are the leaders of tomorrow who will steer the Cause of God through times of unparalleled crisis and triumph during which the Faith will emerge as a visible force in the world. If we are to meet the future with strength, we must nurture, encourage and serve our youth along the lines in which they are inclined, so that they become confirmed Bahá’ís, ready and able to tackle the future with its manifold challenges and opportunities. |
This float was among those entered last October 20 in the annual Homecoming Parade at the University of Nevada, Reno. The float was made by members of the Bahá’í Student Association at the university.
COMMENT
Friends Must Be Ready To Talk With Christians[edit]
By Theodore S. Heizer
Recently, I have been visited by members of the Mormon Church and by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
I am always impressed by their appearance; they are nicely dressed, well-mannered, and sincere in their commitment to their religious beliefs.
THEY ALSO show a great interest in the teachings of the Bible, and are quite articulate in discussing them. I would be at a loss to enter into any sort of meaningful dialogue with these people if I did not have a thorough understanding of the Bible myself.
Three years ago, with other members of my Bahá’í community, I learned “how to teach the Bahá’í Faith through the eyes of Christianity” in a study course developed and taught by Bahá’ís Clarence and Florence Schuette of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
It was this course that made me realize the importance, if not the necessity, of a Bahá’í in this country having a good working knowledge of the teachings of Christianity. My experiences with Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, evangelists and other Christians have confirmed this many times over.
We cannot expect Christians to be able to grasp the essential connection between Christ and Bahá’u’lláh if we are unable to explain it to them from their point of view. It’s like trying to give someone directions to your home without knowing exactly where they are coming from.
‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ expressed this principle often in His writings. In The Secret of Divine Civilization, He discusses the importance of being educated in the teachings of all the world’s religions.
As an example of this, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá points out how such knowledge can promote understanding and agreement between individuals of differing religious views, in this case a Muslim and a Christian:
“Should ... the Christian observe that the Muslim is better versed in the fundamentals of Christianity than the Christian priests themselves, and understands the purport of the scriptures even better than they, he will gladly accept the Muslim’s arguments, and he would indeed have no other recourse.” (The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 36)
Obviously, the same can be said about a Bahá’í who is teaching a Christian.
IT IS EXTREMELY important for Christians to understand that the Bahá’í Faith is not just “another religion,” or a “new religion,” but that it is the continuation of God’s Revelation to mankind, a Revelation of which Christianity was, and is, an integral part.
Once again, we find clear evidence of this truth in the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
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This month’s article, “American Bahá’ís Must Be Prepared for Christians,” was written by Theodore S. Heizer of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Mr. Heizer, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, is employed by Southeastern Wisconsin In-School Telecommunications. He is chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Oconomowoc. |
“The Bahá’í Message is a call to religious unity, and not an invitation to a new religion ... It is the ancient path cleared of the debris of imaginations and superstitions of men, of the debris of strife and misunderstanding and is again made a clear path to the sincere seeker...” (Quoted in God, His Mediator, and Man)
Such is the case; Christians must come to know that Bahá’ís are striving not to compete with other religions, but to advance the cause of religious unity.
FOR AMERICAN Bahá’ís, becoming well-versed in the Christian teachings is, I believe, not simply a good idea, it is an obligation.
The intensity of religious fervor in this country is increasing day by day. In the forefront of this burgeoning of emotion and soul-searching are the evangelical church movements, as well as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Mormons, and religious “cults” such as the Unification Church and other such groups.
We have been told by the leaders of our Faith to be prepared for attacks on our beliefs by members of these Christian religions.
In The Advent of Divine Justice (p. 12), Shoghi Effendi emphatically calls upon the believers in North America to be aware of these conditions, and to respond accordingly with “precautionary and defensive measures to be devised, coordinated, and carried out to counteract the full force of the inescapable attacks which the organized efforts of ecclesiastical organizations of various denominations will progressively launch and relentlessly pursue ...”
The main source of verbal ammunition that these groups will (and do) draw upon is the Bible. If we know more about the Bible and how to use it than they do, we will be truly prepared.
I do not mean to suggest here that we enter into battle with the Christians; rather, the opposite. We want to avoid contention as much as possible, and instead establish unity and accord with them.
Then will our Christian brothers and sisters begin to understand that the prophecies have been fulfilled, and that the Glory of God has indeed come, shedding His spiritual light over the whole earth.
A ‘New Believers’ Conference’ was held last November 3 at the Blanding, Utah, Library. Participants came from the Blanding area; Salt Lake City; Moab, Utah, and Arizona.
Money: Energy to Fuel the Cause of God[edit]
It would be very difficult to live without money. In today’s complex world, money is an indispensable medium of exchange.
Imagine how difficult it would be to attempt to barter and trade for your necessities. For example, it would be impractical for a farmer to use his harvest of corn to pay the phone company, buy gasoline, or pay for a ticket to a movie, etc.
HOW MUCH MORE difficult it would be for an accountant to try and exchange his skills for a bus ride, or for a history professor to barter his knowledge in exchange for a pair of shoes.
By itself, of course, money is merely paper or metal. It is what money represents that is important.
Money represents energy—the energy expended by people in their daily lives.
The money a person earns is a symbol, a token of the energy he has expended for his services. After receiving his pay, a wage earner is in possession of “stored energy”—and this energy is very powerful.
Depending on the wishes of the person who is in possession of the energy, it can fuel automobiles, build houses, feed families, provide entertainment or give instruction.
BECAUSE OF its power, money has acquired a bad reputation. Some think it is corrupting, but money is neither good nor bad—it is simply a tool that enables us to accomplish our objectives. It can be used wastefully, or wrongfully, or it can be used in ways that are beneficial to the individual and to the world.
In our society, people are bombarded and saturated with appeals to spend their money—to invest their energy—in material things.
Great promises are made that power, prestige, happiness, romance, self-fulfillment, etc., are inherent in the things we purchase—cars, cosmetics, insurance, clothing, and so forth.
We all need material things. For most of us, the major part of our energy is spent in providing for the necessities—food, clothing, housing, etc.
But Bahá’u’lláh tells us to be guided by the principles of moderation, detachment, and sacrifice in their acquisition and use. This means that we must recognize the uses and limitations of material things.
IT IS IMPORTANT to be warm, to be well fed, to be attractive, but we should not be fooled into thinking that security can be found in a deodorant or that a bottle of cola has the power to unite mankind.
If we are able to maintain a clear perspective on the place material things have in our lives, then we can be sure that the majority of our energy will be purposefully spent.
By following the principles that Bahá’u’lláh has given to us, we can ensure that we have a maximum amount of energy available to expend on the most important work of all—building the new World Order.
We can readily see why work is so highly prized in the Bahá’í Faith. When performed in the spirit of service, our daily activity can be an act of worship.
IN ADDITION, money, the energy we accumulate in exchange for our work, can be channeled into accomplishing the work of the Cause.
No matter what kind of work we do, the energy we expend on the job is transformed into money that can be used to support the work of the Faith.
This support can be indirect, such as food to maintain our health, items to keep us clean and attractive, a home in which to raise a family or practice hospitality, books to enhance our learning, etc., or it can be direct. We can give some of our accumulated energy to the Faith in the form of contributions.
Therefore, we can see why money is of great value to Bahá’ís. It represents our energy, the expending of our very lives.
By applying the principles of moderation, detachment, and sacrifice to our use of this energy, we can see how the life of every Bahá’í can be consecrated to serving the unfolding of the Kingdom of God on earth.
This year, my Ayyám-i-Há gifts were contributions to the Fund in honor of my friends!
NTR Howard Graham: He Served Faith to the End[edit]
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
On November 4, 1979, Howard Graham, one of our staunch and loving National Treasurer’s Representatives, entered the next world.
We would like to give you a brief glimpse of the devotion of this radiant servant of Bahá’u’lláh.
On the evening of November 3, Howard, who had been ill for a number of years, did not feel well and stayed home from Feast.
After the Feast, members of his community brought the Fund contributions to him so that he could carry out his duties as Treasurer.
Howard entered and receipted every contribution, made out the checks to the various Funds, and went to bed. During the night, the anniversary of the passing of the beloved Guardian, Howard died.
Howard had a deep, resonant voice, a wide smile, and a warm and loving regard for all people. In reviewing our correspondence with him, we felt that the following quote from one of his letters typified his service to the Faith, even to the last:
“Working for Bahá’u’lláh is the best job I ever had. On all other jobs, I got paid either weekly or monthly. Bahá’u’lláh is some boss. He pays you every day with the spiritual coin of the realm. This is one job I’ll never quit. Don’t want a vacation, don’t need a union, and the job is permanent.”
God bless you, Howard Graham. May each of us become as rich in our love for Bahá’u’lláh as you.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
the Bahá’ís of the United States
Dorothy W. Nelson, Treasurer
Time Now To Make $ ‘Sense’[edit]
(The following poem, entitled “The Time Has Come,” was submitted by George Savitt, the National Treasurer’s Representative for Southern Florida.)
•
- The time has come,
- our Treasurer said,
- to lift the Fund
- out of the red.
- One way to bring
- it back to health
- is to learn
- “The Secret of Wealth.”
- Another choice
- to save the day
- is to travel
- “The Surest Way.”
- Your NTR stands
- ready to teach,
- just call or write,
- he’s well in reach.
- The time is short,
- the job’s immense,
- but success is assured
- in dollars and sense!
Letters to the Treasurer
S.C. Family Shows Spirit of Sacrifice[edit]
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
I would like to share with you a story about a family that was recently taught about the Fund.
Its members include a mother and four sons, ages 16, 14, 12 and nine. We discussed the Fund and they were given a temporary Fund box.
Apparently, the meaning of sacrifice, “to make sacred,” made a deep impression on the boys.
Two of them attended classes during Children’s Week at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, where they learned to conduct a Bahá’í Feast.
On the first Feast day after their return home, the boys planned the Feast, to which other Bahá’ís were invited.
During consultation, their Fund box was picked up—it was quite heavy.
They were asked how they had earned all that money. The answers came: “I helped wash a car.” “I cut the grass.” “I worked at school.” “I saved candy money.” “I found a quarter.” “I burned boxes for a service station man.” “My brother brought me a glass of water and I paid him.”
This is only the beginning. There will be more Feasts in that town. The 16-year-old took a calendar from the wall and circled the remaining Feast days for the year.
The next Feast will no doubt be a cooperative effort of this family and the community’s newly-developing Local Spiritual Assembly.
Kershaw, South Carolina
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
We are professional musicians in the Boston area. Despite the frequent “dry spells” for music work, we would like to contribute our earnings from a restaurant job that we had the evening of the National Spiritual Assembly’s visit to Boston.
We were deeply moved and inspired by the message that was conveyed by the National Assembly, and we have resolved to serve the Faith with renewed vigor.
We have had the bounty of contributing our services as musicians to the Cause of God, as music has proven to be a successful teaching tool. In fact, we were taught the Faith by fellow musicians.
We have enclosed our earnings for that night’s work, except for the amount we spent on a picnic lunch for three lovely Hispanic families (about 15 people). They are our neighbors, and we took them to Green Acre for an afternoon. They loved hearing the Message of Bahá’u’lláh and they basked in the love of the Bahá’ís at Green Acre.
We had the added bounty of several believers giving a fireside completely in Spanish. One of the seekers insisted on saying her “favorite prayer” from the Spanish prayer book she had bought at a previous fireside.
Our band, “Reality,” gave a concert in Bahá’í Hall, after which the families went to the bookstore to buy copies of Oraciones Bahá’í.
When it was time for the Green Acre group photo, all the seekers wanted to be in it. Their lovely faces added to the diversity and were a joy to behold.
We have follow-up plans for Spanish-speaking firesides in our community.
Praise be to God that we are given such teaching opportunities, and that Massachusetts can now join the other goal states with love and enthusiasm to win our goals.
Malden, Massachusetts
Los Angeles Presents Human Rights Awards[edit]
Nearly 400 people gathered last December 9 at Norris Theatre on the campus of the University of Southern California for the 11th annual Human Rights Awards presentations by the Bahá’ís of Los Angeles County.
The program, which featured entertainment by England Dan and John Ford Coley and the Children of Bahá, was widely publicized by the Los Angeles media.
THE RECIPIENTS of the awards were chosen for their outstanding work with children, in keeping with the theme of the presentation, “Love That Child.” They are:
• Dr. Robert Nichols, a nationally known surgeon at the Los Angeles Orthopedic Hospital who founded an orthopedic clinic in Calexico, California, that provides free medical care to any child or adolescent from Mexico or the U.S.
Since starting the clinic in 1961, Dr. Nichols has seen and treated practically every possible orthopedic problem: twisted limbs, polio crippling, spinal deformities, club feet ... all free of charge.
• Evelyn Lindy DeWit, executive director of the Girl’s Club of Pasadena, a multi-facility service agency that serves more than 1,400 young women in daily, out-of-school educational and guidance programs.
• Dr. George Fischbeck, a Los Angeles television meteorologist who is responsible for such youth-oriented service projects as his annual drive to collect toys for children at the Porterville State Hospital and his work with schools on the Navajo Tribal Reservation.
Dr. Fischbeck has won an Emmy and three other national TV awards for excellence for his in-school science program.
The inter-community awards program involved all of the Local Spiritual Assemblies in Los Angeles County and was hosted by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Los Angeles.
Recipients of the 1979 Bahá’í Human Rights Awards presented by the Bahá’ís of Los Angeles County were (left to right) Dr. George Fischbeck, Mrs. Evelyn Lindy DeWit, and Dr. Robert Nichols. The 11th annual awards presentation was held at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Counsellor Sarah M. Pereira with Auxiliary Board members and their assistants who attended a two-day Training Institute for assistants to the Board held last October 27-28 in the Miami, Florida, area. From left to right are Dr. Sam McClellan, Miss Susan Gerard, Dr. Duane Dumbleton, Mrs. Linda Brown, Richard Mellman (partially hidden), June Eastmond Gikuuri, Farhang Darabi, Mrs. Dorothy Roberts, Mrs. Leota Lockman, Dr. John Hatcher, Mrs. Annalean Schwandes, Dr. William Tucker, Counsellor Pereira, Mrs. Ann Valk, Benjamin Levy.
Counsellors Host All-Florida Training Session for Assistants[edit]
An All-Florida Training Institute for assistants to the Auxiliary Board, sponsored by the Continental Board of Counsellors for North America, was held last October 27-28 in the Miami area.
The meeting brought together Continental Counsellor Sarah M. Pereira, the two Auxiliary Board members assigned to that state, Dr. William Tucker and Benjamin Levy, and their 10 assistants serving the northern, central and southern Florida districts, along with Auxiliary Board members Susan Gerard and Dr. Sam McClellan.
THE PURPOSES of the Institute, the first of its kind ever held in Florida, were to enhance the understanding of assistants to the Auxiliary Board of their sacred responsibilities; to outline ways in which the Auxiliary Boards can better reinforce the work of Local Spiritual Assemblies and individual believers in carrying out the objectives of the Seven Year Plan as set forth by the Universal House of Justice and directed by the National Spiritual Assembly; and to feast in the spiritual fellowship that such an occasion would engender.
Counsellor Pereira gave the keynote address, “The Seven Year Plan and You”—a digest of appeals to the Bahá’í world from the Universal House of Justice.
She and the four Auxiliary Board members shared the rostrum with presentations on a variety of topics dealing with the scope and duties of the Board members for Propagation and Protection and their assistants, and the relationship of assistants to Board members, Local Spiritual Assemblies, District Teaching Committees, and individual believers.
THE TWO assistants for Protection and eight for Propagation offered comments on the strengths, weaknesses and challenges in each of their areas of service.
Dr. Tucker and Mr. Levy focused on the specific developments in the three Florida districts, examining and exposing opportunities waiting to be seized upon to advance the work of the Cause.
