The American Bahá’í/Volume 20/Issue 6/Text

The American Bahá’í
Volume 20, Issue 6

Citizenship requirements revised

The U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office (USBRO) has recently received notification of an update in U.S. citizenship requirements affecting legalized immigrants.

Under existing policy, which has been in effect since 1986, people who were accepted as legalized immigrants had to maintain a

temporary residence status for /8 months before they could apply to become permanent residents. Beginning in the 19th month, they had one year in which to apply.

Owing to widespread confusion among immigrants about this policy, however, it has now been revised.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is now allowing newly legalized people to apply for permanent resident status at any time after receiving their temporary residence status, instead of having to wait for 18

See CITIZENS page 2

Arc’s preliminary survey begun

REJOICE ANNOUNCE COMMENCEMENT GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ESSENTIAL PRELIMINARY STEP IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS MOUNT CARMEL. THIS STEP SHARPENS NEED SPEEDY ACCUMULATION FIFTY MILLION DOLLAR RESERVE CALLED FOR PERMIT INITIATION MAJOR WORKS, OF WHICH ONE-THIRD SO FAR CON

TRIBUTED. URGE SHARE INFORMATION FRIENDS. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

APRIL 28, 1989

erican Bahá’í

Am ‘The real treasury of man is his knowledge’—Bahd’

teaching project.

project sites.

committees.

populations.

activities.

of the sexes.

munity’s affairs.

(1963-1986).

schools.

ha’ school.

tion Committee. The Fund

pletion of the Arc. kar.

goals.

1989-90 PLANS FOR ACTION Achieving a vast increase in the number of new believers

To hold a second series of Vision to Victory conferences.

° To assign one full-time staff position in the Office of the National Teaching Committee to the greater Atlanta, Georgia,

To establish desks for the coordination and support of minority teaching projects including blacks, Chinese and Indo-Chinese, Hispanics and Native Americans, and to abolish existing

To initiate, in selected localities, projects aimed at specific

To produce a pamphlet for the general public on the equality

To pursue opportunities to support and to participate with

the International Task Force on Literacy and to encourage grassroots initiatives and sponsorship of activities to combat illiteracy within and without the Bahá’í community.

To continue the process of simplifying the national administration and to consolidate the work of its agencies to coordinate

and to speed the flow of work.

To publish Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies.

To publish a core curriculum for the Bahd’{ education of

children ages six through twelve.

To develop and implement a plan for increasing the cultural

and racial diversity of the attendees at the permanent Bahá’í

To distribute, upon request, the Baha’ education curriculum

materials compiled and catalogued by the National Bahá’í Educa

To set the operating budget at $9,500,000.

© To establish a separate Fund goal of $2 million toward com © To establish a special fund for repairs to the Mashriqu’!-Adh To allocate $30,000 to assist the National Spiritual Assemblies of Belize and the Leeward Islands to complete their property

To present a gift of $400,000 toward the repair and restoration of the Green Acre Baha’ School.

‘u’lláh

Volume 20, No. 6

June 1989

National Assembly presents ‘plan of action’ for 1989-90 at 80th National Convention

The 80th Baha’ National Convention, convened at the midpoint of the Six Year Plan and blessed by the presence of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, afforded an opportunity to assess the progress of the Plan and to develop new strategies to assure the achievement of all of its goals.

This year’s Convention, held April 27-30 at the Bahd’{ House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, was preceded by a day-long deepening session for delegates on the purposes of the National Convention and the role of delegates conducted by Counselors Wilma Ellis, William Roberts and David Smith.

Also taking part in the Convention itself was David Hofman, a retired member of the Universal House of Justice.

On Saturday morning, after dawn prayers celebrating the Ninth Day of Ridvan, the delegates assembled in Foundation Hall at the House of Worship to elect the members of the National Spiritual Assembly for 1989-90.

Elected were Dorothy W. Nelson, Robert C. Henderson, Kevin Locke, William Davis, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Jack McCants, James F. Nelson, Juana Conrad and Alberta Deas.

The incoming Assembly met that evening to elect its officers for the coming year: Dorothy Nelson, chairman; James Nelson, vice-chairman; Robert Henderson, secretary-general; Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary/external affairs; and William Davis, treasurer.

In presenting the annual report of external affairs for the National Assembly, Dr. Kazemzadeh announced the heart-stirring news of the election at Ridvan of the Spiritual Assembly of Ishqábád, Russia, site of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in the Bahá’í world before the Faith was suppressed in that country in the early years of this century.

Noting that there are now fewer than 20 Bahá’ís in prison in Iran, compared to 767 only two years ago, Dr. Kazemzadeh said the National Assembly has begun a “long-range campaign” to help bring about the complete emancipation of the Baha’fs in Iran.

National Spiritual Assembly member Alberta Deas and Truitt White, director of WLGI Radio

Another concurrent resolution condemning the government of Iran for its persecution of Bahá’ís has been introduced in the Senate and is soon to be introduced in the House of Representatives.

Responding to the Ridvan messages for 1988/1989 from the Universal House of Justice, the National Assembly introduced in its annual report a ‘‘plan of action’’ for the coming year (see box on this page) whose focus is on three areas of greatest concern: (1) achieving a vast increase in the number of believers in this country; (2) fostering the maturation of local Spiritual Assemblies; and (3) increasing the Bahá’í{ education of children, youth and adults.

Much of the consultation at the

er

Bahá’í, take part in the station’s live broadcast during the 80th Bahá’í National Convention.

Convention was centered on these extremely important topics.

To help implement its plan, the National Assembly has streamlined the administration of its affairs. New desks have been created to handle minority teaching activities; a full-time staff position in Atlanta has been assigned to the Greater Atlanta teaching campaign; and desks to help minority teaching are to be established in each of the three other major teaching areas (Chicago, San Jose and Massachusetts).

The National Assembly also announced that a second series of Vision to Victory conferences would be held during the coming

See CONVENTION page 7

‘Homecoming’ weekend, conference set November 24-26 at S.C.’s Penn Center

Nearly two decades ago, Bahá’ís from all over the country came to the Penn Center in Frogmore, South Carolina, to help with intensive teaching that swept the state and laid the groundwork for its present development.

All who took part then and anyone else who would like to come are invited to a homecoming weekend November 24-26 at the newly rehabilitated Penn Center.

A weekend conference whose

theme is “Vision Renewed”’ is being sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of St. Helena in collaboration with the assistants to the Auxiliary Board in South Carolina.

Programs for children and youth are planned in conjunction with the conference.

Mark your calendars now and watch for further announcements. Inquiries should be directed to Amber Spahn, 803-838-5453. �[Page 2]2/ The American Bahá’í / June 1989

Integration of Persian refugees in United States is responsibility of local Spiritual Assemblies

With the arrival in the U.S. of large numbers of Persian Bahá’ís in the late 1970s, the need was felt for an agency that could attend to the special needs and challenges thus created.

Therefore, a Persian Affairs Office was created at the National Center in the summer of 1979, and in the fall of that year the National Persian Affairs Committee was appointed.

The mandate of the committee, whose name was later changed to the National Persian/American Affairs Committee (NPAAC) to highlight its integrational function, included help with verification and transfer of membership, providing immigration information, familiarizing the newly ar Citizens

from page 1

months.

Those who apply for permanent residence status must demonstrate “basic citizenship skills.” People who are under 16 years of age, over 64, and those over 50 who have lived in the U.S. for at least 20 years are exempt.

Others may demonstrate these

basic skills by either (1) satisfactorily pursuing an INS-recognized course of study to achieve a basic understanding of English and U.S. history and civics, or (2) proving to the INS that they already have such an understanding. The course requirement necessitates attending at least 40 hours of a recognized 60-hour course in English/civics. Otherwise, proving proficiency to the INS involves either taking INS’s own test or the INS-approved test put out by the Educational Testing Service.

People may either take the test or show that they have satisfactorily pursued a course of study. They are not required to do both.

The INS regulations also do not require that people who have taken the 40 hours of classes actually be able to speak English.

The Bahá’í Distribution Service will soon offer a handbook prepared by the USBRO entitled American Culture and Traditions: A Handbook for New Americans. It is intended to acquaint newly arrived refugees and immigrants with basic features of life in the U.S. including general facts about its government, history and legal system.

You may wish to save this article for ease of reference, as there may occasionally be legalized Bahá’í immigrants in your community who wish to apply for citizenship.

If there are any questions in your Bahá’í community about this matter, they may be directed to the INS branch office in your area.

rived with life in the U.S., making Bahá’í literature in Persian accessible and helping Persian children and youth retain the ability to use it, providing moral and financial support for the relatives of martyrs and other victims of persecution, playing an active role in providing documentation of persecutions for Congressional hearings and other purposes, and fostering integration of the newly arrived Persians into the mainstream of Bahá’í community life.

The primary delivery system adopted by NPAAC was a network of up to 22 Area Persian/ American Affairs Committees (APAACs) designed to serve as resource agencies for the Assemblies involved in integrating the Persian believers.

The programs, publications and audio-visual materials developed by NPAAC were made available through the APAACs as well as at Bahá’í schools, major conferences and regional gatherings called by NPAAC.

An outgrowth of the activities of the Persian/American Affairs Office has been the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Program, initially involving aid to Persian Bahd’{ refugees.

This operation was later expanded to include all Bahá’í refugees and is now operating as a separate office. A representative of the U.S. Bahá’í{ Refugee Office has been helping U.S.-bound Persian Baha’ refugees in Pakistan.

At this time some 14 percent of the Bahda’is in this country for whom current addresses are available are of Persian background. These friends are also quite ‘‘visible’”’ at Baha'i gatherings.

The spiritual and material resources of this significant segment of the Bahá’í community cannot be ignored if we hope to achieve the goals of the Six Year Plan. Therefore, integration issues must continue to be among the highest priorities for Bahá’í institutions and individuals.

With the passage of time and increased familiarity of many Persian friends with their new environment on the one hand, and the changes taking place in the situa tion of Bahá’ís in Iran on the other, the issues and challenges have changed.

More and more Persian friends, especially those of the younger generation, are becoming involved in the life and work of the U.S. Bahá’í community.

While many of the older friends are still experiencing difficulty communicating with their nonPersian-speaking brethren, the majority have accepted the fact that they are members of this community, and many are assuming their share of the responsibility for the work before us. The relative attenuation of the persecutions in Iran has also diminished the number of new arrivals.

With the focus of the National Assembly on the primary goals of large-scale growth, maturation of the institutions of the Faith, and the Baha’f education of children, youth and adults, the future challenge will be to place the integration of local Bahaé’i communities on the agenda of Assemblies.

The development of a pattern of Bahá’í community life characterized by love and unity and friendly association of all members regardless of ethnic and cultural heritage will demonstrate, in the words of the beloved Guardian, our ‘‘complete conviction of the oneness of mankind and attract others to the Faith, both young and old alike.”’

While NPAAC and APAACs will no longer be appointed, the National Persian/American Affairs Office (NPAAO) will pursue specific programs and activities aimed at promoting integration and unity, in close collaboration with Assemblies and members of appointed institutions.

The emphasis will be on the development of deepening materials and programs which can be used at the grassroots level to foster cross-cultural communication and fellowship.

Specially designed projects for some centers of concentration of Persian Bahá’ís may also be planned to be conducted in the same collaborative fashion.

Puerto Rico invites youth, all Bahá’ís to take part in San Juan Conference

The Bahá’ís of Puerto Rico cordially invite all Baha’fs, especially youth, to take part in the first International Youth Conference in that country, to be held July 13-16 in the greater San Juan area.

Counselors Eloy Anello and Rodrigo Tomas will lead discussions centered around the conference theme, ‘‘Today ... Now Is the Time to Transform Words into Action.”

For two weeks before and after the conference, a teaching project will offer an opportunity to teach in a Hispanic country and learn about a different and exciting culture. 4

the U.S.A.

‘The American Bahd’{ (USPS 042-430) is published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 0091. Postmaster: Send address changes to Management Information Systems, Ba'{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Executive editor: Jack Bowers. Associate itor: Laura E. Hildreth. The American Bahd'! welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Faith. Articles should be written clearly and concisely; color or black-and-white glossy photographs should be included whenever possible. Please address all materials to The Editor, ‘The American Bahá’í, Wilmette, IL 60091. Copyright © 1989 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in

The cost is $135 per person which includes meals, lodging and conference materials.

There will be simultaneous translation into English,

To register, please write to:

Conferencia Internacional Bahá’í de Juventud ’89, _ Hato Rey, PR 00919, phone 809-781-6958, or contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Bahá’ís co-sponsor musical tribute to peace in Largo, Florida

On April 23, the Bahá’ís of Larg0, Florida, co-sponsored a ‘‘Musical Tribute to Peace’’ with the city’s parks and recreation department.

Nearly 100 people came to hear local musicians, Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í, perform at Ulmer Park in downtown Largo.

Refreshments were provided by the Largo Senior Center.

lack McCants, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, pays

tribute to Eulalia Bobo Taylor ata surprise party in her honor.

Long-time teacher Eulalia Bobo Taylor honored at surprise party in Alabama

Eulalia Bobo Taylor, who has taught the Faith for many years throughout the U.S, was the truly surprised guest at a surprise party in her honor May 6 in Lanett, Alabama. f

About 80 Bahá’ís from the Southern states attended the event at which Mrs. Taylor’s services to the Faith were praised by Jack McCants, a member of the Na tional Spiritual Assembly, and Auxiliary Board members Soo Fouts and Elizabeth Martin, among others.

Although in failing health, Mrs. Taylor invited everyone at the party to return with her to her house. There she taught the Faith to some of the guests while the friends sang songs and reminisced in another room.

Bahá’ís in Scottsdale, Arizona, march with their ‘walking float’ in

the city’s annual ‘Parada del Sol’ (Parade of the Sun).

Scottsdale Bahá’ís have ‘walking float’ in city’s celebrated Parade of the Sun

In January, Bahá’ís in Scottsdale, Arizona, marched with their “walking float’? in the annual “Parada del Sol’’ (Parade of the Sun), the city’s most celebrated event.

Forty Bahá’ís were led by two youth carrying a banner that read “The Promise of World Peace: More Than an End to War. Bahá’í Faith.”

In the center of the float eight men carried a globe with all the continents shown in bold relief.

The following day, Bahá’í author John Huddleston, an adviser to the Administrative Department

of the International Monetary Fund, spoke to an audience of about 375 at Scottsdale Community College on ‘‘Peace By the Year 2000.”

His address was co-sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Scottsdale and the Associated Students of Scottsdale Community College.

Mr. Huddleston, whose books include The Earth Is One Country and Peace By the Year 2000, also spoke at a reception in his honor hosted by the Arizona Institute for Peace Education and Research at its headquarters in Tempe, and was interviewed on a radio talk �[Page 3]The American Bahá’í / June 1989 / 3

Congratulations are in order to new college clubs that have formed in the last few months.

Some of the new clubs are Columbia University, Modesto (CaliFfornia) Junior College, the University of Wisconsin-Stout, and the University of North Alabama. Way to go!

At the Cleveland (Ohio) Chiropractic College, club members have helped an international student bring his family to the U.S. from Africa and have distributed many copies of the peace statement. They joyfully report an enrollment.

The Eastern Arizona Community College Bahá’í Club sponsored an essay contest in observance of UN International Day of Peace. And at the University of Arizona, the Bahá’í Association showed ‘Racism 101,” a documentary film about recent racist incidents on college campuses. (Note: copies of the film are available through the Youth Office for college clubs to borrow.)

As part of Cross-Cultural Week at Michigan State University, the Bahá’í Club sponsored a unity picnic attended by a racially diverse group including many non-Baha'is.

During an outdoor festival at San Diego State University, the Baha’ Club joined forces with the Bahá’í Club at the University of California-San Diego to set up a booth with the Bahá’í version of the popular board game ‘‘Pictionary.”

The Bahá’í Association of York College in New York City has sponsored weekly discussions, films, and socials including a recent talk by Dr. Roy Jones, director of the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute in South Carolina.

At Bryant College in Rhode Island, there is again proof that a single candle can illumine a campus.

The Minority Business Students Association, which includes a Bahá’í, Rocky Moncho, as a member, organized a series of events for Black History Month including music by the Kingsley Swan duo and Ladjamaya Green.

Spontaneous dancing broke out, and at another moment the dean of student affairs echoed the members’ sentiments for peace and racial unity.

Across the country, dozens of college clubs have been using the table tents on Black History with great success, as well as the sample letter to the editor promoting race unity.

In other events, the National Youth Committee sponsored a college club planning and strategy meeting May 12-13 at the Bahá’í Center in Chicago for clubs in the Central States.

Also, a national college club conference is being planned for the weekend of October 27-29 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Michigan.

See CAMPUS page 15

Summer’s a great time for traveling teaching

Summer’s here! And what a wonderful time to embark upon a traveling teaching journey.

Traveling teaching is an activity that can take on many forms. The mission of a traveling teacher may be accomplished in a variety of ways: through sharing a cup of coffee and conversation about the Teachings of Bahd’u’ll4h with an isolated believer; through encouraging and helping a new Baha’f community organize its first Feast; or by helping a small community arrange a public meeting.

In explaining the role of the traveling teacher, the following was written on behalf of the Guardian:

“*...What visiting teachers are supposed to do is to give the final touch to the work that has been done, to consolidate rather than supplement individual efforts and thereby direct them in a constructive and suitable channel.

“Their task is to encourage and inspire individual believers, and to broaden and deepen their vision of the task that is to be done. And this, not by virtue of any inherent spiritual right, but in the spirit of simple and whole-hearted co-operation.””

Although various approaches and methods of presentation may be used according to the capacity of the individual or group, the Universal House of Justice has indicated in a letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies engaged in mass teaching work that in meeting with the friends, the traveling teacher should try to discuss the following topics:

The extent of the spread and stature of the Faith today; the importance of daily obligatory prayers; the need to educate Bahá’í children in the teachings of the Faith and to encourage them to memorize some of the prayers; the stimulation of youth to take part in community life; the necessity to abide by the laws of marriage and the importance of abstinence from all intoxicating drinks and drugs; the local Fund and the need for the friends to understand that the voluntary act of giving to the Fund is both a privilege and a spiritual obligation; the importance of the Nineteen Day Feast and the fact that it is a rallying point for the entire community; the manner of election of the local Spiritual Assembly; and last but not least, the all-important teaching work, both in the locality and its neigh Two professors among 26 at ‘environmental’

fireside in N. Carolina

On March 31, 26 visitors including two university professors attended a fireside on ‘‘environmental issues”’ sponsored by the Bahá’í Club at North Carolina State University in Raleigh.

