The American Bahá’í/Volume 16/Issue 2/Text

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February, 1985

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[Page 1]

February 1985

The American

Baha'i

Dr. Deas resigns as Gregory Institute’ Ss director

WITH PROFOUND GRATITUDE FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE, THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY ANNOUNCES THE RESIGNATION OF DR. ALBERTA DEAS AS DIRECTOR OF THE LOUIS GREGORY INSTITUTE. DR. DEAS’ HISTORIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FAITH IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST RADIO STATION ON THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT WILL BE REMEMBERED ALWAYS AS ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS OF THIS PERIOD OF AMERICAN BAHA’I HISTORY. DR. DEAS’ MOST RECENT PERIOD OF SERVICE, COMPLETED AT GREAT PERSONAL SACRIFICE, CULMINATED IN THE RAISING OF OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE LOUIS GREGORY INSTITUTE FACILITY AND THE INAUGURATION OF WLGI, BAHA’I RADIO. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY 8, 1985

After four and one-half years of service as administrator of the Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute, while serving simultaneously as secretary of the South Carolina Regional Teaching Committee and administrator of

WLGI inauguration to be held March 23

The victory celebration and public dedication of WLGI Radio, the first Baha’i-owned radio station in North America, has been set for Saturday, March 23.

The National Spiritual Assembly and representatives from the Auxiliary Board will attend the celebration at the Louis Gregory Institute in Hemingway, South Carolina, the site of WLGI.

All Baha’is are invited to attend this celebration of the establishment and operation of WLGI and the conclusion of the term of service of Dr. Alberta Deas who is resigning as director of the Gregory Institute.

President’s rights message refers to Iran persecutions

For the second year in a row,

The Office of the Treasurer announced early in January that more than $522,000 was contrib

President Ronald Reagan has referred to the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran as one of the most serious human rights violations in the world today.

“WE Americans recognize a special responsibility to speak for the oppressed, wherever they may be,”” Mr. Reagan said during a White House ceremony December 10 commemorating International Human Rights Day. ‘‘We think

here of special cases like the persecution of the Baha’i religious minority in Iran ...’”

As the President was making his statement on behalf of human rights, the Islamic Revolutionary

See RIGHTS Page 4

uted during the month of Masa’ il, an amount well above the monthly goal of $395,000.

‘This increase reflects the augmented contributions of individuals, Assemblies and Groups in response to the GOOD (Get Out

DR. ALBERTA DEAS

its Regional Office, and serving for the last year and a half on the National Spiritual Assembly, Dr. Alberta Deas is resigning as the Institute’s director.

“PVE accomplished what I was asked to do by the National Assembly at the Gregory Institute,”’ says Dr. Deas. ‘‘The Institute will no doubt go into a new phase of development—and I will continue to support that development as an

See DR. DEAS Page 8

December surge gives Fund a boost

Sign false document, Baha’i prisoners told

DISTRESSED INFORM YOU THAT RECENTLY IRANIAN GOYERNMENT ANNOUNCED ANOTHER OPPRESSIVE MEASURE AGAINST BAHA’{ PRISONERS. IN ORDER TO BE RELEASED PRISONER MUST SIGN FOLLOWING UNDERTAKING: “I THE UNDERSIGNED (DETAILS OF PERSONAL STATUS INCLUDING RELIGION) UNDERTAKE NOT TO HAVE IN MY POSSESSION ANY BOOK, PAMPHLET, DOCUMENT, SYMBOL OR PICTURE OF THIS MISGUIDED, ZIONIST, ESPIONAGE GROUP OF BAHA’IS, IF ANY OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED ARTICLES BELONGING TO THIS HATED UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT IS FOUND ON MY PERSON OR IN MY HOME, THIS WILL BE TANTAMOUNT TO MY BEING OF THOSE ‘WHO WAR AGAINST GOD’ AND THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL WOULD BE FREE TO DECIDE AGAINST ME IN THE MANNER HE SEES FIT.” THE TERMINOLOGY “WHO WAR AGAINST GOD” IS A TERM USED BY PRESENT REGIME TO SIGNIFY A CRIME DESERVING SENTENCE OF DEATH. BAHA’i PRISONERS HAVE REFUSED SIGN SUCH AN INFAMOUS DOCUMENT FALSELY IMPUGNING THEIR FAITH. MOREOVER SIGNING SUCH A DOCUMENT WOULD LEAVE BAHA’iS OPEN TO HAVING SUCH ITEMS PLANTED ON THEIR PERSON OR IN THEIR HOMES. WAVE OF RECENT ARRESTS OF BAHA’iS SUGGESTS THAT AUTHORITIES PLAN EXERT PRESSURE ALL BAHA’{S TO SIGN SUCH AN IMPOSSIBLE UNDERTAKING. OBVIOUSLY FAITHFUL FRIENDS WILL REFUSE SUCCUMB SUCH CONTEMPTIBLE PLAN. WE REQUEST YOU PUBLICIZE AND INFORM GOVERNMENTS OF DETERIORATING SITUATION BAHA’i COMMUNITY IRAN. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE JANUARY 3, 1985

Change in paper’s distribution OK’d

To underscore its new and broader responsibilities, the Persian Affairs Committee has a new name—The Persian/American Affairs Committee

(see article on Page 19).

of Debt) campaign.

Also reflected is an expected December surge resulting from bonus checks, tax-related gifts, and similar seasonal factors.

In addition, participation was

‘Trail of Light’ keeps blazing during 3-week N. Mexico visit

By ELAINE PHILLIPS SPENCER The ‘‘Trail of Light” continues to blaze its way into the hearts of the indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere.

Assemblies to study role in Campaign of Unified Action

On February 23 and March 30, Spiritual Assembly members in 10 regions of the country will take part in special one-day conferences called for by the National Spiritual Assembly.

THE PURPOSE of the conferences is to provide an opportunity for Assembly members to consult about the vital role their local institutions are being asked to play in the Campaign of Unified Action.

The conferences, planned as a follow-up to the highly successful consultative meetings among the

A THREE-WEEK follow-up to the visit by a South American team last year to the pueblos of northern New Mexico began December 7 in response to directives from the National Teaching Committee and American Indian Teaching Committee to organize regional Trail of Light programs and ensure an adequate follow-up of the visit from our South American friends.

Team members from Alaska, Canada, South Dakota, Nevada and the Navajo Reservation gathered at the Native American Baha’i Institute at Burntwater, Arizona, for three days of prayer and deepening before undertaking the New Mexico visit.

See ASSEMBLIES Page 26

See TRAIL Page 11

The National Spiritual Assembly has approved a change in the distribution of The American Baha’i.

reported to have increased to better than 8,000 individuals.

Both increases mark the first time this fiscal year that the revised goals have been met.

See FUND Page 5

More than 350 non-Bahá’í children attended a Universal Children’s Day program sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida. The event was held at a school whose principal helped publicize it by send ing a brightly colored flyer home with every child in the school. Meanwhile, the Baha’is promoted

event by giving away balloons

Instead of sending the newsPaper to every adult Baha’ in the country, as has been done in the past, we will be sending one copy per household beginning with this

See MAILING Page 28

and flyers at a local shopping mall. The youngsters took part in sack races, a water balloon toss, and an ‘elephant walk,’ and enjoyed ice cream, watermelon and doughnut eating contests along with all the ice cream and punch they could consume. A trio of young Baha’is, ‘The New Age,’ entertained with contemporary music.

[Page 2]VIEWPOINT

The American Baha’i

2

Editorial

Movement imparts new spirit, resolve as young Baha’is mobilize to win Plan

In the past several months, the American Baha’i community has witnessed among its youth and young adults a new resolve, a heightened sense of purpose and commitment to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. Much of this fresh spirit can be credited to the growth of the Baha’i Youth Movement.

YOUR ASSEMBLY or Group may have heard the youth discussing the Movement—this force that is serving to channel their energies toward a more disciplined and directed service to the Faith. Hopefully, you have noted the fresh enthusiasm, the note of seriousness in their discussions and deeds.

Last spring, members of the National Spiritual Assemblies in North America met with members of the Continental Board of Counsellors to discuss the impact of the letter addressed to the youth of the world by the Universal House of Justice dated January 3, 1984. How could the youth of North America best respond to the challenge raised by the House of Justice: ‘‘youth can move the world ...’’?

This question was later put to youth in a series of consultative sessions, and their response was mature and powerful. If the youth could tap into the same vision and spirit shared by the early Babis, those dawn-breakers who carried the infant Faith of God from victory to victory, then they, the youth, as spiritual descendants of those dawnbreakers, could more effectively meet the demands for the growth of the Faith during these turbulent years leading to the Lesser Peace.

The youth have come to recognize the need for a more disciplined approach to their identity as Baha’is. This discipline focuses on the suppression of ego, the exercise of chastity in all its many applications, the overcoming of prejudice, and submission to God’s Will. They seek to share some of that awe-inspiring love and obedience that motivated the deeds of Quddús, Táhirih, and Badi’.

THEY HAVE ALSO recognized the need for a higher level of discourse. Based on the study of the writings, especially those of the Guardian, and through continual conversation on topics that society is struggling to deal with, the youth hope to develop statements that will attract the attention of their peers, open their eyes to the possibilities of building a new society, and recruit them to join this movement that will effect a lasting change. This discourse also calls for action in the execution of deeds of service and of teaching.

Most recently, in mid-November, at a meeting held at the Louhelen Baha’ School, a group of American and Canadian youth met with members of the Continental Board of Counsellors and of the National Youth Committees in North America. Together, they devised a course of action designed to carry quickly the spirit and form of the Baha’i Youth Movement to all parts of the continent. The committees charged the youth with the responsibility to:

hold in assigned areas a series of youth meetings to review the nature and substance of the Movement along with its historical perspective and future focus;

© assist in the formation of information groups, small groups of about 10 youth each that will meet to share and deepen on materials prepared by the National Youth Committees which will help in the development of this discourse. These information groups have no administrative function but serve as a channel for communication in a more economical fashion than on a one-to-one basis;

© support the winter teaching projects that are being held in various parts of the country and, in some areas, to seek sponsorship of projects through Spiritual Assemblies or District Teaching Committees.

The Baha’i Youth Movement is a fresh reality in North America. The observance of International Youth Year 1985, highlighted by the International Youth Conference next summer in Ohio, brings the youth many opportunities for service and growth; the Movement will assuredly provide them with the spiritual resources necessary to seize those opportunities and to make a lasting and significant contribution to the Cause of Baha’u’llah.

IT IS OUR PRAYER that the youth in your area will demonstrate a renewed spirit of dedication, and we are sure that your Assembly or Group will support their efforts. This generation of Baha’i youth is unique in our history, for it is they who will assume the responsibility for the affairs of the Faith during the difficult years leading to the turn of the century.

It is therefore both timely and appropriate for the institutions of the Cause at all levels to give their strongest measure of support, service and guidance to the youthful followers of Baha’u’llah.

“Blessed is he who in the prime of his youth and the heyday of his life will arise to serve the Cause of the Lord of the beginning and of the end, and adorn his heart with His love. The manifestation of such a grace is greater than the creation of the heavens and of the earth, Blessed are the steadfast and well is it with those who are firm.’’—Baháa’u’ lah

Seven more Baha’is executed in Iran, two others die from unknown causes

REGRETFULLY ANNOUNCE SAD NEWS EXSIX BAHA’{ FRIENDS IN

ECUTION OF

TEHERAN: DR. RUHULLAH TA’LIM FROM KIRMANSHAH, DR. FIRUZ ATHARI, MR. ‘IN AYATU’LLAH HAQIQI, MR. JAMSHID PURMR. JAMAL KASHANI, FARHAND. FIVE PREVIOUSLY NOTIFIED TO YOU AS AMONG THOSE CONDEMNED TO DEATH. FATE OF REMAINING 19 IN BALANCE. ALL EXECUTIONS TOOK PLACE ON ONE DAY, 9 DECEMBER. DETAILS ARE UNKNOWN AS NEITHER RELATIVES FRIENDS WERE INFORMED. FACT OF EXECUTIONS DISCOVERED 8 DAYS LATER. ADVISE PUBLICIZE

USTADKAR, GHULAM-HUSAYN

MR. THE LAST

11TH

FACTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND INFORM

Comment

AUTHORITIES, SITUATION GRAVE. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

DECEMBER 17, 1984

FURTHER TO OUR TELEX 17 DECEMBER WE SORROWFULLY ANNOUNCE NEWS EXECUTION BY HANGING OF DR. FARHAD ASDAQI ON 19 NOVEMBER AFTER FOUR MONTHS IMPRISONMENT AND TORTURE. MR. DIYA‘U’LLAH MANI'I-USKU’I AND MR. ‘ALIRIDA NIYAKAN DIED IN TABRIZ PRISON 13TH AND NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY AFTER TWO AND A HALF YEARS IMPRISONMENT. CAUSE DEATH NOT ESTABLISHED. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

DECEMBER 18, 1984

Assemblies have key role to play. in Campaign of Unified Action

The mighty upsurge of teaching that will bring victories for the remainder of the Seven Year Plan is, to a great extent, in the hands of Local Spiritual Assemblies.

COMMITTEES and Assemblies do not teach and confirm souls; individuals do. But the,Local Spiritual Assembly, the ‘‘loving shepherd,” can encourage, guide and minister to the frontrank believers so that teaching will continue at an unprecedented

Just as the individual believer can pray for the prestige, honor and influence of his Local Spiritual Assembly, the Assembly can take measures to safeguard the individual’s right to self-expression and service.

Leadership—The Local Assembly can encourage leadership. In the Baha’i Faith leaders do not have authority, just as rulers do not act independently. A leader does not look for recognition.

Every organization thrives on the leadership abilities of individuals, and many organizations, religious as well as secular, have programs to develop and encourage leadership.

When individuals with talent, enthusiasm, audacity, creativity, imagination, energy and an abundance of love arise in your community, get behind them. Find out what you as an Assembly can do to support and encourage their endeavors.

Trust— Wherever there is an upsurge of teaching in a Baha’i community, there is trust between the Local Spiritual Assembly and the individual believer.

When an individual knows that his Assembly trusts him, he continues his efforts. Trust causes lasting friendships and nurtures activity.

Self-expression—A Local Spiritual Assembly should allow disagreement and unpopular opinions to be freely expressed. There

This month’s article, “‘The Local Spiritual Assembly and the Campaign of Unified Action,” was written by Robert G. Wilson of Seattle, Washington.

must never be recriminations against those who express themselves openly.

Tolerance and forbearance from a Local Assembly—along with a sincere desire to rectify situations and understand its community—increase individual initiative. There is less ‘‘inactivity’” when individuals know they can express their thoughts and feelings.

Confidence—Members of Local Spiritual Assemblies—and the Assembly itself on occasion—must take the community into its confidence and share its concerns.

Smugness, aloofness and arrogance must be avoided. There must never develop an ‘‘us and them’’ attitude between an Assembly and its community.

Individuals must know beyond any doubt that the Assembly has the progress of the Cause of God and the love of the friends at its heart.

Minorities—Members of Baha’i communities who are from minority backgrounds need special attention and encouragement to speak out so that true diversity can be experienced.

Many people are intimidated by an organized meeting such as the Nineteen Day Feast, or by speaking in front of a group.

An Assembly can employ special methods of sharing with community members from minority backgrounds, such as special meetings with them, receptions and specially designed firesides.

Justice—It is the Local Spiritual Assembly that will one day evolve

into the local House of Justice. Justice is the application of the Teachings of Baha’u’ lah.

A Local Spiritual Assembly can make certain that its decisions eliminate problems rather than cause them. Every Assembly decision should be directed toward achieving greater unity among community members and surrounding communities.

The Creative Word—Divine Revelation is God’s greatest gift to man. New believers, as well as seekers, must be brought as quickly as possible to the Word of God.

The Local Spiritual Assembly can help this process by making certain that all new believers have access to the Sacred Writings. Gifts of the Creative Word can be given to Baha’is who graduate from one school grade to another, to high school or college graduates, and to local believers who should have some special recognition for their services or accomplishments.

In sum, the Local Spiritual Assembly can do much to assist the Campaign of Unified Action by supporting and encouraging individual believers as they arise to carry the Faith of God to every human heart. eee RE ATE

The American Baha’i

(USPS 042-430) Published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, $36 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091. Postmaster: Send address changes to Office of ‘Membership and Records, Babs’ National Center, ‘Wilmette, 11, 60091. Editor: Jack Bowers Associate Editor: David E, Ogron ‘The American Bahá’í welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Faith. Articles should be written in a clear and concise manner; color or black and white glossy photographs should be included whenever possible. Please address all materials to The Editor, The American Bahá's, Wil‘mette, IL 60091. Copyright © 1985 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

sea ra RR SSSA AE TU I TAMA RUA CORA NO NT

[Page 3]LETTERS

February 1985

3

“The spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions.’’—‘Abdu’l-Bahá

The American Bahd’{ welcomes letters to the editor on any topic of general interest. The purpose of the “‘letters”’ column is to allow a free and open exchange of ideas and opinions, never to derogate another’s opinion or attack anyone on a personal level.

Letters should be as brief as possible (a maximum of 250 words is suggested). Letters are subject to editing for length and style. Please address all letters to the Editor, The American Bahá’í, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, TL 60091.

To the Editor:

I am writing to express my thoughts about the question raised (July) by Rouha Rose of Normandy Park, Washington.

“THE question is,” she asked, “may we as individual Americans, without mentioning the Faith, acquaint our local or national legislators with the specific guidance concerning modern problems that is available to us? ...””

In writing of the association of Baha’is with politics, the Universal House of Justice stated:

“The Baha’is may, indeed are encouraged to, mix with all strata of society, with the highest authorities and with leading personalities as well as with the mass of the people, and should bring the knowledge of the Faith to them; but in so doing they should strictly avoid becoming identified, or identifying the Faith, with political pursuits and party programs.’’ (Letter of February 8, 1970, quoted in Messages from the Universal House of Justice: 1968-1973, pp. 44-50)

On the same topic, the Guardian warned the believers:

“‘Let them beware lest they allow themselves to become the tools of unscrupulous politicians, or to be entrapped by the treacherous devices of the plotters and the perfidious among their countrymen.’’ (The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 64)

OF COURSE, the question of non-involvement in politics is not a simple one. It is important to study the subject ‘‘to intelligently and radiantly follow the holy teachings on this matter.”’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice dated February 8, 1970)

“*...the Baha’is,”” the Guardian stated in a letter written on his behalf, ‘‘must turn all their forces into the channel of building up the Baha’i Cause and its administration. They can neither change nor help the world in any other way at present. If they become involved in the issues the governments of the world are struggling over, they will be lost. But if they build up the Baha’i pattern they can offer it as a remedy when all else has failed.”” (Quoted in Wellspring of Guidance, p. 135)

“‘Baha’is are often accused of holding aloof from the ‘real prob

lems’ of their fellow-men,” the Universal House of Justice writes. “«..when we hear this accusation let us not forget that those who make it are usually idealistic materialists to whom material good is the only ‘real’ good, whereas we know that the working of the material world is merely a reflection of spiritual conditions and until the spiritual conditions can be changed there can be no lasting change for the better in material affairs.’’ (Letter from the Universal House of Justice dated July 7, 1976, quoted in ‘‘Political Non-Involvement and Obedience to Government,”’ compiled by Dr. Peter Khan, p. 10) Abbas Lohrasbi Youngstown, Ohio

To the Editor:

The Eastern Literature Committee is responsible for translating Baha’j literature into Eastern languages.

To work on these translations we need people, preferably Baha’is, who speak these languages as their mother tongue, who are able to translate from the English language (although in rare cases exceptions have to be made), who ideally haven’t been out of the country for too long or have had some practice meanwhile, and who are willing to help us in our work,

There is a special shortage of people who are able to translate or proofread in the following languages: Bulgarian, Polish, Armenian, Azeri (Adherbaidjan) and Georgian.

If you have any of these skills or know of someone who has, please help us carry on our work either by volunteering or letting others know of our special needs.

Our address is Ahrenshorster Weg 2, D-2307 Schwedeneck 1, Germany.

Kerstin Poschmann Eastern Literature Committee

To the Editor:

While attending the recent ‘‘Entrepreneurs’ Conference’’ at the Louhelen School, I was both inspired and disappointed.

I WAS inspired because so many Baha’is responded to the call from the Universal House of Justice in its letter of October 20, 1983.

Many believers are seriously considering opening a business as a way to help promote social and economic advancement as well as self-reliance.

I was disappointed because so

few attendees represented technical professions such as mechanics, electronic/electrical technicians, optical technicians, welders, and climate control technicians. Without these professions (I use the word profession instead of trade), society could not long sustain its level of advancement. Who else would repair, service or develop the tools that are needed by an advancing society?

We must remember that these professions also upraise human

To the Editor:

At our last Feast; the community came up with this idea to help the National Baha’i Fund ‘‘Get Out of Debt”’—individuals can decide now to refund their tax refunds (all or part) to the National

Fund.

If we act now, we can pledge/send our refunds before April 1985, just in time to meet our budget deadline!

Bonnie Barnes Washington, D.C.

ity. What would agriculture be without refrigeration, or communications without electronics?

IF THE infrastructure of this country were in ruins, would we be in a position to rebuild it? Certainly, scientists, engineers, physicians, etc., provide the means to advance society, but who sustains us there?

Bahda’is of all ages should seriously consider a technical education, which usually takes two years of academic study and one year of experience to prepare one to open a business or work to support one.

Not only could a profession such as these cost less to prepare for, but one would have a practical skill that could be taken anywhere: a perfect means to self-reliance and ‘‘homefront/international’’ pioneering.

My car hasn’t worked right since I left Louhelen. Does anyone know an honest mechanic?

John T. Krochmalny Port Clinton, Ohio

To the Editor:

In recent issues of The American Baha’i there have been letters written about the persecutions in Tran and whether it is right for Baha’is to concentrate only on the sufferings of their fellow-believers.

When the Baha’is in Iran suffer and die for the Cause, they are following in the footsteps of Bahá’u’lláh Himself Who accepted every trial, not just for the Baha’is, but for all humanity.

When the Universal House of Justice and the Baha’i administration make a great effort to gain world support for ending the persecution of Bahá’ís, it is also, by example, an effort to end all injustice against humanity.

What is special is that in this Cause are also the divine solutions to all of these problems. That is why it seems especially terrible when there are those who seek to extinguish its light.

Steven Boone Santa Fe, New Mexico

To the Editor:

I would like to share an observation on business dealings between Bahá’ís and with the larger community.

THERE appears to be some feeling that since we are all Baha’is (and, presumably, try to live in love and harmony with one another), written contracts should be dispensed with, since—the assumption is—such contracts imply distrust between parties.

The overly idealistic may imagine this to be a ‘‘spiritual’” way of looking at business, and may

even feel insulted when asked to

enter into the contract in writing,

but this attitude is neither spiritual i ply naive.

A written contract is entered into with the assumption of goodwill on the part of both parties, and is always desirable because it makes explicit the assumptions on the part of those who are doing business with each other.

By committing an agreement to writing, one prevents the likelihood of misunderstanding and hard feelings later, because assumptions (tacitly held) as to certain details of a transaction will likely be different in the minds of the two or more parties: by committing the agreement to writing, it is made clear exactly what each expects of the other.

Also, memory is notoriously tricky; conditions that seemed clear at the time the agreement was made may not be remembered the same way by the parties at a later time.

It is also an unfortunate reality that not all people who possess Baha’j I.D. cards exhibit the virtues that the divine Messengers would desire of them.

We may not like to face the fact that there are some vipers among us, but it’s true. To trust a person simply because he identifies himself as a fellow-Baha’i, or to expect yourself to be trusted only on

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that basis, is also (regrettably) naive.

Christ admonished His followers to be ‘‘as innocent as doves,” but in the same breath, and first, He admonished them to be “‘as wise as serpents’? (Matthew 10:16).

John Ives Albany, California

To the Editor:

Throughout religious history humanity has been instructed to show compassion for all living be This truth is once again manifested in the Baha’i Faith as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells us to ‘‘exercise the utmost kindness towards every living creature.”

FURTHERMORE, cruelty to animals is forbidden in the Kitabi-Aqdas.

At first, this seems to be a simple order to follow, but anyone who looks further will find that violence against animals pervades our society.

Animals raised for food are subjected to barbaric living conditions which culminate in inhumane slaughter.

Animals used in laboratory experiments are forced to endure gruesome conditions which often do not benefit society. 1 recommend Peter Singer’s book, Animal Liberation, for more information. The facts will surprise and shock the reader.

‘As a Baha'i, I believe all aspects of how we choose to conduct our lives constitute religion. Therefore, I believe, we are required to practice kindness toward animals through our choice of diet and clothing.