Throughout the Institute, there was open discussion and a free exchange of views that strengthened the bonds of affection among the participants and renewed their commitment to serve the local institutions and the friends with increased ardor, devotion and humility.
House of Worship Sees Holiday Attendance Rise[edit]
Because of soaring fuel costs and other economic considerations, attendance at the Bahá’í House of Worship was relatively low throughout most of 1979—but not during the final week of the year.
For the six-day period from Christmas to New Year’s day, attendance rose dramatically over recent years.
In 1977 there were 1,596 visitors to the House of Worship during that same period. In 1978 the number increased slightly to 1,988.
In 1979, 3,149 people visited the House of Worship from Christmas to the end of the year.
Even more exciting is the number of places from which these visitors came.
From the U.S.:
Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
From around the world:
Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, France, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, India, Italy, Iran, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Paraguay, the Philippines, Poland, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Scotland, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand.
Goals, Persian Committees Meet[edit]
The International Goals Committee and the recently-formed Persian Affairs Committee held meetings January 26-27 in Houston, Texas.
Persian believers living in the Houston area were invited to meet January 26 with the Persian Affairs Committee to consult on the dispersal of newly-arrived Persian believers to goal areas throughout the world.
This directive from the Universal House of Justice also was the topic of consultation between the International Goals Committee and Persian Affairs Committee.
Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh of New York City, a member of the International Goals Committee, spoke to Persian believers about pioneering possibilities.
Tunisia, Uganda, West Germany and the Windward Islands.
All in only six days!
The House of Worship Activities Committee and its staff wish to thank all of you throughout the country who gave time and energy to serve at the House of Worship in 1979.
Responding to the tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world would be impossible without such generous and loving assistance.
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VANGUARD Youth News |
Illinois, Indiana Youth Hold College Club Conference[edit]
An atmosphere of unity and friendship permeated the first Bahá’í College Club Conference for youth from Indiana and Illinois last October 19-20.
The conference, held at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, drew club members from six universities.
ELEANOR Hutchens, an assistant to the Auxiliary Board, opened the conference, relating stories from The Dawn-Breakers in her welcoming address.
Ernie Lopez, superintendent of grounds at the Bahá’í National Center, urged the youth to promote love and unity throughout the world and to strengthen the bonds of friendship among Bahá’ís.
He stressed the acquisition of the attribute of love as exemplified by the Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Youth-oriented, fun-filled workshops were held during the afternoon, dealing with pioneering, career goals, Bahá’í interaction in a non-Bahá’í world, and the principles of Bahá’í marriage.
The workshops created a feeling of closeness and love, as everyone had an opportunity to share thoughts and life experiences. The number of people in each workshop allowed an intimacy that sparked instant friendships throughout the entire group.
THE EVENING program was an open, publicized event at which Beverly Ruhe of Evanston, Illinois, performed two songs from the album Flight. Her husband, Doug Ruhe, then presented a talk on racial prejudice from a Bahá’í perspective.
The program was attended by community members and non-Bahá’ís, as well as by visiting club members.
Following the meeting, many Bahá’ís gathered at the Urbana Bahá’í Center for a slide show depicting the spirituality of the Faith through nature. The presentation was made by J.F. Strain, a member of the Indiana District Teaching Committee.
Sunday’s dawn prayers were held on the quadrangle of the University of Illinois campus.
Following breakfast, a brainstorming session was held on problems and concerns common to Bahá’í Clubs. Topics discussed included attendance, delegation of tasks, social activities, planning large proclamations, inter-club newsletters, and the pooling of resources.
The conference closed with a slide presentation on India’s Rabbani School for Boys by Tom Kubala, one of the consulting architects for the school.
Enthusiasm ran high as the participants looked forward to an even larger gathering next fall.
Bahá’ís from six universities in Indiana and Illinois gathered last October 19-20 for the first Bahá’í College Club Conference at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
Ernie Lopez (standing at left) speaks of love and unity, as exemplified by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, during the first Bahá’í College Club Conference last October 19-20 at the University of Illinois.
UCLA College Club Stays Busy[edit]
The Bahá’í College Club of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) has been busy this school year with a number of activities. Here is a sample of what they planned for the fall quarter:
• The Bahá’í Club was represented in an Activities Faire for all UCLA student organizations.
• The club held a bake sale on campus.
• Regular deepenings are being held on the book, Call to the Nations.
• The club made a presentation to the Children’s Center as a tribute to the International Year of the Child.
• A teaching trip to Northern California was planned for the winter quarter break.
• The club reports that one of the greatest unity-building activities it has on campus is the regular lunches to which all the Bahá’í friends are invited each Tuesday following club meetings.
COLLEGE CLUBS: What kinds of teaching activities work for you? How do you spread the Faith on campus? Please write to the National Youth Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, so that we can share your ideas with others!
W. Florida Youth Report On ‘Touchstone’ Success[edit]
The National Youth Committee has received the following report of the second Touchstone Weekend planned by the Youth Club of West Central Florida:
“Our Touchstone Weekend No. 2, held December 8-9, was a great success. About 28 Bahá’ís and friends took part in this camping trip.
“Seven adults and three small children were in the group. The ages of the youth ranged from 13 to 23, with the average age being 15. There were two non-Bahá’í guests who were attending their first Bahá’í function.
“THE WEATHER was mild and sunny, absolutely perfect for camping, and the tents were soon erected and the camp put in order. As it turned out, the tents were strictly for scenery, as everyone wound up sleeping in pin-wheel fashion around a large bonfire.
“It was too cool for swimming, so the youth went hiking in the surrounding woods and discovered a spectacularly beautiful forested sinkhole area not far from the campsite.
“Many years ago, sinkholes had caused portions of the woods to drop 50 feet or more, leaving steep and irregular gorges, which look more like North Carolina than Florida.
“The sinkholes are filled with fallen leaves and berry bushes and lovely trees. Transported to another world, the youth explored this wonderland, helping each other up and down the leafy inclines.
“IT WAS HERE that the idea of the bus was born. Resting on a sun-dappled clay promontory, the youth wished that some of their Bahá’í friends could share this with them, and some of them wondered how they were going to make it to their next rendezvous, the Youth Conference in Atlantic Beach, Florida, on December 21-23.
“They realized that the big problem was transportation. ‘Let’s get a second-hand bus!’ ‘Yeah, and paint it with rainbows!’ ‘And a Hidden Word on the back of every seat!’ ‘We could memorize them by changing seats every 15 minutes.’ ‘It shouldn’t be too hard to earn the money for it.’ ‘Let’s start looking!’ By the end of the camping trip, ‘the bus was already built,’ so to speak.
“We always eat well, and the system of each person bringing his portion of the menu works perfectly. For supper, we had barbecued chicken cooked on the outdoor fire. Then we built a big bonfire and sat around it singing Bahá’í songs and telling stories from The Dawn-Breakers.
“The youth had placed their sleeping bags around the fire to sit on, and as they sang and chatted into the night, they fell asleep where they lay, close to the glowing embers of a huge log.
“WE AWOKE at dawn to the thunk, thunk, thunk of an axe wielded by one of the youth who had braved the morning chill to build up the fire.
“When we gathered for prayers, and more stories from The Dawn-Breakers, the atmosphere of love and unity was truly tangible.
“After lunch and another ramble through the woods, we broke camp and headed in our separate directions. Three youth had a six-hour drive ahead of them, as they came from South Florida. Two of them had declared at Winter School two weeks before, and with them was a non-Bahá’í who had announced around the campfire that he would like to become a Bahá’í as soon as he had investigated it a little more.
“I wish that adult Bahá’ís had an opportunity to grow as close as these youth are becoming through these Touchstone Weekends and their other activities. It makes me so happy to see them putting Bahá’í principles into action.
“ALTHOUGH the nucleus of this group has grown quite close and has many past experiences in common, they quickly absorb all newcomers into their activities, making them feel welcome and included, with the usual result of creating some excited seekers.
“We have never discussed the need to avoid ‘cliquishness’ because it has never been necessary. The youth are amoeba-like in their tendency to absorb everyone, including adults and smaller children.
“We’re also learning to use consultation in working out the ground rules, so that no adult adviser has to use his authority.
“As a result, the kids are lovingly and eagerly cooperative, and each adult is just one of the group, and a good deal of demonstrated affection flows between the younger and older participants. Everyone leaves with such a glow and an eagerness to return.
“Our next Touchstone Weekend will probably be in April during spring holidays, and may cover two nights.”
The Bahá’ís of Central Lane County (Eugene), Oregon, held a garage sale of items donated by Bahá’í community members and used the proceeds to put up a billboard commemorating the International Year of the Child. The billboard was placed on the only road leading into a community in which the Bahá’ís of Central Lane presently are teaching.
UN Luncheon Celebrates Year of the Child[edit]
Dr. Victor de Araujo (right), representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations, welcomes representatives of 17 governments at the UN to a luncheon last November 27 commemorating the International Year of the Child. Seated (left to right) are keynote speaker Dr. Hossein B. Danesh, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Ottawa and chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada; Dr. William Burnham, UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch; Edward Marks, associate director, IYC Secretariat; and Dr. Wilma Brady, representative to the UN of the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. Dr. Brady and her alternate representative, Mrs. Nancy Mondschein, cooperated in organizing this Bahá’í International Community program.
The Bahá’í International Community hosted a luncheon program last November 27 at 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, as a part of the worldwide Bahá’í cooperation during the International Year of the Child.
The meeting, whose theme was “The Violence-Free Society: A Gift for Our Children,” was attended by 100 guests including representatives of 17 government missions to the UN, members of the UN Secretariat, and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) at the UN.
THE GUESTS heard talks by three speakers—two of them members of the UN Secretariat, and the third a Bahá’í, Dr. Hossein Danesh, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Ottawa and chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada.
Dr. Danesh, who authored the monograph, “The Violence-Free Society,” published in observance of IYC by the Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá’í Faith, discussed the Bahá’í views on the education of children.
He explained that, in order to eliminate violence in the future, the present generation of children must be taught to understand the reality of the organic unity of the human race.
“They have to be educated to see that they are a part and parcel of this universe, of this humanity ... that if one of them is going to be ill, diseased, suffering, the whole of the organism of mankind is going to suffer,” said Dr. Danesh.
IN ADDITION, he said, each child must be educated and encouraged to grow and develop from a state of self-centeredness to a state of love and awareness for others, until at last he becomes “...a human being who is concerned about others, directed by the needs of others, less and less preoccupied with his own wants and needs, and more and more willing to sacrifice his comfort and needs ... for the sake of others.”
Dr. Danesh also emphasized the need to educate our children to be “cooperative, not competitive.”
He said: “We live in a very unusual time. It is unusual because it considers things that are abnormal to be normal. Human beings are not by nature competitive, nor is competitiveness a virtue.
“It is imperative,” he continued, “for the world community and for the educators of mankind to bring to the world’s attention that the law of growth in the normal growth of human beings eventually requires cooperation, and that cooperation, not competition, is the outcome of human growth.
“TO CREATE a violence-free society,” Dr. Danesh concluded, “we must educate our children according to those principles that are in harmony with the laws of life.”
Following Dr. Danesh’s talk, copies of his monograph were distributed to the guests.
Regarding the Bahá’í role in the future, Dr. Victor de Araujo, chairman of the meeting and Bahá’í International Representative to the UN, commented:
“Since the well-being of children—their education and development—is a fundamental concern of the Bahá’í world community, Bahá’ís everywhere have not hesitated in supporting wholeheartedly the aims of the International Year of the Child, which emphasize the physical, emotional and mental needs of children.
“The distinct contribution made by Bahá’í communities, however, has been in the area of moral and spiritual education, based on the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, and it is for this reason that Bahá’í communities will continue to make an important contribution to the future well-being of all the children of this planet.”
Mr. Khadem[edit]
Continued From Page 1
obey it, as the Universal House of Justice urges us to do.”
At the close of each conference, Mr. Khadem graciously consented to speak to the many Persian believers in their own language, helping to renew their assurance in the promises of Bahá’u’lláh, recalling the far-seeing vision of the Guardian, and helping them to orient their efforts to the work of the Faith in America.
In both Dallas and Houston, special evening meetings were held to honor the members of their Local Spiritual Assemblies and pay tribute to their hard work and dedication.
On another evening, the youth of the District were invited to meet with Mr. Khadem.
“HOW I WISH I were a youth again so I could serve the Cause in these days,” he told them.
“Study The Advent of Divine Justice,” Mr. Khadem urged the youth. “Memorize it!”
Mr. Khadem was the guest at a fireside in LaPorte, Texas, while Mrs. Khadem spoke at a fireside sponsored by the Bahá’í community of Fort Worth, and at another one sponsored by the Rice University Bahá’í Club in Houston.
Mr. Khadem’s final appearance in Texas was at the commemoration of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh at the Houston Bahá’í Center.
Through the auspices of the Bahá’í College Clubs at Rice and at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, excellent accommodations for the conferences were obtained at no cost.
The feelings of the Texas believers about the great bounty of having had Mr. Khadem with them were summed up by Mr. Bastani when he said at the conference in Houston:
“Remember this day. You will tell your children and grandchildren that you were here with our beloved Hand of the Cause, Mr. Khadem, at this conference!”
Detroit ‘Celebration’ Completes Advisor Training[edit]
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Detroit, Michigan, played host last December 1-2 to 65 adults and children from throughout Michigan for a “Weekend Celebration” at the Detroit Bahá’í Center.
Participants from seven Local Assemblies, with their families, joined the friends from Detroit for the fifth and final training session in the Local Education Advisor Program sponsored by the National Education Committee.
THE PURPOSE of the program is to train representatives of Local Assemblies, on a statewide basis, to serve as Education Advisors in their respective communities.
Participants are encouraged to look beyond “children’s classes” as the only means of providing Bahá’í educational experiences for young people. Ways of incorporating children and youth into Bahá’í calendar events, especially the Nineteen Day Feast, is an important focus of consultation at these meetings.
In addition to exposing local Advisors to educational theory, methods and materials, an emphasis in the program is on consultation and communication skills, in the hope that these friends can serve as effective advocates for children and youth, and as catalysts to their communities in the integration of young Bahá’ís into community activities.
In Detroit, 29 adults and 19 children planned and celebrated a Unity Feast together as a part of the training program.
THE ADVISOR program was first piloted last winter in Indiana. Michigan is the second state to which it has been taken.
Seven individuals in the U.S. have been trained to help expand the program to other areas. They are Ida Abercrombie (North Carolina), Kay Balter (Maryland), Barbara Bruss (Utah), Joan Sayre (Wisconsin), Candice Voight and Robert Voight (Michigan), and Gordon Warren (Kansas).
These people will work in cooperation with National Education Consultants to expand the program gradually throughout the country.
[Page 7]
Bruce Whitmore (center, arm upraised), manager of the Bahá’í House of Worship Activities Office, points out some of the features of the structure during a special tour last December for the National Center staff.
Activities Office Expands House of Worship Tours[edit]
More and more people, Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís alike, are being offered glimpses of the human side of the Bahá’í House of Worship’s 50-year history of construction, along with tours of normally inaccessible areas of the building.
In December, for example, 45 members of the Winnetka, Illinois, Historical Society came to the House of Worship for one of the several meetings the Society holds each year.
ONCE THERE, they were treated to a special audio-visual program tracing the history of the building presented by Bruce Whitmore, manager of the House of Worship Activities Office and author of a forthcoming book about this remarkable nine-sided structure on the shore of Lake Michigan.
Afterward, they were led up to the gallery and clerestory levels, areas of the building that usually are closed to visitors.
The president of the Historical Society later wrote: “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard as many people tell me what a good time they had had at an historical meeting as they did after our evening at the House of Worship ...”
One member of the group indicated that she intends to suggest a similar tour for a Chicago women’s club of which she is a member.