The faculty members were Dr. Robert Patterson of the NCSU crop science department and Dr. James Mickle of the biology department, both of whom made significant contributions to the discussion with their scientific perspectives of environmental issues.

Also present were members of the Mennonite Church and students from India, Turkey and the US.

On May 7, the NCSU Bahá’í Club sponsored an ‘‘Environmental Pollution Prevention Picnic.”

boring centers, as well as the need to deepen the friends in the essentials of the Faith.

The role of the traveling teacher is to be involved in the process of consolidation, and while that effort should by no means be limited to discussion of the above topics, it should include the discussion of one or more of them.

The work of the traveling teacher is to nurture the new believers and communities and to inspire the isolated Baha’ is and Groups to raise themselves to functioning Assembly status and to carry forward the message of Baha’u’ll4h through their own initiative.

Bahá’ís who are interested in traveling and teaching may wish to consider traveling to areas where consolidation is most needed.

These areas include the four major National Teaching Project sites: San Jose/Santa Clara County, California; greater Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; and Massachusetts.

Contact should be made well ahead of time with the project coordinators:

Atlanta: Anne Haynes, Bahá’í Office, . Atlanta, GA 30328 (phone 404250-0721).

Chicago: Lani Smith, Chicago Bahá’í Center,

Chicago, IL 60616 (phone 312-225-1919). Massachusetts: Christine Pratt, Belchertown, MA 01007 (phone 413323-5232).

San Jose: Carol Morgan, P.O. Box 6381, San Jose, CA 95150 (phone 408-559-8405).

If you are interested in traveling to teach within your own district, contact your District Teaching Committee. For help in planning a traveling teaching trip outside your district, contact:

Region 1 (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming): Bob and Brooke Record, N.E.

_. Pullman, WA 99163 (509-332-8881).

Region 2 (California, Nevada): Sandra Huit, . Fair Oaks, CA 95628 (916-9610807).

Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah): Pamela Hawley,

- Phoenix, AZ 85040 (602-437-2040).

Region 4 (lowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota): Lynda Ochsner,

Aurora, NE 68818 (402-694-6045).

Region 5, No. I (Arkansas, Ok lahoma): Will Sutter, Oklahoma City, OK

73104 (405-235-2802). Region 5, No. 2 (Louisiana,

Mississippi, Texas): Riaz Haghpajuh, cap men sa poi Addison, TX 75244 (214-2431540).

Region 6 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin):

Rebecca Huff, . Macedonia, OH 44056 (216-467 Region 7 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont): Hollie Shaner, ~ _Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802-878 8949). Region 8(D.C., Delaware, Ken tucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia): Sam Williams, P.O. Box 971, Yadkinville, NC 27055 (919-679-2133).

Region 9 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia): Elizabeth Anderson, P.O. Box 2082, Auburn, AL 36831 (205-826-3394).

If you would like to travel to more than one region, please contact the office manager for Traveling Teaching Coordinators, Mr. Williams, at the address or number given above.

He—and all of the traveling teaching coordinators—can help with logistical arrangements, offer suggestions, and provide a list of coordinators and Assembly con tacts along a traveling teacher’s route.

Please note: Expenses incurred while traveling and teaching are the responsibility of the traveling teacher.

All of the regional Traveling Teaching Coordinators and the Traveling Teaching Office may be contacted by communities who would like to invite traveling teachers to visit them.

And by the way, a booklet entitled ‘Traveling Teaching,’’ which provides an overview of the role of the traveling teacher, is available for 50 cents per copy from the National Teaching Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Pictured are some of the participants in the ‘Trail of Glory’ teach

ing tour of Oklahoma held March 25-April 2.

Baha’7i ‘Trail of Glory’ tour acquaints Oklahomans with many Indian traditions

More than 5,000 Oklahomans including many children and youth heard about Native American traditions and music during a nine-day Bahá’í-sponsored ‘‘Trail of Glory’’ tour of the state March 25-April 2.

Among those invited to take part were Kevin Locke, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly; his six-year-old daughter; Vernon Longie, and Francis Cree.

Many important American Indian leaders were contacted during the video-taped 3,000-mile trip whose immediate results included three declarations of faith in Baha’u’ll4h.

In Oklahoma City, Mr. Locke and his group were introduced to the Oklahoma legislature.

In several cities, governors of Indian tribes including Pottowatomi, Shawnee, Ponca and Cherokee were invited to luncheons where special relationships were developed.

One item of publicity that money could not buy was a frontpage color photograph of Mr. Locke in the state’s leading newspaper.

At Tulsa University, more than 400 American Indians heard about the Faith during a Bahá’ísponsored pow-wow.

The finale of the “Trail of Glory,’”’ in Jay, drew about 200 participants for a potluck feast sponsored by the Spiritual Assemblies of Sapulpa and Delaware County.

N.Y. events emphasize Bahá’í, Indian teachings concerning equality of sexes

On April 13-15, the National Committee on Women co-sponsored with the Seneca Falls Bahá’í Equality Conference Committee and many local volunteers three proclamation events in western New York state.

The themes of each were the equality of the sexes and the ancient spiritual teachings of gender equality among the area’s Iroquois Indians.

On April 13, Charlene WingerBearskin, a Bahd’{ descended from a tribe of the Iroquois Confederation, spoke to about 50 guests at the Seneca Falls His Appearing in traditional Indian dress, she spoke of both the Bahá’í and Iroquois Confederation’s teachings on gender equality.

An awards banquet, held the following evening, honored seven

Iroquois women for their contributions to the community.

Among those honored were Dr. Charlotte Heth, director of Cornell University’s Indian program; Audrey Shenandoah, secretary of the Iroquois Grand Council; and Jeanette Miller, a volunteer worker with victims of child abuse.

The program included talks by Dr. Alberta Deas, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Auxiliary Board member Mara Khavari. A number of local government officials attended.

On Saturday evening, April 15, the committee presented an evening of talks on equality of the sexes at the University of Rochester.

Speakers included Dr. Deas, Ms. Khavari and Janet Smith of the Bahá’í International Community’s office in New York City. �[Page 4]4/ The American Bahd’{ / June 1989

TIPRN THE (WORLD ON Ins EAR

AMERICAS AFRICA ALASKA: International Youth Conference BOTSWANA: “STAR 89" Project, July 12 to 15, 1989 - Theme: "The summer 1989. AUSTRALASIA ‘Challenge of our Time - Global Peace” LIBERIA: West African Baha'i Music a CE See ALASKA: "Northem Star Project", ~ December 8 to 10, 1989. EASTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS: teaching and service - June 15 to July 11, SENEGAL: Need traveling teachers, } ‘Need deepened, knowledgeable, mature 1989 and July 11 to August 12, 1989. especially youth traveling teachers who can stay 1 to 3

ZIMBABWE: Baha'i Deepening Institute, ongoing,

ALASKA: Yukon Bahá’ Institute ~ months.

Firesides, deepenings, training, celebrations continuous programs.

ASIA

BAHAMAS: Ongoing “Island of the Project. HONG) KONG: Ongoing Mass Teaching.

Season”

CANADA: Sylvan Lake Summer School - continuous programs,

COSTA RICA: Peace Conference - June 25 t0 30, 1989.

BA: Ongoing Mass Teaching Project.

SINGAPORE: Ongoing Mass Teaching Project - need 6 full-time teachers.

TAIWAN: Ongoing Mass Teaching Project

GRENADA: Mona Teaching Project - July 23.to August 5, 1989.

HAITI: Need for French-speaking traveling

teachers.

HONDURAS: Ongoing teaching projects. JAMAICA: Need for long-term, mature

traveling teachers.

LEEWARD ISLANDS: Need for “Resident Teachers” who can stay from 1 to.

PANAMA: Extended Project Sites teaching Project - ongoing.

PUERTO RICO: International Youth Conference - July 13 to 16, 1989.

ITALY: International Youth Conference July 1310 15, 1989.

EUROPE

AND: "Skogar” Service/Forestry Project and Youth Conference, June 1989. IRELAND: Summer School - July 29 to August 1, 1989.

ptember and be} SWITZERLAND: Need traveling teachers who can stay for short- mid- oF long-term service.

"ALY: Teaching projects, May through syond.

Mubajir Project.

GO TRAVELING TEACHING!

For more information, contact: Office of Pioneering,

Baha'i National Center Wilmette, IL 60091 (312) 869-9039

Bahda’is at Peace Conference in D.C. The National Spiritual Assem- ing global peace. bly was one of 87 co-sponsors of a Other topics included disarmaNational Peace Conference held ment, economic conversion, and February 24-26 in Washington, how to strengthen the United NaDc; tions. Conference organizers, who The six main sponsors of the had expected about 500 people to conference were the World Federattend, had to add workshops and lists Association, the American seating space to accommodate the Association of University Wom1,200 who showed up. en, the UN Association of the The main theme was the devel- .S., the Better World Society, opment of the necessary laws, in- SANE/FREEZE, and the Instistitutions and agencies for build- tute for Policy Studies. EUROPEAN SUMMER SCHOOLS: 1989 Austria July 22-28 Spital an der Phyrn Belgium August 4-11 Oostmalle Canary Islands August 11-15 Cyprus August 13-20 North Denmark June 24-July 1 Bornholm (Youth Conference) Finland July 8-16 France August 20-27 4 obey Eee ne A Pioneer Training Institute was tending were two volunteers for sentatives. Destinations include Fat aaa pushes Hl “Lisdelppbiire held March 30-April 2 at the Ba- the Bahá’í Youth Service Corps France, Ecuador, South Africa ‘August 5-12 antel Winkdsot: hat National Center in Wilmette, and three local Assembly repre- and Mexico. August 12-18 East Germany Illinois. Among the 12 people atGreece July 11-16 Tsagarada/Volos Iceland June 24-30 Skogar Project (Youth) ye Factor Islands (Youth Conference) || Florida hosts College Club Conference | Dominican Republic reid July 29-August 6 5 7 ie seeks two teachers Italy July 13-16 San Marino (Youth Conference) Combating racism on college Community College (Gainesville), The Dominican Republic is Luxembourg September ? campuses was the theme of the and the University of North Flo- seeking two volunteer teachers The Netherlands July 11-17 De Poort (Youth Conference) a See cone eoue rida. who can work in an academic July 25-August 5 De Poort ‘ollege lul ‘onference held rr school in Barahona and help ‘August 5-12 De Poort March 24-26 at the University of pon’ QmOts, ene Chee | teach the Faith. Norway around July 15 . Florida in Gainesville. Challenge of the ’90s,” was given Four years ago, Barahona Portugal July 29-August 2 i t The conference was called in re- hy Gary Gordon. % was a target area for a teaching Spain July 20-23 Madrid (Youth Conference) sponse to the National Youth : : campaign that brought in hunae ie oe Committee’s directive to Bahá’í __A series of workshops gener- | dreds of new believers. More eae ern eu college clubs and associations to ated a number of practical and manpower is needed to keep up enc, i, aay on 3 a ‘ combat racism on campus. citing ideas for promoting rai the momentum of deepening Turkey TlyDetanguced Represented were college clubs Unity on college campuses. and teaching. t United Kingdom July 23-29 Aberdeen from Auburn University, the Uni- For more information about For more information, con‘August 48 Youth Conference versity of Florida, Valencia Com- them, Bahá’ís in the area may | tact the Office of Pioneering, August 13-20 Northern Ireland munity College (Orlando), Prince- contact Anne Heath, Bahá’í National Center, WilAugust 27-Sept 2. Midhurst School ton University, Daytona Beach - Gainesville, FL | mette, IL 60091 (phone 312Community College, Santa Fe 32607, or phone 904-375-3486. 869-9039).

�[Page 5]“The two major financial strongholds upon which the Bahá’í world community must rely are the Cradle of the Faith and the Cradle of the Administrative Order.

“You should, as your community grows in numbers, enthusiastically take advantage of this bounty and blessing, demonstrating your own spirit of assurance and faith, by substantially increasing your budget in each of the remaining years of the Nine Year Plan.

“‘We are confident that in this spirit, your labors will be bountifully blessed, and the part that you will have played in winning that great victory for which the entire Bahá’í world is striving, will be another laurel in the annals of your community.””—The Universal House of Justice, letter to the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, March 31, 1970

°

Contributions to the National Fund and earmarked donations for the Arc, processed by the Office of the Treasurer, both exceeded last year’s levels and matched the goals set by the National Spiritual Assembly. The National Assembly believes that an intensified focus on teaching and the role of the individual Bahd’{—as exemplified by 12 ‘Vision to Victory” conferences, local meetings on the Fund, and a special issue of The American Bahd’{—played a key part in the increased commitment to the financial needs of the Faith.

Simultaneously, steps were taken throughout the year to hold over-all expenses within the bud t. Growth of the community and major repairs to the House of

Note: All fiscal year 1989 figures used in this report are estimated as of the time the report was prepared.

National Fund contributions exceed $8 million

National Fund and Earmarked Contributions

” == Om)

Jee

Spurred by the Vision to Victory conferences and a series of communications from the National Assembly including a special issue of The American Bahá’í devoted to teaching and the Fund, contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund rebounded this year to more than $8 million. In brief, the National Fund facts are as follows:

Earmarked donations include $2 million for the Arc

(in $000) 1988 1989__ Change ‘National

Worship and Green Acre Baha'i Donauons “$7,550 $8,520 +13%

School head the list of challenges Earmarked

to be addressed in the coming Donations $2,680 __ $3,654 +3696.

year. Total $10,230 $12,174 +19% FULL PARTNERSHIP

NAME, ADDRESS.

‘Send to; Assn. for Baha'i Studies Ottawa, Ont. Canede KIN 7K4

An International Conference on the Equality of Women and Men

“aes asneegunnen:,- + FETT Tr" aaeiastiale ws {Studi

Irvine Hilton Hotel, Irvine, California

Profiles of Courage - Dramatic Presentations on Táhirih, Black ‘Women and Martha Root

Hasan Balyuzi Annual Lecture: Women in the Baha'i Community An Historical Perspective

Professional Interest Seminars: Agriculture, Arts, Environmental

BIHA One-Day Health Seminar - Thursday, September 14th

More than 40 simultaneous workshops will focus on contemporary issues on the challenge of equality.

PLEASE, RUSH ME MORE INFORMATION ON THIS CONFERENCE:

5-17, 1989

Design, Marriage and Family, Science ‘and Technology, and more.

Earmarked contributions processed by the Office of the Treasurer increased by nearly $1 million (see table).

During the past year $2 million alone was earmarked for completion of the Arc. These gifts were over and above donations to the National Fund and continued a pattern of over-all growth in financial support of the Faith from the American Baha'is.

Expenses down from last year

Estimated expenses for the fiscal year are $8,777,000. This represents a decrease of 1 percent from a year ago but is 103 percent of the amount budgeted. Automatic contributions

The Automatic Contribution System (ACS) now accounts for more than $1.3 million in income annually, a 33 percent increase over the previous year.

Ridvan Ridvan

Individuals 1988 1989 Contrib. $897,700 1,000 Particip. 2856 3274 Assemblies 1988, 1989. Contrib. $38,200 $156000 Particip. 45 109 Contrib. $9,550 $39,000 Particip. a 47 Total $955,000 $1,300,000

Consultation with local communities

Members of the National Spiritual Assembly, its Treasurer’s Office staff, and its Fund Development and Estate Planning Advisory Committee held more than 20 meetings with local communities around the country to consult on the spiritual health of local communities and the needs of the Fund.

Auxiliary Board members, National Treasurer’s Representatives, National Convention delegates and representatives of youth and teaching committees also participated. The National Assembly members also launched an effort to contact each local Spiritual Assembly by telephone to discuss ways in which the National Assembly could better assist them.

Advisory committees

The Business Planning, Financial, and Fund Development and Estate Planning Advisory Committees pursued a number of activities in addition to the local meetings on the Fund. Their activities included:

¢ Reviewing and consulting on the fund-raising strategy for the Green Acre Restoration Project.

© Making recommendations for the expansion of the National Spiritual Assembly’s Bahá’í loan program which currently places $1.8 million at the disposal of the National Assembly at below market interest rates,

The American Bahá’í / June 1989 / 5

Annual report from National Office of the Treasurer

Nineteen Bahá’ís with business and financial backgrounds served on the committees this year. Guidelines for local Spiritual Assemblies

As part of its efforts to support and strengthen local Spiritual Assemblies, the National Assembly began a thorough revision and updating of Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies, an important reference manual that has been out of print for nearly 10

IS.

The revised edition, scheduled for publication this year, will include chapters on ‘‘The Bahá’í Funds,”’ “Wills and Burial,”” and “Insurance.”

Another important resource, Bahd’( Funds—Contributions and Administration, a compilation of the Universal House of Justice, was reprinted by Bahá’í Canada Publications and made available to all local Spiritual Assemblies in the U.S.

Estate planning

Estate Bequests

Nearly 3,700 copies of the pamphlet A Checklist for Preparing Your Will were distributed in English and Persian, and a Spanishlanguage edition is being prepared. More than 5,800 requests for Where There’s a Will have been answered. A seminar on charitable giving has been developed and was given in Florida.

Estate bequests to the National Fund were $600,000 this year, a

part of which was used for current property repairs and a part deposited in the Property Maintenance Set-Aside Fund.

Fund video: ‘With All My Heart’ Copies of the special 20-minute video tape, With All My Heart, relating our spiritual development to our material support and sacrifice for the Faith, were sent to each electoral district last May. They are available for viewing or presentation at summer schools through your National Treasurer’s Representative or may be purchased from the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

The challenges ahead

The growth and development of the Faith requires an ever-increasing level of understanding about the financial needs of the Bahá’í community. The financial resources needed by the Universal House of Justice to initiate the construction of the Arc are of preeminent importance to our community.

As the champion-builders of the Administrative Order, we have a primary role in the execution of these plans.

Among the principal trusts held by the Bahá’í community in North America are the House of Worship and Green Acre Bahá’í School, both of which were blessed by the Master’s presence. This year we must begin major efforts to restore and preserve both of these sacred trusts.

We anticipate a significant increase in participation in the Automatic Contribution System. At least 200 Bahá’í Groups and 1,000 individuals should be added to the system this year.

Our greatest challenge, however, lies in creating and maintaining a steady flow of new recruits enlisting under the banner of Baha’u’ lah.

Work on Encyclopedia moves forward; two key indexes done

The editorial board of A Short Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith has announced that indexes to the minutes and correspondence of the Inter-America Teaching Committee (1939-53) and the European Teaching Committee (1946-58) have been completed.

An index for the Africa Teaching Committee (1953-64) is expected to be completed early this summer and one for the Asia Teaching Committee (1953-60) will be completed in the fall.