WE CAN refuse to eat meat, or

See LETTERS Page 25

ODDY

in the United States

Re diccies a bi baniarppeniechbad dese ot [Page 4]The American Baha'i

C ithe a builders

MRS. EMOGENE M. HOAGG

Much of Emogene Hoagg’s 47 years of service to the Bahda’i Faith, which began in 1900 with a pilgrimage to see ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, was devoted to teaching on the homefront and to international pioneering.

BORN September 27, 1869, in Copperopolis, California, Henrietta Emogene Martin was quite young when she went to live with an aunt and uncle in San Francisco following her father’s death and mother’s remarriage.

. After her graduation from an exclusive boarding school for young women, she married John Ketchie Hoagg when she was 20 years old. A few years later she went to Europe to pursue her vocal studies.

In 1898, after returning to the U.S., Emogene first heard of the Faith while visiting in the California home of Mrs. Phoebe Hearst, a family friend.

Dr. Edward Getsinger and his wife, Lua, were also at the Hearsts’ home to tell her about the new Revelation.

Emogene was especially attracted by Mrs. Getsinger’s earnest manner, and began studying the Faith with her on a daily basis.

In 1899, Mrs. Hoagg wrote to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá telling Him of her acceptance of the Faith. She then traveled with Mrs. Hearst as far as Paris while en route to Italy to continue her musical training

IT WAS while in Milan, Italy, that she received her first Tablet from the Master.

Mrs. Hoagg would later describe her 14 days with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Haifa and ‘Akká in late 1900 as her ‘‘spiritual baptism.’”

At His suggestion, she spent a month in Port Said, Egypt, studying the Bible under the guidance of the renowned Baha’i scholar, Mirza ‘Abu’l-Fadl.

Back home in California in 1903, Emogene joined Helen Goodall and Mrs. Goodall’s daughter, Ella Cooper, in estab

See HOAGG Page 18

Rights

Continued From Page 1 Government in Iran introduced a new document for Baha’i prisoners to sign as a condition for their release (see the cable from the Universal House of Justice on Page 1).

The document amounts to a confession of membership in an espionage organization and an agreement that the one signing it should be found guilty of a capital offense if any article relating to the Faith is found on his person or in his home.

Meanwhile, as if to underscore Iran’s intention to ignore basic human rights provisions for some of its citizens, that country’s permanent representative to the United Nations said on December 7 that the Islamic Revolutionary Government ‘‘would not hesitate to violate’ the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights whenever it had to choose between violating the divine law of Islam and violating secular conventions or resolutions.

The Declaration, said UN representative Said Rajaie-Khorassani, could not be implemented by Muslims, as it does not ‘‘accord with the system of values recognized by the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

On December 19, responding to a report of nine more Baha’i deaths in Iranian prisons, U.S. State Department spokesman John Hughes said, ‘“‘It is particularly poignant that Iran’s latest executions of Bahá’ís occurred on the very eve of Human Rights Day, which commemorates the adoption by the United Nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“AT THIS year’s Human Rights Day commemoration, President Reagan declared that we who are free have a special responsibility to speak up for those who are not. Among the victims of persecution whom President Reagan cited on that solemn occasion were the Baha’is of Iran.’’

The Human Rights Day proclamation signed by the President includes the following passage:

““As Americans, we strongly object to and seek to end such affronts to the human conscience as... the persecution of the Baha’ religious minority in Iran ...’”

Four Baha’is were among the special guests invited to the Human Rights Day observance: Judge James F. Nelson, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly; Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, vicechairman of the National Spiritual Assembly; Dr. Vahid Alavian, a professor of engineering at the University of Illinois whose father, Buzurg Alavian, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Tehran, was murdered June 23, 1981, by the Islamic Revolutionary Government of Iran; and Dr. Alavian’s wife, Dr. Barbara Ann Miller.

Dr. Kazemzadeh, who also directs the Baha’i Office of External Affairs, spoke the following morning at the National Press Club in Washington, saying the Iranian government has begun a deliberate campaign of genocide against members of the Baha’i Faith in that country.

QUOTING the five-point definition of genocide set forth in the United Nations Convention on the Crime of Genocide, Dr. Kazemzadeh said the Islamic Revolutionary Government has persecuted the Baha’is by brutal actions in each of those categories, any one of which the Convention defines as genocide.

“Since 1979, more than 185 Baha’is have been executed or died in Iranian prisons,”’ said Dr. Kazemzadeh, ‘‘while thousands more have been arrested, denied jobs and legally earned pensions, and barred from universities, high schools and even primary schools.

“Baha’i children have been ostracized in schools, and in a few cases, even taken from their families by Islamic authorities.

“We know of some 750 Baha’ is in prison today,” he said, ‘‘several of them sentenced to death on charges based solely on religious

Amnesty International informed of Iran persecutions by Baha’i at U. of Illinois

The persecution of Baha’is in Iran was discussed during the November meeting of Amnesty International in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, by Merrill Miller, a member of the Baha’i Club at the University of Illinois.

Mr. Miller’s half-hour presentation was stretched to a full hour because of the many questions from the audience of 35 people.

The talk came as a result of a request from Amnesty International to the Spiritual Assembly of Urbana for a Bahá’í speaker.

The Baha’i Club was then asked to respond to the request on behalf of the Assembly.

A report of the Baha’i presentation was later published in the local organization’s newsletter

which is sent to about 70 people.

The University of Illinois’ Baha’i Club also has been sponsoring a series of talks on ‘‘Living in a Global Society”? which feature addresses by university faculty and other qualified people.

The presentations, in the university’s student union, have focused on such topics as ‘‘Assistance to Developing Countries,’’ “Interracial Communications,” and ‘‘African Rights Oppression.””

The Bahá’í club has further presentations planned on world technology and unity. Club members report that those who are being asked to make presentations are eager to-do so under the club’s sponsorship.

President Reagan prepares to sign the Human Rights Day proclam: tion during a White House cere differences.

“Many of those executed were women, who have always been considered equal to men in the Baha’i Faith. Even teen-age girls were executed, on charges that they taught Baha’i religious classes.”

The American Baha’i community, said Dr. Kazemzadeh, welcomes President Reagan’s decision to submit the UN Convention on Genocide the Congress, which has not as yet ratified it.

“‘WE HOPE the Congress will act promptly next year to approve the Genocide Convention, which establishes an important standard by which to measure the actions of regimes which violate human rights,”” he said.

The Baha’i community, said Dr. Kazemzadeh, considers the document to be signed by Baha’i prisoners as a condition of their release to be ‘‘a serious violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which the government of Iran is a signatory.”

Baha’i prisoners, he added, “are refusing to sign this statement, which they feel misrepresents the Baha’i Faith and leaves them open to having Baha’i materials that have been confiscated by Iranian authorities planted on their persons or in their homes as evidence that they are persons who ‘war against God,’ often a capital offense.’”

The text of the statement introduced by the Iranian government is as follows:

“I, the undersigned (details of personal status including religion) undertake not to have in my posession any book, pamphlet, document, symbol or picture of the misguided, Zionist, espionage group of Bahda’is.

“If any of the above-mentioned articles belonging to this hated underground movement is found on my person or in my home, this will be tantamount to my being of those ‘who war against God,’ and the Attorney-General would be free to decide against me in the manner he deems fit.’’

mony December 10. Standi the right is Vahid Alavian, 2 Persian-born Baha’ from Illinois.

THE significance of the term “those who war against God,”’ according to the Universal House of Justice, lies in the fact that it “is a term used by (the) present regime to signify a crime deserving (a) sentence of death.’”

During the State Department’s daily briefing December 19, Mr. Hughes said, ‘‘We appeal to the Iranian authorities to abide by the spirit of the letter of the Universal Declaration (of Human Rights), Article 18, which affirms, ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in company with others, and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.’ ’’

Last August, Amnesty International again called on the government of Iran to live up to its own Islamic constitution, and to UN covenants it has ratified, by acting to end its common practice of torturing political prisoners.

CITING testimony from an unspecified number of former prisoners who were held and tortured over the last three years, AI concluded that the evidence reveals “a pattern of torture of political detainees.”

The Amnesty International report came two months after Dr. Kazemzadeh presented testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the torture of Baha’is in Iran.

Shortly after that hearing, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) appointed a special representative to make a thorough study of the human rights situation in Iran and report back to the Council at its 41st session early this year.

And in September, Sen. Charles Percy of Illinois, then chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, announced that the committee had unanimously endorsed a resolution to strengthen U.S. policy against torture.

a hs MG SRN A RA ER ENTE aS TT SS MP Rh A NT a SDN AR A RO RT RUT

[Page 5]THE FUNDS

February 1985

5

One ‘GOOD?’ idea simply leads to another

Responses to the GOOD (Get Out of Debt) Campaign have been coming in steadily, and the results are encouraging and heartwarming.

AFTER becoming aware of the state of the National Fund, numerous communities and individuals sent notes of love and concern with their contributions.

Often, these contributions were over and above their regular gifts to the National Fund.

The Bahda’is of Jackson, Michigan, were so moved by the Feast message for Masa’ il in which Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, announced the GOOD Campaign that they sent a Western Union mailgram at 11 o’clock that night pledging their support.

After consultation, the Jackson community claimed responsibility for a percentage of the national deficit and set their goal higher ac

cordingly.

Among other responses, we heard from a single parent of twins who is struggling to find work. She not only managed to offer a contribution, she also made a promise: she and her “‘little ones will pray daily for universal participation, the National Fund, and the coming of the Kingdom.”

MANY of the friends expressed deep regret at the temporary can Fund, Feast materials rated in annual survey

How do you rate the new National Fund charts sent to the Feast?

What do you think of the Feast tapes from the National Spiritual Assembly?

How do you rate the articles on the Fund in The American Baha’i?

These are some of the questions that Local Assemblies and Baha’i Groups were asked to consider in the annual ‘‘Baha’i Fund Progress Survey’ mailed to communities in December.

In addition to rating communications from the National Spiritual Assembly, the friends were given an opportunity to evaluate the activities of their National Treasurer’s Representative, request help from the NTR, and indicate any special needs in the

Fund

Continued From Page 1

Contributions from the National Baha’i Fund to the World Centre were temporarily suspended in September due to lower than anticipated income; however, our monthly goal has been exceeded by a wide enough margin to enable the National Spiritual Assembly to fulfill its October commitment to the Universal House of Justice.

If this pattern of increased contributions to the National Baha’i Fund is maintained, it soon will be possible to make further payments bringing up-to-date our $1.5 million annual commitment to the World Centre.

areas of consolidation or teaching.

By the first week in January, about 500 communities had returned the survey. Below are some representative comments made about communications from the National Spiritual Assembly:

Decrease the number of tapes

and increase the quality of production and content. We would like to have Feast letters and letters from the National Treasurer. We feel the Treasurer’s report should be more concise and clear.

We like the new, more realistic goals.

Excellent work done by the national Treasurer’s Office. The community likes the idea of the local Treasurer presenting the Fund report without a letter from the national Treasurer.

We would like to see more articles in The American Baha’i on

how to raise funds and encourage giving. Our community is keeping a list of services and ideas to raise money for the Fund as a resource for individuals.

The national Treasurer’s Office should stress to each Assembly, not only to the local Treasurer, the importance of individuals supporting the Funds. This

would be more effective in encouraging community members to give.

(We would like) more specific

information on how various projects are funded through the National Fund. This may stimulate and encourage participation to National (i.e., how the money is being used in other countries).

° We find the Feast tapes too long, and we object to requiring passivity at the start of the Feast.

See SURVEY Page 23

District Name Membership

Alabama S/Florida NW Alabama N Arizona N Arizona S Arkansas California C No. California C No. California N No. California N No. California S No. California S No. California S No. California S No.

ge eee

as of 12/9/84 participants

Northern Minnesota, Eastern Oregon lead the way

Contributions to the National Baha’i Fund by District ‘Starting Block’ Info

Number of Percentage of

participation

Membership Number of (12/9/84)

Current Month Info (Qawl) Percentage of

participants participation

See CHART Page 26

cellation of our national contribution to the International Baha’i Fund.

Extra savings in community budgets and employee bonus checks have graced the Treasurer’s Office, along with pledges to recite prayers for unity of pur pose.

Three of the letters we received praised the community in Round Rock, Texas, for its suggestion and commented, ‘‘We will see their contribution, and raise them tool’”

One of those communities, determined ‘‘not to be outdone,’’ was nearby San Antonio.

Several contributions came from GOOD fund-raisers held as soon as the campaign was announced—a GOOD sign indeed.

In the true spirit of American ingenuity, the Bahá’ís of League City, Texas, sponsored a successful “‘desserts auction’? where

many tasted their first “‘$140 piece of pie.””

Meanwhile, the Baha’is of Webster, New York, have taken to heart the three spiritual prerequisites for becoming an Apostle of Bahá’u’lláh—keeping the Covenant (of which contributing to the Fund is an integral part), teaching, and loving one’s fellow believers.

They are thinking up ways to have a GREAT Day (Get Really Excited About Teaching) to complement their GOOD Campaign. Best wishes to Webster!

The Treasurer’s Office appreciates all of the letters and evidences of sacrifice.

Incidentally, contributions for the month of Masa’il totaled $522,127—giving the campaign a GOOD start. The wonderful spirit of the American Baha’i community promises to make this a GOOD year!

Winners’ Circle

Highest Percentage Participation

1, Minnesota, Northern 2. Maine

3. Tennessee, Eastern

4. Pennsylvania, Western 5. Iowa

6. Florida, Central

7. Minnesota, Southern 8. Illinois, Northern No, 1 9. Colorado, Western

10. Pennsylvania, Eastern 11. Vermont

12. Nevada, Southern

13. New Hampshire

14. Ohio, Northern

15. Idaho, Southern

16. Georgia, Northeast 17. Louisiana, Northern 18. Wisconsin, Southern

Most Improved Participation

1. Oregon, Eastern

2. Texas, Central No. 2

3. Florida, Central

4. Navajo/Hopi

5. Illinois, Northern No. 1 6. Maine

7. DelMarVa

8. Florida, Northern

9. South Carolina, Northern 10. South Carolina, South No. 2 11. New Mexico, Northern 12. South Carolina, Central 13. Minnesota, Northern 14. Tennessee, Eastern 15. Pennsylvania, Western 16. Nevada, Southern

17. New Mexico S/Texas W 18. North Carolina, Western 19. Colorado, Western

19. Kansas .

[Page 6]Peer sR PMO La TTENENM reer eT ae Oe eT Te Cee Re nee IGC: PIONEERING

The American Baha’i

6

Sometimes a little imagination can help teaching work

Bahda’u’llah has said to be ‘‘as unconstrained as the wind while carrying the Message of Him Who. hath caused the dawn of Divine Guidance to break.’’ (The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 42)

SOME of us may be more imaginative than others when it comes to creative ways to teach the Faith, but the following story is one of the best we’ve heard.

Peggy True is a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh to the Canary Islands and a member of its newly born National Spiritual Assembly. In 1953, when she and her family first arrived on the island of Tenerife, it was nearly impossible to teach the Faith. Not only were people afraid to listen, it was also illegal.

While meditating one day, Peggy remembered hearing about messages sent in bottles. So she collected some bottles, got some corks and wrote short notes telling that Bahá’u’lláh had come. She put the notes in the bottles and set them adrift in the Atlantic Ocean.

“A bottle is a tiny thing,’’ she wrote recently. “The ocean is immense. The bottle may be seen for only a second if there are waves. Is it just by chance that a person is there and happens to be looking in that direction when the bottle appears? Or is it destiny?”’

The Trues have received letters from people who have found the bottles in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Florida, Panama, Mexico, Antigua, Dominica, Grand Turk, Saba, Barbados, the Canal Zone, Peter’s Island, parts of Venezuela,

port cities in the Canary Islands and many other places.

THE BOTTLES usually take a year or so to arrive, but Peggy recently heard from someone in the Bahamas who had found a message three or four years old. As Peggy says, “If Baha’u’llah wills, His Message will circle the current several times just to arrive in the hands of a certain person.””

As you can imagine, there are many touching and unusual stories related to these bottles, and we will tell you one that is quoted directly from a letter to Peggy True from Auxiliary Board member Edith McLaren, a pioneer to Nicaragua.

“You will be happy to: know,” she writes, ‘‘what happened to your little proclamation note which you sent out in a bottle in March 1974.

“For about 10 days before Ridvan I was visiting several towns on the Atlantic Coast with another pioneer, helping the Assemblies to get ready for their elections, and trying to deepen the friends.

“In one town where there are at least 40 registered Baha’is, a native woman brought us your note which she had found on the shore in a bottle near her home.

“The friends there and in other towns we visited were very excited about this, and it helped them to feel the oneness of the Baha’is all over the world. They were even more excited to learn that I knew you.

“AND to think, it arrived on the only full day I had spent in

COUNTDOWN TIME! 60 goals to go and only two months to Ridvan

Apostles of Baha’u’llahphone the International Goals Committee

PIONEER GOALS

(As of January 3, 1985)

AFRICA (F) Benin ae (E) Lesotho 2 (F) Mauritania 2 (E) Nigeria 4* (E) Tanzania 3

AMERICAS (E) Anguilla

(S) Easter Island (S) Colombia (E) Dominica (S) Guatemala (S) Galapagos (E) Cayman Is. (S) Mexico

(S) Yucatan, Mexico (S) Puerto Rico (E) St. Vincent

Shs apices

LANGUAGE KEY E—English S—Spanish F—French Th—Thai GR—Greek T—Turkish K—Korean

ASIA (E) India 3 (K) Korea 1 (E) Nepal B (E) Philippines al AUSTRALASIA U Caroline Islands (BE) Kosrae 1 (E) Palau 2 Mariana Islands (E) Marshall Is. 1 (E) Western Samoa D (BE) Tuvalu #2 8 EUROPE (S) Canary Is. 2 (GR,T,E) Cyprus 4 (E) Ireland rh R TOTAL 60

Persians preferred but others

welcome

their town!””

Through the years, Peggy True has recruited many Baha’ is to help write the notes, and even more to help consign them to the ocean.

Anyone traveling by boat from Tenerife is given as many bottles as he or she can hold, and the bottles are thrown overboard.

Peggy wrote, ‘At the moment, Ihave a whole envelope full of letters received from people who found the bottles. I don’t know how many have been sent out. I

just keep filling them and tossing them overboard.

““Abdu’l-Bahá said that every seed planted in this century will bear fruit. So I just try to think of ways to plant seeds. The crop will come later. But from what we have calculated, the percentage of replies is greater than mailing services get. ‘

“There may also be many people who have received the Message but don’t, or can’t, write. In time,

these seeds should sprout also, if He wills.””

“Should they attempt to conceal His light on the continent, He will assuredly rear His head in the midmost heart of the ocean, and raising His voice, proclaim ‘I am the Life-giver of the world.’ ’”” (The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah, P. 6)

And all this started because in Spain, at that time, the voice of Baha was stilled.

Overseas opportunities for young adults exciting

Exciting opportunities are opening up for youth and young adults to serve in the international field.

THE UNIVERSAL House of Justice foreshadowed present developments in its letter of May 25, 1975, when it explained that youth could pioneer for a specific period of time (see The American Baha’i, January 1985, p. 6).

Now youth can consciously participate in affairs of the world by their active involvement in international development, which will contribute significantly to shaping

the societies of the coming century.

The International Goals Committee and National Youth Committee are actively engaged in recruiting youth for two project: itiated by the Universal House of Justice to coincide with the observance this year of the International Year of Youth and to continue into the future.

One “‘Year of Service’’ project is being developed to give youth an opportunity to gain experience by working in tutorial schools in South America.

Traveling teachers carrying Message of Baha’u’llah to many distant lands

By PATRICIA SPITTAL Travel Teaching Coordinator Many exciting reports are re ceived by the International Goals Committee from traveling teachers who, through persistent prayer and effort, are helping to win the goals of the Seven Year Plan by carrying the Message of Baha*u’llah to territories and islands as yet unopened to the Faith.

ONE STORY is of an older believer who went to a country in South America. While she was teaching in a village, she saw a young woman washing clothes.

“She had such a radiant smile,” the woman recalls, ‘that my heart

Youth Conference

to be held April 5-8 in Bophuthatswana

An International Baha’i Youth Conference will be held April 5-8 in Mmabatho, Bophuthatswana, Southern Africa.

The conference theme is “Youth Can Move the World.”

Accommodations and food will be provided free. Visas are required.

For those who plan to arrive early or remain after the conference, there will be many opportunities to travel and teach in Bophuthatswana.

For more information (in the U.S. and Canada), write to Táhirih Senne, 6835 Holter Road, Middletown, MD 21769.

The conference registrar is Miss Sepideh Rouhani, P.O. Box 3789, Bophuthatswana, Southern Africa (phone 27-140-34372).

leapt inside me. I asked if I could tell her about Bahá’u’lláh.

“T used the red teaching book, and when I got to the Baha’i Temples her face lighted up. She pointed to the Indian Temple, saying, ‘I saw that last night in my dream but the house I saw had water around it. I kept saying, “Children, when you go down to God’s house be careful you do not fall in the water’’—but this one does not show water.’

See TRAVELERS Page 22

Another project will be connected to Mobile Baha’ Institutes in Africa.

Both are designed to encourage youth to be of service to mankind, to reinforce the ties of collaboration among youth of various countries, to help consolidate Baha’i communities, and to enrich the personal and spiritual development of Baha’i youth.

FAMILIES play an important part in making it possible for their children to gain the rich and unforgettable experiences and divine blessings of these service projects.

Families can encourage their children to save their money for travel expenses (generally, incountry expenses will be provided for a year), and otherwise help financially.

If the young person does not have definite career goals, a year off between high school and college or college and employment can provide motivation for future studies and the direction for a lifetime of service to humanity.

The Universal House of Justice will be selecting youth for the Mobile Institutes and Tutorial Schools projects, which will probably start next September. Send for applications now.

Please send me an application form for the Year of Service.

Name. Age. Sex_- I.D. No. Address. Phone. City. State. Zip.

Framgudiges« «ep kein see gs ee

Send to: International Goals Committee Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091

cluding postage.

Pioneer manual great Ayyam.-i-Ha gift

With Ayydm-i-Ha just around the corner, it’s time to be thinking about gifts for all those special people in your life.

Rúḥíyyih Khanum’s A Manual for Pioneers is a wonderful gift and is available only from the International Goals Committee. The price is $5 including postage.

Also available in limited supply are copies of the portrait of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by pioneer/artist Duffy Sheridan who painted the portrait during his years as a pioneer in the Falkland Islands. It has been reproduced and is available only from IGC for $5.50 in Send your orders to the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, and they will be mailed immediately. Checks should be made payable to the National Baha’i Fund, earmarked ‘‘books’’ or “‘portrait.””

en RR SRST TE EEE MSE RE RE EE EE

[Page 7]YOUTH NEWS

February 1985

LL LAT ee ee ELE EL ee Poem Ei

7

—CONFERENCE NEWS UPDATE YOUML cz move the world!

July 3-7, 1985 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio

It was recently announced that the entire membership of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly would attend the International Youth Conference set for next July 3-7 at Ohio State University in Columbus.

“This is indeed a precious opportunity for youth in the American Baha’i community to meet and greet the members of our senior institution,’’ says David Gilpatrick, a member of the National Youth Committee, ‘and we are most grateful that the National Assembly has accepted our invitation to attend.’”

Members of the National Assembly will address the participants during the course of the program.

.

The National Youth Committee has also invited Jack McCants of Weatherford, Oklahoma, to address the youth at the International Youth Conference in Columbus.

Mr. McCants, a former member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly and a former member of the Auxiliary Board, presented a moving talk at the Disney World Youth Conference in December, and has been asked by the National Youth Committee to participate in the youth program next summer. More than 3,000 youth and young Bahda’is are expected to attend.

.

Plans are already being made in some areas to travel to the gathering in Columbus. In Pensacola, Florida, the youth have arranged for a chartered bus that will stop en route in Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. The round trip fare is only $58; interested travelers should contact Linda Couture, 3550 Firestone Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32503, or phone 904-438-1899.

Youth in Central California District No. 1 are planning to travel teach to and from the conference. They are arranging an auto caravan that will stop in towns and cities along the way where they will hold teaching events and firesides.

Have you made your travel plans yet? Now is the time to get started! Can,the youth in your area get together and charter a bus or arrange for a group flight? Would a car caravan be feasible? Don’t wait till the last minute to make'your plans ... and please let the National Youth Committee know of any plans that others might want to join!

