The American Bahá’í/Volume 17/Issue 1/Text

The American Bahá’í
Volume 17, Issue 1

Remains of Baha

To the Baha’is of the World Beloved Friends,

It is with a feeling of joy and gratitude that we inform the Baha’i world of the befitting reinterment of the remains of Mirz4 Muhammad-Quli, the faithful half-brother and companion in exile of Bahá’u’lláh, and of eleven members of his family, in a new Baha’i cemetery on a hillside looking across Lake Kinneret and the hills of Galilee toward the Qiblih of the Faith. This historic event, coinciding fortuitously with the first formal presentation of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace’’ to a Head of State, is of especial significance in the annals of the Cause of Baha’u’llah.

On 12 November 1952 the beloved Guardian jubilantly cabled the Baha’i world his announcement of the acquisition of vitally needed property surrounding the Most Holy

merican

Shrine and the Mansion of Bahjí in exchange for land donated by the grandchildren of Mirz4 Muhammad-Quli.

The land referred to in this cable had been in the possession of Mirz4 Muhammad-Quli on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, at a place called Nuqayb. He and his family lived there and farmed the land for many years and on his passing, at the instruction of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, his remains were buried there, as were subsequently those of members of his family.

In 1937 Kibbutz Ein Gev was established just to the north of the farm, and the two groups of settlers lived as amicable neighbors until the war of 1948 forced the family to leave the land which, lying on the troubled frontier of the new State of Israel, was expropriated by the government. The grandchildren of Mirz4 Muhammad-Quli gave their rights

u’llah’s half-brother are reinterred

in the land to the Faith which received in exchange the much-needed land in Bahjí. Thus the little cemetery passed out of Baha’i hands. It remained untouched until 1972 when the decision was made to approach the authorities with a view to embellishing the site and maintaining it as a place of historic significance for the Faith. However, plans had already been made for the extension of the plantings of the kibbutz and the eventual development of the cemetery in that place. Negotiations were then entered into, as a result of which another plot of land in the immediate neighborhood, but slightly farther from the shore of the Lake on the slope of Tel Susita, was officially designated a Baha’i cemetery and given over to the Baha’i community. The work of fencing it and planting suitable shrubs and trees

See BURIALS page 3

Bahá’í

January 1986

A The

The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, representing the Universal House of Justice and the Bahá’í Interna

‘The real treasury of man is his knowledge.’—Bahá’u’lláh

tional Community, presents a

special copy of the Supreme

‘The Promise to His Excel Body’s statement, of World Peace,’

lency Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, Secretary-General of the United Nations, The presentation was made Friday, November 22. (UN photo)

UN General Assembly’s resolution expresses ‘deep concern’ over Iran’s human rights abuses

On Friday, December 13, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by a vote of 53-30 with 45 abstentions Resolution 41/141

which expresses ‘‘deep concern’” over allegations of human rights abuses in Iran including and in particular ‘the situation of mi

Viewpoint Letter: The Fun 6 IGC: Pioneering. . Youth News.

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the U.S.A.

The American Baha’i (USPS 042-430) is published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United § 60091. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Office of Membership and Records, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Editor: Jack Bowers. Associate editor

The American Baha’i 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 Baha’, Wilmette, 1L 60091. Copyright © 1986 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in

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nority groups such as the Baha’is’’ in that country.

The affirmative action, which was taken one week after the General Assembly’s Third Committee approved a similar resolution by a 53-22 vote with 41 abstentions, marks the first time that the General Assembly has adopted a resolution about the general human rights situation in Iran or about the particular situation of the Baha’is

As such, it represents a major advance in the Faith’s efforts to secure the widest and clearest possible expressions of international concern over the persecution of Iran’s Baha’i community, and reflects the result of intensive efforts over the past few years by National Spiritual Assemblies in many countries and by the Baha’i International Community’s UN

See RESOLUTION page 4

Volume 17, No. 1

UN Secretary given historic peace letter

Presentation in New York City made by Amatu’!-Baha Rúḥíyyih Khanum

On Friday, November 22, the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khaénum, representing the Universal House of Justice and the Baha’i International Community, presented a copy of the House of Justice’s statement ‘‘The Promise of World

Peace’’ to United Nations Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar.

Also present at the historic meeting were two members of the Baha’i_ International Community’s UN office, Dr. Victor de Araujo and Gerald Knight; the Under-Secretary General of the UN’s Department of Political and Security Affairs, Viacheslav A. Ustinov, and Chef de Cabinet, Virenda Dayal; and Mrs. Florence Pomes, an assistant to the Secretary-General.

On the day before he was to receive his leather-bound official copy, the Secretary-General was given the text of the peace statement, and he assured the Baha’i delegation that he had read and marked his copy, highlighting salient points.

He referred to the statement as beautiful and inspiring, mentioning the need for trust between nations and peoples if world peace is to be achieved.

Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khanum then informed the SecretaryGeneral that she had read and highlighted his 1985 annual report to the United Nations.

The entire party expressed interest in hearing how closely the Baha’is identify with the aims, views and hopes expressed by the Secretary-General in that report.

During the course of the conversation, Mr. Dayal mentioned the lovely lotus design of the

House of Worship being built in his country, near New Delhi. Other topics discussed during the cordial meeting included the purpose and universality of the Faith, the global distribution of

the Baha’is of all backgrounds, and the unique position of the House of Justice in the Baha’i ad See UN page 2

In a by-election held early in December, William E. Davis, a Bahda’t from Menlo Park, California, was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly. Mr. Davis, who presently serves as a member of the National Social and Economic Development Committee and is a former member of the National Teaching Committee, replaces Dr. Wilma Brady who was appointed by the Universal House of Justice in November to serve a five-year term as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for the Americas. [Page 2]2./ The American Baha’i / January 1986

ON EVE DAY COVENANT WE ANNOUNCE WITH PROFOUND GRATITUDE SUCCESSFUL PRESENTATION TO SECRETARY GENERAL UNITED NATIONS STATEMENT PEACE ADDRESSED TO PEOPLES WORLD. PRESENCE AMATU’L-BAHA RUHI[YYIH KHANUM AS HEAD DELEGATION Baha’i INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY INVESTED THIS EVENT WITH SIGNIFICANCE THAT WILL WARM HEARTS EVOKE ADMIRATION INSPIRE APPRECIATION FUTURE GENERATIONS. PRESENTATION 22 NOVEMBER TO SECRETARY GENERAL IN CONJUNCTION ONGOING PRESENTATIONS STATEMENT TO HEADS STATE THROUGHOUT WORLD PRESAGES NEW STAGE IN RELATIONSHIP BAHA’[ COMMUNITY TO UNITED NATIONS. IT IMMEDIATELY LENDS ADDED IMPETUS TO ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONAL YEAR PEACE BEING UNDERTAKEN WITH EXEMPLARY VIGOR EFFICIENCY BY NATIONAL LOCAL BAHA’[ COM MUNITIES.

WE TAKE THIS OPPPORTUNITY INFORM FRIENDS THAT OF MORE THAN FIFTY HEADS STATE WHO HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED PEACE STATEMENT TWO THUS FAR HAVE DIRECTLY ADDRESSED TO US THEIR POSITIVE THOUGHTFUL RESPONSES, NAMELY, PRESIDENTS COLOMBIA MARSHALL ISLANDS. REPORTS REACHING WORLD CENTRE INDICATE INCREASINGLY SYMPATHETIC INTEREST BEING AROUSED BY STATEMENT AMONG PEOPLE ALL LEVELS SOCIETY. WARMLY APPRECIATE ADMIRE CREATIVE ENERGY WHICH FRIENDS EVERYWHERE ARE APPLYING TO STUDY AND DISSEMINATION ‘THE PROMISE OF WORLD

PEACE.’

REMARKABLE RANGE ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE OCCURRED JUST ONE MONTH SINCE RELEASE STATEMENT IMBUES US WITH FEELINGS SATISFACTION JOY. GRATEFULLY RECOGNIZE BLESSINGS BEING SHOWERED COMMUNITY GREATEST NAME AS DERIVING FROM WORLD-AWAKENING SACRIFICES CHARACTERIZING LIVES OUR BELOVED HEROIC BROTHERS SISTERS WHOSE SPIRITUAL RESOURCES INDOMITABLE COURAGE HAVE WITHSTOOD NO LESS THAN SEVEN YEARS UNRELENTING ASSAULTS UNPRECEDENTED UPHEAVALS PERVADING BAHA’U’LLAH’S NATIVE LAND.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

NOVEMBER 25, 1985

opment Conference co-sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Washington, D.C., and the National Social and Economic De velopment Committee and held last August 2-4 at Western Maryland College in Westminster. The conference theme was ‘Stirrings at the Grassroots.

UN

from page 1

ministrative order.

The presentation marked a high point in the Baha’i International Community’s 38-year association with the UN and was seen by the Universal House of Justice as an event which ‘‘presages a new stage’’ in that relationship.

The presentation preceded by two weeks the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee concerning the human rights situation in Iran, especially as it applies to the Baha’is in that country.

It followed the presentation of “The Promise of World Peace’’ since its release in October to the heads of.state of more than 50 countries, some 28 of whom had received copies of the statement in private meetings with Baha’i delegations.

Judge James F. Nelson, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, makes his opening remarks before the presentation December 10 of the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement, ‘The Promise of World Peace,’ to Pres ident Ronald Reagan. A special issue of The American Baha’i containing details of the presentation, which was made in connection with the annual Human Rights Week observance, was sent to all Baha’is in the U.S. in December.

Conference to provide excellent chance to share Baha’i perspectives on peace

The National Spiritual Assembly has announced that the Baha’i International Peace Conference in San Francisco, California, is to be held from Thursday, August 28, through Sunday, August 31, 1986.

Monday, September 1 (Labor Day) has been set aside as a day for sightseeing and travel.

The conference should provide an excellent opportunity for sharing the Baha’i perspective on peace and for further developing our understanding of the issues involved in making world peace 4 reality.

The nature of the conference will be celebratory, and it is hoped that the audience will reflect the richness and diversity of the worldwide Baha’i community.

Along with the National Convention in May, at which the completion of the Seven Year Plan is to be celebrated, the Peace Conference promises to be one of the major events of the year in the

American Baha’i community. The program will highlight themes from the Universal House of Justice’s statement, ‘The Promise of World Peace.”’

Featured will be speakers who are prominent national figures as well as internationally known Baha’is. Workshops will enable participants to explore specific topics in greater depth.

A unique children’s program is being planned that will encourage knowledge and understanding of the peace statement by younger conference participants.

Plans are being made to provide some sessions in languages other than English and sessions of special interest to youth.

Music, drama, dance and multimedia performances will be cluded to highlight the diversity of cultures and backgrounds of those attending.

See CONFERENCE

page 27

8 | VIEWPOINT

Since the cave man was almost totally occupied with survival against the dangers of nature, it vitable that his war-like in‘ ts would become one of his prime directives.

For most of known history, this has continued to be so, but in the last generation we have found that the warring instinct is increasingly threatening to destroy all life on earth. Something has to be done, and soon.

Always, in past ages, there has been a large amount of glory in war when undertaken for the defense of one’s country, but today the glory has gone out of it.

Also, it is becoming increasingly obvious to many that war is often undertaken for such selfish reasons as exploitation, fame, or amassing material possessions or territory.

It would therefore seem reasonable to question this drive in man. After all, he has now been able largely to eliminate the wild animal threat. Today, the only real menace seems to be from other men.

Should he not then investigate ways of communicating with all of them and perhaps look for some way in which to develop real consultation with them on basic is

After ages of war, it’s time for peace

2

There is already some hope to be found in a new attitude among many people. Great advances in science have already brought us vast amounts of information about other nations, races and religions.

Today it is quite common to hear people say, ‘I feel that all human beings must have been made by the same Creator,’ or, “Surely all religions on earth come from one Creator.’”

This is solid evidence that traditional prejudices against people of another race or religion are dying out. While many people are not yet willing to accept this, it does show that vast numbers are indeed willing to challenge traditional concepts.

Science itself is already showing a willingness to constantly reconsider cherished ideas. For example, after Darwin published his findings on the origin of man they became widely accepted as the explanation of evolution, but recently this has been replaced.

Common sense tells us that there is much truth in the theory, of “survival of the fittest,’’ yet the discovery of genes and chromosomes has opened up a whole new area of knowledge.

su

This month’s article, “‘Reflections on the Peace Statement,”” was written by Ted Cardell of Santa Clara, California.

Mankind itself offers sure proof. that we can aspire to heights never before attained, for now we have the United Nations devoted to helping all countries learn the art of consultation, especially on the subject of peace.

Already, this process has produced massive international cooperation on such matters as health, medicine, economics, culture and many others. Imagination leads us to visualize such significant steps developing in time into a world government in which all member countries would be willing to give up some of their sovereignty and agree to consult always on what is good for mankind as a whole.

A world executive, assisted by a world police force with full powers to enforce its decisions, must surely follow in time.

Such a picture would no doubt be considered impossible by many people today, yet it requires only one new element to make it work: humanity needs to widen its view from “‘the good of the nation’’ to “the good of the world.””

Logically this does not seem dif

ficult, but in practice such a step could only spring successfully from a complete change of heart.

Imagine what the average citizen in any country would say if he were asked to become as concerned for the starving millions in other countries as he is for those in his own country. Would he be willing, for example, to accept a lower standard of living himself so that those millions could be properly fed? What chance would any aspiring politician have if he were to announce this as his aim?

It is clear that a power greater than logic or politics is called for. The answer may not be too far away, for such major changes of heart have indeed occurred in mankind before and within known history.

Did not Moses (on a smaller scale) lead his people out of slav -ery and into a promised land

where they flourished? Did not Christ impel all mankind to look at life in a totally new way from tribalism, which included relatively primitive teachings such as “san eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’? to one with teachings such as ‘‘love thine enemy’’? And did not Muhammad, the Arabian Prophet, appear among a multitude of barbarous, warring

tribes and unite them into one nation which produced a culture that spread around the world?

A study of the history of those times and of the teachings of those Prophets must surely lead one to believe that the power of the Creator was behind them, and that it was this power that changed the hearts and therefore the objectives of those people.

Is it so big a jump for the people of the world to consider that “the earth is but one country and mankind its citizens’’? These words, spoken by Bahá’u’lláh more than a century ago in Persia, form the basis of a community of devoted followers whose members live today in nearly every country on earth.

They already are using a planetwide, divinely revealed system for themselves. In this, peoples of all races and religions are becoming truly united.

May Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings, given for our own time, be offered for study to help mankind find a way to work for peace and happiness in our world.

It is not the quantity, but the spirit National Baha’i Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

[Page 3]

a = LETTERS

“The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash oh es opinions, ”’—‘Abdu’| The American Bahá’í 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 denigrate another’s opinion or to 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, Baha’i_ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

To the Editor:

To the members of the Universal House of Justice:

Praise is due you for providing us with what is technically a flawless composition which we can all use proudly.

1 can’t remember ever reading any document which so succinctly and completely presented an issue of such gravity. It is so complete that I was left quite uncharacteristically at a loss to think of any point which I could add.

In preparing to act as facilitator for a deepening on the peace letter, I readied a tablet to keep notes on points I might wish to add, and found at the end of my preparations that it was still quite blank except for paragraph numbers I wanted to be sure were read at the deepening.

Gratitude is also due you for the obvious effort exhibited by this splendid work. I’ve yearned since childhood for the day when the ideals I’ve held regarding the oneness of mankind and the need for world unity would be translated into action; and I thank you for your most excellent efforts in doing just that by composing this letter and applying it effectively.

That this day would also bring

Burials

from page 1

was then put in hand and preparations were made to reinter the

precious remains of this family. On the morning of Friday, 18 October 1985, as the final stage in this process, the remains of Mirza Muhammad-Quli himself were ceremoniously conveyed from the old cemetery to the new and were reinterred there in the presence of the Hands of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khanum and ‘Ali Akbar Furitan, members of the Universal House of Justice and of the International Teaching Centre, and a large gathering of World Centre friends as well as representatives of the Israeli authorities and of Kibbutz Ein Gev. Mrs. Husniyyih Baha’i, the granddaughter of Mirz4 MuhammadQuli, who is now pioneering in St. Lucia in the West Indies, accompanied by members of her family, had been especially invited to attend the ceremony in honor of her illustrious forebear, to whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá paid eloquent tribute in “The Memorials of the Faithful.” The Universal House of Justice November 17, 1985

the Faith, which I so cherish, into clear view of all the world serves only to heighten my feelings of deepest gratitude.

Be assured that your request for prayers ‘‘that divine confirmation may attend the presentations of the message to world leaders, and that the peoples of the world may respond to the call for peace’’ is being fervently attended to.

Further, if this letter has the same effect on others as it has had on me, you can rest assured of our rededication of purpose, spirit and, yes, even action.

Nick Galady Vancouver, Washington

To the Editor:

In response to Steven C. Calrow’s letter (September) about the proper pronunciation of the words ‘‘Bahá’u’lláh,”’ ‘“‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” ‘‘Alláh’u’Abha,”’, etc., these words are Arabic, and in Arabic the ‘‘u’’ is pronounced “00,”

That is why the beloved Guardian, when translating Baha’j literature into English, spelled them in such a way as to enable Englishspeaking people to pronounce them with their original Arabic accent.

The words ‘‘Táhirih’’ and “Ridvan”’ are other examples. In Persian they are pronounced “Tah-e-reh”’ and ‘‘Rez-van,’”’ but since they are Arabic words they are pronounced in English exactly the way they are spelled.

Mani Sobhian Smithtown, New York

To the Editor:

With regard to questions raised in previous letters about health and healing, I would like to share some guidelines obtained from the Baha’i Writings, along with some of my own conclusions, about how to choose a competent and skillful physician:

° One who treats disease

through diet, by preference.

One who uses herbs.

One who uses drugs only

when necessary.

One who uses the numerous

elements (minerals) to maintain the body’s equilibrium, thereby preserving man from disease.

One who uses various waters,

hot and cold, to treat the body (hydrotherapy).

One who uses the entire concentration of the mind of a strong

person upon a sick person (faith healing).

One who uses the power of

the Holy Spirit (prayer).

Today the science of medicine is imperfect. When this fact is fully grasped and medicine has reached maturity, treatment will be given by a combination of any of the above methods.

Dr. Joseph Beasley, former dean of the School of Public Health and Topical Medicine at Tulane University, has written The Impact of Nutrition on the Health of Americans, a searing report for the Ford Foundation in which he maintains that the nutritional status of Americans is frightening, the main cause of a runaway susceptibility to chronic disease that may eventually bank rupt the vitality of the country.

Dr. Beasley suggests that nutritional self-destruction is perhaps more of a threat than nuclear war.

Orthodox medical training has already drifted perilously far from the fundamental role of providing the most appropriate weapons to use in fighting disease.

I should emphasize that I make a careful distinction between what individual doctors think and what the medical establishment teaches them.

1am personally and professionally acquainted with many admirable, noble and dedicated doctors, some of whom are actively or potentially interested in how diseases may be treated or prevented through improved nutrition.

It is only fair to add, however, that those physicians who do recognize the importance of nutrition have done so as a result of individual research and extra training, and not as a result of anything they were taught in the course of their formal medical education.

Carl Pomey Tahoe City, California

To the Editor:

The youth, as stated by the Universal House of Justice in its recent message addressed to them, are the conquerors of the world. They are able to render services which are beyond the capabilities of older believers.

The youth are, in fact, the prime hope of the Baha’i community in all fields of service.

The book Unrestrained as the Wind: A Life Dedicated to Bahá’u’lláh will generate a new spirit in our youth, and its study will sharpen their minds, cultivate their thoughts and thrill their spirits.

I have been a close companion of many adolescents and youth throughout my Baha’ life, and when attending their social and spiritual gatherings and learning of their services to the Cause of God, I have always cited in my talks to them the example of the experienced gardener who brings into being a lovely garden, full of fruitful trees; he is ever watchful in case a tree becomes old and fruitless, and immediately plants a new one instead.

If the gardener does not replace the old trees with new, younger ones, very soon the garden will produce nothing.

In the same manner, the Divine garden, which has been created by the Manifestation of God, has since the time of its creation remained fresh and green and delightful because, without interruption, boys and girls have filled the places of their deceased fathers and mothers, and the flag of the Greatest Name has always been held high by the powerful hands of the new generation.

Although our youth have always been in close touch with the Writings, this precious compilation will make their study even easier and more rewarding.

Ali-Akbar Furitan Haifa, Israel

To the Editor:

I would like to offer a suggestion concerning the presentation of the peace statement on university and college campuses.

The suggestion is that whenever possible Baha’i alumni of the university or college be included in the presentation and related events, such as public meetings, firesides, receptions and so forth.

The American Baha’i / January 1986 / 3

Because alumni are a major source of a university’s funding and contribute also to its reputation, they have considerable influence. A university president is much more apt to attend seriously to an invitation that comes from almuni or is a joint effort between alumni and students than to one from students alone.

Therefore, I suggest that Baha’i alumni get in touch with the Baha’i association at their alma mater and offer their services; likewise, Baha’i associations may solicit the help of Baha’i alumni in planning and implementing the events connected with the presentation of the peace statement and related activities.

If there is no Baha’ association on campus, alumni could plan the activities themselves, in consultation with the local Assembly.

Geoffry W. Marks Davison, Michigan

To the Editor:

It is with some concern that I have noted the various comments about “‘belief’’ and “‘teaching,”” beginning specifically with a letter from a Baha’i in Michigan (August).

Much as I am reluctant to become involved in such exchanges, I am nonetheless constrained to offer some observations in this connection.

I am not sure from the various letters to the editor whether the writers are proposing an effective method of teaching through our humanitarian activities—which is plausable—or a modification of the Faith so as to be more palatable and effective.

It seems to me that these letters contain a varying mixture of both sentiments. The letter from Payam Foroughi (November) is perhaps more extreme in making for a confusion of Baha’i beliefs.

From some of these letters it appears that the Faith is a question of personal opinion, philosophy or preference. This is indeed distressing. In fact, the Faith is not merely some idealistic, forwardthinking and humanitarian organization, but a religion!

Though the Faith does not demand a recitation of some creed, yet its roots lie in fundamental spiritual beliefs and convictions. These convictions then become the bedrock of our humanitarian services and aspirations.

Without this foundation our efforts lack the potency to transform society. That is why the Bab and Baha’u’llah appeared.

Baha’u’llah clarifies for us that the first duty of man is the reccognition of the Manifestation of the age, and says further that this is ‘the source of all good.’”

Again, we read that the purpose of life, of creation itself is “to know God and to worship Him,” and that we cannot know God except through His Manifestations, in which case teaching is, indeed, the “most meritorious of all deeds.””

Through teaching, followed by enrollment, a person is put in touch with his reality, which is to recognize the Manifestation of the age, and to have reverence for God and His Manifestations.

If we lack reverence, and see no importance in teaching, in enrollment, then we will slowly come to believe that life is all material; it is simply dependent on the benefits of economics, medicine, technology, agriculture, humanitarian services, and so on. “

In this case, the purpose of life, to ‘‘know God’’ and to recognize the Manifestation of the age, loses its importance or validity. This then amounts to a distortion of Baha’i belief.

Understandably, we sometimes become confused because our emotions, our love for humanity, our concern for others urge us to disregard every other concern and to express ourselves through helping others.

This is natural and laudable. But we must understand that the Faith also has the same highminded goal and purpose; it is not a barrier, but represents the means for the realization of these pur

poses. The Faith gives the direction, ‘See LETTERS page 22

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[Page 4]4/ The American Baha’i / January 1986

CHAMPION. BUILDERS

a)

SARA M. KENNY

In 1953, when the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, called for a World Crusade, Sara Kenny, the wife of California Attorney General Robert W. Kenny, and her mother, Ella Duffield, responded by pioneering to the Madeira Islands, for which they were named Knights of Baha’u’ lah.

Mrs. Kenny, a graduate of Stanford University, had become a Baha’i in the early 1930s when, following an illness of several months, she searched for a faith to which she could fully subscribe.

Shortly after her recovery she became acquainted with the teachings of Baha’u’llah through talks given by Beulah Lewis of Los Angeles, and before long had declared her acceptance of the Faith.

The fact that her husband had a world-wide circle of acquaintances gave Mrs. Kenny the opportunity to present the Message of Baha’u’llah to many government leaders in the U.S. and abroad.

This was especially true during the formation of the United Nations in San Francisco when she was socially active among world statesmen.

Mrs. Kenny, a devoted servant of the Cause, was in great demand as a speaker. In addition, she served on the National Teaching Committee, the Spiritual Assemblies of San Francisco and Los Angeles, and on the Area Teaching Committee for the Western States, Hawaii and Alaska.

