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

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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 18 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 months.

See CITIZENS page 2

Arc’s ‎prelimlnary 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 CONTRIBUTED. URGE SHARE INFORMATION FRIENDS.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE APRIL 28, 1989

The American Bahá’í

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

Volume 20, No. 6 — June 1989

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, teaching project.
• To continue efforts to achieve large-scale growth in the four project sites.
• 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 committees.
• To initiate, in selected localities, projects aimed at specific populations.
• To expand efforts to engage college clubs in a campaign to eradicate racism on college campuses.
• To develop a plan to involve children in all Bahá’í teaching activities.
• To produce a pamphlet for the general public on the equality of the sexes.
• 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 develop a strategy to expand the use of “The Promise of World Peace” in proclamation and teaching activities.

Fostering the maturation of local Spiritual Assemblies

• 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 implement, in conjunction with the Continental Board of Counselors and their Auxiliary Board members, a program for training all local Spiritual Assemblies.
• To design a systematic procedure for assisting Spiritual Assemblies in distress, especially those in large urban areas.
• To request selected local Spiritual Assemblies to assume responsibility for a variety of special projects and services in the process of decentralizing responsibility for administering the community’s affairs.
• To publish Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies.
• To publish a statement of the Bahá’í position on drug abuse.

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

• To assign to youth and adults the reading and studying of the Kitáb-i-Íqán as a personal education objective.
• To publish a study guide on the Kitáb-i-Íqán.
• To publish the letters of the Universal House of Justice (1963-1986).
• To publish a core curriculum for the Bahá’í 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 schools.
• To develop a plan for the establishment of a Navajoland Bahá’í school.
• To distribute, upon request, the Bahá’í education curriculum materials compiled and catalogued by the National Bahá’í Education Committee.

The Fund

• To set the operating budget at $9,500,000.
• To establish a separate Fund goal of $2 million toward completion of the Arc.
• To establish a special fund for repairs to the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.
• To allocate $30,000 to assist the National Spiritual Assemblies of Belize and the Leeward Islands to complete their property goals.
• To present a gift of $400,000 toward the repair and restoration of the Green Acre Bahá’í School.
• To increase to at least 300 the number of local Spiritual Assemblies enrolled in the Automatic Contributions System (ACS).
• To increase to 4,000 the number of individuals enrolled in the Automatic Contributions System.

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

The 80th Bahá’í 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 Bahá’í 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 Riḍván, 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 Riḍván 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 Bahá’ís in Iran.

National Spiritual Assembly member Alberta Deas and Truitt White, director of WLGI Radio Bahá’í, take part in the station’s live broadcast during the 80th Bahá’í National Convention.

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 Riḍván 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 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 year.

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 any one 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]

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 arrived 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 Bahá’í 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 Bahá’í refugees in Pakistan.

At this time some 14 percent of the Bahá’ís in this country for whom current addresses are available are of Persian background. These friends are also quite “visible” at Bahá’í 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 situation 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 non-Persian-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 Bahá’í education of children, youth and adults, the future challenge will be to place the integration of local Bahá’í 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.

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.

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

The Bahá’ís of Puerto Rico cordially invite all Bahá’ís, 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 Tomás 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.

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 Largo, 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.

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.

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 National 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.

Jack McCants, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, pays tribute to Eulalia Bobo Taylor at a surprise party in her honor.

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 show.

Bahá’ís in Scottsdale, Arizona, march with their ‘walking float’ in the city’s annual ‘Parada del Sol’ (Parade of the Sun). [Page 3]

CAMPUS CLIPS

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 (California) 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-Bahá’ís.

During an outdoor festival at San Diego State University, the Bahá’í 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 Bahá’u’lláh with an isolated believer; through encouraging and helping a new Bahá’í 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 neighboring 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 Bahá’ís and Groups to raise themselves to functioning Assembly status and to carry forward the message of Bahá’u’lláh 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 404-250-0721).

Chicago: Lani Smith, Chicago Bahá’í Center, Chicago, IL 60616 (phone 312-225-1919).

Massachusetts: Christine Pratt, Belchertown, MA 01007 (phone 413-323-5232).

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 (916-961-0807).

Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah): Pamela Hawley, Phoenix, AZ 85040 (602-437-2040).

Region 4 (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota): Lynda Ochsner, Aurora, NE 68818 (402-694-6045).

Region 5, No. 1 (Arkansas, Oklahoma): Will Sutter, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (405-235-2802).

Region 5, No. 2 (Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas): Riaz Haghpajuh, Addison, TX 75244 (214-243-1540).

Region 6 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin): Rebecca Huff, Macedonia, OH 44056 (216-467-8906).

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, Kentucky, 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 contacts 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.

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 U.S.

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

Bahá’í ‘Trail of Glory’ tour acquaints Oklahomans with many Indian traditions

Pictured are some of the participants in the ‘Trail of Glory’ teaching tour of Oklahoma held March 25-April 2.

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 Bahá’u’lláh.

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

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

One item of publicity that money could not buy was a front-page 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’í-sponsored 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 Winger-Bearskin, a Bahá’í descended from a tribe of the Iroquois Confederation, spoke to about 50 guests at the Seneca Falls Historical Society.

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]

TURN THE WORLD ON ITS EAR

AMERICAS

• ALASKA: International Youth Conference July 12 to 15, 1989 - Theme: "The Challenge of Our Time - Global Peace"
• ALASKA: "Northern Star Project", teaching and service - June 15 to July 11, 1989 and July 11 to August 12, 1989.
• ALASKA: Yukon Bahá’í Institute - Firesides, deepenings, training, celebrations - continuous programs.
• BAHAMAS: Ongoing "Island of the Season" Project.
• CANADA: Sylvan Lake Summer School - continuous programs.
• COSTA RICA: Peace Conference - June 25 to 30, 1989.
• 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 6 months.
• PANAMA: Extended Project Sites teaching project - ongoing.
• PUERTO RICO: International Youth Conference - July 13 to 16, 1989.

AFRICA

• BOTSWANA: "STAR ’89" Project, summer 1989.
• LIBERIA: West African Bahá’í Music Festival - December 8 to 10, 1989.
• SENEGAL: Need traveling teachers, especially youth.
• ZIMBABWE: Bahá’í Deepening Institute, ongoing.

EUROPE

• ICELAND: "Skogar" Service/Forestry Project and Youth Conference, June 1989.
• IRELAND: Summer School - July 29 to August 1, 1989.
• ITALY: International Youth Conference - July 13 to 15, 1989.
• ITALY: Teaching projects, May through September and beyond.
• SWITZERLAND: Need traveling teachers who can stay for short- mid- or long-term service.

AUSTRALASIA

• EASTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS: Need deepened, knowledgeable, mature traveling teachers who can stay 1 to 3 months.

ASIA

• HONG KONG: Ongoing Mass Teaching Project.
• KOREA: Ongoing Mass Teaching Project.
• SINGAPORE: Ongoing Mass Teaching Project - need 6 full-time teachers.
• TAIWAN: Ongoing Mass Teaching Project - Muhajir Project.

ARISE CONFERENCES! SUMMER SCHOOLS! ENTRY BY TROOPS!

For more information, contact: Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center Wilmette, IL 60091 (312) 869-9039

Bahá’ís at Peace Conference in D.C.

The National Spiritual Assembly was one of 87 co-sponsors of a National Peace Conference held February 24-26 in Washington, D.C.

Conference organizers, who had expected about 500 people to attend, had to add workshops and seating space to accommodate the 1,200 who showed up.