°

The conference in Columbus will be a focal point for a summer full of exciting activities. Many teaching projects are being planned both before and after the program. Plan to set aside some time to serve the Cause by participating in a summer teaching project ... more news about these plans will be published in future editions of this column.

.

Many, many requests about registration are pouring in to the National Youth Committee office. Where can we register? How much will it cost? What about housing? Can non-Bahda’is attend? (Of course!).

Most of your questions will be answered in the March issue of The American Baha’i when complete registration details will be published along with general program information on all three conference programs: those for youth, children and parents!

Regional Youth Conference held at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Nearly 100 Baha’i youth and young-at-heart were present last October 19-20 at a Regional Youth Conference for the West Central States at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

THE BUSY conference agenda included speakers on a variety of topics, discussion sessions, a Saturday evening proclamation event, and a commemoration of the anniversary of the Birth of the Bab.

ber Khalil Khavari, who spoke about sacrifice; Zella Svendson, whose topic was the role that this generation of Baha’i youth is des tined to play in helping to establish the Lesser Peace; and Douglas Samimi-Moore, who outlined the importance and purpose of firesides.

Presentations were also made about the Youth Movement, projects for the International Year of

Project in South Dakota. The presentations were follow See WISCONSIN Page 22

Among the speakers were Aux i Board member Stephen Birkland, who discussed service to the Faith; Auxiliary Board mem

Youth, and the Amoz Gibson *

More than 400 young Baha’is take part in annual Disney World Conference in Orlando, Florida

Each year, when cold winter winds sweep across the northern states and the snow begins to pile up high, the annual trek to Florida begins.

FOLKS from the frozen north hop in their cars or grab an available plane flight and head for the sunny south.

The migration of tourists is an annual event—and among the travelers each year is a group of Baha’i youth and young adults who attend the Youth Conference at Disney World near Orlando, Florida.

This year’s event, held December 27-31, brought together more than 400 participants from such far-away places as California, Massachusetts, and Montreal ... even Zimbabwe and Bermuda were represented!

The gathering, sponsored by the National Youth Committee, has become something of a tradition.

The site is the Walt Disney World resort near Orlando, and time is always set aside for a visit to the ‘‘Magic Kingdom’’ or EPCOT Center.

This year’s conference assumed a serious tone, however, as the young Bahá’ís ushered in the observance of International Youth Year 1985 and studied, through key presentations and workshops, the conference theme, ‘‘Let Deeds, Not Words, Be Your Adorning.”

AMONG the highlights was a tree-planting ceremony hosted by the Baha’i community of Seminole County.

Early one morning the young attendees traveled to a nearby state park where 180 saplings were planted and dedicated, in a moving ceremony, to the memory of the 180 recent martyrs in the Cradle of the Faith.

Ina small valley, the youth lovingly and carefully planted these symbols of life in memory of their beleaguered brethren in Iran.

The program was attended by many area Baha’is as well as by local dignitaries, and served as a most effective proclamation event.

Among the speakers at the conference were two members of the National Spiritual Assembly, Dr. Dwight Allen and Dr. Alberta Deas.

Mildred Mottahedeh, a member of the International Goals Committee, discussed social and eco Pictured with Mickey Mouse during the annual Disney World Baha’i Youth Conference in December are members of the National Youth Committee (left to right) Karen Pritchard (secretary), Vi nomic development opportunities while Jack McCants of Weatherford, Oklahoma, galvanized the audience with his poignant stories of the sacrifices of modern-day

centee ‘Smokey’ Ferguson, Jacqueline Eghrari, Parisa Ízadí, David Gilpatrick and Gilbert Smith (chairman). More than 400 youth attended the conference in Orlando, Florida.

Bahda’i heroes. HUSSEIN Ahdieh of

New York City shared a number of

See DISNEY Page 10

NATIONAL YOUTH PLAN

International

25%

Third Phase of the

Pioneers

Vast Increase

fr ee eo

50% 75% 100%

40 youth needed as homefront pioneers

The National Youth Committee established a goal for the final two-year phase of the Seven Year Plan for 40 youth to arise as

Sessions for parents, children slated

The Baha’ International Youth Conference next July 3-7 in Columbus, Ohio, will include as a part of its program separate and simultaneous conferences for parents and for children.

The parent and children’s conferences, sponsored by the National Education Committee, will supplement the youth conference in what promises to be a truly historic ‘‘family’’ event.

The content of the parent conference workshop and plenary sessions will focus on issues and concerns of special interest to parents of Bahá’í youth and junior youth.

Watch for additional information about these conferences in future issues of The American Baha’i.

homefront pioneers.

MANY have reported their service in this special capacity, and we are certain that there are many others who have not yet reported their status.

Do you think you might be considered a youth homefront pioneer? Here are the criteria:

A Baha’ youth homefront pioneer is one who settles in a given area with the intention of remaining there until specific teachingconsolidation goals are achieved.

1. Settle in an area without an Assembly:

See GOALS Page 13.

[Page 8]—_—_——__—__————_-—--- rrr

The American Baha’i

Can you identify this woman?

The National Baha’i Archives would like to identify this photograph of a young woman. She is probably a Baha’i from the early 1900s, and could be from the U.S. or Europe. Anyone with information about the photograph is

ed to write to the National Baha’i Archives, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Medical secretary turned rancher wins top awards for sheep

Judith Heikes, a Bahá’í from Lenora, Kansas, has made a successful transition from medical secretary to award-winning sheep rancher.

MRS. Heikes and her husband, Robert, were recently named Kansas Master Sheep Producers of the Year for 1984 by the Kansas Sheep Association and Kansas State University Extension Service.

News of the award was published with extensive articles about the Heikes family in two prestigious farm newspapers, Grass and Grain and Farmland News.

Mrs. Heikes, a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, moved to Denver, Colorado, where she was working as a medical secretary when she met and married Robert who was the hospital’s boiler room engineer.

Later, the Heikes decided to return to Mr. Heikes’ hometown, Lenora, to join his family’s farming operation.

When their children, Greg, David and Kristi, began raising five sheep as a 4-H Club project, a friend told Mrs. Heikes that if she was going to feed five sheep she may as well feed 50.

“She was right,’”” says Mrs. Heikes,

NOW that the family’s sheepbreeding operation has become large and successful, Mrs. Heikes’ training as a medical secretary comes in handy.

She is familiar with medicines, so instructions from the veterinarian are easy for her to follow.

And her background in extensive medical record-keeping for patients has proven useful in keeping well-organized records for

Dr. Deas

Continued From Page 1

individual Baha’i.’”

Dr. Deas says she will turn her attention to the areas of social and economic development, especially rural development in South Carolina.

Her professional experience has given her broad exposure to educational and economic programs, and often has found her pioneering new areas of development.

Dr. Deas, a native of Adams Run, South Carolina, served from 1977 to 1982 as an assistant professor of education and supervisor of professional clinical experiences at South Carolina State College in Orangeburg.

She was also coordinator of the school’s competency-based Teacher Education Program.

Earlier, she had served as project director of competency-based Vocational Teacher Education at Westfield (Massachusetts) State College’s division of occupational education.

DR. Deas also has held teaching and administrative positions in Indiana and Alabama, and was director and owner of the first black-owned and operated preschool in Mobile, Alabama, where she also developed and implemented the curriculum.

She has worked extensively in educational and developmental programs such as the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), Upward Bound, and Head Start early childhood community-based centers.

At the Gregory Institute, she developed programs such as ‘‘Operation Catch-Up,’’ a tutorial program for high school students which continues to operate as one of the two social and economic development programs that the Universal House of Justice lists for the U.S.

After receiving her doctoral degree in 1978 from the University of Massachusetts, Dr. Deas resigned at great personal expense from her tenured position at South Carolina State College to

become the director of the Louis Gregory Institute near Hemingway.

THE MOVE marked another milestone in a long career of service to the Faith which began with her declaration in Mobile in 1962.

Dr. Deas has served on numerous Local Spiritual Assemblies, often as chairman or secretary. Besides such service on the local level, she was a member of State Goals Committees in Alabama, Indiana and South Carolina.

It was at Dr. Deas’ home in Adams Run in 1969 that the mass enrollment of Baha’is in South Carolina began with the declaration of 19 people at firesides within a 36-hour period.

Soon there were more than 40 declarants, then 150, and from there the upsurge in_ teaching spread throughout the South.

In 1971, when the National Spiritual Assembly appointed the first Regional Teaching Committee for South Carolina, Dr. Deas became its secretary and administrator, a position she held until 1974 when she returned to school for her advanced degree in education.

It was this first Regional Teaching Committee that helped found the Gregory Institute, and it was Dr. Deas who wrote the first letter proposing its establishment to the National Properties Committee.

The Institute was opened in 1972 as an agency of the National Education Committee to aid in the process of consolidation and is now an educational center for Baha’is and non-Baha’is.

IN OCTOBER 1980, when the National Assembly appointed a new South Carolina Regional Teaching Committee with broader functions, Dr. Deas was named secretary and administrator of its Regional Office.

Two months later she was asked to assume the position of administrator of the Gregory Institute.

Also in 1980, she was appointed an assistant to Auxiliary Board member William Tucker, and since 1981 has served as an assistant to Auxiliary Board member Elizabeth Martin,

While continuing to serve as ad

‘Individual and Teaching’ is theme at N.J. Baha’i School’s 5th session

One hundred forty-nine adults, youth and children from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico attended the New Jersey Bahdé’i School’s fifth weekend session last November 2-4 at the Hudson Guild Farm in Andover.

To prepare for the nationwide month of firesides, the school committee chose as its theme “The Individual and Teaching.”

The weekend session began Friday evening with a panel discussion on Baha’i answers to some of the social concerns of our time. Afterward, the friends enjoyed fellowship and music by the Ba The school’s adult program featured workshop sessions on the individual and teaching. The youth heard presentations on the UN International Year of Youth and America’s spiritual destiny, while the children’s program also was geared toward teaching.

During a “‘unity Feast’’ Saturday evening, the youth presented their explanations of specific passages from The Hidden Words.

Meanwhile, Bahá’ís who are professional musicians provided background music while excerpts from the Writings were read.

Before the close of the school session, there were declarations by two of the non-Baha’is who at ministrator of the Gregory Institute, Dr. Deas worked to make WLGLI a reality.

“*WLGI was just an idea,”’ says Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly. “Someone had to put it together. If it were not for Alberta, we wouldn’t have the radio. station today. She persisted until it was born.”

Besides overseeing the application process for an FCC construction permit, which was granted November 24, 1983, Dr. Deas was a member of the national fund-raising committee for WLGI and the Louis Gregory Institute Construction Project Committee.

IN MAY 1983, she was elected to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly.

During 1984, as administrator, Dr. Deas was overseeing the work at the Gregory Institute, the construction of WLGI and its tower, the construction of new roads, the search for a radio station staff,

the planning and execution of the station’s first broadcast, and the election of 234 Spiritual Assemblies in South Carolina.

The new emphasis on social and economic development will enable her to “‘regroup,”” as she puts it, and explore avenues of professional development that could not be explored before.

“I’m excited,”’ she says about the future. “The potential for growth, for myself and for the Faith in South Carolina, is unlimited.

“I feel very positive about the development of WLGI. The station has been a milestone for South Carolina, and will help, no doubt, in the development of Local Assemblies in its coverage area.””

“‘History will record her,’’ says Dr. Henderson, “‘as the ‘mother’ of the first Baha’i radio station in North America. The National Spiritual Assembly is deeply grateful for her devoted service:””

Baha’is from several communities in New Jersey helped man a display booth last November 8-9 at the annual convention of the New

Education Association (NJEA). The booth was sponsored by the Baha’i Group of Ventnor.

Jersey

Baha’i communities have display booth at N.J. Education Association meeting

“Uniting the World, One Heart at a Time’’ was the theme of a Baha’i display booth November 8-9 at the 1984 convention of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) in Atlantic City.

The booth was sponsored by the Baha’i Group of Ventnor with financial help from 11 communities and 11 individuals in New Jersey to help offset the $600 cost.

Bahá’ís from Atlantic, Cape May, Gloucester, Ocean, Monmouth and Bergen County helped staff the booth, at which nearly 1,000 ‘‘poster/pamphlets’’ were distributed to the nearly 30,000 educators who were present.

Many of them were familiar with the Faith; at least a dozen said they had visited the Baha’i shrines in Haifa, many more had visited the House of Worship in Wilmette (including one gentleman who had lived there during its construction), and one woman who had been both to Haifa and

said she would visit the Temples in Germany and Australia on future trips now that she knew they were there.

Several teachers reported having Baha’i students, and a number of them mentioned the persecutions in Iran and asked if conditions had improved.

Perhaps the most exciting development was that 31 people signed up to have more information sent to them while three teachers requested Baha’i speakers for their classes.

This was the 10th year in which the Faith was represented at the NJEA convention.

Baha’i’s peace poem in Minnesota papers

“Let’s All Wage Peace,” a poem by Barbara J. Hill, a Baha’i from Embarrass, Minnesota, appeared recently in newspapers in

their Shepherd Hills sheep ranch. youth, tended. the House of Worship in Uganda Embarrass and Duluth.

[Page 9]

+ Assembly Development Program

Baha'i Schools

Brilliant Star (Child's Way) Magazine
Local Education Adviser Program

EDUCATION

Personal

sformation Program

February 1985

Family Unity Night (Fun)

PURPOSE: To promote in Baha’i families a tradi family-centered activities.

FIRST WEEK OF MARCH: THE PURPOSE OF THE FAST. Thought for the week: “Inspire then my soul, O my God, with Thy wondrous remembrance, that I may glorify Thy name.” (Bahá’u’lláh) Prayer: The Fast, p. 245. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials. Keep in mind those who are not fasting; include younger children in a special way to foster a feeling, of importance to this 19-day period of regeneration. 1. Synopsis and Codification, p. 13, Nos. 3 and 4; pp. 38-39; p. 59, No. 16. 2. Kitab-i-lqin, pp. 38-40. 3. Baha’i World Faith, p. 368. 4. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 69-70, Activity: 1. Baha’i “Trivia” game. Divide the family into two teams. Each team makes up a list of questions relating to the Faith (history, institutions, geography, persons, etc.). A team may continue to answer questions as long as they give correct answers. Score one point per question. The winner is the highest scorer at the end of a time limit, or the first team to score a set number of points. 2. Scribble pictures. ‘‘Scribble” some lines to create a design; color in areas as desired. May want to do a black water color wash over the entire picture to create a stained glass effect. Refreshments: Sacrificial—plain bread and water.

n of regular

SECOND WEEK OF MARCH: BAHA/SPLENDOR. Thought for the week: “And the splendor of that light is in the hearts ...’” (Baha’u’llah) Prayer: The Covenant, p. 68 or p. 70. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials. 1. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 15. 2. Kitáb-i-fqan, p. 168 (middle); pp. 139-140. 3. Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 92 (middle); p. 132; p. 158 (bottom). 4. Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 164. 5. Gleanings, p. 16. Activities: 1. In preparation for the New Year and in the spirit of family unity, each choose one task that needs to be done, such as cleaning and organizing the hall closet or garage, scrubbing the high chair or kitchen floor. 2. Finger puppet play. Make finger puppets from own ideas, shapes and characters or from store bought stickers. Create stories as you go or write a script and dramatize. Refreshments: Baklava and hot tea.

THIRD WEEK OF MARCH: NAW-RUZ. Thought for the week: “If we are not happy. and joyous at this season, for what other season shall we wait and for what other time shall we look?”” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) Prayer: Naw-Rúz, p. 262. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials. 1. Tablets of the Divine Plan, pp. 11-12. 2. Gleanings, pp. 6, 10-11. 3. Baha’i World Faith, pp. 351-52. 4. Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 659-60. 5. Days to Remember, pp. 15-23. 6. Bible, Isaiah 43:18-19. 7. Encyclopedia, “Equinox.”” Activity: 1. Make a popcorn cake. Prepare favorite soft popcorn ball recipe (using marshmallows). Mix in colorful gum drops and press into buttered bundt pan. When set, turn out onto serving platter. Makes a colorful centerpiece. 2. Assemble a favorite jigsaw puzzle, Refreshments: Serve popcorn cake, sliced into wedges.

FOURTH WEEK OF MARCH: TRUTHFULNESS, Thought for the week: ““All other knowledge is hurtful to-him who has not honesty and good nature.”* (Montaigne) Prayer: Teaching, p. 174. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials. How are truth and trust similar, related, or dependent upon one another? 1. Synopsis and Codification, p. 24, No. 16. 2. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 221. 3. Persian Hidden Words, No. 5. 4. Gleanings, p. 297. 5. Bible, Proverbs 30:5-6, 6:16-23, 20:19. 6. Bible, Psalms 119:160. Activity: earn about seeds (nuts, from fruits and vegetables, weeds, etc.). Collect and make a display of various kinds of seeds. Discuss the different means of travel mechanisms for germination (wind, animals, birds, humans). 2. Make a collage of various seeds. Refreshments: Trail mix (nuts, seeds and dried fruit) and cranberry juice.

To show their appreciation for the ‘Family Unity Night’ (FUN) column in The American Bahá’í, the Meyer family of Clearfield, Utah, is nal in Committee with the

note: ‘Our sincerest thanks to you and the National Education Committee for the Unity Night column. Our family uses the program regularly. Our children are small, but we still have plenty of FUN. This is a photo of Keturah, Jerry and Lee with the gingerbread we made for the first week of November. Please continue this wonderful program. Warmest Baha’i greetings, Shari Meyer.’

=e ape und Pictured are many of the 140 Ba ha’is who gathered for four days of deepening and fellowship last

July at western Oregon’s Badasht Baha’j Summer School in the

Howard Prairie Lake, east of Ashland.

National Education Committee to sponsor six Regional Baha’i Child Education Conferences

The National Education Committee is sponsoring six regional Baha’i Child Education Conferences during the Memorial Day weekend (May 25-26). The conference locations:

Northeast—Wilhelm Institute, Teaneck, New Jersey.

Northwest—Boise, Idaho.

Southeast—Louis Gregory Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina (June 15-16).

Southwest—Dallas, Texas.

West—Bosch Baha’i School,

Santa Cruz, California.

“We encourage everyone who is interested and involved in Baha’i child education to attend the conference in their region,’’ says Janice Lever, the National Education Committee staff person responsible for coordinating the conferences.

“The conferences will follow to a great extent the format used at the National Conference held in Wilmette last May,’’ she says.

Each conference will include:

All-day programs on Saturday

and Sunday. The mornings and afternoons will be devoted to workshops on several topics including ‘‘Development of a Baha’i Curriculum’? and ‘‘Meeting the Needs of Youth and Junior Youth.’’ There will also be a workshop devoted to a topic of regional choice.

Year-round school

WILHELM

Dates: Sundays, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. year-round.

Site: Roy Wilhelm estate, Teaneck, New Jersey.

Theme: Varies—topical and book study. Bookstore on site with inventory.

Rates: Children only (annual), 1 child, $12; 2 children, $15; 3 children, $20.

Age range: 4-12 years.

Registrar: For children’s program only, Mrs. Mary Umans,

Midland Park, NJ 07432. Phone 201-652-0395.

° Evening programs at which there will be a guest representative from the National Education Committee.

An Activities Fair for displaying curricular materials that

have been developed and successfully used by the friends in that region. Participants are asked to bring their best lesson plans and activities to display at the Activities Fair so they can be shared with others.

“The friends will be encouraged to travel to and from the conferences on the Friday preceding the conference and the Monday following,” says Ms. Lever. “This will enable them to participate fully in the all-day Saturday and Sunday agenda.”’

The National Education Com mittee has appointed a planning task force for each of the conferences. The friends can contact the task force convenor for more information about the conference. in their area.

Task force convenors are:

Wilmette, Illinois—Virginia Kerr.

Wilhelm Institute, sey—Sharon Karnik.

Louis Gregory Institute, South Carolina—Anne Breneman.

Bosch School, California—Sandra Swenson-Scott.

Boise, Idaho—Gwen McCain.

Dallas, Texas—Kathryn Carmichael.

More information about the conferences will appear in future issues of The American Baha’i.

New Jer

. Enclosed is my gift of $__ ® Brilliant Star Endowment = lished in honor of the Baha’

We deliver.

(Brilliant Star to your mailbox, that is.)

$12.00 (six issues) $23.00 n, surface, one year $15.00

Clone

Age of recipient

§ | understand that my gift will become part of a|

fund whose earnings will support this|

§ Suburban Office Park 5010 Austin Rd. Hixson, Tn. 37343

Any Baha’i who is interested

in being placed on a mailing list to

learn about property for sale near the Green Acre Baha’i School may contact the school administrator, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903,

[Page 10]

The American Baha’i

10

EYE ON NATIONAL

We “‘pause’’ this month from our regularly scheduled column to bring you news of what is happening at the National Center right now! We thought it was so exciting that you would want to know what the workers at the Center are doing to help the “GOOD” Fund Campaign.

WHO YA GONNA BE?!?!?!? — COSTBUSTERS!!!

“We can help the Fund make a healthy gain” “Who ya gonna be?—COSTBUSTERS! “We can beat the costs!!!"

“We can find a way!:

“We can help the fund.

COSTBUSTERS!!!!

With these lyrics (and the help of the theme music from the movie “‘Ghostbusters”’) the Baha’i National Center staff was introduced to its new Cost Effectiveness Program, which went into effect December 20.

Everyone at the National Center has between then and Naw-Riz to become a COSTBUSTER! And what is the incentive for ‘‘Costbustin’?””—a healthier National Fund and an appropriate (but inexpensive) award for the best and most cost-effective suggestion(s) which will be given during the Ridvan celebration.

How did COSTBUSTERS happen? It was a direct result of a suggestion to the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly by a National Center employee who felt that the benefit of decreased expenses would be further enhanced by increased staff morale. After the idea was approved, a task force was appointed to create a theme for the program and implement it.

Here’s what the COSTBUSTER task force came up with:

Individual employees, offices and even groups of both are asked to

submit their cost-saving suggestions to the task force on special ‘‘Costbustin’ ’’ forms that have been provided to all offices (in Wilmette and around the country).

All ideas will be looked at by the task force as the program continues. Offices which would be affected by a particular suggestion will

be consulted as to its practicality.

Following evaluation and agreement by the offices involved, the

“Costbustin’ ’’ ideas that look good will be put into effect at the National Center.

The staff are encouraged to be creative and innovative with their ideas, and to consider carefully several key areas for ways to cut expenses, such as the telephone, photocopying, fuel, postage and travel. The task force hopes especially to receive suggestions made by several offices working together—‘‘unified action’ at its smartest!

The Center staff have already begun to respond to this lighthearted presentation of a serious program, and suggestions started arriving for evaluation within hours of the ‘‘lyrical’’ program presented at a general staff meeting on December 20.

As the COSTBUSTERS crew sang that morning: “Let me tell ya somethin’—Bustin’ makes me feel GOOD (Center employees are equally excited about the Get Out of Debt campaign)!

And the Center staff will have something to feel good about in the coming months as they strive to reduce their operating expenses to help the Fund. We’ll keep you posted on the program as those ‘‘Costbustin’ ’’ ideas are put into practice.

2 Washington state papers profile Baha’i sex education counselor

Cheryl Stull, a Baha’i from Port Angeles, Washington, who is

sexually transmitted diseases, films, charts, graphs, posters,

a counselor for Clallam and Jef

ferson Counties’ Family Planning Services, was the subject of recent articles in two Port Angeles newspapers, The Daily News and the Jimmy Come Lately Gazette.

Ms. Stull was cited for her innovative sex education counseling program for teen-agers, the “Why and How to Say No’”’ workshop.

The week-long program includes results of a community survey, an original board game on

| een eS HSE SE te SRS seme

handouts, discussion groups, rules for dating, role playing, songs, situational examples from “‘Dear Abby,”’ quizzes, three days experience caring for a new ‘‘baby”’ (a raw egg), and an evaluation of the course by students.

Ms. Stull provides information on the risks of teen-age pregnancy and the responsibilities of being a parent, and offers to help improve listening, communicating and decision-making skills.

12 Baha’is take part in 75th annual conference of American Academy of Religion in Chicago

Twelve Bahda’is participated December 8-11 in the annual meeting and 75th anniversary observance of the American Academy of Religion and Society for Biblical Literature held in Chicago.

THE BAHA’i Publishing Trust and World Order magazine were represented by Larry Bucknell, Dr. Betty J. Fisher, Anne Atkinson, Robert Atkinson and Candace Moore.

A display booth sponsored by the Publishing Trust and World Order magazine attracted more than 80 browsers, 55 people who accepted free hand-outs or copies of World Order, and 52 who asked questions, purchased books or expressed some knowledge of or interest in the Faith.

Those who visited the booth included other publishers, professors, and scholars of religion from all over the U.S.