For many years she was one of California’s delegates to the annual National Convention.

It was sometimes difficult for Mrs. Kenny to serve the Faith administratively while fulfilling her many obligations as the wife of the state’s Attorney General. In a letter written on behalf of the Guardian, she was comforted.

The letter reads in part, “He feels that as Mr. Kenny is evidently a man of marked capacity... you are fully justified in devoting more of your time to him .

And in his own hand, the Guardian refers to Mrs. Kenny’s ‘‘distinguished husband.”’ Although he never became a declared Baha’i, Mr. Kenny rendered outstanding services to the Faith on many occasions.

To Sara, the pilgrimage she made to Haifa in 1957 marked the culmination of her life. She wrote,

See KENNY page 27

Resolution

from page 1

offices in New York and Geneva to bring the matter to the attention of the world body.

The action by the General Assembly follows the adoption of resolutions about the human rights situation in Iran, including the particular situation of the Baha’is, by the UN’s Commission on Human Rights in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985. The resolution approved by the Commission in 1985 placed these issues on the General Assembly’s agenda for the first time at its current session, and (also for the first time) commissioned a report about them for submission to the General Assembly as a basis for its discussions.

That report was disappointing. Andrés Aguilar of Venezuela, the Special Representative appointed by the Commission on Human Rights to investigate the situation in Iran and prepare the report, tried hard to enlist the cooperation of the Iranian government but was unsuccessful in doing so, and was unable to visit the country to assess the situation for himself.

As a result, the report did not do justice to the persecution of Baha’is in Iran, in spite of copious evidence provided by the Baha’i International Community and others.

Mr. Aguilar’s report concluded that the evidence presented ‘‘cannot be dismissed as groundless unless proved to be so on the basis of detailed information,’’ adding that ‘‘a continued monitoring of the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran is called for.””

In spite of that lukewarm conclusion, the resolution adopted by the General Assembly expresses deep concern over ‘specific and detailed allegations’” of human rights abuses in Iran including summary executions, torture, and the oppression of religious minorities; endorses the report’s conclusion that continued monitoring of the situation is called for; requests the Commission on Human Rights to consider further steps to secure effective respect for human rights in Iran; and places the overall situation there, including and in particular ‘‘the situation of inority groups such as the Baon the General Assembly’s agenda for its next session in 1986.

The resolution thus assures that both the General Assembly and its Commission on Human Rights will continue to concern themselves with the question of human rights in Iran.

“This action represents the clearest possible signal of the depth and strength of the interna Spanish-language statement available

A Spanish-language presentation edition of The Promise of World Peace is now available through the Baha’ Distribution Service. The cost is $1.

Also newly arrived is Recopilicion de los Escritos de el Bab e Bahd’u'lláh e ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Selections from the Writings of the Bab, Baha'u'llah and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá). It is softcover; the cost is $3.50.

You can order either through the Baha’i Distribution Service, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

tional community’s concern over the continuing persecution of the Baha’i religious community in Iran,’’ says Gerald Knight, a representative of the Baha’i International Community at the United Nations.

“It will be a great comfort to our community in Iran,’’ he adds, “to know that they have not been forgotten by the world outside, or by the UN.

“The Baha’i International Community is deeply grateful to the United Nations, and especially to those member states which initiated this resolution and those which voted in favor of it, for their sympathy and support at this critical time.’”

The resolution adopted by the General Assembly was sponsored by Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Samoa, St. Lucia and the United Kingdom.

Before its adoption, Syria and Pakistan made formal motions designed to prevent its adoption, but these were soundly defeated. Iran and Libya made statements attacking the Faith, with the usual

accusations that the Baha’is are a political group associated with Zionism.

The specific references to the Baha’is in the text of the resolution are extremely important in terms of maintaining and increasing international concern over the plight of Iran’s Baha’i community. They also represent a considerable achievement.

Strong pressure was exerted to delete those references from the text, on the basis that the Baha’i community represents only a small part of the total population of Iran and is only one of a number of oppressed groups, and thus references to the Baha’is would lose votes for the resolution.

Indeed, a number of Arab and Muslim delegations made it clear that they would support the resolution if, and only if, the references to the Baha’is were deleted.

But thanks to strenuous Baha’i efforts, both in western capitals and at the UN, the references were retained.

In speaking to the resolution, U.S. Ambassador Patricia M. Byrne said in part, ‘“. . . | must

also mention our great anguish over the treatment suffered by the members of one of the world’s most peaceful religions: the Baha’is of Iran.

“All organized Baha’i activities were banned by decree in 1983. Many Baha’i leaders were imprisoned and, since 1979, nearly 200 Baha’is—including teen-aged women—have been executed or tortured to death. Many have simply disappeared.

“Thousands have been imprisoned or forced into exile; tens of thousands have been dismissed from jobs, schools and uni‘ sities. All Baha’i commu properties have been seized, cluding schools and cemeteries. Holy shrines have been demolished. Parents are not allowed to teach their children the Baha’i Faith. The Baha’i community in Iran of some 350,000 is under assault because it refuses to repudiate its religious beliefs.

“The courage and sacrifice of the Baha’i community should not be in vain. The United Nations has the moral duty to speak out loudly in defense of the Baha’is; we cannot fail them.’”

This room, donated by a local hotel, was quickly set up last September by the Spiritual Assembly

of Tucson, Arizona, as a command post from which to coordinate its earthquake relief effort on

behalf of the people of Mexico City.

Tucson Baha’is aid Mexico ’quake victims

The Baha’is of Tucson, Arizona, mobilized that entire community in September to come to the aid of victims of the devastating earthquake that leveled parts of Mexico City.

One of the Baha’is, Elizabeth Pettit, working under the guidance of the Spiritual Assembly of Tucson, quickly arranged for a room, donated by the Congress Street Hotel, for use as an emergency relief center.

After conferring with the National Spiritual Assembly, the Assembly of Tucson arranged for a telephone line and the Unifed Effort Earthquake Relief Fund for Mexico went into high gear.

First, the Assembly appointed a committee to coordinate the efforts of the more than 20 local organizations who wanted to help.

Then, a bank account was set up for the UEER Fund.

Donated funds were sent to the Red Cross, since the Tucson Assembly was told that the National Spiritual Assembly of Mexico was not equipped to receive them and had requested that they be channeled through an outside agency.

The relief center coordinated volunteers to collect medical suplies, translate medical information into Spanish, and load supplies onto a truck which was provided by the city government of Santa Ana (Sonora), Mexico.

Supplies were donated by El Dorado Hospital, Northwest Hospital, the Tucson Medical Center, and several pharmaceutical companies such as Alpha-Med of Tucson and Hoechst-Roussel, based

in New Jersey.

The truck transported the medical supplies to Hermosillo, Mexico, where they were placed on board a plane and flown to Mexico City.

An important aspect of the relief effort, says Gail Powers, secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Tucson, was that it mobilized the entire community behind the effort, not just the Baha’is.

“Tucson Baha’is were able to see firsthand,” she says, ‘thow Baha’is can help a socio-economic project at the grassroots level.

“It’s important for the community at large to become aware that Baha’is are service-oriented, caring people whose thoughts and efforts are dedicated to improving the lot of mankind as a whole.”’ [Page 5]

Staff members in the Office of the Treasurer count some of the many

contributions sent in response to the National Assembly’s appeal.

Generous outpouring of funds keeps Treasurer’s Office staff busy counting

Prompted by the immense challenge to ‘‘attract the hearts of humanity with this new vision of peace,” the National Spiritual Assembly recently asked the Ameri. can believers to make an extraordinary contribution to the National Baha’i Fund.

The response to this appeal is most encouraging. To handle the sudden surge in contributions, several staff members in the Office of the Treasurer were immediately reassigned to help Vince and Colette, the two people who ordinarily count contributions.

In early December, amid the deluge of contributions, the counting was briefly interrupted by a request for a travel advance from the Office of the Secretary—something exciting was soon to occur.

A few days later, we learned that the money was needed so that the members of the National Spiritual Assembly could travel to Washington, D.C., to present a copy of “The Promise of World Peace’’ to President Reagan.

Nothing could have highlighted more dramatically the importance of contributions to the National Fund for advancing the work of

Let us hear from you!

Please continue to share your experiences as homefront piomeers. They serve to encourage your fellow pioneers as well as inspire others to arise. If you can arise to become a homefront pioneer, phone the National Teaching Committee’s homefront piomeering desk at 312-869-9039.

the Cause.

Through support of the National Fund, every Baha’i can take action to help fulfill the promise of world peace. Your continued support will help ensure that the Faith has the resources needed to continue its exciting and important work in the months ahead.

The American Baha’i / January 1986 / 5

Letters underscore response to National Assembly’s appeal

@ THE FUNDS

“One soul can be the cause of the spiritual illumination of a continent.””

This thought from the Writings adorned the stationery of a Baha’i who responded to the National Spiritual Assembly’s recent appeal for an extraordinary contribution to the National Fund to help complete its $1.5 million pledge to the Universal House of Justice.

As you read these excerpts from the many letters received through mid-December, you will see how brilliant are the Baha’i lights shining throughout America.

From Georgia:

“Enclosed is our check from our savings to help promote the Peace Message. It isn’t nearly what we’d like to give, but then neither are our savings what we’d like them to be. But whatever we have we want to share. Not to do so would be like refusing Baha’u’llah when He sent the messages to the Kings and Rulers. Can you

imagine Him asking if we could help financially, and our answering, ‘Sorry, we can’t divert our savings and investments!’ ’” From Virginia:

“‘Who needs to buy a house? Home is in your heart.’’ (Written ‘on a check for $2,000.)

From New Mexico:

“We have enclosed the extraordinary contribution that you asked for. When we received your letter we reconsidered our finances and realized the best investment we could make is to the Fund. We leave to pioneer next week, and will keep the Fund in our prayers.”

From California:

“I came close to making no contribution since I felt that the Lam able to contribute is imal. But on further consideration, I decided that each small amount—especially when given from the heart—will lead to victory for this glorious Faith.”’ From Washington:

“While on pilgrimage I was struck by the beauty of the Baha’i

See FUNDS page 11

The promise of peace The Challenge of ACTION

Contributions for Qawl rise by 76 per cent

Contributions to the National Fund for the month of Qawl climbed to $520,771, a remarkable 76 per cent above the amount contributed during that same month last year; however, we continue to lag behind our annual goal by $1,384,296.

The encouraging response by the friends to a recent appeal for funds accounts for $243,374 of the total contributions during Qawl.

All proceeds from that appeal are being used to help fulfill the National Spiritual Assembly’s $1.5 million pledge to the Universal House of Justice.

The contribution from our National Fund is presently the single largest gift to the International Fund.

Meeting our pledge will enable the Universal House of Justice to pursue without hesitation the new-found opportunities that have resulted from presentations of ‘‘The Promise of World Peace’’ to leaders throughout the world.

“Rejoice, therefore,

O denizens of America,

rejoice with

exceeding gladness.”

“The National Fund must be firmly

progress and achievement.”

established, generously supported and universally and continually upheld, for it is the prerequisite of future

—SHOGHI EFFENDI

TheNational Bahai

Membership (12/9/84)

District Name

Alavama N Alabama S/Florida NW Arizona N Arizona S Arkansas California C No. 1 California C No. 2 California N No. 1 California N No. 2 California $ No. 1 California S No. 2 California S No. 3 California S No. 4

‘Starting Block’ Info

Number Percentage of giving _pa

lowa leads way; New Hampshire most improved

Contributions to the National Baha’i Fund by District Current Month Info (Qudrat)

Membership (11/11/85)

Number Percentage of participation

See VIE CHART page 26

Fund

Wilmette, IL 60091

Winners’ Circle

Highest percentage participation

Towa

Pennsylvania Western

Kansas

Minnesota Northern

Maine

Washington Southwest

Louisiana Northern

Pennsylvania Eastern

Minnesota Southern

(tie) Utah

Wisconsin N/Michigan Upper

12. Tennessee Eastern

13. Ohio Northern

14. Virginia Southwest

15. Wisconsin Southern

16. (tie) Nevada Southern Nebraska

18. New Hampshire

19. New York Western

Seeravaen Most improved participation 1. New Hampshire 2. Arkansas 3. Washington Northwest 4. Colorado Western 5. Rhode Island 6. Oklahoma Western 7. Montana 8. California Northern No. 1 9. Wyoming

10. New York Western

11. Tennessee Eastern

12. South Carolina Central

13. Georgia Southern

14. Texas Eastern No. 1

15. Connecticut

16. Missouri

17. Illinois Northern No. 2

18. Nebraska

19. New Jersey [Page 6]6 / The American Baha’i / January 1986

SF vume A pioneer’s ‘view from there’

By DOROTHY FREEMAN (First of two parts)

As a preface, this wasn’t written for those who can’t wait to escape the materialism of America for the simple life of pioneering. Mary Louise Suhm, the secretary of the International Goals Committee, asked me to write about my own thoughts and experiences.

Consequently, this is written for any Baha’i who sees pioneering not through rose-colored glasses but through an awareness of his own particular needs, hopes and fears. My intention isn’t to present anything near the final word on pioneering, but rather one person’s changing perceptions.

In the late 60s and early ’70s I was a Baha’i youth. But I wasn’t a hippie. This was not due to some lofty understanding that lifted me above the burning issues of the time, but was largely a result of the fact that I was intensely involved (as only a teen-age girl can be) in my work as a fashion model and wasn’t living the life of a student, as most of my Baha’i peers were.

But the orientation of my Baha’i friends toward the lifestyle of the moment colored my vision of what it meant to be a Baha’i. As I grew up that changed, and the prayers and writings of Bahá’u’lláh determined more and more my vision of the Faith while the lifestyle of my peers played a much less dominant part.

There was one aspect of life asa Baha’i, however, which kept its image, born for many of us in the days of earth mothers going back to nature: pioneering.

Of course, if you were a Baha’i youth before that period, your vision of pioneering would be different, but for me, and I suspect others of my generation, the life of a pioneer seemed akin to that of a Peace Corps volunteer.

Both were only for the obviously hardy—advocates, if possible, of the belief that the simpler life of Third World countries was decidedly superior to our own nasty western habits.

That belief seemed suspect to me from the start. With an attitude that is better described as more early Yuppie than patriotic, I wondered why anyone capable of great things and living in a country where great things can be done would want to camp out ina village somewhere for the rest of his life... even if it did mean

OPEN GOALS

AFRICA (F) Mauritania (E) Tanzania

“AMERICAS

(S) Argentina

(E) Dominica

(S) Ecuador, Galapagos Is.

(F) French Guiana

HN

Nene

AUSTRALASIA (©) Tuvalu 2

Total Goals to be Filled 13 “Replacement goals

Language key:

E—English

F—French

S—Spanish

bringing some sweet native people closer to a knowledge of their God.

When I was 21 I married Bobby Freeman and we found a full life in Dallas, Texas, where he was born and I had grown up.

I retained the same general attitude toward pioneering: it’s quite meritorious if you were (1) near retirement age, (2) one of the above-mentioned “‘back to nature’? group, or (3) didn’t have much of value going on in the US.

Frankly, I don’t think this was that rare an attitude; it probably still isn’t. I learned, but that comes later.

We felt, correctly or not, that our situation in the States offered unique opportunities for service. Where it is easy to go wrong in this approach is at the point of value judgment.

It was fine for me to be on local TV, or for Bobby to have contact with some of the more influential people in our city. This, of course, is good for the Faith.

The problem comes only with thinking that this sort of position or recog! n (inside or out of the Baha’i{ community) has a value in itself. It doesn’t. If we need it to have a happier self-image, it’s time for some spiritual housecleaning.

The problem with ego is a very difficult one to spot in ourselves. It can be so easy and convenient to misread our own motives.

The motive I perceive as a desire to take advantage of whatever opportunities my position offers to serve the Faith may in all honesty be a veiled effort to make sure my self-image stays intact and I can continue to enjoy the comforts, friendships and gratifications I am used to.

One thing pioneering has taught me is that there are a myriad genuine joys and pleasures (and not simply spiritual ones) that come from venturing outside the comfort of everyday life in America.

When Bobby and I really looked at our situation in Dallas, we found ourselves happy enough, more than busy enough, yet not really able to say, ‘‘Yes, this is how we want to live our lives ... this is the direction they should be taking. Our destiny is being fulfilled.”

Every week we fit in at least one or two Baha’i activities. We were making money, making and keeping dear friends, trying to teach those who weren’t Baha’is, and living in surroundings of beauty and peace.

Perhaps that is enough, but sometimes it isn’t. Maybe in this age, when were are promised we can attain the station of the Apostles, it shouldn’t be.

1 was sitting one day in our bedroom; I remember it very well. It was one of the Ridvan Holy Days, a glorious time of the year.

I sat quite happily reading from the Guardian’s writings about the need to arise to pioneer during the Ten Year Crusade: “‘It is therefore imperative for the individual American believer, and particularly for the affluent, the independent, the comfort-loving, and those obsessed by material purSuits, to step forward.

Lread it again. My husband was

a couple of rooms away, but I called out to him anyway, ‘‘Bobby, could you please come here?’’

When he came I said, ‘‘Listen to this. Who do you think Shoghi Effendi is talking about?’’

I read the passage again, emphasizing the last two qualities. We both started laughing. It was then that we began really to consider the possibility of pioneering.

What we wanted was to know that if we died tomorrow or even today and entered the next phase of our soul’s progress we wouldn’t look back on this life and see a long series of worthwhile activities and plausible distractions that kept us from really doing the most we could do.

I wrote briefly about this idea to Margaret Ruhe, a woman I admired but didn’t really know. A year later, we went on pilgrimage.

Thoughts that were comfortably relegated to the back of one’s mind seem to find the light on pilgrimage, and soon we were talking to the Ruhes about our hope of pioneering.

Before we left Bobby was involved in two possibilities, the building of a Baha’i school in Gwalior, India, and the renovation of Baha’i Centers in the West Indies.

After deciding that India would no doubt be the best place for us, we attended a Pioneer Institute, and confidently announced to any who would care to listen where we were going.

Toward the end of that weekend in Wilmette all of the prospective pioneers met, individually, with the secretary of the International Goals Committee.

I don’t know what it was like for anyone else, but that was a surprising experience for us. We walked in, blazers intact, confident that India was just the place.

Mary Lou looked up from behind her desk, and I suddenly felt a genuine reverence for her. There was a purity that shined through her matter-of-fact way that was almost visible.

After a few minutes of conversation about India, she said, “I don’t think India is the place for you; what about your idea of the Caribbean?”

We then talked for a few minutes about the West Indies and our experiences on Grenada.

“That sounds better,” she said, “and you’re familiar with the area. Why don’t you go there?’’

That was it. No pressure. No patronizing. Just a straightforward suggestion that sounded right.

Growing up I had spent several long winter holidays on the island of Grenada with my parents and grandfather, Frank Baker, who was a pioneer there.

Bobby and I had visited Grampi’s cottage after his death and felt that we knew what we were getting into by moving to a Caribbean island, though we were considering Barbados rather than Grenada.

We'd already experienced some of the worst of it. Bobby had had a body surfing accident and to

If you are traveling outside the United States for any reason, please contact the International Goals Committee for information.

gether we spent a memorable few days at a hospital on Grenada. The treatment given for his separated collarbone was morphine administered regularly and a taping job that took no notice of the sand and body hairs under the three-inch-wide tape.

The good side was that the people and the terrain were lovely. Life in Barbados, as in Grenada, would no doubt be simple, with fruit falling from overburdened jungle trees and fishermen walking up from the beach to sell their fresh catch.

It would be peaceful, but frankly I was afraid we would feel isolated to such an extent, cut off from what we had learned to call life, that we would feel useless and depressed.

Even as a child there, I had at times felt trapped by a sort of boredom my mother called ‘‘islanditis.””

It’s not that I adored every aspect of our life in Dallas, but we were so busy it didn’t matter. My enthusiasm for work as a fashion model had long since waned, but the jobs I held in television news were relatively low-paying so I continued to take photographic bookings for catalogs and magazine ads.

I wouldn’t really miss either of these two work atmospheres: the preening, often pretentious atmosphere of the photography studio or the pressure of the news department.

I had already realized that I preferred writing the news to presenting it, and had all the research material my mother had gathered on Dorothy Baker so I could continue writing her biography. That would keep me busy.

Meanwhile, Bobby would work on National Centers, so we should both be productively occupied. Still, what I remembered from my childhood as the absolute quiet of the Caribbean islands frightened me.

When in doubt, go shopping. That’s an adage of people in Dallas, and in my anxiety about the move, that’s what I did.

It was going to be hot on Barbados, even during what we call winter, so I would need simple, light cotton clothing. But in almost every shop I was attracted to evening dresses and taffeta cocktail dresses. I couldn’t believe myself.

I never even wore clothes like that in Dallas, as Bobby and I kept our distance from the charity ball-debutante circuit. If I had one serious prejudice, it was against the wealthy who spent their time adorning and entertaining themselves.

But here I was, feeling attracted to these silly clothes. As a moderate step I bought, along with whatever essentials, a billowy, ruffled white cotton dress.

Frivolous, one might say, to talk of such things in an article on pioneering, but I ask your indulgence because pioneering is not always what you may expect.

As a pioneer you place your life in Bahá’u’lláh’s hands and He will use you as He sees fit. This may have nothing at all to do with your preconceived notions of what it means to pioneer. After all, why should it? We are the oars, not the

Author Dorothy Freeman in her days as a fashion model.

Captain of the boat.

A few precious friends helped us in the last weeks of packing and storing. Basically, we had to choose between taking everything and taking very little.

We had rented our house instead of selling it, as we had hoped, so we decided to store almost everything in Dallas and take only a few essentials.

The house was almost empty, the house that Bobby had built for us. I thought back to all the joys we’d had there, the Sunday afternoon volleyball games, the New Year’s Eve youth party, the picnics, the fire s, the parties, the quiet times for just the two of us.

I thought further back to the planning of the house, of casting and glazing the tiles in the bathroom, of the sounds the peacocks made each dusk as they gathered their forces to hurl themselves up toward their roosts in the cedar trees.

Our friends Ann Jones and Marcia Tippens were there one day, helping us pick up the scraps of our life that each needed to find a proper place.

Ann and I were in the living room, surrounded by packing boxes and newspapers. I looked around at the paintings that we wouldn’t see again for possibly years, and at the emptied room, and said, “I don’t know why we're leaving; I’ve never been happier.”

We had really made a sort of perfect life for ourselves. We had such good friends, work we liked (From Copper to Gold was under way and I had such a nice little office to write in). There was a sense of purpose and of place in the world. Would we have anything when we left?

Along with the rest of it, that land and house had always given me a feeling of such well-being, essential to my peace of mind. My soul seemed spread through the thickets of trees outside and the quiet rooms inside.

A few days later I was standing alone in the dining room, feeling distracted and unsure, when sud See PIONEERING page 27

[Page 7]

vourn

International Youth Year 1985 was a great success for Baha’i youth all over the U.S. and for the Faith as a whole.

On the national and international levels, the Baha’i National Youth Committee received recognition from the U.S. IYY Commission, the International IYY Commission, and the White House which on two occasions invited representatives of the committee to take part in White House-sponsored events.

In addition, communication was- increased internationally as the National Youth Committee corresponded with other national youth committees in more than 15 countries.

The International Youth Conference, held last July at Ohio State University, was a triumphant event with more than 3,000 youth, 2,000 parents and 500 children participating.

The effect of this stimulating and reaffirming meeting was to mobilize young teachers for numerous teaching efforts throughout the summer and into the fall and winter of 1985-86.

With the loving guidance of the

Linda Haug, a Baha’? youth from Tumwater, Washington, served as temporary secretary/correspondent at this year’s Southwest Washington State District Convention, held in Olympia. Linda, a second generation Baha’i who was born in Colorado, is majoring in English at Evergreen State College in Olympia. She spent six months in Nigeria with a pioneer family and has served on the Colorado, Southwest Washington and Eastern Washington/Idaho Northwest District Youth Committees.

w

Peace statement guidelines mailed

Attention, Baha’i College Clubs: Guidelines for the formal presentation to college officials of “The Promise of World Peace,’’ the peace statement by the Universal House of Justice, were recently mailed by the National Youth Committee to all Spiritual Assemblies and Baha’i College Clubs.

If your club hasn’t yet received acopy, please contact the committee at 1371 Sunset Strip, Sunrise, FL 33313, or phone 305-584-1844.

Universal House of Justice, the youth arose to serve the Faith and mankind as never before.