The main theme was the development of the necessary laws, institutions and agencies for building global peace.

Other topics included disarmament, economic conversion, and how to strengthen the United Nations.

The six main sponsors of the conference were the World Federalists Association, the American Association of University Women, the UN Association of the U.S., the Better World Society, SANE/FREEZE, and the Institute for Policy Studies.

EUROPEAN SUMMER SCHOOLS: 1989

Country	Date	Location
Austria	July 22-28	Spital an der ‎Phyrn Pyhrn‎
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
	August 28-Sept 3
Germany	July 22-29	Wetzlar
	July 29-August 5	Ludwigsburg
	August 5-12	Kastel Windsor
	August 12-18	East Germany
Greece	July 11-16	Tsagarada/Volos
Iceland	June 24-30	Skogar Project (Youth)
	July 22-28	Faeroe Islands (Youth Conference)
Ireland	July 29-August 6
Italy	July 13-16	San Marino (Youth Conference)
Luxembourg	September ?
The Netherlands	July 11-17	De Poort (Youth Conference)
	July 25-August 5	De Poort
	August 5-12	De Poort
Norway	around July 15
Portugal	July 29-August 2
Spain	July 20-23	Madrid (Youth Conference)
	July 26-30	Liria (Persian School)
	August 11-15	Liria
Sweden	July 10-16	Saxenberg
Switzerland	July 23-30	Lugano
Turkey	July 26-August 3
United Kingdom	July 23-29	Aberdeen
	August 4-8	Youth Conference
	August 13-20	Northern Ireland
	August 27-Sept 2	Midhurst School

A Pioneer Training Institute was held March 30-April 2 at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois. Among the 12 people attending were two volunteers for the Bahá’í Youth Service Corps and three local Assembly representatives. Destinations include France, Ecuador, South Africa and Mexico.

Florida hosts College Club Conference

Combating racism on college campuses was the theme of the first Southeast Regional Bahá’í College Club Conference held March 24-26 at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

The conference was called in response to the National Youth Committee’s directive to Bahá’í college clubs and associations to combat racism on campus.

Represented were college clubs from Auburn University, the University of Florida, Valencia Community College (Orlando), Princeton University, Daytona Beach Community College, Santa Fe Community College, and the University of North Florida.

The keynote address, “The Role of Bahá’í College Clubs: Challenge of the ’90s,” was given by Gary Gordon.

A series of workshops generated a number of practical and exciting ideas for promoting racial unity on college campuses.

For more information about them, Bahá’í’s in the area may contact Anne Heath, 3600-143 S.W. 19th St., Gainesville, FL 32607, or phone 904-375-3486.

Dominican Republic seeks two teachers

The Dominican Republic is seeking two volunteer teachers who can work in an academic school in Barahona and help teach the Faith.

Four years ago, Barahona was a target area for a teaching campaign that brought in hundreds of new believers. More manpower is needed to keep up the momentum of deepening and teaching.

For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039). [Page 5]

Annual report from National Office of the Treasurer

“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 Bahá’í—as exemplified by 12 “Vision to Victory” conferences, local meetings on the Fund, and a special issue of The American Bahá’í—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 budget.

Growth of the community and major repairs to the House of Worship and Green Acre Bahá’í School head the list of challenges to be addressed in the coming year.

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

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:

• Contributions totaled $8.52 million.
• The average number of individuals taking part was 7,520 per Bahá’í month, up 4 percent.
• The average individual Bahá’í contribution was $42 per Bahá’í month.
• The average contribution by local Spiritual Assemblies was $161 per Bahá’í month.
• The National Fund deficit increased from $2.7 million to $2.9 million.

Earmarked donations include $2 million for the Arc

(In $000)	1988	1989	Change
National Fund Donations	$ 7,550	$ 8,520	+ 13%
Earmarked Donations	$ 2,680	$ 3,654	+ 36%
Total	$ 10,230	$ 12,174	+ 19%

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 Bahá’ís.

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.

Individuals	Ridván 1988	Ridván 1989
Contrib.	$ 897,700	$ 1,105,000
Particip.	2856	3274
Assemblies	1988	1989
Contrib.	$ 38,200	$ 156,000
Particip.	45	109
Groups	1988	1989
Contrib.	$ 9,550	$ 39,000
Particip.	27	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:

• Initiating a “Family Fund Box Pilot Project” to design and place Fund boxes in 1,000 Bahá’í households.
• Developing and giving a new course on the Bahá’í Fund, “The Fund and the Fourth Epoch—Our Moment in History.”
• 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.
• Reviewing the “In Honor of” and “Memory of” Cards program and offering recommendations.
• Completing development of investment and borrowing policies for the National Spiritual Assembly.
• Developing a seminar on charitable giving.

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 years.

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

Another important resource, Bahá’í 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

Nearly 3,700 copies of the pamphlet A Checklist for Preparing Your Will were distributed in English and Persian, and a Spanish-language 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 pre-eminent 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 Bahá’u’lláh.

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 Bahá’í 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 indexes 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 considered for publication at a later date.

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.

FULL PARTNERSHIP

An International Conference on the Equality of Women and Men

14th Annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies

september 15-17, 1989 Irvine Hilton Hotel, Irvine, California

Profiles of Courage — Dramatic Presentations on Tahirih, Black Women and Martha Root

Hasan Balyuzi Annual Lecture: Women in the Bahá’í Community — An Historical Perspective

Professional Interest Seminars: Agriculture, Arts, Environmental Design, Marriage and Family, Science and Technology, and more.

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:

NAME __________________________________________________

ADDRESS _______________________________________________

Send to: Assn. for Bahá’í Studies Ottawa, Ont. Canada K1N 7K4 [Page 6]

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 Bahá’í School.

The Riḍván 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 Rúḥíyyih Khánum.

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 to the Cause spanned a century and included membership on the National Assembly and Continental 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 Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, ‘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 affirmed by the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi.

“No one really expects you to,” he said, “but the point is that you could, and you must work to make sure that it never happens.”

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 pre-Convention 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 Riḍván message of 1989 and caught a further glimpse of the opening scenes of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh 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 Bahá’u’lláh. 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 Ishqábád, 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 Báb, the holding of the magnificent centenary commemoration of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh 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 Bahá’u’lláh 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 Bahá’í 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 Riḍván 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

Captions

Above: The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears (left) shares a lighter moment during the Convention with Judge James Nelson, vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly. Below: The Hendersonville (Tennessee) Bahá’í Choir performs.

Delegates and guests ascend the stairs at the House of Worship for an early morning prayer session in the Auditorium.

Counselor William Roberts (center) addresses delegates during the all-day pre-Convention deepening session. Also on the dais are Counselors Wilma Ellis and David Smith.

SON OF BEING!

Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent. Thy spirit is My place of revelation; cleanse it for my manifestation. -Bahá’u’lláh [Page 7]

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 ‘Alí Nakjavání, Glenford Mitchell, Hushmand Fatheazam, Ian Semple, Peter Khan, David Ruhe, Hugh Chance, Hooper Dunbar and Adib Taherzadeh.

• In its Riḍván message to the Bahá’í’s 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. ...

WILMA ELLIS

“...the paramount purpose of all Bahá’í activity,” the Supreme Body says, “is teaching. All that has been done or will be done revolves around this central activity, the ‘head corner-stone 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 quality, 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 depends.”

• 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, visiting the House of Worship and National Center and meeting staff members.