A panel on ‘The Diffusion of the Baha’i Faith and Its Encounter with Other Religions” was part of the four-day conference program. The two and one-half hour session was attended by 14 people, several of whom asked thoughtful

questions. Susan Stiles, who chaired the panel, spoke on ‘‘Zoroastrian

Conversions to the Baha’i Faith in

. Disney

Continued From Page 7

stories of the deeds of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Yvonne Kraus, a youth from Florence, South Carolina, spoke on chastity.

Auxiliary Board member Benjamin Levy also was present to welcome and inspire the participants.

The conference gave many an opportunity to teach, both directly and indirectly.

The District Teaching Committee of Central Florida sponsors an annual teaching campaign to coincide with the youth conference, and this year the projecteers welcomed six new believers in goal communities prior to the conference.

Indirect teaching was stimulated by youth wearing their bright turquoise conference T-shirts with the slogan ‘‘Youth Can Move the World’’ emblazoned across the back.

The conference was planned and carried out by a management team appointed by the National Youth Committee.

A well-run children’s program was highlighted by a visit from Mickey Mouse, and the workshop series offered special sessions for parents and junior youth.

Plans are already under way for next year’s conference to be held December 27-31, 1985, at Disney World.

Included will be a celebration of victories won during International Youth Year 1985.

Pictured is the Baha’i booth at the 75th annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion in Chi Yazd, Iran.”” Anthony Lee spoke on ‘‘The Baha’i Faith in West Africa,

1950-1963,”” while Robert Stockman, author of the forthcoming book The Baha’i Faith in America: Origins, 1892-1900, spoke on “The Baha’i Faith and the Bible in the United States, 1892-1912.”

WILLIAM Hatcher, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada and the executive committee of the Association for Baha’i Studies, attended the conference to promote the new book, The Baha’i Faith: Emergence of a Global Religion, to be published by Harper and Row.

Mr. Hatcher and his co-author, Douglas Martin, prepared the book as a project of the Association for Baha’i Studies.

Other Baha’is at the conference included Dr. Ann Schoonmaker, Dr. Heshmat Moayyad, and Janet Bucknell. Dr. Schoonmaker, a long-time member of the AAR, has single-handedly represented the Faith at past conferences.

A number of the Baha’is attended receptions sponsored by

cago. Seated at the left is Larry Bucknell, general manager of the Baha’i Publishing Trust.

various publishers and universities and the 75th anniversary banquet of the AAR which honored Mircea Eliade, known for his work at the University of Chicago in the history of religion and mythology.

“Our participation this year was significant,’ said Mr. Bucknell, who is general manager of the Publishing Trust. ‘‘Not only were we able to make some key contacts, but we perceived an increase in the level of interest in and respect for the Faith by academics and publishers.

“We also noted an increase in the number of non-Baha’i books that mention the Faith, and that the mentions are generally more accurate than in past years when the Faith was considered a sect of Islam.

“Because the conference was i Chicago we were also able to invite the attendees to visit the House of Worship through an ad placed in the AAR program. A number of participants asked for directions and told us of their plans to visit the Temple.””

N. Carolina Baha’i offers to share her home with Persian refugee family

Among the many responses to a request by the Persian Affairs Committee for help for Persian refugees was one from a woman in North Carolina, in her 70s, who has offered a part of her threestory home for a Persian family.

Ina letter to the Persian Affairs Committee to which is attached a photograph of her home, this woman says in part:

“We would have to share the kitchen, as the section where I live is zoned for one-family homes, and they would be my guests.

“I live alone and my breakfasts and lunches are simple, and I would not have to interfere with theirs. As to dinner, if they would like it we might take turns having a Persian dinner one night and an American one the next ... but on

ly if they should want to. It would be one way of sharing a bit of each other’s cultures.

“I have long wanted to know more about the Persian culture, which, while it has no doubt changed some since the time when Baha’u’llah lived there, is still more similar to what He knew than ours is.

“After they find work and are financially independent, we can look for an apartment or small home for them, as I’m sure that is what they would like. Until that time I would consider it a bounty to be of service to them.””

It is not the quantity, but the spiritNational Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

[Page 11]TEACHING

February 1985

Inquirers given literature, urged to contact friends

The National Teaching Committee office receives about 70-80 inquiries about the Faith each month, most of them through interest cards from. the Bahá’í House of Worship.

WE RESPOND to each seeker by sending literature on the Faith and a letter inviting the individual to contact the nearest Local Spiritual Assembly secretary whose name, address and telephone number are included.

The letter is intended to further interest an individual in the Faith and to offer him or her an opportunity to attend firesides.

Here are some recent examples of inquiries we have received:

“I visited the Baha’i House of Worship last week and found a haven for my beliefs. I realized that I am already a believer of Baha’u’llah’s teachings without ever knowing his name.’’

“My great-grandfather came to this country from -Scotland; he was a follower of the Baha’i religion. I was told this when I was very young and I was interested but I never heard of the Baha’i ... until today on TV. I would very much like to learn more of the Faith.”

“I picked up a leaflet about your organization at the public library ... and found it very interesting. I would like to know more about the man Baha’u’llah and the Baha’i Faith.””

Communities that receive this letter from the Teaching Committee office should do their best to follow up on the individuals, and should offer their friendship and assistance as they study the Faith.

This is a good reason for Baha’is everywhere to encourage their non-Baha’i acquaintances, friends and family to visit the House of Worship when they come to the Chicago area.

Chinese students eager to study here

The National Teaching Committee has received information regarding university students in the People’s Republic of China who wish to continue their studies at universities or colleges in the U.S. Many of these students are seeking advice regarding schools that would accept them and faculty members who might sponsor them within various departments.

If you are a faculty or staff member at a college or university, or know someone who is, and would like to help in placing these students, please contact the National Teaching Committee, Bahai National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

Here’s a great chance to show Baha’i spirit and hospitality to people who are eager to meet and study with Americans.

Trail

Continued From Page 1

Team members included:

Maynard Eakan (Eskimo), Alaska; Mary Lou Eakan (nonnative), Canada; Kevin Locke (Lakota Sioux), South Dakota; Ernestine Moore Bainbridge (Washoe/Paiute), Nevada.

Also, Justine Moore (Washoe/ Paiute), Nevada; Phyllis Begay (Navajo), Arizona; Frankie Spencer (Navajo), Arizona; and Elaine Phillips Spencer (nonnative), Oregon.

They were joined in New Mexico by friends from the local communities.

THE VISIT was sponsored in cooperation with the District Teaching Committee of Northern New Mexico which arranged the scheduling, transportation and housing.

passed seven pueblos, there were visits with four of the governors and several tribal council members, visits to four schools, and warm welcomes at the homes of many individuals.

The team first attended the annual ‘‘Sha’lak’o’’ ceremonial dances at Zuni Pueblo. They watched the well-known “mud heads’’ dance while standing on their own ‘‘mud feet’’ as rain fell in the night, then visited homes bra: were open for hospitality to all.

After conducting a fireside the next evening in Espajiola, the team traveled to Pojoaque Pueblo for the yearly Buffalo Dance.

Maryland Baha’is take lead in drive to relieve Ethiopian hunger

The letter from the Universal House of Justice dated October 20, 1984, introducing the need for Baha’is to become more involved in social and economic development has also opened new opportunities for the spread of the

Hipeaportn

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So

go

Members of the Spiritual Assembly of Garland, Texas, are shown at the time of its recent incorporation. Standing (left to right) are Edward Molin (treasurer), James Jago, Massihollah Nafehati, Kambiz Rafraf (secre

In between dances, the entire tribal council of Picuris, a neighboring pueblo, requested a meeting with the Baha’is.

Hearts sang at Picuris, which is

home for about 250 people in an isolated but lovely mountain area of northern New Mexico.

After a warm welcome from the governor and a. guided tour, Maynard Eakan fascinated the residents with his walrus tusk, seal tooth, and exquisitely carved ivory pieces.

KEVIN Locke played the traditional Lakota flute, told stories, and danced the “‘hoop dance’? in full costume.

Frankie Spencer Navajo background, Tarahumare weaving, cedar, Sioux pipe and buffalo hide medallion from last summer’s Sun Dance.

The cultural exchange was welcome in each pueblo, even when asked to exclude religion.

At Taos Pueblo, a meeting with the governor was ignited as the “Fire Tablet” was read. A cultural presentation and workshop with hoop dance and stories were well-received in the school gym.

Despite deep snow and other problems including the departure of three of its members, the team made successful presentations at San Juan, Zuni and the Ramah Boarding School.

Later, three days at Jemez Pueblo yielded fruits and more friends. Art classes at the school were scheduled for demonstrations of ivory carving and presentations of aspects of Navajo cultural life, stories, the Sioux pipe, and AmerIndian spiritual values, all of which was recorded

teachings.

INDEED, the House of Justice wrote that ‘our increased activities in the development field (should) be viewed as a reinforcement of the teaching work, as a greater manifestation of faith in

A ae Vet

1A tary); seated (left to right) are Parviz Pai (vice-chairman), Francesca Sawyer, Dorothy Moore, Robert Moore (chairman). The ninth member, Mrs. Hacer Gulalp King, was not present.

shared his » |

Pictured with some of the Baha’is from Taos, New Mexico, are members of the ‘Trail of Light’ teaching team that visited a num ber of pueblos in New Mexico in December. Kneeling in front are Kevin Locke (left) and Justin

on video tape.

Simultaneously, across the hall, films of Alaska were shown and a flute performance was arranged for the school band by a student who recognized the possibilities.

The governor of Zia Pueblo set up the meeting with the largest attendance, 50 people of all. ages, for films of Alaska and talks.

Nearing exhaustion, the team set out in its van for one more grand adventure—a drum dance for all of Picuris Pueblo.

This was a social dance that included the waltz, two-step, Oklahoma two-step and formation

action.”’

Such an opportunity came to the Baha’is of Maryland’s Eastern Shore last December when Bud Scott, a student at the University of Maryland and a local believer, was asked by a professor to provide a Baha’i representative to an organizational meeting of the Ethiopian Hunger Relief Committee of the Eastern Shore.

Representatives of other faiths were to attend, and the professor wished to include Baha’i participation. Mr. Scott attended the meeting with another Baha’i from the area, George Stroop.

The meeting progressed well, except for some interdenominational friction surrounding the channel through which funds would be sent to Ethiopia (whether through Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, or other agencies).

Baha’i representation was well received, with the result that at the end of the meeting, Mr. Stroop was elected chairman of the relief committee.

This effort represents only one of the many avenues available to the believers both in and outside of the Faith to demonstrate the power of the Baha'i Cause to revolutionize the fortunes of mankind.

Moore. Standing at left are Elaine Phillips Spencer and Frankie Spencer. Standing fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth from left are team members Phyllis Begay, Ernestine Moore Bainbridge, Maynard Eakan and Mary Lou Eakan.

dances, all to traditional drumming and singing.

Thanks to help from those in Picuris, and God’s grace, the team made it to the last engagement, films and lunch at San Juan Pueblo. Then it was back to the Institute and, eventually, home.

These two weeks were a dynamic learning experience for everyone. Although there were no enrollments, friends were made in each pueblo.

The doors are wide open, and the people are eager for the Trail of Light to return soon.

“Ultimately,’’ the Universal House of Justice has written, “the call to action is addressed to the individual friends, whether they be adult or youth, veteran or newly-enrolled. Let them step forth to take their places in the arena of service where their talents and skills, their specialized training, their material resources, their offers of time and energy and, above all, their dedication to Baha’i principles, can be put to work in improving the lot of man.””

Baha’i dentist noted

Dr. Daniel Jolly, a Baha’i from Prairie Village, Kansas, was the subject of a recent article in the Kansas City Times for his unusual practice as a dentist of making “thouse calls’’ each week to treat patients who can’t come to him.

Dr. Jolly uses portable tools to build bridges, fill teeth or fit dentures for elderly or handicapped patients who live in nursing homes or rehabilitation centers, are confined to hospitals, or are homebound for one reason or another.

According to a spokesman at the Greater Kansas City Dental Society, Dr. Jolly, who has been making house calls for about three years, is the only dentist in Kansas City who regularly does so.

[Page 12]Pama aT | NATIVE AMERICANS

The American Baha’i

12

Pictured (left to right) are members of the American Indian Teaching Committee for 1984-85: Ferris Paisano (Nez Perce/Laguna Indian), Cathy Cook (Choctaw/Seminole), John Cook, Jack Ponca Indian leader enrolled in Faith

The Spiritual Assembly of Ponca City, Oklahoma, reports the enrollment last October 17 of Alvin Harry Buffalohead, a distinguished member of the Ponca Indian tribe.

“TO OUR knowledge,” says Assembly secretary Ann Marie Wasilewski Oates, ‘‘(he) is the first of the Ponca tribe to declare his belief in Bahá’u’lláh.””

Mr. Buffalohead is the greatgrandson of the Ponca chief NikaGi-Hega-ooda (‘‘good chief’), also known as Thomas J. Morgan, who is reported to have lived to the age of 112.

At the age of five, four years before his great-grandfather’s death, Mr. Buffalohead was chosen by the chief to receive the knowledge of the ceremonial traditions and songs of the tribe.

As an example of how well Mr. Buffalohead learned the traditions, he says he could sing the tribe’s songs for four solid days and not repeat himself once.

Besides being widely known as a master of the drum and head ceremonial singer of the Poncas, Mr. Bufffalohead is a spiritual guide for his people and is sought out by individuals for help in matters of faith, healing and prayer.

He has often been asked to run for tribal offices, but, acting on the advice of his grandfather and out of his own inclinations, has refrained from becoming involved in the often turbulent internal politics of the tribe.

Mr. Buffalohead and his family first became acquainted with the Baha’ is in 1980 and have attended Baha’j gatherings since that time.

ie Delahunt “(Rosebud Sioux), Kevin Locke (Lakota Sioux), Franklin Kahn (Navajo). Not pic tured is committee member Linda Wilson (Navajo).

Baha’i booth at Indian Education Convention

More than 160 people attending the 16th annual National Indian Education Association Convention last November 7-10 at the Phoenix, Arizona, Civic Center visited a Baha’i booth that was staffed by believers from the Phoenix area and organized by Dorothy Gemmill, a Baha’i from Grand Ledge, Michigan, who is a member of the Louhelen Baha’i School’s Native American Coordinating Committee.

Mrs. Gemmill, a member of the Pit Indian tribe from California, is employed as coordinator of Indian Education in the Michigan State University department of education.

A banner at the back of the Baha’i exhibit read: ‘The Baha’i Faith: Uniting the Nations for Peace with Justice.’”

Indian-related literature from Naturegraph Publishers of Happy Camp, California, was displayed and sold along with Baha’i materials. Nearly 100 copies of the pamphlet ‘‘God’s New Age’? were given to visitors, as were printed copies of the Baha’i prayer “Blessed Is the Spot’’ that were donated by a Baha’i family in

Two Baha’is from the Phoenix, Arizona, area, Patty Khavari (left) and Nikka Sabet, were among those who volunteered to staff a Bahá’í booth last No Phoenix.

The convention, which drew about 2,500 people including Indian education leaders from the U.S. and Canada, had as its theme “Indian Policies and Cultures of

/ nm vember 7-10 at the 16th annual National Indian Education Association Convention at the Phoenix Civic Center.

the ’80s: Visions for the Future.””

The Baha’i presence’ was supported by friends in the Phoenix area; Cathy Cook of the Native American Teaching Committee; and the Louhelen Council.

S. Dakota Baha’is share message of unity at 2nd Council Fire

The following letter was recently received from the Baha’is of Little Eagle, South Dakota:

We would like to share with the friends our growing and learning experience from hosting the second annual Great Plains (South Dakota) Council Fire held July 6-9, 1984.

AFTER attending the first Great Plains Council Fire at Bear Butte, we felt a tremendous need to share with non-native Baha’is what a Council Fire means to Native Americans, and what better place to express ourselves than in our own community? *

As the Council Fire is seen by native peoples as a gathering of bands or tribes for extremely important discussions, prayers and consultation, we truly extended

ourselves by setting up camp for the participants and asking everyone to help with the firewood, cooking, cleaning and especially the prayer sessions.

We directed our energy toward coordinating discussions, songs, dances, cooking and sharing from a Native American point of view.

The atmosphere was permeated by the pow-wow grounds, trips were set up, distinguished members of the community came to share their spiritual feelings, traditional food was shared by everyone, and a Baha’i-sponsored giveaway was held in which we gave lovely gifts to spiritual leaders of the surrounding Reservation regardless of church affiliation to show forth unity among these people who believe our Creator is

one and the same.

All who were there were blessed by the gentle love of Baha’u’llah. Everything was brought together by the Native spirit as honoring songs were sung by the local drum group of Little Eagle and a hoop dance was performed by Native Americans from Canada.

WE SPENT our last day together dedicating our prayers to the memory of the martyrdom of the Bab and all other martyrs of the Faith.

The most important factor of all, we believe, is that Native Americans are now ready to become responsible in fulfilling their part in the Bahá’í Faith and to stand equally among men in expressing their spiritual insight which is ancient and passed down

Navajo-Hopi teaching project honors memory of Gordon Tong

The Navajo-Hopi District Teaching Committee is sponsoring a project on the Western Navajo Reservation in honor of its former secretary, Gordon Tong, who died last August.

.A VARIETY of tools are being used including direct teaching, youth activities and proclamation, but most important has been the introduction of the ‘‘Ruhi meth This is a systematic process for deepening indigenous believers that was developed by the Ruhi Institute in Colombia, South America.

During the orientation, which was held December 23-26 at the Native American Baha’i Institute, the team continued efforts to improve community relations by

caroling on Christmas eve and inviting members of the community to a dinner on Christmas day. Both events were well-received.

About 65 people came to the potluck turkey and ham dinner. A strong sense of unity was developed among those present as the “‘old-timers’’ shared the Baha’i songs of the ’60s with the youth.

Orientations were conducted by Roger Coe, a long-time pioneer on the Reservation; Jeff Kiely, coadministrator of the NABI; and Chester Khan, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly.

The “Trail of Light’? team, back from teaching in the pueblos of northern New Mexico, shared their excitement before continuing on to Tuba City.

PLANS for upcoming weeks include providing concession stand services and half-time activities at a basketball tournament in Tuba City and a fireside after the last game; a new believers’ conference; a unity feast at the NABI, and an_interdenominational “Prayers for Peace’’ event for World Religion Day, co-sponsored by the Tuba City Presbyterian Church,

The teaching team has been small, averaging around 10 members, but a total cf 45 adults, youth and children have been involved. They’ve come from Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York state, Ohio and Texas.

from generation to generation.

We ask all the friends who have shared with Native peoples not to lead them but rather to allow them to find their leadership roles in the Faith.

We have now approached in South Dakota the largest Native enrollment in the history of the Faith, and express the need to have traditional people who have the ancient understanding of the old people to represent the Native Americans among the Baha’is of the world.

With that in mind, we would like to share a passage by Bahá’u’lláh from the book “‘Inspiring the Heart”’ (p. 140):

“O people of God! Righteous men of learning who dedicate themselves to the guidance of others and are freed and well guarded from the prompting of a base and covetous nature are, in the sight of Him Who is the Desire of the world, stars of heaven of true knowledge. It is essential to treat them with deference. They are indeed fountains of soft-flowing water, stars that shine resplendent, fruits of the blessed Tree, exponents of celestial power, and oceans of heavenly wisdom. Happy is he that followeth them. Verily such a soul is numbered in the Book of God, the Lord of the mighty throne, among those with whom it shall be well ...””

Native peoples belong to Nature, and Baha’u’llah is Nature! We are but small pebbles in the ocean of sand in this never-ending sacred cycle of life.

[Page 13]

The American Baha’i

February 1985

13

Nearly 200 attend second L.A. Baha’i History Conference

Baha’is from eight countries and several states attended the second Los Angeles Baha’ History Conference held over the Labor Day weekend.

THE conference, co-sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles, the Baha’i Club at UCLA, Kalimat Press and the Victory Foundation, drew nearly 200 serious students of the Faith to its various sessions.

This year’s topics were by no means limited to Baha’i history, with presentations on Baha’i literature, sociology, theology, philosophy and archives.

Two Baha'is resident at the World Centre traveled from Haifa, Israel, to attend the gathim Collins, director of

Pictured are members of the staff of the Brilliant Star Baha’i School, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Auburn, Washington. Children from as many as 12 surrounding communities attend the’ four-year-old school which has the free use of a day care

the World Centre Library, and Dr. Vahid Rafati, director of the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, each contributed to a discussion on sources of Baha’i history in archives and libraries.

Roger Dahl, chief archivist at the National Bahá’í Archives in Wilmette, Illinois, also was present and presented a paper, as did David Piff, chief archivist of the Northwest Regional Branch of the U.S. National Archives.

Dr. Rafati also presented a paper on the relationship of Shaykhi doctrines to the religious thought of the Bab.

The presentation was a part of the Middle East panel among

center in which to meet. Staff members are (back row left to right) Emily Kalaloa, Eleanor LaRoy, Carla Rockwell, and (front row left to right) Leslie

Edwards-Hill, Karen Smith, Laurie Piff (holding Benjamin Piff).

whose other members was Dr. Margaret Caton, who discussed Baha’i influences on Mirza ‘Abdu’ll4h, an Iranian Baha’i who is perhaps the most influential Persian musician of modern times.

ALTHOUGH unable to attend the conference in person, Dr. Denis MacEoin of the University of Newcastle, England, sent a paper to be read. In it, he discussed authority claims in the Babi community during the most obscure period of its history—1850 to 1866.

Dr. Peter Smith of the University of Lancaster, England, made two presentations—one, a sociological analysis of the development of the Baha’i Faith in the western world, and the other a discussion of liberal and fundamentalist attitudes as found in other religions and in the Baha’i community.

Dr. Nader Saeidi, a professor of sociology at UCLA, discussed the role of faith and reason within the Baha’i_ community, while Anthony A. Lee drew attention to the need for Baha’is to transcend limited attitudes toward other religions and cultures in a quest for the unity of mankind.

Viva Tomlin, who was graduated from Oxford University with a degree in theology and is now pioneering in Honduras, gave a provocative presentation on the concept of knowledge in the Baha’i Writings.

Steven Scholl of Seattle, Washington, made a presentation on the same panel on the studies of the Shaykhi school made by Henri Corbin, the French orientalist.

Goals Continued From Page 7

an unopened area

an area that needs consolidation work

2. Move to a state with a low Baha’i population (as designated by the National Teaching Committee).

3. Attend a college without a Baha’i College Club with the intention of teaching the Faith and forming a club.

4. ATTEND a goal college (as designated by the National Youth Committee) with the intention of teaching the Faith to its resident minority population.

Presently, there are 21 youth who have reported their service as homefront pioneers.

Applause and prayers for Jennifer Marie Hollock, Shamin Himes, Lora Brookhart, Mojdeh Eghterafs, Kambeze Etemad, David Markusen, Addison Bibb, Mojdeh Rabbani, Robertson Shinnick, Rainn Wilson, Stacey McDonald, Patrick Bergin, Albert Waterford Jr., Jennifer Flynn, Derek Flynn, Christopher Sollars, Beth Sollars, Rita Najmi, Sohail

Najmi, Laili Radpour and Natalie Blake, all of whom have arisen to serve Bahá’u’lláh on the homefront.

Remember, our goal for this last phase of the Seven Year Plan is 40 youth pioneers. Will you help

win the goal?

The National Youth Committee will be happy to help you in any way it can, Please write to us at 1371 Sunset Strip, Sunrise, FL 33313, or phone 305-584-1844.

Children’s conference, annual Institute mark productive summer in Tennessee

Tennessee’s Baha’is marked an inspirational and productive summer in 1984 that began with the first ‘It’s a Small World’’ summer camp for children (ages 8-12) and ended with a Tennessee Baha’i Institute auction that raised $24,800 for the National Fund.

STRONG support for the child- . ren’s camp came from the friends in Georgia, and with their help race unity among the children became a reality (14 black children, 14 white, 10 Persian, and two Oriental).

To emphasize international themes, families prepared evening meals typical of various countries: Southern U.S., Spanish, French, Persian.

Highlights were child responsibility for meal preparation and clean-up, a ‘‘Green Circle’ presentation, and a parents’ night.

Forty-two children from six states were among those attending the Tennessee Baha’i Institute at which classes for four age levels were conducted by 17 teachers.

Meanwhile, the Institute’s adult progam focused on the October 1984 letter from the Universal House of Justice on social and economic development.

Among those who discussed the main points of the letter with the friends were Dr. Wilma Brady, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly; educator Roy Jones, a member of the national Race Unity Committee; and businessmen Larry Miller, Riaz Khadem, Ata Rassekh and Douglas Ruhe.