The Youth Year of Service program was successfully launched. A goal of 19 YYS volunteers was set and has been surpassed. Twenty-two youth are serving at the World Centre, the National Center, on Indian Reservations, at Baha’i schools, and in South America.

Youth continue to arise as more opportunities are developed.

In local communities, activities in celebration of IYY took various forms—concerts, forums, world peace symposiums, presentations of Baha’i publications to schools and libraries, dances, dinners, and other activities abounded.

And of course, the Tree Project was a rousing success as the goal of planting 20,000 trees was surpassed by many hundreds.

This project, carried out in memory of the Dawn-breakers, afforded Baha’i youth a chance to proclaim their Faith to school and public officials as trees were planted on college and high school campuses and in public parks across the country.

The Baha’i observance of [YY was launched officially at the Disney World Conference in December 1984 as 180 trees were planted in the Orlando, Florida, area.

The observance ended at that same spot with a rededication ceremony in December 1985.

Perhaps the greatest victory in this historic year is the renewed sense of worth of the youth who have established themselves as a force for positive change throughout the Bahd’{ community and the greater community as well, reaffirming the high potential for ser

Universidad Nur, Louhelen College offer Baha’i-centered education for youth

Two unique educational opportunities for young Baha’is have recently come. into being: Universidad Nur in Bolivia, and the Louhelen Residential College in Michigan.

The university, in Santa Cruz, has earned the recognition of the Universal House of Justice as a private development venture based on Baha’i principles.

Nur University offers a specialized curriculum at the bachelor degree level in administration of human services, communication science, computer science, and painting and graphic arts.

Proficiency in Spanish is required; intensive study is available through the school. Interested Ba ha’is are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office, Nur University, Casilla 3273, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

The Louhelen Baha’i Residential School, based on the Louhelen campus in Davison, Michigan, will be open in the fall of 1986.

Students will live on campus while attending classes at either Mott Community College or the University of Michigan-Flint, and will also take college-level courses on the Faith as a part of their comprehensive program of study.

Complete details on the Louhelen program may be obtained by writing to the school at 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

New programs, materials are designed to have special appeal to ‘pre-youth’

Fresh efforts are being made by the Baha’i National Youth Committee to create materials and programs to appeal to Baha’is between the ages of 12 and 15 years.

These important believers, often referred to as ‘‘junior’’ or “pre-youth,’’ offer a high level of enthusiasm and energy to the American community, and their contribution is significant.

“There are a variety of ways for these young Baha’is to serve the Faith,”’ says Gail Etzenhouser, a member of the National Youth Committee from Kansas, ‘‘and the committee hopes to direct more of its efforts toward developing and distributing materials for these believers.”’

At a recent meeting, the National Youth Committee made a number of decisions that will affect junior youth. Among them:

the development of a regular

column targeted for 12 to 15-yearolds in the ‘‘Youth Hotline,” the monthly youth bulletin;

promotion of the formation

of local Junior Youth Clubs patterned after the clubs now sponsored for older youth.

The committee encourages Baha’is of this age group to take advantage of some of these new opportunities by filling out the coupon below and sending it to the National Youth Committee, 1371 Sunset Strip, Sunrise, FL 33313.

YES! I want to stand up and be counted! Please send me ...

____ the glossary for the Peace Statement —_ a kit for the formation of a Junior Youth Club

NAME AGE ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP

Baha’i COMMUNITY

The American Baha’i / January 1986 / 7

Young Baha’is score big success with IYY activities

vice recognized by the Universal House of Justice.

Truly, youth can, and will continue to, move the world!

Members of the Bahda’t performing group ‘New World Generation’ prepare to depart for a month-long teaching trip to the Caribbean. Back row (left to

right) are Rose Paulson, Lekan Parsons, Suzanne Swan, Jacinta

Parsons, and Kingsley Swan. Front row (left to right) are Sukina-Lee Swan and Badi Salmon.

‘New World Generation’ spends month teaching in Caribbean

The Baha’i performing group “New World Generation’’ spent a month traveling and teaching in the Caribbean area in September and October.

The trip was made possible by the generosity of Baha’is in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York who helped the group raise $5,000 to finance the trip.

“‘New World Generation’’ taught the Faith in villages, on street corners, beaches, at universities, on radio stations, in homes, parks and some elementary schools.

For school children, the group offered story-telling, its own “Happy Clown,”’ and music.

In one instance, about 3,000 people were introduced to the Faith during the St. Kitts Independence Day celebration on the beach.

“New World Generation’’ has set a goal to go abroad at least once a year, and its members hope someday to pioneer as a group.

Meanwhile, the group is available for firesides, proclamations, concerts and other events in the States, and is putting together music/dramas that deal with teenage problems and frustrations and offer some positive alternatives.

“New World Generation’’ can be reached at 617-324-5616 or 401273-8364,

Youth Club guidelines ... NAME

ADDRESS

CITY

Baha’i COMMUNITY

FL 33313.

Youth Committee encourages formation of Local Youth Clubs

Local Youth Clubs are an important part of the Baha’i Youth Network. The clubs, sponsored by a local Assembly, serve to foster unity, friendship and Baha’i identity among peers.

The National Youth Committee encourages all youth to form clubs wherever possible. New guidelines are now available from the committee office, so write for your guidelines today!

YES! I want to form a Local Youth Club. Send me the Local

STATE ZIP

Send to National Youth Committee, 1371 Sunset Strip, Sunrise,

AGE

N.Y.C. Baha’is celebrate Birth of Baha’u’llah

On November 17, the Baha’i community of New York City held its annual celebration of the anniversary of the Birth of Baha’wlah at the Crystal Palace in Queens.

More than 200 Baha’is and their guests attended the event, whose principal speaker was Counsellor Fred Schechter.

Among those present was Luis

Enrique Menge, the son of the president of Costa Rica. On behalf of the Baha’is, Counsellor Robert Harris presented Mr. Menge with a copy of the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement.

Entertainment was by the ‘New World Generation,’’ singer Paul Vivas, and the Costa Rica Folkloric Ballet. [Page 8]8 / The American Baha’i / January 1986

Family Unity Night (Fun)

FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY: February 7, Feast of Mulk (Dominion). Thought for the Week: ‘‘Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth not, wherefore fearest thou thy perishing?”’ (Baha'u'llah) Prayer: pp. 122-123, Bahá’í Prayers. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the Suggested reading materials: 1. The Hidden Words, No. 14, p. 7; No. 15, P. 7; No. 54, p. 16. 2. Bahá’í World Faith, pp. 325-26, ‘The logical proof ...”” 3. The Reality of Man, p. 34. Activity: Look up the word “domini in the dictionary. Give each child a room in the house and designate it as a dominion (kingdom) that he/she controls. Let the child make the laws or rules to be followed in that dominion, such as “‘all must speak kindly to others,” ‘‘all must walk so that nb one is harmed,”’ etc. Rules should be stated positively, such as ‘‘all walk” instead of “don’t run.” For younger children, assign a room to each. Give them an object to hide in that room. When the others come to look for it, the child gives clues when someone nears the object, such as warmer, hotter, cooler, colder. Another way to give clues is to hum louder or softer as someone nears the object. The concepts of hot/cold and loud/soft are important for younger children to learn. Refreshments: Waldorf salad and apple juice, or a favorite fruit salad with juice.

SECOND WEEK OF FEBRUARY: EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN. Thought for the Week: “... as regards tenderness of heart and the abundance of mercy and sympathy ye are superior."” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) Prayer: pp. 104-105. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials: 1. The Hidden Words, No. 68, p. 20. 2. Bahd’w'lláh and the New Era, pp. 184-55. 3. Paris Talks, pp. 133; 160-63; 182-83. NOTE: The readings above can also be found in Baha’i Marriage and Family Life, pp. 43-45, and 139-147. Activity: Refer to the quote, “Humanity is like a bird with its two wings—the one is male, the other female ...”” Make two paper birds or planes. Remove a wing from one of them and compare the flight of each. Refreshments: Homemade lady fingers on behalf of women, or gingerbread men on behalf of men; milk. OR, make your favorite cookie recipe. Shape or cut the dough into a bird, man or woman. Have children decorate the creation.

THIRD WEEK OF FEBRUARY: INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF TRUTH TOWARD PEACE. Theught for the Week: “The people, therefore, must be set completely free from their old patterns of thought ...’” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) Prayer: pp. 71-72. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials: 1. The Hidden Words, No. 2, p. 3; No. 5, p. 4. 2. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 29, No. 14; pp. 246-50, No. 202 (specifically, p. 248, paragraphs 2 and 3). 3. “The Promise of World Peace,”’ letter from the Universal House of Justice, p. 13, No. 46, 47; p. 14, No. 52. Activity: Using the principles of consultation, discuss the suggested items in No. 3 of the lesson. Mention to the children that their children’s class will be receiving a special curriculum for children for the 1986 International Year of Peace. OR, since consultation and investigation of truth requires good listening, play a game of sounds in the environment. Have the children shut their eyes while someone performs 1, 2, 3 or more that make sounds. For example, the sound-maker can knock on a door, tear a piece of paper, jump up and down, ring a bell, etc. Have the children tel order, what they heard, or act out, in order, what they heard. Give each person a turn at being the sound-maker. Refreshments: Spice cake with applesauce or milk.

FOURTH WEEK OF FEBRUARY: AYYAM-I-HA, FEBRUARY 26MARCH 1. Thought for the Week: ‘In whatsoever land they dwell, let them with a whole heart befriend and be companions to those who are either close to them, or far removed.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá) Prayer: pp. 236-37. Lesson: Read and discuss one or more of the suggested lesson materials: 1. The Hidden Words, No. 34, p. 34. God Loves Laughter by William Sears (choose a favorite story or read chapter 7, “‘Ice-Skating in the Kitchen”). 3. The Sheltering Branch by Marzieh Gail, pp. 69-71. 4. i-Ha” album by William Sears. Activity: Make and/or wrap gifts for Intercalary Days. Use individual talents in making special crafts or foods. OR, make decorations or plan a short play/skit for a party. Refreshments: Try “Honey Popcorn Nut Crunch” from the WLGI Cookbook, p. 109. Serve with a favorite punch.

Decatur, Illinois, Baha’is sponsor 3rd American Education Week banquet

On November 16, the Baha’i

spoke on ‘‘Peace Through Educa community of Decatur, Illinois, sponsored its third annual American Education Week banquet at Millikin University.

The theme of the banquet, which was attended by 32 people including 19 non-Baha’is, was “Education: Prelude to Peace.”

Among the guests were the county superintendent of schools and a representative from the city’s Human Relations Commission.

The featured speaker, Nathaniel Anderson, dean of students at Stephen Decatur High School,

tion.””

The statement on education by the Universal House of Justice in “The Promise of World Peace’’ was included as a part of the 1,200 invitations distributed among educators, civic organizations, prominent people and the general public in Decatur.

The banquet received extensive media coverage with a total of 50 column inches in eight reports in the four daily and weekly local newspapers and announcements in the Decatur Education Association and PTA newsletters and ona local radio station.

Children encouraged to participate in International Year of Peace 1986

> EDUCATION

Baha’j children in the U.S. are encouraged to become active participants in the International Year of Peace, 1986.

A curricular model for organizing activities that will help children contribute in tangible ways to the promotion of world peace goals has been prepared for use during this year.

The model has two components: (1) a Children’s Peace Projects Campaign, and (2) a curricular framework for Baha’i children’s classes.

Peace Projects Campaign

How do children take part in the campaign?

1. By carrying out ‘‘peace projects” in their local communities that relate to the following topics:

Elimination of racism

¢ Eradication of prejudices of all kinds

¢ Equality of men and women

Promotion of education

° Establishment of a world government

Services that can help those in

need

2. By creating illustrations,

Baha’is sponsor free workshop to train ESOL teachers

On the weekend of October 19-20, the Baha’is of Cumberland County, North Carolina, sponsored a free 18-hour workshop in the Laubach method of training tutors to teach English as a second language (ESOL).

Participants included Baha’is and non-Baha’is from five communities in North Carolina. Twelve people graduated with certification including a 13-year-old Baha’i. Two of the participants were from other countries: Korea and Spain.

The special talents of Janis Marie Holden, one of only 12 Laubach supervising tutor trainers in the Southeastern U.S., and her assistant, Dara Gay Shaw, an ESOL instructor and apprentice tutor trainer, made it possible to offer the workshop.

Laubach ESOL tutor certification, recognized both in the U.S. and abroad, can help graduates qualify for jobs in this country and overseas.

Tutors can serve as a bridge to the U.S. culture for non-Englishspeaking Baha’is and non-Baha’is. This is a wonderful way to combine teaching and community service.

The only prerequisite for taking the Laubach workshop is proficiency in English.

Following the workshop, the Baha’is of Cumberland County observed the anniversary of the Birth of the Bab with a public meeting, ‘‘An Evening of Music,”” featuring Dirk Andersen, Lea Gentile and Gregg and Dara Shaw. Eighteen non-Baha’is attended.

stories or poems for a book entitled Links for Peace that could be considered for publication. Such a book, created by Baha’i children throughout the U.S. community might, if it were published, be presented to public officials and agencies.

After a child or group of children has completed a specific peace project, a description of the project should be sent to:

Children for Peace, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

The project description will be read and catalogued in a peace projects file. A letter of acknowledgement with a gift copy of the quotation by Bahd’u’ll4h about world peace addressed to Edward G. Browne will be returned to the child or group. Compositions for Links for Peace should be sent to the same address.

Children and teachers are encouraged to invite children from civic and/or religious organizations in their areas to participate in the Children’s Peace Projects Campaign.

An invitational letter describing the campaign might be prepared by the children and sent to selected children’s groups in the area. A curricular framework for Bahá’í children’s classes

The curriculum to be used for Baha’i children’s classes during the Year of Peace is intended for children ages 7-12, with parts appropriate for junior youth.

Its theme is ‘‘The Oneness of Humanity,’ and it contains the following four basic parts:

Consultation

¢ Appreciation for Differences

° Baha’i Teachings for Universal Peace

The over-all purpose of the curriculum is to help Baha’i children develop understandings and skills they will need to become future world citizens and contributors to the processes of building a peaceful world.

The Peace Projects Campaign and class curriculum provide a framework for direct participation by Baha’i children in efforts for peace, and offer opportunities for children and teachers to “reach out”’ to children’s groups in their areas such as the Scouts

and church schools, and to participate with them in a worthwhile service program.

The objectives of the model reflect the spirit and letter of the Universal House of Justice’s guidance for engaging in Peace Year activities that are sustained and “attend to fundamental issues of peace.””

A copy of the materials can be obtained by writing to the National Teaching Committee, Baha’i_ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. (The cost is $2. Please make check payable to ‘“Baha’i Services Fund.’’)

Ideas for Ayyam-i-Ha and Naw-Riz

For children:

O God, Guide Me!; O God, My God (English and Persian); J Am a Bahá’í; Special Strengths; B.J. and the Language of the Woodland; Zahra’s Search; Fly Away Home; The Spotlessly Leopard; The Secret in the Garden; Happy Ayydm-i-Hd! (LP); Loving Hands (cassette); Brilliant Star (magazine).

For youth: 2

Unrestrained as the Wind: A Life Dedicated to Bahá’u’lláh; From Behind the Veil; O God, My God!; Bahá’í Prayers (new edition); Youth in the Vanguard; The Advent of Divine Justice; Baha’i calendars for 143 B.E.; Bahá’í DayBook.

For adults:

The Divine Art of Living (new edition); The Hidden Words (new edition); Baha’i Prayers (new edition); Baha’i DayBook; Peace: More Than an End to War; Unrestrained as the Wind; Unto Him Shall We Return; Baha’i calendars for 143 B.E.; World Order (magazine); Bahd’{ News (magazine).

All books, calendars, records and cassettes can be ordered from the Baha’i Distribution Service. Subscriptions to Baha’i News and World Order may be ordered from Subscriber Service, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Subscriptions to Brilliant Star may be ordered from Brilliant Star Subscriber Service, Suburban Office Park, 5010 Austin Road, Hixson, TN 37343.

dard. Materials include:

of Justice © a cassette tape

for home delivery.

Workshop courses available

Two workshops for use by local communities are now available from the National Teaching Committee office. They are:

Politeness and Manners: Children and the Nineteen Day Feast. Designed to help the local community establish and implement a behavior standard for children at the Feast. A variety of perspectives regarding children’s participation in the Feast experience are explored. The workshop results in participants making recommendations to the local Assembly concerning a behavior stan © convenor guidelines, agenda and workshop hand-outs © guidance on the topic from letters from the Universal House

The cost for Politeness and Manners is $5.

Addressing the Needs of Junior Youth and Youth. Helps local communities develop concrete strategies for strengthening the Baha’i identities of junior youth and youth. Cost: $8.

Orders should include the number of persons expected to attend the workshop so the correct number of materials can be sent. Materials are sent via UPS, which requires a return street address

Checks should be made payable to ‘‘Baha’i Services Fund,”’ and requests for materials should be sent to the National Teaching Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

[Page 9]‘Working meeting’ set at Louhelen for new Center for Interracial Unity

The Center for Interracial Unity, a social development project of the Louhelen Baha’i School Council, will hold its inaugural conference April 11-13 at the Louhelen School.

The conference, says Dr. Richard Thomas, a member of the committee that has been working. on the establishment of the Center for the past two years, will be a working meeting.

“‘We want to bring people together,”” he says, “‘Baha’is and non-Baha’is alike—who are interested in applying the Baha’i teachings in the field of race relations to the problems afflicting society.

“The committee will be sharing with the friends plans for the work of the Center and inviting their input, advice, support and assistance.’’

The Center’s mission is to offer the services of Baha’is with expertise in race relations to conduct personnel training seminars, workshops, give talks, and work with groups of all ds to help eradicate prejudice, promote race unity and give minorities greater opportunities.

People who are interested in helping the Center conduct research, network with other organizations, publish a newsletter, stay on top of developments in race relations, and conduct outreach workshops in the Bahi community and for other organizations are encouraged to attend the conference.

Workshops will be held on how to organize the Center’s work in the areas of the interracial family, multi-cultural education, and equal opportunity in the work place—areas chosen for concentration in the Center’s early years.

The National Race Unity Committee will be meeting at Louhelen during the conference and will take, part in the sessions.

“The Center for Interracial Unity,’’ says Dr. Thomas, “‘marks the first attempt to wage the second part of what Shoghi Effendi termed ‘the double crusade’ in The Advent of Divine Justice, and which consists of ‘assailing the long-standing evils that have entrenched themselves in the life of the American nation.’ That we are able to tackle such major work at this time is very exciting.”’

The base rate for the weekend including room and board is $49. Inquiries may be made by w to the registrar, Ms.” Hermione Pickens, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or by phoning 313-653-5033.

LOUHELEN Baha’i SCHOOL Tentative Spring/Summer Schedule

May 16-18: Children’s Conference/Parenting Conference

June 27-29: Women’s Conference July 13-18: Junior Youth Week July 20-25: Youth Week/Adult Literacy Training

July 27-August |: Persian Study/ Teaching Christians/Personal Transformation

August 3-8: General Session August 10-15: General Session August 17-22: Family Enrichment/Senior Citizens Week August 29-September 1: Home

coming

At Bosch Baha’7i School

The American Baha’i / January 1986 / 9

Auditorium construction enters second phase

> EDUCATION

The first phase of construction of the new auditorium at the Bosch Baha’i School in Santa Cruz, California, has been completed.

Excavation began on October 8, and construction of Martha Root Hall continues on schedule with site grading, retaining wall, first phase plumbing, foundation and finishing of the slab completed on November 22.

“Tf the level of contributions remains the same,”’ says school adinistrator Jim Kelly, ‘‘or if it increases, the project should be able to continue through all its phases for a total construction time of about seven months.’”

To date, $203,000 of the $300,000 needed to construct the hall has been collected. This does not include the cost of furnishings.

The next phase of construction includes the erection of the steel columns, fabrication and installation of the glue-laminated beam roof trusses, exterior framing, and completion of the roof.

The 64-foot glue-laminated beams could not be delivered up Comstock Lane by truck, so staff members conveyed the beams, which weigh 4,000 pounds each, the one-quarter mile to the site by fork lift.

Construction of Martha Root Hall is the next phase in a longrange expansion plan to bring the Bosch School facilities up to a minimum capacity of 125 persons.

Expansion was begun several years ago with the building of additional housing for 35. Also, four RV sites have been completed for

the use of the friends.

Also, a central bath house was built to serve these facilities. This part of the expansion was accomplished with a minimum expen ture of funds, as the work was done largely by volunteer and staff labor.

The next phase includes completion of the auditorium and additional classroom buildings.

Completion of the auditorium will allow minor remodeling in the existing lodge to enlarge the dining area and snack bar faci Future plans call for compl of the classroom buildings and, eventually, for a library and additional housing for staff.

‘Promise’ promoted at Washington U.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the United Nations and the release of the statement ‘The Promise of World Peace’’ by the Universal House of Justice, the Baha’i Association at the University of Washington in Seattle sponsored a public meeting October 25 that was attended by more than 200 people.

The speakers were Vern Hathaway, president of the Seattle chapter of the UN Association (‘‘The United Nations at Forty: What Does the Future Hold?’’) and Auxiliary Board member Opal Conner (‘Realizing the Promise of World Peace’).

In addition, there was music by the Baha’i group “Phoenix”? and a lively question-and-answer session. About 100 copies of the peace statement were distributed.

To publicize the event, the Baha’i Association placed a twopage ad in the October 24 issue of the university newspaper, the Daily, which reaches more than

~other Garden for Baha’ reads the poster, and indeed these lovely Hmong children of families living in the Portland, Oregon, area do comprise a lovely ‘garden

Gh?

of humanity’ as they convene on Friday evenings for the Asian Baha’ School. The 25 children began attending weekly classes last September.

es a Above:

intenance manager and Park, prepare forms for the foun construction supervisor Mark dation. Below: Workers pour the

Beers and his assistant, Philip foundation slab for the hall.

Baha’ scholars meet in Los Angeles for third Baha’i History Conference

Baha’i_ scholars from as far away as Thailand gathered in Los Angeles November 21-24 for the third annual Baha’i History Conference to be held in that city.

This year’s event was held in conjunction with the annual convention of the American Academy of Religion, held in Anaheim, which for the first time had scheduled a special workshop on the Baha’i Faith.

The Baha’i conference included two sessions on American Baha’i history that sought to break new ground.

Mark Perry, a graduate student in the history of cultures at the University of Chicago, presented a paper that explored tensions in the relationship between the National Spiritual Assembly and the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago in the period from 1920-1940.

Jackson Armstrong-Ingram, until recently the assistant archivist at the Baha’i National Center, who is writing his doctoral dissertation on American Baha’i history for Queen’s University in Northern Ireland, discussed the development of art, music, and other kinds of esthetic expression in the early American Baha’i community.

Pointing to the weakness of present Baha’i musical culture in the U.S., he urged a revival of hymnody as an expression of spiritual and social commitment.

Duane Herrmann, the only Baha’i who has done serious research on the history of the Faith in Kansas, told of his surprise on finding that the early days of the Faith began there in 1897. In fact, Enterprise, Kansas, was one of the early large Baha’i communities.

He also discussed his dilemma on discovering unpleasant facts about some early Baha’i heroes.

American history was also the topic of a paper presented by

Robert Stockman, a graduate student at Harvard University and author of the recent book The Bahá’í Faith in America: Origins, 1892-1900.

One session, devoted to Babi history, included the presentation of a paper sent to the conference by Dr. Denis MacEoin, a non-Baha’i at the University of Newcastle in England, which explained some of the issues in Babi history between 1850 and 1870.

Dr. Peter Smith, a university professor in Thailand, also offered a paper on the Babi movement that sought to dispel some of the mystery surrounding the physical resources the Babis had at their disposal, such as communications, money and manpower.

Frank Lewis, a graduate student in Arabic literature at the University of Chicago, sent a paper on The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah, written some years before his declaration.

In he demonstrated how Baha’u’llah made use of pre-existing literary patterns to create this work.

Other papers sent by Baha’is unable to attend the conference covered such topics as Hawaiian Baha’i history, Baha’i divorce, the Navajo religion, and women in religious history.

On Saturday afternoon, the conference adjourned to the AAR. convention whose Baha’ workshop session surveyed the academic work that has been done in the areas of theology and doctrine, American Baha’i history, Middle Eastern Baha’i_ history, and Baha’is in the Third’ World.

Beyond the formal presentation of papers, the conference allowed considerable time for an informal exchange of ideas and viewpoints.