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 precincts hallowed spot.”

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.

• For 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’í’s 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’í’s 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 Bahá’í world the news that more than 100,000 new believers embraced the Cause during June in India’s Uttar Pradesh state.

JUANA CONRAD

• In a letter dated June 16, the Universal House of Justice names 11 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 Shapoore Rassekh.

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

• On June 11, more than 200 people attend a Bahá’í-sponsored Race Unity Day conference at International House in New York City.

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

FRED SCHECHTER

• 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.

• More than 1,000 people including many from the U.S. attend a “Festival of the Human Spirit” held June 30-July 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.

• On June 18, more than 500 Bahá’í’s and non-Bahá’í’s from many cultural and religious backgrounds take part in Chicago’s “Walk for Unity-in-Diversity.”

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’í’s 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 Bahá’í youth, who comprise a strong element of the community honored by the Master with the title ‘apostles of Bahá’u’lláh’ 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 Bahá’í Teacher Training Conference is held July 5-10 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School, bringing together more than 100 of the friends to consult on the most vital and challenging issue of racial prejudice between whites and blacks in the U.S.

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’s and non-Bahá’í’s.

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

WILLIAM ROBERTS

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’í’s take part as delegates, participants and facilitators for discussion groups and workshops, making up from 10 to 20 percent of those attending.

• On August 28, about 150 people raise more than $500 for the homeless at a concert sponsored by the Bahá’í’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 South Carolina.

EDNA M. TRUE

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.

• Nearly 1,200 Bahá’í’s and their guests gather September 16-18 to “Have (Their) Vision Checked” at the 29th annual Green Lake (Wisconsin) Bahá’í Conference.

• The Louhelen Bahá’í School Residential Program officially begins its second year with a ceremony during its 1988 Homecoming observance. Students 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 Bahá’í 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’í 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 Bahá’í’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 8]

YEAR IN REVIEW

ish-Speaking Bahá’ís in San Fernando, California.

In keeping with the conference theme, “Consolidation and Motivation,” they consult on how the Hispanic Bahá’ís 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 Tomás.

• The 13th annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies is held October 7-10 in Ottawa, Canada.

The annual Hasan Balyuzi Lecture, “Learning from History,” is presented by Moojan Momen, a well-known Bahá’í scholar and author from Bedingsford, England.

JACQUELINE DELAHUNT

NOVEMBER

• More than 900 Bahá’ís 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 Riḍván 1988 to Riḍván 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

DECEMBER

• Borrah Kavelin, who returned to his home in New Mexico following the Chattanooga conference, dies December 18 in Albuquerque.

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” conferences.

DOROTHY NELSON

• 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 “Vision 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 William 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 Bahá’ís, 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 Bahá’í Council for the Equality of Women and Men.

• On December 15, three representatives of the Bahá’í 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 ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ 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 Christine 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 movingly of his example of service and self-sacrifice.

ROBERT HARRIS

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 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 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 21, about 260 people, many of whom are not Bahá’ís, attend a dinner in Evanston, Illinois, honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event is sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Evanston.

• 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 African-American 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, California.

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 Bahá’u’lláh with the power of two million!”

H. BORRAH KAVELIN

• While that conference is being held on the West Coast, between 600 and 700 Bahá’ís gather for the New York City area’s “Vision to Victory” conference in Fairfield, New Jersey.

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 Roberts; 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 Washington, D.C., for the 12th and final “Vision 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 National Spiritual Assembly, speak on “The Promise of World Peace.”

The friends, inspired by a number of excellent speakers including David Hofman, easily surpass their fund-raising goal 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 during Black History Month at the nation’s oldest black women’s college.

About 250 people hear addresses by Counselor Wilma Ellis, director-general of the Bahá’í 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 Bahá’í 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 accept 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 WROR. He also tapes an interview at the cable TV station in Braintree and is interviewed by a reporter from the Patriot-Ledger newspaper.

HOOPER DUNBAR

• Combating racism on college campuses is the theme of the first Southeast Regional Bahá’í College Clubs Conference held March 24-26 at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

"The cornerstone of the foundation of all Bahá’í activity is teaching the Cause." —The Universal House of Justice

[Page 9]

CLASSIFIEDS

Classified notices in The American Bahá’í are published free of charge as a service to the Bahá’í community. Because of this, notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no personal or commercial messages can be accepted 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 BAHÁ’Í 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 202-291-5532 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 Bahá’í 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 916-989-2840.

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 minutes 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.

BAHÁ’Í 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 top-ranked science programs in 1987. It has a superb engineering program and a struggling Bahá’í 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 medical 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 Bahá’í), 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 Bahá’í National Center. Brazil—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, technician, disabled persons’ educator. St. Lucia—radiologist, ophthalmologist, optometrist, surgeon, anesthetist, X-ray technicians, dermatologists, ENT, surgeon, anesthesiologist, 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 (Bahá’ís and others). RCPVs who are interested in another tour of service in the Peace Corps in Afghanistan, please contact Owen Walker-Blair, Kettering, OH 45419, or phone 513-298-4406 (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 Elsinore‎, 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 Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í 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 Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

WANTED

WANTED: Picture books, arts and crafts, games and short lessons, Bahá’í children’s publications to help the pre-school called Upendo Nursery School in Iringa, Tanzania, East Africa. The children’s ages range from 5 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 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, Bahá’í 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, Cedarburg, WI 53012.

MISCELLANEOUS

WHEN the Experimental Aircraft Association holds its annual international 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: 231-2547, 231-3052, or 233-4667.

A BAHÁ’Í 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 Bahá’ís of Burbank, P.O. Box 6064, Burbank, CA 91510. Proceeds to the Arc Fund.

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 Ayyám-i-Há 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 Rúhíyyih Khánum.

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

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

I 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-há’í, that’s Vietnamese for ‘three-two.’ What is Bahá’í?”

On several occasions I have had the pleasure of visiting a wonderful Vietnamese Bahá’í 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 Bahá’í brothers and sisters among them whom you have ‎note not‎ 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, I gave an assignment 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 10]

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 Bahá’u’lláh. 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 Riḍván 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 Bahá’í 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 prominent 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.

• The providing of financial assistance for the acquisition of a Hazíratu’l-Quds for the National Spiritual Assembly of Costa Rica marked the fulfillment of a goal of our National Assembly.

• 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’í’s 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 Bahá’í school. In addition, highly successful women’s conferences were held in Atlanta and New York.

• 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 Bahá’í 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 opportunity for teaching.

• The meeting of two members of the National Spiritual Assembly with the National Spiritual Assembly of Mexico to plan Hispanic teaching projects along the border.

• The third annual Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute Peace Fest, held for the first time in the village of Hemingway, South Carolina.

• 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.

• More than 140 Spiritual Assemblies initiating training and development activities.

• An increase in teaching and social development projects from three in 1984 to 208 last year.

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 ever-increasing 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 safe-guarded 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 single-minded attention to the three main areas, we are taking further steps, to begin next year, which include:

• Simplifying the national administration and consolidating the work of its agencies to coordinate and speed the flow of work.

• 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.

• Conducting a second series of Vision to Victory conferences in selected localities throughout the country.

• Publishing a core curriculum for the Bahá’í education of children ages six through 12.

• Developing a national program of study among youth and adults of the Kitáb-i-Íqán.

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 Bahá’u’lláh’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 Bahá’í) 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 to 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 Bahá’u’lláh.”

