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Volume 21, Issue 5

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‘The real treasury of man is his knowledge’'—Baha'u'lldh

The Ameri 1can

Baha’

Volume 21, No. 5 May 1990

Ridvén message from the Universal House of Justice

... immense challenges, dazzling prospects’

To the Bahd’ts of the world Dearly loved Friends,

Having ended a year of momentous achievements, we stand at the threshold of the last decade of this radiant twentieth century facing an immediate future of immense challenges and dazzling prospects. The swiftness of events during the past year is indicative of the acceleration, as the hundredth anniversary of Baha'u'll4h’s Ascension approaches, of the spiritual forces released with the advent of His revolutionizing mission. It is an acceleration which, in its suddenness and wide transformational impact on social thought and on political entities, has aroused feelings of delight as to its immediate effects and of bewilderment as to its real meaning and destined outcome, prompting the astonished editors of an outstanding newspaper, finding themselves bereft of explanations, to attribute it to the workings of an ‘‘Invisible Hand.”’

For the followers of Baha'u'llah throughout the world there can be no doubt as to the Divine Source and clear intention of these extraordinary happenings. Let us rejoice, therefore, in the wondrous signs of the beneficence of God’s abounding grace. The high level of teaching and enrollments reported last Ridvan has been sustained, and new fields of teaching have been opened from Eastern Europe to the China Sea. With the settlement in recent weeks of two Knights of Baha'u'llah in Sakhalin Island, the last remaining territory named by Shoghi Effendi in his Ten Year Global Plan entered the Baha'i fold. The re-creation last Ridvan of the local Spiritual Assembly of Ishqabad, the recent election of that of Cluj in Romania, the first new Assembly in the ‘‘East Bloc,’* the re-establishment and formation this Ridvan of local Spiritual Assemblies in other parts of the Soviet Union and in other countries of Eastern Europe—all these achievements and immediate prospects affirm our arrival at a significant milestone in the fourth epoch of the Formative Age. The Administrative Order now embraces a community of wider diversity than ever before. It is such prodigious developments that prompted our recent announcement of a subsidiary Two Year Teaching Plan, now formally

launched, to which we commend your urgent and active attention.

How staggering, how far-reaching have been the activities which propelled the community in one short year toward this stage in its evolution! As we reflect on the wonders of Baha’u'llah’s confirmations, our hearts turn with love and appreciation to the Hands of the Cause of God everywhere, who, as the standard-bearers of that community, have ever upheld its bright emblems against the darkness of the times. With an indomitable spirit they persevere in fulfilling, under all circumstances and wherever they may be, their God-given tasks to stimulate, edify and advise its widely scattered, rapidly multiplying members. In the face of the new situation in the Baha’i world, we take joy in mentioning some instances in the past year of association of Hands of the Cause with the developments in Europe and Asia. Amatu'lBaha Ruhiyyih Khadnum, in an extended journey to the Far East, represented the Universal House of Justice at the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of Macau; spent time with the Knight of Baha’u'll4h in Mongolia where subsequently the first native declared her belief in Baha'u'llah; and devoted much attention to the friends in different parts of the People’s Republic of China, where her film ‘*The Green Light Expedition’’ has been shown on television. Mr, Collis Featherstone focused much energy on reinvigorating the long-suffering friends in war-ravaged Vietnam. At this very moment, Mr. ‘Ali-Akbar Furutan is visiting the USSR, which he was forced to leave during the persecution of the Faith there; now he has returned in triumphant fulfillment of a wish expressed to him by our beloved Guardian some 60 years ago.

Nor have the Counselor members of the International Teaching Center been slow in responding to opportunities to foster the climate of progress now evident in all quarters of the globe. Through the unified vision of growth to which they have called the Continental Boards of Counselors and their able, hard-working and self-sacrificing auxiliaries, a new vitality can be felt in the expansion and consolidation

of the Faith throughout the world. The Continenta! Counselors deserve the deep gratitude of the entire Baha’{ community as they approach the close of their current five-year term, distinguished for their outstanding services.