At the auction, some 140 participants raised nearly $25,000 for the National Fund, thus demonstrating the level of concern for the Fund shared by all the friends.

Members of the Middle East panel at the second Los Angeles Baha’i History Conference were (left to

Mr. Scholl is writing a thesis on that topic at McGill University.

Graham Hassell traveled from Australia to present his research into the history of the Baha’is in that country. His efforts represent the first systematic attempt to recover the history of the Australian Baha’i community.

PAPERS were presented on the history of the Faith in West Africa by Don Addison and Anthony Lee, and in the U.S. by Richard Hollinger. All three of these presenters are doctoral candidates at UCLA.

Dr. Jalil Mahmoudi, an Auxiliary Board member, addressed the conference on sociology and history. Olinga Ta’eed of Leeds, England, sent a paper analyzing the question of belief by using general systems theory.

On Baha’i literature, Farzad Nakhai of Tucson, Arizona, dis

i right) Dr. Vahid Raf: garet Caton, and Dr.

cussed the poetry of Na’im, the famous Baha’i poet, while Diana Malouf, a doctoral candidate at the State University of New York, sent a paper on Shoghi Effendi’s translation of The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh which was presented on her behalf.

The conference was attended by non-Baha’is as well as Baha’is. Notably, Dr. William Royce, a professor of Oriental Studies at the University of Arizona, attended the conference and chaired one of its sessions.

Intensive daytime sessions continued for four days with the evenings devoted to informal discussions and socializing.

Acconcert and demonstration of classical Persian music and dance provided entertainment Saturday night, and many of those from out of town visited Disneyland on Monday morning.

August Forel and the Baha’i Faith

by John Paul Vader

An original and comprehensive study of the great Swiss scientist in his relationship to the Baha’i Faith and particularly his activities as a Baha’i. Based on entirely new research, including papers specially made available from Forel’s family. 144 pp, 23 illustrations.

Hardcover $10.95*

Softcover

415 LINDEN AVENUE,

New from George Ronald, Publisher

For the Good of Mankind _

Order through your local librarian, or send check or money order (including 10% for postage and handling, minimum $1.50) to:

Bahá’í Distribution Service

This title not exported

a ya eine TT

$4.95*

WILMETTE, IL 60091.

[Page 14]BAHA’I DISTRIBUTION SERVICE

The American Baha’i

14

How to save time, money when phoning BDS

The Baha’i Distribution Service is continuing to encourage individuals to use its toll-free phone lines to order books, tapes and pamphlets.

HOWEVER, it is also offering some suggestions to save time and money.

Individuals can place orders over the phone using VISA or MasterCard as long as the total order is at least $10. When calling, you should have your credit card in hand with any questions you may have written down.

Also, you should consider whether you would like the books

shipped by fourth class mail or UPS (which does not deliver to post office boxes).

If the order is longer than one or two books, it is a good practice to have the items you want written down—no more than 1S titles, please, but there is no limit to the quantity ordered.

When preparing your order, be sure to decide if you prefer softcover or hardcover books and have that noted, too.

In most cases, the person taking your order will be able to enter it directly into our computer and tell you immediately if all the books you want are available.

AS WITH any long distance call, the longer you talk the more it costs, so the better prepared you are the less the call will cost the Distribution Service.

The toll-free number can also be used to ask questions about Distribution Service and Publishing Trust materials.

The toll-free number is 800-3231880. It can be used in all states except Illinois, Alaska and Hawaii.

We request that the friends not use the number to ask questions which properly should be directed to the Baha’i National Center.

Prices are reduced on 3 splendid books from United Kingdom

Three of the most handsome and important books ever produced by the Baha’i Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom are being offered at reduced prices ii February and March by the Baha’i Distribution Service.

All three offer the opportunity to give a great gift while at the same time saving some money.

The three books are ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, Unfolding Destiny, and The Mystery of God.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London is compiled from talks and interviews given by the Master while He was in England.

The Mystery of God is a compilation by Mrs. Iran Furditan Muhajir-on the station and life of

Abdu’l-Bahá which was prepared

for publication on the 50th anniversary. of His ascension. These two books are companion volumes, bound in leather and stamped with gold leaf.

The Mystery of God will sell in February and March for $12, which is $9 less than its normal price, while ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London is being reduced from $17 to $9.50.

Unfolding Destiny is, to date, the largest volume of the letters of Shoghi Effendi and represents his correspondence with the Baha’is of the British Isles during his 36-year tenure as Guardian of the Faith.

Unfolding Destiny is a 500-page book which sold for $43.50 and will be reduced in February and March to $28.50.

Supplies of all three books are limited. The reduced prices will be in effect for orders received and processed after February | and before March 31 or until supplies are exhausted.

Service for Blind has books, tapes

A wide selection of books in braille or on audio tapes is available from the Baha’i Service for the Blind. For information, write to Baha’i Service for the Blind,

Tucson, AZ 85716.

New compilation on House of Justice

A compilation on the Universal House of Justice is among three items that have just arrived from the Baha’i Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom.

The Universal House of Justice: A Compilation, was prepared by the Research Department at the World Centre at the request of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom.

In its introduction to the compilation, the National Assembly says, ‘Only by understanding its (the Universal House of Justice’s) status can the followers of Baha’u’llah appreciate the bounty we have in its guidance, and be strengthened to carry out its wishes in the difficult years that lie ahead ...””

BPT-UK also has produced two new books for children. One, Second Birth, is by Gail Radley ($8 HC, $4.50 SC).

Ms. Radley is the author of Special Strengths, recently released by the U.S. Baha’i Publishing Trust, and Zahra’s Search.

Second Birth is an explanation of the progress of the human soul in terms that very young readers can understand.

The second book for children is Stories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by Jacqueline Mehrabi. It sells for $4.50.

Stories contains 26 vignettes about the Master which Mrs. Mehrabi originally collected for her own children. Mrs. Mehrabi also has written Nine Holy Days

and Stories for Children.

Gi

William SI

In early January the new book The Bahá’í Faith: The Emerging Global Religion arrived at the Bahi’i Distribution Service warehouse in Wilmette. Its arrival cul Religion

The Bahai Faith TheEmerging

latcher

~ [Douglas Martin

minated several years of work on the book itself, as well as successful negot ms leading to the book’s publication by a major commercial publishing house.

Limited number of History Calendars available

A limited supply of Baha’i History Calendars spotlighting the United Nations International Year of Youth are still available from the Baha’i Distribution Service.

The first pages of the calendar contain the January 1984 letter from the Universal House of Justice about International Youth Year and the ‘‘new vistas” it opens for young members of the Baha’i community.

As in past years, the calendar devotes two pages to each month. The top page this year has quotations directed to Bahá’í youth

with each quotation illustrated by a photograph.

The bottom page contains the days of the month and lists significant events in Baha’i history which occurred on those days.

The price of the Baha’i History Calendar is $5. For ordering information, see the coupon on this Page.

Any Baha’i can give to the Fundadult or child

National Baha’i Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

Quan. ‘Abdu’ l-Bahd in London, SC

Emerging Global

Religion, HC _Fly Away Home, SC _For the Good of Mankind, HC For the Good of Mankind, SC —1 Am a Bahai, SC coving Hands, CS _Mystery of God, HC —O God, My God . . ., HC _Renovacidn de Civilizacion, SC

Z£7Os DPeoxro

America: Vol. 1, HC

Amt. Quan, $9.50 _Second Birth, HC eR eR IOC Pee eke BTS anon Enclose a check for the full amount, or i —Stories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, SC

14.95 Sunflower Books 1-4, SC VISARECRAR CLE

5.00 Syn. and Cod. Kitab-i-Aqdas, HC

10.95 _Unfolding Destiny, HC Ay URccoe

4.95 Universal House of Justice, SC

5.95 _Unto Him Shall We Return, SC Name

8.00 Baha'i Datebook 142 B.E.

12.00 _Baha’i History Calendar

6.00 _Baha’i Wall Calendar 142 B.E. Address

1.50 a lis

Baha’ Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE

WILMETTE, IL 60091

City

(All prices are NET—no discounts. No charges on accounts accepted. Credit card orders accepted by

phone: 1-800-323-1880.

TAB 2/85

Total plus 10 per cent postage __

ONE) EXP. DATE ____

State aD oot

)

Z7rPOs ZPmORO

Prices good through March 31, 1985

‘a er eR SESENG SO EF AY EE PL SE TSS DNS ETSI TE TI TR TI ITI I ET I I NT a LESTE,

[Page 15]BAHA’!I PUBLISHING TRUST

February 1985

THE BAHA'I WRITINGS

For ‘choice wine’ of Baha’u’llah’s Revelation, try the Kitab-i-Aqdas

While others imbibe physical intoxicants on special occasions, we can enjoy the special pleasure of quaffing the ‘“‘choice Wine’ of the laws of Bahd’u’ll4h as we prepare for Ayy4m-i-Ha and the month of fasting.

What better time to remind ourselves of the exhortations of Bahá*u’ll4h? Reading the Synopsis and Codification of the Laws and Ordimances of the Kitab-i-Aqdas gives us a concise overview of the scope of the laws that will remain inviolate for at least a thousand years, and whose system is destined to embrace the whole planet.

“Think not that We have revealed unto you a mere code of laws,”” says Baha’u’llah. ‘‘Nay, rather, We have unsealed the choice Wine with ane of might and power. ... Meditate upon this, O men of insight!”

The Universal House of Justice, in its introduction to the Synopsis and Codification, describes the Kitab-i-Aqdas as ‘‘the brightest emanation of the mind of Baha’u’llah, ... the Mother Book of His Dispensation, and the Charter of His New World Order.””

Baha’u’llah, speaking of the ‘‘twin duties’’ of His servants (recognition of the Manifestation of God and observance of every ordinance He brings), puts this into perspecive:

“They whom God hath endued with insight will readily recognize that the precepts laid down by God constitute the highest means for the maintenance of order in the world and the security of its peoples. ... Hasten to drink your fill, O men of understanding!’’

And again, ‘‘He who hath drunk the choice wine of fairness from the hands of My bountiful favor, will circle around My commandments that shine above the Dayspring of My creation.’’

The Synopsis and Codification of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas offers an elixir that is purely positive in its inebriating effects. If prolonged addiction

results, only good can follow.

Advance orders okay for new titles

Advance orders for titles not yet released by the Baha’i Publishing Trust may be taken, according to Anne Atkinson, promotions coordinator at the Trust.

“Our new titles for 1985 are very exciting,’’ says Ms. Atkinson. ‘“We want the friends to be able to have them as soon as possible. Therefore, the books expected by April may be ordered now from the Baha’i Distribution Service. Ordering soon will ensure the earliest possible delivery of the books.””

Forthcoming Baha’i Publishing Trust titles include Unto Him

Ordering from Baha’i Distribution Service

Individuals living anywhere in the world can order titles listed on this page from the Baha’i Distribution Service at the prices quoted (see the coupon on Page 14). U.S. customers should add 10 per cent for postage and handling (minimum $1.50) for UPS or fourth class mail; foreign customers should add 15 per cent (minimum $1.50) for surface mail.

Baha’i institutions outside the 48 contiguous states should order directly from the Baha’i Publishing Trust, 415 Linden

Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Shall We Return, Bahá’í DayBook: Passages for Deepening and Meditation, and The Baha’i Faith in America: Origins, 18921900.

“Unto Him Shall We Return, which will be available this month, is a significant compilation of the Baha’ writings on the reality and immortality of the human soul,’’ says Ms. Atkinson.

“‘Its importance in personal and community deepening and as a resource for memorial or funeral services cannot be overestimated. It is also an excellent gift bookfor Baha’is and others. It offers a unique perspective on this life and the worlds to come.

“The Baha’i DayBook is scheduled for release in March,’’ she “Many of the friends have it will be similar to the Canadian Baha’i Readings. While it does include passages from the writings, as does Baha’i Readings, it is quite different in other respects.

“The Baha’i DayBook also includes quotations from other scriptures, questions and answers, definitions of difficult words, illustrations, and explanations of Baha’i Feasts, Holy Days, and other aspects of Baha’; life.

“It’s an excellent primer for new Bahi and a resource for

See NEW TITLES 25

Question: What is ‘Bellwood Press’?

Question: Why are some children’s books and materials published by the Baha’i Publishing Trust and others. by Bellwood Press? What is the difference?

“Bellwood Press is an imprint of the Baha'i Publishing Trust that was created to fill a need the Publishing Trust saw,” says Dr. Betty J. Fisher, general editor of both.

“We realized there was a great need for books that do not necessarily mention the Baha’i Faith, or that do so indirectly, but reflect values that concern us as Baha’is.

“*Character-development stories in which there are struggleand-growth situations calling for the application of spiritual principles are very useful to a child’s development,” says Dr. Fisher. “Publishing such books also broadens our market.

“‘Many parents are interested in books with spiritual or humanitarian concepts but do not know about or are not interested in the Baha’i Faith. Hence, we hope that Bellwood Press can contribute to the education and enrichment of a larger circle than that which the Baha’i books can reach at this time.”

Q: What has been published most recently by Bellwood Press?

Special Strengths, by Gail Radley, is the latest publication of Bellwood Press. It is a collection of four stories in which the characters discover inner strengths of which they were previously unaware—through tests, choices and growth.

“Special Strengths never mentions the Faith,” says Dr. Fisher, “though one of the four stories does allude to the beautiful song of a nightingale that brings comfort and peace to those who hear.

“Tt deals with peer pressure, mutual acceptance, being one’s self, and learning about humility. There are infinite ways in which parents or teachers can use these stories to discuss Baha’i principles with children.”

Q: What other books are available from Bellwood Press?

Other children’s books published by Bellwood Press include B.J. and the Language of the Woodland, The Spotlessly Leopard and Fly Away Home.

“‘We hope that in the near future Bellwood Press will also publish similar works for teen-agers and scholarly works for adults,”’ says Dr. Fisher.

Q: What makes these books different from those published by the

New history recounts early pilgrimages

Can you imagine what it must have been like to travel to ‘Akká in 1898 as one of the earliest pilgrims from North America?

The Baha’i Faith in America: Origins, 1892-1900, by Robert H. Stockman, describes in fascinating detail the effects of the first

Western pilgrimage on the early adherents of the Faith, who had never seen a picture of or received any correspondence from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Before that pilgrimage, aan Kheiralla, a Bah of

See ORIGINS a 22

Baha’i Publishing Trust?

“The Baha’i Publishing Trust specializes in books that mention the Faith,” replies Dr. Fisher. “Parents continue to clamor for more books with Baha’i content.

“For example, | Am a Bahá’í, the latest in the Sunflower Book series published by the Baha’i Publishing Trust, serves this purpose. Here, the Baha’i identity of the child is reinforced directly through language, drawings, photographs, pictures to be colored, and other activities that relate to being a Baha’i.

“Loving Hands, the recent children’s album of songs by ‘Heartbeat,’ is in that same category. Through direct reference to the writings and to Baha’i events and activities, Baha’i education is reinforced. Virtues are taught and the prayers that are sung aid in memorization and in the development of a devotional attitude.

“Both approaches (direct and indirect) are important for Baha’i children,”’ says Dr. Fisher. ‘That is why Bellwood Press and the Baha’i Publishing Trust continue to produce these important tools for their stimulation and growth.”’

The musical group ‘Heartbeat’ performed recently at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette. Pictured (left to right) are Michael Moutrie, Susan Engle, Rudi Fox and Jean Marks. Specializing in music for children of all ages, ‘Heartbeat’ has produced a 60-minute cassette of vibrant new music entitled Loving Hands. Side 1 cont about aspects of Baha’i life, while side 2 features devotional songs for quieter moments, Performers on Loving Hands who are not shown here are Andrew Marks, piano and synCharles Nolley, banjo r; Collins Trier, string bass and hammered dulcimer; and several vocalists of all ages. Loving Hands is available from the Baha’i Distribution Service for $8.

[Page 16]CLASSIFIEDS

The American Baha’i

(16

Classified notices in The American Bahá’í are published free of charge as a service to the Baha’i community. Notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no personal or commercial messages can be accepted for publication. The opportunities referred to have not been approved by the National Spiritual Assembly, and the friends should exercise their own judgment in responding to them.

WANTED: original letters from Shoghi Effendi. The National Baha’i Archives is trying to locate original letters from the Guardian to the following individuals: Dorothy B. Logelin, Victor Oldson, Bertha Harmon, Walter Guy and Helen Campbell. Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of such letters is asked to contact the National Baha’i Archives, Baha’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

ICELANDIC Baha’i offers the use of his house to a traveling teacher or teaching team while he is on vacation from May 10-July 10. Husavik is a goal town in northern Iceland where English is spoken. For more information, please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

WANTED: quotes by famous persons or publications (Tolstoi, Time magazine, Newsweek, President Reagan, Queen Marie of Rumania, Dizzy Gillespie, Seals & Crofts, etc.) plus bibliographical sources to be compiled in a ‘‘Notable Quotes’’ teaching pamphlet. Please send contributions to Darian Smith, .

Apex, NC 27502.

PIO-NEAR before you pio-far. Try your hand at living in another culture without leaving McDonald’s behind. Southern Louisiana ... an intriguing state with a strong French-Catholic influence. Home of Cajuns and Creoles and the Mardi Gras. The District Teaching Committee is calling for at least six homefront pioneers for four communities on the brink of

WANTED: Industrious, intelligent, highly motivated person to replace the associate editor of Baha’i News and The American Bahá’í who must leave after five years at the National Center. Responsibilities include writing, photography, paste-up, equipment maintenance, purchasing, some clerical work. Opportunity to. learn and use a broad range of skills and talents necessary to produce a top quality newspaper and magazine. Photographic and darkroom experience essential; familiarity with a graphic arts camera would be a plus. Please send a resumé and samples of your work (writing, photographs, etc.) to Jack Bowers, Periodicals Office, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Assembly status. Consider settling, starting a business, getting an education, or spending time with the state’s 1,200 Native Americans. For more information contact Ernell Mitchell,

_ New Orleans, LA 70126.

NEEDED: Qualified person to teach elementary school or English to fill a goal in Nepal. For more information, please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or telephone 312869-9039.

TWO positions for English teachers are available immediately and two others in the fall of 1985 at the Micronesian Occupational College, Palau, Caroline Islands, a goal. Transportation, housing, and health and life insurance are provided. One- or two-year contracts. For more information, please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

THE NATIONAL Spiritual Assembly of Haw: planning to convert its television series for home use on Beta/VHS and will be offering video cassettes at $25 each plus postage and handling. These are the programs that feature the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears on 15 shows, and Russ and Gina Garcia on one, with young adult Baha’is. These will be “special orders’? as the video cassettes will not be carried in stock. Orders must be accompanied by check or money order with specific information as to which programs are desired. For more information please contact the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the Hawaiian Islands, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817.

THE BAHA’I Center in Pueblo, Colorado, is looking for a new caretaker. The position will be available April 1. The Center is a single-story house with living faies in the basement consisting of hen, bedroom, bath and living room. A donation to the local Fund of $135 per month to cover utilities and maintenance is requested. The position is ideal for a retired couple or a young person interested in attending college (the University of Southern Colorado is in Pueblo). For more information, write to the Baha’i Center,

Pueblo, CO 81004.

ESCAPE TO... LaCrosse, Wisconsin. One of the country’s most beautiful areas, with breathtaking views of rivers, forests and rolling mountains, invites you to live where (a) you can help build an Assembly, (b) the air is pure, (c) the schools are excellent—Wisconsin ranks No. | in the nation in college-prep ACT scores, (d) the people are friendly, and (e) the crime rate is low. In addition, LaCrosse has a zoo, an outstanding symphony orchestra, several repertory companies, and many

opportunities for outdoor sports. For students there is Viterbo College with a nationally recognized fine arts program and the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse (9,000 students) which offers study in education, business, liberal arts, and health and physical education—with one of the country’s top cardiac rehab programs. Employment is available in engineering, sales, health care, precision tool and die work, and for teachers in schools, colleges and Western Wisconsin Technical Institute. The area is one of the fastest-growing in the Midwest with a present population of 50,000 in LaCrosse and 100,000 in the metro area. Come and make it 50,006! For information contact Dorothy and Samandar Hai,

LaCrosse, WI 54601, or phone 608-788-4240.

USED clothing is welcomed by pioneers in Tonga for resale in their small shop. Can be sent surface mail. Put value of $10 on the box; otherwise, the pioneers must pay 35 per cent duty. Large women’s sizes; men’s; children’s. Bright summer styles are preferable. Also bras, ties, shoes. Write directly to Norie and Don Blanks, P.O. Box 64, Neiafu Vava’u, Tonga, Pacific Islands.

GROUP decision-making processes as taught in the behavioral sciences and Baha’i consultation are subjects of interest to an individual Bahá’í engaged in academic research that combines science and religion. I would welcome letters from interested Baha’is to exchange insights and information sources. Write to Tom Millington, P.O. Box 5566, El Paso, TX 79955.

NEW JERSEY and you—perfect together! Piscataway Township needs two or more deepened Baha’i adults to strengthen its Assembly. Close to New York City and Princeton; Rutgers University is in our backyard. Employment opportunities at AT&T, Bell Communications Research, Johnson & Johnson, Squibb, American Standard, American Express, Hewlett Packard, Continental-Insurance. For more information please write to P.O. Box 326, Piscataway, NJ 08854, or phone 201-463-3683.

WANTED: Male or female experienced in repairing Oriental tugs to work in a large Baha’iowned rug store in Birmingham, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit). Adequate compensation including moving expenses. Phone Azar, 313-644-7311.

A NINE-DAY Teacher Training Institute conducted by Jenabe Caldwell will be held February 22 March 3 at the Louhelen Baha’i School. The course lays a foundation for fulfilling one’s purpose in life and transmits a sense of inner peace. It has been taught all over the world and been instrumental in transforming souls and instigating victories. The cost is $167 for adults registering two

weeks or more in advance for a room with 2-3 others. Add $18 for late registration and $45 for a double room. A children’s program will be held. Write to the Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033. VISA and MasterCard accepted.

SEVERAL university level teaching positions are available in Fiji, a goal country. They are: lecturers in crop production, chemistry, biology, math, a technical manager, and a professor of accounting. For more information, please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

ALMOST there! National City, California, right next to beautiful San Diego, has almost enough Baha’is to form an Assembly (four active, that is). Can you help? It’s really no sacrifice to live here; we’ve got everythingocean, mountains, glorious weather year-round, and lots of teaching activity. Living is relatively inexpensive, and jobs are available here and in the city. Bilingual (Spanish/English) Baha’is are especially welcome. Chilly where you are? It’s in the 70s here! Write to the District Teaching Committee,

Carlsbad, CA 92008.

PLANS are moving right along for the first Stockton, California, Baha’i Reunion. If you or someone you know has been a past member of the Stockton Baha’i community, please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Stockton, P.O. Box 7231, Stockton, CA 95207, or phone the Assembly secretary, Patti McDowell, 209-4674210.

FAMILY practice physician and family wish to become homefront pioneers. Would like to work with another Baha’i doctor, and must live in a medically underserved area of the U.S. or its territories. Will complete residency in June 1987. Please contact Hannah Rishel, M.D.,

Wichita, KS 67208, or phone 316-685-3748 or 316-685-1111.

TEACHING positions for sur‘ob-gyns, radiologist, internists and pediatricians are now available in Nigeria, a goal country. For more information, please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

HELP wanted: Marshall, Texas (pop. 25,900), deep in the heart of east Texas, after years of struggling to reach Assembly status, needs deepened Baha’is to settle in the area and help with the teaching work. There are many opportunities for employment here and in nearby Longview and Karnack. Marshall has accredited public schools, good community colleges within commuting distance, a hospital, a new civic center, a vocational school, cultural activities

and adult education programs. The climate is temperate, there are mobile home parks, apartment complexes, and homes for sale, rental or sharing. The area has many lakes and parks, good fishing and boat landings. For more information, contact Mrs. Lena H. Watson, Marshall, TX 75670 (phone 214-938-3939) or Mrs. Myrtle R. Campbell, P.O. Box 725, Marshall, TX 75670 (phone 214-9383509).

HANDS ON!, a workbook of Baha’i educational activities for children by Sandy and Alonzo Coleman and Diane Bogulu Petit, is now available. The book includes a chapter on creating learning centers and more than 100 practical activities in the areas of Baha’ history, the Central Figures and Shoghi Effendi, religious history, the Baha’i teachings, Baha’i institutions, and the dynamic force of example. Also includes sample record-keeping fofms and reproducible activities (crossword puzzles, word searches, etc.). Contains 178 pages and 80 photos depicting activities described in the text. Each activity description includes educational objectives, a list of materials needed, and a discussion of what to do and how to extend the experience; a valuable resource for teaching local children’s classes. The price of $19 includes a three-ring binder and shipping and handling costs. Please send check to Hands On!, Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. VISA and MasterCard orders accepted by phone (313-653-5033).