National Spiritual Assembly of

the Bahá’ís of the United States

April 1989

[Page 11]

پیامهای بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی

MESSAGES FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

ترجمه پیام معهد اعلی در پاسخ به نمایندگان مشاهدین کادونش ملی آمریکا مورخ اول ماه مه ۱۹۸۹

پاسخ خردمندانه آن عزیزان به پیام رضوان این جمع و بی‌‎ترید تردید‎ به افاضات ایادی عزیز امرالله جناب ویلیام سیرز فضای سینه این مشتاقان را مملو از شوق و سرور ساخت. بار دیگر این جمع از استعداد بیگانه‌ای که حضرت عبدالبهاء در فرامین تبلیغی بدان جامعه ممتاز عنایت فرموده، متحیر گردیده و از آتش ایثار و فداکاری که مجدداً در دل و جان آن یاران جهت اجرای نقشه حیاتبخش الهی برافروخته و آثارش در پیام آنان انعکاس یافته، خشنود و شادمان شدند.

لهذا این جمع با تأمل درباره وظایف عظیم و انتظارات حتمیه‌ای که محرک مجاهدات آن عزیزان در خلال نقشه شش ساله خواهد بود، آن یاران را اطمینان میدهند که ادعیه دائمی این مشتاقان به درگاه مقدس الهی در حق عزیزان محبوب در آمریکا تشدید خواهد یافت.

بیت‌العدل اعظم

ترجمه تلگراف معهد اعلی مورخ ۲۸ آپریل سال ۱۹۸۹

با شادمانی آغاز نقشه برداری و عملیات زمین‌شناختی را که مرحله ابتدائی و اصلی جهت اجرای مشروعات کوه کرمل است، اعلان می‌نمائیم. این اقدام احتیاج مبرم جهت جمع آوری سریع مبلغ ۵۰ میلیون دلار لازم برای آغاز عملیات اصلی را بیشتر میسازد. تا کنون یک سوم این مبلغ تبرّع گردیده است. یاران را مطلع سازند.

بیت‌العدل اعظم

تحول مؤسسات مربوط به ادغام احیاء

EVOLUTION OF INSTITUTIONS DEDICATED TO INTEGRATION

هنگامی که در اواخر دهه پیش و در طول دهه هشتاد تعداد چشمگیری از بهائیان ایران به ایالات متحده روی آوردند، احتیاج مبرمی جهت آشنا ساختن آنان با فرهنگ و رسوم این دیار و همچنین تفاوت‌های موجود در اداره امور امری این سامان و نیز ادغام آنان با جامعه امری ایالات متحده به وجود آمد. بدین جهت در سال ۱۹۷۹ ابتداء دفتر امور ایرانیان در دفتر محفل ملی ایجاد گردید و چند ماه بعد لجنة ملی امور احیای ایرانی تشکیل شد.

این لجنة بعدها لجنة ملی امور احیای ایرانی/امریکائی نامیده شد تا حاکی از وظیفه اصلی آن یعنی ادغام و هماهنگی بهائیان ایرانی و امریکائی باشد. از جمله دیگر وظائف این لجنة همکاری برای تأیید عضویت یاران ایرانی در جامعه امری و کمک بدانان جهت امور مهاجرتی مربوط به اداره مهاجرت آمریکا و در دسترس قرار دادن آثار امری به زبان فارسی و کمک مالی به خانواده‌های شهیدان بهائی و تهیه مدارک مربوط به تضییقات و ابتلاآت بهائیان در ایران بوده است.

در خلال این ده سال ۲۲ لجنة ناحیه‌ای امور احیای ایرانی/امریکائی تشکیل گردید. این لجنه‌ها به نوبه خود بعنوان وسائط ادغام و اختلاط به محافل روحانی محلی کمک می‌کردند. از جمله فعالیت‌های دفتر امور احیای ایرانی/امریکائی برنامه کمک به پناهندگان ایرانی بود که بتدریج شامل پناهندگان دیگر مخصوصاً احیای هندوچینی نیز شد و اکنون بصورت دفتری مستقل درآمده است.

در حال حاضر حدود ۱۴ در صد بهائیان ایالات متحده ایرانی هستند. واضح است که مساعدات روحانی و مالی این عزیزان را در زمینه خدمات امری نمیتوان از نظر دور داشت. به همین جهت است که امور مربوط به ادغام یاران ایرانی و آمریکایی را پایه همچنان از اهمیت خاصی برخوردار دانست.

با گذشت زمان و تغییر اوضاع و شرایط و نیز به علت آشنا شدن اکثر یاران ایرانی با امور جامعه امری ایالات متحده و همچنین با تغییراتی که در اثر تقلیل نسبی تضییقات بهائیان ایران حاصل شده، مسائلی که جامعه امری این سامان با آن روبرو شده نیز تغییر کرده است. بسیاری از یاران ایرانی و به ویژه جوانان و نوجوانان هر چه بیشتر در فعالیت‌های امری شرکت می‌نمایند. هر چند هنوز برخی از بزرگسالان ممکن است اشکالات مربوط به زبان را داشته باشند، معذلک اکثر آنان خود را جزئی از جامعه امری آمریکا به حساب می‌آورند و در بسیاری از خدمات امری سهیم گردیده‌اند.

به صلاحدید محفل روحانی ملی قرار است فعالیت‌های جامعه بهائی حول سه هدف اصلی توسعه جامعه امری و پختگی و بلوغ مؤسسات امری و تعلیم و تربیت خردسالان و نوجوانان بهائی متمرکز شود. بدین جهت وظیفه ادغام احیاء بر عهده محافل روحانی محلی نهاده شده است. از اینرو لجنة ملی و لجنه‌های ناحیه‌ای امور احیای ایرانی/امریکایی در سال تشکیلاتی جدید تشکیل نخواهند شد اما بجای آنها دفتر امور احیای ایرانی/امریکایی جهت ادامه برخی از برنامه‌های لجنة و اداره فعالیت‌های مربوط به ادغام و اتحاد یاران با محافل روحانی و سایر مؤسسات امری همکاری نزديك خواهد داشت. وظائف این دفتر مشتمل بر تهیه انتشارات و طرح برنامه‌های مربوط به ایجاد هماهنگی و ارتباط فرهنگی و توسعه محبّت و اخوت در میان بهائیان این سامان خواهد بود.

کارنامۀ محفل روحانی ملی در سال گذشته

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

بهائیان آمریکا در نقطه میانی نقشه شش ساله در موقعیت خطیری قرار گرفته‌اند. از يك سو افزایش کمی و کیفی فعالیت‌های امری در سطح ملی شایان تحسین است و از سوئی دیگر سه سال متوالی می‌گذرد که ازدیاد عدّه تازه تصدیقان اندك بوده و بنابراین اقدامات جهت تحقق وعده "یدخلون فی دین الله افواجاً" ثمری نبخشیده است.

مشکلاتی که جامعه بهائی آمریکا با آن مواجه شده است، در واقع خلوص و ایمان احباء را به محك امتحان می‌کشد. حل این مشکلات منوط به همّت فرد فرد یاران است و قیام احباء جهت نصرت امرالله تأثیر عظیمی بر آینده جامعه امری و سرنوشت روحانی ایالات متحده خواهد نهاد. در اوایل سال ۱۴۶ بدیع محفل روحانی ملی با الهام از پیام رضوان سال ۱۹۸۸ معهد اعلی و مشاورات مطروحه در کادونش بین‌المللی و پس از مشورت با بیت‌العدل اعظم انعقاد دوازده کنفرانس ناحیه‌ای "از رؤیا تا پیروزی" و تأسیس "برنامه تبلیغی در ۴ نقطه کشور را طرح ریخت. غرض از تشکیل این کنفرانس‌ها آگاه ساختن یاران از اهمیت بنای ساختمان‌های حول قوس کوه کرمل و نیز امر معهد اعلی مبنی بر توسعه چشمگیر جامعه امری بود.