BAHÁ’Í communities in the Wilmette area are being encouraged to seek out local organizations that may be interested in touring the House of Worship. The community can then serve as co-sponsor of the program with the House of Worship Activities Office.
Similar tours have been included for the past five years in the summer Special Visit programs for Bahá’ís from all over the U.S.
The audio-visual program on the history of the building emphasizes the development of the American Bahá’í community as it was influenced by construction of the House of Worship.
“The history not only concentrates on the positive victories and accomplishments of individual Bahá’ís,” says Mr. Whitmore, “it also examines the tremendous struggles as well as some of the follies the community experienced during the 50-year process of construction.”
Mr. Whitmore’s book, The Dawning Place, to be published later this year, provides a detailed, illustrated history of the House of Worship including material on the life of Thornton Chase and his involvement in its construction.
Among the highlights of the special tour programs tailored especially for Bahá’ís is a rare motion picture of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá made in New York during His visit there in 1912.
Follow-Up All-Important In Handling Interest Card[edit]
Approximately 200,000 people from the 50 states and many foreign countries visit the Bahá’í House of Worship each year, and indications are that the number of visitors will increase.
Many of these guests fill out cards on which they indicate an interest in Bahá’í literature, study classes, or information about how to become a Bahá’í, a desire to be visited by a Bahá’í, or even the desire to become a Bahá’í.
THE NATIONAL Teaching Committee responds to each of these requests with a letter and any literature that is asked for.
A copy of the letter is sent to the Local Spiritual Assembly or District Teaching Committee responsible for the location in which the inquirer resides.
The letter to the Assembly or District Teaching Committee is accompanied by a postpaid reply card so that any follow-up contact can easily be reported to the National Center.
On one recent reply card, the believer who followed up the contact reported: “A fireside already has taken place, and he is being invited to a party this week.”
Said another believer’s follow-up report: “He has been to several firesides and wants to enroll.”
The completion and mailing of the follow-up cards by believers serves a purpose greater than mere curiosity, says Neil Jacob, a member of the National Teaching Committee staff who is responsible for answering requests for information or literature from people who visit the House of Worship or write to the National Center.
“THE CARDS give us feedback on communities and tell us the types of responses communities receive from these contacts,” he says.
“Over a period of time, we will have compiled a cross-section of these responding communities. Believers who follow up and return the cards to us are performing a useful and valuable service.”
Mr. Jacob feels it is important that believers who are following up an inquiry phone the seeker.
“It’s important that you identify yourself first, then ask if he or she has received the literature that was sent and whether there are any other questions about the Faith,” he says.
“If you do that in a warm, friendly manner without coercion, you are likely to receive a ‘thank you’ for the call.
“Whether or not the person is still interested in the Faith, you’ve established good public relations. The seeker knows there are real, live Bahá’ís out there, and that they are friendly.”
If the secretary of an Assembly or District Teaching Committee is unable to follow up on an inquiry, says Mr. Jacob, he or she should be sure to ask someone else in the community or district to do so.
The Hand of the Cause of God Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir (seated center) at a meeting last October with Bahá’í youth in the Tampa, Florida, area.
Dr. Muhájir, in Tampa, Florida, Urges Friends to Travel, Teach[edit]
During a one-day visit to Tampa, Florida, last October 3, less than three months before his untimely death in Quito, Ecuador (see Page 1), the Hand of the Cause of God Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir participated in four events planned by the Spiritual Assembly of Tampa.
The events were a potluck brunch, an afternoon meeting with Bahá’í youth, a formal dinner with Bahá’ís in that area, and an evening public meeting.
TWENTY Bahá’ís and several close friends of the Faith attended the brunch at which Dr. Muhájir spoke informally about the station of women.
Later, 18 Bahá’í youth spent an hour with Dr. Muhájir who encouraged them not to put off service to the Cause, but to act immediately for Bahá’u’lláh, since “today” is all we ever really have.
Seventy Bahá’ís were present for the dinner at the Officers’ Club at MacDill Air Force Base.
The public meeting also was held at the Officers’ Club. Approximately 130 people attended including the chaplain of the Base.
Dr. Muhájir urged the friends to travel to the Caribbean to help win the Seven Year Plan goals in that area, and to support the new fireside teaching plan developed by the National Teaching Committee.
Hawaii History Calendar Now Available[edit]
The 1980 Hawaii Bahá’í History Calendar is now available.
The unique feature of the calendar is that hundreds of events in Bahá’í history are listed on the dates on which they occurred.
Designed as a proclamation and teaching tool, the calendar includes art work and selections from the Bahá’í Writings focusing on 12 fundamental principles of the Faith, one each month.
The calendar is available for $4 each from the National Bahá’í Library, 3264 Allan Place, Honolulu, HI 96817.
Postage and handling charges: On orders under $30, please add $1.50; on orders over $30, add 5 per cent of the total.
Human Rights Award Given[edit]
The Bahá’ís of Beaufort, South Carolina, hosted their fourth annual Human Rights Day banquet last October at the Fripp Island Beach Club.
Two articles and two photos of the ceremony appeared in the local paper, one of which noted the Human Rights Day award presented to Laurel Bay Elementary School in recognition of its parent involvement program, “Daddy, Will You Read to Me?”
The principal speaker at the banquet was Auxiliary Board member Dr. Adrienne Reeves of Summerville, South Carolina.
Entertainment was provided by singer/guitarist Dave Rohling of Elgin, Illinois.
Strong Push Needed to Win Goals[edit]
With only four months remaining in the first year of the Seven Year Plan (as of December 21), the National Spiritual Assembly’s goal of two new localities for each district in the U.S. by Riḍván 1980 was far from being won.
However, 23 of the 87 districts in the U.S. have won the goal provided no one moves away.
AT THE END of the Five Year Plan last Riḍván, there were 7,041 localities opened in the U.S. The total as of last December 21 was 6,939.
The goal of 1,650 Local Spiritual Assemblies by Riḍván 1981, the end of the second year of the Plan, was divided up among the various districts by the National Teaching Committee.
So far, eight districts have won their Assembly goal, and four of these districts have also won their locality goal.
The number of Assemblies in the U.S. at Riḍván 1979 was 1,489. As of last December 21, the number stood at 1,435.
The Assembly goal could be won this year if the various goal Groups of five or more believers targeted for Assembly formation on or before Riḍván were brought to Assembly status.
| Status of Assembly/Locality Goals December 21,1979 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES | LOCALITIES | |||||
| DISTRICT | END FIVE YR PLAN | GOAL RIḌVÁN 1981 | CURRENT | END FIVE YR PLAN | GOAL RIḌVÁN 1980 | CURRENT |
| ALABAMA, N | 8 | 10 | 8 | 50 | 52 | 54 WON! |
| ALABAMA, S/FLA, NW | 9 | 11 | 9 | 53 | 55 | 53 |
| ARIZONA, N | 20 | 23 | 18 | 86 | 88 | 87 |
| ARIZONA, S | 15 | 16 | 9 | 40 | 42 | 41 |
| ARKANSAS | 4 | 8 | 5 | 88 | 90 | 86 |
| CALIF., C#1 | 60 | 63 | 55 | 119 | 121 | 112 |
| CALIF., C#2 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 67 | 69 | 68 |
| CALIF., N#1 | 27 | 29 | 25 | 88 | 90 | 84 |
| CALIF., N#2 | 16 | 18 | 13 | 65 | 67 | 59 |
| CALIF., S#1 | 58 | 64 | 59 | 97 | 99 | 100 WON! |
| CALIF., S#2 | 67 | 70 | 66 | 135 | 137 | 128 |
| CALIF., S#3 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 36 | 38 | 34 |
| COLORADO, E | 22 | 24 | 20 | 57 | 59 | 69 WON! |
| *COLORADO, W | 10 | 11 | 12 WON! | 33 | 35 | 46 WON! |
| CONNECTICUT | 19 | 23 | 16 | 101 | 103 | 94 |
| DELMARVA | 4 | 8 | 3 | 59 | 61 | 70 WON! |
| FLORIDA, C | 19 | 23 | 17 | 101 | 103 | 97 |
| FLORIDA, N | 7 | 9 | 7 | 41 | 43 | 39 |
| FLORIDA, S | 37 | 43 | 34 | 100 | 102 | 96 |
| GEORGIA, N | 49 | 57 | 43 | 202 | 204 | 179 |
| GEORGIA. S | 31 | 36 | 24 | 125 | 127 | 127 WON! |
| IDAHO. N/WASH. E | 17 | 20 | 18 | 80 | 82 | 74 |
| IDAHO. S | 6 | 7 | 5 | 44 | 46 | 47 WON! |
| ILLINOIS, N#1 | 27 | 29 | 26 | 129 | 131 | 129 |
| ILLINOIS, N#2 | 35 | 38 | 30 | 75 | 77 | 82 WON! |
| ILLINOIS, S | 25 | 27 | 24 | 179 | 181 | 162 |
| INDIANA | 14 | 17 | 14 | 126 | 128 | 124 |
| IOWA | 12 | 14 | 11 | 88 | 90 | 91 WON! |
| KANSAS | 11 | 13 | 11 | 73 | 75 | 69 |
| KENTUCKY | 7 | 8 | 7 | 53 | 55 | 55 WON! |
| LOUISIANA. N | 2 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 22 | 20 |
| LOUISIANA, S | 9 | 13 | 11 | 63 | 65 | 66 WON! |
| MAINE | 8 | 9 | 7 | 64 | 66 | 64 |
| MARYLAND/DC | 23 | 26 | 22 | 57 | 59 | 55 |
| MASSACHUSETTS | 29 | 34 | 28 | 185 | 187 | 179 |
| MICHIGAN, MAIN | 36 | 43 | 34 | 254 | 256 | 251 |
| MINNESOTA, N | 6 | 7 | 6 | 49 | 51 | 48 |
| MINNESOTA. S | 10 | 12 | 10 | 73 | 75 | 72 |
| MISSISSIPPI | 5 | 8 | 6 | 67 | 69 | 71 WON! |
| MISSOURI | 19 | 23 | 17 | 136 | 138 | 132 |
| MONTANA | 12 | 14 | 13 | 59 | 61 | 58 |
| NAVAJO-HOPI | 12 | 13 | 11 | 51 | 53 | 56 WON! |
| NEBRASKA | 9 | 11 | 9 | 49 | 51 | 46 |
| NEVADA, N | 4 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 23 | 19 |
| NEVADA, S | 5 | 6 | 6 WON! | 12 | 14 | 12 |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | 13 | 15 | 13 | 78 | 80 | 74 |
| NEW JERSEY | 17 | 20 | 16 | 195 | 197 | 185 |
| NEW MEXICO. N | 12 | 14 | 12 | 44 | 46 | 52 WON! |
| NEW MEXICO, S/TX, W | 12 | 14 | 11 | 57 | 59 | 57 |
| NEW YORK, E | 23 | 27 | 22 | 171 | 173 | 171 |
| NEW YORK, W | 22 | 25 | 18 | 152 | 154 | 155 WON! |
| N. CAROLINA, C | 11 | 17 | 15 | 65 | 67 | 64 |
| N. CAROLINA, E | 5 | 11 | 3 | 87 | 89 | 83 |
| N. CAROLINA, W | 7 | 9 | 6 | 52 | 54 | 45 |
| NORTH DAKOTA | 6 | 7 | 4 | 30 | 32 | 25 |
| OHIO, N | 13 | 15 | 12 | 134 | 136 | 131 |
| OHIO, S | 10 | 12 | 9 | 90 | 92 | 81 |
| OKLAHOMA, E | 9 | 12 | 8 | 67 | 69 | 64 |
| OKLAHOMA, W | 8 | 9 | 9 WON! | 43 | 45 | 41 |
| OREGON | 44 | 51 | 46 | 166 | 168 | 163 |
| PENN, E | 9 | 11 | 9 | 154 | 156 | 149 |
| PENN, W | 4 | 5 | 4 | 84 | 86 | 87 WON! |
| RHODE ISLAND | 5 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 27 | 25 |
| S. CAROLINA, C | 34 | 40 | 37 | 104 | 106 | 107 WON! |
| S. CAROLINA, E | 85 | 93 | 92 | 193 | 195 | 185 |
| S. CAROLINA, N | 25 | 33 | 28 | 69 | 71 | 64 |
| S. CAROLINA. S | 32 | 36 | 35 | 97 | 99 | 96 |
| *S. CAROLINA. W | 6 | 7 | 7 WON! | 27 | 29 | 29 WON! |
| *SOUTH DAKOTA | 7 | 9 | 9 WON! | 43 | 45 | 45 WON! |
| TENNESSEE, E | 3 | 4 | 3 | 29 | 31 | 27 |
| TENNESSEE, W | 3 | 5 | 2 | 38 | 40 | 35 |
| TEXAS. C#1 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 52 | 53 | 50 |
| TEXAS, C#2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 16 | 18 | 16 |
| TEXAS, E#1 | 34 | 40 | 23 | 123 | 125 | 126 WON! |
| TEXAS, E#2 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 74 | 76 | 73 |
| TEXAS. N | 5 | 6 | 7 WON! | 23 | 25 | 22 |
| TEXAS, S | 6 | 8 | 6 | 43 | 45 | 41 |
| *UTAH | 4 | 5 | 6 WON! | 32 | 34 | 42 WON! |
| VERMONT | 4 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 40 | 41 WON! |
| VIRGINIA, N | 19 | 21 | 20 | 58 | 60 | 59 |
| VIRGINIA, S | 11 | 14 | 14 WON! | 69 | 71 | 64 |
| WASHINGTON, NW | 36 | 41 | 38 | 98 | 100 | 100 WON! |
| WASHINGTON, SW | 21 | 23 | 19 | 54 | 56 | 52 |
| W. VIRGINIA | 3 | 5 | 3 | 54 | 56 | 53 |
| WISCONSIN, S | 22 | 25 | 20 | 140 | 142 | 137 |
| WISCONSIN/MICH. | 6 | 8 | 6 | 86 | 88 | 81 |
| WYOMING | _5_ | _6_ | _5_ | _38_ | _40_ | _37_ |
| TOTALS | 1,489 | 1,733 | 1,435 | 7,041 | 7,215 | 6,939 |
| *Both Assembly & Locality Goals Won | ||||||
To honor the International Year of the Child, the Bahá’í community of Baltimore County East presented plaques last November 7 to two organizations devoted to helping children: the Burns Institutes for Children, Shriners of North America, and FACE (Families Adopting Children Everywhere). The presentation was covered in newspapers and on television. Shown here (left to right) are Shriners Dr. John L. Charlton Jr. and Lloyd E. Phillips; Keven Patton, treasurer of the Spiritual Assembly of Baltimore County East; Barbara Penn, president of FACE; her children, Jennifer and Megan; and Bahá’í Farideh Mottahedin.
‘Gold Drive’ In Saginaw Aids Fund[edit]
For the past few months the Bahá’ís of Saginaw (Michigan) Township and surrounding areas have been conducting a “gold drive” to raise money for the Fund.
The friends there have collected more than seven ounces of gold in the form of family heirlooms, class rings, wedding bands, and miscellaneous items of jewelry.
One believer even sacrificed her Persian Bahá’í ring along with other keepsakes.
Seven ounces of gold is worth more than $4,000 in today’s market. Once the believers saw the gold drive in concrete terms and started viewing their old jewelry as a means of helping the Fund, the seven ounces was easily collected.
Richard D. Betts Resigns Assembly Post to Pioneer[edit]
Richard D. Betts of Agoura, California, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly since 1969, resigned that position in December and left the U.S. to pioneer to Portugal.
Mr. Betts, his wife, Bambi, and their three children, Tiffani, 8, Brittany, 6, and Cameron, 3, left New York on December 24 for Carcavelos, a goal town near Lisbon, Portugal’s leading seaport.
Before his election to the National Spiritual Assembly, the Peruvian-born Mr. Betts had served during the Nine Year Plan as secretary of the National Teaching Committee.