Dr. Will C. van den Hoonaard, senior editor, says that the indexes of these archival materials will greatly facilitate the research and writing of the early history of Bahá’í_ communities all over the world.

Two students at the University of New Brunswick, Canada, have been helping Dr. van den Hoonaard. Mrs. Sandra Lonergan, a graduate student in anthropology, and Miss Rosanna Stafford, an undergraduate in sociology, have been impressed by the remarkable sacrifices of the Bahd’{ pioneers.

The completed index to the Inter-America Teaching Committee minutes has been sent to the National Bahá’í Archives and is available there for study and research. Copies of the other in dexes will soon be available.

A Short Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith is a one-volume work being developed by an editorial board supported and funded by the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly.

Targeted for publication at the World Congress in 1992, the volume will not only include articles on topics of interest to the Bahá’í community but will help to define the Faith in the eyes of the general public.

Additional volumes on more specialized topics are being conee for publication at a later

te.

Fund-raiser held

On April 15, Bahá’ís in southern New Jersey presented a talent show which raised $1,692 for the National Fund.

An audience of about 50 adults and children enjoyed a program in which children danced, sang, acted, played flutes, violins and piano, and demonstrated a series of martial arts movements.

The show ended with a presentation by the children of a play, “The Temple of Light,’’ adapted from a story that appeared several years ago in Child’s Way magazine. �[Page 6]6 / The American Bahá’í / June 1989

The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh SC $6.95

Anew soficover edition with many of the features of the hardcover deluxe edition from One World is now available. Illustrated by Bob Haberfield reminiscent of Persian miniature paintings and with text identical to the international award winning hardcover, this new, lower priced softcover is ideal for Baha’ fs and for seekers, and makes a splendid gift.

One World Publications

nel Lights of Guidance

HC $ 29.95

This completely revised edition of Baha’ freferences compiled by Helen Homby contains guidance from Baha’u’ll4h, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice on many topics. Individuals, Local Spiritual Assemblies, and committees will find this new edition to be a useful reference in answering questions relating to various aspects of the Faith.

Bahá’í Publishing Trust India

Brat rg POMC Veta

Bah@’u’llah and The New Era

SC $.75

A special “remainder” edition from the United Kingdom of J. E. Esslemont’s comprehensive introduction to the Bah’{ Faith is now available. A popular work containing chapters on many facets of Bahá’í history and teachings, it covers the Central Figures, what the Bahá’í Faith is, health and healing, religion and science, and prophecies fulfilled, along with many quotations from the writings.

This 1974 edition shows its age in design and paperstock, and it does not include corrections made in the 1980 U.S. edition, which is currently out of stock. Yet, because of its demand, remainders of this edition are being made available in this country. Returns will not be accepted.

Bahá’í Publishing Trust United Kingdom

Recent Publications

Individual Rights and Freedoms

in the World Order of Bahd@’u’llah

SC $3.00

The profound letter from the Universal House of Justice on the subject of individual rights and freedoms in the World Order of Baha’u’llah, released at the National convention and announced in the May issue of The American Bahd' i, is selling very quickly.

The letter addresses issues that are crucial to understanding our relationship to our Bahd’f communities and to our institutions.

Speaking to the question, “What is true liberty?” the Universal House of Justice offers advice to individuals and to institutions, and calls our attention to such issues as the importance of the Covenant in unifying humankind; the differences between Baha’u’llah’s World Order and recognized forms of secular government; the role of freedom of thought, expression, and action in Baha’f consultation; the appropriate channels for expressing criticism; and the balance between individual freedom and preserving unity in the Cause.

The 20-page letter is preceded by a foreword from the National Spiritual Assembly and a 10-page summary to help the reader grasp the major points of the letter.

Bahá’í Publishing Trust United States

The Significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation SC $2.50 This study guide is excellent for individual or group deepening, preparing

firesides or public talks, and for use at Bahá’í schools. National Teaching Committee, Baha'i Publishing Trust United States

Resurrection and Renewal

The Making of the Babi Movement in Iran, 1844—1850 HC $29.95

A major coniribution by Abbas Amanatto the history of modem religious studies—this book will deepen our understanding of the Babf religious movement.

Cornell University Press

Education for Children, Youth and Adults / Preparing for Widespread Growth of the Faith

The Glorious

Journey

SC $7.95

A new book by Craig Weaver and Helen Bond focuses on topics of interest to virtually anyone in the work force. Supported by relevant quotations from the Baha’f writings, and from a number of experts and studies, the topics range from education, career orientation and counseling, attitudes toward work, defining success, and many other subjects related to personal development. The book discusses group interaction, profit sharing, equality of women and men, therelationship between Bahá’í consultation and business meetings, and much more. Excellent resource for seminars, courses, and personal study. Particularly useful for youth and those considering changing their professions.

Bahá’í Publishing Trust Taiwan er erred Huqtqu’llah Compilation

SC $.85

A special low cost reprint of the Canadian edition of the Hugéiqu’Ildh compilation is being made available to encourage widespread deepening about the “Right of God.” Excellent for group.or individual

study. Bahá’í Distribution Canada

———— Journal of Baha@’t

Studies, Vol.I, No.3

SC $5.00

This attractive issue contains essays on feminism, Alzheimer's disease, spiritual development and material goals, and other subjects. To be sure you acquire all of these excellent volumes, order your copy addressing these contemporary issues today.

Association for Baha’ Studies, Canada

The Bahai Faith PA $3.00 10/pkg. PA $12.50 50/pkg. This excellent introductory handout for teaching describes the Faith as the newest of the world’s religions. Ithighlights verses from other religions that harmonize with the basic beliefs of the Faith. Color photographs, religious symbols, a map of Spiritual Assemblies around the world, and a cover shot of the planet earth all enhance this attractive and inexpensive introductory presentation of the Faith.

Dallas/Fort Worth Bahá’í Office of Public Information

Pe aed

Sushi in the Kremlin, and The ‘We’ Generation CS $3.00

Anew cassette single by Matthew Levine encouraging the merging of cultures and ideas currently taking place in our world. It contains just two delightful pieces of music: “Sushi” uses a Jamaican rhythm and lyrics to “teach” us to be color blind and open to new, international experiences. “The ‘We’ Generation” has more of a rock beat and moves the listener from loneliness to being welcomed into the world community of the “we generation.” Both songs reach out in a powerful way to those who are unfamiliar with or new to such concepts. An excellent teaching tool that

will be enjoyed by people of all ages with diverse musical tastes.

Concourse Records

eT Community Life CS $8.00

Now exclusively available from the Bahá’í Distribution Service, this talk by Dr. Richard Thomas, given at a Project Massachusetts meeting in April 1988, discusses the importance of Baha’fs moving beyond a superficial community life. Describing, from an historical perspective, the barriers between classes, races, the sexes, and between Persians and Americans, Dr. Thomas gives practical suggestions on overcoming them. Stresses the importance of social change and our obligations on these issues.

Images International

Baha'i Distribution Service / 1-800-999-9019 CUBR eCM-OKONToM ial ecm Om AN ten!

Tokoloshe!

CS $29.95 / Set of 4 Finally! A fitting tribute to all of the four-legged, feathered, and finned friends of the Bahá’í world—those “servants of the servants” who have brought love, warmth, and enthusiasm into the lives of pioneers and Baha’fs everywhere. Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and his wife Marguerite have recorded a charming story about the pets in their lives, along with many humorous accounts of their marriage and experiences serving the Faith. Read by Mr. Sears himself, with help from his wife, this set of four cassettes will provide hours of enjoyable listening.

Hawaii Baha'i National Library

Baha'i Education

for Peace, Vol. 2 Binder $10.95

The second in a series of nine editions on education, Volume 2 of this popular curriculum guide from Canada has just been released. Includes lessen plans and is a good addition for teachers or parents planning Baha’f classes.

Bahá’í Distribution Canada

If anyone is interested in apply’ for open positions at the Bal Publishing Trust and Distribution Service, please contact the Human Resources Department at the Baha’f National Center by calling 1-312869-9039.

BVA yas

[Ordered by: (Please print or type) Date | Name | Address —| State___ Zip. Day Phone. |

|

xpiration Date:

American Express MasterCard VISA Account Number:

Check Money Order

TOTAL

�[Page 7]The American Bahá’í / June 1989 / 7

Convention

from page 1

year at sites to be selected.

In the area of finances, the National Assembly decided to set an operating budget for 1989-90 of $9.5 million; to establish a separate Fund goal of $2 million toward completion of the Arc on Mount Carmel; to set up a special fund for repairs to the House of Worship; to allocate $30,000 to help the National Spiritual Assemblies of Belize and the Leeward Islands to complete their property goals; and to present a gift of $400,000 toward the repair and restoration of the Green Acre Baha’f School.

The Ridvan message from the House of Justice was read at the opening session of the Convention on Thursday evening, after which Counselor Ellis offered some brief comments about the message.

A Friday afternoon highlight was the first-ever broadcast of a part of the Convention proceedings live over WLGI Radio Bahá’í in Hemingway, South Carolina.

Included were prayers and a brief message of greeting to those at the Convention from the staff at WLGI.

On Friday evening the delegates and guests were treated to a special showing of the new video “The Seat of God’s Throne,’’ which traces the history and discusses the significance of the Arc and is narrated in part by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Ruhfyyih Khanum.

Mr. Sears, speaking Saturday evening, recalled to mind the exemplary lives of service to the Cause of H. Borrah Kavelin, who served for 25 years as a member of the Universal House of Justice and for 13 as a member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, and Edna M. True, whose services

stairs at the House of Worship for

Above: The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears (left) shares a

lighter moment during the Convention with Judge James Nelson,

to the Cause spanned a century and included membership on the National Assembly and Continen “ wv Delegates and guests ascend the an early morning prayer session in

the Auditorium.

vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly. Below: The Hendersonville (Tennessee) Bahá’í Choir performs.

tal Board of Counselors.

Paraphrasing a remark made by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to Roy Wilhelm during His visit to New York City in 1912, Mr. Sears said that if we would live only one of the Bahá’í principles and ‘‘arise to teach as never before,” millions of people in this country would become Bahá’ís.

We must, he said, ‘‘open our hearts’’ to the concept of entry by troops and believe in the many promises made by the Bab, Bahd’wll4h, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice about the greatness of this Cause and its glorious destiny to transform the hearts and souls of everyone on earth.

Also on the program Saturday evening (and Friday as well) was a performance by the Hendersonville (Tennessee) Bahá’í Choir.

The Saturday session closed with a memorial service in the upstairs auditorium for Mr. Kavelin and Miss True.

The final session, on Sunday morning, was highlighted by an address by Mr. Hofman who reminded the friends that they could through inaction lose that spiritual primacy invested in their community by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and

To the Universal House of Justice

Salutations and praise, honor and grace be on the Universal House of Justice

Dearly-loved Friends:

We are gathered in the presence of our beloved Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, retired member of the Universal House of Justice David Hofman, and members of the Continental Board of Counselors, who offered a day of unprecedented preConvention consultation and deepening to set the tone for our deliberations in the Convention. The delegates to the 80th National Convention—with love, reverence and gratitude—sat awestruck as we listened to the thundering roar of the momentous and historic Ridvan message of 1989 and caught a further glimpse of the opening scenes of the World Order of Baha’u’ll4h unfolding before our eyes.

We sat tearful and breathless as the Universal House of Justice shared with us the results of a myriad of prayers offered to Baha’u’llah. The relaxation of the persecution of our dearly-loved, long-suffering and courageous brothers and sisters in Iran, the momentous re-establishment after 50 years of the Spiritual Assembly of Ishqab4d, the anticipation of the opening of frontiers in mainland China, the stupendous and glorious news of the increase in worldwide teaching victories, have inspired us, the Apostles of Bahá’u’lláh in this favored land, to strive with every fiber of our being to achieve the remaining goals of the Six Year Plan.

We set our sights toward the fulfillment of the Master’s and the Guardian’s dream of the construction of the terraces around the Shrine of the Bab, the holding of the magnificent centenary commemoration of the Ascension of Baha’u’ll4h in the Holy Land, and the World Congress in the city of New York. As we visualize the majestic Arc on the Mountain of God, we pause to remember the sacrifices of over 100 years by the followers of Baha’u’ll4h in the Cradle of the Faith. What more befitting tribute can we offer to their memory?

On Saturday evening the Concourse on high enjoyed, along with us, the unfailing spirit of greatly appreciated Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, who shared remembrances of the exemplary lives of service of former member of the Universal House of Justice H. Borrah Kavelin and former Counselor Edna M. True.

We wish to prostrate ourselves at the threshold of the Blessed Beauty. May our lives be offered up in service to His Cause. We are ever grateful to Him for providing the whole of mankind with the blessed institution of the Universal House of Justice.

With loving Baha’( greetings,

The delegates to the 80th National Convention of the Bahá’ís of the United States

To the delegates to the 80th National Convention of the Bahá’ís of the United States

A music of joy was released in our hearts by your profound response to the Ridv4n message and no doubt to the stimulus imbued by the participation in your Convention of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears. We are struck anew by the unique potentialities with which the beloved Master’s Divine Plan has endowed your remarkable community and are gratified by the spirit of reconsecration to that world-reviving Plan and the zest for unwavering sacrificial service which your message conveyed.

Rest assured then that our continuing supplications at the Holy Threshold on behalf of the dearly-loved American believers will be more fervent still as we reflect on the great tasks and the great attainable victories which spur their devoted efforts in the Six Year Plan.

Universal House of Justice May 1, 1989

® SON OF BEING!

Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent. Thy spirit is My place of revelation; cleanse it for my mani

festation. -Bahá’u’lláh

affirmed by the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi. “No one really expects you to,”’

Counselor William Roberts (center) addresses delegates during the all-day pre-Convention deepening

he said, ‘‘but the point is that you could, and you must work to make sure that it never happens.’”

session. Also on the dais are Counselors Wilma Ellis and David Smith.

�[Page 8]8 / The American Bahá’í / June 1989

B.E. 145: ‘The stage is set’ for glorious triumphs

APRIL

© All members of the National Spiritual Assembly are at the World Center in Haifa, Israel, in April for the sixth Bahá’í International Convention, Besides consulting with members of other National Assemblies from around the world, they take part in the election of the Universal House of Justice whose members are Ali Nakhjavani, Glenford Mitchell, Hushmand Fatheazam, Ian Semple, Peter Khan, David Ruhe, Hugh Chance, Hooper Dunbar and Adib Taherzadeh.

ha’is of the world, the Universal House of Justice points to “the emergence of a new paradigm of opportunity for further growth and consolidation of our world-wide community. ...

“*..the paramount purpose of all Baha’ activity,” the Supreme Body says, ‘‘is teaching. All that has been done or will be done revolves around this central activity, the ‘head cornerstone of the foundation itself,’ to which all progress in the Cause is due.

“The present challenge calls for teaching on a scale and of a 'y, a variety, and intensity outstripping all current efforts. The time is now, lest ‘opportunity be lost in the swiftly changing moods of a frenetic world.

“Every individual believer—man, woman, youth and child—is summoned to this field of action; for it is on the initiative, the resolute will of the individual to teach and to serve, that the success of the entire community depen

MAY

At the 79th annual National Convention in Wilmette, the newly elected

National Spiritual Assembly sets forth plans for four large-scale teaching campaigns during the coming year along with a series of regional conferences designed to accelerate the pace of teaching and to raise funds to help complete the buildings of the Arc on Mount Carmel.

Two retired members of the Universal House of Justice, David Hofman and H. Borrah Kavelin, are invited to take part in the conferences, the idea for which came after prayers and consultation among the members of the National Assembly at the sixth Bahá’í International Convention in April.

© In another development announced during the National Convention, Judge Dorothy Nelson, the National Assembly’s long-time treasurer, is elected as its chairman, thus becoming the first woman to hold that position since Dorothy Baker in the late 1940s.

In a cablegram dated May 12, the

Universal House of Justice says: “Highly pleased announce completion agreement with owners new Southgate Cemetery purchase large area adjacent resting place beloved Guardian, Offering prayers gratitude Sacred Threshold opportunity ensure protection pre

cincts hallowed spot.””

© On May 23, Senators Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and John Heinz of Pennsylvania introduce Senate Concurrent Resolution 120 which urges the government of Iran to respect the human rights of members of the Bahá’í Faith in that country.

© The summer’s first Special Visit Program takes place May 26-29 at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette. More than 20 people take part, ‘ing the House of Worship and National Center and meeting staff members.

JUNE

© At its meeting in June, the National Spiritual Assembly chooses the four sites that are to become the focus of large-scale teaching campaigns during the final years of the Six Year Plan: San Jose, California; the greater Atlanta, Georgia, area; Chicago, Illinois; and the Boston, Massachusetts, area.

‘or the third time in six years, the National Spiritual Assembly presents testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations concerning the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran.

Appearing at the Subcommittee’s session on June 29 are Dr. Robert C. Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, and its secretary for external affairs, Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh.

Also in June, the National Assembly receives news that a court in

Egypt has acquitted 32 Bahá’ís who were sentenced in 1987 to three-year prison terms on charges that they violated a 1960 edict barring organized Bahá’í activities in that country.

The appeals court in Cairo rules on June 13 that the monthly meetings in Bahá’í homes are not illegal because they are “private and personal” in nature.

The Universal House of Justice

announces in a cable to the Bahd’{ world the news that more than 100,000 new believers embraced the Cause during June in India’s Uttar Pradesh state.

In a letter dated June 16, the

Universal House of Justice names 11

JUANA CONRAD

new members of the Continental Boards of Counselors:

In Africa, George Allen and Hizzaya Hissani; in the Americas, Gustavo Correa, Jacqueline Delahunt and William Roberts; in Asia, Kim Myung-Jung and Shantha Sundram; in Australasia, Violette Haake; and in Europe, Patrick O'Mara, Elisabeth Mühlschlegel and Shapoor Rassekh.

© The National Spiritual Assembly announces the members of the National Teaching Committee for the coming year: Reynaldo Cruz (secretary), Vicente Ferguson, Marcia Gitchell, Hoda Mahmoudi, Larry Miller and John W. Smith,

The keynote speaker, Clarence Wood, external affairs officer for the National Urban League, says acceptance and tolerance of racial dissi larities should be the goal of every individual regardless of race or sex.

A capacity audience takes part

June 2-5 in the third annual Meeting and Conference of the Bahá’í Justice Society at the Bosch Bahá’í School in Santa Cruz, California.

FRED SCHECHTER

More than 1,000 people including

many from the U.S. attend a ‘‘Festival of the Human Spirit’ held June 30July 3 at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.

The gala event is sponsored by the Bahá’í Arts Council of Canada under the auspices of that country’s National Spiritual Assembly.