دو تن از اعضای سابق بیت‌العدل اعظم جناب بورا کولین و جناب دیوید هافمن دعوت محفل روحانی ملی را قبول فرمودند و جهت ایراد نطق در کنفرانس‌های مذکور به این سامان سفر کردند. شرکت ایادی عزیز امرالله جناب ویلیام سیرز و اعضای هیئت مشاوران لازمه‌ای نیز بر رونق این کنفرانس‌ها افزود. مساعدات این عزیزان باعث شد که کنفرانس‌های "از رؤیا تا پیروزی" و برنامه‌های چهارگانه به صورت نمونه‌های عالی همکاری به ظهور رسد.

اما در اواسط انعقاد این سلسله کنفرانس‌ها صعود جناب بورا کولین و سرکار خانم ادنا ترو قلوب یاران را سخت آزرده کرد ولی زندگی این دو خادم امرالله خط مشی حیات بهائی را به جمیع اهل بهاء نشان داد. همچنین خدمات سرکار خانم فلور کولین برای اتمام وظائفی که همسر بزرگوارش متعهد آنها شده بود، سرمشقی جهت فداکاری و کوشش خستگی ناپذیر برای احباء بود.

همچنین با تأسف باید گفت که در سال پیش دو تن از اعضای محفل روحانی ملی، جناب چستر کان و جناب ویلیام مکسول به علل شخصی از عضویت در این محفل استعفاء کردند.

وقایع مهم سال

• انعقاد ۱۲ کنفرانس "از رؤیا تا پیروزی" که تعداد شرکت کنندگان در آنها از ۵۰۰ الی ۲۵۰۰ نفر بود. این کنفرانس‌ها روحیه تبلیغ را تشدید کرد و باعث شد که مبالغ معتنابهی به صندوق امری تبرّع شود.
• برنامه وسیع تبلیغی سبب شد که اساس وحدت و همکاری در میان محافل روحانی تحکیم یابد. هر چند که هر کدام از این برنامه‌ها باعث افزایش فعالیت‌های تبلیغی شد اما فقط در منطقه آتلانتا افزایش تازه تصدیقان چشمگیر بود.
• ازدیاد اعضای محفل روحانی ملی که به طور تمام وقت یا نیمه وقت به خدمات اداری امری مشغولند از دو نفر به ۴ نفر. دو عضو جدید در زمینه سرپرستی برنامه آموزش و ترشید معلومات اعضاء محافل محلی به همکاری اشتغال خواهند داشت.
• كمك مالی جهت خریداری حظیرةالقدس محفل روحانی ملی کوستا ریکا یکی دیگر از اهداف محفل روحانی ملی را تحقق بخشید.
• بیش از ۲۰۰ مهاجر از طریق دفتر مهاجرت خارجه در نقاط مختلف اسکان گردیدند و بدین طریق ۴۴ هدف از ۷۷ هدف محفل روحانی ملی اکمال شد.
• انعقاد کنفرانس بین‌المللی جوانان در بلومینگتن در ایالت ایندیانا که ۴۵۰۰ نفر از ۵۲ کشور از جمیع قارات جهان در آن شرکت جستند. کنفرانس با سفرهای تبلیغی صدها جوان به نقاط مختلف جهان خاتمه یافت.
• پنجمین شورای قاره‌ای بومیان در ایالت داکوتای جنوبی منعقد گردید و نمایندگان محفل روحانی ملی آلاسکا و کانادا و مکزيك و ایالات متحده و همچنین نمایندگان بهائی را از ۵۲ قبیله بومی جهت مذاکره درباره ترقیات اجتماعی و روحانی بومیان گرد هم آورد.
• در مورد مسائل زنان پیشرفت‌های چشمگیری در داخل و خارج جامعه امر حاصل گردید. بهائیان در مراسم "هفته تاریخ زنان" که توسط سازمان‌های غیربهائی برگزار شده بود سهم عمده‌ای بر عهده داشتند. همچنین ضیافتی به افتخار ۱۵۰ نفر از اعضای هیئت مدیره شورای بین‌المللی زنان ترتیب داده و کنفرانسی در مدرسه بهائی بوش متشکل از زنان اروپا و شوروی و آمریکا و ادامه مذاکرات راجع به صلح تشکیل دادند.
• پیشرفت‌های مهمی درباره شناسائی ‎مزاران هزاران‎ پناهنده بهائی هندوچینی که در آمریکا مستقر شده‌اند، منجمله شناسائی و یافتن چند تن از اعضای محفل روحانی ملی کشورهای جنوب شرقی آسیا به دست آمد. حضور ۲۵۰ ‎مزار هزار‎ نفر پناهنده هندوچینی در این اقلیم فرصت گرانبهائی جهت تبلیغ ایجاد کرده است.

(ادامه در شماره بعد)

اقدامات محفل ملی در سال ۱۴۶ بدیع

NSA PLAN OF ACTIVITIES FOR 1989-90

در زمینه ازدیاد عدّه تازه تصدیقان

• انعقاد دومین سلسله از کنفرانس‌های "از رؤیا تا پیروزی".
• استخدام يك کارمند تمام وقت از جانب لجنة ملی نشر نفحات جهت اداره امور تبلیغی آتلانتا و حومه.
• ادامه مساعی مربوط به توسعه چشمگیر امرالله در چهار منطقه برنامه‌های تبلیغی.
• تأسیس دفتری جهت حمایت از طرح‌های تبلیغی برای اقلیت‌ها: سیاهپوستان، اسپانیولی زبانان، چینیان، مندوچینیان و سرخپوستان، و تعطیل لجنه‌های مربوطه.
• ازدیاد مساعی جهت وارد کردن کلوپ‌های بهائی کالج‌ها و دانشگاه‌ها در مبارزه با تعصبات نژادی.
• طرح ریزی برنامه‌هائی جهت دخیل ساختن اطفال در جمیع فعالیت‌های تبلیغی.
• تهیه جزوه‌ای درباره تساوی حقوق زن و مرد برای استفاده عموم.
• استفاده از امکانات موجود جهت رفع بیسوادی در جوامع امری و غیرامری.
• اتخاذ خط مشی جهت استفاده از بیانیه "وعده صلح جهانی" برای تبلیغ و اعلان عمومی امرالله.

در زمینه رشد و بلوغ محافل روحانی محلی

• ادامه جریان ساده نمودن تشکیلات ملی و تحکیم اساس دوائر محفل ملی جهت هماهنگ ساختن و تسریع در اجرای وظائف محوله.
• اجرای برنامه ترشید معلومات اعضای محافل روحانی محلی با مساعدت مشاورین قاره‌ای و اعضای هیئت‌های معاونت.
• طرح روش منظم جهت كمك به محافل محلی که با مشکلات فوق‌العاده روبرو می‌شوند.
• مجاهدت در جهت عدم تمرکز مسؤلیت اداره امور جامعه از طریق دعوت از برخی از محافل روحانی محلی به انجام طرح‌های خاص و ادامه خدمات.
• انتشار دستورالعملی جهت محافل روحانی محلی.
• انتشار بیانیه‌ای درباره تذكر دیانت بهائی راجع به استفاده از مواد مخدر.