Those who attended left with renewed commitment to serious and scholarly study of the Faith

[Page 10]10 / The American Baha’i / January 1986

Writings guide our search for receptive souls

TEACHING

In a letter of Riḍván 1982 the Universal House of Justice called Sor a “mighty upsurge of effective teaching’’ to meet the challenge of the growing hunger of peoples of the world for “‘the love of God and reunion with Him.”’ This is the sixth in a nine-part series that explores the principles of teaching the Faith. Every believer can, through the simple and direct guidance found in the Writings, become an all-confident, effective Baha’i teacher, capable of uniting hearts with Bahá’u’lláh.

°

In this series we have discussed a wide range of elements involved in preparing to teach, including reliance on God, living a Baha’i life, acquiring spiritual attributes, and gaining the knowledge needed to properly convey the teachings.

If we were to wait until we were fully prepared with all the implications of each of these topics, no one would ever teach the Faith! From another perspective, we cannot gain the divine assistance necessary to progress far in living the life and gaining attributes

‘Promise of Peace’ is now available in

In addition to presentation editions of the peace statement by the Universal House of Justice, ‘‘The Promise of World Peace,” that are available in English, Persian and Spanish from the Baha’i Distribution Service, the statement is available in other languages from the National Teaching Committee.

Translations are available in French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili and two Chinese translations, one by a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Taiwan, and one in Mandarin Chinese.

These photocopied translations, in an 8 1/2 by 11-inch format, are suitable for sharing with friends and relatives in an informal presentation. To obtain copies, contact the National Teaching Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Pictured are some of the 20 adults and 32 children who attended a recent one-day institute on the local Spiritual Assembly in Berino, New Mexico. Teachers are needed to help carry out the work of the Mobile Teaching Institute of the Mesilla Valley along the Rio

‘rande River in New Mexico, Texas and northern Chihuahua, Mex Some knowledge of

without teaching. Our first efforts, perhaps weak or even incorrect, will be blessed by God.

“It is not sufficient to pray diligently for guidance, but this prayer must be followed by meditation as to the best methods of action and then action itself. Even if the action should not immediately produce results, or perhaps not be entirely correct, that does not make so much difference, because prayers can only be answered through action and if someone’s action is wrong, God can use that method of showing the pathway which is right.”” (on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, The Individual and Teaching, No. 115)

We will now begin to look at aspects of interacting with others, beginning with finding and attracting receptive souls.

Three things are necessary to have complete confidence when approaching someone about the Faith. The first is, of course, the belief that Bahá’u’lláh will help you. The second is the understanding that ‘every man hath been, and will continue to be, able of himself to appreciate the Beauty of God, the Glorified. Had he not been endowed with this capacity, how could he be called to account for his failure?’”? (Gleanings, p. 143)

After understanding that everyone is capable by himself of recognizing Baha’u’llh, the third point is that “‘there is no paradise more wondrous for any soul than to be exposed to God’s Manifestation in His Day, to hear His verses and believe in them. ...’’ (Selections from the Writings of the Bab)

Telling someone about Baha’u’llah is the greatest gift, in this world or the next, that you could offer him in this day.

The Writings guide our search for receptive souls.

Letters written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi indicate that finding receptive souls and teaching them “‘is the duty and privilege of every single Baha’i” (The Individual and Teaching, No. 73); that we should “make a special point of praying ardently ... that God may send you the souls that are ready” (The Individual and

Spanish is helpful but not required. The Institute is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Room and board while there can be arranged. Contact the Mobile Teaching Institute of the Mesilla Valley, c/o Chris Cholas, P.O. Box 3939 U.P.B., Las Cruces, NM 88003, or phone Oscar Arrambide, 505882-5670.

Teaching, No. 78); and that “there are such souls in every city ...’" (The Individual and Teaching, No. 78).

Bahá’u’lláh wrote: “‘If ye be aware of a certain truth, if ye possess a jewel, of which others are deprived, share it with them in a language of utmost kindliness and good-will. If it be accepted, if it fulfill its purpose, your object is attained. If anyone should refuse it, leave him unto himself, and be

seech God to guide him.’’ (Gleanings, p. 289) Therefore, we must judge the receptivity of each soul and offer him only what he can bear.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá indicates the manner in which we can help souls become more receptive:

“If every one of the friends were to establish relations of friendship and right dealings with one of the negligent souls, associate and live with him in perfect

kindliness, and meanwhile through good conduct and moral behavior lead him to divine instruction, to heavenly advice and teachings, surely he would gradually arouse that negligent person and would change his ignorance into knowledge...” (The Individual and Teaching, No. 19) The next parts of this series will look more closely at methods of teaching and delivery of the Di

Baha’is in Martin County, Florida, prepare for their ‘World Peace Day Balloon Release’ which was held September 17. Each of the more than 100 balloons contained a Peace Day greeting and the name and address of one of the local Baha’is. That evening, the Baha’is of Martin County hosted a public meeting to share common concerns about the establishment of world peace and to hear a talk, ‘World Peace—America’s First Priority,’ by Covey Cantville of Palm Beach County. Thanks to the Bahá’ís’ efforts, the city of Stuart, Florida, declared September 17 ‘World Peace Day.’

vine Message. ,

Here’s a brief vocabulary quiz designed to help

make reading the Guardian’s writings easier

The following column seeks to promote greater ease in reading and understanding Shoghi Effendi’s writings. You'll find a short excerpt from a major book, a vocabulary quiz pulled from the excerpt, and questions designed to aid comprehension of the passage. We hope you find it useful.

.

From the writings of the Guardian (The Advent of Divine Justice, pp. 18-19):

Of these spiritual prerequisites of success, which constitute the bedrock on which the security of all teaching plans, Temple projects, and financial schemes. must ultimately rest, the following stand out as pre-eminent and vital, which the members of the American Baha’i community will do well to ponder. Upon the extent to which these basic requirements are met, and the manner in which the American believers fulfill them in their individual lives, administrative activities, and social relationships, must depend the measure of the manifold blessings which the All-Bountiful Possessor can vouchsafe to them all. These requirements are none other than a high sense of moral rectitude in their social and administrative activities, absolute chastity in their individual lives, and complete freedom from prejudice in their dealings with peoples of a different race, class, creed, or color.

The first is specially, though not exclusively, directed to their elected representatives, whether local, regional, or national, who, in their capacity as the custodians and members of the nascent institutions of the Faith of Baha’u’llah, are shouldering the chief responsibility in laying an unassailable foundation for that Universal House of Justice which, as its title implies, is to be the exponent and guardian of that Divine Justice which can alone insure the security of, and establish the reign of law and order in, a

strangely disordered world. The second is mainly and directly concerned with the Baha’i youth, who can contribute so decisively to the virility, the purity, and the driving force of the life of the Baha’i community, and upon whom must depend the future orientation of its destiny, and the complete unfoldment of the potentialities with which God has endowed it. The third should be the immediate, the universal, and the chief concern of all and sundry members of the Baha’i community, of whatever age, rank, experience, class, or color, as all, with no exception, must face its challenging implications, and none can claim, however much he may have progressed along this line, to have completely discharged the stern responsibilities which it inculcates. Now, the quiz:

Vocabulary

Choose the meaning of the fol lowing words used in the passage. 1. Preeminent: (a) appropriate;

(b) valuable; (c) distinguished; (d) honorable.

2. Rectitude: (a) destructive; (b) direction; (c) immovable; (d) uprightness.

3. Nascent: (a) beginning to exist; (b) going up; (c) shy; (d) potent.

4, Unassailable: (a) doesn’t float; (b) cannot be successfully attacked; (c) unwilling to change; (d) cannot be influenced.

5. Exponent: (a) enemy; (b) interpreter; (c) winner; (d) model.

6. Inculcate: (a) sharpen; (b) peel off; (c) instill; (d) hatch.

7. Debilitate: (a) fix up; (b) fall apart; (c) create; (d) weaken.

8. Vouchsafe: (a) prevent; (b) grant; (c) release; (d) require. Questions

9. Each of the three spiritual requirements is directed primarily, though not only, at a certain group. Fill in the chart:

Spiritual requirement Target

2 Te ba Het

3.

10. Often in the Writings, we are told what we must do to achieve certain results. According to this passage, we must fulfill the spiritual requirements in order to: (a) help the community grow and develop; (b) help our personal spiritual development; (c) create a firm financial foundation for our lives; (d) establish a world government; (e) eliminate prejudice of all kinds.

11. According to the above passage, the Divine Justice administered and interpreted by the Universal House of Justice will (choose two): (a) insure the security of the world; (b) insure that the plans will be completed; (c) establish a world order; (d) establish law and order; (e) establish an unassailable foundation.

12. The rest of the chapter probably deals with: (a) completion of the Temple project; (b) functions of the Universal House of Justice; (c) the meaning of success in teaching; (d) an in-depth discussion of the prerequisites; (e) responsibilities of Baha’i youth.

Answers

Vocabulary: 1, c; 2, d; 3, a; 4, b; 5, b; 6, d; 7, d; 8, b.

Questions: 9, Ist: moral rectitude/elected representatives; 2nd: absolute chastity/Baha’i youth; 3rd: freedom from prejudice/eyeryone. 10, a; 11, a and d; 12, d.

Teachers needed

Prospective pioneers take note: the Foreign and Domestic Teachers Organization needs teacher applicants in all fields from kindergarten through college to fill more than 600 vacancies at home and abroad.

Further informetion is available from the Nationa! Teachers Placement Agency, Universal Teachers,

Portland, OR 97208. [Page 11]The American Baha’i / January 1986 / 11

Scout emblem designed by Faith nears completion

The National Teaching Committee is pleased to announce that the development of a Boy Scout religious emblem by the Baha’ is of the U.S. in nearing completion.

The National Teaching Committee already has approved the requirements for the Baha’i religious emblem and is presently field testing the program, which is to be reviewed by the National Spiritual Assembly during its January meeting.

Once the emblem has been approved by the National Assembly, it will be submitted to the national organization of the Boy Scouts of America.

A counselor’s manual is also being written for approval by the National Spiritual Assembly and submission to the Boy Scouts of America, while plans are under way for the development of a Girl Scouts religious emblem.

The National Assembly looks. forward to announcing the availability of the Boy Scouts religious emblem at this year’s National Convention.

A task force will be appointed to review the requirements regularly and to make the necessary changes to keep the emblem current on a yearly basis.

The original emblem program is based on the peace statement by the Universal House of Justice and will be available for Baha’i and non-Baha’i Scouts.

At the most recent Boy Scouts National Jamboree in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Tim Tyson was authorized by the National Spiritual Assembly to serve as a Chaplain General for the Baha’i Scouts.

In this capacity, he was able to interact with Chaplains General from many other religious groups represented at the Jamboree.

On the closing Sunday, Mr. Tyson directed a worship service that was attended by more than 50 non-Baha’i Boy Scouts and personnel.

Historic conference of committees held in Petersburg, N.Y.

An historic joint meeting of the District Teaching Committees, Regional Youth Committee and District Youth Committees in the entire Northeastern region was held November 9-10 at Fox Hollow Lodge in Petersburg, New York.

The meeting resulted from a decision made by the District Teaching Committees at a DTC briefing in September to meet together to discuss teaching plans for the region.

Consultation was freed by establishing a ‘‘no agenda”’ meeting which resulted in agreement on about 15 points.

Highlights of the agreed upon plan include everyone saying the prayer for the Northeastern states every day at about 6 p.m.; a direct teaching campaign in every district beginning at Ridvan 1986; a “‘white ribbon’’ campaign representing prayers for world peace; and sharing resources to help the Northeast reach its goals.

New York state challenged the other eight Northeastern states to see who has the highest number of declarations at the end of 1986.

149 jeopardized Assemblies must be restored

TEACHING

As of December 1, there were 1,762 local Spiritual Assemblies in the U.S. and another 61 on Indian Reservations.

There are, however, also 149 Assemblies that have fallen below nine adults. To ensure that we have at least 1,750 Assemblies after Ridvan 1986, immediate action is needed.

District Teaching Committees should contact each jeopardized Assembly in their area and offer assistance.

Perhaps you can pool resources throughout the district to help ina teaching project, a public meeting or a fireside. In addition, let the friends in the district know which Assemblies are in jeopardy by placing articles in your bulletin.

For the first time, the U.S. Baha’i community has won most of the major goals of a Plan months before Ridvan. We cannot let this victory be watered down by falling below 1,750 Assemblies at Ridvan.

Please keep the National Teaching Committee informed of the status of each jeopardized Assembly in your district and your activities to help them.

Jeopardized Assemblies (Membership in parentheses) Alabama, Northern—Jefferson

County (8).

Alabama, S/Florida, Macon County North (8).

Arizona, Northern—Coconino East (8), Cottonwood (8), West Buckeye (4).

Arizona, Southern—Cochise County SW (8).

Arkansas—Washington County .

California, Central No. 1—Albany (7), Lafayette (8).

California, Central No. 2—Tulare (8).

California, Northern No. 2Petaluma (8).

California, Southern No. 1—E| Monte (7), Lakewood (8), Montebello (8), Rosemead (7).

California, Southern No. 3Grover City (8).

California, Southern No. 4Lemon Grove (8), National City (8), South Bay JD (4).

Colorado, Northeast—Commerce City (8), Greeley (7).

Colorado, Southeast—Beulah (2). DelMarVa—Sussex County (8).

Florida, Central—Gifford (7).

Florida, Southeast—Benbow (6), Bryant (6), Carol City (8),

NW Baha’is participate in Dallas seminar for Native Americans

Baha’ is participated recently in a four-day seminar in Dallas, Texas, designed to focus attention on Native American concernssuch as the desecration of their sacred sites—and to try to change some of the stereotypical images of Indians.

The seminar director was Frank McLemore, a Native American Baha’i from Dallas. Among those taking part was Kevin Locke, a Lakota Sioux Baha’i from South Dakota.

Jupiter (6), Marathon (7), Tamarac (8).

Florida, Southwest—Clearwater (5), Citrus County (7), Collier County (5), Gulfport (8), Lakeland (8), Pasco County W ). Georgia, Northeast—Columbia County West (7).

Georgia, Northwest—Barnesville (6), Cherokee County (8), Clayton County (8), Cobb County SE (5), Henry County (1), Lincoln Park (7), Rockdale County (8), Thomaston (8).

Idaho, N/Washington, EMillwood, WA (6), Moses Lake, WA (8), Toppenish, WA (8), Wapato, WA (7).

Illinois, Northern No. 1—DeKalb (8), Hanover Park (5), Moline (7), West Chicago (8).

Illinois, Northern No, 2—Berwyn (6), Hoffman Estates (8), Morton Grove (8), Northfield Twp. (5), Schaumburg (8).

Illinois, Southern—Alorton (8), Chatham (6), Limestone Twp. (7), Mahomet Twp. (7).

Indiana—Marion (8), way (7).

Towa—Cedar Falls (7), Marshalltown (7).

Kansas—Prairie Village (8), Winfield (7).

Maine—Gorham (7), South Portland (7), York Town (8).

Maryland/D.C.—Annapolis (7), Bel Air (8), College Park (8), Tacoma Park (7).

Massachusetts—Amesbury (7), Beverly (7), Milford (8), Pittsfield (7), South Hadley (7).

Michigan, Mainland—Battle Creek (8), Lincoln Park (8), Pontiac (7), Royal Oak (7), Saginaw Twp. (8), Southfield (8).

Minnesota, Northern—Mille Lacs (8).

Minnesota, Southern—Hopkins (8).

Mississippi—Madison County

Speed Missouri—Clayton (7), Jefferson City (8), Maplewood (5), St. Joseph (8).

Nebraska—Bellevue (8), Crete (4), Sarpy County (8).

Nevada, Southern—Clarke County W (6), Sunrise Manor (8).

New Hampshire—Durham (8), Exeter Town (8).

New Jersey—Middletown Twp. (8), Piscataway Twp. (8).

New Mexico, Northern—Espanola (8).

New York, Eastern—Hempstead Village (8).

New York, Western—Clarence (8), Greece Town (8).

North Carolina, Central—Orange County (8).

North Carolina, Rocky Mount (8).

Ohio, Northern—Akron (8), Euclid (8).

Oklahoma, Western—Anadarko (8), Duncan (7), Midwest City (6), Noble (5).

Oregon, Western—Gladstone (7), Klamath Falls (8), Oregon City (7).

Pennsylvania, Eastern—BethIehem (8), Cheltenham (7), Lower Marion Twp. (8), Radnor Twp. (7), Swarthmore (4).

Pennsylvania, Western—State College (8).

South Carolina, NorthernGaffney (6), Greater Cowpens (5).

South Dakota—Rosebud (8), Vermillion (5), White River (8).

Texas, Eastern No. 1—Allen (8), Marshall (6), Mesquite (8).

Texas, Southern—Brownsville

Eastern (8).

Vermont—Hartford Twp. (7), Rochester (8).

Virginia, Northern—Springfield (7).

Virginia, Southwest—Highland County (6), Roanoke County (4).

Washington, Northwest—Normandy Park (6).

Washington, SouthwestPierce County Peninsula (7).

Wisconsin, Southern—Delafield (8), Janesville (8), Shorewood (8).

On November 8-10, members of eight urban Assemblies on the West Coast met at the Bosch Baha’i School in Santa Cruz, California, to consult on matters of mutual interest. They were joined at the historic meeting by Counsellors Fred Schechter and Velma Sherrill; Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly; Auxiliary Board members Opal Conner, Joyce Dahl, Edward Diliberto, Margaret Gallagher, Marsha Gilpatrick and Jim Schoppert; and Juana Conrad, a member of the National Teaching Commitiee. Assemblies represent

ed were Seattle, Portland, Oregon; and San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Long Beach, San Francisco and San

Washington;

Jose, California. Among the topics were problems involving integration of the community, teaching and consolidation, administration, and problems related to apathy as well as the need to nurture a sense of commitment among community members. A similar meeting for Assemblies in the Midwest was held that same weekend at the Louhelen School in Michigan.

Youth use Halloween to proclaim Faith door-to-door in Vernon, Connecticut

Imaginative youth took advantage of Halloween to proclaim the Faith door-to-door in Vernon, Connecticut.

The youth—eight Baha’is and one ‘‘pre-Baha’i’’ from several areas of the state—separated into three groups to visit houses in different parts of Dawn DiMauro’s neighborhood, ringing doorbells in typical Halloween fashion.

When offered candy, they answered politely, ‘‘No, thank you, instead of taking we have something to give you.””

They then gave the surprised and delighted residents heartshaped sachets attached to cards bearing the DiMauros’ phone number and the message: ‘‘The

Do’a, Doug Cameron perform at concert for peace at N.Y.’s Columbia University

Do’a World Music Ensemble and singer/songwriter Doug Cameron and his group were the featured attractions November 9 at a Peace Concert organized by the Baha’i Association at Columbia University in New York City.

One hundred-fifty people heard Do’a perform selections from the group’s new album, dedicated to the International Year of Peace, and from its ‘One World Symphony,”’ written for instruments from all over the world, while Mr. Cameron presented many songs from his new album, ‘‘Mona with the Children.””

Baha’i Faith: Uniting the World, One Heart at a Time.’’

They explained that they were Baha’is and invited their hosts to call the number if they had any questions. Most of the recipients responded quite favorably to the proclamation.

Afterward, the youth returned to the DiMauros’ for a party.

Funds

from page 5

properties in the Holy Land. I vowed then to save as much as possible of my spending money on my trip. I joyfully offer it now in Tesponse to the request of our esteemed National Assembly, which arrived during my absence.

“T wish every Baha’i could experience the pride I felt in the stewardship of our Divine Institutions, and my conviction that there is no better value anywhere for money that is expended.’” From California:

“We calculated that if every one of the average 6,000 friends who contribute regularly to the National Fund gave $250, the $1.5 million goal (to the Universal House of Justice) would be reached immediately.

“Knowing that not every one would be able to do that, we decided to send more. We had to dip into savings to do this, but we reasoned that if peace is not established and humanity experiences the alternative, our savings won’t mean much anyway.’’ [Page 12]12 / The American Baha’i / January 1986

‘The great and fundamental teachings of Baha’u’llah are the oneness of God and unity of mankind. This is the bond of union among Baha’is all over the world. They become united among themselves, then unite others. /t is impossible to unite unless united.’— ‘Abdu’!-Baha, Prom. Universal Peace, p. 156

What others are doing...

The Commission for Racial Justice

Recently, the Commission for Racial Justice celebrated its 20th anniversary. At that time, it established the following priorities for the orgaization. To: address the plight of the growing homeless population in this coun

attack the problems of apartheid in South Africa by launching a national fund-raising campaign to support the efforts of the South African

Council of Churches and the African National Congress

The commission is an agency of the 1.7-million member United Church of Christ. Its newly elected executive director, Dr. Benjamin C. Chavis, has urged its members to become the collective and prophetic voice of the Protestant church in America on the questions of racial, economic and political justice. The commission has an annual budget of $1.3 million.

Race relations on campuses

Two prestigious New England universities are trying pro-active approaches toward improving race relations on their campuses.

In Massachusetts, Tufts University included a study of prejudice in its fall orientation program. About 1,200 freshmen and transfer students saw films and engaged in discussions about racial prejudice.

Meanwhile, at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, a blueribbon committee to examine race relations on campus was being established. The committee is chaired by Dr. Augustus White III, orthopedic surgeon-in-chief at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and professor of surgery at the Harvard Medical School.

It is hoped that the committee will be able to make recommendations that will improve the relationship between university administrators and Third World students.

More and more colleges and universities are addressing the issue of discrimination before problems arise on campus, according to Elizabeth Toupin, associate dean of undergraduate studies at Tufts.

‘Operation Understanding’

This summer, 12 teen-agers took part in an experiment they’ll never forget. The youth were participants in Operation Understanding, which, according to its creator, Rep. William H. Gray III of Pennsylval was ‘‘an exercise in humanity.’” black and six Jewish teen-agers visited each other’s respective homelands for four weeks. The Jewish youth went to Senegal where they visited a slave house, while the black youth went to Israel and saw the Holocaust Museum,

The valuable lesson they learned, according to Michele, a 16-year-old from Israel, was ‘‘how similar the two groups are.” This was exactly what the program was designed to accomplish.

In establishing the program, Rep. Gray had the help of George Ross, former president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Am« in Jewish Committee. Together, they recruited black and Jewish businessmen to plan and finance the trips. “‘What I wanted to achieve,’ says Rep. Gray, “was a greater understanding and sensitivity among our future leaders.’’ Therefore, Operation Understanding was created to allow young adults to experience one another’s culture and heritage. By the end of the program, they had gained a greater appreciation for each other’s ‘‘struggle”’ and had become friends.

Ina recent interview on The Today Show, Bryant Gumbel asked Rep. Gray if 12 teen-agers could have a meaningful effect on race relations. Rep. Gray responded by saying that this was a small step with tremendous potential.

On August 6, the 40th anniversary of the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, Baha’is were among the more than 150 people who took part in a candlelight peace procession and vigil in Bellport, New York, The Baha’is of Brookhaven and Long Beach were listed as co-sponsors

of the event which was organized by a committee of the Vigil for World Peace of the Unitarian Universal Fellowship in Bellport. Shown reading a passage on peace from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is Rick Zeff, a Baha’i from Long Beach. Sally Foo (right) read a Bahá’í prayer for mankind.

‘Most challenging issues’ faced squarely

Young black woman learned life’s lessons ’round dining room table

RACE UNITY

’Round the Dining Room Table by Dr. Norma Marcere. Daring Books, Canton, Ohio, 1985 ($16.95 hardcover, $8.95 paper).

By DAWN E. GARROTT

Dr. Norma Marcere’s autobiography, ‘Round the Dining Room Table, is timely. Not only does she share special concerns of black youth, she shows how her mother transmitted a precious spiritual heritage to her children, no simple feat then or now.

“Mom” was Ida Evans Snipes, and her success in this delicate, difficult task is proclaimed by the achievements of her daughter.

Dr. Marcere became the first tenured black teacher and the first black guidance counselor in the Massillon (Ohio) city schools, and the first black high school guidance counselor and first black psychologist for the Akron (Ohio) city schools.

She was named 1973 Woman of the Year by the Junior League and is listed in Who’s Who of American Women.

’Round the Dining Room Table received its name because of the significance of that rectangular mahogany table to Dr. Marcere during her first 18 years.

The table easily accommodated all six Snipes children and became the focal point of family life. Here they ate, studied and did projects. Here their mother taught them to reason by stimulating their thinking and by listening to their developing ideas.

For young Norma, it was a haven from the two bewildering worlds in which she lived: the white world with its smug assumption of superiority, and the ‘‘colored”’ world with its own hierarchy of prejudice based on the lighter, the better.