The Betts family moved to California five years ago. Mr. Betts, a metallurgical engineer, was employed as managing designer at the Rocketdyne division of Rockwell International Corporation where he was manager of Space Shuttle work and was involved in design work for NASA’s unmanned deep-space probes.
Richard D. Betts, who resigned from the National Spiritual Assembly in December to pioneer to Portugal, with his wife, Bambi, and their children at the House of Worship in Wilmette.
L.A. Dinner Raises $40,000 for the Funds[edit]
The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears (left) chats with Mayor Tom Bradley of Los Angeles during a dinner and auction last November 18 at which more than $40,000 was raised for the National and International Bahá’í Funds.
The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears was among the nearly 1,000 people who attended a dinner and auction last November 18 in Los Angeles at which close to $40,000 was raised for the National and International Bahá’í Funds.
Also present at the event, which was hosted by the Bahá’í community of Los Angeles, was Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley who spoke movingly about the need to defend human rights everywhere in the world and his concern for and efforts on behalf of the Bahá’ís in Iran.
THE MAYOR recalled his first meeting with Mr. Sears many years ago, and how much he had enjoyed reading Mr. Sears’ autobiographical book, God Loves Laughter.
Mayor Bradley was given a copy of the new Bahá’í album, Lote Tree, autographed by Mr. Sears and the other artists: Seals & Crofts, Walter Heath, Danny Deardorff, and England Dan and John Ford Coley.
Mr. Sears addressed the guests with an inspiring and passionate appeal for a renewed commitment and greater spirit of sacrifice at this critical hour, recalling to mind the noble and heroic deeds of the Dawn-Breakers.
“Never again, never again,” said Mr. Sears, his voice filled with emotion, “should we allow circumstances or crises to force us to do what our loving Bahá’í hearts should prompt us to do in the beginning.
“If we did that, we would have no need of auctions.
“We need only know that we are supporting the King of Kings, the Lord of Hosts—the Supreme Redeemer of men... then we would pour out our resources constantly—like a fountain, a mountain stream—and be refilled from an invisible Source. That is a spiritual law and an incontrovertible promise of God.”
Emphasis on Children At Indiana Convention[edit]
Teachers for the children’s program at the Indiana District Convention in Kokomo last October represented 11 of the state’s 13 Local Spiritual Assemblies.
The teaching staff was comprised of 23 individuals who have been participants in an education project being conducted in Indiana by the National Education Committee.
THE PROJECT, now known as the Local Education Advisor Program, seeks to train Education Advisors to serve as child and youth “advocates” within their respective local communities, and to help meet the needs of children and youth on a district-wide level.
The Convention’s children’s classes, designed by the teaching staff as a “Children’s Convention,” were the first of many activities that have been, or are being, planned as an outgrowth of the Advisor Program in Indiana.
Other activities include a “youth retreat” held last November 2-4 at Bradford Woods, Indiana, as well as parenting and infant care programs and a family event—all being planned for the near future.
The success of the District Convention’s children’s classes was due largely to close cooperation among the Indiana District Teaching Committee, the program coordinator, and the teachers.
The Indiana Education Advisor Program has helped to tap the skills and talents of the Bahá’ís of Indiana, and has given the friends a fuller realization of the potential for demonstrating love and unity within the Bahá’í community family.
Twenty-three teachers representing 11 of Indiana’s 13 Local Spiritual Assemblies conducted children’s classes at the Indiana District Convention last October in Kokomo. All of the teachers had participated in an education project in Indiana, known as the Local Education Advisor Program, conducted by the National Education Committee.
‘Love That Child’ was the theme of a booth sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Jefferson County, Colorado, last July 3-4 at the Jefferson County Children’s Festival. The booth featured children’s art, weaving, fabric painting, ceramics, and glass etching. Each child who visited the booth was given a balloon.
Firesides[edit]
Continued From Page 1
and 12 question-and-answer ads in the local newspaper.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, held more than 19 firesides, re-contacted more than 26 past seekers, and planned to continue ongoing firesides at the rate of six per week—including a bi-weekly community fireside—contact the 38 seekers still on its list, and enroll six new believers.
Alamogordo, New Mexico, welcomed new inquirers, had one enrollment, and achieved a greater level of unity within the community.
Providence, Rhode Island, had 23 seekers attend its firesides, 18 of them new. The first Unity Feast also was a success, with Bahá’ís from nine communities attending.
|
Album Is Delayed Due to difficulties experienced by the producers of the album, the new stereo LP, Happy Ayyám-i-Há!, is not yet available. If you have already ordered the album, the Publishing Trust will send it as soon as available. If you paid in advance and wish to cancel your order, please write to the Trust at 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. |
Evanston, Illinois, had several seekers attend its firesides, one of whom first learned of the Faith through an Assembly-sponsored teaching project.
Bremerton, Washington, had nightly firesides that resulted in three enrollments.
One thing that was learned from the first phase of the fireside campaign, according to the National Teaching Committee, is that Bahá’ís need to widen their circle of activities to meet greater numbers of people whom they can invite to firesides.
[Page 10]
Letters to the Editor
Bahá’ís Must Extend Selves for Others[edit]
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
We wish to address and endorse your editorial of October 1979. How important it is that we, as Bahá’ís, “get our act together,” as the younger people say, and learn to extend our lives and loves to everyone who lives in this world.
How many times has a member of the Faith been in distress—hospitalized; troubled by the loss of a loved one; or in any number of distressing situations?
EACH OF US has experienced such distress and turmoil in his life, and would have welcomed another Bahá’í as a visitor or confidant.
We know that prayer and living the life are of utmost importance. We should also be aware that we are never alone— Bahá’u’lláh sees to that.
Nevertheless, in distressing situations, how nice it would be, and how comforting, to have Bahá’í visitors who would come to visit and pray with us.
Some of us travel extensively. If something should happen to us, and we were in need of assistance and prayer, would Bahá’ís be there to offer their help and comfort?
WE WOULD LIKE to suggest to every Bahá’í community that the packet of information given to public service agencies and funeral homes be delivered, along with the community’s Bahá’í telephone number, to hospitals and other facilities with which the friends might come in contact.
These facilities could then be advised to contact the local Bahá’í community whenever one of its members is in distress.
We would further suggest that, upon receiving a call from any of these agencies, the local friends make every effort to visit that believer and offer prayers for him.
We are all members of the Family of Man, and should be ready and willing to extend ourselves for every other member of the family.
Atascadero, California
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The letters complaining about Mr. Morrison’s review of Dr. Allan Ward’s book, 239 Days, have been increasingly disturbing.
December’s installment by Mr. and Mrs. Ruhe-Schoen was a particularly unfortunate example of “Catch-22” reasoning in which one creates a logical conundrum with no solution.
THE MAJOR thrusts of the letter seem to be two: that we should never criticize or point out fault, and that reviewers in general deny others the right to “investigate truth for themselves.”
There are several problems with the “no criticism” point of view. The first and most obvious is that, were we to be true to our own philosophy, we would be unable to criticize even critics, and thus the letters complaining of Mr. Morrison’s review should never have been written in the first place.
Too, since one can be just as critical by “damning with faint praise” (or none at all), we are reduced to either inane banalities (the letter suggests limiting ourselves to discussions of type styles and numbers of illustrations) or the invention of praise to assure equal treatment to all.
Another, deeper problem with the “no criticism” position is that it fails to distinguish among kinds of criticism.
CAN ONE imagine a consultative meeting where fault is never found with any point of view or suggested course of action? How can we determine the wisest course or evaluate past performance if we do not consider both the strengths and weaknesses of all alternatives?
The answer is found in divorcing criticism of an idea from criticism of an individual. That is, the Faith’s admonition is not against criticism per se, but rather against criticism leveled toward other individuals.
Thus ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s statement says “...when we direct our gaze toward other people, to see where they excel, not where they fail.”
The admonition does not extend to institutions, to ideas, to objects, to systems, or apparently to books.
AS TO THE other thrust of the letter, that reviews in general deny play-goers (and presumably others in other contexts) the “right to investigate truth for themselves,” I am not aware that Mr. Morrison’s review in any way denied my right to purchase the book for myself and reach my own conclusions.
In the mature world the Bahá’í Faith envisions, it should certainly be possible for me to read another’s opinion without prejudice to my own evaluative effort. And I surely don’t need the old-world, patronizing attitude that would “protect” me from another’s thinking because it may inappropriately influence my own.
A broad-based publication such as The American Bahá’í serves in some sense as a consultative forum in which thoughts are expressed and insights exchanged.
I would be more denied my rights to independently seek the truth were The American Bahá’í to restrict its reviews only to positive comments.
I applaud The American Bahá’í for having published Mr. Morrison’s review—not because I agree or disagree with it, but because The American Bahá’í thought enough of the maturity of the American Bahá’í community to allow it to read an opinion and seek the truth for itself.
Pocatello, Idaho
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The December 1979 issue of The American Bahá’í was truly inspirational.
The comment on “Loving” by Patrick Conway was a deeply thoughtful article that should penetrate to the heart and soul of every loving person; a beautiful article to use in teaching.
FEELINGS that our Faith is being helped by the crisis in Iran kept running through my mind. In the century or more of crisis in the birthplace of the Faith, this is the most rapidly and widely publicized presentation of what happens to Bahá’ís in a hostile land.
Through adversity, the message of love and unity, as opposed to hate, retribution and the normal adversary ethic of government, is so very apparent to those who would listen and see what is occurring.
Love and prayer will overcome adversity. As with the early Christian martyrs, the new Faith for this age will have more martyrs to add to those who already have shed their life’s blood for this Cause.
A Faith based on universal love, such as is our bounty, cannot fail to touch the hearts of millions of people in the years to come.
Thank you for such a wonderful issue to inspire us in our future teaching and deepening.
South Hadley, Massachusetts
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
I feel the need to respond to Mrs. Mary Lawrence regarding her plea on behalf of the handicapped (Letters to the Editor, December 1979).
I have had the bounty of working with handicapped children and adults in the hospital and the community. I have also experienced outrage at the “insensitivity” of some toward those who are “different.”
IGNORANCE about the needs of the handicapped is prevalent all over the world; it is not restricted to the Bahá’í community.
Many people haven’t had the benefit of knowing someone who is visibly handicapped, and so they feel inadequate and anxious when dealing with the disabled.
Once the opportunity for interaction arises, feelings of discomfort can come across as insensitivity when coupled with acute anxiety.
After prayer and meditation, I am convinced that anger and impatience are obstacles to growth. Offering factual information to the friends (lovingly) and prayer will do the most to facilitate change.
I know it is difficult to be patient while the handicapped are suffering. I feel that those of us who have been blessed with the vision to see beyond the handicap must serve as dynamic examples for others.
Bayside, New York
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
When I read the letter to the editor (October 1979) regarding how children should be treated at Feast, I was amused.
When I read the next letter, which said the disciplining of children is a delicate matter and that only the parents, etc., should take the responsibility, I was saddened.
PERHAPS THIS was because the real answer lies somewhere between these two solutions.
Children aren’t the only ones affected when Feast is delayed for an hour. Promptness is a courtesy. When Feast is stated to begin at a certain time, it is reasonable to assume that the friends should be at Feast at that time.
This is people-to-people respect and courtesy, not something we as Bahá’ís might do to accommodate the children.
Since discipline requires training and teaching, the person who wrote the second letter has a point when she says the ultimate responsibility should come from the adult who is “responsible” for the child in question.
However, we all teach by example. Everyone who is responsible for his or her own actions is teaching the Faith.
At Feast, they are setting an example for the younger members of the community to follow. When there is bickering, personal attacks, displays of temper, or apathy, children are learning these things too.
The effectiveness of the patient prayers for understanding, the daily talks a loving Bahá’í parent may have with his or her children, and the patience and endurance of children’s teachers is lessened when “responsible” Bahá’ís set a poor example through their behavior.
I think it boils down to treating every individual with respect, courtesy, and loving-kindness.
Arrive on time, with your heart and mind ready for the Feast, have some alternative ready for the younger ones in the community, and the Feast will be the blessing it was meant to be.
Davis, California
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
In the December issue, you printed a letter from Carol R. Colman of Blaine, Washington, in which it was said that the World Bank is working for “the enslavement of man’s nature by greed and envy” and it was implied that its actions are “counter to the Laws of Bahá’u’lláh.”
These statements, in my view, are unjustified, and I can only assume that the writer is not familiar with the World Bank or its work.
I SHOULD point out that the World Bank is an agency of the United Nations and its ruling body consists of ministers of finance from some 138 nations. It should not be confused with private commercial banks.
Its principal mission is to provide financial and technical assistance to less developed member countries to help them raise the standard of living of their peoples.
The Bank is placing increasing emphasis on agriculture and on rural projects that give direct benefit to the poorest 40 per cent of the population in each country assisted.
Like all human institutions, it has its blemishes, but I believe it is fair to say that they are more than offset by the dedicated work of a staff, drawn from some 90 nations, that is striving to pave the way for a more just and united world.
Vienna, Virginia
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The recent plans from the National Teaching Committee for an intensive Fireside Teaching Campaign through next April 27 are stimulating.
They have also revived the often-heard discussion of personal firesides, to be held each 19 days (or more frequently) as opposed to community-planned meetings, chance teaching experiences in public places, etc.
MANY RECENTLY declared Bahá’ís (and some not so recent) have heard
The Spiritual Assembly of Ashland, Oregon, celebrated the 10th anniversary of its formation in 1979. Last August 30, the Assembly was incorporated under Oregon law. The present members of the Assembly are (seated left to right) Christine D. Acker, Rohanieh Ostovar, Jaleh Pool, Jennifer R. Gray, and (standing left to right) Kerry L. Lay, chairman; Janice I. Lay, secretary; Darene U. Hundley; Terry A. Ostovar, vice-chairman; Esfandiar Ostovar, treasurer.
[Page 11]
Dr. Daniel C. Jordan (seated left of center), a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, led an outdoor workshop on ‘Families in an Age of Transition’ during the Family Life Festival last September 29-30 at Washoe Valley near Reno, Nevada. The event was part of the Northern Nevada IYC celebration.
The Bahá’í booth was a focal point of activity during the Family Life Festival last September at Washoe Valley, Nevada. The rear of the booth greeted visitors to the weekend IYC celebration with the festival theme, ‘Love That Child.’ Shown here is the front of the booth.
Dr. Jordan a Participant In Nevada ‘IYC’ Festival[edit]
Dr. Daniel C. Jordan, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, described the ANISA educational program and conducted family life workshops last September during the Northern Nevada celebration of the International Year of the Child.
The IYC activities in Northern Nevada, which featured a weekend Family Life Festival on September 29-30, were co-sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Northern Nevada, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Center for Religion and Life, the National Judicial College, and the University of Nevada at Reno.
Dr. Jordan, chairman of the Department of Education at National University in Vista, California, and director of the International Center for Human Development, described for his Nevada audience a system of education whose objectives include making sure that children have the proper nutrition for brain development, and giving each child the best educational experience that can be provided.
MUCH OF THE success of the Northern Nevada proclamation effort resulted from the co-sponsorship by Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís of IYC events, according to Harry Massoth, a member of the Bahá’í community of Reno and Northern Nevada director of IYC activities.
“We found that many people, including those in the media, are cold toward religious organizations,” said Mr. Massoth. “But when religious organizations and public agencies work together, there seems to be a buffering effect and things go much more smoothly.”
In spite of widespread publicity including radio, TV, newspapers and printed flyers, he said, more than 90 per cent of those who attended the IYC events came as a result of some sort of personal contact.
“The Bahá’ís made a very favorable impression in all the events in which they participated,” Mr. Massoth added, “especially the Family Life Festival. The key here was that they used a ‘service’ approach.”