Just as the community has extended its ramifications internally, it has also expanded its relations, influence and appeal externally in a variety of ways, some astonishing in their breadth and potential. A few examples will suffice: Through the newly established Office of the Environment, the Baha'i International Community, on its own initiative and in collaboration with other environmental organizations, re-instituted the annual World Forestry Charter Gathering founded in 1945 by the renowned Richard St. Barbe Baker; since then the Office of the Environment has been invited to participate in importar events sponsored by international organizations con cerned with environmental questions. The Baha’! In ternational Community has been involved in the work of the Task Force for Literacy under the aegis of UNESCO and was invited to participate in ¢ World Conference on Education for All held in Thai land, where its representative was asked to assume variety of highly visible and important tasks which gave prominence to the Bahdé’{ community. Steps were taken, with the encouragement of a Fi senior government official, to open in Suva a bran of the Baha’{ International Community's United Nations office for the Pacific region. The University of Maryland in the United States announced its decision to establish ‘‘The Baha'i Chair for World Peace”’ in its Center for International Development and Conflict Management, which will give rise to a great in crease in academic efforts to examine the Cause of Bahé'u’lla4h. At almost the same time the National Spiritual Assembly of India announced that an agreement had been reached to establish a Chair for Baha’{ Studies at the University of Indore.

The continuing efforts to secure the emancipation of the Baha'is of Iran evolved to a new stage. For the first time, a United Nations representative was able

See RIDVAN MESSAGE page 3

uw

Baha’7i Center in San Francisco is site of International Chinese Symposium

By LAURA H. ARTHUR

““Reaching the Chinese: The Time Is Now”’ was the topic of spirited consultation March 29-April | during the Baha’i International Chinese Symposium at the Baha’{ Center in San Francisco, California.

Nearly 400 people including some 50 of Chinese heritage representing 18 countries and 28 states gathered in the spacious auditorium at the Center to take a close look at the Chinese and their culture, discuss teaching Chinese both inside and outside of mainland China, and inspire a sense of urgency to act now while the doors are open.

Among the special guests at the Symposium was retired member of the Universal House of Justice David Hofman who shared stories of his recent travels through Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Mr. Hofman pointed out that the Chinese people have a rich and varied

history and culture and share a philosophy that is remarkably similar in many respects to the Teachings of Baha'u'llah.

Efforts to reach the Chinese are having a noteworthy effect, particularly as seen in the large-scale growth in communities outside the People’s Republic of China.

Those addressing the topic included Sabrina Kan Townsend, who recently came to the U.S. from Hong Kong; Donald Tennant from Macau; Charles Pau, a member of the International Teaching Committee who reported on teaching activities in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia; Kit Yin Kiang from Taiwan; and representatives of the National Chinese Teaching Committee of Canada who reported about recent successes in Vancouver, British Columbia.

See SYMPOSIUM page 22

Zhu Ming Ling (left photo) and a_ nese Culture’ held as part of the Intermember of the Pacific Zheng Ensemble national Chinese Symposium in Son perform during a gala ‘Tribute to Chi Francisco. �[Page 2]2 / The American Baha'i / May 1990

Focus Is on teaching as Vislon-to-Victory conferences are completed In Cleveland, Ohio, and Portland, hee

Cleveland, Ohio, and Portland, Oregon, were the host cities for Vision-toVictory conferences the weekend of March 30-April 1.

Plenary sessions at each of these events were highlighted by three panel discussions, each on a particular aspect of the growth of the Faith: the individual and teaching, the community and teaching, and teaching the masses.

About 700 people were at the conference in Cleveland where panel discussions were led by Counselor Robert Harris; Alberta Deas, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly; Auxiliary Board members Javidukht Khadem and June Thomas; two members of the National Teaching Committee, Tod Ewing and Jennifer Mileham; and local community members Heidi Burns, Bernice Montgomery and Meredith Ring.

A separate program for children and pre-youth was run alongside the conference.

On Friday evening, Counselor Harris spoke on ‘‘The Power of Unity’’ at a public meeting attended by more than 1,100 people.

Attendance at the conference in Portland approached 1,100 adults, youth and children. Panelists there were Counselor Jacqueline Delahunt; Robert Henderson, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly; Auxiliary Board member Marshall Murphy; two members of the National Teaching Committee, Reynaldo Cruz and Billie Mayo; and local community members Henry Cross, Mary Gubatayao, Katayoon Moavenzadeh, Maziar Ostovar, Navvab Pike and Nosratollah Rassekh.