The walk is organized and sponsored by the Chicago Area Race Unity Task Force of the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago.

Co-sponsors include the mayor of Chicago’s Commission on Human Relations, WMAQ-TV, and the local chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

© The second annual “Stepping Stones to Peace’’ Children’s Conference, held June 18 in Pasadena, California, and sponsored by the Bahá’ís of that city, draws more than 600 people including some 400 children and more than 100 non-Bahá’í guests.

The special guest speaker is the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears.

JULY

© “The Stage Is Set” June 30-July 4 at Indiana University in Bloomington for the 1988 Bahá’í International Youth Conference at which more than 40 people declare their belief in Bahá’u’lláh and more than 3,000 pledges of service to the Cause are made by the nearly 6,000 adults, youth and children from 50 countries and every continent who gather for the event.

In a message to the conference, the Universal House of Justice says: “We have full confidence that the American Bahd’{ youth, who comprise a strong element of the community honored by the Master with the title ‘apostles of Baha'u'llah’ will exert themselves to the fullest to fulfill the pledges they have made at this conference.”

Among the speakers at the conference are Hooper Dunbar, a newly elected member of the Universal House of Justice; Counselors Jacqueline Delahunt, Wilma Ellis, Robert

Harris, William Roberts, Fred Schechter and Arturo Serrano; and five members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

© The fifth annual Bahd’{ Teacher Training Conference is held July 5-10 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School, bringtogether more than 100 of the friends to consult on the most vital and challenging issue of racial prejudice between whites and blacks in the US.

Among the guests making presentations are those from the Council on Interracial Books for Children, the Children’s Defense Fund, and the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith.

The National Spiritual Assembly

sends three delegates to the 10th National Convention of the United Nations Association of the United States (UN-USA), which is held July 10-12 in New York City.

Following a long tradition, an arts

conference and festival is held July 17-24 at the Green Acre Bahá’í School in Maine. Classes, workshops, exhibits and performances are presented by a variety of artists from many disciplines, Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í.

AUGUST

Indians from all parts of the

Americas gather August 1-5 at Indian Memorial Park near the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota for the fifth Continental Indigenous Council which is sponsored and planned by the National Spiritual Assembly.

More than 400 people including upwards of 350 from nearly 60 tribes consult at the Council on the spiritual well-being and unity of their peoples and the long-awaited, fulfillment of their prophecies.

Hooper Dunbar, recently elected to the Universal House of Justice, is welcomed as a long-lost brother by many of those at the Council who remember his many teaching trips to their native lands.

Others taking part in the Council include Lauretta King, a Tlingit from Alaska who is now a member of the International Teaching Center in Haifa, and four Counselors from the

‘WILLIAM ROBERTS

Americas: Jacqueline Delahunt, Ruth Pringle, William Roberts and Fred Schechter.

Also represented are the National Spiritual Assemblies of Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

Individual transformation and the

development of peaceful qualities and skills in conflict resolution are the main themes as more than 1,000 women from all over the world gather August 8-12 in Dallas, Texas, for a Global Peace Conference.

Bahá’ís take part as delegates, participants and facilitators for discussion groups and workshops, making up from 10 to 20 percent of those at

YEAR IN REVIEW

tending.

° On. August 28, about 150 people raise more than $500 for the homeless at a concert sponsored by the Bahd’/s of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

SEPTEMBER

A second appearance by the “Bahá’í Peace Orchestra” and the presentation of an award to Billye Aaron,

vice-president of the United Negro College Fund and wife of baseball superstar Henry Aaron, are among the highlights of Peace Fest ’88 ‘at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute in

EDNA M. TRUE

South Carolina.

The third annual event, sponsored by the Gregory Institute and WLGI Radio, begins Friday, September 16, with ‘“‘an evening of music to inspire the soul” featuring Gospel singers and choirs from all over the state.

Kevin Locke, a Lakota Indian, performs his renowned hoop dance and plays the flute at the Peace Fest and for more than 600 black elementary school children at St. Mark School.

© The Louhelen Bahá’í School Residential Program officially begins second year with a ceremony during Tees rcesscotaine onieey ase SA dents in the LRP come from Ethiopia, Ecuador, Honduras, the Bahamas and Haiti as well as Alaska, Arizona, Virginia, South Carolina and South Dakota.

In addition to a Baha’ studies program at the school, they are enrolled in degree-earning programs at either the University of Michigan-Flint or Mott Community College.

The National Teaching Committee holds its fourth annual Conference

on Growth over the Labor Day weekend in Lincolnwood, Illinois.

Besides talks by members of the National Spiritual Assembly, the conference includes 27 workshops, special visits to the nearby Bahá’ House of Worship, and consultation on various topics.

On September 11, Mayor Tom

Bradley of Los Angeles is the special guest at the formal dedication of the city’s new Bahá’í Center.

OCTOBER

Juana Conrad, a member of the

National Committee on Women, is named in a by-election to serve on the National Spiritual Assembly. She replaces Dr. William Maxwell, who resigned in September for personal reasons.

More than 60 Hispanic Bahd’{s

from Arizona, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, Mexico and parts of California are present October 7-9 at the fourth annual Conference for Span�[Page 9]YEAR IN REVIEW

ish-Speaking Bahd’{s in San Fernando, Californi:

In keeping with the conference theme, “Consolidation and Motivé tion,” they consult on how the Hispanic Bahd’fs living in the U.S. can help the American Bahá’í community meet its spiritual destiny.

Among the speakers are three Counselors: Jacqueline Delahunt, Arturo Serrano and Rodrigo Tomas.

The annual Hasan Balyuzi Lecture, “Learning from History,” is presented by Moojan Momen, a wellknown Bahd’{ scholar and author from Bedingsford, England.

NOVEMBER

More than 900 Bahd’fs from the

nine Northeastern states gather November 4-6 in Danvers, Massachusetts, near Boston, for the first of 12 regional ‘‘Vision to Victory’’ conferences called for by the National Spiritual Assembly.

The conferences, following closely the announcement by the National Assembly of a two-year period of sacrifice and action from Ridvan 1988 to Ridvan 1990, are designed to inspire the friends to arise and win the goals of the Six Year Plan while setting the stage for entry by troops in the U.S.

Among the highlights of this first conference is an address, “The Appointed Time,”’ by H. Borrah Kavelin, a retired member of the Universal House of Justice.

Inspired by his remarks, the friends in Danvers raise more than $80,000 for the various Bahá’í Funds.

Two more ‘‘Vision to Victory”

conferences are held in November, in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Seattle, Washington.

More than 400 gather in Chattanooga where Mr. Kavelin, prevented by illness from attending the conference, prepares a video tape which is played for the friends.

A Saturday evening auction raises $78,000 for the Funds—$8,000 in cash, the rest in pledges.

More than 2,000 Bahá’ís including those from Alaska and Canada attend the Northwest conference in Seattle whose highlights include a talk by

JACQUELINE DELAHUNT

David Hofman, a teaching fair at which about 100 projects are displayed, and more than $132,000 in cash and pledges to the Funds.

© The National Spiritual Assembly is represented at a ceremony November 4 at O'Hare Airport in Chicago at which President Reagan signs legislation implementing the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Bahá’ís have worked behind the scenes for a number of years with other organizations to encourage members of the Senate and House of Representatives to vote in favor of ratification.

DECEMBER

His many years of service to the Faith included membership for a quarter-century on the Universal House of Justice.

Before his election to the Supreme Body in 1963, Mr. Kavelin served from 1950-63 on the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly.

He had returned to this country to take part with another retired member of the House of Justice, David Hofman, in the National Spiritual Assembly’s 12 “Vision to Victory” confer

ences.

© Mr. Kavelin’s passing follows by nine days that of Edna True, a stalwart member of the U.S. Bahá’í community for most of her 101 years, who dies peacefully in Wilmette, Illinois, close to the Mother Temple of the West that was so dear to her heart.

Her many outstanding services to the Cause included 17 years as chairman of the European Teaching Committee, 22 years as recording secretary ‘of the National Spiritual Assembly, membership on the Continental Board of Counselors for the Americas, and Trusteeship of the Continental Fund.

Miss True was a daughter of the Hand of the Cause of God Corinne Knight True.

Also in December, a fourth ‘‘Vis-,

ion to Victory” conference, this one in Chicago, is held to help move the American Bahá’í community ever closer to its goal of entry by troops.

The Chicago conference, held at the McCormick Hotel, draws nearly 1,500 Bahá’ís and their guests from all over the Midwest and as far away as Alaska, Hawaii and the Caribbean.

Mr. Hofman is joined there by Counselors Wilma Ellis and Robert Harris and by eight members of the National Spiritual Assembly, which holds its regular monthly meeting in Chicago.

A memorial service for Miss True includes tape-recorded remembrances by the Hand of the Cause of God Wilii Sears.

The Universal House of Justice

meets December 30-January 1 with senior officers of the Bahá’í International Community offices in the Holy Land, New York and Geneva, Switzerland, and with representatives of five National Spiritual Assemblies, to discuss the external affairs of the Faith.

As a response to racial tensions

and violence toward blacks in that community, the Portland (Oregon) Metro Area Bahá’í Youth Workshop, inspired by one of its co-directors, Joy Cross, organizes a forum on racism for the Portland community.

The program, held December 20, is attended by more than 200, most of whom are not Bahá’ís.

Between ‘‘Vision to Victory” conferences, Mr. Hofman spends 12 days

in December at the Louhelen Bahá’í School where he gives two public talks and conducts deepenings on The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

© Citing continued allegations of human rights violations by the government of Iran including evidence of the ongoing harassment of Baha’fs, the UN General Assembly approves a resolution on December 8 expressing its “grave concern” over Iran’s human rights record and calling on its government to allow a special UN representative to visit Iran to investigate the human rights situation there.

On December 3, about 60 American Indians attend an honors dinner

in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sponsored by the Marian Steffes Project and the Bahd’{ Council for the Equality of Women and Men.

© On December 15, three representatives of the Bahd’{ International Community to the United Nations meet in New York with the deputy Permanent Representative of the USSR and the Counselor at its UN Mission to express the sympathy of Bahá’ís around the world for the suffering of Armenians as a result of the recent devastating earthquake there.

JANUARY

© The number of “Vision to. Victory’’ conferences rises to nine in January with the latest events held in Atlanta, Georgia; San Jose, California; Kansas City, Missouri; Columbia, South Carolina; and Houston, Texas.

The conference in Atlanta coincides. with a 10-day celebration of the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in which Bahd’{s play an active role with more than 600 marching in Atlanta’s annual King Day parade.

During a televised ecumenical service from historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, Mr. Hofman is among the dignitaries introduced by Chri King Farris, a sister of the late Dr. King.

On January 8, copies of the peace statement are formally presented to Dr. King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, and to members of the M.L. King Commission.

The more than 1,100 Bahá’ís and guests at the conference in San Jose are inspired by the words of Mr. Kavelin’s widow, Flore, who speaks mov

\

ROBERT HARRIS

ingly of his example of service and self-sacrifice.

Other speakers include Counselors Jacqueline Delahunt and Fred Schechter and two members of the National Spiritual Assembly, William Davis and Robert Henderson.

Meanwhile, more than 500 Bahá’ís from a seven-state area gather for the conference in Kansas City which includes talks by Counselors Robert Harris and Ruth Pringle and National Assembly members Juana Conrad and Alberta Deas.

In South Carolina, the attendance of almost 900 adults, youth and children makes that conference by far the

The American Bahá’í / June 1989 / 9

largest such event ever held in the state.

Mr. Hofman joins more than 1,200 Bahá’ís and guests at the conference in Houston along with Counselors Donald Rogers and Arturo Serrano.

A cable from the Universal House

of Justice dated January 27 contains the joyful news that some 5,000 people have embraced the Cause of God during the past three months in Bangladesh, enabling that country to form 108 new local Spiritual Assemblies.

About 200 Bahá’ís from across

Massachusetts gather January 22 to discuss the future expansion of the Faith in that state,

During the meeting, Auxiliary

H. BORRAH KAVEL!

Board member Mara Khavari notes that the International Teaching Center has said that the Bahá’í community of Massachusetts has the potential and capacity to expand its numbers by as many as 100,000 by the end of the Six Year Plan.

On January 16, Bahá’ís in the

New York City area attend a memorial service for Dr. King in White Plains. That event, sponsored by the AfricanAmerican Men of Westchester County, draws an audience of about 5,000.

FEBRUARY

Almost 600 children and youth are

among the nearly 2,000 Bahá’ís who gather for the 10th “Vision to Victory” conference, this one in Pasadena, Californi

Joining Mr. Hofman at this event are the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears; Counselors Fred Schechter and Arturo Serrano; Judge Dorothy Nelson, chairman of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly; and Hossain Danesh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada.

Mr. Sears, referring to a passage in Bahá’í World Faith in which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says that ‘“‘each of these (holy) souls shall be regarded as one thousand persons,” tells his audience that “the 2,000 of us at this conference could go out and spread the teachings of Baha'u'llah with the power of two million!”

Among the special guests are Peter Khan, a member of the Universal House of Justice; Janet Khan of the Bahá’í World Center’s Research Department; Counselors Wilma Ellis, Robert Harris and William Robert and Flore Kavelin, the widow of H. Borrah Kavelin.

Spirits are raised by three declarations of faith during the weekend and the contribution of $54,000 in

cash to the National Fund.

On February 25-26, more than

1,300 Bahá’ís from 25 states and 15 countries gather in Alexandria, Virginia, a suburb of Was! ton, D.C., for the 12th and final ision to Victory”” conference.

At a public meeting preceding the conference, more than 150 people including many non-Bahá’ís hear Judge James F. Nelson, vice-chairman of the ional Spiritual Assembly, speak on “The Promise of World Peace.””

The friends, inspired by a number on excellent speakers including David man, easily surpass their fundgoal of $95,000, raising more than $165,000.

Also addressing the gathering are Counselors William Roberts and Alan, Smith and two other members of the National Assembly, Dorothy Nelson and Jack McCants.

The second annual Bahá’í Conference on Sexual Equality, co-sponsored

by the National Committee on Women and the Women’s Resource and Research Center at Spelman College in Atlanta, is held dui Black History Month at the nation’s oldest black women’s college.

About 250 people hear addresses by Counselor Wilma Ellis, directorgeneral of the Bahd’{ International Community, and Dr. Jane Faily, a psychologist and former member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada.

© Brought out of a 10-year retirement by a desire to help spread the Universal House of Justice’s message, “The Promise of World Peace,” the musical duo Seals & Crofts performs at a gala concert for some 500 members of the entertainment industry at the Baha'i Center in Los Angeles.

MARCH

In a by-election, Kevin Locke of

Mobridge, South Dakota, is elected to the National Spiritual Assembly.

Mr. Locke, who resigns his position as an Auxiliary Board member to cept service on the National Assembly, replaces Chester Kahn, who resigned for personal reasons.

On March 15, the first day of his

visit to Massachusetts, David Hofman is interviewed for a total of nearly four hours on two radio stations, WBZ and

HOOPER DUNBAR

WROR. He also tapes an interview at the cable TV station in Braintree and is interviewed by a reporter from the Patriot-Ledger newspaper.

"The cornerstone of the foundation of all Baha’ activity is teaching the Cause."

—The Universal House of Justice

�[Page 10]10 / The American Bahá’í / June 1989

CLASSIFIEDS

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

°

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

THE BAHA’E Center in Washington, D.C., is in need of a resident manager (or couple). The principal qualification is a warm, hospitable nature so that those who come to the Center, either for information or to attend meetings, find themselves welcome in an atmosphere of dignity and reverence, The resident manager has a great many opportunities to teach and must be open and ready to greet people who stop by or telephone, and to help them to understand the teachings. The manager is responsible for supervision and maintenance of the Center. There is a small apartment in the building, which is in an inter-racial neighborhood on a major bus line. The resident is expected to make a monthly contribution to the Fund, which is negotiable. Please write to the Assembly,

Washington, DC 20011, or phone 202291-5532 or 202-338-8462.

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

THE FOUR busy, active Bahá’ís in Folsom, California, 15-20 minutes from the state capital, Sacramento, in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains, are looking for some Bahá’í homefront pioneers who would bring the Bahd’{ spirit to this California pioneer Gold Rush town to help the Bahá’ís pioneer for “‘real gold”? (new Bahá’ís). Folsom has a flavor and charm all its ‘own, a small historic old town section, where the lazy American River flows along the outskirts. Folsom lake is 10 minutes away, and Lake Tahoe, with its great ski resorts, is only an hour or so away, Two or three new subdivisions are being built with prices beginning in the high $90s. Apartment rents range from $475-$600 a month. The Folsom-Cordova school district is considered one of the better districts in Sacramento County. The area has a stable, growing economy with many job possibilities. If you think you'd like to come help us teach and grow, we'd love to send you a relocation package and newspaper subscription. Write to the Bahá’ís of Folsom, c/o Barbara Stahl,

Folsom, CA 95630, or phone 916-9892840.

HELP US build our small Bahá’í community in the Nebraska sandhills. Music teacher: small community college will be seeking a vocal and instrumental teacher to build a music program along with a Bahá’í theatre director. Masters degree required. For information, phone Colin Taylor, 308-534-4939, or write to

North Platte, NE 69101.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed in Warner Robins, a city of 40,000 in central Georgia, to help a community with a non-functioning Assembly. There is one homefront pioneer and two other active Bahá’ís with 20 more on the rolls. Employment possibilities exist at Warner Robins Air Force Base, the county hospital, in social services, mental health and many industrial and medical facilities in Macon, a city of 115,000 only 15 min utes away. Three four-year colleges are within a 30-minute drive. For information, contact Terri Earl,

Warner Robins, GA 31093 (phone 912-929-2777), or Jill Spence, Tifton, GA 31794 (phone 912-386-2680).

HOMEFRONT pioneers needed in Lebanon, Oregon, 20 minutes from Corvallis and 45 from Salem, in the Willamette Valley, an area that includes Oregon State University and Willamette University along with two community colleges. Rents range from $160 a month for a one-bedroom apartment to $325 for a two-bedroom house. The Bahá’í community, which numbers two adults, holds Feasts regularly and has placed articles in the local newspaper each month since December 1988. An excellent location for serving the Cause. Please contact Lyn Martin Hamilton,

Lebanon, OR 97355, or phone 503-259-2388.

BAHA'I youth: are you looking for a good small engineering school where you have the opportunity to be active and to receive a quality education at the same time? Montana Tech (Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology) may be for you. Montana Tech was listed first in the U.S. News and World Report list of smaller comprehensive colleges with topranked science programs in 1987. It has a superb engineering program and a struggling Bahd’{ club that is striving to be a viable part of the campus community. We need you! For more information or to apply for admission, contact the Admissions Office, Montana Tech, Butte, MT 59701.