Around that table the family sat one night after a social worker’s visit, when Pop had ceased to come home or contribute to their needs and the financial situation had become frighteningly precarious.

“The case worker who was here

Special service marks UN anniversary, lYP

A special service October 27 at the Baha’i House of Worship in Samoa marked the 40th anniversary of the United Nations and the launching of the International Year of Peace.

Attending, in addition to the Head of State, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, and his siswere almost 500 people of ions from the islands including

three major members of the Cabinet, Parliament, the diplomatic corps, UN representatives, and leaders of churches and businesses.

today offered us slavery in exchange for charity,” Mom told them, and outlined the conditions to be met before they could receive grocery money regularly: moving to a low-rent slum, selling the piano (a symbol of their intense desire for culture and betterment), giving up the insurance that allowed them to bury their own dead with dignity, and depriving Norma (an outstanding student) of school so she could work full time.

Mom spoke passionately: “Your grandfather fought in the Civil War for the end of slavery, when he was already a free man. He was born free because of his parents. You were born free because of them.

“None of us, neither you nor I, can allow ourselves to become slaves for a handout. Free people control their destiny. Slaves are told what to do and take what is doled out to them. Welfare for this family, with three generations of hard-fought freedom behind us? No! Never!’”

This was the will and the spirit that molded Norma and made her subsequent accomplishments possible.

Dr. Marcere takes us through, the family’s struggles to the time she left home, bound for college and adulthood, a transition not without pain.

What happened next in this individual confrontation “the most challenging issue’? Dr. Marcere is working on a sequel, The Fence Between, also to be published by Daring Books.

Sue Coates, vice-chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Lakewood, Ohio, presents a copy of Lakewood Mayor Anthony Sinagra’s proclamation designating September 17 ‘International Peace Day’ in Lakewood to Kenneth Warren, director of the Lakewood Public Library. The proclamation was

displayed in the library for more than a week. Also, an article about Peace Day and the Baha’i role in it was published in the local newspaper—the first time in a number of years that the paper had printed an article in which the Faith was mentioned. (Photo by Hoda Bakhshandagi)

Writing contest focuses on race prejudice

In its continuing effort to raise the level of community awareness about ‘‘the most challenging issue,”’ the Race Unity Committee of the Baha’is of San Diego, California, recently sponsored a writing event whose theme was “the elimination of racial prejudice,”’ giving the friends an opportunity to express in prose, poetry, essays, stories or plays their feelings, knowledge and understanding of the Baha’i teachings on this important topic.

The contest was open to all

ages, and judging was based on originality, thoughtfulness, creativity and the individual’s understanding of the most challenging issue.

When the results were in (including an entry from as far away as Colorado), Jacques Lawrence Kord’s poem, ‘‘On Racial Prejudice,”’ won the top prize and was read to the community at the Feast of Qawl.

Each entrant received an award for participating. [Page 13]S'S

ACROSS 3. A student 8. Body, mind and wt 10. Glory (Persian word) 13. Flowers grow there 15. Laughter (sound) 16. Masculine pronoun 17. An “entertainment machine’’ 18. We 20. Abbrev.—Ist book in Bible 21. The holiest mountain 23. Pronoun 25. Go into 26. The first number 27. “‘O”’ (Persian), as in “O Thou the Most Glorious . 28. The human temple

DOWN

. The ‘‘Gate’”—Manifestation of God . Heavenly kingdom (Arabic)

. Postscript (initials)

. A Baha’i ‘‘missionary”’

. First two letters in “‘Iran’”

. Baha (English translation) 9. To go from one place to another 11. A measurement of time 12. Music, drama, dance, etc.

1 2 3 4. Opposite of ‘down’ 5 6. a

14. To have a like value

16. A close embrace 18. The

of mankind will bring peace

22. Faculty which acts through the brain

24. A drink

25. Abbrev.—Extra-terrestrial

The answers to this month’s puzzle are on page 26

Distribution Service price list delayed

Due to space restrictions, the Baha’i Distribution Service price list, which usually is printed in The American Bahai every three months including January, will appear instead in the February issue.

The majority of prices for books and other materials remains unchanged. However, new titles and titles that are no longer available are reflected in the new list. For information about the avai ly of specific items, you may contact the nearest Distribution Service representative or phone the Distribution Service at 1-800323-1880 (in Illinois, phone 312-251-1854).

We apologize for our inabil: ity to include the price list in the January issue. It will appear next month,

On August 26, the Hand of the Cause of God Zikru’lláh Khadem spoke at a public meeting in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which commemorated the 73rd anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to the

Boston area. Before his talk, Mr. Khadem went to the home (seen here) visited by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1912. The Master visited Boston three times during that historic year: in May, July and August.

The American Baha’i / January 1986 / 13

Backlog of refugees increases as processing centers decline

Until recently, any Iranian refugee in Pakistan who wished to come to the U.S. had to obtain a transit visa from one of the nine countries in which the U.S. operates refugee processing centers.

Most of the Baha’i refugees have been processed through Austria, Italy or Spain. This summer, however, both Italy and Spain stopped granting visas to Iranian nationals, making it impossible for Iranian Baha’is to be processed from either of those countries.

Austria is presently the only country still willing to grant transit visas to Iranian Baha’i refugees. This means that, at this time, all Iranian Baha’is who wish to come to the U.S. must be processed through Austria.

This has created an even larger backlog than usual of Iranian Baha’i refugees waiting to come to this country. Many of the U bound Baha’is have been ws 13 months or more in Pakistan and still have not received visas to go to Austria for processing.

Fortunately, the U.S. State Department recently issued orders for the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan. to establish a temporary office in Pakistan itself to process U.S.bound refugees.

It is expected that the new proc( ig center in Pakistan will be functional sometime in February or March. Its opening will allow some Baha’is to come to the U.S. without first going to Austria, thereby eliminating some of the expense involved in the transfer of refugees from Europe.

Provisions are being made to process about 500 Iranian refugees of all religious backgrounds each year at the center in Pakistan, and of that number, it is expected that about 200 will be Baha’is.

An estimated 350-400 Iranian Baha’i refugees will come to this country during fiscal 1985-86, about half of them through Austria and the rest from Pakistan.

Because of the financial strain on the Baha’i community in Austria, however, which has been generously hosting the refugees during their processing in Vienna, we are asking that Baha’i refugees who be processed from Vienna provide affidavits of financial support from their sponsors or relatives in the U.S. guaranteeing to underwrite their expenses while in Austria.

These expenses average about $150 per month over the four to eight months that the refugee is in Austria.

The National Spiritual Assembly therefore requests that all sponsors or relatives who are able to undertake such expenses send an affidavit of financial support for their refugees to the Refugee Coordinator, Baha’i National Center, and forward a copy to each of the refugees.

The affidavit must be notarized and state that the sponsor (your name) agrees to underwrite the expenses for (refugee name or names) during their stay in Austria.

Such guarantees will help speed up the process for Baha’i refugees who are now waiting to come to this country.

If half of the refugees are not able to come through Austria, the total number of Baha’is admitted to the U.S. next year may actually be less than the number admitted in 1985. This would mean an even larger backlog in Pakistan and even longer delays.

If, however, half of the Baha’i refugees go to Austria and half remain in Pakistan, the over-all processing time for all Baha’i refugees may be completed with slightly greater expediency.

The average length of time between arrival in Pakistan and arrival at the resettlement destination in the U.S. is now about 18 months to two years. It is hoped that under the new arrangements, this period can be reduced somewhat.

New from George Ronald, Publisher

The Baha’i Faith for children — as told by children. A fresh and lively presentation reflecting the beauty and excitement of Baha’u’llah’s Message.

Softcover $3.95

Another delightful book by Jacqueline Mehrabi

SONG IN THE

GROUND

48 pages, drawings

Onder through including 10

? Baha’i Distnbution Service, 415 Linden Av nue, Wilmette, IL 60091

check or money order ‘mini $1.50) 10:

[Page 14]14 / The American Baha’i / January 1986

Sales of Promise of World Peace nearing 100,000 in only two months

DISTRIBUTION SERVICE

GJ

Combined sales of The Promise of World Peace were approaching 100,000 in just the first two months in which the Universal House of Justice’s statement has been available, according to the Baha’i Distribution Service.

“When we combine the sales of the study, presentation, deluxe, Persian and Spanish editions,’’ says a Distribution Service employee, ‘‘we are inching close to 100,000 copies sold.

“On one hand, it’s a little frustrating when a truck unloads several huge pallets full of large boxes of books and you know it will just about meet the demand for about two more days.

“On the other hand, it’s very encouraging to see the way the Baha’i community is responding to this document so vital to the future of the world.

“Our friends at World Centre Publications, which is producing the 75-cent edition, ran into a problem they hadn’t expected to have to deal with for many years to come.

“Their computer system is only designed to handle titles with sales up to 99,999 units. Their sales on that edition are already above 150,000 (more than half of that to the U.S.), and that figure represents less than two months’ sales

Spanish, deluxe peace statements are now available

La Promesa de Paz Mundial, the Spanish-language translation of the peace statement of the Universal House of Justice, is available from the Baha’i Distribution Service. Also, newly available this month is the deluxe edition of The Promise of World Peace.

La Promesa de Paz Mundial is $1; the delyxe edition of The Promise of World Peace is $30.

Proceeds from the sale of the deluxe edition will go toward the production of materials to support the activities of the Baha’i community during the International Year of Peace.

The two new versions of the peace statement join The Promise of World Peace study edition (75 cents), The Promise of World Peace presentation edition ($3), and The Promise of World Peace in Persian (60 cents).

of one edition in one language.””

“World Centre Publications,”’ the employee adds, ‘‘has been printing The Promise of World Peace both in England and in the U.S., and each time they reprint they already have enough orders to sell out the entire print run.

“Our presentation edition sold its entire print run of 20,000 in a little over a month from the date it was received.

“*A second printing was ordered

early in December. We haven’t even begun to get orders from our customers overseas.

“We keep thinking that the demand will slow, but orders keep coming in, wave after wave. It’s the most remarkable publishing phenomenon in anyone’s memory.””

For information about ordering copies of The Promise of World Peace, see the Distribution Service coupon on this page.

Baha’i World volumes offered at half-price for a limited time

The Baha’i Distribution Service is closing out its stocks of single copies of the first 12 volumes of The Baha’i World by offering the individual volumes at half-price.

In May, the Distribution Service will also be raising the price of the entire set of The Bahá’í World from $200 to $275, so people are encouraged to take advantage of the current prices to make sure their personal or community libraries have a complete set.

Of the individual volumes, all are available except Volume 7. Supplies of several other volumes are quite small, so the Distribution Service advises anyone who is interested to act quickly.

“We think this is an ideal time of the year to make this offer,”” says Larry Bucknell, general manager of the Baha’i Publishing Trust, ‘‘because The Bahá’í

World makes a good gift at Ay yam-i-H4, Naw-Rúz or during Ridvan.

“This is a chance for many people to complete their set of The Bahá’í World, and since single copies will not be offered again, it’s their last opportunity.””

Prices are net to all accounts on all the sale copies and on the set. Since this is a close-out sale there can be no returns on items received in good condition.

“If you buy all 11 of the available editions now on sale,” says Mr. Bucknell, ‘“‘you can save about $125 above the cost of buying the books individually, so we hope that as many people as possible will take advantage of the offer.”

A coupon for placing orders for The Bahá’í World, either individual copies or sets, is on Page 18 in this issue of The American Baha’i.

Shown receiving a copy of the book The Violence-Free Society: A Gift for Our Children are Don Gerth (second from left), presi dent of California State University-Dominguez Hill, and Phillip

Quan.

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NET price

Z7POn Demo

Wesley (right), CSUDH head librarian. Making the presentation are two Baha’is from Carson, California, George Hill (left) and Kay Payne.

Amt, — Quan. Amt. ($1.50 minimum for postage) $20.00 _The Master in ‘Akká, HC sui.9s 10.00 —Persian: Promise of World Peace, HC Ed Enclose a check for the full amount, or 2.00 _Promise of World Peace—Deluxc Ed., HC 30.00 irs con VISA/MC (CIRCLE ONE) EXP. DATE ______ 125 1.00 19.95 3.95 GARD NO, Ale he Sai 7.50 The Tablets of Bahi’u'llh, HC 12.00 3.75 The Tablets of Bahd’u'lth, LT 6.00 6.00 _Unrestrained as the Wind, SC 29s Name 3.50 Unto Him Shall We Return, HC 195 ao Address

Baha’ Distribution Service 415 LINDEN AVENUE

WILMETTE, IL 60091

“The Promise of World Peace”

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Peace statement, Year of Peace inspire Baha’i history calendar

The International Year of Peace and the statement of the Universal House of Justice, The Promise of World Peace, are the inspiration for the 1986 Baha’i History Calendar ($5.50 each).

“This is by far the most attractive in the series of hi endars printed in Hawaii,” says Distribution Service marketing manager Robert Blum. ‘‘Not only does this year’s calendar have a set of marvelous photographs, but the quality of the printing has been greatly improved over previous years.””

The cover of the 1986 Bai History Calendar has a striking photograph of a coastal scene with the legend ‘‘The Promise of World Peace’’ superimposed.

The first inside page has excerpts from the statement by the Universal House of Justice for the International Year of Peace. This is followed by 12 extraordinary

City

Credit card orders ($10.00 minimum) are accepted by phone: 800-323-1880 (outside Illinois), or 312251-1854 (within Illinois).

TAB 1/86

color photographs of nature scenes, one for each month, each with a quotation from the Baha’i writings relating to peace.

Each photograph faces the Gregorian month noting important events in Baha’i history, Feasts, Holy Days, and special observances.

“The cover is printed on a heavy, coated paper,”” says Mr. Blum, ‘‘which shows the photograph to best advantage. The photos on the inside pages are are also printed on an enamel paper which allows the photographic reproduction to be far more vivid than conventional paper would.””

All of the photographs were taken by Paul Slaughter, a Baha’i from California who is a professional photographer.

The 1986 Baha’i History Calendar was printed in Korea, which allowed for the quantum leap in quality for almost the same price.

Total plus 10 per cent postage —__

State Zip

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Prices good through February 28, 1986

[Page 15]The Creative Word —j

TABLETS

Tablets of Baha’u’llah contains many passages to help us understand various aspects of peace

Many of us have read and studied ‘‘The Promise of World Peace’’ and discussed it with our friends. But have we gone back to the Creative Word to see how the peace statement has helped illumine and deepen our understanding of it?

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, compiled by the Universal House of Justice in 1978, is full of passages that relate to aspects of peace. For example, there are passages in the book that help us to understand the condition of the world today (pp. 163-64).

Then there are sections that discuss humankind’s capacity to go beyond selfishness and aggression (pp. 162, 174, 176-77), and the coming of age of humanity (p. 220). The vital role of religion (pp. 63-64, 125, 129-30, 155, 166), the roots of irreligion (pp. 86, 92), and barriers between religion, science and reason (pp. 72, 145-46, 150) are another cluster of peace-related themes found in Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.

Barriers to peace and their solutions are also discussed: the importance of abandoning obsolete doctrines (pp. 41-58); the effects of unbridled nationalism (pp. 67, 167); the need for education (pp. 51-52, 90, 161-62, 168-69), and the need for an auxiliary language (pp. 127, 165-66). Finally, you’ll find passages on consultation (p. 168) and governing the affairs of humanity (pp. 32, 36, 66-67, 126, 127, 164-67).

No wonder that Shoghi Effendi characterized these 16 Tablets, all revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, as ‘‘mighty and final effusions of His (Bahá’u’lláh’s) indefatigable pen,”’ Tablets that ‘“‘must rank among the choicest fruits which His mind has yielded, and mark the consummation of His 40-year-long ministry.””

When we re-read the Creative Word with the ideas of the peace statement in mind, we can visualize more clearly Bahá’u’lláh’s plan for humanity, and we will find that old favorite passages take on a much deeper significance than we had previously thought. This should inspire us to approach the tasks of inner transformation and teaching with renewed joy and confidence.

(Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh is available from the Baha’i Distribution Service in hardcover for $12 and in lightweight paper for $6.)

New Divine Art of Living could be ideal Intercalary Days gift

silver stamping, makes the book especially attractive. The index, prepared by Frances Worthington, will help you find your favorite passages quickly.

Have you been looking for a new Baha’i book to give to your friends or relatives for Ayyam-iHa? The new edition of The Divine Art of Living could well be your answer.

The new Divine Art of Living includes two new chapters—one ‘on marriage and family life, the other on the significance of the day in which we live.

It is organized to help the reader move easily from the acquisition of personal spiritual qualities to the realm of practical action. And it contains many new passages and translations not available when the book was first published.

This collection of gems from the Baha’ writings will appeal to Baha’is and non-Baha’is of any religious background. Topics covered include knowing and loving God, life after death, prayer and meditation, tests and ordeals, marriage and family life, health and healing, and many others.

The chapter on peace and unity will be sure to capture the attention of readers interested in world peace.

The new cover design, with its rose-colored photograph and

The Divine Art of Living will be available this month in softcover only at $7.95.

Sample pages show splendid features of

new Baha’i Datebook Sample facing pages (reduced) from the new Baha’i Datebook

143 B.E., which features a Gregorian month-at-a-glance calendar

How to order

To order any titles listed on this page, individuals living anywhere in the world should see the Baha’i Distribution Service coupon in this issue.

Baha’i institutions outside the contiguous 48 states should order directly from the Baha’i Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

with the Baha’i dates and days of the week added; a quotation from the writings; Feast and Fund reminders; and space for writing in appointments and days to remember. The cover has a bold, graphic design with ‘Baha’i Datebook 143 B.E.’ prominently visible. Order now! See the coupon on the Bahá’í Distribution Service page for information about the Datebook and the wall and pocket calendars.

Peace: More Than an End to War, the compilation of the Baha’i writings on the subject of peace being undertaken by the Baha’i Publishing Trust, is still in process and is expected to be ready in late February.

“This compilation has been extremely difficult to put together,’’ says Terrill Hayes, one of the compilers. ‘‘When we decided to structure the compilation along the lines of the peace statement we had to start all over, taking the time to study and define the words and phrases used by the Universal House of Justice.

“This process gave us a new understanding of the Baha’i writings on peace. It has been exciting—and illuminating—to find amplification in the writings for every point made in the peace statement.

“Every day, we’re finding passages we've loved for years; but new layers of meaning emerge as

New peace compilation from Trust may be ready toward end of February

we work on the compilation.’’

The peace compilation will include sections on the coming of age of civilization, the spiritual roots of peace, understanding the spiritual nature of man and the vital role of religion, overcoming the barriers to peace, and achieving the unity of all peoples—humanity’s ultimate goal.

“This compilation,” says Mr. Hayes, ‘‘will amplify the statements made by the House of Justice and will provide an excellent structure for deepening on Baha’w'llah’s vision of the process for achieving a lasting peace.

“It’s also designed to give non-Baha’is a clear overview of the teachings on peace without being too ‘Baha’ i-specific.’ Those of us who have been working on it are in a state of awe.””

Peace: More Than an End to War is expected to be 250 to 300 pages, and will be available in both hardcover and softcover.

O God, Guide Me! fine Ayyam-i-Ha gift

One of the best Ayyam-i-Ha presents parents, friends or a Spiritual Assembly can give to children is the new edition of O God, Guide Me!, a prayer book for children that now includes updated translations and one new prayer.

Five of the prayers were written specifically for children; an additional five prayers or parts of prayers are easily understood and memorized by children.

The charming interracial illustrations are by the late Gordon Laite. A new cover design features gold stamping and an illustration in white against a dark red background. The inside text will be printed in brown ink.

“Children take pt having their own prayer book,” says Dr. Betty J. Fisher, general editor of the Baha’i Publishing Trust. “And at such times as Ayydm-iHa, or when the child is enrolled in the Baha’i community, it is particularly significant to present each child with his or her own copy.””

O God, Guide Me! will be available in mid-February from the Baha’i Distribution Service.

Trust takes part in AAR meeting in Anaheim

PUBLISHING TRUST

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The Baha’i Publishing Trust participated November 23-26 in a publishers’ book exhibit at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) in Anaheim, California.

Representing the Publishing Trust were general manager Larry Bucknell and promotions coordinator Anne Atkinson.

Dr. Ann Schoonmaker and Robert Stockman, Baha’is who are members of AAR, helped staff the Trust’s booth, which was one of more than 40 booths set up and staffed by publishers of books on religion.

The Publishing Trust also participated in the book exhibit in 1984, while in previous years Dr. Schoonmaker singlehandedly set up Baha’ book displays.

Many more books were sold

Publishing Trust general manager Larry Bucknell and promotions

and free handouts taken this year than last, and there was an increase in the number of browsers and the number and substance of questions asked. Those who vis

October 1986

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coordinator Anne Atkinson at the annual AAR meeting in Anaheim.

ited the booth included other publishers as well as scholars and professors from all over the U.S.

“There seems to be a growing intellectual curiosity about the Faith among members of the academic community,” says Mr. Bucknell.

“Not only was concern for the Iranian situation expressed, but many professors wanted general information about the Faith for their students, and some expressed interest in using Baha’i books in their courses. It was a unique teaching opportunity.””

Says Mrs. Atkinson, ‘‘We gave away many copies of the Haifa edition of ‘The Promise of World Peace’ and sold 10 or 12 copies of the presentation edition.

“Our stack of free copies of World Order magazine and ‘U.S. Baha’i Report’ disappeared,”’ she adds, “‘and 15 people signed up for free subscriptions to ‘U.S. Baha’i Report.’

“‘It was thrilling to see the response of those who approached our booth, many of whom had had significant encounters with Baha’is or had read about the

See AAR page 28 [Page 16]16 / The American Baha’i / January 1986

CLASSIFIEDS

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

°

EMPLOYMENT

THE OFFICE of the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly urgently needs a secretarial assistant. The position requires someone with strong clerical and organizational skills who types at least 55 wpm. A firm Baha’i background, common sense, and an ability to work both independently and under close supervision are necessary. Mail screening, Processing correspondence and special project assignments are only a few of the varied duties the position entails. Anyone who is interested in applying should contact immediately the Department of Human Resources, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039 to obtain an application.

THE LOUHELEN Baha’i School is taking applications for summer staff positions for July and August 1986. Positions include assistant registrar, housekeeper, grounds/maintenance, assistant librarian, voluuteer coordinator, public relations assistant, child education coordinator, and recreation director. Compensation includes room, board and a modest stipend. Applicants must be at least 17 years old. Send a letter and resumé to the Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

POSITION available now for an experienced, creative and energetic high school principal in Seviérville, Tennessee, whose Baha’i Group presently has four adults and three children. Another Baha’i couple is moving into the county to make a total of six adults. You and your spouse, and one of our seekers, can make nine! Sevier County offers wide contrasts in living: wilderness camping and hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; ethnic festivals; skiing; a variety of activities in the performing and visual arts; occupational opportunities in tourism and light industry; and higher education at the nearby University of Tennessee in Knoxville. For more information, contact Carol Walborn,

_ Sevierville, TN 37862, or phone 615-428-2189.

NON-Baha’i couple with winter home in Dorado, Puerto Rico, is looking for a Baha’i couple without children to be caretakers in their new four-bedroom home. The couple would be in charge of cooking when the owners are present and for taking care of gardening, yard work and house cleaning. The couple would be given housing in a small cottage, board and a small salary. Owners are looking for reliable, trustworthy people, middle-aged or older. The position would be open no earlier than April and no

later than June. If you are interested in this chance to serve overseas, contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

NEEDED: experienced kitchen manager/cook to work at a medium-sized family-type restaurant in Satellite Beach, Florida, a small beach town 12 miles south of Cape Canaveral. Melbourne, with all big-city amenities including colleges and universities, is just across the Indian River. The area is great for water sports with many lagoons, canals, lakes, ponds, inlets and lovely scenic drives. We urgently need traveling teachers and/or homefront pioneers; residence provided for one month with help in relocating. If interested, phone Shahrooz, 305777-8444 (work) or 305-777-0203 (home), or send a resumé to P.O. Box 3028, Satellite Beach, FL 32937.

» OPENING for a dedicated doc tor of chiropractic for homefront pioneering in southern Vermont. Graduating student or relocating doctor needed to buy flourishing practice; financing plan available. All queries will be answered. The practice is available in July 1986. Please send full resumé and a letter of introduction to Dr. Francis V. Brooks, Bennington, VT 05201.