Immediately after the close of the conference, a door-to-door teaching campaign was launched in a predominantly black neighborhood in Portland. Thirty-five Baha'is took part, reflecting a higher level of participation than in other recent local projects.

Hundreds of copies of ‘The Promise of World Peace’’ were given out along with other Baha’{ literature on request.

In addition, as a result of the conference, several people have volunteered to arise for a specific period of time to teach and be of service to the Cause on a full-time basis.

When teaching black Americans

Friends mustn’t confuse race

The pattern of enrollment from the black American community during the Six Year Plan demonstrates that, while some individuals and communities are making efforts to reach this population, no significant growth has taken place except in two areas of the South.

The lack of success in fostering and sustaining teaching efforts among black Americans may be due in part to

Justice Society co-sponsors Evanston talk by author, editor Norman Cousins

At the invitation of Physicians for Social Responsibility (1985 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize), the Baha’{ Justice Society and World Federalist AssoGation co-sponsored a public talk by Norman Cousins last February 13 in Evanston, Illinois.

More than 500 people heard Mr. Cousins, a prolific author, former editor of the Saturday Review, co-founder of the World Federalists, and current faculty member at the UCLA Medical School, share his experiences and insights into the challenge of establishing a lasting world peace.

Mr. Cousins said he is more hopeful than ieee ever Does fiat world peace

tion between the Babé’l Justice Society

and Physicians for Social Responsibility, both of whom have expressed a

willingness to cooperate in presenting future programs.

confusing teaching black Americans with efforts to eliminate racial prejudice. This is not to say that ‘‘the most vital and challenging issue’ should not be addressed by local communities or discussed when teaching black Americans; yet it is not the sole avenue of attracting black seekers.

It is important for Baha’{s to strike a balance between discussing the elimination of racial prejudice and sharing other aspects of the healing Message of Baha'u'llah.

The process of building a distinctive Baha'i community free of racial prejudice is complementary to the process of teaching black Americans; it is neither the same nor a competing process.

Activities aimed at eliminating racial prejudice and creating racial unity should neither be a substitute for, nor a distraction from, the teaching work.

Scheduling workshops or deepenings that focus on how to eradicate racial prejudice from local communities can be valuable in dealing with “‘the most vital and challenging issue.’’ Yet designing activities to discuss the elimination of racial prejudice should not divert individuals or communities from developing and implementing systematic teaching plans to reach black Americans.

Indeed, it was written on behalf of the Guardian that ‘‘the real means of

eliminating race prejudice is to spread and establish the Faith. . . .’’ In devel oping a plan for furthering the teach The American Bahd’( \s published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, $36 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, [L 60091. Postmaster: Send address change: to Management Information Systems, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, Executive editor: Jack Bowers. Associate editor: Laura H. Arthur. The American Bahd'{ wel Comes ews, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Faith. Articles should be written clearly and concisely; color or black-and-white glossy photographs should be included whenever possible. Please address all materials to the Editor, The American Bahd’(, Wilmette, 1. 60091. Copyright @ 1990 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahd'(s of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed im the U.S.A.

Auxiliary Board member Marshall Murphy responds to a question from the audience during a panel discussion held as part of the Vision-to-Victory conference March 30-April 1 in Portland, Oregon.

unity, Message

ing work with the black population, consultation with black Baha’{s can be

helpful in identifying the interests and concerns of the local black American community.

In addition, various organizations and individuals could help Baha’{s with the process of analyzing the issues facing their black American neighbors.

Examples of available resources include African American Studies Departments at universities, the NAACP, the Urban League, ministers, educators, and local or national publications that serve the black American community.

In a readers’ poll published in the April 1990 issue of Ebony (a leading magazine for the black community), respondents to a question about the biggest problem in black America identified drugs as the most devastating problem (40.1 percent), followed by disintegration of the family (17.5 percent).

Therefore, basing teaching efforts on the issue of racial unity may not be effective in sustaining the interest of all seekers.

In addition, it may be frustrating for the Baha’{ teachers if those they are trying to reach are absorbed in these other problems or concerns that could be addressed through Baha’{ teachings other than those concerning the unity of mankind.

The National Teaching Committee would like to hear about successful teaching activities targeting black Americans. If you have information you would like to share, or would like to discuss teaching black Americans, please contact Annette McKissick, coordinator for Black American Teaching, at the National Teaching Committee office, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-8699039, ext. 288).