The Family Life Festival included musical performances, dancers, acrobats, clowns and a magician, as well as a number of thought-provoking talks, workshops, and films for the adults.
Other Bahá’í-sponsored IYC events took place in Lovelock, Hawthorne and Elko, Nevada.
House of Worship Featured On New Color Postcards[edit]
Now you can send notes to friends and acquaintances using new color postcards of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette.
The cards, available in an assortment of six for only 75 cents (Catalog No. 6-45-67), show an interior view of the dome and views of the House of Worship at dawn, at night, in winter, spring and fall.
Two new Wilmette Temple teaching cards featuring views of the House of Worship in Wilmette have been published recently by the Publishing Trust.
The cards, which feature day (6-46-00) and night (6-46-27) views, list 11 principles of the Bahá’í Faith on the back side and allow space for writing in a name, address, or phone number.
Prices for each card are 100/$4.50; 500/$20; and 1,000/$35.
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A Bahá’í scroll calendar for 137 B.E. (beginning March 1980) is now available from the Publishing Trust.
Produced by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of Taiwan, the calendar and art—a Chinese painting—are printed in full color on slats of firwood.
The calendar is arranged according to Bahá’í dates, with small figures showing the Gregorian dates for reference. It makes a decorative addition to any room and can help open conversations on the Bahá’í Faith ($8.50, Catalog No. 6-69-70).
•
A Reminder: To order materials from the Publishing Trust, see your Bahá’í community librarian or send check or money order directly to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. On orders under $5, please add 75 cents to cover postage and handling.
Chicago Auction Raises $4,200 to Aid Fund[edit]
During a three-hour auction last October 27 sponsored by the Persian Consolidation Committee of the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago, some 65 believers contributed more than $4,200 toward construction of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.
The auction at the Forest Park Community Center included Persian music and dancing. The auctioneers were Mr. Ezat Eftekhari of Evanston and Mr. Q. Haghighi of Morton Grove, Illinois.
The Spiritual Assembly of Chicago asked the committee to sponsor another auction on February 23.
This Bahá’í float won a third place award in the religious float division of the annual Homecoming Parade last October 20 at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The float was designed and put together by Hedayatullah Sanini, an isolated believer in Alva, Oklahoma, who attends the university.
College Administrator Honored With New Haven Rights Award[edit]
The Bahá’ís of New Haven, Connecticut, presented their fifth Bahá’í Humanitarian Award last December 9 during a dinner at Yale University.
Attending the dinner were members of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of New Haven, their families, and the religion editor of the New Haven Register.
Receiving the award was James Barber, director since 1971 of community and minority affairs at Southern Connecticut State College.
Mr. Barber, one of the coaches of SCSC’s unbeaten track team, has coordinated arrangements for use of the college’s facilities by the National Youth and Cerebral Palsy Olympics and will do the same for the Special Olympics in 1980.
He has served on more than a score of civic and state committees dealing with the problems of youth and in coordinating programs for young people seeking to overcome drug addiction.
The keynote speaker at the presentation ceremony was Auxiliary Board member Nathan Rutstein of Amherst, Massachusetts, a former network television news editor and author of the book, Go Watch TV, that deals with the effect of television on children.
Letters[edit]
Continued From Page 10
the term “fireside” used in referring to all of the above. This can be confusing.
The request that each Bahá’í hold a fireside at least once each 19 days does not refer to meetings in public places, nor to planned community meetings, which are, in effect, informal public meetings.
For those who have access to the Bahá’í National Review, No. 104 (July 1977), the subject of firesides is presented clearly and in detail.
To distinguish between a true “fireside,” as described by the National Spiritual Assembly in Bahá’í News (June 1948), and quoted in the Bahá’í National Review (July 1977), and “...a ‘community fireside’ which is in reality a public meeting...,” I have devised an acronym to help make the distinction.
The latter could be called a Bahá’í COFFE(E) MEETING, which is explained in the definition, “Community Open Fireside for Everyone” meeting.
Perhaps coffee isn’t always served at such meetings, but then, how often do we build a fireplace fire for our “firesides”? So, “Bahá’í Coffee Meeting” could be a term used to distinguish between two similar teaching methods.
Victor J.D., California
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
For those of us who are struggling with the growing pains of integrating our youngest Bahá’ís—the children—into the community, it is helpful to imagine ourselves in the children’s place. For example:
Adults at the Nineteen Day Feast
Adults are such a problem at the Feast!
When will they ever give us children some peace?
They take all the good seats and leave us the rest.
Why do adults always get to have the best?
Sometimes they smoke and they don’t even care
If it stinks up the room and our clothes and hair.
And during consultation they talk and they talk,
And even when we’re outside someone comes to squawk:
“You’re making too much noise; you’ll have to keep it down!”
Gosh, if we’re such a bother, better that we weren’t around!
Let’s pretend it’s our Feast now, and send the adults away.
They’d better not disturb us or we’ll know just what to say:
“Adults are such a problem at the Nineteen Day Feast!
“When will they ever give us children some peace?”
Phoenix, Arizona
Evanston Conference Draws More Than 60 Illinois Youth[edit]
More than 60 youth and adults from Northern Illinois Districts 1 and 2 gathered in Evanston, Illinois, last December 22 for a one-day youth conference that included participation by non-Bahá’ís and an age range from pre-teen to adult.
The conference coordinator was Stephen Jackson of Deerfield, Illinois.
PARTICIPANTS heard guest speakers discuss such topics as the reality of man and the process of spiritual transformation.
Youth and adults consulted in small groups on a number of questions, such as “What are the obstacles preventing us from becoming our true selves?” and “What can we do to overcome these obstacles and help others overcome them?”
Participants also were asked to discuss what they feel the next 20 years hold in store for them and for society as a whole.
Following group consultation, participants came together to share the results of their discussions.
In the evening, everyone enjoyed structured games based on the television programs “Family Feud” and “Hollywood Squares.”
The conference ended with group singing.
Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í youth from northern Illinois gather on a stairway for an informal class during the Bahá’í Youth Conference last December in Evanston.
Conference coordinator Stephen Jackson (far right) makes a point during the Northern Illinois Youth Conference last December in Evanston.
Monterey Bahá’ís at UN Lunch[edit]
The Bahá’ís of the Monterey (California) Peninsula were invited by the Monterey chapter of the United Nations Association to participate in a luncheon celebrating the International Year of the Child last October 28 at the Rancho Canada Golf Club in Carmel Valley.
Dr. Ron Gilpatrick, a Bahá’í from San José who is principal of the Allen Elementary School, was invited to be the guest speaker.
About 135 people attended the formal affair, 40 of whom were Bahá’ís and their guests.
Each of the Bahá’ís wore a “Love That Child” button. Standing displays and a table of Bahá’í literature drew the attention of many of the guests.
Dr. Cyrus Ala’i (center), the vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran, managed to leave that troubled country last October with his family. He later made a brief business trip to the U.S. and is shown here during a meeting at the Bahá’í National Center with Glenford E. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Dr. Magdalene M. Carney, assistant secretary of the National Assembly. Following his visit to this country, Dr. Ala’i left for England where he and his family will be residing.
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Burlington Group Wins UN Prize The Burlington, Iowa, Bahá’í Group won a first prize award of $25 in a newspaper essay contest sponsored by the local United Nations Association chapter to commemorate the International Year of the Child. The Bahá’í entry won in the group category by answering the question, What does the UN and its development programs mean to us in the U.S. and to the world’s children? The Bahá’í response tied these programs into the promotion of the Bahá’í principle of the oneness of mankind. The $25 prize was donated to UNICEF in the name of the Bahá’í Group of Burlington. |
Idea Exchange
Putting Zest in Feast; ‘Dividing’ to Multiply
This column is the first of what we hope will be a regular feature in The American Bahá’í. It will report ideas that various communities have found successful in the hope that other communities might want to try them. The column draws its material from you, the reader, and we invite you to submit ideas your community has found successful. Simply write to the Department of Community Administration, Bahá’í National Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. Thank you.
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The Spiritual Assembly of Houston, Texas, trying to make the Nineteen Day Feasts more lively and fun, has cut the number of reports given during the business portion to a minimum. Reports, news items and other announcements are printed in the community’s newsletter. This leaves more time for consultation and fellowship at the Feast and helps develop the newsletter as a medium of communication.
The Evanston, Illinois, Assembly, wishing to stimulate greater participation and unity in the community, has divided the city into four sections and met with the believers in each section to become informed of their needs and to solicit their ideas about how the Assembly might serve them better. As a result, one section with a large concentration of believers has become excited about the teaching possibilities their numbers presented and has formed a teaching committee. They now look at themselves as neighbors, had 18 consecutive days of firesides, and have begun to help each other fill personal needs for friendship and mutual assistance.
In Little Rock, Arkansas, the Local Assembly sponsors a fireside, deepening and children’s class every Friday night. The fireside and deepening are held in the home of Albert and Fanye Porter, while the children’s class is held next door, at the home of Allan and Helena Ward. Every Sunday there are adult and children’s classes at the Bahá’í Center in Little Rock. This combination of classes and deepenings, which has been going on for years, forms the foundation of teaching activities in Little Rock that have brought more than 200 people into the Faith in the last 10 years.
In Wilmette, Illinois, the Assembly has divided the community into several teaching committees, called “bouquets.” Each member of the community is assigned to a bouquet, which takes the name of a flower. The bouquets are responsible for holding one major teaching activity per year, for social activities, Holy Day observances, and for helping to integrate new members into the community. The Assembly has found that the bouquet arrangement increases participation in teaching and fosters fellowship. Because of the community’s location, there are often individuals and families moving into Wilmette to take positions at the National Center, so every few months the Assembly hosts a reception for new residents and new believers at which they have a chance to meet the Assembly members and learn about the history of the community and its present structure and activities. It also gives the Assembly a chance to become better acquainted with the new members and learn of their talents and interests, while helping to strengthen the bonds between the believers and their Assembly.
The Spiritual Assembly of Middletown Township, New Jersey, publishes a monthly newsletter called “The Seeker” especially for people who are investigating the Faith. All believers in the area are encouraged to ask interested friends if they would like to be on the mailing list. Also, anyone who contacts the Assembly for information about the Faith or responds to one of the frequently-placed ads in the local newspaper is offered the newsletter, which offers a brief “fireside” on some aspect of the Faith, lists a book or pamphlet relevant to the subject, and includes a local calendar of Bahá’í activities. At present, about 15 people are on the mailing list and two of them have enrolled in the Faith.
In the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, Bahá’í communities have joined forces to publish an intercommunity newsletter that announces firesides, deepenings and children’s classes as well as other items of interest taking place in the 10-community area. The newsletter includes a children’s corner. Because of its regularity, it keeps the believers well-informed of all Bahá’í activities in the area and stimulates unity and fellowship.
Remember to send your ideas for this column to the Department of Community Administration, Bahá’í National Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
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More than 35 Bahá’ís gathered over the Thanksgiving weekend last November in Hamilton Square, New Jersey, for a Youth Conference sponsored by the Auxiliary Board and hosted by Auxiliary Board member Robert Harris and his wife, Barbara. Participants came from all parts of New Jersey as well as from Pennsylvania and New York. ‘Tending the Garden’ was the theme of the two-day meeting that included workshops on spiritualization, materialism, and teaching, plus fellowship, fun and music—such as a medley of old favorites on the ukulele by Leon Sternberger of Hollywood, Florida, who also shared many inspirational stories of teaching. During a meeting with the District Teaching Committee’s youth liaison, George Karamallis, an 18-member youth committee was formed and its officers elected. The committee is planning future conferences, activities and teaching projects.
Well-Planned Agenda a Real Time Saver[edit]
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a five-part series on improving the performance of Local Spiritual Assemblies written for the National Education Committee by Ronald S. Gilpatrick of San José, California.)
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The agenda and other things that take time
“How could we take three hours to meet and accomplish so little?”
That sentiment has been heard numerous times all over the Bahá’í world. It is indeed a rare Spiritual Assembly that hasn’t at some point consulted on the topic of overly long Assembly meetings.
At least four major factors contribute to lengthy Assembly meetings:
1. A poorly prepared agenda. When an Assembly’s agenda is haphazardly constructed or doesn’t really reflect the needs of the Assembly, the meeting will ramble, become confusing, and take longer than needed.
2. Lack of preparation for consultation. Often an Assembly may not be ready to discuss a matter but may not realize that it hasn’t got all the facts. Under such conditions, consultation becomes tedious, burdensome, and is often a pooling of ignorance.
3. Disregard for time. Often, Assembly members lose track of how long they take to discuss an issue—and in addition, members do not look ahead on their agenda (if they have one prepared) to determine what things of importance still need to be discussed.
4. Inability to prioritize. Some Assemblies find that often a really important matter seems to come up late in the meeting—or, as one Assembly member once put it—during the last “20-minute hustle.”
A well-organized agenda is a major factor in contending with all four issues. In Principles of Bahá’í Administration, Shoghi Effendi has given Assemblies some guidance as to the constituent parts that must be in an agenda.
The beloved Guardian suggested (Principles of Bahá’í Administration, p. 49) that the following items be included in an agenda:
- Devotional Opening
- Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting
- Review of Agenda
- Teaching Matters
- Treasurer’s Report
- Recommendations From Last Feast
- Committee Reports
- Secretary’s Report—Letters Received
- Other Business
- Devotional Closing
Most Assemblies do attempt to use this basic format. The Guardian, however, said Assemblies are free to use “...whatever order from time to time (is) preferred.”
FIRST, A GOOD agenda is planned by more than one person. At the close of every Assembly meeting there should be a brief discussion by all Assembly members about what might constitute the major issues to be dealt with in the next agenda.
Between one Assembly meeting and the next, the secretary and chairman should communicate with each other as to the agenda items, and there should be agreement regarding what the agenda is to consist of.
Other Assembly members should have access to agenda input up to two days before the Assembly meeting. This can be arranged by working out a method whereby Assembly members can call the secretary to place an item on the agenda.
Once the agenda has been prepared, however, the Assembly should make a concerted effort not to tack on, at the next meeting, any “last-minute” items, unless they are of an emergency nature.
LAST-MINUTE items can virtually inundate an Assembly, and members must discipline themselves to guard against this practice.
In this regard, a community member who phones the secretary at 5 p.m. and wants to meet with the Assembly that evening is unwittingly violating the principle of agenda preparation—unless, of course, it is a dire emergency.
Assemblies have a responsibility to communicate with the friends as to the time constraints of the Assembly and urge the community to give the Assembly time to prepare for a meeting with individuals.
In their love and concern for the friends, Assemblies often destroy their effectiveness by jumping too quickly when the “help” cry goes out.
An Assembly must, of course, deal with emergency situations—and, in fact, must deal with all personal problems brought before it—but Assemblies must learn to recognize what are emergencies and what situations can be logically scheduled and planned for in constructing their agenda.
IT IS COMMON practice, when putting together an agenda, to use the “correspondence, committee reports, unfinished business, new business” approach.
The problem with this is that it gives no priority to important and timely matters.
One plan that can be utilized quite effectively is to first list on the agenda all the correspondence (right after devotions and minutes) in the order received with a brief summary after each item.
The secretary reads only those items that require action by the Assembly, and personal letters of interest. (Action-producing correspondence is read at the appropriate time this item of business appears on the agenda.)
AFTER correspondence is taken care of, the Assembly turns its attention to “Priority 1” concerns. Listed under “Priority 1” are any items that in the judgment of the secretary and chairman will require more than seven minutes of consultation, or that must be addressed during the meeting because of the timeliness of the issue.
Under “Priority 1” should come teaching activities, violations of Bahá’í law, serious personal problems, certain committee reports requiring action, and planning for major community events.
After all “Priority 1” items have been handled, the Assembly is free to deal with “Priority 2” concerns. These are items that will require between two to seven minutes of Assembly time.