در زمینه تربیت امری کودکان و جوانان و بزرگسالان

• دعوت جوانان و بزرگسالان به قرائت کتاب مستطاب ایقان بعنوان هدفی جهت ترشید معلومات فردی.
• انتشار راهنمائی جهت مطالعه کتاب مستطاب ایقان.
• انتشار دستخط‌های بیت‌العدل اعظم که از سال ۱۹۶۲ تا سال ۱۹۸۶ صدور یافته.
• انتشار برنامه‌های تربیت امری برای اطفال از سن ۶ الی ۱۲ ساله.
• تهیه و اجرای برنامه‌ای برای ازدیاد تنوع فرهنگی شرکت کنندگان در مدارس دائمی بهائی.
• تهیه برنامه‌ای جهت ایجاد يك مدرسه بهائی در منطقه سرخپوستان ‎ناو اهو ناواهو‎.
• توزیع مواد درسی کلاس‌های تربیت امری که توسط لجنة ملی تربیت امری جمع آوری شده است.

در زمینه صندوق امری

• تعیین بودجه‌ای بالغ بر ۹ میلیون و پانصدهزار دلار.
• تعیین بودجه خاصی به مبلغ ۲ میلیون دلار جهت بنای ساختمان‌های حول قوس کوه کرمل.
• تعیین بودجه ویژه‌ای جهت مخارج مربوط به ‎مرت مرمت‎ مشرق‌الاذکار.
• تخصیص ۳۰ هزار دلار جهت مساعدت به محافل روحانی ملی بلیز Belize و جزائر لیوارد Leeward.
• اهداء ۴۰۰ هزار دلار به مدرسه بهائی گرین ایکر جهت مخارج ترمیم و بازسازی آن.

تذکری درباره نوار "کلمات مکنونه"

THE NEW PERSIAN “HIDDEN WORDS” TAPE

چنانکه در شماره‌های پیشین این نشریه به اطلاع یاران عزیز رسید، اخیراً به همت دفتر امور احیای ایرانی/امریکائی نواری حاوی کلمات مکنونه فارسی حضرت بهاء‌الله تهیه شده و در دسترس احباء قرار گرفته است. برخی از یارانی که این نوار را خریداری فرموده‌اند متذکر شده‌اند که در متن بعضی از فقرات آن تفاوت‌هایی با برخی از نسخ چاپی "کلمات مکنونه" وجود دارد. بدینوسیله به آگاهی یاران گرامی می‌رساند که نسخه‌ای که مورد استفاده خواننده نوار مذکور قرار گرفته، نسخه خطی جناب زین‌المقربین بوده است. ‎میانگونه همانگونه‎ که عزیزان ایرانی استحضار دارند، خط جناب زین، به فرموده حضرت عبدالبهاء، اعتبار تام دارد. بنابراین نسخه‌ای که در تهیه نوار از آن استفاده شده، نسخه اصح است و سایر نسخ باید با مقابله با آن تصحیح شود. [Page 12]

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 Bahá’í 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.

North Carolina hosts Bahá’í Unity Conference

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 Dissemination of the Peace Statement," 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.

A Latin dancer performs during the Bahá’í Unity Conference held March 24-26 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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.

Stockton

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 Riḍván.

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 Bahá’í 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 (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).

You may also have heard about 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 Riḍván 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

Woodrow Wilson Service Award

On May 5, Layli Miller, a Bahá’í 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 Bahá’í 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: International 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)

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 13]

Mensaje de la Casa Universal de Justicia para Ridván

A los bahá’ís del mundo Muy amados amigos,

La corriente espiritual que ejerció efectos tan galvánicos en la Convención Internacional Bahá’í el pasado Riḍván se ha extendido velozmente a través de la comunidad mundial entera, moviendo a sus miembros tanto de oriente y de occidente a hazañas de actividad y logro en la enseñanza jamás experimentadas en un solo año.

El alto nivel de ingresos, por sí sólo, confirma esto, ahora que ya se han recibido informes sobre casi medio millón de nuevos creyentes. Los nombres de lugares tan distantes entre sí como lo son la India y Liberia, Bolivia y Bangladesh, Taiwán y Perú, las Filipinas y Haití, 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 año.

Estas evidencias son señales esperanzadoras de la aceleración mayor que aún está por venir y en la cual todas las comunidades nacionales estarán involucradas finalmente, cualquiera que sea el estado actual de sus esfuerzos de enseñanza.

Miramos hacia atrás con sentimientos de agradecimiento humilde y expectativas intensificadas, a los acontecimientos estupendos que han ocurrido en un período tan breve. Uno de estos acontecimientos ha sido la adopción del diseño arquitectónico concebido por el Sr. Fariburz Sahbá para las Terrazas del santuario del Báb, lo cual inaugura una nueva etapa hacia la realización de la visión que tenían el Maestro y el Guardián del camino por el cual los reyes y gobernantes ascenderán las laderas del Monte Carmelo para rendir homenaje en el lugar de descanso del Heraldo-Mártir de Bahá’u’lláh.

Entre otros acontecimientos se incluyen: la aprobación por las autoridades centrales en Moscú de la solicitud sometida por varios bahá’ís en Ishqábád para restaurar la Asamblea Espiritual Local de aquella ciudad; el inicio de pasos para abrir un Centro de Información Bahá’í en Budapest, la primera agencia de la Fe de esta índole en el Bloque Oriental; el establecimiento de un sucursal de la Oficina de Información Pública de la Comunidad Internacional Bahá’í en Hong Kong en anticipación 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 “La Naturaleza 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 Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y la Comunidad Internacional Bahá’í; la aprobación oficial de un currículo bahá’í para escuelas públicas en New South Wales, Australia; la inmensa vertiente de visitantes al Templo en Nueva Delhi, aumentando a unos cuatro millones desde la inauguración de ese edificio en diciembre de 1986, e incluyendo un número excepcional de altos oficiales de gobierno y otras personas prominentes de muchos países, entre ellos la China, la Unión Soviética, y países del Bloque Oriental. Éstos, agregados a varios otros puntos sobresalientes de este año solo, se unen al registro total de logros hasta este punto del Plan de Seis Años, presentando un cuadro dinámico de actividad acelerada en el mundo bahá’í entero.

Ninguna referencia a tan maravilloso progreso podría dejar de reconocer el impacto espiritual y social efectuado por el episodio de persecución, de una década de duración, infligida con excesos tan crueles contra nuestros hermanos creyentes iraníes. Sólo en el futuro se sabrá la consecuencia completa de su sacrificio, pero podemos reconocer claramente su influencia en el éxito extraordinario en la proclamación 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 alegría que anunciamos la liberación de la gran mayoría de los prisioneros bahá’ís en Irán. Aun mientras nos regocijamos no podemos olvidar que falta por realizarse la completa emancipación de la comunidad bahá’í iraní y la aseguranza de los derechos humanos de todos sus miembros en todos los aspectos.

En la alegría del momento, extendemos una calurosa bienvenida a las dos Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales que se están formando este Riḍván: una en Macau en el sureste de Asia, y la otra en Guinea-Bissau en África occidental.

A través de la sombra de confusión que trastorna el juicio de la sociedad de hoy día, hay una vislumbre —aun tan tenue pero perceptible— de un acercamiento, lento pero claro, hacia la culminación de los tres procesos colaterales concebidos por el amado Guardián, específicamente: la emergencia de la Paz Menor, la construcción de los edificios en el Arco en el Monte Carmelo y la evolución de Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales y Locales.