In the 1830s, the infamous “Trail of Tears” drove indigenous peoples from their homelands westward to Okie

In February 1989, a group of Baha'is

dase talking gest wese Oounselor Jacqueline Delahunt and Mr Locke, a member of the National Spir “Trail of Glory I” began with « visit 20 ee

in Ada, and to the headquarters o Chickasaw Nation whose leaders jow

On March 21, a copy of “The Promise of World Peace” was presented to the governor of the Absentee Shawnee

Locke were interviewed on radio, anc �[Page 3]The American Bahé’! / May 1990 / 3

Ridvan message from page I

officially to meet on Iranian soil with a representative of the proscribed Bahd’i community. The result was recorded in & report to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, at whose recent session in Geneva a resolution on fran mer ning the Baha'is was again adopted. in a corollary action of farreaching importance, the United States House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the emancipation of the Iranian Bahd’{ community and outlining steps to be taken by the United States government toward this end; a similar resolution is before the Senate.

In the Holy Land, preparations for

the execution of the building projects on Mount Carmel received a definite

boost. It is a cause of deep satisfaction that, on the eve of Naw-Ruz, the Dis Ridvan 1992 of the Holy Year, that special time when we shall pause to appreciate the tumultuous record of events which will have brought us to the Centenary of the Ascension of Baha'u'llah and to reflect with due

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will go forth to every part of the world."”

Related events at the local and national levels will combine with these two primary occasions to give vent to the innermost sentiments of the Baha‘is and to impress on the public the

fact of the appearance in the world of the Lord of the Covenant and the aims and achievements of His sublime mission. Indeed, plans are in progress to mount an intensive campaign to emblazon His Name across the globe.

The friends everywhere must now orient themselves to the significance of these twin anniversaries. They must be spiritually prepared through prayer and study of the Teachings to obtain a deeper appreciation of the station and purpose of Bahd’u'll4h and of the basic meaning of His mighty Covenant. Such preparation is at the very core of their striving to effect a transformation in their individual and collective lives. Let all the friends—every man, woman and youth—demonstrate through the high quality of their inner life and private character, the unified spirit of their association one with another, the rectitude of their conduct in relation to all, and the excellence of their achievements, that they belong to a truly enlightened and exemplary community; that their Best Beloved, whose Ascension they will commemorate, had not suffered His life on earth in vain. Let these requisites be the standard of their efforts to teach His Cause, the hallmark of their homage to the King of Kings.

Our dear and valued co-workers: It is at such a time of profound anticipation for us that world society finds itself in a critical phase of its transition to the character envisioned for it by the Lord of the Age. The winds of God

It is portentous of the profound change in the structure of present-day society which attainment to the Lesser Peace implies. Hopeful as are the signs, we cannot forget that the dark passage of the Age of Transition has been fully traversed; it is as yet ong, slippery and tortuous. For godlessness is rife, materialism rampant. Nationalism and racism still work their treachery in men’s hearts, and humanity remains blind to the spiritual foundations of the solutions to its economic woes. For the Bahé’{ communi 38

we have serious commitments to keep. The most immediate of these are: one, to teach the Cause of God and build its divinely ordained institutions throughout the world with wisdom, courage and urgency; and two, to complete on Mount Carmel the construction of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Bab and the remaining buildings on the Arc of the World Administrative Center of the Faith. The one calls for resolute,

result of a chain of events, momentous and possibly catastrophic in nature, and which cannot as yet be even dimly visualized, will suddenly revolutionize the fortunes of the Faith, derange the equilibrium of the world, and reinforce a thousandfold the numerical strength as well as the material power and the spiritual authority of the Faith of Baha'u'll4h."’ We have every encouragement to believe that large-scale enrollments will expand, involving village after village, town after town, from one country to another. However, it is not for us to wait passively for the ultimate fulfillment of Shoghi Effendi's vision. We few, placing our whole trust in the providence of God and regarding as a divine privilege the challenges which face us, must proceed to victory with the plans in hand.