THE LOUHELEN Baha’i School has openings at its Residential College for a head resident and an academic assistant/secretary. The head resident will serve as an academic and personal counselor to students by overseeing and helping them plan their devotional, educational, work, social and recreational activities. Interested applicants must have experience working with youth. They should also have completed high school and preferably college, be in good physical condition and be in their mid-20s or older. Compensation for this position consists of room, meals and a $75 per week stipend. The academic assistant/secretary will serve as an assistant and secretary to the director of academic affairs. This includes work in the areas of pub licity, planning and implementing

retreats and conferences, drafting correspondence, compiling reports, and working on special projects. Interested applicants must have good typing skills and should have completed high school and, preferably, college. Compensation consists of room, meals and a $75 per week stipend. These positions would be ideally filled by a married couple who would have the qualifications between them to divide the duties of each job. It would be preferable if both were experienced and interested in working with youth so that they could share in the counseling of students. To apply for either position, or to obtain a more complete job description, send a letter and resumé to the Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. The deadline for acceptance of applications is March 1, 1986.

A FULL-TIME coordinator of child education is needed at the Louhelen Baha’i School. The position involves recruiting teachers for weekend conferences and week-long sessions, developing curricula and child education materials, ordering materials and

supplies when needed, and planning and coordinating teacher training programs. It calls for a person who is able to consult and work well with others, who is patient and easy-going and who loves children. Experience in teaching Baha’i children’s classes is needed; experience with Baha’i summer and winter sessions is preferred. This is a volunteer position and requires someone with an independent income of at least $5,000 a year. Free housing is provided. The position would be ideal for a retired teacher. Someone who would be willing to take a part-time teaching job in the area and devote about 20 hours per week during the school year and 40 hours per week during the summer would also be suitable. Applicants may send a curriculum vitae to the Louhelen Child Education Committee, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313653-5033.

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

SPANISH-speaking Baha’is: you are lovingly invited to become part of the Baha’i community of. Lakeport, situated on Clear Lake, the largest lake in California, surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards, orchards and an ideal climate with clean air. Lakeport (population 5,000) is 110 miles north of San Francisco, 100 miles east of Sacramento, 80 miles from the ocean; ideal for families or retirees. We would render all possible assistance in helping you relocate and adjust. Contact the Spiritual Assembly of Lakeport, P.O. Box 1643, Lakeport, CA 95453, or phone 707-263-0724.

COME and help the Cause of Baha’u’llah. The Spiritual Assembly of Oregon City, Oregon, is in jeopardy. Needed are four Baha’is. For information, contact M. Cannon,

Oregon City, OR 97045, or phone 503-657-7536.

DIMINISHING Baha’i community of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with an incorporated Assembly and once-vigorous, now defunct college club, needs help to revive its faltering fortunes. Oshkosh, a city of 50,000 on lovely Lake Winnebago, has a state university, modern hospital, parks, cultural offerings. Minority believers are especially welcome. For information, write to the Spiritual Assembly of Oshkosh, c/o Mrs. Virginia Fries, secretary, _

Oshkosh, WI 54901.

HELP! We need several homefront pioneers to help save the jeopardized Assembly of Hempstead Village, New York. This active community is within easy commuting distance of New York City, has rent stabilization guidelines, plenty of apartments for rent, and several major universities in the immediate area. Teaching opportunities abound in this multi-ethnic community. For more information, please phone Gary Dunn, 516-481-7860.

PIONEERS needed in Ouachita Parish (Monroe) Louisiana, whose Group needs four more Baha’is to become an Assembly. The twin cities of Monroe/West Monroe comprise more than 100,000 people. There are a number of industries, a new shopping mall (one of the largest in the South), and three major universities within 45 miles of each other. Monroe is the home of Northeast Louisiana University, a co-ed school of about

13,000 students with an excellent master’s degree program in marriage and family counseling, a school of pharmacy, a fine business school and strong undergraduate programs in pre-med, sociology and music. Also, NLU has the largest gerontology program in the state. The cost of living is relatively low, and student loans are plentiful. For more information, write to Dr. Chris Johnson, director, Institute of Gerontology, Department of Sociology, Northeast Louisiana State University, Monroe, LA 71209, or phone him at 318-345-0482.

IT IS SO exciting! There are now TWO Baha’is on the Vineyard. And the race is on ...! For more information, contact Victotia de Leon, P.O. Box 994, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or phone 617-693-4581.

COME to beautiful Vermont, a lovely place to live, work, study and, above all, become a homefront pioneer in a goal area. Vermont offers employment opportunities in education, high tech firms, tourism, construction and service industries. There are several good universities and medical centers. For more information, contact the District Teaching Committee of Vermont, c/o Khodadad Varahramyan, _

Colchester, VT 05446, or phone 802-864-4430.

MARION County (Oregon) South, a community of nine adults and one youth plagued by a mobile population and frequent annexation of its members into adjacent Salem, the state capital, needs homefront pioneer families who can provide needed stability to the community’s membership. Oregon’s timber industry is depressed, causing a shortage of jobs, but there are chances for employment in health, clerical work, and service industries. Schools are excellent, the climate is mild, and ocean and mountains are readily accessible. There is a buyer’s market for homes, and Salem has been designated an “All-American city.”” Contact the Spiritual Assembly of Marion County South, Salem, OR 97302.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed in Perry, a city of 10,000 in central Georgia, to help create a strong Baha’i community. Employment is possible at nearby Warner Robins Air Force Base or in local can and cement manufacturing plants. Three four-year colleges are within a 30-minute drive. Sharing a home with a single female homefront pioneer is possible. For more information, please contact Mrs. Sally Brown,

- Perry, GA 31069, or phone 912-987-5707.

THE DTC is calling for pioneers to come to Rock Hill, South Carolina, and be ‘‘occupied with the greatest undertaking”’ in our area. We have a four-year college and technical college and are a 25minute drive from Charlotte, North Carolina. Single, couple, or family with children—we need you to help us. Come, immerse yourselves in the spirit of South Carolina. Contact the Northern District Teaching Committee of South Carolina, c/o Donna Landau, Greer, SC 29651 (phone 803-877-0563).

COME join the College Park, Maryland, Baha’i community and help a jeopardized Assembly. Col lege Park, home of the University of Maryland, has a broad cultural diversity, a low unemployment rate, and is only minutes from the nation’s capital. The metro area has been identified as one of the top 10 in the country in terms of expected growth in jobs during the next five years. College Park has some nice residential areas, an especially large number of starter homes, and good schools. The number of Baha’is may be small, but their enthusiasm is large. We are eager to welcome and share our Baha’i love with newcomers.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed in Americus, a city in southwestern Georgia, to help consolidate a community with a non-functioning Assembly. Americus (population 16,000) has rubber, garment and mobile home manufacturing plants, a hospital, and Georgia Southwestern College, a four-year component of the state university system. For more information, please contact Phil Breitenbucher, P.O. Box 692, Americus, GA 31709, or phone 912-928-2044.

PIONEERING (ABROAD)

MEXICO needs a production manager for a 58,000-square-foot electronics assembly facility. Knowledge of Spanish and experjence in an electronics plant in Mexico are required. For more information, write to the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

JOB OPENING for a resort manager at an ocean-front condo resort in Mexico. Applicants must have five years experience in hotel/resort management with fluency in Spanish and ability to maintain financial records. For more information, write to the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

A SCIENCE writer and editor is needed for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico to coordinate the printing of communications regarding wheat research. Applicants should have a degree in an agricultural subject and excellent editorial-related skills. Fluency in English with some knowledge of Spanish or French is also required. For more information, write to the International Goals Committee, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

COLOMBIA needs a training and conference coordinator for the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. Duties include planning, evaluation and coordination of the center’s training activities for various agricultural produce and seed technology. A PhD. in agricultural study is required with at least seven years’ senior level training experience. Fluency in English and Spanish is also required. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

TEACHER of English is needed at the International Language campus of a major university in Nepal. The contract provides a modest salary and visa. Because of the relatively low salary, a single person is preferred. Also

See ADS page 24 [Page 17]INTERMEDIA

News from the Office of Public Affairs

BUSY BAHA’iS

Baha’ is Loree Foroughi-Gross and Maureen Reiber of Sarpy County, Nebraska, were featured in a TV broadcast which included the rock video ‘‘Mona with the Children.”? The video was incorporated into a 13-week series called ‘‘Blessed Is the Spot”’ carried by the local NBC affiliate, KMTV. That particular program aired on two Sunday mornings. In it, the Baha’is discussed Mona’s life and interviewed Zhalek Vafa’i and her son-in-law, Mehren Derakshandegan. Mrs. Vafa’i’s husband was one of the Assembly members who were martyred in Hamadan in 1981. Pictures of her husband were shown during the interview.

Additional exposure for the “‘Mona’’ video was garnered at a special showing for students at Sarpy County’s Bellevue College on the anniversary of Bahd’u’ll4h’s Birth and in a two-week run on United Cable TV’s public access Channel 10.

The Assembly in Lincoln, Nebraska, now sponsors the Intercommunity Media Committee and has a number of successful projects in the works. John Tobler, a local Baha’i, is featured on two programs about world peace now being shown on cable television. He also did a program for Omaha’s Channel 3 TV that was shown this past fall. On December 7, the committee entered a float with the theme of world peace in Lincoln’s annual holiday parade. Baha’i children marched beside the float. And there’s more—the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Baha’i Club showed ‘‘The Story of Mona”’ continuously for an entire day at the UNL city campus student union.

The Greater Phoenix (Arizona) Baha’i Public Affairs Committee put forth a Herculean effort to publicize Doug Cameron’s recent concert in Tempe. Eighteen press kits were sent to the print media and all entertainment editors in the Phoenix area. On the day before the concert, all the TV station assignment editors were called to see if they had received the kits, and all were invited to attend the concert. Twenty PSAs were sent to radio stations, and many were called to try to secure interviews for Mr. Cameron. All the local cable TV systems were sent data sheets inviting the public to the concert.

An equally impressive effort was made by the Baha’i Club at Arizona State University which distributed 5,000 flyers at the university in only two hours. ‘‘Wage Peace’’ balloons and posters inviting students to the concert were all over campus, and display ads were purchased in the student newspaper. An estimated 200-300 people attended the concert, which proved to be an artistic and financial success.

Representatives from 11 Chicago-area Baha’i communities attended a one-day conference on ‘Peace, People and the Media’’ organized by

Chicago Public Information Consultants Michael Carr and Stephen Wilder and sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago. The conference, held December 8, addressed the issue of how best to present the peace statement to local government leaders as well as to leaders of thought, community organizations and ‘‘the woman and man in the street.”’ Participants found that role-playing the presentations helped them to prepare for the real thing. Additional conference sessions discussed possible local activities for the International Year of Peace and sought ways to continue collaboration on proclamation activities in the greater Chicago area.

SIGNIFICANT MENTIONS

The New Haven Register carried an article about Baha’i Tom Armistead’s-presentation of the video “‘Mona’s Story’’ to high school students in Milford, Connecticut. Mr. Armistead spoke to 100 students in a class on modern social issues about ‘‘Mona’”’ and the nature of Baha’i persecutions in Iran as well as about the Baha’i Faith.

In late November and early December, The New York Times carried a record number of articles related to the Faith. On Sunday, November 24, “UN Rights Report on Iran Assailed’’ quoted Rúḥíyyih Rabbani, the widow of Shoghi Effendi, as saying, ‘‘The report on human rights in Iran is inadequate. It doesn’t go into enough detail especially considering the documents we (the Baha’is) provided to the special inve: gator.’’ On Monday, November 25, an editorial, ‘‘The Crimes of Iran, emphasized the inadequacies of the UN report on Iran. In ‘‘A Traveling Baha’i Diplomat’’ (Saturday, November 30), Mrs. Rabbani stated, “I am an idealist, if you like, and it’s very exciting to me to see this new development in our (the Faith’s) relationship to the United Nations. Just the fact that so many people, from so many backgrounds, are working under one roof must be helpful. It’s very hard to dislike people whom you know.’’ She was in New York City to present the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement to the UN Secretary-General. Yet another Times article, on December 11, detailed President Reagan’s Human Rights Day comments condemning the persecution of Baha’ is in Tran.

Also on December 11, an article in The Washington Post, ‘‘Reagan Condemns Human-Rights Abuses,” by political correspondent Lou Cannon, says in reference to the Human Rights Day ceremony, ‘A new element of the president’s human-rights speech this year was his denunciation of the ‘rampant religious persecution’ in Iran of members of the Baha’j faith, a religion which stresses universal brotherhood. Reagan said that the government of Iran had killed 198 Baha’ is, imprisoned 767 and forced 35,000 others to flee their homes or their country.”

ONLY ELEVEN STATES TO GO BEFORE EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE PASSED A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE PERSECUTION OF THE BAHA'IS IN IRAN. LET’S PRAY FOR SUCCESS IN FLORIDA, IDAHO, IOWA, MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEVADA, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, TENNESSEE AND WYOMING.

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Baha’is in the Dallas-Fort Worth area marked the 40th anniversary of the United Nations and the start of the International Year of Peace with a “Day of Peace’’ observance October 24 at Thanksgiving Square in downtown Dallas, Texas.

The day-long event, coordinated by the Baha’i Office of Public Affairs of Greater DallasFort Worth, included one-hour prayer and meditation sessions carried out by 26 metro district Baha’i communities.

Starting at 9 a.m. and contin “uing each hour through the afternoon, 100 multi-colored, heliumfilled balloons were released from Thanksgiving Square.

Each balloon bore the slogan ““Wage Peace’’ and carried a note with the message ‘‘The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens—Baha’u’llah. If you find this message, please call the xxxx, Texas, Baha’i community at

Responding to a request by the Bahá’í community of Birming ham, U.S. Rep. Ben Erdreich of

Alabama this year introduced House Joint Resolution No. 243 calling on the Congress to declare June 9 ‘America’s Heritage Day.’ Mr. Erdreich is pictured here presenting a copy of the resolution to

Mrs. Nosrat Solhjoo Scott, a Ba

The American Baha’ / January 1986 / 17

‘Day of Peace’ in Dallas-Fort Worth marks UN anniversary, Peace Year

214-XXxxx.

At noon, a public program was presented in the Hall of Thanksgiving at which Marvin Sadovsky, president of the Dallas UNA, spoke on “‘The United Nations at

Richard Rush, a Baha’i from The Colony, spoke about the importance of the Day, while Dick Suhm, a Baha’i from Dallas, presented a summary of the Universal House of Justice’s statement, “The Promise of World Peace.’’

Also on the program were prayers, selections from the Writings on peace, and original musical selections by Lennis Summers, a Baha’i from Grand Prairie.

The Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Times-Herald and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram sent photographers. Of the nine major area TV stations, three sent camera crews, and two of them, the CBS and NBC affiliates, carried pictures of the balloon release and noon program on the six o’clock news.

As a result of the event’s success, the Dallas UNA asked the Baha’is to collaborate in planning a Human Rights Day program on December 10.

hd’t from Birmingham. His action came after a year of contact with the Baha’is which began at Race Unity Day in 1984. The friends are asked to contact their congressmen to ask them to sign the resolution. Once it has passed the House and Senate, the President can sign it and declare the national day.

Baha’is place ad in booklet noting 20th year of Center for Peace Studies

Baha’is in the Detroit, Michigan, area placed a full-page ad in a booklet commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Wayne State University.

The booklet was given to the more than 500 people who attended the Center’s 20th anniversary celebration November 23 at which Hodding Carter III spoke on “Terrorism and the Media.’’

The Baha’i ad, whose theme was ‘‘One world, one human family,”’ included this quote from the

Universal House of Justice’s peace statement:

“Acceptance of the oneness of mankind is the first fundamental prerequisite for the reorganization and administration of the world as one country, the home of humankind. Universal acceptance of this spiritual principle is essential to any successful attempt to establish world peace.’’

The ad was sponsored by the Baha’i communities of Detroit, Royal Oak, Ferndale and Wyandotte, Michigan.

A Baha’i releases helium-filled balloons with a ‘Wage Peace’ message during a Peace Day observance October 24 carried out by Baha’i communities in the Greater Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area. d

Prayer magazine includes article on Baha’is in Iran

Fellowship in Prayer, a bimonthly magazine whose stated purpose is “to promote the practice of prayer among all religious faiths ...,’’ includes in its August September 1985 issue an article by Kim Hollingsworth entitled ““My Calamity is My Providence—The Faith and Suffering of Iran’s Baha’is.””

The five-page article summarizes the situation of Baha’is in Iran and includes some information about Baha’i beliefs.

Also included in the same issue under ‘“‘words of wisdom’” is this quotation from Bahá’u’lláh:

“The search after truth, however important though it be, ‘s not the whole aim and end of life. The truth is no dead thing, to be placed in a museum when found—to be labeled, classified, catalogued, exhibited, and left there, dry and sterile. It is something vital which must take root in our lives ere we reap the full reward of our search.”’

Columnist notes Bab’s miraculous escape before martyrdom

In a recent column entitled “Things I Learned En Route to Looking Up Other Things,’’ syndicated columnist Sydney J. Harris, whose column appears in newspapers all over the country, writes that:

«*.., the Bab, the founder of the Baha’i religion, condemned for heresy in Iran, was suspended by ropes against a military barracks on July 9, 1850, and in the presence of a crowd of thousands was shot at by a firing squad of 600 riflemen—and missed by all of them! (The shots severed the ropes, and when the dust had cleared, he was found back in his study dictating his last words to his secretary.)”” [Page 18]18 / The American Baha’i / January 1986

Presentation of peace statement in second phase

Assignments for delegations of Baha’is to present ‘“‘The Promise of World Peace’? to governors, U.S. senators and congressmen have now gone out to selected local communities.

Katherine Bigelow of the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of External Affairs notes that this is the second stage of presentations at the national level.

Presentations to the vice president, the State Department, members of President Reagan’s Cabinet and other prominent individuals are also being planned.

Emphasizing that ‘‘we are still very much in thé planning stages in our work to present the pea statement,”’ Ms. Bigelow says thi is a good sign ‘‘because we have the whole International Year of Peace in front of us.’’

Since the beginning of the International Year of Peace in October and the release of ‘“‘The Promise of World Peace,”? many communities have launched a variety of activities.

Plans for presentations of the peace statement, local peace-related conferences, and firesides indicate a renewed and refreshed approach toward teaching.

The excitement has sparked proclamations, deepenings, and a new emphasis on interacting with non-Baha’is on the topic of peace.

Watch for an_ International Year of Peace ‘‘Update’’ to appear periodically in the Feast mailings. Please send information about your presentations and ac

tivities to the National Teaching Committee at the Baha’i National Center.

Following are some guidelines for proclamation of the peace statement:

1. Planning

Dissemination of the peace statement is a long-term effort; systematic planning should take the place of a ‘shotgun’? approach.

The process may include the following:

A survey of the social, political and religious environment.

Determination of the most effective strategy for reaching each

audience.

¢ Establishment of a timetable. 2. Formal presentations

The Office of External Affairs

will coordinate and guide the presentations to the President, gov U.S. senators and repre sentatives, national organizations, prominent individuals and nat nally known figures in various fields, U.S. government officials, and the national news media.

Contact: National Spiritual Assembly, Office of External Affairs, _ New Haven, CT 06015 (phone 203-787-0303).

Contact: Jaci Delahunt, Baha’i

National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039, ext. 232).

Contact: James Mock, National Teaching Office, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039, ext. 234).

NOTE: If there is a questi about whether or not an ins dual is a national figure, please contact the Office of External Afirs. A special presentation edition of the peace statement is available for $3 from the Baha’i Distribution Service.

3. Reproducing the peace statement

A set of camera-ready copies

is available for consistent and accurate reproductions.

The reproductions are NOT to be used for formal presentations. 4. Preparing your own summary

Communities and_ individuals may prepare their own synopses, if they so choose.

Using the media

The following tactics are encouraged:

Placing advertisements that

call attention to one or more of the themes emphasized in the statement.

Placing announcements or ads

of Baha’i peace-related activities.

¢ Issuing press releases and photographs of local Baha’i peace events.

For more information concerning use of the media, contact Shirley Lee, Office of Public Affairs, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

The Bahá’í community of Manhattan Beach, California, sponsored a ‘baby comfort station’ at the annual Old Hometown Fair last October 5-6. Complete with rocking chair, changing table and diaper papers, and set well away from the sun and fair events, the comfort station was greeted with

“warm appreciation and sighs of

ms ; relief from passersby and parents alike. A ‘baby contest’ on Sunday prompted great bursts of activity at the station. Parents lined up to rock, change and comfort their children, much to each other’s mutual satisfaction. Many people were eager to ask the Baha’is, ‘Will you be back next year?’

Gifts

for

Ayyam-i-Ha- Gifts

for

Naw-Rúz Gifts

for

Ridvan

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[Page 19]THIS IS YOUR SPACE

a gy gate

The Persian/American Affairs Committee would like to invite members of the Baha’i community—Persians, Americans and anyone else—to submit short articles in English to be printed in this column in The American Bahá’í.

We feel it is vital that Baha’is have a regular forum in which to share their experiences and ideas concerning in _ tegration and unity within the community.

You may have noticed the English-language column in the Persian pages of The American Bahá’í which began appearing in February 1985. Some of the topics that have been explored since then are the name change of our committee, the challenges of integration, linguistic and cultural barriers to integration, racism, sharing and cooperation, the Area Persian/American Affairs Committees, the origins of the Indo-European peoples, a few Persian words to use at the Nineteen Day Feasts, and an explanation of the structure of Persian names.

We would like future articles to deal with topics such as integration, cultural differences, refugees and the like, but please draw on your own talents and concerns.

The space is relatively small, so try to limit your article(s) to three or four paragraphs. There may not be space to print all articles submitted, but we'll try to air as many different viewpoints as possible. Articles may be subject to editing.

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The American Baha’i / January 1986 / 21

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[Page 22]22 / The American Baha’i / January 1986

(May 1

HOWEVER, PLEASE INCLU!

771TH Baha’i NATIONAL CONVENTION

CONVENTION SEATING REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION BY LETTER IS ACCEPTABLE;

REQUESTED BELOW.

NOTE: This does not reserve hotel accommodations. Please contact the hotel directly.

-4, 1986)

DE ALL THE INFORMATION

PRE-REGISTRATION IS

PLEASE PRINT USE ONE FORM PER FAMILY LIST ALL ADULTS ATTENDING (Mr./Mrs./Miss) Baha’i I.D. No. (Mr./Mrs./Miss) Baha’ I.D. No.2 _—____ (Mr./Mrs./Miss) Baha’ I.D. No. (Mr./Mrs./Miss) Baha’i I.D. No. __ a8 Address 3 Phone ( :) aaa LIST ALL YOUTH ATTENDING Name Age Special needs LIST ALL CHILDREN ATTENDING Name Age Special needs

A QUALITY CHILDREN’S PROGRAM IS PLANNED. YOUR CHILD'S PLACE IN THIS PROGRAM. MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!

Mail to: Office of the Secretary, Baha’i National Center, ‘Wilmette, IL 60091. Attention: National Convention Registration.

ESSENTIAL TO ASSURE

More important information about 77th Baha’i National Convention May 1-4

The 77th Baha’i National Convention will be held May 1-4, 1986, at the McCormick Inn, 23rd & the Lake, Chicago, IL 60616. The toll free number is 1-800-621-6909 (in Illinois, phone collect 312-791-1901).

Rat $55 per

night (plus

Teaching, deepening goals at S. California Satellite Conference

On November 10, the Baha’is of Antelope J.D. and the Southern California District Teaching Committee No. 1 held their first Satellite Teaching Conference.

The guest speakers were Lee and Jim Haslip.

The goals of the conference were (1) to deepen on the Writings that pertain to teaching minorities, the masses, and the individual, and (2) to stimulate everyone to arise and teach.

The conference also included lovely music performed by Sue Berkman.

Olathe, Kansas, sets Feb. peace conference

The Baha’ is of Olathe, Kansas, are sponsoring a peace conference February 1 at the Olathe public library.

For information, phone Janet

King, 913-829-6485.

tax)—1, 2, 3 or 4 in a room (two double beds). Rollaways are available @ $10 each.

Suites available: 1- and 2-bedroom suites are available (phone the hotel for rates). All suites have parlors with sleepers in addition to the bedrooms.

Reservations: Must be made directly with the hotel. Please be sure to identify yourself as attending the Baha’i Convention, May 1-4. Request confirmation to ensure that your reservation was received. Please (1) give the names of all those sharing the room with ind (2) indicate any special ities needed for the handicapped (rooms to accommodate wheelchairs, etc.), as the number of such rooms is limited.

Sharing rooms: The hotel will not find you a roommate. You must make your own arrangements.

Transportation: There is regular bus service—Continental Air Transport—to the McCormick Inn from O’Hare Airport ($7.50) and from Midway Airport ($6.50). Taxis are also available.