De hecho, por todo el Plan de Seis Años, durante esta cuarta época de la Edad Formativa, y particularmente durante el año que acaba de finalizar, esta vislumbre, aun tan distante, se ha acercado. Pues, ¿quién podría haber imaginado, aun al comienzo de este Plan, los cambios repentinos de actitud que llevaron a los líderes políticos en algunos de los lugares más agitados del planeta a romper con posiciones que parecían intratables—cambios que en meses recientes han hecho que los editorialistas pregunten: “¿Está estallando la paz?”

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

Los otros procesos, sin embargo, están directamente influenciados por el grado a la cual los seguidores de Bahá’u’lláh cumplen con sus tareas claramente delineadas. Hay una buena razón para animarse.

Pues, ¿no se han adoptado los conceptos arquitectónicos para los edificios restantes en el Arco, y no se han emprendido las especificaciones detalladas que efectuarán su realización como estructuras monumentales esplendorosas? ¿No 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 público para sus servicios y para colaborar con otros en proyectos de desarrollo social y económico?

¿No están estas Asambleas reforzadas por el apoyo alerta y amoroso del Cuerpo Continental de Consejeros, los miembros del Cuerpo Auxiliar y sus ayudantes, las energías retoñantes de los cuales se están coordinando con destreza por el Centro Internacional de Enseñanza—una institución cuya membresía aumentada ya ha demostrado un vigor, una visión y una versatilidad que evoca calurosa admiración?

Por tentador que sea el detenernos en los aspectos positivos de nuestro progreso, mejor sería que dejáramos que éstos sirvieran para impulsarnos, a que descansásemos sobre nuestros logros. Continuemos, por lo tanto, sin desviaros y con confianza, para aprovechar las magníficas posibilidades que permiten la mezcla y la combinación de estos procesos y eventos contínuos para realizar los intereses inmediatos de nuestra sagrada Causa.

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

Conjuntamente, con el impulso de la enseñanza, impulso que se ensancha cada vez más, debemos ahora proceder por todos los medios posibles con los proyectos de la importancia más crítica. El trabajo continúa en la preparación para la publicación en inglés del Kitáb-i-Aqdas, el Libro Madre de la Revelación Bahá’í. Actualmente tienen que hacerse arreglos para una conmemoración digna en Tierra Santa del Centenario de la Ascensión de Bahá’u’lláh.

Los planes para el Congreso Mundial en el 1992 en Nueva York tienen que seguir avanzando según está previsto. Además, mayor atención sistemática tiene que dirigirse a la eliminación final del analfabetismo de la comunidad bahá’í, un logro que, más allá de cualquier otra cosa, haría que la Sagrada Palabra estuviera accesible a todos los amigos y reforzaría así sus esfuerzos para vivir la vida bahá’í. 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 bahá’ís.

En cuanto a los proyectos en el Monte Carmelo, se ha establecido la Oficina del Director de Proyecto, y se está reuniendo un personal técnico. Están por comenzar las pruebas geológicas en los sitios de los edificios designados en el Arco—un paso preliminar al comienzo de la construcción esperado por el mundo bahá’í entero.

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

Todos estos requisitos han de cumplirse y se cumplirán de seguro mediante el servicio consagrado de parte de todo miembro concienzudo de la Comunidad de ‎Bahá Bahá’í‎, y en particular por medio del compromiso personal con el trabajo de enseñanza.

Es tan fundamentalmente importante este trabajo para asegurar las bases de éxito en todos los quehaceres bahá’ís y para adelantar el proceso de la entrada por tropas, que nos sentimos impulsados a añadir una palabra de énfasis para su consideración. No es suficiente el proclamar el mensaje bahá’í, por esencial que sea. No es suficiente expandir los registros de membresía bahá’í, por vital que sea.

Las almas tienen que ser transformadas, las comunidades así consolidadas, nuevos modelos de vida así logrados. La transformación es el propósito esencial de la Causa de Bahá’u’lláh, pero el lograrlo en obediencia al Convenio depende de la voluntad y del esfuerzo del individuo.

Para el progreso de esta transformación, el propósito de nuestras vidas, es necesario el conocimiento de la voluntad y el propósito 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 año se refleja no sólo en las oportunidades para la expansión 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 más allá 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 Años, hemos llegado a un momento histórico cargado de esperanzas y posibilidades, momento en que las tendencias significativas en el mundo se están alineando más 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 misión que abarca el mundo es, por lo tanto, extraordinaria.

Nuestra respuesta primaria tiene que ser el enseñar—enseñarnos a nosotros mismos y enseñar a otros—en todos los niveles de la sociedad, por todos los medios posibles, y sin más demora.

El amado Maestro, en una exhortación sobre la enseñanza, 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 pueda disipar la penumbra circundante.” Salgan pues, y sean los “encendedores de velas que no estén iluminadas.”

Nuestro amor permanente, nuestro aliento constante, nuestras oraciones ‎contínuas continuas‎ y fervientes les acompañan donde quiera que vayan, en cualquier cosa que hagan en el servicio a nuestro amado Señor.

La Casa Universal de Justicia Riḍván de 1989

Restauración histórica Asamblea Espiritual Local de Ishqábád

COLMADOS DE ALEGRÍA ANUNCIAMOS ELECCIÓN PRIMER DÍA FESTIVAL RIDVÁN ASAMBLEA ESPIRITUAL LOCAL ISHQÁBÁD. RESTAURACIÓN ESTA COMUNIDAD BAHÁ’Í HISTÓRICA, LUEGO DE ECLIPSE DE MÁS DE MEDIO SIGLO, SEÑALÓ PASO INICIAL REHABILITACIÓN FE EN TODA LA UNIÓN SOVIÉTICA. 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 SAGRADOS. LA CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA 25 DE ABRIL DE 1989

Plan de acción presentado en Convención Nacional

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

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

La Convención de este año, la cual tuvo lugar en la Casa de Adoración en Wilmette, Illinois, del 27 al 30 de abril de 1989, fue precedida por una sesión de profundización de todo un día 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 adición, James Nelson y Juana Conrad han de servir a tiempo completo como asistentes al Secretariado con una oficina en Pasadena, California, con la responsabilidad primaria de implementar el programa sistemático y contínuo de la Asamblea Nacional de fomentar la madurez de las Asambleas Espirituales Locales.

Vea CONVENCIÓN pág. 16 [Page 14]

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, died 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 including "Dragnet," "The Twilight Zone," "Dobie Gillis," "The Untouchables," and "Alice."

Leslie Hawthorn, was pioneer to Uganda, horticulturist, author

Leslie R. Hawthorn, a Bahá’í pioneer from 1962–66 to Uganda, died March 8 in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Mr. Hawthorn, a graduate of Cornell University, was a well-known 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 (1969–71) of the Indiana Teaching Committee.

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 Bahá’u’lláh 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 Bahá’u’lláh 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 Bahá’ís to take part in worldwide pioneering, and the promulgation of a principle of Bahá’u’lláh. And without ever leaving home!

Under ordinary circumstances, an American Bahá’í 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 self-taught, having learned from instruction 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

Mid-Atlantic ABS Committee plans conference in 1990

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee of the Association for Bahá’í 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

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, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

'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.