An expansion of thought and action in certain aspects of our work would enhance our possibilities for success in meeting our aforementioned commitments. Since change, ever more rapid change, is a constant characteristic of life at this time, and since our growth, size and external relations demand much of us, our community must be ready to adapt. In a sense this means that the community must become more adept at accommodating a wide range of actions without losing concentration on the primary objectives of teaching, namely, expansion and consolidation. A unity in diversity of actions is called for, a condition in which different individuals will concentrate on different activities, appreciating the salutary effect of the aggregate on the growth and development of the Faith, because each person cannot do everything and all persons cannot do the same thing. This understanding is important to the maturity which, by the many demands being made upon it, the community is being forced to attain.

The Order brought by Baha'u'llah is intended to guide the progress and resolve the problems of society. Our numbers are as yet too small to effect an adequate demonstration of the potentialities inherent in the administrative system we are building, and the efficacy of this system will not be fully appreciated without a vast expansion of our membership. With the prevailing situation in the world the necessity to effect such a demonstration becomes more compelling. It is all too obvious that even those who rail against the defects of the old order, and would even tear it down, are themselves bereft of any viable alternative to put in its place, Since the Administrative Order is designed to be a pattern for future society, the visibility of such

a pattern will be a signal of hope w those who despair.

Thus far, we have achieved 2 marvelous diversity in the large numbers of ethnic groups represented in the Faith. and everything should be done to fortify it through larger enrollments from among groups already represented anc the attraction of members from groups not yet reached. However, there is another category of diversity which must be built up and without which the Cause will not be able adequately to meet the challenges being thrust upon it. Its membership, regardless of ethnic variety, needs now to embrace increasing numbers of people of capacity, including persons of accomplishment and prominence in the various ficids of numbers of such persons is an indispensable aspect of teaching the masses, an aspect which cannot any longer be neglected and which must be consciously and deliberately incorporated into our teaching work, so as to broeden its base and accelerate the process of entry by troops. So important and timely is the need for action on this matter that we are impelled to call upon Continental Counselors and Netional Spiritual Assemblies to devote serious attention to it in their comsultations and plans.

The affairs of mankind have reached @ stage at which increasing calls will & made upon our community to assist, through advice and practical measures, in solving critical social problems. It is a service that we will gladly render, but this means that our local and National Spiritual Assemblies must adhere more scrupulously to principle. With increasing public attention being focused on the Cause of God, it becomes imperative for Bahé’{ institutions to improve their performance, through « closer identification with the fundamental verities of the Faith, through greater conformity to the spirit and form of Bahé’{ administration, and through a@ keener reliance on the beneficial effects of proper consultation, so that the communities they guide will reflect a pattern of life that will offer hope to the disillusioned members of society.

That there are indications that the Lesser Peace cannot be too far distant, of the Administrative Order are growing steadily in experience and influence, that the plans for the construction of the remaining administrative edifices on the Arc are in an advanced stage—that these hopeful conditions make more discernible the shaping of the dynamic synchronization envisaged by Shoghi Effendi, no honest observer can deny.

As a community clearly in the vanguard of the constructive forces at work on the planet, and as one which has access to proven knowledge, let us be about our Father's business. He will, from His glorious retreats on high, release liberal effusions of His grace upon our humbile efforts, astonishing us with the incalculable victories

of His conquering power. It is for the

unceasing blessings of such a Father that we shall continue to supplicate on

behalf of each and every one of you at

the Sacred Threshold. The Universal House of Justice Rigvdn 1990 �[Page 4]4 / The American Baha'i / May 1990

Annual report of the National Spiritual Assembly

Forty-nine years ago, Shoghi Effendi described the intensifying forces of destruction and transformation

“sweeping the face of the earth’’ as ‘‘a tempest unprecedented in its violence, unpredictable in its course, catastrophic in its immediate sffects, unimaginably glorious in its ultimate consequences."”

Humanity, he wrote is ‘‘agonized and helpless’’ as it watches “‘this great and mighty wind of God invading the remotest and fairest regions of the earth, rocking its foundations, deranging its equilibrium, sundering its nations, disrupting the homes of its peoples, wasting its cities, driving into exile its kings, pulling down its bulwarks, uprooting its institutions, dimming its light, and harrowing up the souls of its inhabitants."