NEEDED immediately! Two family practice physicians and medical director for Navajo-owned 20-bed hospital. Must be Board-eligible/certified and able to obtain Arizona medical license. Other openings for nurse-midwives, ophthalmologist, optometrist, lab technicians, nurses, emergency medi¢al technicians, pharmacist, school nurse and other support staff. This is a unique opportunity to pioneer on the Navajo Reservation near the Native American Bahá’í Institute and the Hopi Reservation. For information, contact Dr. Hannah Rishel (a Baha’), Ganado, AZ 86505, or phone 602-755-3432.

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

THE OFFICE of Pioneering has information about the following overseas employment opportunities: Africa. Nigeria—OB-GYN, surgeon, internist and dentist. Kenya—surgeon and internist, general surgeon, physician. Republic of Transkei—medical doctors. In general—program manager/child survival, extension agent, civil engineers, agronomist, logistician. Asia. India—MDs/GPs, internists, cardiologist, ophthalmologists, all medical specialists, PAs, lab tech, pediatrician, nursing tutor, nursing supervisor, dermatologist, physiotherapist, FP, MCH, civil engineer. Nepal—infection control nurses (RN/MT), physical therapist, quality assurance RN, FP/GPs, pediatricians, pathologists. Taiwan—medical oncologist, pathologist, anesthesiologist, all physicians, public health nurse, infection control nurse, urologist, cardiovascular surgeon, administrator, respiratory therapist, intensive care nurse. Americas. Bahamas—self-supporting caretakers for the Bahd’{ National Center. Brazi!—pathologists, cytologists, gynecologists. Dominica —pediatricians, nurse practitioners, PA, nurse administrator. Guyana— general family practitioner. Grenada —surgeon/orthopedic surgeon, anesthesiologist, MDs. Guatemala—RNs, BSNs. Honduras—program director, hospital administrator, physicians, surgeons, PAs, PRs, technicians, medical records technician. Jamaica— dentists, physician, optometrist, RNs, BSNs. Nicaragua—physician, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, tech

nician, disabled persons’ educator. St. Lucia—radiologist, ophthalmologist, optometrist, surgeon, anesthetist, X-ray technicians, dermatologists, ENT, surgeon, anthesiologist, orthopedic surgeon. Multi-Regional—MIS advisers to consult on public health information systems. Interpreters: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese. For information about any of these positions, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

ATTENTION Return to Peace Corps volunteers (Baha’fs and others). RCPVs who are interested in another tour of service in the Peace Corps in Afghanistan, please contact Owen Walker-Blair,

Kettering, OH 05419, or phone 513298-4406 (daytime), 372-376-2253 (evenings) or 419-899-4406.

ARCHIVES

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following individuals: Frank D. Clark (died Elsinor, CA, 1951), Fred W. Clark (died Newark, NJ, c1945), Jeanette Clark, Lofton H. Clark (died Sheboygan, WI, 1977), and Joseph Clevenger (died New York, NY, 1945). Anyone knowing family members or relatives who may have these letters is asked to contact the National Baha'i Archives, Baha’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

THE NATIONAL Baha’ Archives is seeking materials relating to teaching activities on Indian Reservations including tape recordings, personal recollections and photographs of the first American Indian Teaching Conference, Camp Verde, Arizona, in November 1955, and the first four Indian Council Fires held at the Makah Reservation, Neah Bay, Washington, 1963-66. ‘Anyone having materials they could donate is asked to send them to the National Baha'i Archives, Baha’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

WANTED

WANTED: picture books, arts and crafts, games and short lessons, Baha’ children’s publications to help the pre-school called Upendo Nursery School in Iringa, Tanzania, East Africa. The children’s ages range from to 7 years. Surface mail is inexpensive. Please mail to Ruaha Secondary School, P.O. Box 869, Iringa, Tanzania (for use in Upendo Nursery School). To protect against customs charges, be sure to state that they are educational materials.

OPPORTUNITY to fill two pioneering posts! Couple planning to pioneer to a remote homefront goal in Belize needs pioneer couple or individual to occupy their present home and farm in the southern half of the country and containing the two populations targeted for mass enrollment. For more information, please contact

Argentina conference to honor memory, spirit of May Maxwell

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing of May Ellis Bolles Maxwell, the National Spiritual Assembly of Argentina is planning an international conference to be held during Ayyém-iHa 1990.

Among the special guests scheduled to appear at the ‘‘May Maxwell Conference—Uniting the Americas’? is Mrs. Maxwell’s daughter, the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum.

For more information, please contact the conference committee, Sede Bahá’í, Otamendi 215, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

SCHOOLS, CONFERENCES

SUMMER study abroad 1989. Visit Austria, England or Norway in conjunction with a study abroad program of domestic universities. For information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

IS ART a fundamental truth or merely entertainment? Global consultation needs to start somewhere ... so let’s start at the Green Lake Conference Arts Forum on Friday, September 15. Contact: Carolyn Malouf,

Cedar

burg, WI 53012. MISCELLANEOUS

WHEN the Experimental Aircraft Association holds its annual interna tional meeting July 28-August 3 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, any of the friends attending it are invited to call and introduce themselves to the Bahá’í community of Oshkosh at any of the following’ telephone numbers: 2312547, 231-3052, or 233-4667.

A BAHA’E in Chad would like to correspond in French with U.S. Bahá’ís (no preference as to age or sex). For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

COPIES of the November 1, 1912, issue of the Palo Altan newspaper including four pages devoted to the talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at Stanford University are available for $1 postpaid (in the U.S.) from the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahd’{s of Burbank, P.O. Box 6064, Burbank, CA 91510. Proceeds to the Arc Fund.

cm Mai Nguyen (center) and his family (three Bahá’í generations) are pictured with Puran Stevens

(right) of the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office several days before Mr. Nguyen’s fatal auto accident.

One Bahá’í’s personal view of teaching among S.E. Asian refugees in California

1 would like to share with the American Bahá’í community some of my recent experiences with Southeast Asian Bahá’í refugees in Stockton, California.

It is hard for me to describe the utter joy of consorting with Southeast Asian refugees and their families, or the wonderment that teaching and consolidating these dear souls brings to my heart.

For example, when I introduced the Faith to one Southeast Asian refugee, he replied, ‘‘Ba-ha’i, that’s Vietnamese for ‘three-two.’ What is Bahá’í?”’

On several occasions I have had the pleasure of visiting a wonderful Vietnamese Bahd’{ family, the Nguyens. The first day I met Mr. Mai Nguyen and his mother—on February 7, 1987—Judge Dorothy Nelson of the National Spiritual Assembly was present.

Mr. Nguyen really personified the Bahá’í spirit of radiant acquiescence and courtesy.

Once I gave him a difficult challenge, asking him to read a passage in English. His eyes twinkling with humor, he read the Bahá’í calendar in Vietnamese, emphasizing every syllable.

Mr. Nguyen became a Bahá’í in 1959 at the age of 18, brought his family to America in July 1984, and lived in Chicago near the Bahá’í House of Worship.

The family later moved to Stockton because the Chicago winters were too hard on Mr. Nguyen’s mother.

Some Bahá’ís in Stockton consorted with the Nguyen family for two years, neither group knowing that the other was Bahá’í. Mr. Nguyen eventually gained self-sufficiency for his family through education and persistent work. As a result, his children have excelled in their studies.

On April 1, Mr. Nguyen was killed in an auto accident. Needless to say, this has caused enormous grief for his family and friends. How fortunate, though, that they have Bahá’í friends to console them.

This sense of loving support is at the very root of our religion. When all of the friends have learned to express it and draw upon it, the only challenge we will face is keeping up with entry by troops.

Are there any Southeast Asian refugees in your city or town? If so, chances are that there are wonderful new Bahd’{ brothers and sisters among them whom you have note yet met.

I’m a substitute school teacher—dealing with various subjects, grades and schools every day. I enjoy the variety.

One day early last December, 1 gave an assigment to an ESL (English as a Second Language) class on ‘‘Christmas.”” As a Bahá’í, I would have found such an assignment difficult.

When I realized that my Southeast Asian students could not re See STOCKTON page 13 �[Page 11]The American Bahá’í / June 1989 / 11

Annual report of National Spiritual Assembly

At the midpoint of the Six Year Plan we find ourselves standing at a critical juncture on the road to the fulfillment of our destined role as champion builders of the Order of Baha’u’ll4h. On one hand, we are encouraged by the tremendous increase of the quantity, variety and quality in activities throughout the national. community. On the other, we are now concluding the third consecutive year of low enrollments; our efforts to achieve entry by troops have borne little fruit.

Our dilemma prompts us to recall Shoghi Effendi’s prescient advice warning that the American Bahá’í community ‘‘is unavoidably approaching a testing period, crucial, prolonged, potent, purifying,”’ a period he said would recall in its severity ‘‘the ordeals which afflicted the dawn-breakers. ...”” “The anticipated trials,’ he further advises, ‘“‘will enable its members to plumb greater depths of consecration, soar to nobler heights of collective endeavor, and disclose in fuller measure the future glory of their destiny.’’

Such is the juncture at which we now stand. The trial we face is a test of faith and will. The key to our triumph lies buried deep in the heart of each believer. Our response to this challenge will shape the future of both the American Bahá’í community and of the nation as a whole.

At the beginning of 146 B.E., inspired by the Ridv4n 1988 message of the Universal House of Justice, and deeply moved by the repeated appeals at the International Convention for the American Bahá’í community to assert its destined role to lead all nations spiritually, the National Spiritual Assembly consulted with the Universal House of Justice and offered prayers at the holy shrines for guidance. Imbued with a sense of urgency, we adopted a plan of action that called for holding 12 regional conferences and four major teaching projects. The purpose of these ‘‘Vision to Victory’’ conferences was to inspire the friends by enhancing their understanding of the significance of the Arc on Mount Carmel and of the Universal House of Justice’s mandate for large-scale growth of the Bahd’{ community.

Retired Universal House of Justice members David Hofman and H. Borrah Kavelin graciously accepted our invitation to be the keynote speakers at the 12 conferences. Their indefatigable efforts, lofty and panoramic vision of the Cause, and wise and inspiring counsel represent the year’s preeminent contributions to the spiritual fortification of our community. The participation of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and the tireless support of the Board of Counselors and their Auxiliary Board were indispensable to the conferences’ success. The combined efforts of these noble souls, in conjunction with the hundreds of local Bahá’ís who worked diligently to organize the gatherings, made the conferences and teaching projects one of the finest hours of the Campaign of Unified Action.

In the midst of the series of conferences we were deeply saddened by the abrupt passing, in rapid succession, of our dearly loved Edna True and Borrah Kavelin. Yet we were comforted and inspired when we reflected on their exemplary lives of self-sacrificing devotion and distinguished service to the Cause. The powerful presence of their noble spirits was palpable at the Vision to Victory conferences.

Also profoundly moving was Flore Kavelin’s heroic effort, in the midst of her personal grief, to arise and to fulfill the conference speaking commitments of her departed husband, Borrah. Her perseverance personified the standard of “‘living sacrifice’’ Shoghi Effendi established as the essential requisite for our community’s success. Last, we note with great regret the resignation, for personal reasons, of two members of the National Spiritual Assembly: William Maxwell and Chester Kahn.

Highlights of the year

The highlights of the year are too numerous to permit more than a cursory review in this report.

© The 12 Vision to Victory conferences, which ranged in attendance from 500 to 2,500, expanded the vision and exalted the spirits of the friends, inspiring hoped-for increases in teaching activities and generous outpourings of contributions to the Funds. Of particular note are the outstanding efforts of dozens of local Spiritual Assemblies that organized successfully the conferences.

© The four major teaching projects contributed significantly to the unity and collaboration among Spiritual Assemblies in their respective areas. Although most of the projects achieved notable increases in proclamation and teaching activities, only the Greater Atlanta project succeeded in enrolling many new believers.

The increase from two to four National

Spiritual Assembly members working in full- or part-time service to the Institution advanced significantly the Assembly’s capacity to meet the ever-increasing challenges of the Cause. The two newly appointed assistant secretaries have been assigned the responsibility of supervising the training and development of local Spiritual Assemblies.

© Over 300 pioneers were placed by the National Assembly’s Office of Pioneering in posts abroad, filling 44 of the 77 goals assigned by the Universal House of Justice, while more than 75 youth and adults provided full-time service to the Faith in educational, medical, agricultural and other international development projects.

The International Youth Conference in

Bloomington, Indiana, attracted 5,400 youth, adults and children from 53 countries and every continent whose individual pledges to teach, serve and support the Cause set the stage for accelerating our progress. The conference ended with the dispersal of hundreds of youth to teaching projects throughout the world.

¢ The fifth Continental Indigenous Council held in South Dakota brought together representatives from the National Spiritual Assemblies of Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the United States and Bahá’ís from 52 indigenous tribes from four continents to consult on the spiritual and social upliftment of their peoples.

© Strong gains were made within and without the Bahá’í community in the area of women’s issues and sexual equality. Bahá’ís played a leading role at the annual Women’s History Week, sponsored by the Business and Professional Women’s Club and the American Association of University Women’s Seneca Falls (New York) chapter; held a luncheon for the 150 members of the Board of Directors of the International Council on Women; and conducted the Continuing Peace Dialogue conference of Soviet, European and American women at the Bosch Bahd’{ school. In addition, highly successful women’s conferences were held in Atlanta and New Mexico.

© Important progress was made in identifying thousands of Indo-Chinese refugees who have settled in this country, including several former members of National Spiritual Assemblies of South Asian countries. Many local Bahá’í communities have begun to integrate, to support in practical ways, and to continue the Bahd’{ education of these new members of the American Bahá’í community. The success of these efforts is already evident in a rapid increase in participation, a wholehearted association with the Bahá’í community, and a marked receptiveness to the Faith among refugees who are not yet Bahá’ís. The population of over 350,000 Indo-Chinese refugees across the nation represents an extraordinary oppor tunity for teaching.

Other highlights of the past year include:

° The Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Youth Academy’s entering its second year of educating South Carolinian youth.

¢ WLGI Radio’s rating as one of the most listened to radio stations in its broadcast area.

The Louhelen Bahá’í School Residential Program’s entering its second year

of operation.

Major concerns

Achieving a breakthrough in the growth of the Bahá’í community ranks as our first concern. The ‘‘new paradigm of opportunity for further growth and consolidation’’ of the American Bahá’í community must be exploited “‘lest the opportunity be lost in the swiftly changing moods of a frenetic world.””

The continued growth of local Spiritual Assemblies in experience, maturity and wisdom is our second concern, for Spiritual Assemblies are focal centers for teaching the Faith, consolidating the community, and nurturing the Bahá’í way of life. Their training and development are of central importance.

The question of the Faith’s financial needs must also be solved. While we must rise to meet our complex community’s everincreasing operating expenses, we are also compelled to raise the funds needed to complete the remaining buildings of the Arc, the successful conclusion of which is indispensable to humanity’s spiritual and material progress. Although contributions at the 12 conferences did much to help us approach this year’s goal, large capital repair projects for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, Green Acre, the other schools and institutes, and the Bahá’í National Center will exert increasing financial pressure on the Faith over the next 10 years. In the next four years alone, more than $800,000 is required for major repairs to the Temple and the schools. Shoghi Effendi clearly stated that these indentures of trust must be safeguarded and well maintained. At the same time, however, the National Spiritual Assembly worries that the high cost of maintenance may inhibit the progress of the teaching work and other important activities.

The coming year

The pressing requirements of the Faith from every side prompted the National Spiritual Assembly to conduct a thorough review of its current organization, method of operation, and goals. While the assessment is not yet completed, we have decided, as a first step, to restructure the major goals of the Six Year Plan to focus on three main areas:

1. Achieving a vast increase in the number of new believers.

2. Fostering the maturation of local Spiritual Assemblies.

3. Increasing the Bahá’í education of children, youth and adults.

These over-all goals of the National Spiritual Assembly are not intended to diminish the importance of other objectives that must be pursued, ranging from the continued development of the arts to the publication of statements on issues of broad social concern, race unity, and equality issues. Rather, they are designed to concentrate and coordinate our efforts on our most pressing concerns. To ensure our singleminded attention to the three main areas,

we are taking further steps, to begin next year, which include:

© Reinforcing the large-scale teaching projects presently under way in Atlanta, Chicago, Massachusetts and San Jose and initiating, in selected localities, other projects aimed at specific populations such as Indo-Chinese and Chinese, American Indians, inner-city blacks, suburban whites, and border-region Hispanics.

© Requesting selected local Spiritual Assemblies to assume responsibility for a variety of special projects and services in an ongoing and gradual effort to decentralize responsibility for administering the community’s affairs—a process essential to the maturation of both national and local institutions, in anticipation of the time when local Spiritual Assemblies will assume the lion’s share of work.

¢ Initiating, with help from the Board of Counselors and its Auxiliary Boards and their assistants, a major program for the ongoing training and development of local Spiritual Assemblies.

Conclusion

The accelerating decline of the existing order makes us increasingly mindful of the “pitiful plight of the masses of humanity, suffering and in turmoil, hungering after righteousness, but ‘bereft of discernment to see God with their own eyes, or hear His Melody with their own ears.’ They must be fed. Vision must be restored where hope is lost, confidence built where doubt and confusion are rife.’’ The Bahá’í Faith is the vehicle for restoring hope and establishing happiness. Our mandate is clear: we must dispense the healing medicine of Baha’u’llah’s revelation.

The success of our efforts rests in the hands of each individual believer. The breakthrough we must now achieve requires an intensified fervor, a deeper faith and a stronger will to act.

During the final years of his ministry, Shoghi Effendi wrote to the Bahá’ís of North America, challenging every believer to arise and advance the Cause toward the fulfillment of its destiny. Neither the local nor national institutions, he explained, ‘‘no matter how elaborate their plans, or persistent their appeals,” nor ‘even the Guardian himself”’ could ‘‘supplant him (the individual Baha’f) in the discharge of that task.’’ He described his longing to see the individual assess his character, consult his conscience, and shed the attachments holding him back.

We conclude with these words of Shoghi Effendi addressed to the Bahá’ís of North America:

“The prizes within the reach of this community are truly inestimable. Much will depend on the reaction of the rank and file of the believers to the plea now addressed to them with all the fervor of my soul.

“To act, and act promptly and decisively, is the need of the present hour and their inescapable duty. That the American Bahá’í community may, in this one remaining field, where so much is at stake, and where the needs of the Faith are so acute, cover itself with glory that will outshine the splendor of its past exploits in the far-flung territories of the globe, is a prayer which I never cease to utter in my continual supplications to Baha’u’ll4h.”’