Remember: You must register in person, with your Baha’i membership card in hand. You may not register another family member or a friend by proxy. The coupon above includes registration information for seating and for registering children and youth at the Convention.

Letters

from page 3

the divine guidance, the wisdom, the means, the Order, and the balance, so that these benefits to mankind can be realized more effectively.

If this were not so, this Revelation would not have been sent by God. That is why the knowledge of the Manifestation is fundamental for the development of the individual and society.

If we don’t understand this, we hurt ourselves as well as humanity at large, and our real and enduring success in bringing about a peaceful and happy society is thwarted.

It is wrong to think that the purpose of the Faith is to establish a creed or belief, as we see in other religions around us. Instead, its purpose is to bring us in touch with the guidance of God for our spiritual and social development. This belief is vital, it is necessary, it is ‘the source of all good,”’

When we understand this we can teach happily, effectively, with faith, with conviction and purpose, realizing that enrollments are not ‘‘just numbers’’ but that one more person has been put in contact with his reality, which, depending on the efforts of the Baha’is and the individual himself, he can grow to bring benefits to mankind.

Finally, our difficulties often arise from the fact that we look at the Faith and argue about whether

belief or service to humanity is more vital.

This is wrong. It is not a question of either/or, but both together, each in its proper sequence of importance, with each given its due emphasis—that is what the Faith calls for.

Shahpur Sohaili Wilmette, Illinois

To the Editor:

As a non-Baha’i, I want to share with your readers my appreciation of the Los Angeles Baha’i Youth Workshop.

Not only are these dancer/singers wonderfully talented and disciplined, but they are on the whole the most intelligent and mature group of high school/college age kids I’ve yet encountered.

Because of my friendship with local Baha’is, I was lucky enough to be asked to host two of the Workshop performers for the two nights they were in Hobbs.

Getting to know Sean and Al bert was a joyous experience, and‘

watching them perform after having spent several hours with them made the workshop show even more special.

My half-dozen friends in the Hobbs Baha’i community have enriched my life during the past two years, and the visit of the L.A. Youth Workshop to our isolated city on the high plains was a source of pleasure and pride for them, and an opportunity in understanding the Faith for me.

I happily suggest that the L.A. Workshop be helped to tour the country every year; that Baha’i

Groups in every city be encouraged to use the performing arts as a way of spreading peace, unity, tolerance and (incidentally) the Faith, and that local Baha’is beg, if necessary, to get the next Workshop tour to stop in their community.

Finally, 1’d advise that whenever possible, the traveling Baha’i youth be placed in non-Baha’i homes. Such casual contacts cannot be expected to produce converts, but if the quality of the young people matches those on this year’s tour, the visit will certainly produce more friends for the Faith.

To the L.A. Youth Workshop leaders, a final word: Please come to Hobbs again!

Bill Adams Hobbs, New Mexico

To the Editor:

I have just finished reading John E. Kolstoe’s new. book, Consultation (George Ronald, Publisher, available from the Baha’i Publishing Trust), and words cannot express my gratitude for the time and work Mr. Kolstoe put into these discussions of what consultation can mean to Baha’is.

I only wish all Baha’is would read this extensive work and appreciate what a few hours’ time can do to cover a world of research into the wealth of Baha’i literature on this topic. You won’t want to put it far from you.

Marian Earl Brettner Jacksonville, Florida

I | NOW. .. NEW LEAFLETS AVAILABLE

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Name. Adaress. City. eeotale Zip. Phone. ieee MasterCard / VISA (circle one} card number expiration date. Number7 ‘Number | Topic Package | _Cost__| of tems Cost Renewal 100 $5.00 Women 100 $5.00 Education 100 $5.00 Prejudice 100 $5.00 Rich & Poor 100 $5.00 ‘Assorted 100 $5.00 Please add 10% for handling Subrotal | {51.50 minimum} Handling Total

Mail coupon and check or phone

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[Page 23]HOUSE OF WORSHIP

Representatives from Spiritual Assemblies across the country gathered November 23-24 at the Baha’i House of Worship for the first Volunteer Conference ever held there.

“Tt was the most unique program I’ve experienced in my 12 years at the Temple,”’ says Bruce Whitmore, administrator of the House of Worship.

“We decided to conduct the conference,”’ he says, ‘“‘because we felt that an understanding of the field of volunteer management is extremely important to improving the way we function, and we felt strongly that communities could also benefit from this understanding.

“Then when we read the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement and thought about the additional tasks facing the Baha’i community, we realized that the relevance of the conference was increased ten-fold.”

The Baha’is, says Linda Polk, director of volunteer services at the House of Worship, ‘<do many of the same things that hundreds of volunteer organizations do, in that we draw upon the voluntary assistance of members of our community to accomplish the

multitude of tasks facing us.

“Yet there are proven techniques in motivation, recruitment, effective skills utilization, supervision, etc. with which we are not very familiar.

“The purpose of the Volunteer Conference,” she says, ‘‘was to expose ourselves to these techniques and to explore how best to adapt and use them in the continuing development of the Baha’ community and in our efforts, individually and collectively, to serve mankind.””

An unconventional aspect of the conference was the integration within the proceedings of experts in the field of volunteer management who are not Baha’is.

The most noted among them was Dr. Eva Schindler-Rainman, an international consultant, trainer and behavioral scientist who has written or co-authored several books and more than 300 published articles on the topic.

Dr. Schindler-Rainman, whi recognized as one of the leading authorities in the U.S. on volunteer management, led a two-part workshop, ‘‘Creative Tapping of Volunteer Resources,’”’ in which she skillfully guided participants through the process of establishing a successful volunteer program.

In all, 15 workshops were presented during the two-day conference including ‘‘Looking at

Bruce Whitmore, administrator of the Baha’i House of Worship, congratulates pre-youth Rachael Palmateer (center) and Jian Kho

inetka, Illinois, who

dadad of together organized a Fund-raising walk in October that netted $514 for the House of Worship.

Two pre-youth plan, carry out Fund walk to benefit House of Worship in Wilmette

When two pre-youth, Rachael Palmateer and Jian Khodadad, learned of the pledge run for the National Fund held at last summer’s youth conference in Ohio, they decided to plan something similar.

Huddled in a corner at a Nineteen Day Feast in Winnetka, Illinois, they considered several possibilities, then hit upon what they felt was the perfect idea: a youth walk to benefit to House of Worship in nearby Wilmette.

Rachael and Jian excitedly shared the plan with their Spiritual Assembly, which enthusiastically supported it.

The two young Baha’is promoted the four-mile walk at the District Convention and other gatherings. They also designed and had printed professional-looking signup sheets that were used by participating pre-youth to record sponsors’ pledges for each mile

walked.

On the morning of October 12, pre-youth from Winnetka, Evanston and Des Plaines left Winnetka’s Elder Lane Beach and headed south, arriving at the Temple shortly after noon.

They were met there by Bruce Whitmore, administrator of the House of Worship, who took them on a special tour of the building and talked to them about the importance of the Baha’i funds and the significance of their efforts.

The $514 which was raised will be used to enhance the displays in the House of Worship’s visitors’ center.

“1 think (the walk) was challenging, fun and a good experience,’’ says 11-year-old Jian.

“It was a little tiring,” says Rachael, ‘‘but it was worth it to donate to the Temple.’”

The American Baha’i / January 1986 / 23

House of Worship holds its first Volunteer Conference

vot

Above: Dr. Daryl Eisenberg, director of the Self-Help Center, leads one of the 15 Volunteer Conference workshops. Right:

Teaching the Faith as Volunteer Service,” ‘Motivation and Supervision,”’ ‘Community ServiceAnother Way to Teach the Faith,” ‘Service Training Centers—Building an Integrated Community,” ‘Utilizing Professional Resources,” ‘‘Fund-Raising for Professionals and NonProfessionals,” ‘‘Full-Time Volunteers—Radio Baha’i,”’ ‘‘Conferences and Conventions,’’ “Asking Minorities to Volunteer,”” and ‘Keeping Our Baha’i Volunteers Active.”

In addition, there were keynote addresses by Mr. Whitmore and Betty Cook, president of Directors of Hospital Volunteers of Metropolitan Chicago. Dr. Schindler-Rainman delivered an endnote address.

Dr. Eva Schindler-Rainman works on one of her presentations.

The reaction of conference participants was uniformly enthusiastic. One of them said afterward, “Rarely have I come away from any experience with so many ideas I want to put into practice. It will take a while to digest all the information, but my experience will affect me for the rest of my life. I hope every Baha’i can benefit through those who attended.””

Another wrote that his community is ‘‘already cooking up some new ideas! Some of the changes will be simple but essential: remembering to express appreciation to and ask feedback from committee members, our community librarian, etc.””

Many participants expressed a desire that the conference be repeated each year and that satel

lite gatherings be held throughout the country.

To promote a wider dispersal of the information shared at the conference and to encourage other such gatherings, the staff of the House of Worship are compiling a detailed overview of the planning and execution of the conference and a summary of all keynote addresses and workshops including all workshop hand-outs. i

The publication, which is expected to be available late this month, may be purchased from the House of Worship for $10. Checks should be made payable to “‘Baha’i Services Fund”’ and sent to the Baha’i House of Worship, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Conference participants will receive complimentary copies.

‘Asian Appreciation Month’ draws large crowds

Another month-long series of programs was held in November at the Baha’i House of Worship, this time to honor Asian peoples.

The purpose of these special months, begun last February, is two-fold: first, to give area Baha’is an opportunity to bring seekers to innovative programs; and second, to attract non-Baha’is from that particular culture/ethnic group to the House of Worship.

The five programs held during November attracted a combined audience of several hundred.

They provided a glimpse of many aspects of Asian culture and included a Hmong children’s dance troupe, a slide presentation

A performer in the Japanese Music and Dance Festival.

These delicately stitched tapestries by Hmong tribeswomen were a

of the artistry of Burmese craftsmen, a violin recital by the concert-master of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, traditional Japanese Nihonbuyo dancing, and an Asian fashion show.

In addition, there were lectures designed to enlighten the audiences regarding the history and cultures of Asia.

The most popular activity during the month was provided by Mr. Chan Cheng of Evanston, a member of the task force that planned the programs.

Mr. Cheng translated hundreds of people’s names into Chinese ideographs. Special name cards were printed which explained that. since each word has its own

part of the ‘Asian Appreciation Month’ arts and crafts display.

unique ideograph, a person must memorize at least 2,000 of them to read an ordinary Chinese newspaper. Highly literate Chinese usually know more than 10,000 ideographs.

On the back of the name cards were printed a picture of the House of Worship and the basic principles of the Faith.

Arts and crafts displays including several lovely tapestries made by Hmong women were available throughout the month for visitors to enjoy.

The next series at the House of Worship, to be held in February, will commemorate Black History Month. [Page 24]24 / The American Baha’i / January 1986

Ads

from page 16

needed in January is a second grade teacher at a private primary school. A visa will be provided. For more information, contact the International Goals Committee,

Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039,

POSITIONS are open immediately in the Cameroons and Zaire (Central Africa) for agronomists. Preference is given to those with previous international experience. Knowledge of French preferred but not required. For information, write to the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

TRAVELING TEACHERS

PLANNING a vacation in February? Sign up to travel and teach on the beautiful Cayes off the shore of Belize City, Belize. The National Spiritual Assembly of Belize is asking for teachers for two to three weeks to help form and consolidate Assemblies while enjoying the sunshine, snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming. The Cayes, accessible by boat or small plane from Belize City, offer a variety of hotels and restaurants. Arrangements can also be made with families for meals. For more information, please contact the International Goals Committee,

Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES

WANTED: The National Baha’i Archives is seeking to locate original Tablets from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the following Baha’ families: Fred Ackernecht family of Johnstown, NY; the Babbitt family of Baltimore, MD; the Flint family of Walla Walla, WA; Tom Peterson family of Racine, WI; Charles Rasmussen family of Racine; Jone Renner family of Sandusky, OH; Daniel Schroeder family of Chicago; Louis Silver family of Racine. Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of these or other original Tablets should contact the National Baha’i Archives, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

THE NATIONAL Baha’i Archives is seeking copies of the following books in good or excellent condition: A Fortress for WellBeing (cloth, 1974; paper, 1980, 6th printing); God and His Messengers (cloth, 1958, 1967); God of Buddha (1973, 1979); Heart of the Gospel (cloth, 1955, 1960; paper, 1939). Anyone having copies they could donate is asked to contact the National Baha’i Archives, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

CONFERENCES

A NINE-DAY Spiritual Enrichment Institute will be held February 14-23 at the Louhelen Baha’i School. The course lays a foundation for fulfilling one’s purpose in, life, transmits a sense of inner peace, draws one closer to the Covenant, instills a greater appreciation for prayer and daily study of the Writings, and helps increase one’s capacity for service to the Faith. The cost is $185 for

adults who register two weeks or more in advance for a room with 2-3 others. Add $18 for late registration and $45 for a double room (no extra charge for a double or single room for senior citizens or the handicapped). A program for children ages 0-12 will be held. Children 11-12, $150; 4-10, $110; 1-3, $75; 0-12 months, $18. The course will be conducted by Mrs. Joyce Harmsen, an experienced facilitator. To register, write to the Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033. VISA and MasterCard accepted.

TWO International Recruiting Fairs for school teachers and administrators will be held in February, one in Washington, D.C., and the other in San Francisco. These conferences provide an opportunity for interviews with school and university representatives from many countries with the possibility of job offers ranging from immediate starting dates to a year’s preparation. If you are interested in knowing more about the conferences or about other international placement services for education and how they might help you to pioneer abroad, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312869-9039.

ITEMS AVAILABLE

“HANDS ON!,” a workbook of Baha’i educational activities for children by Sandy and Alonzo Coleman and Diane Bogolub Petit, is available from the Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033). Included are more than 100 practical activities, 178 pages, 80 photos of activities described in the text, along with sample record-keeping forms and reproducible activities. The cost, including a ng binder, handling and shipping, is $19 (for orders within the U.S. only). Phone orders with VISA or MasterCard accepted.

“REFLECTIONS” catalog listing tapes, books, ‘Mankind Is One’? sweatshirts and T-shirts, and other Baha’i-related materials is available at no cost from the Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. Phone 313-653-5033.

THE LOUHELEN Baha’i School’s winter-spring program guide can be obtained for no charge simply by writing to the registrar, Hermione Pickens, Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or by phoning 313-653-5033.

A COURSE on “‘Baha’i Development: The Practical Process of Transforming Mankind,’’ by Holly Vick, a member of the Office of Social and Economic Development at the Baha’i World Centre, is available on audio tape. The course examines the Baha’i concept of development, compares it to other models, places it in the context of the Faith’s emergence from obscurity, and explores its prospects for instigating an organic change in human society and as a means of building the Baha’i world commonwealth. Four tapes, $20. Write to Reflections, Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313-653-5033. VISA or MasterCard accepted.

A COURSE on “The Forces of Light and Darkness’’ by Counsellor Hooper Dunbar is available on audio tape. The course examines the origin and operation of these forces, the power of the Creative Word, the interaction of spirit and matter, and presents an analysis of the forces of darkness and of the diffusion of the forces of light. The impact of these forces on society and the individual is explored, as are the Major and Minor Plans of God, the twin processes of integration and disintegration, the purging of one’s character, and becoming incarnate light. Six tapes, $30. Write to Reflections, Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313653-5033. VISA or MasterCard accepted.

OPPORTUNITIES

THE LOUHELEN Residential College is accepting applications for September 1986 enrollment. Twenty-six students will be accepted into the program which will combine formal study of the Faith with degree-earning studies at one of two nearby colleges. Enrollment is limited, so write now for an application and more details: Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033).

ARTISTS, craftspersons: One of the objectives of the Louhelen Baha’i School is to support the arts. We do this through various means such as the ‘‘Reflections’” catalog, the Louhelen bookstore, the Rotating Art Gallery, and a new development, the Baha’i Art and Artists catalog. If you have art work, a craft or design you would like displayed, promoted and/or sold via any of the above means, please contact the Reflections office, Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313653-5033.

WANTED

ESSAYS discussing the development of the Baha’i Faith in local communities or regions of North America or Europe are sought for a future volume of Studies in Babi and Bahá’í History. Papers should be based on archival sources and/or oral history accounts. For more information, please write to Kalimat Press,

Los Angeles, CA 90024.

NEEDED: The compendium of Volumes I-XII of The Baha’i World, for the Louhelen Baha’i School library. If you have one you would like to donate, or if you wish to contribute funds for its acquisition, please contact Mrs. Rebecca Wideman, Library, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423.

REQUESTING inquiries from individuals who would be interested in planning and coordinating arts and crafts for the Western Oregon Baha’i Summer School to be held in August 1986. Write to the Secretary,

Lebanon, OR 97355.

WANTED for a biography in progress: information, memories, anecdotes, photographs, study programs written by or any materials relating to the Hand of the Cause of God Horace Holley. I now have considerable data about the ancestry of the Holley family and Horace Holley’s early life. Xerox copies of any correspondence from Mr. Holley would be

appreciated. Any photographs loaned will be copied (if feasible) and returned. Please send materials to Claire Vreeland, Winsted, CT 06098.

THE BAHA’I Group of Loves Park, Illinois, is putting together a Peace Program to be presented in the northern Illinois/southern Wisconsin area. Needed are slides that portray the anguish of war in the faces of soldiers, women and children. Must be your personal slides or photographs .. or must be in the public domain. Please send to Phyllis Peterson,

. Loves Park, IL 61111.

I AM looking for articles, papers and information about Dr. Daniel C. Jordan and his work with the ANISA model. I’m particularly interested in any research findings on the applications and implementation of the ANISA model in school programs. Please write to Marylou Krummenacker,

Las Cruces, NM 88001, or phone 505-522-7834.

WANTED: Stories and photographs relating to the development of the Faith on Prince Edward Island, Canada, by one who is researching its history there. All photos will be returned; no story is too small for consideration. Please send information to Ritchie Rolfe, P.O. Box 2432, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A 8C2.

THE REFLECTIONS Department of the Louhelen Baha’i School is seeking persons, groups and Assemblies to act as distributors of the ‘‘Mankind Is One’’ T-shirts and sweatshirts. Distributors will receive at least a 15% commission. Write to ‘‘Reflections,’’ 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 313653-5033.

MISCELLANEOUS

HELP wanted! Professionals, para-professionals and others interested in developing a network and educational exchange of the clinical and practical application of Baha’i and other rel teachings on health and he: Contact Carl Pomey, B.S., ical nutritionist,

8. clinTahoe City, CA 95730, or phone 916583-8212.

CHINA study tour. An experienced Baha’i tour leader will be taking students, both youth and adults, on a 23-day tour of China from June 18-July 11. The purpose is to better understand the Chinese people and their culture. There is room in the tour group for a few Baha’is. Groups will leave from the West Coast, New York, and Chicago. For more information, call toll-free 1-800323-8268. In Illinois, call collect, 312-272-9010. Ask for Mary Beth.

PIONEER POST is a newsletter consisting of excerpts from letters written by pioneers from the U.S. to the International Goals Committee. In its eight-year existence, it has been sent quarterly to the 1,500 or so U.S. pioneers in the field, as well as to Counsellors,

Teaching Fever Is

CONTAGIOUS! have YOU Caught the Fever Yet? |

Auxiliary Board members, and a few others who have requested it. Now it is being offered on a subscription basis to anyone who is interested for $4 a year, starting with the December 1985 issue. Send your checks to the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. You'll find Pioneer Post a continuing source of inspiration and love.

PIONEER leaving for the Marshall Islands wishes to sell a professional, medium format Mamiya camera system. For a list of equipment, write to the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL. 60091.

ANYONE who is interested in the work of the Baha’i Service for the Blind Committee is invited to join a new independent group formed solely for the purpose of helping the work of that committee. For more information, please contact Robert Dickson,

Ludington, MI 49431, or phone 616-845-7807.

AMBITIOUS committee of the Spiritual Assembly of a small Baha’i community wishes to initiate from the ‘‘grassroots”’ and develop an ongoing program along voluntary action lines to attract and make friends with non-Baha’i minorities, the underprivileged, etc. We have a good many blacks, Mexicans and East Asians in a population of 100,000. If your Assembly, committee or Group has progressed in this area of endeavor, so recently called for by the Universal House of Justice, we would love you dearly for sharing your ideas and results with us. Write to Helene Wittekind, Baha’i Office of Information, :

Richland, WA 99352.

From the Baha’i Publishing Trust

A corrected reprint of Baha’i Prayers featuring

star and ‘‘Baha’i Prayers’’ stamped in silver on both covers

Softcover $3.75*

Hardcover $7.50*

Available from

Baha’i Distribution Service 415 Linden Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091 Tel. 1-800-323-1880

Add 10 per cent for postage and

handling (minimum $1,50); 15 per cent for shipment overseas.

[Page 25]Parties set in Allen, Wounded Knee for Ayyam-i-Ha

The Baha’is of Allen, South Dakota, will hold an evening Ayydm-i-Ha party February 25 for adults, children and their friends at the CAP building on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

The Wounded Knee community’s celebration will be an open house on the afternoon and evening of February 26 at the home of Edna and Clinten Medicine. There will be refreshments and favors for the children.

Baha’is celebrate Ayydm-i-Ha each year from sunset on February 25 to sunset on March I. It isa time for the friends to prepare themselves spiritually for the 19-day Fast which is from March 2 until sunset on March 21.

Ayyam-i-Ha, or ‘‘intercalary days,”’ is also a time for hospitality, charity and exchanging presents.

Most Baha’i communities plan special celebrations during these days, while many Baha’is as individuals do special things.

The Baha’i calendar, which began in 1844 when the Bab announced that He was a Messenger from God, has 19 months of 19 days each. The Bab named the months for qualities of God such as ‘‘Might,”’ ‘“Mercy,”’ ‘‘Glory,”” “Will,” and so on.

The Baha’i calendar starts each year at Naw-Rúz (‘“‘no rooz”’), which is March 21, on the equinox, when day and night are exactly equal.

The last three days in February and the first day of March are called ‘‘intercalary days.’’ Intercalary means ‘‘between the other days of the calendar.’’

So “happy Ayyam-i-Ha” or “happy intercalary days’’! Either way, it’s a joyous Baha’i greeting during a special time of the year.

NATIVE AMERICANS

On November 2, Surita Birkey, a Baha’i whose. background is Buddhist, spoke at the Native American Baha’i Institute in Arizona, telling her audience that she had felt homesick for her native Nepal until she visited the Navajo Reservation whose people and culture seem so similar to that of her traditional upbringing.

Her grandmother, she said, spins wool in a way similar to the Navajo way and also weaves rugs.

Mrs. Birkey has had to deal with much suffering including her own serious health problems, but has found comfort in the power of prayer and was able to lead other young people in Nepal, some of whom also had severe problems, to the path of God by teaching

them to rely on God’s power through prayer and study.

She is also a strong advocate of the equality of men and women, since women in her country have no rights and can be denied an education and beaten by their husbands.

She presented to the Native American Baha’i Institute a traditional Nepalese rug, two batik artwork pictures (one of which shows a Tibetan traditional dance, similar to a Navajo tribal dance), and a prayer wheel.

Her talk was translated into the Navajo language for the elders by a Navajo Baha’i, Chester Kahn.

Mrs. Birkey’s husband, Dick, was a pioneer to the Navajo Reservation for nine years before moving to Nepal, and worked closely with a Baha’i from Pine Springs, Arizona, Ben Kahn, on developing solar energy on the Reservation.

The American Baha’i / January 1986 / 25

Nepalese Baha’i speaks to Navajo audience

Surita Birkey, a Bahá’í from Nepal whose background is Buddhist, speaks to an audience of Na vajo Indians at the Native American Baha’ Institute in Arizona.

More than 100 attend Unity Festival on Navajo Reservation in Aneth, Utah

On July 4-7, more than 100 people of many races, classes and cultures came together for a Unity Festival on the Navajo Reservation in Aneth, Utah.

Robin and Mitchell Silas, homefront pioneers to Aneth, hosted the event at their home.

Ruth Blackwell of Cortez, Colorado, a former pioneer to Haiti and Africa, spoke about the unity of the prophets and shared stories of her pioneering experiences.

Carole Hitti of Cortez, an assistant to Auxiliary Board member Nancy Phillips, gave a presentation on children and parenting.