Today's headlines testify to the universal upheaval foretold by the Guardian. The driving power of God’s Major Plan “‘is gaining in range and momentum."’ These ‘‘rapid and unforeseen developments,"’ the Universal House of Justice tells us, ‘necessitate corresponding parallel acceleration in life-giving enterprises being pursued by inheritors Baha’u'llah'’s resplendent Revelation." This acceleration is the focus of the two remaining years of the Six Year Plan.

Entry by Troops

During 146 B.E. the American Baha’i community was more enterprising than in years past in virtually every arena of activity, but it experienced almost no change in the numbers of new believers. This familiar and frustrating pattern bears some examination. American Bahd’is are increasingly reaching out to the public in their proclamation and teaching activities. The scale, quality and variety of such efforts are continually increasing. In government relations and in work with local, national and international hu tions. The 404-0 passage, by roll call vote, of the Congressional Resolution to emancipate the Baha’{ Faith in Iran and the participation of Baha’{s on the Steering Committee of the Sino-American Women’s Conference and as chairman and co-chairman of the Martin Luther King Federal Holiday Com principles of the Faith and to learn, in a new way, to speak forthrightly about Bahd4’u’ll4h—the Lord of the Age, the Divine Physician Whose prayers and teachings can bring healing and spiritual solutions.

Furthermore, the challenge is to distinguish ourselves by the degree of our own spiritual transformation. This we can do by fulfilling the conditions of becoming an apostle of Baha'u'llah set by ‘Abdu’l-Bahd in the Tablets of the Divine Plan: firmness in the Covenant; fellowship and love amongst the believers; and, arising to teach, reflecting the example of ‘Abdu’'l-Bahd, free from every attachment, our intentions pure, our hearts independent, our spirits attracted, our thoughts at peace, our resolution firm, our magnanimity exalted, and our souls shining torches of the love of God.

Finally, we must regard the great privilege of teaching the Cause as a matter of supreme urgency and vital necessity. Time is slipping away. The condition of humanity is steadily declining. However, the Universal House of Justice assures us in The Promise of World Peace that ‘far from signalizing the end of civilization, the convulsive changes towards which humanity is being ever more rapidly impelled will serve to release the ‘potentialities inherent in the station of man’ and reveal ‘the full measure of his destiny on earth, the innate excellence of his reality.’ '’ Through the power of the Faith, we can remedy every illness. Action is

required. A reordering of our lives and priorities is essential.

Spiritual Assembly Development

Fostering the maturation of Spiritual Assemblies, the Universal House of Justice advises, ‘‘apart from being significant to the objectives of the Six Year Plan, is an absolute necessity if the World Order of Baha'u'llah is to demonstrate its capacity to fulfill the hope of all peoples for a just, cohesive and progressive society.’’ The Local Spiritual Assembly Development Program, launched last summer, has, through a series of 12 training conferences, started the maturation process among 400 local Spiritual Assemblies. Indispensable to the successful development and implementation of the program has been the spirit of loving collaboration and involvement of the Continental Counselors and the Auxiliary Board members. The process is to continue with additional conferences and with the ongoing support and training of Spiritual Assemblies by members of the Auxiliary Boards and their assistants, using a series of instructional modules,

We have been deeply gratified by the sincere commitment and genuine enthusiasm displayed by the friends for the difficult challenge of fostering the maturation of their local institutions. Education

Educational activities were among the highlights of the year. We note with pleasure the large numbers of Baha’{ communities, study groups and individual believers who undertook the study of Bahd’u'lldh’s Kitdb-i-fqdn, the increased attendance at the permanent and temporary Bahd’{ schools and

institutes, the widespread interest os participation in Bahé’{ youth emies, and the continuing development of the more than 400 local Baha'i schools. We are especially pleased with the progress of educational activities among the growing numbers of Southeast Asian Bahd’{s and the efforts to translate the sacred writings into American Indian languages. Finally, the development of a core curriculum for the education of Baha’{ children represents the fulfillment of a longcherished goal; it will be a significant aid to the growing legions of Baha’i school teachers.

Fund

In its letter of August 31, 1987, announcing the plan to complete the remaining buildings of the Arc on Mount Carmel, the Universal House of Justice explained that ‘‘the Faith advances, not at a uniform rate of growth, but in vast surges precipitated by the alternation of crisis and victory.’ The Supreme Body explained further that completion of the Arc would represent the culmination of a vast historical process, release powerfully transform of human affairs in accordance with the Major Plan of God.