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States April 1989 �[Page 12]12 / The American Bahá’í / June 1989

ee FF J 50 be Jie ob las!

NSA PLAN OF ACTIVITIES FOR 1989-90 Olagses o35 “Ste shay! “eter 2

Saree G Way 3I" last eS 3) dake serge otal

Spr Stns ts be “aad gate 5h Cty (ls sey oy paral — stage 9 CITT held yy! ‘eyfa!

Wie She Dyed hate ess ay bye gle “Ub — i Als chub

UC ly yield slerb gh Soke Cyr go sbe peats 9 Olagge me 9 Meter shia later DUL3 Gyettpal solLaygtlen doggy Cli) Jala

BP WARESNs 5 UBS they clnyS 02,5 aly Spr gel skys! ss leas Y osale SHENG Geer yo JU GFL Jado Cyr lub sie Cob

sppet UE shay 2 9 05 Fpke 59h “by? lesser ee 9 62) Eelor 22 sleee Gy Cer gry SLIG! 51 ota) — ss rh re

“edleg 3) onletel Cyr gate LS 3 DS set ome y Sols

whe giles) Ble toby 9 aby “Gey 5

Slo “oslo gle “ey

See Nye AL pes gy Ge SA S85 orgs le Ope “Ulsl — pe Bly eel» Gerd 9 gL healer Gh

Sisley gw giley) ibe lac] byl 46555 “Uy steel — sCaghe gloctee plac! y ylayU gyyylte

WSs CHE YS gle Bbw ay LS yr hoe ty cob ee 9719

Ferk Semler yl “yl pee 55 p5 pe ye ye Cale — “AN ge clocyh plasl Gy gle aby, Jobe a gay J Sys soba

+ he ilgy Ble Cer Gadlyteo JES! =

Aye SS lel oy rly tly Ske As yy? slesley JEG!

DLS 54 9 OW ge 4 W295 Syl Coe s5 “Ged 22

Aging YP olan GES CHT ay WILT 3, 4 Oblyr Syer — 1660p) Glogs ag555 Cyr hae

Oy) ples GES “alle Cy gsleal, yl! —

VAAN JL G VAT Sle 3h WF pel Junie, hdres J! — rd

she WT NV ge SH SUL lay ysl Caysd club lcs) —

Gas C52 Load Fy shel clay cheb chert 9 4S = eutle eSbula ls

Ong je “ate 42 tly “Mayle ly slay! Cpe clase bets = aga

See Se eed Mags S Soh aS Sl yar? ye QS Cel td gost Ger cl

Soh Fpte “key 4?

ste Neatly 9 Opal 8 a Ue slezrgy seat =

SUOLEEL gly Cyr JY Ogee V Ble Gob “tery Seed eS 09S 93 Sym

SSN poe Coe 4 gee Ee Gye lees tee eet =

pal pa ie at OL Cen eee a On eerie «Leeward ojyd jtlge 5 Belize

eae See SN oS they ete ye Nga tee ual = 2 SILI 9 ped

egies a LAS” sly %) Lo 5 San

THE NEW PERSIAN “HIDDEN WORDS” TAPE

ust Ole CHM ge At owl oetey sls yo GbE sr gly Berl jthel clot oyl he Cag Tet!» ND Mel per yey tt a die, Oe yey Spe oli herp sd wld Wy sly oe S wb Huda el 5 MN hoe Wy Abo oF N,N gay gee yo S atest SID Nahe ABT 4 deste -ayle age y “Oye OLS" ol fs ND gyda hye “Maye 92 “HEI yy S Glos S Llyy ylS Njust S Shiba Cal gy Serres We Ghd as 5 stele Oper ‘ops Gy coed Gr bE ols ed tn! ealel OF Sh hyd “Ses 2 Shes sel alty al FE iced

way eens OT Wy “tie Uy agly Gnd pale y Cal el “Shas coat

eae) Nsom lon G5 leah (Uidnsie cae (65 LS ANNUAL REFURT OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

nd Say 2 ale pe “eas gly “uss yp Ke! ols P sr! gle PS 9 SS ANB pe GS a S 2b Bs Se ae Boa tpn JN 9 Sab ears Ole gh he “dey GAAS Spr GUA sully 9 orgy Sus! otiyees 5G Sue shay! shel abet sd “etait ail gee gb onlay”

My 22 Sel ot arte OT al tly “ne Soa Dye CHLEe sel Yo abs ye OLE dhe ay 1 ele Obl y oglt wt Byles Se A Sy Gt OL od od Cay days ote OM gle, Sosa y gpl “ale aT py goalie thee NAW Y Gh iby) Jim ay 1 JL I 22s 9 MN ey Rtgs yr amy phe Clyde y gle! aye AAA JL ol ys, WN Ghar ash eS eayhyo oldns! piel Sulley Y Syyde i ny Cob Ny ag8S “as Oy Ales Oly | pet 5 “Saree OU Spal 3 ot, GU BT Utes oat Jes oI tc, ete le yee AN Gedy eS oS gd ye GWOLEL ly sre SAN ale phate “eas

ey sys Saye ler piel Ludlcey GyLe glee! 3! so yp GAS aah Spry aye sd dpb Ip gh ilhyy Jim Sto lle dese Fee GN CSB ots S pee LL gal Gy yySle gl sl LS yp B51 ry Fed SN geyalte Stee stiel 5 Sree pleas Ger ti Sah AS Sas Lely Oleg gel Clicks ay ghl Utes oul ME Glsyes Cryer oy EYE slab 4 “sian GU) 31" shy 29H 4 gaa

crd9S Saye ler syne esl pS dake yl atlas Lat! yo bt ctl S433 by 95 02531 She Ny Ny Gy 9,5 Ll i Wey 2313 OMS thy Jal goer 4 Ny tly Ole gts LS dip! pb mee WS giblly Lh shy als sy pil pe GbIS Gernes PEE FS 5 NN yr Gee rye ST HS GE sige Mel gla nALw

sel Noh ge Fey I pe 6 OS a Ll | seine See Uy ply Gr 9 OT ee gir 6 GL aby, Jaw wAyS Mncal Siow el 52 Syyte 3 yaht

Se pe eats

“soaree Bless SN" atlas VW stl — “een yy Va gel cage po Yor Moore oh WaT ys Sans Sol Syhte yl My Sab Gey y oS aus ty aS 239 Ero

9 6sBan 9g Cony hl Si pee hale Qeey i t = lebry oul Spl pe Ske ey pod gibeyy Jil ole Pals UCT “ake yo kU as aS Gls AGH ect) ogg pohehy Otiytes 36

By Med Ye By (LS yok Gy SF Gh sles, Jim glee! slosh — Page gat yA LY Hop SN ANSE gpl gybel Cl yy Me de file eel Shige 55g QoyT Un See Ces sSbla ata yd JA Kae

Bey Cag Gh oly, Jame utile ely Cyr gl Ls stethy Fes Ny gh ales) Jaw Ghul 3! Le oG

Be MU yo ary Syerle bo Sark Note Th ter = gh gibey Sim Gan WY 3) Gua tt Serb gety 4 ssi,S otc! wae JUST

Ley! IL! 52 gtk teagly yo Liye Myer atl des otis! sAter CS pb OT yo be S10 aeer 5! sgh oF 3 ps bor S CH SE Oleg AESe LU ay Nye lade gael glee Y il aS

Mae gyyte GSI? SIL 32 lege GlB shyt oeenty YS 5 she y BUS y Kal Ge goles, Jaw oaks » an/8 egShbe Syzygy esd OX SN Ny Sle OS LrgLs setnae 9 abner 22291 pt 2S Serge legs 9 thie! O18,5 Uh»

‘ule gy Blo pacts BUC Ae OLS Joe yy yp Logs WS Ob3 Bet “Che” pele we Oty tS Ly! Bh Ate ny ulehek pe any NGS lla slslole Slagh “epee cae sbeel Shs Vo Ey il tee SE Soe tee eae NES y tthe 55 OL) lll yer SES che Ay rly SSI “ht 5 el 5 wre 9 ysl ob5 3! edale

So las S

etapa they Macalty Ope SLES yb y2 Say gl hey lel SN oF ate Gey thks dine les Ye yl ye S Nor gym del Cad ay bed Ad Gate lyst Gh giles) Site ES Ser tb oD pel cel 2 ter ytte “Muay, do Ne

leah 09,5 alg! (aay “gle y2 alot)

ii Jolie Sut,

MESSAGES FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE cette OS L2gL3 ay Rely 52 lel dyer pleg “eer d YEAS Sle ge ole Sot Foye Kash Gh gtsysis

Serie 9 or cal Ness phey 4 olige OT “lass el OUELe gh ope GUS Sree pele Ger de! Gere wel! SLU 4 er oe) Le ol CL yyy Jyh ON le Slee Ie “ale Olay ALS Geel de le Soe S ploy ob ye lhe 6 i515 yA ET, eS Aad coy i 2 PIT 5 Say Pl Bathe LE styel Ser oll oT oe eABAS ObalS y vyth> AIL yatoal obT ply.

Slee HLS y patie ley “Whe HEY er oul IY PSE WE yp olgyze Of Oluly dw S pete S52 ay ODEs sel gate “tgesd S dears igebl 1 ole SHU, alge 425 Wl 32 yee pest Ge 2? Gl

Bel dliey

Shuacal yh

OF sayy daly WL

NAAN Le argh VA Zyge oleh tye GIGS “ues

Wee Sy libs Obes y why Gis UT ysl |

spetledyys OMe Cal oS oS Shey te glael Spr ghel y ytlacy!

199 JY Ogalee 0° fle ere wast Ger Sar poe Ele! (Nal onl

Be atl poe Ae 09S GC atlage Ahoy Ly hl Ske GUT hy jl, i Vy Ne cel oted Cs hel Judicey

Plot plot a byrye Gla tye Jann EVOLUTION OF INSTITUTIONS DEDICATED TO INTEGRATION

Naas alte “us Jyh > 5 tay wr SI yp S yh were ele ty sT gy) he OY Gy Oat Obtly oI eahite cetpee yoke aah pees 9 Saad Y oT gS AT ye 6h le OLT pleat fed y bk sel al opel “eslal 52 ope ye ay) bo MAY NAVE JL ys Cyz oedy nel ogry Qe CALI ol gh bed say oh ces tS aly Gh Jie Sho yo alt a! 1d8 Sek2S: Silva leat

AE ote ltl GUE ay Gh “ag Tay aed oul 9 lal Oatley Risley plist sip oT lel “Wigdy 1 QSL And cle Gee Gad oy! lby Lo aber 3) ath, atl Pate ah Ser OU LS yl “ke yp hal Wb yar 4 seh ET ote I pe ey eal Srele ‘bl a bye ayers OjNse OAS 9 atley Stage glaatgsle 4 gl Ls , oad oly)

cae Nel 2 hate, GUAT y Oteggs ay

stl yt leet “add oy JL al ey ON geag 295 “yyd ay SLD sal tye S LSS ttyl jstlel saa Sige eS gle galeyy Jil a LISS! y pth! LoL, He MS Uy steel jetlnd shel spl jth slcgld dee 5! Set Lye Leo oGaualty Ltt getty 6 ayy ile! aunty sSeb eteTye Jae 6 tho Syyny OgiSl y AE 50d gear pita

clea) since CFU dlsly we yo Mh ope wl JL ys Ny AzRSE oat thy ley, Slacle 6 Cul poly cares S Gal Soe eee 4p CEN 92 5S MH Olged eel CLS Eyes WN Ogee Ah Ny Hl gil al ole tt ae bye oy! Caasla ayy pole Cal

Si WAT eg ph ME y thal va 5 oy © cass y Wy getgee gy ote OY cpl lke yl Y ilal ok ASI sad Jobe Neal Netley theesS ged ul SI ge Sleds 2S red ged ot gray TY obs gel gh “le Syl 45 8 Whgrgs 9 Wor ches ey lal WL I soley DW gt ay Spe te tty St gol Gls »p Ary Mle Ny a2EN2 Ny OLS 4p doy CNS) Cul yh ILS, 5, 9 Baghye ler 4 Kel gl “ule Sh ose Ly age obT ASI ADodaT ater Goth Shas I! soley

tly Mle GUE a I sky) Jaw apie 9 rh he bole gy LER yl ele lags lel ue Gye Ser ety 89h Ske tlhe Oger gs y WLS Seedy pelt Sh Sand edb hs gle giles ile “oye ay UL plbsl “Gy De yo tBasal pgitrel GL yeh sly Stil y Gh “and 4441 SEN oye) bo eT ley Wak seals 625 dae ots EUS Nh yg aad glee SN giy “Ubel See tal lv! SAV Ly pele y ilesy Jib Y otsty bSt 4 pl Gy dye “et re ee ho gel aly cts alyd dogs gts Kia bbs y Seale sled y bye gluby Ch y Sia! adgy Aalg® Ole Sal edly des y2 gh! y Cysw “tamgs 9

sus!

a)

�[Page 13]

UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, a functioning part of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), held its 33rd session recently in Vienna, Austria.

Representatives from 32 countries and observers from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) met to consider the UN’s priority themes for women of equality, development and peace.

Representing the Bahá’í International Community, which has consultative status with ECOSOC, were Mary S. Power from the New York office and Giovanni Ballerio and Liesbeth Bos from the Geneva office.

Assisting were Neda Forghani and Joyce Booman from Vienna.

Resolutions passed by the Commission included those expressing concern for refugees and displaced women, the debt crisis and structural adjustment programs, women living in absolute poverty, and the problems of women in Central America, among others.

The report on its deliberations will be taken up by the Economic and Social Council.

Ms. Power presented two statements on Baha’ economic development projects on several continents, mentioning in particular the Faizi Vocational Institute for Women in India.

The projects aim at improving the well-being of women, their families and communities. It was stressed that winning the support of men and generating and sustaining grassroots participation is essential.

The second statement was one on development prepared by the Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden for Women, a coalition of NGOs for which BIC was the convenor.

The coalition appealed to the Commission to “‘support activities that will ensure that the present momentum continues toward bettering the lives of farm women, and thereby enhances their contribution to food security.’’

Copies of the statements may be obtained upon request from the Bahá’ís of the U.S., UN Representative, 866 UN Plaza, Suite 120, New York, NY 10017.

Brilliant Star travels

‘out of this world’ to note stars, outer space

It’s out of this world! The July/ August issue of Brilliant Star magazine is all about the stars, outer space and astronomy. It’s a heavenly issue, not to be missed!

The issue includes many things to do: ‘‘Decorate a Gate,”’ an activity for the Holy Day, ‘Sky Time’’ and ‘‘Outer Space Crossword’’ will keep all budding skygazers busy.

You can learn about Dr. Mae Jemison, female astronaut, as well as ‘‘Voyager’s Last Encounter’’ and the “Birth of the Stars.”’ And there are stories and poems and even a song!

Make sure your subscription is up-to-date to travel with Brilliant Star as we tackle the skies. One year (12 issues) is only $12.

Send your check or money order to Subscriber Service, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

About 200 Bahá’ís and their guests from several states attended a North Carolina Bahá’í Unity Conference held March 24-26 at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte.

The event began Friday evening with a ‘Teaching Through the Arts’’ fireside whose rousing, upbeat atmosphere was maintained throughout the weekend.

Saturday’s keynote address, which followed remarks of welcome by Dr. Sarah M. Pereira and Auxiliary Board members Sam McClellan and Jean Scales, was by Jack Guillebeaux of Montgomery, Alabama.

Afternoon workshops were held on a variety of topics including “Overcoming Barriers to Teaching,’”’ ‘Teaching Through Projects/Operation of Task Forces,”’ “Teaching Through the Mass Media,” “‘Teaching Through Dis semination of the Peace Stateement,”’ and ‘*Teaching Through Social and Economic Development Activities.”

On Saturday evening, Mr. Guillebeaux presented a public talk on the ‘‘disappearing black male.”

Saturday’s highlight was a service and teaching project in which Bahá’ís went into the community around the university to help carry out a survey for a projected Charlotte Memorial Hospital clinic to be built in the area.

This resulted in an invitation from a community leader for the Bahá’ís to return to the community on a regular basis to try to help in its spiritual rejuvenation.

Sunday’s conference wrap-up included a panel discussion whose members included two Auxiliary Board members from South Carolina, Elizabeth Martin and Trudy White.

The American Bahá’í / June 1989 / 13

North Carolina hosts Bahá’í Unity Conference

A Latin dancer performs during

the Bahá’í Unity Conference held

“ March 24-26 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Stockton

from page 10

late to the topic at all, I changed it to ‘“‘winter,”’ and explained to my students that I had realized that not everyone is of a Christian background.

One of my brightest Southeast Asian students said, “I know what you mean, because I’m not a Christian.” He then asked me what religion I was.

When I said, ‘‘Bahá’í,”” he replied, ‘‘No kidding! I’m a Bahá’í too!

I later met his family in their home, where the Greatest Name symbol and a portrait of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were reverently displayed above the fireplace.

On another occasion, I found yet another Bahá’í student after hearing that he had been absent on April 21 to observe Ridvan.

It’s a strange feeling to be the

secretary of my local Assembly and realize that there may be a number of Bahá’ís in my community who have never been contacted.

The wonderful thing about contacting a Southeast Asian Bahd’{ is that this can lead to many other contacts with family and friends. That is how I have been able to reach other Southeast Asians in my community.

These people, so filled with spiritual qualities, are a resource for our communities that has barely been tapped. The service they can render to the Cause can be only dimly imagined.

A few months ago, a friend informed me that her Bahá’í community was administratively and numerically jeopardized. I told her that she probably did have enough Bahá’ís if she would look for them.

She did, and on her first day of searching she found a Hmong

On May 5, Layli Miller, a Bahd’( from Alpharetta, Georgia, received the Woodrow Wilson Service Award for Fulton County. Noted specifically was her work as a youth volunteer at the Martin Luther King Center for Non-Violent Change, her participation in the U.S.-USSR Peace Initiative as an exchange student to Russia, and her involvement in the Atlanta Bahd’{ Youth Workshop. The award, sponsored by the Princeton Club of Georgia, was presented at the state capitol building by Georgia Gov. Joe Frank Harris.

Paper praises work of Bahá’í physician

An article which appeared March 10 in the Turks and Caicos News praises Dr. Frank Gilbert, a Bahá’í pioneer to the islands since 1987 who is the resident physician at the Providenciales Health Medical Center.

“After a distinguished 33-year career in U.S. medicine,”’ the article says, “he and his wife Evelyn (a registered nurse who is often at his side assisting) deliberately sought out a place in the world where they could ‘donate’ their hard-earned expertise and make a ‘contribution’ to a receptive community.”