If in consulting on any “Priority 2” item, it becomes clear that this issue is of major importance and will take longer than anticipated, the Assembly should immediately consider making the item a “Priority 1” concern for the next meeting—or handle it immediately if it cannot wait.
IF THE ASSEMBLY is not really prepared to consider the matter, however, time will be wasted in fruitless dialogue. The Assembly can quickly determine what facts it would need to discuss the issue more thoroughly at its next meeting.
“Priority 2” items might include brief committee status reports, financial reports, personal problems of a less serious nature, and reviews of previous actions.
Finally, items that are of an announcement nature and will take no more than two minutes of discussion time become “Priority 3” issues.
In prioritizing an agenda, it makes no difference whether the business is new, unfinished, or of a committee nature. Important, time-consuming matters will always be taken care of first; items of lesser importance will be relegated to a later time on the agenda.
By carefully planning its agenda, providing an opportunity for all Assembly members to offer input, and prioritizing the issues to be dealt with, an Assembly can structure its meetings more effectively, concisely, and efficiently.
IN ALMOST EVERY instance, important matters will be addressed, and Assembly members are more likely to leave the meeting feeling something was accomplished—and that is one good feeling!
In our next article, we will discuss how an Assembly can make sure it stays on target while working its way through the agenda, and avoid becoming sidetracked or, worse, derailed.
We’ll also discuss ways for meaningful brainstorming to take place. A creative Assembly must brainstorm, but brainstorming takes precious time. There are effective ways to accomplish this aim and still complete the other Assembly work that needs to be done.
See you next month!
The Bahá’í community of Columbus, Indiana, celebrated the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh last November 12 with Bahá’í friends from all over the state. The occasion also celebrated the arrival in the U.S. of two Bahá’í friends from Iraq, Ruwa Majid and Alhan Majid (both standing with arms folded in center of photo). Joining the Bahá’ís for the festivities were 150 people from the local community including a minister who rendered assistance in bringing the Bahá’ís from Iraq. Guests represented many nationalities, and some wore their native costumes. Bahá’ís from Bloomington and Indianapolis entertained with songs, and a brief talk about the Faith and the meaning of the Holy Day observance was presented.
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Twenty-six youth and adults along with lout children attended a ‘Persian Conference for the Southern States’ held last November 22-25 at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute in Hemingway, South Carolina.
November Busy Month At Gregory Institute[edit]
November was a busy month at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute in Hemingway, South Carolina, with a Persian Conference for the Southern States, a special program on the Greatest Holy Leaf, and a course on spiritual and physical health and healing among the highlights.
At the Persian conference, the purpose and functions of the new National Persian Committee were explained by committee member Puran Stevens.
SHE WAS assisted by Steve Foster of Skokie, Illinois, and Amir Farzaneh of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, who served as program facilitators.
Vedad Jurney of High Point, North Carolina, who was given her surname by Bahíyyih Khánum, the sister of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who is known to Bahá’ís as the Greatest Holy Leaf, shared personal memories and stories of the Greatest Holy Leaf along with some of the findings of her extensive research into the life of that remarkable woman.
The participants in a course entitled “Health and Healing: Spiritual and Physical,” taught by Drs. Winnie Cromer and William Saunders, were from Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Ontario, Canada.
More than 150 people attended the November 25 “Community Day” program, a monthly event planned and hosted in November by the Bahá’í community of Sumter, South Carolina.
More than 150 people attended a “Community Day” program last November 25 at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute in South Carolina. A different Bahá’í community plans and presents a program at the Institute on the fourth Sunday of each month. The November program was planned by the Bahá’í community of Sumter, South Carolina.
Participants in a program on spiritual and physical health and healing last November at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute in South Carolina dig potatoes during an exercise portion of the program conducted by Drs. William Saunders and Winnie Cromer. Participants came from five states and Canada.
Wilmette Party, Award Ceremony Fete Year of Child[edit]
To commemorate the International Year of the Child, the Wilmette, Illinois, Bahá’í community sponsored two highly successful public events last November.
On November 17, more than 90 children attended a festive party at a local community center. Entertainment included a film and clowns. Yael Wurmfeld, a member of the Buffalo Grove Bahá’í community, led the children in international round dances.
THE MORE SERIOUS aspects of the International Year of the Child were highlighted November 24 during an awards presentation at the Wilmette Public Library.
The library, local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, and eight young people received awards for outstanding community service.
Warren Burmeister, president of the Village of Wilmette, attended the event, along with Elizabeth Bennett, a member of the Greater Chicago Area UNICEF Council; Richard T. Thompson, director of the Wilmette Public Library; Marsha O’Keefe, a representative of the library’s children’s department; and Trude Marks, representing the Bahá’ís of Wilmette.
In honor of its many years of service to local children and the quality of its staff, the library was presented an original sand painting by David Villaseñor, a noted Bahá’í artist who pioneered the development of a means of preserving this unique art form permanently.
THE PAINTING, entitled “Father Sky and Mother Earth,” uses Navajo symbols to represent the fact that all people on the planet are children of one father sky and mother earth.
Representatives from Wilmette’s 22 Girl Scout and nine Boy Scout troops and posts were given special letters of commendation for their services to others and their contributions to the community.
Another highlight of the program was the presentation of letters of commendation and medallions of the Bahá’í House of Worship to eight young people who have devoted their time to training handicapped people to participate in swimming events in the Special Olympics.
The International Year of the Child was proclaimed by the United Nations to focus world attention on the rights and welfare of children and to encourage all countries to strengthen programs serving their children.
The Bahá’ís of Ellington and Vernon, Connecticut, joined together last September to celebrate the International Year of the Child by sponsoring a float and information booth in the annual Four Town Fair. The float, featuring the ‘Children of the Kingdom,’ won third place in its category.
Eau Claire Events Salute Children’s Day[edit]
Representatives from a dozen local organizations and agencies in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, joined with the Bahá’í community of Eau Claire in proclaiming Universal Children’s Day in that city last October 7.
Highlights of the proclamation included:
• A two-page feature article on the universal needs and rights of children and local services to meet those needs, published in Home magazine, which is distributed to most homes in Eau Claire.
• The development and publication of a “Children and Youth Directory” listing all agencies, organizations and services for children and youth in the Eau Claire area, printed as a one-page clip-out accompanying the article in Home magazine.
• A call for volunteers to help in providing services for children and youth in the form of a coupon printed with the directory.
• A half-hour discussion on the local TV program “Kaleidoscope” focusing on Universal Children’s Day and its local commemoration. The Bahá’ís were recognized as the initiators of the Children’s Day observance in Eau Claire.
Mrs. Angie Graf (upper left) presented a workshop on ‘Communication Skills’ during a conference entitled ‘The Violence-Free Society: A Gift for Our Children’ last November 3 sponsored by the Bahá’í community of Sacramento, California.
Children Focus of Sacramento Meeting[edit]
“The Violence-Free Society: A Gift for Our Children” was the theme of a conference last November 3 at American River College in Sacramento, California, sponsored by the Bahá’í community of Sacramento.
Representatives of local public and volunteer community agencies joined participants from Bahá’í communities including Reno, Nevada; Red Bluff, California, and others in the San Francisco Bay area to explore ways in which to promote the intellectual, psychological, social and physical well-being of children and youth.
The keynote speaker was a Bahá’í, Dr. Johney Brooks. Other speakers included representatives of the California Department of Social Sciences; counselors; a physician with the Sacramento County Department of Health; a home economist, and a child care director.
Workshops were held on “The Challenge of Fathering,” “Dynamics of Child Abuse,” “Helping Children Meet Failure,” “The Family: A Living Laboratory,” and “Pre-school and Day Care: The Influence on Child Rearing.”
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Pioneers to Uganda in the 1960’s were reunited last August at a gathering in West Lafayette, Indiana. In the front row (left to right) are Leslie Hawthorn, Maurine Kraus, Ruth Hawthorn, Counsellor Isobel Sabri, Hassan Sabri. Back row (left to right) are Afaf Stevens, Margaret Clayton, Edward Clayton.
Pioneers To Uganda Reunited[edit]
A reunion of pioneers to Uganda in the 1960’s was held last August at the home of Leslie and Ruth Hawthorn in West Lafayette, Indiana.
The idea for the gathering sprang from news that Counsellor Isobel Sabri from Nairobi, Kenya, and her husband, Hassan, who is secretary of the Continental Pioneering Committee for Africa, would be visiting the U.S. last summer. The Sabris had expressed the hope that they would be able to see the friends with whom they had been associated as pioneers in Uganda.
THE HAWTHORNS served in Uganda from 1962 to 1966, following Mr. Hawthorn’s retirement—to pioneer—after more than 30 years as a research horticulturist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Among those who attended the reunion were Margaret and Edward Clayton who began their pioneering in Uganda several years before the Hawthorns left.
The Claytons, who now live in northern Illinois, picked up Mr. and Mrs. Sabri in Wilmette and drove them to West Lafayette.
Also accompanying the Claytons was their son, Keith, who recently graduated from Keele University in England.
Maurine Kraus came from Cincinnati. She had served as secretary of the International Goals Committee before pioneering to Uganda in the late ’60s.
ANOTHER former pioneer at the reunion was Afaf Stevens of Columbus, Indiana, who came with her husband, Ted, and their infant son, Bayan.
For the first time in years, the friends at the reunion were able to hear news of the Faith in Uganda. During the regime of Idi Amin, communication with Bahá’ís in that country was cut off by strict government censorship.
The Sabris had been forced to leave Uganda and settle in Nairobi so that they could communicate with the World Centre in Haifa.
Now those who were gathered at the reunion could hear directly from the Sabris how the friends in Uganda had stood firm and are now looking forward to the renewed growth of the Faith in that troubled country.
For the first time, too, the friends heard welcome personal news of many of the native believers with whom they had worked and become close friends.
All were thrilled to hear that Claire Gung, who had left Ireland in the early ’50’s to pioneer to Uganda, was still in Kampala and doing well.
The Sabris also disclosed that the House of Worship in Kampala had miraculously escaped damage in spite of fierce fighting nearby.
The Hawthorns’ daughter, Mrs. Shirley Morris, herself a former pioneer to Ivory Coast in Africa, hosted the attendees at a dinner in her home.
The following afternoon, everyone participated in a picnic arranged by the Bahá’í communities of Lafayette and West Lafayette at a local park.
Classified Ads[edit]
CLASSIFIED ADS in The American Bahá’í are intended as a service to the U.S. Bahá’í community and are printed free of charge.
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COMPETENT, ENTHUSIASTIC individuals are needed to fill vacancies at the Bahá’í National Center. Applications are now being accepted for these positions: BAHÁ’Í PUBLISHING TRUST. Financial Manager—Functions as comptroller. Oversees all fiscal and budgetary recordkeeping. Requires a degree in accounting or business, and a minimum of three years experience as head accountant or comptroller of a small or medium-sized organization. Computer experience necessary. Marketing Assistant—Develops and maintains inventory control systems, generates market analyses, assignments in research and customer communications. Must have business or statistical background; MBA desirable. Editorial Assistant—Generates, writes, rewrites and proofreads copy at all stages. Evaluates manuscripts. Requires a B.A. or B.S. plus one to two years editorial or related experience. Must achieve satisfactory score on editorial test and type at least 45 wpm. Promotion Assistant—Writes copy for ads and press releases, monitors all media coverage. Degree in English, journalism or advertising preferred. Minimum of two years experience in advertising/promotion required. Must have demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and perform well under pressure. Keyline/Paste-Up Artist—Performs layout and paste-up work. Operates phototypesetter, assists with camera work. Keyline and paste-up experience required, camera and typesetting experience a plus. Special Materials Assistant—Administers all office functions of the Special Materials Department for the A/V Producer. Maintains files, answers correspondence. Must have good writing and verbal skills, general knowledge of audio-visual production and background in music. Radio and television experience helpful. Secretary—Mature, neat and well-organized individual to handle mail, phones, correspondence, take minutes and maintain library for the General Manager. Must have 2-3 years secretarial experience, take shorthand at 100 wpm and type 55-70 wpm. Must be discreet and work well under pressure. Bahá’í administrative experience desirable. Receptionist/Switchboard Operator—Under supervision, serves as initial contact with both the Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í public via telephone and reception desk. Performs all memory typewriter needs. Office experience required. Bahá’í administrative experience preferred. NATIONAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE. Program Administrator/Assembly Development—Manages special projects throughout the American Bahá’í community. Requires Bahá’í administrative experience, ability to inspire and motivate volunteers, mature judgment, background in business administration or human services. Program Administrator/Bahá’í Schools—Coordinates activities of 20 school committees across the country. Reviews course outlines, develops curricula. Requires a degree in education or educational administration. Experience in classroom teaching preferred. Must have the ability to inspire volunteers. FACILITIES MAINTENANCE. HVAC Plumber—Maintains, installs and repairs all facility pipeline systems as needed. Requires five years plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems repair experience. Must be licensed. INTERNATIONAL GOALS COMMITTEE. Staff Member—Recruits, trains, counsels, and maintains contact with pioneers. Must be well-organized, with excellent communication skills. Bahá’í administrative experience essential, pioneering experience preferred. Bahá’ís who are qualified for any of these positions are urged to send resumes to the Personnel Office, Bahá’í National Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, or to phone 312-256-4400.
POSITION OPENING: Director of Agriculture at the Rabbani School in Gwalior, India, a boys’ rural agricultural school opened at the request of the Universal House of Justice to train a new generation of Bahá’ís in India. The school, which includes grades six through nine, offers standard academic subjects, Bahá’í training, and agricultural training to about 120 boys, most of them from Bahá’í families with farming interests. The Director is responsible for improving yields on 28 acres now under cultivation, and reclaiming 32 acres, while carrying out crop diversification and experimentation. Fruit orchards, tree plantings and agriculturally-based industries can be introduced. The Director also is in charge of the day-to-day operation of the farm and some of the agricultural instruction. Qualifications include training, preferably with an M.S. in agriculture, and experience in running a commercial farm. Please reply to the Rabbani School Committee, P.O. Box 19, Gwalior-474001 (M.P.) India.
WANTED: A Bahá’í to copy a typed book-length manuscript for publication in the next few months. For further details contact Kay Zinky, 220 Alsace Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80906, or phone 303-632-1296.
NOT EVERYONE who moves to Florence, Oregon, is an “old duffer.” This coastal city has fine stores, banks, medical services (including a hospital), excellent recreation areas with lakes, parks, fishing, crabbing, etc. Only an hour’s drive to three Assemblies in the Willamette Valley, or three Assemblies in the Coos Bay area. For information, write to the Bahá’í Group of Florence, P.O. Box 1445, Florence, OR 97439.
TEXARKANA, Texas, a medium-sized city of 65,000 on the border between northeastern Texas and Arkansas, has a Spiritual Assembly (formed at Riḍván 1979) comprised of Persian Bahá’ís, and needs Americans to help solidify the Bahá’í community. Jobs are available in mechanics, teaching, nursing and engineering. Current vacancies include Project Engineer, Industrial Engineer, and Quality Assurance Engineer at the Rockwell International plant. Send confidential resumés to Fuad A. Khavari, chief products engineer, P.O. Box 5337, Texarkana, AR 75502.
WANTED for summer camp staff: People trained in serving the physically handicapped to serve at a “deepening center” in one of the unopened counties in Pennsylvania. The concept is for an inter-denominational camp for the Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í handicapped. If interested, please write to Mike Sullivan, c/o N. Wallace, 463 W. Princess, York, PA 17404.