NEEDED: Ten teachers to fill positions in Sri Lanka, a goal for several countries. For more information, please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

PIONEER to lovely Oregon. Come grow your own vegetables, learn to survive on your own with the help of other Baha’is. Woman wanted, preferably retired, to share a house with another Baha’i and her two children, ages 6 and 11 years. $125 per month plus food. Some work available and a university near by. Write to Gail Haller, Eagle Point, OR 97524,

SUMMER jobs at Green Acre include those for cooks; directors and staff for children’s, youth and adult programs; registrars; librarian; book sales; housekeepers; kitchen workers; and maintenance helper. Apply to the Green Acre Baha’i School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903.

THE WEST Hartford, Connecticut, Bahá’í community, in the central part of the state, needs you! We need two Bahda’is who are willing to relocate if we are to re-form our Assembly in April. If you can come and help save our Assembly, we’ll make an effort to help you in every way possible to

See ADS Page 27

[Page 17]

THE MEDIA

February 1985

17

INTERMEDIA

News from the Office of Public Affairs

Carrie Kneisler, a Baha’i from Healdsburg, California, who is a printmaker and artist, got eight column inches of publicity including photos of herself and her art work in the weekly paper, The Tribune. The Baha’i Media Council of the North Bay contacted her to design a poster as a fund-raiser to pay for air time for the ‘‘Spiritual Revolution’’ television series. The series began November 17 on Channel 50, sponsored by the Baha’is of Sonoma County and the northern Bay Area. The sale of prints raised $2,000 of the $10,000 needed to underwrite the series. Additional prints are still available for $50 apiece. Contact the Media Council at P.O. Box 86, Geyserville, CA 95441 for information.

Bahá’ís in Graham, Texas, made dramatic advances in their community with an ambitious undertaking for Human Rights Day. The Spiritual Assembly wrote to the mayor, all public schools, the superintendent of schools, and all the churches sending the following materials:

a copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948;

a comparison of human rights as expressed in the Universal Declaand American Documents of Freedom; and

‘Human Rights Are God-Given Rights,” a Bahá’í statement on human rights.

The friends received three column inches of publicity in The Graham Leader, and after sending the same materials toa local radio station, they were asked to provide a speaker for the station’s morning talk show which resulted in a 40-minute interview.

In Roseville, Minnesota, a Baha’i family was interviewed for the Christmas issue of the Roseville Focus for an article headlined ‘‘Baha’i Family Still Feels Christmas Is Special.’’ The same paper was distributed in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul), since the editors of the Focus newspapérs (formerly the Sun chain) came together to produce one newspaper for all their communities over the holidays. The article not only printed the family’s personal comments about what Christmas means and the celebration of Baha’i Holy Days, but included several paragraphs explaining the Faith’s relationship to Christianity and discussing its origin and history. Watch next month’s issue of The American Baha’i for more about Roseville’s perseverance and how it paid off.

Lynda Couture, a Baha’i in Pensacola, Florida, has joined the ranks of Baha’is who have regular columns in their local newspapers. A weekly column under her by-line will be published in The Pensacola Voice. Her column for the Christmas issue was headed, “A New Reality: Peace on Earth—A Possibility.”” It featured quotations from various religious scriptures including the Baha’i Writings and tied in our concerns for peace with current examples from around the world. Other Baha’i columnists are Abdullah Brooks (Sacramento, California), Cherlynn Rush (San Bernardino, California), George Savitt (Miami, Florida), and the Baha’is of Paulding County, Georgia.

Bahá’ís in Rhode Island are jubilant over their success in getting air time on the radio station at the University of Rhode Island. They attribute it to the hard work of Baha’is in Newport and Jamestown. An interview will air each Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. featuring Baha’fs and others with related interests on topics pertaining to the Faith.

Course for radio amateurs set

ha’is and amateur radio, localregional-global communication

rati .

In the tropic green hills of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, a half-hour

drive from the world’s largest radio telescope, a vital new facility has come into being in service to the Faith: the Amoz Gibson Training Centre, operated by CIRBAL, a Baha’i institution charged by the Universal House of Justice with responsibility for the development of Bahá’í media in Latin America and the Caribbean basin.

On March 23-April 13, a history-making conference and three-week crash course for licensed Baha’i radio amateurs and others interested in becoming amateurs, focusing on Baha’i radio projects and philosophy, will be held at the Centre.

The course wil! also cover Ba

networks, elements of pioneering and other Baha’i service, updating one’s radio knowledge and upgrading his license, and the many social and consultative activities that bringing together Baha’i radio amateurs from all over the world is bound to generate.

Tuition is $400 per student including materials, room and board. The course will be presented in English and Spanish as needed. An operating amateur radio station will be accessible to all licensed amateurs during free time.

For information please contact CIRBAL, Amoz

Puerto Rico 00612.

Greenville, Massachusetts Town Council passes resolution condemning persecutions in Iran

Baha’is in Greenville, Massachusetts, report exhilarating successes in their efforts to get the town council to pass a resolution condemning the persecution of Bahda’is in Iran—both in getting the resolution passed and in the publicity the Faith received as a result.

The Spiritual Assembly wrote to the town council, furnishing extensive background information on the history of the persecutions and significant national articles that have been published, and reaaa that a resolution be passed.

On Human Rights Day, a letter to the editor was published in The Greenville Recorder. Less than a week later, a two-column-inch article about the town council’s next meeting appeared, with almost half of it devoted to the Baha’is. The headline read, “Council to Be Asked to Back Baha’i Resolution on Iran.””

A few days later, a three-column-inch article appeared in the same paper about the resolution’s passage, headed, ‘‘Baha’i Persecution in Iran Condemned by Council.””

That same day, the Springfield paper, The Morning Union, published three column inches head | | i

About 90 people including many non-Baha’is were present last October 20 for the opening of the Baha’i Regional Public Affairs Office for Long Island, New York. The office, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of the Town of Brookhaven, represents a dozen Baha’i communities throughout two Long Island counties, providing local, national and international Baha’i news to the many media outlets in that densely populated area east of New York City. Pictured above are (left to right) Dr. Mark Eghrari; Isabella Eghrari, project coordinator for the Regional Public Affairs Office; Smithtown, New York, City Councilman Brad Harris; and Hong Foo, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of the Town of Brookhaven.

The Town Council of Greenville, Massachusetts, hears testimony on the persecutions in Iran from two members of the Spiritual As lined, ‘‘Greenville Takes Stand Against Baha’i Attacks.”” All publicity was initiated by local reporters except for the letter to the editor. The Office of Public Affairs underscores the feelings of the As

sembly of Greenville. The Council later passed a resolution condemning the persecutions.

sembly secretary in Greenville, M. Lee McAdam, who wrote, ‘‘Due to the spiritual impetus of the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Iran, just a little effort on our part will produce positive and often dramatic results.””

Media use plants many valuable seeds during Mexico border teaching campaign

Baha’ is from Illinois, Kentucky and New Mexico joined with Baha’is from Piedras Negras, Coahuila and Manzanillo, Mexico, in an extensive border teaching campaign held recently in the border city of Juarez, Chihuahua, which resulted in 38 declarations in five days.

AMONG the declarants were one of the employees of the newspaper that published an article about the project, a medical doctor, a 90-year-old popcorn vendor, a lawyer, three cooks from a carry-out eatery, several housewives, a border official, and several youth.

Deepening classes and followup firesides were held each evening during the campaign.

A highlight of the effort was a 10-minute appearance by several of the Baha’is on local television.

During the interview Christine Hoyt, a Baha’i in Manzanillo, was able to explain that Baha’u’ lah is not only the return of Christ, but that all the Prophets have promised to return in the Glory of God.

Monira Sohaili, from Wilmette, Illinois, discussed her Zoroastrian background and the experience of living and raising a family as a Baha’i pioneer in such places as India, New Caledonia and Australia. The presence of her daughter and two grandchildren in the studio brought out that there are now several-generation Baha’i families.

LOURDES Diaz, a local Baha’i, phoned a radio talk show one evening from a deepening where 29 attendees viewed a filmstrip of the Holy Land and was able to discuss some salient features of the Faith.

Both programs were broadcast in Mexico (the Baha’is from the U.S. had a translator), thus planting valuable seeds that are bound to bear fruit in both countries.

The Spiritual Assembly of Juarez has planned an extensive program for confirming and deepening the new believers.

Those who traveled to Mexico to help in the project returned home full of hope and vigor to share the experience with others.

The border teaching campaign is an exciting and concrete example of Bahá’ís using their initiative to integrate the processes of proclamation, expansion and consolidation while remembering to include publicity in their efforts.

Public Affairs Office names 32 consultants for eight-state area

On last month’s media page was

-a report about the conference last

November at the Louhelen Baha’i School for public information consultants.

The 32 consultants named by the national Office of Public Affairs for an eight-state area are:

Minois—Bob Bellows, Skokie; Reuben Busby, Alton; Michael Carr, Des Plaines; Elizabeth Foster, Moline; Robert Hogan, Springfield; William Maslouski, Springfield; Artis Mebane, Joliet; Bedi Mesbah, Chatham; Stacey Rubenstein, Wilmette; Frank Trompeter, Springfield; Steve Wilder, Prospect Heights.

Indiana—Gwen Cobb Kousari and Behrouz Kousari, Muncie.

See CONSULTANTS Page 26

1 ERE ORES OS RE SE AAS MP A A SASS RASTA EA RRS

[Page 18]

The American Baha'i

18

On November 12, a copy of the book Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era was presented to Dr. Houston Bowers (center), minister of the Euclid Avenue Christian Church

85 Archives Institute to be held in August at the National Center

The National Bahá’í Archives Committee will hold its 1985 Archives Institute next August 22-25 at the Baha’i National Center in Wilmette, Illinois.

Those who are interested in attending the institute should submit to-the National Baha’i Archives a brief statement of their background and why they would like to attend.

The institute is designed to introduce believers interested in the archival field to the nature and functions of a Baha’i archives.

Attendance is limited to eight persons, and each participant is responsible for his or her own expenses and housing.

Please address requests to the National Baha’i Archives, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Making the presentation were Baha’is (left to right) Kay Farzaneh, Bill Fountaine, Cecilia Smith and Amir Farzaneh. A subsequent ar ticle about the presentation in the church bulletin encouraged members of the church to check the book out of the library.

Annual Conference of Nur set

It’s time once again to start making plans to attend the annual Conference of Nur to be held June 14-16 at Elizabethtown (Pennsylvania) College.

This year’s theme is ‘‘Shoghi Effendi: Architect of the New World Order.””

Speakers who have thus far agreed to appear and their topics:

Mrs. Javidukht Khadem, ‘‘The Beloved Guardian.””

Diana Malouf Jenkins, ‘‘His Literary Gifts.’”

Nathan Rutstein, ‘His Messages to the World.”’

George Karamalis, slide presentation, ‘‘The Master Designer.””

Other speakers and conference costs will be announced later.

For more information, write to Conference of Nur, c/o the sponsoring Spiritual Assembly of Elizabethtown Borough, P.O. Box

50, Elizabethtown, PA 17022, or phone 717-367-5075. eae

In the January issue of The American Bahá’í, in an article on Page 8 about the Spiritual Assembly of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, the following sentence appears: “The elder of the Persians, grandfather Ardeshir Akhtarkhavari, is a Knight of Baha’u’llah who in 1920 became the first person to pioneer to Saudi Arabia.’’

While it is true that Mr. Akhtarkhavari was the first to pioneer to Saudi Arabia, this was in 1940, not 1920, and he was not designated a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for this service since it was long before the beginning of the Ten Year Crusade in 1953-63, the period during which the Guardian made such appointments.

We regret the error.

76th Convention to be held at Baha’i House of Worship

The 76th Baha’i National Convention will be held April 25-28 at the House of Worship in Wilmette. If you wish to attend the Convention, please complete the registration form above and forward it to the Baha’i National Center, Office of Membership and Records, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Attendance limited

Because seating in Foundation Hall at the House of Worship is limited, it will be necessary to limit the number of visitors attending the National Convention. Seating will be reserved for those who preregister with the registration form in the January issue of The American Baha’i, or by letter, on a firstcome, first-served basis.

No children’s classes

Children’s classes and other activities will not be available at this Convention. Parents will be responsible for the supervision or child-care arrangements

for children they bring to the Convention.

Miscellaneous information

Visitors to the Convention must make their own hotel reservations. Hotels that are within the area of the House of Worship and close to public transportation are the Orrington Hotel, 1710 Orrington Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 (telephone 312-866-8700), and the Holiday Inn, 1501'Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60202 (telephone 312-491-6400).

Hotels within easy driving distance are the North Shore Hilton, 9599 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL 60076 (telephone 312-679-7000) and the Howard Johnson Motor Lodge, 9333 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL 60076 (telephone 312-679-4200).

Registration and check-in at the Convention will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 25, and continue through 10 o’clock that night for late arrivals.

Hoagg

Continued From Page 4

lishing regular Baha’i meetings. When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablets

of the Divine Plan arrived in the

U.S. in 1919, Mrs. Hoagg decided

to travel to Alaska.

After receiving 2 cable of confirmation from the Master, she began an eight-month, 6,000-mile trip in the company of Marion Jack.

THE TWO women made the long and arduous trip by boat and rail, stopping in many places to conduct public meetings and to speak before various organizations and individuals.

In 1928, responding to a request for help from Julia Culver at the Baha’i International Bureau in Geneva, Switzerland, the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, approved Mrs. Hoagg’s assignment to the bureau, and she moved immediately to Geneva.

The Bureau was an early information center, operated in consultation with the Guardian, which supplied Baha’ literature in various languages and maintained contacts with other international organizations.

Three years later, Shoghi Effendi summoned Mrs. Hoagg to Haifa to type the voluminous manuscript of The Dawn-bre: ers, which he had translated into English from the original Persian.

After completing that task, Mrs. Hoagg returned to Geneva where she served until 1935.

Returning once more to the U.S., she volunteered her services to the National Teaching Committee and traveled through the Midwest, stopping at the Louhelen School, the South, and to

case Se aie eee Se Archives wants to sell

the Green Acre School in Maine.

WHEN the Guardian established the first Seven Year Plan for the Americas, Mrs. Hoagg pioneered in 1940 to Cuba where she studied Spanish and taught the Faith effectively in Havana.

Mrs. Hoagg, an excellent linguist, already had translated some of the Writings into Italian and German, and had helped with a French translation of Baha’u’llh and the New Era.

After attending the 36th Baha’i National Convention in 1944, an event which marked the Centenary of the birth of the Faith, she was forced by failing health to return to her home in Charleston, South Carolina,

From her bed Mrs. Hoagg continued to teach those who came to visit her. When she died on December 15, 1945, at the age of 77, Shoghi Effendi sent the following cable:

“Deeply grieved passing staunch, exemplary pioneer Faith, Emogene Hoagg. Record interna* tional services unforgettable. Reward Abha Kingdom assured abundant.”’

duplicate materials

The National Baha’i Archives has a number of duplicate Baha’i books, periodicals and pamphlets which it wishes to sell.

Proceeds from the sales will go to the Archives endowment fund. Catalog No. | of the printed matter for sale is available upon request from the Archives.

To request a catalog, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the National Baha’ Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

veritten by Deborah Christensen

415 LINDEN AVENUE, ¥ ?

from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust

Four Sunflower Activity Books under one cover

64 pages 8% x 11 inches

Order through your local librarian, or send check or money order (including 10% for postage and handling, minimum $1.50) to:

Bahda’i Distribution Service VILMETTE, IL 60091

lid only in the United States

Designed to reinforce a child's Baha'i identity and promote parentchild closeness.

Activities include:

= coloring

@ singing

® finding hidden pictures

= creating collages

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[Page 19]

PERSIAN/AMERICAN

19

February 1985

New column introduces a new name: Persian/American Affairs Committee

The National Persian/American Affairs Committee, formerly known as the Persian Affairs Committee, is inaugurating this column with an obvious name change. This change is intended to draw attention to the pressing challenges facing the American Baha’i community with regard to the influx of our dearly loved friends from Iran.

First, the challenges are inescapable. They must be faced by all the believers residing in this country regardless of national origin, because we are all members of the American Baha’i community, ‘‘the spiritual descendants of the dawn-breakers of an heroic Age.’’ Through our increasing maturity, our patience and forbearance with one another, as individuals and institutions, the bonds of unity will grow stronger and the need for this committee will decrease.

Some of the challenges are quite evident. For example, English is the primary language in this country. To function in the society at large and to participate fully in local Baha’i activities, one must develop a facility in English. In certain cases, great struggle and sacrifice is required. But would this not be necessary as well in a pioneering post where a different language is spoken? Further, would this not help to facilitate integration and unity within the American Baha’ community, ‘‘the prime mover and pattern of future communities’’?

But it is not up to the dear believers from Iran alone. It is up to all of us to participate and to help bring about the integration of our community through the guidance of our institutions, the inspiration of the Writings, and individual action. A good place to start is to use the challenges raised in this column as the topic of loving consultation in our communities, and to-share ideas and solutions with the regional and national Persian/American Affairs Committees.

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[Page 20]

PERSIAN/AMERICAN

The American Baha’i

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[Page 21]

PERSIAN/AMERICAN

February 1985

21

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[Page 22]The American Baha'i

22

News from the Baha’i House of Worship

Plans are under way for the 1985 Special Visit program, a project of the Bahá’í House of Worship Activities Committee that is designed primarily to “‘refresh and gladden the spirit’’ as well as to provide an insight into the functioning of the various departments at the Baha’i Na tional Center.

Tentative dates for this year’s programs are July 4-7 and August

22-25. The Special Vi

in July will be designed for families and will in clude classes and activities for children in addition to the regular program for youth and adults. The August program will not have special

children’s activities.

Highlights of the Special Visit programs include tours of the House of Worship, the Baha’i National Center, Baha’i Publishing Trust, and Ba ha’i Home; a special archives exhibit;

weekend.

and guest speakers throughout the

One participant in last year’s Special Visit wrote: ‘‘Special is the most

perfect word to describe it—at every turn something special ...

But the

most special thing of all was a deeper love for my Faith that came from getting to know the House of Worship and National Center better—seeing the Faith work and understanding the meaning of the House of

Worship.””

The confirmed dates and more information about the 1985 Special Visit program will appear in the March or April issue of The American Baha’ i.

Successful garden teaching season

The Garden Teaching Committee reports that the 1984 garden teaching season was a busy one. Of the 44 Friday and Saturday nights during the House of Worship’s summer hours, garden guides were there to talk

to late visitors on 41 nights.

In all, some 82 people participated as garden guides. They came not only from the Wilmette area, but from as far away as Texas, California and Massachusetts. Visitors numbered 1,072 (an average of 26 per night) and were from all parts of the U.S. as well as from several other

countries.

Travelers

Continued From Page 6

“TI explained to her that the Temple will indeed have water around it, and it is only partially completed at this point, but that spiritually, the Temple was already built.

“Because of her purity of heart and spirit, she had been allowed to see the finished Temple before it was in fact finished on this earthly plane.

“‘SHE WAS so excited she became a Baha’i immediately, then asked if I would visit her in-laws. Her father-in-law and sister both became Baha’ is also.

“On another occasion a young woman came to a fireside saying

Baha’i’s photo exhibit in top NYC gallery

On February 3, a month-long photography exhibit, ‘‘Scenes From the Sacred Mountain,’’ by Mark Sadan, a Baha’i from Ossining, New York, was opened at one of the country’s most prestigious galleries, the Soho Photo Gallery in New York City.

The exhibit consists of 18 black and white photographs taken last spring on Mount Carmel and in the gardens at the Bahá’í World Centre in Haifa, Israel.

she had had a dream the night before of an elderly woman with white hair talking about a religion in a different language.

“She said that, in the dream, there was a warm glow in the room and she felt safe and secure, and she knew this religion was the truth and that there really is a God.”

This teacher says another aspect of teaching in small villages is the excitement of seeing the drawn, pouting, angry expressions on faces of the people as she begins to teach change to a look of hope and then absolute joy, leaving them with a gleam in their eyes and wide grins on their faces.

For her, there is nothing in the world that can give such a thrill as watching that change take place.

The International Goals Committee would like to receive more reports like this one. It can help you when you take a specific teaching trip, or go on vacation and want to visit Baha’is in other countries, or if you are on a business trip and have time available to give a fireside.

Simply write or phone the International Goals Committee office as soon as you know you'll be taking a trip. Your labors will provide strong reinforcement to the work of the followers of Bahá’u’lláh in all parts of the world.

Origins Continued From Page 15

Christian background, was the only individual in the U.S. who could claim an understanding of the Baha’i teachings.

In ‘Akká, the first pilgrims from North America heard for the first time many of Baha’u’llah’s teachings from the lips of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself.

They were startled to find contradictions between the Master’s words and Kheiralla’s, and many of the Americans’ misconceptions were cleared up.

Lua Getsinger, in describing her pilgrimage, recounts:

“The atmosphere of the place is wondrous, knowledge and understanding seem to float in the air. I am simply benumbed by the great privileges and blessings showered upon me daily, and so much so, that I feel myself to be a miserable worm of the dust, unable even to crawl ...

“When I left America I thought I knew a good deal—and felt that I was quite near the door of His bounty—but after seeing the Master (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) and other members of the household—I am sure 1 know nothing—and as yet the sprinkles of His gifts have not descended! ...””

Other North Americans, such as Phoebe Hearst, Robert Turner, May Bolles (Maxwell) and Ella Goodall (Cooper), were a part of this first pilgrimage and became, in the words of Shoghi Effendi, “God intoxicated.”’

They left ‘Akká convinced of ‘Abdu’l-Baháa’s greatness and confirmed in the Baha’i teachings. No longer having to turn to Kheiralla for guidance, they could write directly to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

With a new understanding of how to organize the Faith, they created ‘‘Boards of Counsel”’ that were the forerunners of Local Spiritual Assemblies.

Kheiralla, still wanting the believers to look to him for guid Wisconsin

Continued From Page 7

ed by a discussion among participants of things that each could do in his or her community in the coming months.

The final evening featured the second annual ‘‘Dance for the Elimination of Prejudice,’’ sponsored, as was the conference itself, by the Baha’i Club at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The dance, which had been advertised for more than a week, drew an audience of about 200 for pop and reggae music emceed by two professional disc jockeys, Jim Barnes and Anthony Pierre.

Mr. Pierre, who is not a Baha’i, volunteered his free time to support the event.

Many of those at the dance left with free ‘‘One Planet, One People ... Please” T-shirts and buttons that were given out as prizes.

ance, formed a ‘‘House of Justice’ in Chicago for his own followers, but by mid-1900 the Baha’i community loyal to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had severed all communication with him.

Through crises and steadfastness, the early believers laid the foundation of today’s Baha’i communities in North America.

Their first pilgrimage is only one of many stories of our roots that are chronicled in The Bahda’i Faith in America: Origins, 18921900, the first of a two-volume work which will be released in April by the Publishing Trust.

Advance orders may be taken. Please see the ordering instructions on Page 14.

Nearly 200 attend multi-media program at President’s alma mater, Eureka College

The Office of Public Affairs and the Persian/American Affairs Committee office recently sponsored a multi-media program on the persecution of Baha’is in Iran

Eureka (Illinois) College, the alma mater of President Ronald Reagan.

A women’s discussion group on campus contacted Amnesty International looking for a project that would take the group out of ‘‘just discussion” into the realm of action, and was referred by AI to the national Baha’i Office of Public Affairs.

Later, background materials on the persecutions were sent to Sandra Lubarsky, the group’s faculty adviser, and plans were set in motion for a public presentation during “Stop Torture’’ week.

Prayers and writings from various faiths were read, and two local Bahá’ís provided music which included a song about the martyrs.

The video tape of ABC-TV’s “20/20” program was shown, and talks were given by Puran Stevens from the Office of Persian/American Affairs and Marcia Le Roy from the Office of Public Affairs.

Baha’is Gaylynn Kieser (left) and Shirley Crenshaw offer a song during a recent program at Eureka (Illinois) College presented by the Office of Public Affairs and the Persian/American Affairs Committee office.

Another Baha’i, Azadeh Mohandessi, told a personal story which included details of her harrowing escape from Iran and her father’s execution.

The Baha’i national offices are working closely with the college group by providing suggestions and materials for their follow-up efforts. As a result, some of the students are now attending firesides.