Noting that his case load has increased by 300 percent in the past year, it says: ‘‘Dr. Gilbert’s ‘popularity’ is explained by his background and his intense interest in being a fully involved participant in the community.”’

Upcoming UN Observances

September 8; laternational Literacy Day

September 19: International Day of Peace

October 2: Universal Children’s Day

October 16: World Food Day October 24: United Nations Day October 31: UNICEF Day (observed in the U.S. with Halloween trick-or-treat program)

(Cambodian) Bahá’í family and saved her Assembly!

Whether or not your community has a jeopardized Assembly, nothing can compare to the spiritual and cultural richness that will be experienced by consorting with Southeast Asian believers and encouraging them to take part fully in Bahá’í community life.

The personal and interpersonal rewards are simply beyond measure, and they are in store for any Bahá’í who wishes to become involved in the process. All it takes is a little initiative.

It hasn’t been all sweetness and froth, though. In the past year we’ve had some sad times. We lost one little four-year-old girl (and 15 people later declared during the Tiffany Ngim Teaching Project held in her honor).

the murderous shooting rampage at the Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton. One of the wounded children had been attending Bahá’í children’s classes, while two others (who were killed) had Bahá’í relatives. We are still helping the surving relatives (many of whom are children) to learn to trust and to laugh again.

The Ridvan letter from the Universal House of Justice for B.E, 146 speaks of challenges. It speaks of developing our local and National Spiritual Assemblies.

I have heard that the American Bahá’í community has ‘‘lost’’ upwards of 7,000 Southeast Asian refugee believers. Doubtless, many of them are praying and living Bahá’í lives. I sometimes wonder who has lost whom.—Sara Lee Rosenthal, Stockton, California

You may also have heard about

Advertising no substitute for PI work

The Bahá’í Public Information Network is a means by which we can provide news and background material about the Faith and its principles in action, about major developments in the Bahá’í world, and about the structure and teachings of the Faith.

These activities are carried out by establishing personal contact with local communications media. As teaching and proclamation plans are developed and implemented, the Public Information representative will provide the expertise and materials for the most effective use of the media.

The Office of Public Information strongly encourages your local Assembly to avoid large expenditures and efforts on advertising. Billboards, bus cards and other ads are designed to convey the message that the Bahá’í Faith exists. They rely on slogans and brief statements. But at this stage in the development of the Faith, our efforts should be to educate and to inform the public. Advertising may have a negative effect

Public relations experts are aware of the traps of advertising for religious and non-profit groups. The following quotation from Lesly’s Public Relations Handbook may be helpful in evaluating the proper use of advertising:

“«...it (advertising) is probably often the most ineffective and wasteful form of mass communications for public relations purposes. The fact that it permits the advertiser to control the conditions and direct his messages at the audience makes it a one-sided form of communication. It is likely to be ignored, to be discounted, or even to create a resentful backlash because it is a visible effort to impose others’ ideas on the audience.’ Advertising space for the peace statement a poor choice

Purchasing advertising space for a full-page printing of the peace statement is probably an ineffective way to convey its contents to the public. A page of dense type attracts few readers

However, Bahá’ís in many communities have published successfully excerpts from the peace message in guest columns or letters to the editor. Such efforts attract considerable attention and convey the contents to the readers in a way that encourages them to read the document. It costs nothing but time and commitment.

For example, the Bahá’ís in Belchertown, Massachusetts, were able to have the statement serialized in the local newspaper. The editor wrote an original commentary encouraging a dialogue on world peace.

�[Page 14]14 / The American Bahá’í / June 1989

Mensaje de la Casa Universal de Justicia para Ridvan

A los bahd’is del mundo Muy amados amigos,

La corriente espiritual que ejercié efectos tan galvanicos en la Convencién Internacional Bahá’í el pasado Ridvan se ha extendido velozmente a través de la comunidad mundial entera, moviendo a sus miembros tanto de oriente y de occidente a hazafias de actividad y logro en la ensefianza jamds experimentadas en un solo afio.

E] alto nivel de ingresos, por si s6lo, confirma esto, ahora que ya se han recibido informes sobre casi medio millén de nuevos creyentes. Los nombres de lugares tan distantes entre sf como lo son la India y Liberia, Bolivia y Bangladesh, Taiwan y Peri, las Filipinas y Haitf, ocupan un lugar de preeminencia mientras contemplamos las evidencias acumulativas de entrada por tropas por lo cual se hizo el llamado en nuestro mensaje de hace un afio.

Estas evidencias son sefiales esperanzadas de la aceleracién mayor que aun esta por venir y en la cual todas las comunidades nacionales estardn involucradas finalmente, cualquiera que sea el estado actual de sus esfuerzos de ensefianza.

Miramos hacia atras con sentimientos de agradecimiento hi milde y expectaciones intensi! cadas, a los acontecimientos estupendos que han ocurrido en un periodo tan breve. Uno de estos acontecimientos ha sido la adopcién del disefio arquitecténico concebido por el Sr. Fariburz Sahba para las Terrazas del Santuario del Bab, lo cual inaugura una nueva etapa hacia la realizacién de la visién que tenfan el Maestro y el Guardian del camino por el cual los reyes y gobernantes ascenderan las laderas del Monte Carmelo para rendir homenaje en el lugar de descanso del HeraldoMartir de Baha’u’ lah,

Entre otros acontecimientos se incluyen: la aprobacién por las autoridades centrales en Moscui de la solicitud sometida por varios bahd’fs en Ishqábád para restaurar la Asamblea Espiritual Local de aquella ciudad; el inicio de pasos para abrir un Centro de Informacién Bahá’í en Budapest, la

primera agencia de la Fe de esta Indole en el Bloque Oriental; el establecimiento de un sucursal de la Oficina de Informacién Publica de la Comunidad Internacional Bahá’í en Hong Kong en anticipacién de la hora en que pueda proclamarse la Fe en la China continental.

También sobresalen entre estos acontecimientos el co-auspicio exitoso de la Comunidad Internacional Bahá’í del programa ‘‘Las Artes en pro de la Naturaleza”’ en Londres realizado para beneficiar el trabajo del Fondo Mundial para la Naturaleza; la firma de un acuerdo en Ginebra que establece relaciones laborales formales entre la Organizacién Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y la Comunidad Internacional Bahá’í; la aprobacién oficial de un curriculo baha’{ para escuelas publicas en New South Wales, Australia; la inmensa vertiente de visitantes al Templo en Nueva Delhi, aumentando a unos cuatro millones desde la inauguracién de ese edificio en diciembre de 1986, e incluyendo un numero excepcional de altos oficiales de gobierno y otras personas prominentes de muchos paises, entre

ellos la China, la Unién Soviética, y paises del Bloque Oriental. tos, agregados a varios otros puntos sobresalientes de este afio solo, se uinen al registro total de logros hasta este punto del Plan de Seis Afios, presentando un cuadro dinamico de actividad acelerada en el mundo baha’{ entero.

Ninguna referencia a tan maravilloso progreso podria dejar de reconocer el impacto espiritual y social efectuado por el episodio de persecusién, de una década de duracién, infligida con excesos tan crueles contra nuestros hermanos creyentes iranfes. Sdlo errel futuro se sabrd la consequencia completa de su sacrificio, pero podemos reconocer claramente su influencia en el éxito extraordinario en la proclamacién de la Fe y en el establecimiento de buenas relaciones con autoridades gubernamentales y organizaciones importantes no-gubernamentales en todo el mundo.

Por lo tanto es con profundo agradecimiento y alegria que anunciamos la liberacién de la gran mayoria de los prisioneros baha’is en Iran. Aun mientras nos regocijamos no podemos olvidar que falta por realizarse la completa emancipacién de la comunidad baha’{ irani y la aseguranza de los derechos humanos de todos sus miembros en todos los aspectos.

En la alegria del momento, extendemos una calurosa bienvenida a las dos Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales que se estan formando este Ridvan: una en Macau en el sureste de Asia, la otra en Quince Bite en Africa occidenti

A través de la sombra de confusién que trastorna el juicio de la sociedad de hoy dia, hay una vislumbre—aun tan tenue pero perceptible—de un acercamiento, lento pero claro, hacia la culminacién de los tres procesos colaterales concebidos por el amado Guardidn, especificamente: la emergencia de la Paz Menor, la construccién de los edificios en el Arco en el Monte Carmelo y la evolucién de Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales y Locales.

De hecho, por todo el Plan de Seis Afios, durante esta cuarta época de la Edad Formativa, y particularmente durante el aiio que acaba de finalizar, esta vislumbre, aun tan distante, se ha acercado. Pues, gquién podria haber imaginado, aun al comienzo de este Plan, los cambios repentinos de actitud que llevaron a los lideres politicos en algunos de los lugares mds agitados del planeta a romper con posiciones que parecian intratables—cambios que en meses recientes han hecho que los editorialistas pregunten: “‘cEsta estallando la paz?”

Para cualquier observador que esté consciente de la Fuente divina de tales sucesos, esta evolucién debe ser alentadora, aunque las circunstancias precisas que atafien al establecimiento de la Paz Menor no las conocemos; aun su hora exacta esta oculta en el Plan Mayor de Dios.

Los otros de procesos, sin embargo, estan directamente influenciados por el grado a la cual los seguidores de Bahd’u’ll4h cumplen con sus tareas claramente delineadas. Hay una buena razén

para animarse.

aay gno se han adoptado los

conceptos arquitecténicos para los edificios restantes en el Arco, y no se han emprendido las especificaciones detalladas que efectuardn su realizacién como estructuras monumentales esplendorosas? iNo hemos atestiguado la fortaleza creciente de Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales y Locales en su habilidad de concebir y ejecutar planes, en su capacidad para tratar con autoridades gubernamentales y organizaciones sociales, para responder al pedido publico para sus servicios y para colaborar con otros en proyectos de desarrollo social y econdémico?

2No estan estas Asambleas reforzadas por el apoyo alerta y amoroso del Cuerpo Continental de Consejeros, los miembros del Cuerpo Auxiliar y sus ayudantes, las energias retofiantes de los cuales se estén coordinando con destreza por el Centro Internacional de Ensefianza—una institucién cuya membresfa aumentada ya ha demostrado un vigor, una vision y una versatilidad que evoca calurosa admiracién?

Por tentador que sea el detenernos en los aspectos positivos de nuestro progreso, mejor seria que dejéramos que éstos sirvieran para impulsarnos, a que descansdsemos sobre nuestros logros. Continuémos, por lo tanto, sin desviarnos y con confianza, para aprovechar las magnfficas posibilidades que permiten la mezcla y la combinacién de estos procesos y eventos continuos para realizar los intereses inmediatos de nuestra sagrada Causa.

Estos intereses, de seguro, estan identificados en los objetivos mayores del Plan de Seis Aiios, la segunda mitad del cual ya hemos emprendido, totalmente conscientes del acercamiento no muy distante del Afio Santo, 1992-1993, y sus conmemoraciones significativas.

Conjuntamente, con el impulso de la ensefianza, impulso que se ensancha cada vez mds, debemos ahora proceder por todos los medios posibles con los proyectos de la importancia mas critica. El trabajo continia en la preparacién para la publicacién en inglés del Kitab-i-Aqdas, el Libro Madre de la Revelacién Bahá’í. Actualmente tienen que hacerse arreglos para una conmemoracién digna en Tierra Santa del Centenario de Ja Ascencién de Baha’u’ll4h.

Los planes para el Congreso Mundial en el 1992 en Nueva York tienen que seguir avanzando segin estd previsto. Ademds, mayor atencién sistematica tiene que dirigirse a la eliminacién final del analfabetismo de la comunidad baha’i, un logro que, mas alla de cualquier otra cosa, haria que la Sagrada Palabra estuviera accesible a todos los amigos y reforzaria as{ sus esfuerzos para vivir la vida bahd’{. Semejantemente, el ayudar en esfuerzos para preservar el medio ambiente en formas que se combinen con el ritmo de vida de nuestra comunidad tiene que tomar mayor importancia en las actividades baha’fs.

En cuanto a los proyectos en el Monte Carmelo, se ha establecido la Oficina del Director de Proyecto, y se estd reuniendo un personal técnico, Estan por comenzar las pruebas geoldgicas en los sitios de los edificios designados en el Arco—un paso preliminar al comienzo de la construccién esperado por el mundo bahda’{ entero.

DOS.

Restauracion histérica Asamblea

Espiritual Local de Ishqábád

COLMADOS DE ALEGR{A ANUNCIAMOS ELECCION PRIMER DfA FESTIVAL RIDVAN ASAMBLEA ESPIRITUAL LOCAL ISHQABAD. RESTAURACION ESTA COMUNIDAD BAHA'I HISTORICA, LUEGO DE ECLIPSE DE MAS DE MEDIO SIGLO, SENALO PASO INICIAL REHABILITACION FE EN TODA LA UNION SOVIETICA. NOSOTROS LE INFORMAREMOS A ASAMBLEAS ESPIRITUALES NACIONALES EN EL MOMENTO APROPIADO CUANDO LLEGUE LA HORA DE ALENTAR CREYENTES ESTABLECER CONTACTOS FORMALES. OFRECEMOS ORACIONES AGRADECIMIENTO SEPULCROS SAGRA LA CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA

25 DE ABRIL DE 1989

Por lo tanto, aprovechamos esta oportunidad para avisarles acerca de la urgencia de los fondos que se requieren tanto para iniciar la construccién como para mantener el ritmo de este trabajo una vez haya comenzado.

Todos estos requisitos han de cumplirse y se cumpliran de seguro mediante el servicio consagrado de parte de todo miembro conscienzudo de la Comunidad de Bahá, y en particular por medio del compromiso personal con el trabajo de ensefianza.

Es tan fundamentalmente importante este trabajo para asegurar las bases de éxito en todos los quehaceres bahd’{s y para adelantar el proceso de la entrada por tropas, que nos sentimos impulsados a afiadir una palabra de énfasis para su consideracién. No es sufficiente el proclamar el mensaje baha’{, por esencial que sea. No es sufficiente expandir los registros de membresia bahd’{, por vital que sea.

Las almas tienen que ser transformadas, las comunidades asi consolidadas, nuevos modelos de vida as{ logrados. La transformaci6n es el propésito esencial de la Causa de Bahd’u’ll4h, pero el lograrlo en obediencia al Convenio depende de la voluntad y del esfuerzo del individuo.

Para el progreso de esta transformacion, el propésito de nuestras vidas, es necesario el conocimiento de la voluntad y el propdsito de Dios a través de la lectura y estudio regular de la Palabra Sagrada.

Amados amigos: el impulso generado por los logros de este pasado afio se refleja no sdlo en las oportunidades para la expansién marcada de la Causa sino también en una amplia gama de retos—trascendentales, insistentes y variados—que se han combinado de maneras que hacen que haya exigencias més all4 de cualquier medida previa en cuanto a nuestros recursos espirituales y materiales.

Tenemos que estar preparados para enfrentarlos. En este punto medio del Plan de Seis Ajios, hemos Ilegado a un momento histérico cargado de esperanzas y posibilidades, momento en que las tendencias significativas en el mundo se estén alineando mas estrechamente con los principios y objetivos de la Causa de Dios.

La urgencia que recae sobre nuestra comunidad para seguir adelante en cumplimiento de su misién que abarca el mundo es, por lo tanto, extraordinaria.

Nuestra respuesta primaria tiene que ser el ensefiar—ensefiarNos a nosotros mismos y enseflar a

otros—en todos los niveles de la sociedad, por todos los medios posibles, y sin mas demora.

El amado Maestro, en una exhortacién sobre la ensefianza, dijo que ‘‘no es sino hasta que una vela se encienda que pueda esparcir el brillo de su llama; no es sino hasta que la luz resplandezca que su brillantez pueda disipar la penumbra circundante.”’ Salgan pues, y sean los ‘‘encendedores de velas que no estén iluminadas.””

Nuestro amor permaneciente, nuestro aliento constante, nuestras oraciones continuas y fervientes les acompafian donde quiera que vayan, en cualquier cosa que hagan en el servicio a nuestro amado Sefior.

La Casa Universal de Justicia Riḍván de 1989

Plan de accion presentado en Convencion Nacional

La 80va Convencién Nacional Bahá’í, convocada en el punto medio del Plan de Seis Aiios y bendecida por la presencia de la Mano de la Causa de Dios William Sears, proporcioné una oportunidad de valorar el progreso del Plan de Seis Afios y de desarrollar nuevas estrategias para asegurar el logro de todas sus metas.

También tomé parte en la Convencién el Sr. David Hofman, miembro retirado de la Casa Universal de Justicia.

La Convencién de este afio, la cual tuvo lugar en la Casa de Adoracién en Wilmette, Illinois, del 27 al 30 de abril de 1989, fue precedida por una sesién de profundizacién de todo un dia para los delegados, conducida por los Consejeros Wilma Ellis, William Roberts y David Smith.

Los miembros electos a la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional de los Estados Unidos fueron: Dorothy W. Nelson (coordinadora), Robert C. Henderson (secretario general), Kevin Locke, William E. Davis (tesorero), Firuz Kazemzadeh (secretario de Asuntos Externos), Jack McCants, James F. Nelson (vice-coordinador), Juana Conrad, y Alberta Deas.

En adicién, James Nelson y Juana Conrad han de servir a tiempo completo como asistentes al Secretariado con una oficina en Pasadena, California, con la responsibilidad primaria de implementar el programa sistematico y continuo de la Asamblea Nacional de fomentar la madurez de las Asambleas Espirituales Locales.

Vea CONVENCION pag. 16 �[Page 15]David Bond, Bahá’í well-known in film, TV, dies

David Bond, a well-known film and television actor who had served on the Spiritual Assembly of West Hollywood, California, since its formation in 1950 and for the past 20 years as its chairman, aa April 16. He was 74 years old.

Mr. Bond, who was a delegate to the National Convention for many years, recorded ‘‘Words for the World”’ with Selma Solomon

and music arranged by Charles Wolcott. The record and cassette have been played all over the world.

As an actor, he appeared in a number of Broadway plays before moving to California where he established the Hollywood Shakespeare Festival that toured Southern California.

Mr. Bond had roles in such

films as ‘‘The Late George Apley,” “‘Lust for Life,’’ ‘‘Asphalt Jungle,” ‘Joan of Arc,’’ “The Great Caruso,”’ ‘‘Julius Caesar,” “‘We Were Strangers,”’ and ‘‘The Russians Are Coming.’”

His TV credits included regular appearances on several series i cluding ‘‘Dragnet,” “The Twi light Zone,” ‘‘Dobie Gillis,”” “‘The Untouchables,’’ and “‘Alice.””