Jean Graves of Santa Fe, New Mexico, taught classes for children and youth, while Penny Boivin of Tuba City, Arizona, taught children’s classes and gave a talk

The Feast of ‘Ilm (Knowledge) was celebrated at Ramah (Pine Hill), New Mexico, with the consultation portion devoted to a reading and translation into the Navajo language of ‘The Promise of World Peace.’ The Feast was held at the home of Jeanne Chatto far left, back row) with guests including Navajo traveling teacher Azannie Begody (front row, left) and Penny Boivin. Steve Pino, a

local Bahá’í (back row, right, in hat) translated the statement into Navajo as it was read, paragraph

by paragraph. Afterward, the Sriends discussed the statement and decided they would hold Feast regularly on the same day the rest of the American Baha’i community does so rather than whenever one of the pioneers can make it to Ramah.

on the symbolic meaning of water.

A Dr. Hoffman of Dietburg, West Germany, lectured on peace and disarmament, and Ken Brown of Tijeras, New Mexico, gave an evening fireside around the huge campfire.

Helen Kiely of the Southwest Baha’i Institute translated and taught with Ms. Hitti.

Mitchell Silas demonstrated and taught classes in traditional sandpainting, while Frankie Spencer of Tsali, Arizona, showed and shared his medicine bundle and told stories that warmed everyone’s heart.

Linda and Reed Amadon presented classes on marriage and family unity, while Graciella Martinez of Tucson performed pow wow dances and shared many wonderful Native American prayers.

Other guests were Jim and Roan Stone of Gallup, New Mexico, and Freddie Chavez of Durango, Colorado. Mr. Stone is president of the Gallup chapter of the NAACP; Mrs. Stone, who specializes in Esperanto, has traveled and taught in Europe.

Besides fellowship, prayer, and the sharing of beliefs, customs and cultures, participants enjoyed delicious meals prepared by Barbara Tong.

Do you know anyone who’s a member of ubiquitous ‘Tate family’?

The following is reprinted from the Baha’i newsletter of Iowa:

The Tate family. Did you ever hear of them? They seem to be in every organization.

There is Dick Tate, who wants to run everything. Meanwhile, Ro Tate tries to change everything, while Agi Tate tries to stir up trouble whenever possible (and Irri Tate always lends a hand).

Whenever new ideas are suggested, Hesi Tate and Vege Tate pour cold water on them. Imi Tate tries to mimic everyone; Devas Tate likes to be disruptive; and Poten Tate simply wants to be a big shot.

But it’s Facili Tate and Cogi Tate who always save the day and get everyone pulling together. pre you a member of this family?

This photograph was taken in Chicago in 1927. If you can identify any of the three women, please send the names to the Na Can you identify these women?

tional Baha’i Archives, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

15 artists consult in Evanston, Illinois, on role of arts in Faith, peace movement

The role of artists in the development of the Faith and the achievement of peace was the topic of discussion at a recent meeting of 15 Baha’i artists in Evanston, Illinois.

In light of recent guidance from the Universal House of Justice, they consulted on how they—and the American Baha’i community—can facilitate the progress of artists in the cause of peace and benefit from their talents.

The following practical ideas were developed:

1. Discover, explore and nurture the talent in your area rather than relying solely on well-known artists. Encourage local Baha’is to serve the Faith through their music, drama, dance, literature and fine arts.

2. Encourage the use of music and other creative expressions on all possible occasions—from Feasts and firesides to proclamations and conventions, planning performances as an integral part

Nuestro gran privilegio

Fondo Nacional Baha’i Wilmette, IL 60091

of the program rather than as a break or ‘‘filler.’”

3. Display courtesy, “the prince of all virtues,”’ to performers. The gift of an artist can only be given and received in an atmosphere of respect and courtesy.

Australia invites U.S. Baha’is to Sydney

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Australia warmly invites members of the U.S. Baha’i community to attend a large-scale Baha’i Peace Exposition to be held March 29-April 6 at the Baha’i House of Worship near Sydney.

Baha’is are also invited to participate in creating a ‘Peace Ribbon’’ to consist of 10,000 banners depicting the theme ‘‘What do I value in a peaceful world?”

The banners, each representing a personal contribution to peace, will be tied together to create the Peace Ribbon.

For information about making a Peace Banner, write to the Office of the Secretary, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. The deadline for sending banners to Australia is February 16.

[Page 26]26 / The American Baha’i / January 1986

VIE Chart

from page 5

District Name

“Starting Block’ Info

Membership as of 12/9/84

Number Percentage of giving participation

Current Month Info (Qudrat)

Membership (11/11/85)

Number giving

Percentage of 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

Mlinois N No. 2

Mlinois 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 N

New Mexico S/Texas W New York E

New York W

North Carolina C North Carolina E North Carolina W North Dakova

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 S No. South Carolina W South Dakota Tennessee E Tennessee W Texas C No. Texas C No. Texas E No Texas E No. Texas N Texas S Utah Vermont

Virginia N

Virginia SE Virginia SW

Washington NW

Washington SW

West Virginia

Wis. N/Peninsular Mich.

Wisconsin S

Wyoming

(New districts; established after 12/9/84)

‘Promise of Peace’ topic at N. Carolina public meeting

“The Promise of World Peace’’ was discussed at a public meeting October 27 in Williamston, North Carolina, that was arranged by Robert Barnes, a Baha’i in Williamston, and sponsored by the Baha’is of North Carolina’s Eastern District.

Forty-five people attended the event including the city commis sioner, the principal of Hayes Elementary School, and several Williamston residents.

Dr. Gary Reusche of Cary, an extension specialist at North Carolina State University, and Jeremy Tarlo, an elementary school teacher from Wilson, presented various topics taken from “The Promise of World Peace,’”

the statement to the peoples of the world by the Universal House of Justice.

Music was provided by the Community Gospel Chorus of Williamston and by Greg Meyjes, a linguist and instructor at UNCChapel Hill who sang in several languages.

Paul Slaughter (right), a Bahdé

from Los Angeles who was chief photographer of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee for the 1984 Olympic Games, presents a photograph of Olympic torch runner Gregg Abbott to Mayor Tom Bradley of Los An

geles. The mayor and other city agencies sponsored an exhibit of Mr. Slaughter’s Olympic photographs September 19-October 18 at the Los Angeles City Hall’s Bridge Gallery, and Mr. Slaughter received a commendation from Mayor Bradley.

The National Spiritual Assembly has just learned from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that the UNHCR is experiencing a financial crisis and is not at present allocating any funds to the transfer of refugees.

All available funds are being used for the support and maintenance of refugees wherever they are currently located.

UN financial crisis shrinks funds available to transfer Iran refugees

For Iranian Baha’i refugees in Pakistan, this means that those with a visa in hand for Austria will have to pay the cost of air fare from Pakistan to Austria as well as living expenses in Austria (see article on Page 13).

The alternative is to remain in Pakistan until their turn comes to be processed at the new center which will be opening in Pakistan sometime in February.

Counsellor Schechter weekend guest

at several events in

Counsellor Fred Schechter was a special guest November 15-17 at a weekend Spanish Conference and other events in New York City.

Mr. Schechter, who lives in La Mesa, California, has traveled extensively in South America and is fluent in Spanish, gave a fireside Friday evening at which there were four seekers.

On Saturday, the Counsellor spoke at length and answered many questions during the conference at the Baha’i Center.

After diner, he returned to the Center for an evening program that drew an audience of 50 including 15 non-Baha’is.

On Sunday morning, Mr. Schechter met with the Spiritual Assembly of New York City and spoke at the regular Sunday public meeting. In the afternoon, he was

New York City

the guest speaker at a fund-raising dinner and celebration of the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh at the Crystal Palace in Queens.

Answers to crossword puzzle

Across Down 3. Pupil 1. Bab 8. Spirit 2. Abha 10. Baha 3. PS 13. Garden 4. Up 15. Ha 5. Pioneer 16. He 6. Ir 17. TV 7. Light 18. Us 9. Travel 20. Gen 11. Age 21. Carmel 12. Arts Blt 14. Equal 25. Enter 16. Hug 26. One 18. Unity 27. Ya 22. Mind 28. Body 24. Tea 25. ET [Page 27]The American Baha’i / January 1986 / 27

10 YEARS AGO

The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum meets with more than 500 of the friends at a celebration honoring the opening of a new Baha’i Center in New York City.

Among the other distinguished guests at the opening are Auxiliary Board members Albert James, Peter Khan and Adrienne Reeves.

The Hand of the Cause says she is honored to be present to see the fulfillment of a long-cherished dream of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, the Universal House of Justice and the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly. She feels especially privileged, she adds, since she is in fact a native New Yorkane

On November 9, Amatu’l-Bahá Ruhfyyih Khánum speaks to Baha’is from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island and Canada during a special gathering in New Haven, Connecticut.

Fresh from her recent trip to South America, which she calls “the Green Light Expedition,” she says she is working with her traveling companions to complete a film bearing that title, as well as slide programs about the trip ...

Meanwhile, the Hand of the Cause of God Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir undertakes a month-long visit to the U.S. to help stimulate the teaching work.

The Counsellors in Central and South America, areas visited earlier in the year by Dr. Muhájir, report that it is like witnessing a miracle to see the dynamic and broadening effect Dr. Muhájir has on the Baha’is ...

Baha’i education for children is strengthened by a new teacher training program initiated by the National Education Committee.

During the sessions, which are held at the Louis Gregory Institute in South Carolina, participants share their ideas and apply their knowledge by working with groups of children. Afterward, the corps of 20 well-trained teachers is made available to the Baha’is in the southern states ...

To help revitalize teaching in the South, the National Spiritual Assembly appoints a Southern Teaching Committee whose members are Dorothy Bruner (administrator), Janice Carter and Jack Guillebeaux.

The committee is to work with Spiritual Assemblies and District Teaching Committees to initiate conferences, seminars, institutes and training sessions throughout the South ...

A radio and television recording studio is installed in the basement of the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. Expanded use of radio and TV by the Baha’ is is a goal of the Five Year Plan ..

A Baha’i ‘‘Infomobile,”” sponsored by the Group in El Paso County West, Texas, is the hub of extensive proclamation activities whose goal is to form a local Spiritual Assembly in the county.

The Infomobile, which is on an empty lot near the center of the town of Canutillo, is open every Saturday afternoon ...

Virginia Orbison, pioneer 43 years, dies in Spain

Virginia Orbison, a pioneer for 43 years to Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula, died November 20 in Malaga, Spain. She was 83 years old.

During the first Seven Year Plan (1937-44), when the Guardian ordered the first ‘‘systematic’’ teaching of the Faith by sending pioneers to open Central and South America, Virginia Orbison began her life-long pioneer service.

She pioneered first to Chile and later to Arget ja, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil, learning Spanish and

Portuguese along the way.

During the second Seven Year Plan (1946-53), she was sent by the Guardian to Spain, arriving in Madrid on December 26, 1946. In April 1948, she was elected secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Madrid, the first local Spiritual Assembly in Spain.

With the inauguration of the Ten Year Crusade in 1953, Virginia Orbison became a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh when she opened the Balearic Islands to the Faith in August 1953.

In September 1954, as a result of Spain’s restricted religious

Valeria Lamb Nichols, pioneer to Europe, South America, dies in Yucatan, Mexico

Valeria Lamb Nichols, a pioneer for 38 years to Europe and Central America, died November 15 in Yucatan, Mexico.

Her pioneering service began soon after she became a Baha’i in 1937 when she pioneered on the homefront in the U.S.

While in this country she was a member of several local Spiritual Assemblies, the National Teaching Committee, and the InterAmerica Committee.

In September 1947 she _pioneered to Holland for three months, then went to Portugal for several years. After returning to the State for a short time, she went in 1953 to Costa Rica and in 1957 moved to Mexico City.

Mexico was at that time preparing for the formation of its first National Spiritual Assembly, to be elected in 1961. Mrs. Nichols served as a member of that As Kenny

from page 4

“No one, in any way, was able to describe the Guardian to me. One is not in his presence very long before one senses that he is another order of being ... his forthrightness is unbelievable.’”

After pioneering with her mother to the Madeiras, Mrs. Kenny moved, with the Guardian’s permission, in June 1954 to Nice, France.

When the National Spiritual Assembly of France was formed in 1958, she was elected as one of its members and served on that body until the end of the Ten Year Crusade in 1963, when she returned to the U.S. after not having seen her husband for seven years.

Mrs. Kenny died in London in September 1968 while on a trip to Europe with her husband. She is buried only a few steps from the resting place of Shoghi Effendi whose funeral in London she had attended 11 years earlier.

On September 24, 1968, the Universal House of Justice cabled:

“Grieved learn passing Knight Baha’u’llah Sara Kenny dedicated servant Cause native land stalwart pioneer Madeira whose devoted labors France membership first National Assembly and staunch defense Covenant contributed firm establishment foundation that national community. Assure family prayers Holy Shrines progress her soul Abhá Kingdom. Requesting National Assembly France hold befitting memorial service.””

sembly for many years.

In 1965 she moved to the Yucatan, where she soon developed a close friendship and love for the Mayan people. In the words of another pioneer, she ‘‘was truly a mother’’ to the Mayans, who returned her love.

In a cable to the National Spiritual Assembly of Mexico, the Universal House of Justice lauded her efforts:

“Share your grief passing courageous maidservant Bahá’u’lláh Valeria Nichols. Her longtime service your National Assembly and advancement Cause Yucatan Peninsula add lustre Baha’i history Mexico crowning selfless pioneer endeavors homefront United States.”

Pioneering

from page 6

denly something changed.

I felt a force rushing in toward me: my sense of self, of wellbeing, seemed to let go of the land and the surroundings and come pouring back into me, through my every fiber. It was a physical sensation.

My emotional dependence on the things around me had been released, and what I had needed from them was now inside my own skin. I no longer had to fear the day we were going to leave; in at least one way, I had already left.

NEXT MONTH: Pioneering in the Caribbean and beyond.

Conference

from page 2

Special hotel rates and airline discounts have been arranged and will soon be available.

These rates and discounts will be in effect for several days before and after the conference for those who may consider arriving in San Francisco early or staying after the conference.

Pre-registration will begin in March. Watch for information in your Feast mailings and in next month’s issue of The American Baha’i.

We would like to thank the friends for the many ideas and suggestions sent in response to our request in the November issue of The American Baha’i.

‘Indispensable medium for growth’

National Bahd’{ Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

freedoms, she was instructed to return to Madrid. She again left Spain in 1956 to pioneer to Portugal, where she served on the Regional Spiritual Assembly of Spain and Portugal.

After pioneering next to Luxembourg for nine years, she returned in 1968 to Malaga, Spain, and was able in April 1971 to arrange and speak at the first Baha’i public meeting ever held there.

The following April she was elected to the first local Spiritual Assembly of Malaga.

In spite of her continuing battles with illness, her service to the Cause was unfailing. On learning of her death, the Universal House of Justice cabled:

“Extend loving sympathy grievous loss Virginia Orbison Knight Bahá’u’lláh_ Balearic Islands. Recall with pride admiration her outstanding dedicated life Cause God more than half century pioneer traveling teacher Latin America first pioneer Iberian Peninsula sacrificial service Luxembourg re

IN MEMORIAM

a VIRGINIA ORBISON

turn Spain becoming recognized Mother Spanish community. Her single-minded devotion offers heartwarming example confirming power Bahá’u’lláh to any soul who alone unaided arises serve Him. Advise hold befitting memorial services.””

Thelma Blackmon

Edward Goodwin

Rosa Lee Pullins

Pontiac, MI Elloree, SC Roswell, GA October 23, 1985 Date Unknown October 1983 Elliott Bradley Samuel Goodwin Mehran Rafiee Irmo, SC Elloree, SC Hopkins, MN Date Unknown Date Unknown October 12, 1985 Lucy E. Brock Rufus E. Hall Woodrow Ramage Silvis, IL Elloree, SC Batesburg, SC

October 28, 1985 Francis Bullhead McLaughlin, SD May 1982

Sallie Burgess Johnsonville, SC Date Unknown John Caldwell Jr. Elloree, SC

Date Unknown Paul Christburg Elloree, SC

Date Unknown

Beulah Christy

Date Unknown Marjorie Haney Haifa, Israel December 2, 1985 Marion Haynes Elloree, SC Date Unknown Jerome Hosford Tampa, FL October 15, 1985 Isabel Johnson Elloree, SC Date Unknown Ruth W. Jones

Date Unknown Orville Reeve Corpus Christi, TX November 5, 1985 Grace Reddest White River, SD October 3, 1985 Joseph Reyes

San Jose, CA November 21, 1985 Allie Rivers Elloree, SC

Date Unknown Peter Sandrian

Crisfield, MD Phoenix, AZ Morristown, NJ Date Unknown October 21, 1985 1984

Harry L. Dancer Willie King Ralph H. Scott Elloree, SC ‘Timmonsville, SC Corvallis, OR

Date Unknown Henry Lee Davis Pamplico, SC Date Unknown Dominy Donovan Milaca, MN

Date Unknown Irma Donaldson

Date Unknown

Willie Kinley

Elloree, SC

Date Unknown Sherrill Lindsey

Fort Valley, GA August 25, 1985 Mary Between Lodges

November 1985 Willie Shipman Washington, DC April 14, 1984 Willey Shuler Elloree, SC Date Unknown Lila M. Smith

Butte, MT Wanblee, SD Pamplico, SC August 19, 1985 September 1985 Date Unknown Martin Dukes Florence McKinzie Hazel Stroman Elloree, SC Pamplico, SC Elloree, SC Date Unknown 1984 Date Unknown Pearlie Mae Ennals —_ Louise Montgomery Alma Thur Crisfield, MD Columbia, SC Reno, NV

Date Unknown Irving Fiddler Mobridge, SD June 1984

Sue Fountaine

May 1985

Valeria Nichols Merida, Mexico November 15, 1985 Bernice One Feather

November 27, 1985

Charlie Tripp Roberta, GA September 26, 1985

Ruth Vanderburg

Cleveland, OH Little Eagle, SD Detroit, MI November 14, 1985 March 1983 1981

Sam Gates Virginia Orbison Naomi Webb Batesburg, SC Malaga, Spain Mayesville, SC January 1984 November 20, 1985 1984

Esther Glander

Magda Polivanov

Tony White Lance

Zimbabwe, Africa New York, NY Parmelee, SD November 10, 1985 June 1985 June 25, 1985 Mellie Glover Jr. Ethel Parpart Jim Wilson Elloree, SC Washington, DC Mayesville, SC Date Unknown December 27, 1980 1983 [Page 28]28 / The American Baha’ / January 1986

Extensive restoration project at Baha’i House of Worship moves toward its completion

An extensive restoration project at the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, begun in the fall of 1984, is nearing completion, according to Robert Armbruster, manager of NSA Properties Inc. and a member of the Temple Restoration Committee.

“The major goals of the project have been completed, and we’re making progress on the final stages,’’ says Mr. Armbruster.

Areas of primary concern were the problem ‘of water intrusion, corrosion of the building structure, deterioration of the exterior, stairs and walks, and the lack of quality in the finish of Foundation Hall.

The committee’s basic task, that of stopping further leakage and corrosion, has been complet Water had been leaking through the glass dome for some time, contributing to the corrosion. The committee contacted various skylight companies to consult on reconstruction of the dome. As a temporary measure, a clear plastic drape was placed over the inner concrete dome below the 55-yearold skylight.

As a permanent solution, two approaches were considered.

In the first, parts of the outer dome would be removed; the old skylight would then be disassembled and taken out through the gaping hole in the roof.

Later, a new skylight would be inserted piece by piece through the open roof and assembled. It was estimated that this procedure would take more than a year, cost well over $1 million, and prohibit use of the Temple until it was completed.

A contractor from Super Sky International Inc. then examined the dome, testing the old rafters, and concluded that the existing frame could easily support the load of a new skylight.

By leaving the old system in place and attaching a new, watertight system over the existing dome, the cost would be cut in half, renovation would take far less time to complete, and the building could remain open during the entire process.

Also, a new skylight riding “piggyback”” over the old would create an air space that would provide insulation, cutting heat loss in the enormous dome and giving a “‘state of the art’’ weather shield.

The committee agreed to this plan. Work was begun in the fall of 1984 and completed last spring.

Meanwhile, Laurance Cazaly, a structural engineer, looked at the original plans of the building and the physical structure itself.

3 Baha’is included in 1985 Who’s Who

Three Baha’is are among those selected for inclusion in the 1985 edition of Outstanding Young Men of America, which recognizes the achievements and abilities of men between the ages of 21 and 36.

The Baha’is chosen for inclusion are Tim Tyson, Huntsville, Alabama; Randall A. Robinson, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama; and R. Curt Porter, Berkeley, California.

After running a computer analysis to calculate the strength and stability of the structure, he determined that if deterioration were averted by cleaning away corrosion, the steel truss would remain strong enough to support the building.

As a result, the structure was blasted with water and sand to clean off the rust, then treated with a high performance protective coating to prevent further deterioration.

To further protect the building from water damage, inspectors determined that the roofing should be replaced and the gutters fixed.

A new roofing material, ‘‘Derbigum,”’ enabled the roof to be rebuilt without the use of metal “‘flashing”’ against the curved surface of the building, which would have been difficult to install. The windows around the building were recaulked as well.

Mr. Armbruster, who assumed the position as manager of NSA Properties Inc. in March 1985, says the committee is now working on the problem of sealing leaks in the basement caused by cracks and drainage from the outside walks and stairwells.

Plans are also being devised to restore the ornamental concrete skin, which is deteriorating rapidly, and to complete the visitors’ center in the basement, a part of the Temple that was never properly finished despite its great popularity with the public.

In November 1983, 23 professional architects, engineers, contractors and project managers took part in a House of Worship Restoration Seminar in Wilmette.

They concluded in a report to. the National Spiritual Assembly that immediate action should be taken to avert the accelerating deterioration and to save the building from irreversible damage.

Six of those at the seminar were chosen by the National Assembly to serve on the Temple Restoration Committee: Mr. Armbrust: David Hadden, a civil engineer from Port Hope, Canada; Frederic McCoy, an architect from Ferndale, Michigan; Robert Shaw, an engineer, developer and contractor from Middletown, Wisconsin; Shinji Yamamoto, the State Architect for Wiscor and Cengiz Yetken, an arc! tect/designer from Oak Park, Illinois.

At Ridvan 1984, the committee’s efforts were given support by the Universal House of Justice which, in its Ridvan message to the U.S., instructed the believers. to ‘*...adopt, initiate and sustain a well-defined, phased plan to renovate the Mother Temple of the ‘West.””

The Temple is now more structurally secure, says Mr. Armbruster, and steps have been taken to protect it in the future.

A new maintenance routine initiated by the properties department includes regular inspection of the Temple. With a better record of the state of repair, he says, problems can be spotted and diagnosed earlier, and action taken to avert a crisis.

!

| MOVING? TELL US YOUR

I 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 address will be.

This form may be used for one person or your entire family. Please be sure to list FULL NAMES AND I.D, NUMBERS for all individuals, ages 15 years or older, who will be affected by this change.

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Baha’i | FAITH

AAR

from page 15

Faith. We felt we could measure a marked increase in the interest and responsiveness since last year’s conference.”

A highlight of the AAR conference for the Baha’i participants was the presentation of the peace statement to the Academy’s executive board by Dr. Schoonmaker, a longtime AAR member. About 30 people attended the annual meeting at which the presentation was made.

A session entitled “‘A Survey of Academic Work and Emerging Issues in the Field of Baha’i Studies’’ was included in the AAR conference program.

The panelists were Dr. Schoonmaker, who spoke on ‘‘Theology

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the last names and addresses on our address labels do not match exactly. We have listed above the full names of all family members as they should ir on the national records, their LD. numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive ‘only one copy.

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and Doctrine,” covering some of the historical and erpretive works by Baha’i scholars; Stockman (‘‘American Baha’i History”); Peter Smith (‘‘Baha’i History in the Middle East’’), ‘and Anthony Lee (‘Third World Studies’’).

The session was attended by five or six non-Baha’is and 13 Baha’is, some of whom had been attending the concurrent Baha’ History Conference sponsored by the Baha’i community of Los Angeles.

The Publishing Trust plans to take part in next year’s AAR convention, which will be held in Atlanta, Georgia.

“We anticipate even more interest in the Faith at next year’s event,’’ says Mr. Bucknell, ‘‘because of the Faith’s rapid emergence from obscurity.””

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‘Great Peace March’ set from L.A. to D.C.

On March 1, 5,000 people will begin a ‘‘Great Peace March’” that will take them from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C.

On November 15, the marchers will be joined by thousands of their fellow citizens for the final leg of the march from an encampment 15 miles outside Washington.

For information about how you can take part, contact PROPeace, .

Los Angeles, CA 90048, or phone 213-653-6245.

Be like the fountainempty yourself, and be refilled

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Certificates for Baha’i books make ideal gifts for family, friends

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The American Bahá’í/Volume 17/Issue 1/Text