JOB OPPORTUNITY in the Bahamas. A dive shop affiliated with an inn requires a fully certified instructor. Qualifications include N.A.S.D.S. or T.A.D.I. certification, plus experience in underwater photography as well as maintenance of high pressure compression systems. This is an exceptionally demanding position in an unusually well-equipped operation. For further information, please contact the International Goals Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
BAHÁ’Í PEN-PALS wanted. It’s hard when you live miles away from other Bahá’í youth and young people. One way to get to know other Bahá’ís is through correspondence. I have five children, ages 12 to 23, who would enjoy getting to know other young Bahá’ís. I would be happy to compile lists of names and send them to those who wish to correspond. Please state your age and sex, and who you would like to correspond with, male or female, or both. In these times, it helps to have Bahá’í friends, and getting to know one another helps us to become more unified. Write to Kathleen Vandeloo, RFD 3, Sheboygan, WI 53081.
CALLING ALL EXPERTS! Experts are needed in all fields who can scan their technical and vocational journals for job opportunities in overseas locations and forward the information to the International Goals Committee, keeping in mind that time is an important factor. This will contribute significantly toward the committee’s efforts to place pioneers in goal areas. Information should be forwarded to the International Goals Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
IF YOU ARE considering homefront pioneering, please consider Traverse City, Michigan. We are a warm and loving community of seven adults and four children and are trying to form the first Local Spiritual Assembly in northwestern Michigan. Employment opportunities are varied, and housing is readily available. The school system, which includes a community college and tech schools, is excellent. This is a lovely area with many year-round recreational activities centered around two scenic bays. For more information, write to the Bahá’ís of Traverse City, c/o Cheri Buchbinder, 2409 McNab, Traverse City, MI 49684, or phone 616-946-3483, or 616-947-2676.
BROOMFIELD, Colorado, seeks homefront pioneers. Dedicated Bahá’ís are needed to help build a small but firm community in the shadow of the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Broomfield, a town of 20,000 ideally situated between Denver and Boulder, offers plentiful housing and increasing job opportunities in skilled trades, sales, energy-related industries, mining, and electronic component industries. Additional information is available upon request. Write to P.O. Box 131, Broomfield, CO 80020, or phone 303-466-9324 or 303-466-7190.
WANTED: BAHÁ’Í home buyer in Fishkill, New York (1 1/2 hours to New York City, three miles from IBM plant). Three believers are needed in this pioneer area to form an Assembly. Bahá’ís who are leaving the area are offering a lovely two-story, custom-built colonial home in excellent condition for sale. Included are four bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, a modern, fully-equipped kitchen, formal dining room, living room with fireplace, family room, separate two-car garage with loft on a beautifully landscaped single acre with in-ground swimming pool. In a pleasant residential area with an excellent school system. Phone 914-896-6561.
WE NEED HELP in building a Bahá’í cooperative, ecological, holistic, rural, organic gardening community, as nearly self-sufficient as possible while at the same time working together to teach the Cause and demonstrate the new World Order in our community living. We could buy land together, help one another build energy-saving homes, have individual gardens but share labor in a cooperative farm and marketing endeavor, and learn to build a true Bahá’í community based on mutual service. For more information please write to Kenneth Stephens, 1309 Colorado St., Carson City, NV 89701, or phone 702-882-3096.
ACTORS: An original full-length Bahá’í play slated for semi-professional San Francisco production in Spring 1980 seeks actors to play four male characters, ages 24, 14, 14, and 14, and four female characters, ages 76, 45, 20 and 18. Experience is more important than the correct ages. Intensive weekend rehearsals allow actors to travel long distances to participate. For more information, please contact Thomas Lysaght, 107-D East Beach, Watsonville, CA 95076. Or phone 408-724-1563.
BUTTE, MONTANA, is “Big Sky Country.” The Bahá’í community in this very unusual town, rich in history and located in a wonderful recreation area, needs help from families, singles, etc. There is employment in engineering or energy research, fine education at Montana Tech (petroleum, mining, mineral processing, metallurgy, geology, engineering science, geophysical and environmental engineering curricula). For more information, phone 406-792-8194, or write to the Butte-Silver Bow Assembly, P.O. Box 3095, Butte, MT 59701.
A NEWLY-OPENED AREA on an Indian Reservation has only one Bahá’í. Looking for another Bahá’í or couple to move there, teach, and help build a Bahá’í community in the area. Ten acres of land and lumber can be made available to help you build your own cabin. Rustic living, only 4 1/2 hours north of San Francisco. Write to the Bahá’ís of Lovelock, Rt. 1, Box 68 S, Lovelock, CA 95428.
PROVO, UTAH’S Spiritual Assembly, formed in 1979, needs help. Provo, situated in one of the fastest growing areas of the country, offers many employment and educational opportunities. Utah is famous for its unique scenery and outstanding winter recreation (“The Greatest Snow on Earth”). The Bahá’ís will do whatever they can to help find employment and housing. For more information, brochures, maps, Brigham Young University catalogs, etc., please contact the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Provo, c/o Mrs. Marva Schuyler, secretary, 2331 W. 300 North, Provo, UT 84601, or phone 801-374-8874.
SWARTHMORE, Pennsylvania, needs you! The Spiritual Assembly of Swarthmore presently has only seven members. This is a small (population about 7,000), beautiful (trees, flowers, streams, hills), college (one of the best in the country) town. Students are needed too. Easy, quick transportation into Philadelphia. For more information, phone Joyce Perry, corresponding secretary, at 215-543-5921.
SANTA PAULA, California, a small town in largely agricultural Ventura County with a long and interesting history of Bahá’í activities, welcomes active, deepened Bahá’ís to help restore its lost Assembly. May we hear from you right away? P.O. Box 1008, Santa Paula, CA 93060, or phone 805-525-8841.
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More than 80 people were present last October 1 at a ‘Universal Children’s Day’ panel discussion sponsored by the Bahá’í community of Denton, Texas, in the Denton City Council chambers. Panelists included (seated left to right) Mrs. Nancy Dobbins, Mrs. Regina Anchondo, Dr. Roy Heyne (non-Bahá’í), Ronald Precht, Charlie Cole (non-Bahá’í), and Dr. Bobbie Wilborn (non-Bahá’í). The event was publicized on radio, in both local newspapers, and in newspapers at North Texas State University and the Texas Women’s University. Posters were placed in more than 30 locations and a ‘Love That Child’ display was featured for a week at the NTSU library. Shown reading the opening prayer is Miss Linda Stevens of the Denton Bahá’í community.
A bonfire and canoe trips were among the highlights last August 24-26 of a summer Bahá’í youth and family camping event organized by the Northeastern Ohio Youth Group at Camp Stambaugh, a Boy Scout facility in Boardman, Ohio. Use of the camp was made possible through the generosity of its director, Ted Parker Sr., who is the father of a local believer, Ted Parker Jr.
Musicians from a 200-mile area gathered last October 20 in the Stephenville, Texas, city park for a concert dedicated to the International Year of the Child sponsored by the Bahá’í Group of Stephenville. Shown here are Kevin Anglin (right), a recently declared believer from Hamilton, Texas, and two of his music students from Hamilton.
The Spiritual Assembly of Milpitas, California, recently sponsored a two-day media workshop at the Allen School in San Jose. The workshop was conducted by George Hill (left) of Carson, California, and Doug Carpa (second from left) of Phoenix, Arizona. Other participants (from left) included Dick Link, Bernard Fishman, Valerie Wilson, Mark Beers, Claude LeFrancois, Fannie Irby, Al Irby, Pauline Menzer, Gerald Cook, Linda Dunlap, Richard Irby, Kathy Shaw, Hugh Rowley, Linda Morse.
Children at the Bahá’í School in Hamden, Connecticut, were captivated last October 28 by Balinese dancer and musician Jim Brochin who performed Balinese dances in colorful masks and costumes and demonstrated his handmade musical instruments. After the performance, he invited the children to play the instruments, and in almost no time had them beating out rhythms.
Ludmila Van Sombeek: Tireless Worker for Cause[edit]
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following tribute to Ludmila Van Sombeek, a veteran Bahá’í teacher who died last September, was written by Jean Norris Scales of Durham, North Carolina.)
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Certain moments are symbolic of a lifetime.
One evening in Durham, North Carolina, in the 1960’s—a period of civil rights conflict in the U.S.—Ludmila Van Sombeek circulated among a large, happy gathering in her home—guests from Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and the city.
The visitors were white, black; young, old; American, European, Asian, African.
MRS. VAN SOMBEEK spoke of the beauty of unity in diversity, of the significance of this century, and of the Mission of Bahá’u’lláh.
As she spoke, she placed a pillow at the back of an African student who had spent a weekend in her home, recuperating from months in a hospital. Without pausing in sharing the Message, she had brought comfort to one in need.
Such was her life of ceaseless and intense teaching of the Faith in words and, inseparably, in thoughtful and deeply caring service to those of all races, nationalities and strata.
Born Ludmila Ott on July 30, 1893, in Vienna, Austria, she experienced early the feelings of a minority, attending a Lutheran school in predominantly Catholic Vienna. The school provided a compromise between her father’s socialism and her mother’s Catholicism.
AS A TEENAGER, she became disillusioned with religion, observing clergymen blessing troops of both sides going to war. In 1916 she sailed to the U.S., her parents fearing that she would not have an opportunity for education in war-torn Europe.
Experiencing intense prejudice in New York City because of her German accent, she entered nurses’ training at the Jewish Training School, Brooklyn Hospital, for an education and a better understanding of English.
Enduring language problems, heavy work, and diphtheria sensitized her to the needs of those experiencing isolation, prejudice and despair.
Her adoption of a sickly baby and of a foundling after her marriage to Adolph Bechtold expressed this understanding.
IN THIS PERIOD, through firesides at the home of Antoinette “Aunty” Foote in Brooklyn, understanding grew to religious fervor when she was introduced to the Bahá’í Faith. In 1922, she became a dedicated believer.
After Mr. Bechtold became ill and died, Ludmila studied optics and business management, and served for 10 years as president of the Bechtold Optical Company before retiring to devote her energies to sharing the Message and engaging in human relations activities.
For her, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in New York and the Urban League in Harlem became centers for action and for relating the spiritual Message to the cause of justice and harmony.
MANY PROMINENT persons were guests at firesides in the Bechtold home, and some of them accompanied Ludmila on trips to the Green Acre Bahá’í School.
As a friend of Dr. Thomas E. Jones, president of Fisk University, and of Leslie Pinckney Hill, president of Cheyney State College, Ludmila was invited to speak to college audiences in Tennessee and Pennsylvania.
Upon Dr. Jones’ becoming president of Earlham College, a Quaker institution, opportunities opened in Indiana as well.
Ludmila spoke widely in the southern states at colleges, conferences, and before religious peace organizations.
ON ONE TRIP to the Northeast, she met Matthew Bullock, a black lawyer, chairman of the Massachusetts Parole Board and Advisory Board of Pardons, and president of the Community Church of Boston. Ludmila’s answers to his questions and her friendship over many years led him to accept the Faith in 1940.
Considering that persons interested in an international language would be interested in international subjects, Ludmila studied Esperanto in New York, met Lidia Zamenhof, daughter of the founder of Esperanto, and attended Esperanto conferences in Europe, where she made many new friends.
In addition to her growing fluency in English and Esperanto, Ludmila spoke, read and wrote German and Czechoslovakian—all avenues for spreading the Message.
Besides her work with organizations and speaking tours in the New York period, Ludmila engaged in activities to help the poor.
AMONG THESE were cooking for and entertaining children in “Heirs Kitchen,” a poor district in New York City, where she dressed as Santa Claus to bring cheer and gifts to the needy.
The Bahá’í friendships of these years were many. In 1920 Ludmila met Louis Gregory, then a young lawyer in New York. During the many visits to their home, the Bechtold children, Monaver and George, came to call the Gregorys “Uncle Louis” and “Aunt Louise.” The families of Rafi Mottahedeh, Stanwood Cobb, and Zikrullah Khadem were among other friends in New York.
Upon her marriage to Georg Van Sombeek, vice president of the Van Houten Cocoa Company, another chapter in Ludmila’s life began with their moving as homefront pioneers to Durham.
In the South, as in the North, Ludmila concentrated on improving race relations as she presented the Faith.
SEVERAL DINNERS a week over a 14-year period became the primary kind of activity, though gatherings also took the form of book reviews, cook-outs, guest recitals at her grand piano, and parties.
For her, the keyboard provided an analogy to harmony in diversity, while games served to illustrate the need for greater perspective in solving personal and world problems.
Ludmila found time to speak to many church groups, university audiences, and civic organizations in Durham and in other cities and states, often sharing slides of her travels.
She became active in the International League for Peace and Freedom, the National Council for Negro Women, the YWCA, the Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Durham Committee on Negro Affairs, and resumed her long-time association with the NAACP.
TRAVELING IN the South, she was in Montgomery, Alabama, when the bus boycott of 1955-56 was at its height. She befriended the Martin Luther King family and related the Bahá’í vision of the future to social dynamics.
In Durham, there was the offering of Bahá’í guests as speakers, among them the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem, author-educator Stanwood Cobb, and distinguished pioneers Elsie Austin and Ellsworth Blackwell.
Her frequent 18-hour days also included visits to the sick, gifts for the needy, comfort for the desolate, and candy and cookies for neighborhood children. The formation in 1962 of the first Spiritual Assembly of Durham was an achievement for which she had diligently worked.
Her meeting with the Guardian during a 1953 pilgrimage was followed by his request that she serve as his “crusader” in countries behind the Iron Curtain.
Ludmila responded to the request with trips in 1958, 1963, 1965 and 1967 to Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria, and by corresponding with many friends in these countries until she became incapacitated.
ELSEWHERE in Europe, she visited and spoke at Austrian and French Bahá’í schools and firesides.
Her travels extended to attendance at the Bahá’í International Conference in Kampala, Uganda, in 1953, a tour of Russia in 1958, and a pilgrimage to Iran in 1967.
In Africa and Russia, she shared the Message extensively. In Iran, she spoke at a Bahá’í college to an audience of 400 students. Other travels to Panama and the Virgin Islands, and from Maine to California in the U.S., provided opportunities to speak, show slides, and inspire action.
Always active in Bahá’í institutions, she served on the Spiritual Assembly of New York City in the 1930s, and of Durham, North Carolina, from 1962 to 1969, when she moved west.
THE RANGE of her service extended from the African Teaching Committee on the international level, to the Interracial Service Committee on the national level, to numerous committees and administrative positions on the local level in New York and Durham. A special interest was the teaching of Bahá’í principles and administration to children and youth at the Green Acre and Davison Bahá’í schools.
What was the uniqueness of this remarkable woman? A fervor of commitment to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, an unwavering belief in the efficacy of prayer, a creative approach to living that utilized all experiences and talents for teaching the Faith, and a marvelous balance between sharing the Word and serving mankind.
Following her passing on September 7, 1979, in Phoenix, Arizona, the Universal House of Justice said of her:
GRIEVED LEARN PASSING ABHÁ KINGDOM LUDMILA VAN SOMBEEK OUTSTANDING MAIDSERVANT FAITH BAHÁ’U’LLÁH. ASSURE FRIENDS FAMILY OUR LOVING SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS SACRED SHRINES PROGRESS HER SOUL. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE.
The U.S. National Spiritual Assembly added this tribute:
DEEPLY SADDENED BY LOSS INDOMITABLE TEACHER CAUSE LUDMILA VAN SOMBEEK. RECALL WITH PROFOUND GRATITUDE ADMIRATION HER EXTENSIVE EFFORTS IN MANY COUNTRIES ON BEHALF FAITH TO WHICH SHE DEVOTED FULL ENERGY HER BEING. ESPECIALLY MINDFUL HER FEARLESS PROMOTION ONENESS OF MANKIND DURING DARK PERIOD OF RACIAL PROBLEMS OUR COUNTRY. SPLENDOR HER RADIANT EXAMPLE AS UPHOLDER RIGHTS DOWNTRODDEN SHALL NEVER FADE. PLEASE ASSURE ALL MEMBERS HER FAMILY OUR ARDENT PRAYERS AT HOLIEST HOUSE OF WORSHIP FOR PROGRESS HER SOUL THROUGHOUT DIVINE WORLDS. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES.