Leslie Hawthorn, was pioneer to Uganda, horticulturist, author

Leslie R. Hawthorn, a Bahd’{ pioneer from 1962-66 to Uganda, died March 8 in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Mr. Hawthorn, a graduate of Cornell University, was a wellknown horticulturist who pioneered research in the production of vegetable seeds on a large scale.

He was the author or co-author of many publications, both state and federal, on vegetables and the growing of vegetable seed crops, and was senior co-author of the only book in English on vegetable and flower seed production.

Mr. Hawthorn and his wife arrived in Uganda in April 1962 and stayed for four years, during which time he was manager of the Uganda Bahá’í Publishing Trust.

Mr. Hawthorn served on the Spiritual Assembly of West Lafayette and was secretary (196971) of the Indiana Teaching Committee.

Mid-Atlantic ABS Committee plans conference in 1990

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee of the Association for Bahda’{ Studies is planning a conference for Spring 1990.

The tentative site is Haverford (Pennsylvania) College, and the theme is “The Future of Humanity: Realizing Global Solutions— A Conference of Science, Humanities and the Arts.’’

For more information and to make submissions, contact Janet Richards, _ Yardville, NJ 08620.

Artist uses talent to proclaim Faith

Sara Hatch of Bloomington, Indiana, an artist who has been a Bahá’í since 1962, uses her talent as an artist to proclaim the Faith.

In a brochure given to people who inquire about her work, she mentions that the Faith has been the inspiration for many of her paintings, and those who purchase any of her works are given copies of the peace statement as a gift.

Campus from page 3

The call is out to all youth to join the Bahá’í Youth Service Corps. There are positions all over the world as well as positions of service at the Bahá’í National Center.

More information on the Service Corps, as well as on the Summer Internship Program, is available by writing to the National Youth Committee office, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

LETTERS

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

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 views or to attack anyone on a personal level. Opinions expressed in these columns are not necessarily those of the National Spiritual Assembly or the editors.

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

More thanks for interview

To the Editor:

Thank you for the interview with David Hofman (April) who put into words thoughts I have hesitated to express for fear of appearing judgmental or preachy.

Many Bahá’ís seem to find it easy to embrace the Faith intellectually but fail to recognize that it is a religion and it is supposed to tranform character—ours.

We can’t hope to change the world unless and until we first change ourselves.

We are being closely watched by our fellow-men, and if they do not see that the Bahá’í Faith has the power to change us, they will not become attracted to the Faith through us.

It is easy to believe in, talk about and propose world peace if it doesn’t require any cost to us. What was it that Baha’u’ll4h said about those whose words exceed their deeds?

Our calling is high, and the task of transforming our inner being to properly reflect our outer profession of Faith is an arduous one that must be recognized.

We cannot wait any longer; we must begin today, and we must realize that it is a 24-hour-a-day commitment.

We are the spiritual descendants of the Dawn-breakers. Arise!

Sid Sigwald Tequesta, Florida

Needed: ‘spiritual heat’

To the Editor:

The following is offered as one way of looking at the time in which we live and a possible reason why we are not having more declarations.

When water is heated, the individual molecules become agitated. This agitation increases until, at the boiling point, the molecules break free and enter the vapor stage (steam).

At the boiling point, enough additional energy must be supplied to overcome the intermolecular attractions that hold together the water molecules in the condensed (liquid) state. The term used to describe this additional heat is ‘‘the heat of vaporization.’’

As we supply the “‘spiritual heat” of the Teachings of Baha’w’llah to humanity, its individual members become agitated. This agitation increases as the process of spiritualization progresses.

Today, we wonder why we in this country don’t see more results from our teaching efforts.

It is worth considering that humanity is on the verge of spiritualizing, but that additional ‘‘spiritual heat’? must be supplied through our teaching efforts to overcome the bonds that attract people to their lower natures. This added effort might be called ‘‘the heat of spiritualization.””

So let us be about our business of supplying this additional ‘‘spiritual heat’’ at this crucial time.

Alex Briber

Hendersonville, North Carolina

Esperanto appreciated

To the Editor:

The coverage of Bahá’í participation in Esperanto events, both in the U.S. and abroad, is quite encouraging.

A knowledge and use of Esperanto, an international language, is an opportunity for individual Baha’ is to take part in worldwide pioneering, and the promulgation of a principle of Baha’u’ll4h. And without ever leaving home!

Under ordinary circumstances, an American Baha'i would have little chance of telling someone in Moscow or Kiev about the Bahá’í Faith; but as an Esperantist, he or she may correspond freely throughout the international Esperanto network.

A fluent enough knowledge of Esperanto to correspond can be acquired in the course of one summer. Many Esperantists are selftaught, having learned from i struction booklets.

One popular paperback is Teach Yourself Esperanto by John Cresswell and John Hartley, part of the popular ‘‘Teach Yourself’’ language series. A good Esperanto dictionary is published by the same firm.

Esperanto’s green star can be your passport to worldwide witnessing for the Faith.

Edward F. Lacy Houston, Texas

‘Sabbath’ kits ready

Environmental Sabbath kits are available for interfaith environmental projects. Send $3 for postage to: Bahá’ís of the U.S., UN Office, 866 UN Plaza, Suite 120, New York, NY 10017.

The American Bahá’í / June 1989 / 15

IN MEMORIAM

Alfonso Altamirano James Harris Ludall Other Bull Tombstone, AZ Milledgeville, GA Crow Agency, MT March 6, 1985 Date Unknown June 1988

David Beadles Ed Hause

Austell, GA

‘Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Margaret Other Bull ‘Crow Agency, MT

Date Unknown January 9, 1989 June 1988

Josie May Beadles Leslie Hawthorn Berenice Pecaro Austell, GA. W. Lafayette, IN Chicago, IL

Date Unknown March 8, 1989 April 3, 1989 Calvin Belin Arabelle Haywood Eleanor Plenty Hawk Pamplico, SC Duncanville, TX Crow Agency, MT 1988 September 1987 Date Unknown Lucille Bennett William Hill Bill Powell Colorado Springs, CO Vallejo, CA N. Little Rock, AR March 13, 1989 March 29, 1989 Date Unknown Edith Big Lake Verdung Hornung Freddie Preston Crow Agency, MT Park Ridge, IL Bowman, SC December 1988 April 29, 1989 April 1988 Dorothy D. Birk Mary Ann Howard Kathleen Reeves St. Louis, MO Alhambra, CA Brentwood, CA March 26, 1989 April 22, 1989 March 27, 1989 Paul Blanchard Clarence James Praxythea Rutledge Federal Way, WA N. Little Rock, AR Washington, DC April 28, 1989 1988 March 22, 1989 David Bond Elsie C. James Rose Schlesinger W. Hollywood, CA Houck, AZ Goleta, CA

April 16, 1989 February 23, 1989 April 11, 1989 Wallace Booker Yusuf Jarrah Helen Smith Chester, SC Rockville, MD Glen Ellyn, IL Date Unknown March 6, 1989 February 25, 1989 Otis E. Bowdoin Ralph C. Koester Charles Stanley Los Angeles, CA Milan, IL Mt. Airy, NC March 22, 1989 Date Unknown June 1988

Cora Bowers Thomas Lee Dorothy Stephens Boone, NC Houck, AZ Newberry, SC

1988 Date Unknown August 6, 1986 Irene Bruce Maxie Lewis Earline Timmons Carson City, NV Effingham, SC Pamplico, SC

July 1987 1988 September 1988 Earnest Burgess James Lindsay Juan Tsosie Johnsonville, SC Newberry, SC Houck, AZ

1988 December 1988 October 2, 1988 Rexford Butler Hazel M. Lines Theodore Valentine Grandview, WA Escondido, CA Chicago, IL

Date Unknown March 27, 1989 November 17, 1988 George Calton Alfonso Lockett Reta M. Vaughn Grand Prairie, TX Pomona, CA Issaquah, WA Date Unknown February 18, 1989 March 17, 1989 Gladys M. Clark Esker Mangrum William Wachob Tacoma, WA Oglethorpe, GA Charlotte, NC September 21, 1988 October 7, 1988 December 3, 1988 Robert L. Clark Eugene Marchman William Wall Anadarko, OK Acworth, GA ‘Crow Agency, MT January 1989 Date Unknown 1986

Hans Dory Josef W. McCoy Theodies Washington Watertown, MA. Centerville, OH Baltimore, MD March 25, 1989 March 14, 1989 February 20, 1989 Gladys Facey Esther Merkel Robert Williams Sierra Vista, AZ Quincy, IL. Rowlett, TX

July 1988 March 25, 1989 February 8, 1989 Cary Ford Maude M. Mitchell Tomas Williams Dawson, GA Gray, GA Las Cruces, NM Date Unknown Date Unknown Date Unknown Paul Jay Francis Mahereh Mohebolensan — Maude Wilmore Houck, AZ San Rafael, CA Great Falls, SC

Date Unknown Richard S. Gladding

February 1989 Velo Morrison Jr.

Date Unknown Georgia Winters

Lincroft, NJ Huntington, WV Blackfoot, ID March 5, 1989 1984 Date Unknown Ruby Grayson Rosa Moss Helena Wise Hollywood, CA Bishopville, SC Billings, MT August 1988 February 2, 1989 Date Unknown Helen Guilbert Fakhri Namini Willie Young Independence, MO Norcross, GA Great Falls, SC April 21, 1989 September 23, 1988 Date Unknown Hazel M. Guiles Naomi Oden

Novato, CA Highland Park, MI

April 29, 1989 May 26, 1988

Ona Koppe, long-time pioneer to Tonga, dies

Ona Koppe, a pioneer to Tonga for nearly 13 years, died May 2.

Born April 30, 1911, Mrs. Koppe became a Bahda’i in 1942. After her husband’s death in 1975, she decided to pioneer for the Faith, arriving in Tonga in September 1976 at the age of 65.

In spite of years of struggle to learn the language and her con tinued ill health, Mrs. Koppe became a loved and valuable member of the Tongan community, serving on three national committees and as secretary to the Continental Board of Counselors for Australasia—all of this when in her 70s.

Another dream of hers was realized when, at age 78, she died at her pioneering post. �[Page 16]16 / The American Bahá’í / June 1989

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your copy of The American Bahá’í, send your new address and your maili

MOVING? I TELL US YOUR

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, Baha'i National Center, Wilmette, TL 60091, as soon as you know where you

This form may be used for one person or your entire family. Please be sure to list FULL NAMES AND L.D. NUMBERS for all individuals, ages 15 years or older, who will be affected by this change.

As a public service project for Ayydm-i-Hd, the Bahá’ís of Martin County, Florida, arranged for the planting of a guava tree in a garden being developed at the Senior Center in Jensen Beach. The Gar

den Club planted the tree on their behalf and arranged for publicity,

which included a photograph on the front page of the local newspaper, the Mirror. The Spiritual Assembly of Martin County has received letters of thanks from the local Council on Aging and the developers of the garden at the Senior Center.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June 11-ongoing: ‘‘Kavelin-True Teaching Campaign, mogordo, New Mexico (for Mexico, Texas and New Mexico) to

Ala

“revive the hearts of the people’’ in that area. For information, contact the Rio Grande Valley Teaching Campaign, .

Las Cruces, NM 88001, or phone Alice Janavaris, 505-524-2689, or Robert Mitchell, 505-434-3508.

June 29-30; Peace Conference, University for Peace, Costa Rica. Theme: ‘‘Seeking the True Meaning of Peace.’’ For information, please contact the conference director, Dr. Abelardo Brenes, University for Peace, Box 199-1250, Escazu, Costa Rica.

June 30-July 3: New Wave Teaching Conference, Pensacola, Florida. Guest speakers to include Auxiliary Board members Soo Fouts and Jack Guillebeaux. Co-op nursery for children five years and under. For information, phone Ardana Riley (904-623-5315), Bahiyyih Barker (205-973-0047), Sue Dixon (904-871-3669) or Julian MacQueen (904-932-0454), or write to New Wave Teaching Project, c/o DTC South Alabama/NW Florida,

Panama City, FL 32404.

July 1-4: “Unity Gathering,” International Peace Gardens, sponsored by the Bahá’ís of North Dakota. Registration ($3 for those 18 or older) by June 15. Send to Mrs. Marian Kadrie, secretary, Fargo, ND 58103.

July 1-6; “Religion, Psychology and Health,” general session, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California. Speakers: Farzaneh Guillebeaux, Montgomery, Alabama; Joseph Galata, Reno, Nevada. Also taking part: William Davis, treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly. For information, phone 408-423-3387. To register, send a deposit of $25 for each family member to Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or register by phone/charge card at the number above.

July 6-9: Regional Youth Conference, Columbia, South Carolina. Theme: ‘*Race Unity—The Time Is Now!’’ Emphasis on teaching; come for the summer or stay for two weeks of teaching after the conference. To register, contact Shiva Vafai,

West Columbia, SC 26169, or phone 803-791-7555. For information about teaching in South Carolina, phone Moses Richardson (803-332-2411) or Truitt White (803-558-9544 or 803248-5882) or write to the Youth Conference Teaching Project, Route 2, Box 69, Hemingway, SC 29554.

August 19: Consultative meeting, ‘‘Spirituality and Agriculture,”’ sponsored by the Agricultural Newsletter USA in conjunction with the Association for Baha’ Studies, in Arizona. Purpose: to develop information to be presented at the September meeting of ABS in Irvine, California. Charge for registration and meals. Anyone interested in attending or in submitting his/her views on spirituality and agriculture is invited to write to Agricultural Newsletter USA, Chandler, AZ 85224, Attn: Chris English, editor.

September 15-17: Association for Bahá’í Studies, 14th annual Conference, Irvine (California) Hilton and Towers. Theme: ‘‘The Equality of Women and Men.” For information, write to the Association for Bahá’í Studies, . Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KIN 7K4, or phone 613-233-1903.

"® Friends! You must all be so ablaze in this day with the fire of the love of God that the heat thereof may be manifest in all your veins, your limbs and members of your body, and all , the peoples of the world may be ignited by this heat and turn to the horizon of the Beloved." —Bahd'u'll4h, The Individual and Teaching, p.3.

I NEW ADDRESS

A 1 ID# Title Full name—Please DO NOT use nicknames 2. IDt Title Full name 3. IDF Title Full name 4. Dt Title Full name B—NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS: C—NEW MAIL ADDRESS: House/Space #, Street or Description P.O. Box or other Mailing Address City State Zip City State Zip D—NEW COMMUNITY: Name of new Baha'i community Moving date

E—HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:

F—WORK TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Please indicate in the right-hand space whose work numbers these are. 2

Area Code Number Name

/

Area Code Number Name

G We receive extra copies because: we do not have the same last name.

We do not want extra copies, so address labels do not

please cancel the copy for the person(s) whose name(s) and I.D. number(s) are listed above.

the last names and addresses on our ch exactly. We have listed above names of all family members as they should appear on the national records, their I.D. numbers, and the corrections so t we will receive ‘only one copy.

BAHA’i NATIONAL CENTER

Wilmette, Illinois 60091

ROFIT ORG. POSTAGE AID

WILMETTE, IL. PERMIT NO. 479

Convencion

de la pagina 14

Al presentar el reporte de Asuntos Externos, el Sr. Kazemzadeh compartié las noticias conmovedoras de la eleccién en Ridvan de la Asamblea Espiritual de Ishq4bad, en Rusia, sitio del primer Mashriqu’l-Adhkár en el mundo baha’i antes de que la Fe fuera suprimida en ese pais durante los primeros aiios de este siglo.

Notando que ahora hay menos de 20 bahda’is en prisi6n en Iran comparado con los 767 que solamente hace dos afios atras habian, el Dr. Kazemzadeh dijo que los planes de la Asamblea Nacional son de comenzar una campaiia a largo plazo para lograr la completa emancipacién de los bahd’is en Iran.

Respondiendo al mensaje de Ridvan de 1988/1989 de la Casa Universal de Justicia, la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional presenté en su reporte anual un “‘plan de accién”” para el préximo aiio el cual enfocard en tres areas de mayor interés: (1) lograr un vasto aumento en el numero de creyentes en este pais; (2) fomentar la madurez de las Asambleas locales; y (3) au mentar la educacién baha’i a los nifios, j6venes y adultos. Mucha de la consulta de la Convencién enfocd en estos temas extremadamante importantes.

En el area de las finanzas, la Asamblea Nacional decidié establecer un presupuesto operacional para 1989-90 de $9.5 millones; establecer una meta por separado del Fondo de $2 millones para completar el Arco en el Monte Carmelo; establecer un fondo especial para las reparaciones de la Casa de Adoracién; asignar $30,000 para ayudar a las Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales de Belize y las Islas Leeward en completar sus metas de propiedades; y de presentar un regalo de $400,000 hacia las reparaciones y restauraciones de la Escuela Bahá’í Green Acre.

La Mano de la Causa de Dios William Sears rindié un homenaje durante la Convencién a las vidas ejemplares al servicio de la Causa de H. Borrah Kavelin, quien sirvié por 25 afios como miembro de la Casa Universal de Justicia y por 13 afios como miembro de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional de los Estados Unidos, y Edna M. True, quien sirvié a la Causa por un siglo, incluyendo su membresia en la Asamblea Nacional y en el

Our household receives only one copy of The American Baha'i. | wish to receive my own copy as well, and have listed my name, [.D. number and address above so that I may be put on the mailing list to receive my own copy.

ee

a! lees cul wes es cet ale el ke eect

Cuerpo Continentales de Consejeros.

El Sr. Sears parafrasié un comentario hecho por ‘Abdu’l-Bahá a Roy Wilhelm durante Su visita a la ciudad de Nueva York en 1912, diciendo que si solamente siguieramos uno de los principios baha’is y nos ‘‘levantaramos a ensefiar como nunca antes,” millones de personas en este pais se harian baha’is.

Debemos, dijo el, ‘abrir nuestros corazones”’ al concepto de la entrada por tropas y creer en las varias promesas hechas por el Bab, Baha’u’llah, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi y la Casa Universal de Justicia sobre la grandeza de este Causa y su gloriosos destino de transformar los corazones y almas de cada uno en la tierra.

La sesién final, el domingo en la maiiana, fue destacado por la charla del Sr. Hofman quien recordé a los amigos que a través de la falta de accién los Estados Unidos podria perder la primacia espiritual que se le fue conferida por ‘Abdu’l-Bahá y afirmada por el amado Guardian, Shoghi Effendi.

“Nadie espera esto de ustedes,” dijo el, ‘‘pero el asunto es que ustedes pueden, y deben trabajar Para que esto no nunca suceda.’” �