Baha’is in Linn County, Oregon, provide aid to Native American drug rehab center

As a part of their participation in ‘Operation Befriend,’’ the Baha’is in Linn County, Oregon, provided a variety of services to the Cascadia Sweathouse Lodge Inc., an alcohol and drug rehabili tation center for Native Americans who are referred from Indian centers throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The association between the friends in Linn County. and the lodge began when a Baha’i met with its director to learn of the organization’s needs:

Later, another Baha’i obtained reading, math and other materials from textbooks that were being abandoned by the local school district. These were donated to the lodge’s GED educational program, which is in constant need of appropriate textbooks.

The Spiritual Assembly of Linn County then accepted a recommendation to purchase office supplies which were given to the lodge to meet another of its ongoing needs.

Realizing that books about Indian lore are useful in helping Indian lodge clients to regain a pos

itive feeling for their cultural heritage, a Baha’i family donated several books and a large supply of National Geographic magazines that describe Indian history and special events. These were eagerly received.

Next, the friends agreed to collect and sell newspapers to make a monetary contribution to the lodge program.

The relationship with the lodge developed to such an extent that on occasion the GED instructor would phone the Bahda’is to let them know about special needs.

Last December 10, a group of Baha’is from five communities in the area presented Human Rights Day awards to two workers at the Sweathouse Lodge.

The lodge’s volunteer GED program director and a Native American staff member were given framed certificates ‘‘in recognition of dedicated service to the dignity of the human family.’”

The Baha’is also presented the recipients with messages of commendation from two members of Congress, Sen. Mark Hatfield and Rep. Jim Weaver.

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[Page 23]The American Baha’i

February 1985

23

Baha’is in ‘Cross-Cultural Understanding Conference’

Baha’ is from the Concord, California, area participated last September 22 in a ‘Cross-Cultural Understanding Conference’’ arranged by the Center for New Americans, a service organization founded by a Baha’i, with the cooperation and help of the Mount Diablo Unified School District.

THE PURPOSE of the conference was to educate the community and to demonstrate the importance of effective communi tion in understanding and relating to other cultures.

It provided an opportunity for

A volunteer worker at the Center for New Americans in Concord,

California, conducts a class in

Baha’is respond to emergency appeal for aid to Ghana

The Baha’i International Com munity has become the third contributor to a $2.7 million emergency appeal for help to Ghana, one of 13 countries selected by UNICEF for special support during the present African drought crisis. _ The appeal, made in cooperation with the Ghanaian government, drew $296,190 from the United Kingdom. Another $39,250 was contributed by the Japan Committee for UNICEF.

The Baha’i contribution of $5,000 brings the total thus far contributed to $340,440.

“We chose Ghana because it has a tremendous malnutrition problem,” says Victor de Araujo, the Baha’i International Community’s chief UN representative.

“According to the Baha’i community in Ghana,”’ he says, ‘‘the situation is very acute for children, and they asked if we could make a contribution to the UN to help meet the emergency.

“Since children and mothers are involved, we chose UNICEF.””

Earlier this year, the Baha’ International Community gave $2,500 to help support UNICEF's emergency programs in SwaziJan

A UNICEF spokesman said the Baha’i contribution would be used to help meet the'severe problem of infestation among children in Ghana by Ascaris, a large intestinal worm.

community leaders and educators to recognize and appreciate cultural diversity in a unifying and dynamic atmosphere.

A selection of quotations by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Albert Einstein was used to articulate the conference theme that cultural diversity is to be cherished for enhancin,

Participants represented a variety of ethnic and national origins including Afghans, blacks, American Indians, Filipinos, Japanese, Jews, Laotians, Mexicans, Nicaraguans, Poles and Viet

conversational English for recently-arrived immigrants.

namese.

The Center for New Americans was founded in October 1983 by Guity Kiani, a Baha’i from Clayton, California, who was helped by a group of citizens who were interested in facilitating the integration of immigrants into American society.

THE CENTER opened its doors with no funding but thanks to the efforts of many professionals who volunteer their time, it has helped a few hundred families in the area.

The Center lists as its purposes:

To assist refugees and immigrants of all nationalities to adjust

to the American culture.

To provide long-term support

and services so that foreign-born Americans can become valuable contributing citizens.

To facilitate the involvement

of counselors and volunteers who wish to contribute to the integration into society of new Americans.

Its emphasis is on fostering independence, self-sufficiency and personal development among these newcomers while enriching the community at large through sharing this diversity.

The cross-cultural conference included presentations on crosscultural communication and the

Neda Gallagher (left), a Baha’i youth, serves as a tutor in the homework assistance program at the Center for New Americans in

impact of prejudice.

In addition, the emotional, financial, employment and language problems experienced by immigrants were discussed by a panel composed of a psychologist, a social worker, and a language specialist.

Also included was a presentation by Dr. Dean Barnlund, a professor of intercultural and in Concord, California. The Center

was founded in 1983 by a Baha’i, Guity Kiani.

terpersonal communication at San Francisco State University on the nature of conscious and unconscious culture and its effect on our behavior.

Dr. Richard Heggie, president of the International Visitors Center and past president of the World Affairs Council, spoke about how to get along with people of other cultural backgrounds.

Baha’is can give time, money to help lessen suffering in Africa

The helpless suffering of millions of Africans in Ethiopia and other countries caught in the 10-year African drought rends the hearts of the friends, as shown by the many letters received at the National Center.

IN SPITE of our own great Fund problems, the Baha’i International Community (BIC) at the United Nations has contributed monies for immediate relief to the governments of Ethiopia and Ghana.

The close alliance of the Baha’i International Community with UNICEF and other organizations is supported by the cooperative services of the Baha’is in these

Survey

‘Continued From Page 5

This is a TV country; we do not think the Bahá’ís should indoctrinate other Baha’ is into that attitude. If the tapes are short and sweet, we have less objection to them.

The new stickers are beneficial for correctly counting more than one contributor on a check.

Available space limits us to this brief sample of comments from the Progress Survey. A full report of information provided by the questionnaire will be forthcoming after the data has been analyzed.

If, after reading these comments, you are moved to add your opinion, please write to the Office of the Treasurer, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

drought-plagued countries.

The direct services of the African Baha’i communities serve to augment the money contributed by individual Baha’is from other countries.

The BIC has consultative status with UNICEF and is also represented at the UN Environment Program headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Its representatives, Dr. Victor de Araujo, Mrs. Mary Sawicki and Paul Ojermark, are in constant touch with the UN agencies as well as with concerned nongovernmental organizations at the UN regarding the long-range solutions of development such as water, agriculture and energy sources.

IT IS truly sad that our Baha’i funds are too low to permit the establishment and operation of a special fund for African relief. Individual Baha’is, however, are certainly encouraged to contribute through the reputable agencies already working in these countries.

Local Baha’i communities can seize this opportunity for service to work with other religious and community organizations to raise funds for this relief effort.

Fund-raising events planned in cooperation with other community groups can forge and strengthen bonds of friendship with our neighbors by helping to meet this urgent goal.

As a UNICEF staff member has said: ‘If you really need something done, ask any two Baha’is

and they’ll somehow accomplish | ied

For your convenience, the names of three of the relief agencies working in Africa are listed here. Contributions should be earmarked ‘‘African Relief Fund.””

331 E. 38th St., 10016.

International Red Cross (your local chapter will forward your contribution).

New York, NY

Subscriber Service office is small, but its worldwide outreach is quite large

Compared to other offices at the Baha’i National Center, Subscriber Service is small—only one full-time employee handles all the subscription duties for World Order and Bahá’í News magazines.

BUT the outreach is large, as letters from all over the world are received and answered and magazines are mailed to places that few people are familiar with.

Sometimes a special letter arrives, often with a check attached. Here is one we'd like to share with

you:

“Dear Baha’i friends:

“I am a declared Baha’i and have been a follower of Baha’u’llah since 1936. I lived in Chicago and Evanston most of my younger adult life (I am now nearing age 80).

“In the earlier days the Baha’i News was free, and this is how we got to know the value of Baha’i News.

“T wait for the day when it arrives—a whole new spirit recharges within—it kindles a fire and a desire to be with it. I don’t

know how any Baha’i could be without it! It’s part of being a Baha’i.

“Ts there some way we could introduce it to new Bahá’ís as well as the older Bahá’ís? Maybe a sample copy? They would never be without it. I have boxes and boxes stored away, all these years, and I still save them—even today, reading the old Baha’i News is very interesting.

“LIKE giving to the Fund, I know that Baha’i News is part of the growth. It keeps us close to the Cause of God, the Cause of Baha*u’llah.

“Baha'i love and eternal joy, Miss Margaret Dencage.”’

We enjoy hearing from subscribers and pay close attention to their praise and their criticism.

We agree that once a new or older Baha’i got hold of Baha’i News he wouldn’t let it go. If it has been a while since you’ve seen acopy, we’ll be happy to send you a free sample issue.

Our address is Subscriber Service, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

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[Page 24]

The American Baha’i

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24

Ningun suplicante despedido sin ver al Maestro

‘Abdu’L-Baha visité Londres en septiembre de 1911, tres aiios después de su liberacién de la ciudad fortaleza de ‘Akká. Las anécdotas siguientes tomaron lugar durante esa visita.

.

Un amigo pregunté a ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: ‘‘;Cémo podria el individuo alcanzar esa conciencia cristiana de la cual hablé San Pablo como nuestra esperanza de Gloria?””

‘ABDU’L-BAHA se volvié y con una mirada de gran regocijo y un gesto impresionante dijo: ‘‘Esa generosidad del Poder de Dios-es ilimitada para cada alma humana.

“Considera cual fue el poder impelemente de Jesucristo cuando El estaba sobre la tierra. Contempla a Sus discipulos, eran pobres e incultos! De un rudo pescador hizo al gran Pedro, y de una humilde aldeana de Magdala, hizo a la famosa Maria Magdalena.”’

Cuando se Le pregunt6 si siempre seria necesario que los profetas vinieran de tiempo en tiempo, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá replicé: ‘“‘La humanidad necesita un poderoso impulso universal para despertarla. Los inspirados Mensajeros que son directamente ayudados por el Poder de Dios.””

Cuando EI terminé de hablar, se alejé hacia la puerta para salir al pueblo, todos se sorprendieron de ver su maravillosa desenvoltura majestuosa que ha sido descrita por uno de nuestros amigos norteamericanos como la de un Rey.

A medida que pasaba a lo largo de las calles, los nifios harapientos se aglomeraban por docenas a Su alrededor, Le saludaban en la forma que se les habia ensefiado en la escuela, mostrando instintivamente cémo ellos sentian la grandeza de Su presencia.

Lo mis notable era el silencio que guardaban atin los hombres mas rudos cuando ‘Abdu’l-Bahá aparecia. Un hombre pobre exclamé: ‘‘El es un buen hombre,”” y agregd, ‘“‘Hoy, pero ha sufrido!”” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá en Londres)

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‘Abdu’l-Bahá se sent6 para escribir tranquilamente. Nosotros Le hicimos recordar que se acercaba la hora de la partida del tren, pero nos miré diciendo:

“Hay cosas mas importantes que los trenes,”” y continud escribiendo.

Repentinamente un hombre entr6 jadeante Ilevando en sus manos un ramo de hermosas y fragrantes flores blancas; haciendo una profunda reverencia delante del Maestro, dijo:

“En el nombre de los discipulos de Zoroastro ‘El Puro’ yo Te saludo como el Prometido Shah Bahram!”

Entonces el hombre tomé las flores y las colocé alrededor del cuello de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá y ante el asombro de todos los amigos, co menzé a ungir a ‘Abdu’l-Bahá con delicado aceite que tenia el olor de Tosas frescas.

Esta breve e impresionante ceremonia concluyé, y ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, habiéndose cuidadosamente despojado de la guirnalda de flores, Se encamin6 hacia el tren.

Habiamos presenciado un acto solemne. (The Chosen Highway, pp. 173-74)

see

Esta estacién de Servitud, jcuén grandiosa es! jQué maravillosa! Gradualmente llegamos a tener un pequefio vislumbre de qué podria significar el Servicio, a medida que la vida de este Servidor (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) se desarrollaba delante de nuestros ojos.

FUE la costumbre del Maestro recibir a los visitante en pequefios grupos de dos o trés. O bien individualmente, durante las _primeras horas de la mafiana. Luego cerca de las 9, El entraba al comedor mientras estébamos todavia tomando el desayuno, para saludarnos, (diciendo) ‘‘jEstais bien? ;Dormisteis bien?’’

Tratamos de persaudirlo para que tomara algo de desayuno con nosotros, pues siempre nos preocupdbamos porque El comia tan

poco.

Al fin, un dia El dijo que queria un poco de sopa, y entonces dijo al camarero: “‘Yo te causo mucho molestia.””

Unos pocos minutos después, El iba a Su cuarto, donde resumia en cantar oraciones y en dictar Tablillas en contestacién al vasto numero de cartas, que incesantemente llegaban.

Habiéndose juntado visitantes en la sala, cerca de las 10 de la mafiana, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá llegé, pausando dentro de la puerta, sonriendo a todos los huéspedes con una mirada de simpatia, alegre, que parecia envolver a cada uno y a todos los que estaban presentes.

Se levantaban simultaneamente, como si la calidad de Rey de este Mensajero se reconociera por una percepcién interior.

“7Cémo estais? esperanza es que estéis bien. ;Sdis felices?””

Hablandonos asi, El pasaba por enmedio hasta Su silla de costumbre. Entonces El hablaba con nosotros mas bien que a nosotros.

El contestaba a nuestras preguntas no dichas, causando asombro a todos los que estaban esperando para hacerlas, tejiendo el todo en un discurso hermoso, de maner tal que todos los problemas y penas y ansiedades y dudas se iban desvaneciendo, dejando sélo felicidad y paz.

Después venia la hora cuando El recibié a los que habian pedido audiencias privadas. Muy numersos eran esos solicitantes para una experiencia tan unica, cudn tinica, s6lo ellos lo sabian, cuando estaban en la presencia del Maestro y nosotros podiamos parcialmente adivinar al percibir la mi

rada en sus rostros mientras emergian una mirada de asombro, de reverencia, y de una cierta alegria tranquila.

A veces estabamos conscientes de su renuncia a salir al mundo exterior, como si quisieran agarrarse firmemente a su beatitud, de modo que las cosas de la tierra no se las quitara. (The Chosen Highway, pp. 157-58)

see

Un dia una mujer pidié permiso para ver al Maestro.

“<¢Tiene una cita?’’

““Ah, no!”

“Lo siento,” le contest6 el amigo super celoso que la encontré en la puerta, ‘‘pero El esta ocupado ahora con gente muy importante, y no se le puede estorbar.’”

La mujer se despidié, sintiéndose demasiado humilde para persistir en su pedida, pero joh! tan amargamente decepcionada.

Antes de que ella hubiera legado al fondo de la escalera, fue alcanzada por un mensajero, sin aliento, enviado por ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, diciendo:

“Le desea ver, regrese! El me ae que la trajera a Su presen i eiabtarno oido Su voz hablando con autoridad, desde la puerta de Su cuarto:

“Un coraz6n ha sido herido. jApurdos, apurdos, traedla aqui!’’ (The Chosen Highway, p. 159)

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Un dia se oy6 la voz de un hombre en la puerta, diciendo: ‘‘;Esta la sefiora de la casa?”

Yo, al oirlo, fui al vestibulo.

“*ZEs usted la anfitriona de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá?”’ pregunté él.

“Si,”” respondi, “ verme?””

“He caminado treinta millas con ese propésito,”’ dijo.

“Entre y descanse. Después de tomar un refresco, puede decirme todo,’’ respondi.

Entré y se sent6 en el comedor. En apariencia hubiera podido ser un vagabundo ordinario, pero mientras hablaba, desde dentro de la cdscara de escualor y sufrimiento, algo mas parecia empezar a demostrarse debilmente. Después de un tiempo, el pobrecito comenzé su relato lastimoso:

iquiere

“‘No fui siempre como me ve ahora, desacreditado e initil. Mi padre era un rector campesino, y yo tuve la ventaja de asistir a una escuela publica.

“Sobre las varias causas que me condujeron al terraplén del Rio Tamesis, no necesito hablarle, pero anoche decidi poner fin a mi ftil y odiosa vida.

“Mientras daba lo que debia de ser mi paseo final, vi ‘un Rostro’ en un periddico en la vitrina de una libreria. Me quedé contemplando la cara como si estuviera plantado.”’

“‘Déjeme ver ese periddico, por

Era el rostro de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

“Lei que El estaba aqui, en esta casa, y me dije a mi mismo: ‘Si existe en la tierra ese personaje, yo llevaré nuevamente la carga de mi vida.” ’”

“Salf en su busqueda. He venido aqui a verlo. Digame, jestara aqui? {Me vera El a mi, ain a mi?””

Contesté: ‘Por supuesto. Vengaa donde El esta.”

En respuesta al toque en la puerta, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Mismo la abrié, extendiendo Sus manos, como a un amigo querido, @ quien El estaba esperando, y diciendo: ““Bienvenido! jBienvenido! Estoy muy complacido de que has venido. Siéntate.””

El patético hombre tembl6 y se dejé caer en una silla baja a los piés del Maestro, incapaz de decir una palabra.

Los otros huéspedes se miraron mientras tanto con asombro a ver la atencidn transferida al extraiio recién legado, quien parecia tan sobrecargado de miseria y desesperacién.

“Seas feliz, seas feliz!’’ dijo “‘Abdu’l-Bah, teniendo una de las pobres manos y acariciando tiernamente la desgrefiada e inclinada cabeza.

Sonriendo con esa maravillosa sonrisa de compasién carifiosa, el Maestro continudé:

“No te llenes de pena cuando la humillacién te llega. La bondad y el poder de Dios son sin limites para cada alma en el mundo.

“Buscad alegria espiritual y comprensién; entonces, aunque camines sobre este tierra, estaras morando dentro del reino divino.

favor,”’ dije.

Aunque sea pobre, puedes ser rico en el Reino de Dios.””

Estas y otras palabras de consuelo, fortalecimiento y curacién fueron habladas al hombre, cuya nube de miseria parecia derretirse al calor de la carifiosa presencia del Maestro.

Cuando el extraiio visitante se levant6é para dejar a El Quien habia buscado y encontrado, una nueva mirada brillaba en su cara; su posicién era recta y sus pasos demostraron un nuevo propésito firme. Entonces él dijo:

“Tenga la bondad de anotar para mi todas Sus palabras. He logrado todo lo que esperaba, y ain mas.”

“*7Y qué va a hacer ahora?’’ le pregunté.

“Voy a trabajar en los campos. Puedo ganar lo que necesito para mis simples deseos. Cuando haya ahorrado sufficiente, compraré un pedazo de tierra, construiré una pequefia casa, entonces cultivaré violetas para el mercado.

“Como El dice: ‘La pobreza no es importante, el trabajo es adoracién.” No necesito decir ‘gracias,’ verdad? Adios.””

El hombre se habia ido. (The ‘Chosen Highway, pp. 159-161)

No es la cantidad, sino el espiritu

Fondo Nacional Baha’i Wilmette, IL 60091

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EDITORIAL BANA Buenos Ai

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cionan a través de la sucesi6n de las civilizaciones, y la culminaci6n en el Orden Mundial de Bahá’u’lláh.

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[Page 25]en ears wae aa

The American

ha’i

February 1985

Letters

Continued From Page 3

to wear leather or furs or cosmetics that were tested on animals. It is the responsibility of Baha’i scientists to find experimental methods that reduce or replace the use of animals for research or education.

Unfortunately, it is easy to consider that the rights of animals are of secondary importance when we are faced with the monumental task of uprooting racism and sexism. But the reasons for the oppression of women, minorities and animals are often the same.

In the past, many people were unable to comprehend the need for minority rights because they simply could not identify with and extend their sympathy to a person of another color. In the same way, we find it difficult to identify with

the suffering of an animal.

But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá reminds us that ‘‘sensibility is the same whether you harm man or animal; there is no difference.’”

I believe that humans and animals have the right to live free from physical pain. This is not an issue to ignore or set aside.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá said that kindness to animals is ‘‘one of the fundamental principles of the divine kingdom. Ye should pay great attention to this question.””

Meeting this challenge won’t be easy for the Baha’i community. Just as it is often difficult to change old patterns of thinking to eliminate racism and sexism, it is

also difficult to change our habits of oppressing animals and causing them pain. But the benefits include living in a world in which all creatures, regardless of race, sex or species, are treated with sympathy, compassion and justice. The ‘new World Order’’ won’t be complete until we can achieve this. Anne Beginnes Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

To the Editor:

While reading The Revelation of Baha’u’llah, Vol. 3, by Adib Taherzadeh, I found a paragraph which, the more I thought about it, overwhelmed me, for two reasons:

FIRST, it shocked me. Second, it was extremely profound.

The paragraph discusses ‘‘the very foundation of the Cause of God.’’ What do you suppose it is about?

No, it’s not about teaching. It’s not about Feast. It’s not about the Fund, Local or National Spiritual Assemblies, the infallibility of the Universal House of Justice, progressive revelation, or even the claims of Baha’u’llah.

It’s not even about the Kitab-iAadas, the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, or the Covenant!

So if it’s not about any of these important topics, what then is “the very foundation of the Cause of God’’?

On page 350 the author says, ““Abdu’l-Bahá in one of His Tablets describes it as ‘the very foundation of the Cause of God’ and ‘the cause of spiritual life’ for the

St. Cloud, Minnesota, is shown during a concert and lecture No Siac a

Pianist Mark Ochu, a Bahá’í from

vember 10 sponsored by the Baha’i community of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Kalamazoo, Michigan, Baha’is present concert/lecture on religion in music

On November 10, the Baha’is of Kalamazoo, Michigan, sponsored a free public concert and lecture by pianist Mark Ochu, a

Baha’i from St. Cloud, Minnesota. About 150 people including

more than 100 non-Baha’js heard Mr. Ochu play selections ranging from Bach to Gershwin and share his observations on ‘‘The Influence of Religion on the Development of Western Music.’

Also on the program was a performance of classical Indian

dances by two young Indian sisters who were dressed in dazzling authentic costumes.

After the concert, the guests were invited to a reception in the lobby where everyone shared refreshments and fellowship.

The concert was promoted by invitations, posters and newspaper ads.

The concert, say the Baha’is of Kalamazoo, ‘‘created many teaching opportunities

success in itsell

individual.”

THE “‘IT’’ he refers to is the law of the three Obligatory Prayers.

The author continues: “‘In another Tablet He (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) states that the observance of the ordinance of obligatory prayer is binding on all and no excuse is acceptable except when a person is mentally deranged or is confronted by extraordinary circumstances.”’

In my opinion, this law is ‘‘the very foundation of the Cause of God’’ because it helps us to affirm and understand our purpose for living, which I believe is to develop a close, loving relationship with our Creator—a relationship that lasts through eternity.

In the Golden Age, human beings will have developed a great love for God. As a result, for the first time in history we will have great love and respect for ourselves, for each other, and for all of nature.

This divine love will be a major part of the spiritual foundation, of the Baha’i World Commonwealth we’re striving so hard to

build right now. Marty Schirn Tucson, Arizona To the Editor:

Believing firmly in God’s justice and mercy, and having pity for the poor misguided youth of Iran, who, believing in the promised glory of a martyr’s reward in heaven if they give their lives for the cause of Khomeini and Islam, have volunteered for suicide squads against Iráq and are now a part of the mighty Concourse, I hereby propose that we pray to God that they be allowed to work against the Ayatollahs by touching the hearts and minds of their friends and relatives who are still alive in Iran, to turn them away from the reprehensible teachings of the insane rulers of Islam and Tran.

Surely God will hear our prayers for them, and if He finds our prayers worthy of His mercy, will allow these young souls the bounty of progressing in the Abha Kingdom by working for peace on earth.

M.J. Antoinette Isaac Bisbee, Arizona

and was a

Wall Calendars, Datebooks available

A small quantity of Baha’i Wall Calendars and Baha’i Datebooks for 142 B.E. are still available.

The Baha’i Wall Calendar 142 B.E. begins with January 1985 and ends with March 1986; the Baha’i Datebook 142 B.E. begins in March 1985 with the Baha’i year and ends in March 1986.

The Baha’i Pocket Calendar 142 B.E. has already sold out. See the order coupon on the Baha’i Distribution Service page (p. 14) for information on the wall calendar and datebook.

Pictured (left to right) at a UN Human Rights Day panel discussion December 16 sponsored by the Baha’i communities of Fort Bend County and Missouri City, Texas, are Dr. Arthur Abramson,

community relations director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston; Jenabe Caldwell, an en community of Missouri City; Say ed Gomah, president of the Islamic Association of Greater Houston; Dr. Robert Tucker, minister of the First Congregational Church of Houston; guest speaker Dr. Jordan Faust, professor of law at the University of Houston; and panel moderator Dr. William Maxwell, a Baha’i who is a professor of education at Texas Southern University.