In Memoriam[edit]
- Mrs. Rulee Adams
- Grand Prairie, Texas
- 1977
- John Allen
- Grand Prairie, Texas
- 1979
- Mrs. Erna Amundsen
- Cresskill, New Jersey
- December 3, 1979
- Donald Austine
- San Bernardino, Calif.
- September, 1979
- Mrs. Mary Belle Baker
- Maxton, N. Carolina
- Date Unknown
- John Baloo
- Houck, Arizona
- Date Unknown
- Curtis Bell
- Terrell, Texas
- Settember 22, 1979
- Raymond Buckley
- Wakpala, S. Dakota
- Date Unknown
- Miss Venus Curl
- Seattle, Washington
- November 30, 1979
- Dock Dixon Jr.
- Lakeview, S. Carolina
- 1976
- Francis Doran
- Gibsonton, Florida
- October 18, 1979
- John Sitting Dog
- Little Eagle, S. Dakota
- November 29, 1979
- Rod Gibson
- Boise, Idaho
- November 16, 1979
- Howard T. Graham
- Mira Loma, Calif.
- November 4, 1979
- William Graham
- Kingstree, S. Carolina
- 1973
- McKineley Gregoire
- La Place, Louisiana
- November 30, 1979
- Watts Jones
- Notasulga, Alabama
- August 20, 1979
- Ms. Ozra Kazemi
- Bozeman, Montana
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Zona Larimore
- Placerville, Calif.
- October 3, 1979
- Mrs. Annie B. Long
- Americus, Georgia
- Date Unknown
- Miss Pauline K. Luehr
- Freemont, Nebraska
- 1979
- Miss Velce Jean Macklin
- Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif.
- December 4, 1979
- Mr. Beverly Malloy
- Maxton, N. Carolina
- Date Unknown
- Everett Matteson
- Oakland Park, Florida
- 1979
- Mrs. Ruth Miguel
- Bigfield, Arizona
- October 28, 1978
- Albert K. McClendon
- Santa Cruz, Calif.
- September, 1979
- Sam McDougail
- Maxton, N. Carolina
- Date Unknown
- William McLaughlin
- Maxton, N. Carolina
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Carolyn Neff
- Wilton Manors, Fla.
- December 10, 1979
- Dr. E. Lenore Pickett
- Albuquerque, N. Mexico
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Florence M. Reeb
- Columbus, Ohio
- November 9, 1979
- Miss Ottilie Rhein
- San Mateo, Calif.
- October 29, 1979
- Johnnie D. Rogers
- Dillon, S. Carolina
- Date Unknown
- James Sanson
- Alvarado, Texas
- Date Unknown
- Mahmoud Sharqi
- Bronx, New York
- October 27, 1979
- Mrs. Elsie Small
- Belle Glade, Florida
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Mabel Sneider
- Huntsville, Texas
- December 4, 1979
- Henry Allen Taylor
- Maxton, N. Carolina
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Doris L. Threadgill
- Houston, Texas
- August 10, 1979
- Andres Van Dyk
- Wyckoff, New Jersey
- Date Unknown
- Kaykhosrow Varjavandi
- Des Plaines, Illinois
- October 1979
- Adolf Volder
- Torrance, California
- November 14, 1979
- Mrs. Hattie Washington
- Azle, Texas
- 1978
- Mrs. Louise White
- Donaldsonville, La.
- Date Unknown
- Julius Williams
- Jacksonboro, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Madie Wittington
- Latta, S. Carolina
- Date Unknown
Teachers Gather in Maryland To Confront ‘Asian Experience’[edit]
Nineteen Bahá’ís intent on teaching the Faith to those of Asian background gathered last October 27 in Columbia, Maryland, for “The Asian Experience,” a one-day conference on various aspects of Far and Near Eastern culture sponsored by the Asian American Teaching Committee.
Conference workshops were led by believers who are either from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, Korea or India, or who are familiar with those cultures.
The program began with a slide presentation on Buddhist and Hindu worship, and then explained how the principles of those religions are in harmony with Christianity and the Bahá’í Faith.
Frank Stewart of Falls Church, Virginia, presented slides of his visit to Daidanaw, an all-Bahá’í village in Burma, and Judith Semark of Virginia Beach, Virginia, performed a Hindu temple dance.
The Asian American Teaching Committee welcomes correspondence from those who are interested in teaching people from the Far East. The committee’s address is 120 Rosewood Drive, Greenbelt, MD 20770.
Teaching those of Asian background was the focus last October 27 at a one day conference, ‘The Asian Experience,’ in Columbia, Maryland, sponsored by the Asian American Teaching Committee. Participants included (front row left to right) Pei-Lu Chiu Fischer, Ruth Dunbar, Judith Semark, Nina Salaam, Marti Lindsey, Sharon Basra, Betty Weedlun, Khai Dolinh, and (back row left to right) Yong-jae Choe, Frank Stewart, Peter Ashelman, James Semark, Albert Cheung, Mike Lindsey, Joseph Ilengelkei, Cara Johnson, Bob Imagire, Tom Hsieh.
Mike and Marti Lindsey (left) discuss Japan pioneering experiences with Bob Imagire at the one-day teaching conference, ‘The Asian Experience,’ sponsored by the Asian American Teaching Committee last October 27 in Columbia, Maryland.
Mayor Charles E. Moore of Pine Bluff, Arkansas (seated center) proclaims last December 8 ‘Universal Children’s Day’ in that city as organizers of Pine Bluff’s celebration of the International Year of the Child look on. Also present is Sarah Eakin who was born during IYC in 1979. Seated (left to right) are Dr. Don Eakin, Margaret Spearman, Mayor Moore, Sarah Eakin, Carol Eakin. Standing (left to right) are Pauline Walker, Peter Johnson, Rosemarie Word. Mr. Johnson, a member of the Bahá’í community of Pine Bluff and associate professor of English at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, served as chairman of the IYC organizing committee.
Arkansas Bahá’í Communities Participate in Children’s Fest[edit]
The Bahá’í communities of Pine Bluff and Little Rock, Arkansas, participated last December 8 in an “International Children’s Festival” along with 600 elementary school children, their teachers and parents.
Peter L. Johnson, a member of the Pine Bluff Bahá’í community and an associate professor of English at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, served as chairman of the International Year of the Child project committee that included five other university faculty members.
USING THE THEME “Love and Unity Among the Children of the World,” the festival included skits, songs and dances, as well as poems and essays about various cultures of the world submitted by students at several Pine Bluff elementary schools.
International dances were performed by a group of Girl Scouts, and a medley of songs about love and unity was sung by the Bahá’ís of Little Rock.
The Bahá’ís of Pine Bluff recognized individuals for their effective involvement in child education with copies of “The Violence-Free Society: A Gift for Our Children.” Other books were presented to the public library on behalf of the Bahá’ís of Pine Bluff.
An information booth at the festival offered information on the Faith, while the printed program included a quotation from the Bahá’í Writings about the training of children.
As a result of the festival, some 2,000 residents of Pine Bluff were made aware of the Faith and its teachings relating to world unity and the rights and needs of children.
Corrections in UN Articles[edit]
The following corrections should be made in the January 1980 issue of The American Bahá’í:
On Page 2, 1980 is designated the United Nations Year of the Handicapped. It should read “1981.”
On Page 6, Dr. Wilma Brady is identified as the Bahá’í International Community’s representative to the UN. She is the representative of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly to the UN.
On Page 7, Janet M. Cullen of Olympia, Washington, is reported to have gained consultative status with the UN. The proper term is “consultant status.” Only organizations are granted consultative status at the UN.
The editor regrets the errors.
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of University Place, Washington, was formed last spring. Members are (seated left to right) Houshmand Tirandaz, Shiva Tirandaz, Sue Myatt, Loyd Myatt, and (standing left to right) Zuhair Dallal, Lenore Lawrence, Manousheed Bagha, Chris Morgan, Wanda Reid.
The Bahá’ís of Chattanooga, Tennessee, sponsored a country bazaar last September 29 that featured hand crafts, baked goods and preserves, plants, ‘white elephants’ and snacks. An evening program included a Persian dinner, community talent show, and an auction that raised $1,500 for the Bahá’í Funds. Here Iraj Radpour, vice-chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Chattanooga, holds a portrait of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as he receives bids during the auction.
13 Attend Bahá’í University Course[edit]
Thirteen people—including the chairman of the English Department—attended a mini-course on the Bahá’í Faith last year at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
The class was taught by Peter Johnson, a Bahá’í in Pine Bluff.
During the second session, the school sent a photographer to take a picture of the participants.
from the
Bahá’í Publishing Trust
New Bahá’í Literature[edit]
Memories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
Recollections of the Early Days of the Bahá’í Faith in California
By Ramona A. Brown. Just published! A warm, personal story of the early days of the Bahá’í Faith in California. Before 1912 the Bahá’ís in California were few in number and loosely organized. Memories introduces the reader to those believers and shows how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit—the heart of the book—galvanized them into action. The book also describes what some of the early Bahá’ís did to serve the Faith after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá returned to Haifa.
Ramona Brown’s own response to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit is perhaps typical of that of the early Bahá’ís:
“As He looked into my eyes. His gentle smiling eyes touched my soul; they seemed to tell me that He knew what was in my heart and everything about me. I felt as though I were in another world. At that moment I silently gave my heart and dedicated my life to Him.”
Memories will bring fresh inspiration to Bahá’ís for years to come. An excellent gift for Bahá’ís and seekers interested in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. 29 black and white photographs, some not published elsewhere. 122 pp., notes, index.
7-32-10 cloth $9.95
Happy Naw-Rúz! Greeting Cards[edit]
The Bahá’í New Year—Naw-Rúz—is coming March 21st! You can welcome the new year (137 B.E.) by sending festive new cards to your friends and relatives, Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís. Two cards:
The Naw-Rúz floral brocade card, printed in handsome blue and gold on glossy white stock, bears this holiday greeting: “This is the time for growing; the season for joyous gathering!” (6¼ x 4¾ inches)
The Naw-Rúz four seasons card features a beautiful full-color drawing of a stream winding its way through the four seasons, from spring through winter. The message inside says: “Happy Naw-Rúz—Joyous Springtime greetings!” (8⅛ x 3½ inches)
For the benefit of your non-Bahá’í friends and relatives, each card includes a printed explanation of Naw-Rúz telling when and how it is celebrated. Order your cards today! Use them to spread good cheer and create awareness of a festive time in the Bahá’í year. Sold in packets of ten, with envelopes.
NOTE: To assure on-time delivery, send your order before March 1st. If necessary your cards will be shipped RUSH at no additional charge.
6-48-47 floral brocade card (per packet) $3.50
6-48-48 four-seasons card (per packet) $3.50
Embossed Naw-Rúz Cards
Two handsome embossed Naw-Rúz cards are now available. Sold in packets of ten.
The Naw-Rúz Bahá’í Calendar card features the names of the nineteen Bahá’í months embossed, in English, on attractive ivory stock. Greeting inside: ‘Joyous Naw-Rúz—Bahá’í New Year.’
The Naw-Rúz Nine-Pointed Star card is embossed with a distinctive nine-pointed sunburst design on high-quality ivory stock. No inside greeting. From Kalimát Press. Designs by Michael Hughey.
6-48-65 Bahá’í calendar card (per packet) $3.50
6-48-66 nine-pointed star card (per packet) $3.50
Spring Flowers/Spiritual Springtime Card
A beautiful card you can use year ’round. Quotation from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá inside begins: “Soon the whole world, as in springtime, will change its garb....” From Kalimát Press. Sold in packets of ten.
6-48-67 Spring flowers card (per packet) $3.50
The Whole World Needs Bahá’í Pioneers[edit]
Many people wonder what it takes to be an international pioneer. Actually, anyone who settles in a new country intending to serve the Bahá’í Faith while there can consider himself or herself a pioneer.
Some people are reluctant to consider pioneering because they have somehow been led to believe that pioneering means a lifetime commitment that ultimately results in “burying one’s bones” in the soil of a pioneer post.
THIS IS what our beloved Guardian and our Supreme Institution have asked of us. However, due to the uncertainties of our times, we realize that this is not always possible.
The Universal House of Justice has defined a pioneer goal as having been filled if the pioneer remains at that post for a period of two to three years.
While the intention of remaining at one’s post permanently is highly meritorious, the importance of which cannot be overstressed, it would be a mistake for a Bahá’í not to pioneer because he cannot make such a lengthy commitment.
The entire world is in need of experts in construction of the new World Order and is awaiting your arrival.
IF YOU FEEL that you cannot commit yourself to a lifetime abroad, consider devoting a couple of years to one of the goal countries.
The benefit to the country to which you travel, and the bounties you will receive while there cannot be fully imagined until you experience the thrill of pioneering.
The question, then, is not so much whether to pioneer or teach abroad, but when ... now or later?
In a letter to Bahá’í youth written in 1968 by the Universal House of Justice, valuable light is thrown on this important question.
The letter states that among the many factors to consider must be balanced the “urgency of a particular goal which one is especially qualified to fill and for which there are no others,” and “the fact that the need for pioneers will undoubtedly be with us for generations to come and that therefore there will be many calls in future for pioneering service.”
EACH INDIVIDUAL must evaluate his own circumstances and determine the pioneer timing that best serves the needs of the Faith and himself.
For the friends who decide that further preparation is necessary before pioneering, we believe that attention should be given to the acquisition of a skill or profession that will be of service in the country chosen.
Today it is becoming more and more difficult to settle abroad because of increasingly stringent immigration laws. Foreigners will be welcome in other countries if they can offer a skill that will be viewed as beneficial by the local government.
These needs change quickly, but at the moment those in the health field, teachers—especially those who can teach English as a second language—engineers, agricultural experts, computer scientists, and so on can find jobs abroad.
IT IS A GOOD IDEA to consult with the International Goals Committee about career preparation.
Whether one should place his priority on international pioneering or on helping to win our domestic Seven Year Plan goals is a question that often causes hesitation and concern.
This is really not a problem that should burden people’s minds.
It must be realized that the need for service to the Faith is tremendous anywhere and everywhere in the world, and that no matter what country we find ourselves in, the opportunities to serve far surpass our available resources.
An important point to bear in mind is that it does not have to be an either-or question. Many times, pioneers have found that by preparing first through gaining teaching and administrative experience here in the States, they have greatly enhanced their ability to serve in the pioneer field.
ANYONE WHO asks his District Teaching Committee or Local Spiritual Assembly for ways to serve will find ways in which to gain this valuable experience.
Of course, in the international pioneering field, because of the limited human and material resources, the needs are much more obvious, and our talents more immediately effective.
The International Goals Committee would like to hear from you. The U.S. presently has 44 assigned goals to fill, and the sooner they are filled, the sooner those countries will be able to accelerate their work toward the establishment of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh in their land.
The International Goals Committee stands ready to offer assistance in obtaining information about other countries, finding jobs overseas, and preparing for pioneering either now or later.
Please write to the Committee at 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
The 29 participants in the Pioneer Training Institute held last October 18-21 in Wilmette were preparing to pioneer to Bermuda, Swaziland, Denmark, Southern Africa, the Cameroon Republic, Zaire, Austria, the Marshall Islands, Venezuela, Tanzania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Chile, and the Falkland Islands. By the end of 1979, five members of the group had arrived at their new posts.
Twenty-two believers, most of them from California and neighboring states, attended a Pioneer Training Institute last December 14-16 at the Bosch Bahá’í School near Santa Cruz, California. It marked the first time in more than two years that such an institute was held at a site other than Wilmette, Illinois. Half of those attending planned to be at their pioneering posts in four to six months. Conducting the institute were Mary Louise Suhm (second from left, front row), secretary of the International Goals Committee, and IGC staff member Doug Allen (far left, front row).