IN MEMORIAM

Alfonso Altamirano Tombstone, AZ March 6, 1985

David Beadles Austell, GA Date Unknown

Josie May Beadles Austell, GA Date Unknown

Calvin Belin Pamplico, SC 1988

Lucille Bennett Colorado Springs, CO March 13, 1989

Edith Big Lake Crow Agency, MT December 1988

Dorothy D. Birk St. Louis, MO March 26, 1989

Paul Blanchard Federal Way, WA April 28, 1989

David Bond W. Hollywood, CA April 16, 1989

Wallace Booker Chester, SC Date Unknown

Otis E. Bowdoin Los Angeles, CA March 22, 1989

Cora Bowers Boone, NC 1988

Irene Bruce Carson City, NV July 1987

Earnest Burgess Johnsonville, SC 1988

Rexford Butler Grandview, WA Date Unknown

George Calton Grand Prairie, TX Date Unknown

Gladys M. Clark Tacoma, WA September 21, 1988

Robert L. Clark Anadarko, OK January 1989

Hans Dory Watertown, MA March 25, 1989

Gladys Facey Sierra Vista, AZ July 1988

Cary Ford Dawson, GA Date Unknown

Paul Jay Francis Houck, AZ Date Unknown

Richard S. Gladding Lincroft, NJ March 5, 1989

Ruby Grayson Hollywood, CA August 1988

Helen Guilbert Independence, MO April 21, 1989

Hazel M. Guiles Novato, CA April 29, 1989

James Harris Milledgeville, GA Date Unknown

Ed Hause Cuyahoga Falls, OH January 9, 1989

Leslie Hawthorn W. Lafayette, IN March 8, 1989

Arabelle Haywood Duncanville, TX September 1987

William Hill Vallejo, CA March 29, 1989

Verdung Hornung Park Ridge, IL April 29, 1989

Mary Ann Howard Alhambra, CA April 22, 1989

Clarence James N. Little Rock, AR 1988

Elsie C. James Houck, AZ February 23, 1989

Yusuf Jarrah Rockville, MD March 6, 1989

Ralph C. Koester Milan, IL Date Unknown

Thomas Lee Houck, AZ Date Unknown

Maxie Lewis Effingham, SC 1988

James Lindsay Newberry, SC December 1988

Hazel M. Lines Escondido, CA March 27, 1989

Alfonso Lockett Pomona, CA February 18, 1989

Esker Mangrum Oglethorpe, GA October 7, 1988

Eugene Marchman Acworth, GA Date Unknown

Josef W. McCoy Centerville, OH March 14, 1989

Esther Merkel Quincy, IL March 25, 1989

Maude M. Mitchell Gray, GA Date Unknown

Mahereh Mohebolensan San Rafael, CA February 1989

Velo Morrison Jr. Huntington, WV 1984

Rosa Moss Bishopville, SC February 2, 1989

Fakhri Namini Norcross, GA September 23, 1988

Naomi Oden Highland Park, MI May 26, 1988

Ludall Other Bull Crow Agency, MT June 1988

Margaret Other Bull Crow Agency, MT June 1988

Berenice Pecaro Chicago, IL April 3, 1989

Eleanor Plenty Hawk Crow Agency, MT Date Unknown

Bill Powell N. Little Rock, AR Date Unknown

Freddie Preston Bowman, SC April 1988

Kathleen Reeves Brentwood, CA March 27, 1989

Praxythea Rutledge Washington, DC March 22, 1989

Rose Schlesinger Goleta, CA April 11, 1989

Helen Smith Glen Ellyn, IL February 25, 1989

Charles Stanley Mt. Airy, NC June 1988

Dorothy Stephens Newberry, SC August 6, 1986

Earline Timmons Pamplico, SC September 1988

Juan Tsosie Houck, AZ October 2, 1988

Theodore Valentine Chicago, IL November 17, 1988

Reta M. Vaughn Issaquah, WA March 17, 1989

William Wachob Charlotte, NC December 3, 1988

William Wall Crow Agency, MT 1986

Theodies Washington Baltimore, MD February 20, 1989

Robert Williams Rowlett, TX February 8, 1989

Tomas Williams Las Cruces, NM Date Unknown

Maude Wilmore Great Falls, SC Date Unknown

Georgia Winters Blackfoot, ID Date Unknown

Helena Wise Billings, MT Date Unknown

Willie Young Great Falls, SC Date Unknown

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 Bahá’í 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 continued 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 15]As a public service project for Ayyám-i-Há, 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 Garden 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,” Alamogordo, New Mexico (for Mexico, Texas and New Mexico) to “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 803-248-5882) 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 Bahá’í 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 K1N 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.” —Bahá’u’lláh, The Individual and Teaching, p.3.

MOVING? TELL US YOUR NEW ADDRESS

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your copy of The American Bahá’í, send your new address and your mailing label to MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, as soon as you know where you are going to move and what your new address will be.

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

A	ID#	Title	Full name—Please DO NOT use nicknames
1.
2.
3.
4.

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 Bahá’í community	Moving date

E—HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:	F—WORK TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Area Code Number (____) ___________	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 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 address labels do not match exactly. We have listed above the full names of all family members as they should appear on the national records, their I.D. numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.

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

BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER Wilmette, Illinois 60091

Convención

de la página 14

Al presentar el reporte de Asuntos Externos, el Sr. Kazemzadeh compartió las noticias conmovedoras de la elección en Riḍván de la Asamblea Espiritual de Ishqábád, en Rusia, sitio del primer Mashriqu’l-Adhkár en el mundo bahá’í antes de que la Fe fuera suprimida en ese país durante los primeros años de este siglo.

Notando que ahora hay menos de 20 bahá’ís en prisión en Irán comparado con los 767 que solamente hace dos años atrás habían, el Dr. Kazemzadeh dijo que los planes de la Asamblea Nacional son de comenzar una campaña a largo plazo para lograr la completa emancipación de los bahá’ís en Irán.

Respondiendo al mensaje de Riḍván de 1988/1989 de la Casa Universal de Justicia, la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional presentó en su reporte anual un “plan de acción” para el próximo año el cual enfocará en tres áreas de mayor interés: (1) lograr un vasto aumento en el número de creyentes en este país; (2) fomentar la madurez de las Asambleas locales; y (3) aumentar la educación bahá’í a los niños, jóvenes y adultos. Mucha de la consulta de la Convención enfocó en estos temas extremadamente importantes.

En el área de las finanzas, la Asamblea Nacional decidió 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 Adoración; 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 rindió un homenaje durante la Convención a las vidas ejemplares al servicio de la Causa de H. Borrah Kavelin, quien sirvió por 25 años como miembro de la Casa Universal de Justicia y por 13 años como miembro de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional de los Estados Unidos, y Edna M. True, quien sirvió a la Causa por un siglo, incluyendo su membresía en la Asamblea Nacional y en el ‎Cuerpo Continentales Cuerpo Continental‎ de Consejeros.

El Sr. Sears parafrasió 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 siguiéramos uno de los principios bahá’ís y nos ‎levantaramos levantáramos‎ a enseñar como nunca antes,” millones de personas en este país se harían bahá’ís.

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

La sesión final, el domingo en la mañana, fue ‎destacado destacada‎ por la charla del Sr. Hofman quien recordó a los amigos que a través de la falta de acción los Estados Unidos podría perder la primacía espiritual que se le fue conferida por ‘Abdu’l-Bahá y afirmada por el amado Guardián, Shoghi Effendi.

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

[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

I I I I I ! | I I l I | I I | l 1 ! I [Area Code I I I I I | | I I I I I | 1 ! l I

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

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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.’” �