‘Religious Freedom’ topic of Houston Human Rights Day panel discussion

About 150 people including 40 non-Baha’is attended a UN Human Rights Day panel discussion December 16 at the University of Houston.

The observance was sponsored by the Baha’i communities of Fort Bend County and Missouri City, Texas.

The topic was ‘‘Religious Freedom: Where Are We Today?”’

The moderator was Dr. William Maxwell, a Baha’i who is a professor of education at Texas Southern University.

The guest speaker was Dr. Jordan Faust, professor of law at the

University of Houston who’is a specialist in human rights.

Panelists were Dr. Arthur Abramson, community relations director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston; Jenabe Caldwell, an engineer and member of the Baha’i community of Missouri City; Sayed Gomah, president of the Islamic Association of Greater Houston; and Dr. Robert Tucker, minister of the First Congregational Church of Houston.

In his talk, Dr. Faust addressed the problem of human rights, and each panelist in turn offered his solutions,

Association issues call for papers for California regional conference

A call for papers has been issued for the Association for Baha’i Studies’ California Regional Conference to be held May 31 June 2 at the Bosch Baha’i School, Santa Cruz, California.

The purpose of the conference is to provide a forum for the study of various aspects of Baha’i scholarship. f

In addition to contributed papers, there will be invited papers, workshops and panel discussions.

Contributed papers are solicited in all areas relating to Baha’i scholarship for an oral presentation at the conference. Papers will be categorized by content into one of the following areas:

1. The importance of Baha’i scholarship.

2. Fostering Baha’i scholarship.

3. Promoting an atmosphere of tolerance.

4. Strengthening the core of the believers’ faith.

A 250-word abstract must be received by March 1. It should be

Teaching Fever Is CONTAGIOUS! have YOU

Caught the Fever Yet?

sent to:

Association for Baha’i Studies, California Regional Committee, P.O. Box 2924, Newport Beach, CA 92263.

Upon approval of the abstract, the full text of the paper must be submitted to the above address by April 21 for review by the conference committee.

Financial assistance for presenters is available if required.

For more information, contact Vafa Mavadatt, 714-856-1145, or leave a message on the Spiritual Assembly of Irvine’s message line, 714-559-5528.

New titles Continued From Page 15

deepening veteran believers. Beginning with March 21, it follows the Baha’i calendar year.

“The Baha’i Faith In America: Origins, 1892-1900 is the first volume of a series by Robert Stockman,”’ she says. ‘‘We expect its release in April, certainly in time for the National Convention.

“The friends should feel free to get a head start on ordering our forthcoming titles as they are announced in The American Baha’i, as well as sending in orders for anything that is currently in stock.””

[Page 26]The American Baha’i

VIE Chart

Continued From Page 5 ‘Starting Block’ Info

District Name Membership Number of Percentage of as of 12/9/84 participants participation

Colorado NE Colorado SE Colorado W Connecticut DelMarVa

Florida C

Florida N

Florida SE

Florida SW Georgia NE Georgia NW Georgia S

Idaho N/Washington E Idaho S

Mlinois N No. 1 Ilinois N No. 2 Ilinois S

Indiana

lowa

Kansas

Kentucky Louisiana N Louisiana S

Maine

Maryland W/D.C. Massachusetts Michigan Mainland Minnesota N Minnesota S Mississippi Missouri

Montana Navajo/Hopi Nebraska

Nevada N

Nevada S

New Hampshire New Jersey

New Mexico S/Texas W New Mexico N

New York E

New York W

North Carolina C North Carolina E North Carolina W North Dakota

Ohio N

Ohio S

Oklahoma E Oklahoma W Oregon E

Oregon W Pennsylvania E Pennsylvania W Rhode Island

South Carolina C South Carolina E No. | South Carolina E No. 2 South Carolina N South Carolina S No. South Carolina $ No. South Carolina W South Dakota Tennessee E Tennessee W Texas C No. 1 Texas C No. 2 Texas E No. 1 Texas E No. 2 Texas N

Texas S

Utah

Vermont

Virginia N Virginia S Washington NW Washington SW West Virginia Wis. N/Peninsular Mich. Wisconsin S Wyoming

oe

Current Month Info (Qawl)

Membership Number of as of 12/9/84 participants

Percentage of participation

More than 30 Baha’is from Reno, Sparks, Fallon, Washoe County, Douglas County, and Lyon County, Nevada, celebrated the anniversary of the Birth of Baha’u’llah by making donations to the Neyada Hills Boys Home, a foster care facility for boys who are having trouble adjusting to their families and/or foster care. The Baha’ effort also led to donations from communities and from stores and commercial establishments as well. One thrift store operator, hearing that supplies were being purchased for the Boys

Home, pushed the money back across the counter, saying, ‘That’s what we’re in business for, to help people.’ The event resulted in a 10-minute segment on the evening news which mention that this was only one of the Bahd’{ communities’ activities. Bahá’ís from Northern Nevada also provided a post-Thanksgiving dinner for the Boys Home on November 25, and plan to help them in community adjustment throughout the year. Pictured are Baha’is and residents of the Boys Home watching a

break dancer perform.

Assemblies

Continued From Page 1

senior institutions of the Faith which were held last May at the Louhelen Bahá’í School, represent a key step in the campaign’s thrust to “‘mobilize the American Baha’i community to capture its glorious destiny as envisaged by “Abdu’l-Bahá.””

Consultation at these gatherings will be facilitated by representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly and National Teaching Committee.

Discussions will center around such issues as removing impediments to individual initiative, teaching the Faith as a way of connecting hearts with Bahá’u’lláh, the importance of coordinated support for local Baha’i activities, and how to make the local Baha’i community an example of unity in diversity.

The importance of Assembly members attending the conferences is underscored by the fact that a special invitation was sent to each Assembly in the regions selected.

IN ADDITION, a copy of the conference agenda was given to Assemblies ahead of time so that they could prepare for the consultation. Each Assembly has been encouraged to have at least five of its members at the conference in its region.

Assemblies that will take part in the February 23 conferences are those in the regions around Hartford, Connecticut; Atlanta, Georgia; Arlington, Texas; Tacoma, Washington, and Corona, California.

The March 30 conferences will ‘be held for Assemblies in the regions around San Francisco, California; Portland, Oregon; Silver Spring, Maryland; Kansas CitySt. Joseph, Missouri, and Wil

mette, Illinois.

Any Assembly that is in the area near one of the scheduled ‘conferences and has not received an invitation should contact the National Teaching Committee office, 312-869-9039.

Consultants

Continued From Page 17

Towa—Ella Conrad, Dubuque; Sharon Hendron, Davenport; Fay Himes, New Liberty.

Michigan—Michael Becker, Stevensville; Roxanne Firmin, Dearborn; Gloria Frazier, Taylor; Carol Hall, Adrian; Curt Russell, Royal Oaks; Nancy Wiersum, Grand Rapids; Marvin Hughes and Ann Hughes, Highland Park.

Minnesota—Pamela Dedrick, Burnsville.

Missouri—Dan Engle, Fulton; Robert Jackson, Kansas City; Joyce Owen, Webster Groves.

Ohio—Kay Farzaneh, Cleveland Heights; Rose Wendel, Dayton.

Wisconsin—Richard Damrow, Appleton; Francis Gilbert, Kewaunee.

These consultants will be available to help Baha’i communities motivate, train and equip their public information representatives and to work with the Office of Public Affairs on special media projects in their respective areas.

The consultants will render invaluable assistance to the national office in its work with the Baha’i Public Information Network. Communities requiring such assistance may contact either the consultant(s) named for their state or oe national Office of Public Af fairs.

[Page 27]

The American Baha’i

February 1985

27

«in The American Baha’i

The Universal House of Justice increases the overseas pioneering goal from 557 to 933, to be filled by October 20, 1975, the anniversary of the Birth of the Bab and the midway point of the Five Year Plan.

Responsibility for placing 305 of the pioneers is assigned to the U.S.

In a cover letter accompanying the message from the House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly says it eagerly anticipates a flood of volunteers and an increase in the international deputization fund ‘‘worthy of the confidence placed in the United States Baha’i community by our beloved Universal House of Justice.”

Glenford Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, proclaims the Faith on radio and in the press during a visit to the Bahamas to help prepare for the formation of a National Spiritual Assembly there as called for in the Five Year Plan.

During Mr. Mitchell’s visit, negotiations are completed for the purchase of the building that is to serve as the national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of the Bahamas ...

More than 500 people including many non-Baha’is attend a program of entertainment in Bell Gardens, California, that commemorates the anniversary of the Birth of Baha’u’llah.

The program is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Citrus J.D. and organized in cooperation with the Navajo Culture Club of Los Angeles County.

Among the speakers is Franklin Kahn, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly. Entertainment includes a performance by the Dineh Bah A’Lil children’s dance group, who perform Navajo and other Indian dances, and music by England Dan and John Ford Coley.

David Villasefior, a Baha’i artist, displays sand paintings and handcrafts ...

About 75 Baha’is attend the third Kresson Baha’i Institute in Kresson, New Jersey, sponsored by the New Jersey District Teaching Committee. The theme is “What We Believe In.’ ...

A year-long campaign to publicize the Baha’i teachings on the role of women in society is planned to coincide with International ‘Women’s Year 1975.

Included are plans to develop summer and winter school classes on the role of women as described in the Writings ...

Ads

Continued From Page 16

make a smooth transition from your present community. Our need is urgent. Please contact our secretary, Mrs. Janet Rothman, West Hartford, CT 06117, or phone 203-232-8869.

WANTED: Information on the life of Keith Ransom-Kehler. | am interested in both Baha’i and non-Baha’i facts and contacts. Please write to Linda Polk, c/o Baha’i House of Worship, Wilmette, IL 60091.

OPHTHALMOLOGIST, fulltime, is needed in the homefront goal locality of Lakeport, California (with the possibility of a fully equipped office for lease 30 miles away in Lake County). Lakeport has an active Baha’i Group of seven who are teaching and ready to form an Assembly when you move there! The city is 170 miles north of San Francisco with excellent weather and recreational facilities on nearby Lake Clear. For details, please contact the National Teaching Committee, Baha’i_ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

THAI Baha’is who live in the U.S. are greatly needed to serve as pioneers to Thailand. Any length of time is helpful, even if only for a few months. Thais who have lived outside their home country and returned to teach the Faith have proved to be extremely effective in reaching the hearts of their countrymen. For more information, please write to the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

ROMANI media coordinator seeking contact with and information from Baha’is who have taught the Faith to Gypsies in the U.S. or elsewhere. We’ll send details/questionnaire. Please write to Dawn Edwards/J. Galata,

Seattle, WA 98101 (phone 206-441-9163). Grateful for all responses.

WLGI Radio in Hemingway, South Carolina, needs a variety of office supplies including two IBM Selectric typewriters, a fourdrawer metal file cabinet with lock, an executive swivel chair, a secretary’s chair, a good quality photocopier, and other materials. If you would like to donate any items or obtain a list of other needed materials, please write to WLGI Radio, c/o the Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute, Route 2, Box 71, Hemingway, SC 29554, or phone 803-558-2977.

CAN YOU help save an As

of Jefferson City, Missouri, which was formed in 1971, incorporated in 1973, and has functioned as a strong community for a number of years, is in grave danger of being lost at Ridvan. Jefferson City, the state capital, is in the center of the state on the Missouri River. A rapidly growing community less

than 150 miles from St. Louis and Kansas City, it boasts job opportunities in various industries and in state government, and is the home of Lincoln University, a small land-grant college. Two Baha’is would save the Assembly; more would be reason for celebration! For information about the city and job and housing possibilities, please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Jefferson City, c/o Gloria L. Barding, secretary,

Jefferson City, MO 65101. Phone 314-635-0320.

MOVING? The National Teaching Committee knows of jeopardized Assemblies in many districts and urges you to consider moving to these vital goal areas. A partial listing: Pierre, SD; West Hartford, CT; South Portland, ME; South Windsor, CT; Northglenn, CO; Clearwater, FL; Villa Park, IL; Northfield Township, IL; Marshalltown, IA; Manhattan, KS; Newton, KS; South Hadley, MA; Frederick, MD; Kalamazoo, MI; Southfield, MI; Joplin, MO; Falcon Heights, MN; Sarpy County, NE; Lovington, NM; Niagara Falls, NY; Erie, PA; State College, PA; Burlington, VT. For more information phone the National Teaching Committee, 312869-9039.

JUNIOR high school teaching positions are available in Honduras, a goal country—one immediately, another in the fall. For more information, please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or telephone 312869-9039.

TO BAHA’I parents and grandparents of committed Baha’i descendants: please share the story of your child’s unfolding Baha’i identity. Am in the process of writing a paper on Baha’i child rearing. Second generation-plus Baha’is’ perspective would be most welcome. Kindly write to Charlotte Solarz, P.O. Box 309, Galena, IL 61036.

THE NEIGHBORING cities of South Hadley (needs four people to maintain Assembly status) and Holyoke (needs three people to form a new Assembly) are situated in the lovely Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts within an hour’s drive of many impressive mountain areas and only 120 miles west of Boston and the Atlantic Ocean. There are many business and cultural opportunities within a 25-mile radius of the two cities. Total population in the area is about 500,000. The University of Massachusetts and 14 other colleges are in the Pioneer Valley. Please contact the Spiritual Assembly of South Hadley, P.O. Box 241, South Hadley, MA 01075 (phone 413-532-9196) or the Baha’i Group of Holyoke,

Holyoke, MA 01040 (phone 413-536-4780).

IF YOU are looking for a challenging place to teach the Faith, come to Rogers, Arkansas, with a population of 20,000 (regrettably, non-black) situated in the Bible

belt in the midst of the beautiful Ozarks. Industry is flourishing, the schools rank among the best, the people are warm and friendly, the Assembly is incorporated and will celebrate its 26th anniversary this year. Please contact the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Rogers,

Roe AR 72756.

FREE catalog of tapes and other materials is available from the Louhelen Baha’i School. Includes ‘‘Mankind Is One’’ T-shirts and sweatshirts in 12 languages. Write to ‘‘Reflections,”’

Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033.

THE BAHA’{ community of Niagara Falls, New York, has recently lost some of its members and its Assembly is in jeopardy. Needed are four more capable adults. The five Bahá’ís in Niagara Falls are an active but older group who need younger blood. A. middle-aged couple with children would be very desirable, as would single or married young people. If there are any Baha’is who are able to become homefront pioneers, we would be happy to hear from them. Write to us c/o P.O. Box 72, Niagara Falls, NY 14302.

PERMANENT snowbirds needed in Bisbee, Arizona, a diversified historic former mining town of about 7,000 near the border with Mexico. Bisbee has an active but jeopardized Assembly, a temperate climate (except when it snows), is sunny and dry (except when it rains), and mountainous (except where it’s flat). A great place to raise a family or to retire while homefront pioneering. Write to Charlie Milden,

Bisbee, AZ 85603, or phone Toni Isaac, 602-432-2428.

ARE YOU moving before Ridvan? Please consider moving to a goal area. There are already many jeopardized Assemblies in each district. Call the National Teach

ing Committee for the phone number of the District Teaching Committee where you plan to move. They’l! provide you with a list of jeopardized Assemblies and other goals for that district. Write to the National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

ACTIVE, vibrant Assembly in Arlington, Massachusetts, is jeopardized with only five adults and needs homefront pioneers by Ridvan. Easy public transportation 15-20 minutes to Boston or Cambridge, a one-hour drive to the Green Acre Baha’i School. Good sports and recreation areas (winter and summer) are nearby. Employment opportunities in high-tech and other fields as well as good educational opportunities. Please write to P.O. Box 451, Arlington, MA 02174, or phone 617-643-5077 or 617-641-2807.

WHY PIONEER to another country when there is northern Louisiana? Come to the ‘Quiet Country” atmosphere. If you like farming, good weather, outdoor sports and southern hospitality, then northern Louisiana is for you. There are excellent opportunities in medicine, teaching, farming, and the oil industry. As for schools, there are a large number including Louisiana State University in Shreveport and Alexandria, Louisiana Tech (Ruston), Grambling State University, Northeast Louisiana University (Monroe), Southern University (Shreveport), Northwestern Louisiana (Natchitoches), and vo-tech schools in Ruston, Monroe and Shreveport. A Baha’i home in Ruston is for sale; special price for pioneers. Be one of the many to bring the spirit and populate the least populated Baha’i district in the U.S. Contact the District Teaching Committee of Northern Louisiana c/o Delores A White,

Shreveport, LA 71109.

In Memoriam

Harding Burning Breast Javier Flores Antoine Medicine Mission, SD El Paso, TX Parmalee, SD September 1984 January 1984 Date Unknown

Calvin Bronson Las Cruces, NM November 27, 1984 John Caldwell Nashville, TN November 1984 Chris Christensen Santa Ynez, CA

John Gehring Sacramento, CA October 15, 1984 Ethel B. Goodell Hyannis, MA Date Unknown Stella Knepper Clarinda, IA

Eddie McNeil Floral City, FL 1983

Margaret Mitchell Anaheim, CA November 26, 1984 Snola Peterson Anderson, SC

December 18, 1984 November 1984 November 1984 Leon Copper George Knoerr Lydia Reetz Barnstable, MA Oconomowoc, WI Morgan, MN

November 16, 1984

October 17, 1984

Date Unknown

Lucretia Crowner Gilbert Kohn Janet Stoddard Philadelphia, PA Kirkwood, MO Charlottesville, VA. November 17, 1984 October 12, 1984 Date Unknown Ruth Ezzell Dan Krisel Ruth Wilson Southport, NC Venice, CA Aberdeen, WA November 24, 1984 December 11, 1984 Summer 1984

Alice Entzminger Sebastopol, CA December 2, 1984

Fatullah Medhat Beverly Hills, CA September 1984

[Page 28]Deere aaa

The American Baha’

February 1985

NON-PROFIT ORG. "US. POSTAGE PAID WILMETTE, IL. PERMIT NO. 479

28

aye Mailing

Continued From Page 1

issue.

Because there will be a period of transition, we ask your patience and help with any problems that may arise. Any questions, concerns or corrections should be addressed to the Office of Membership and Records, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

In the past, each Baha’i was automatically placed on the mailing list to receive The American Baha’i. Thus, a Baha’i family would receive more than one copy unless one or more members specifically requested not to receive the paper.

Now, each Baha’ will continue to receive The American Baha’i unless there are other Baha’is at the same address with the same last name. In that case, only one copy will be sent to the household. Names and address must match exactly

In order to send only one copy of the paper to each household, the last names and the addresses of all the believers living in that household must match exactly in our computer records.

If, for example, one member hyphenates his or her name or spells it slightly differently, or there is a misspelling in our records, a second copy of The American Bahd’{ will be sent to that household.

The same applies if any household member’s address appears differently in the computer records. Since our mailing list has not had a standardized address format in the past, it may take some time for all addresses to be standardized and for this new system to operate smoothly.

To help facilitate the change, please notify the Office of Membership and Records if your household is receiving more than one copy of The American Baha’i because your addresses are not recorded in exactly the same manner.

The following questions and answers may help to clarify how this change in distribution will affect the community.

1. How will this change in distribution affect me?

If you are the only Baha’ in your household, or you live alone, or you live with another Baha’i whose last name is different from yours in our computer records, you will continue to receive your own copy of The American Bahai.

Your family/household will continue to receive only one copy as long as each person’s last name and address match exactly in our computer records. Even a stray period or comma will cause an additional copy to be sent to your household.

2. If our household receives only one copy of The American Bahd’{ and I want to receive my own personal copy, how do I request it?

“At the bottom of the new address change form is a box which

states that you wish to receive your own copy. Simply check that box, fill in your name and I.D. number on the address change form, and mail the form to Membership and Records at the address listed on the form. We will add a code to your computer record that will cause an extra copy of the paper to be sent to you.

3. If Lam receiving my own personal copy of The American Bahd’f and do not wish to receive it, how do I discontinue it?

At the bottom of the new address change form is a box which states that you do not wish to receive your own copy of the paper. Check that box, fill in your name and I.D. number on the address change form and mail the form to Membership and Records. We will add a code to your computer record that will remove you from the mailing list for The American Ba if

4. If our last names do not match, but we still wish to receive only one copy of The American Bahá’í, how do we discontinue the extra copy?

If your last names do not match for any reason (roommates, spouse with hyphenated name or retained maiden name, etc.), and you wish to discontinue extra copies that you are receiving, one of you may request that his/her name be removed from the mailing list. Just fill in the name and I.D. number on the address change form, check the appropriate box at the bottom of the form, and mail it to Membership and Records. Please remember that you have made this request, because, if you move to another address, we will not know how to reinstate your copy of The American Baha’i unless you write to inform us.

5. If our last names and address are the same but we are still receiving more than one copy of The American Bahá’í, how do we discontinue the extra copy?

Check again to see if your last names and the address are printed exactly the same on both labels of the copies you receive.

If the last names and. the address do not match exactly, with even a period or comma out of place, then complete the address change form or write a letter including the full names of all members of the household as they should appear on our records, their I.D. numbers and the correct address. Check the appropriate box at the bottom of the form and mail it to Membership and Records.

If the last names and the address are printed exactly the same on both labels, send us the labels (or copies of them) and the names and I.D. numbers of all household members. We'll try to find the cause of the problem and correct it.

The Bedrock of All Other Institutions

nal Baha’i Fund

mette, IL, 60091

N:

MOVING? TELL US YOUR NEW ADDRESS

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your copy of THE AMERICAN BAHA’ send your new address and your mailing label to the OFFICE OF MEMBERSHIP & RECORDS, Baha'i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, as soon as you know where you are going to move and what your new

This form may be used for one person or 1 your entire family. Please be sure list FULL NAMES AND I.D. NUMBERS for

all individuals, ages 15 years or older, who will be affected by this change.

address will be.

A

ID# Title

2.

Full name—Please DO NOT use nicknames

IDt Title

Full name

IDF Title

4.

Full name

ID# Title

Full name

B—NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS:

C—NEW MAIL ADDRESS:

House/Space #, Street or Description

P.O. Box or other Mailing Address

City

State

Zip City

State Zip

D—NEW COMMUNITY:

E—HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:

LZ

‘Area Code Number

G We receive extra copies because: ‘we do not have the same last name.

/ Area Code

si

the last names and addresses on our

We do not want extra copies, so L_] address labels do not match exactly.

please cancel the copy for the person(s) whose name(s) and I.D. number(s) are listed above.

BAHA’i NATIONAL CENTER

Wilmette, Hlinois 60091

I I I I I I I I | | I I | I I I I ! I I Name of new Baha'i community I ! ! l I I I I | I ! ! I | I I I

I bie |BAHA’i | FAITH

New address form for The American Baha’i

To facilitate address changes for families, or believers living at the same address, the Office of Membership and Records has designed a new address change form for The American Baha’i.

Although the form is largely self-explanatory, we wish to highlight the changes.

1. In section A, there is now space for up to four names and I.D. numbers for believers living at the same address. You should list only those believers who are 15 years or older, as we are not yet recording the membership of children and youth 14 years old or younger on the computer.

2. Sections B, C, D and E are basically the same as on the old form, asking for the new residence

‘We have listed above the full names ‘of all family members as they should appear on the national records, their 1.D. numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.

and mailing addresses, the name of the new Baha’i community, the date on which the move will take

place, and the new home tele phone number.

3. In section F, note that we have made space for two telephone numbers at work. This allows at least two members of the household to report work telephone numbers at which they can be reached. Please remember to write next to the number the first name of the person, listed on the address change form, to whom the number belongs so we can add the number to the correct record.

4. Section G provides an opportunity for an individual to choose to receive his/her personal copy of The American Baha’i, if the

Please indicate in the right-hand space whose work numbers these are.

Number

‘Area Code | Number

I I I I I ! | I I ! I | | | I | | I | | F—WORK TELEPHONE NUMBERS: I | ! | ! I | | I | | I | | I I I | | J

Moving date

‘Name

Name

‘Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahi’i, | wish to receive my own copy as well, and have listed my name, I.D. number and address above so that I may be put on the mailing list to receive my own copy.

household is receiving only one copy; or, it allows for an individual’s choice to be removed from the mailing list if he/she is receiving his/her own copy and does not wish to.

Section G also enables a family to inform us that they receive additional copies because their last names and/or address do not match exactly on the mailing labels.

In this case, the family should list on the form the full names of all family members along with their I.D. numbers and the correct. address, check the appropriate box in section G, and send the form to Membership and Records, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.