God-ordained mission of the American Baha’{ community? Instead of raising the goal by 5 or 7 percent, should we

neers, the maturation of Spiritual Assemblies, the education of believers and the increase of our financial capac ity to rites (08 nektie of the Faith Ob. Jectives Sie Sieicceiny peer dace:

© Launching programs of study of the life and teachings of Bahé'u’llab to enable us to speak forthrightly about the station and personage of the Divine Physician and His remedies for the rapid and unforeseen developments ae

Mobilizing the youth in support of

the teaching work.

Establishing regional committees

for American Indian teaching.

Expanding the Loca) Spiritual Assembly Development Program.

Refining and implementing the

core curriculum for the Bahé’{ educa tion of children.

Achieving a new relationship to

and a higher level of support for the Fund.

Refining all communication sys

tems.

Continuing the preparation of the

Baha’{ community for the Holy Year and its commemoration of the Centenary of the Ascension of Bahé’u"lléh and the celebration of the Centenary of the inauguration of His Covenant.

Continuing the preparations for

the Worid Congress in New York City

The leadership of the few remaining Hands of the Cause of God, especially our beloved William Sears, the indispensable support of the Continental Board of Counselors and its Auxiliary Boards and their assistants, and the ripening spirit of faith and enterprise among the rank and file of the believets bolster our confidence that the American Bahé’{ community will fulfill its God-ordained mission. We conclude,.as we began, with the words of Shoghi Effendi:

“There is no time to lose. There is no

of the Baha'i community in the arena of external affairs.

Last year the National Spiritual Assembly had modified its strategy in the �[Page 5]The American Bahé’{ / May 1990 / 5

Annual report of the National Assembly

defense of the beleaguered Iranian Baha’i community. Efforts now focus on the long-range goal of the emancipation of that community. In March 1990, 10 Baha'is remained in Iranian prisons and no Bahd’{ had been executed since the fall of 1987. However,

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deavors of its public relations profes A change occurred during the year indicating a new level of collaboration between the National Spiritual Assembly and other national organizations. Baha’ {s were asked to serve in positions that contributed to the planning and execution of national events and also were asked to provide and include Baha’! perspectives on the issues around which the conferences or occasions had

seminars in the field of Baha’{ studies rating the birth of Mahatma Gandhi She represented the Bahé’(s as an cxand world peace within an interdisci- sponsored by the King Center.

to initiate public

during the year. A member of the National Spiritual Assembly was on the Steering Committee of the first SinoAmerican Conference on Women’s Issues to be held in June 1990 in Beijing, China. She, and a member of the staff of the Office of External Affairs, traveled to China in October with the

selected by the conference organizers to present papers on topics in the fields of health, education, family and child care, and employment.

In November the National Assembly took part in the United Nations Assocation National Conference on the United States and the United Nations held in Washington, D.C. A Baha’{ was on the conference planning committee; the National Assembly had a booth designed and manned by a nearby local Spiritual Assembly; a Baha’{ moderated a panel on youth participation; and the National Assembly’s Representative to the UN, in her capacity as chairman of the UNA-USA Committee, delivered the invocation during the conference banquet. She read the ‘‘Prayer for America’’ and mentioned the visit of ‘Abdu’l-Bahé and His prophecies about the destiny of America. More than 1,200 prominent representatives of the UN and of non-governmental organizations attended the banquet.

Several events during the year provided opportunities for the Baha'is to assist and to participate in activities at the Martin Luther King Center in Atlanta. The National! Spiritual Assembly’s representative to the King Center was co-chairman of the King Federal Holiday Commission's Religious Involvement Committee. In that role she was the master of ceremonies at the first annual International Ecumenical Breakfast in Washington, D.C., held on the anniversary of the Rev. King’s birth. At the breakfast the National Assembly's secretary read a prayer and spoke of ‘Abdu'l-Baha’s speech before the NAACP in 1912. In other activities to commemorate the holiday, more than 2,000 Bah4’{s marched in the King

Z F i

The National Spiritual Assembly continued to collaborate with an adhoc group of non-governmental organizations to assist in Senate ratification of U.S. human rights treaties. The group, which includes the American Bar Association, Ammesty International, B'nai B'rith International, and the American Jewish Congress, met with Senators and their staffs on January 30 to prepare for hearings that were held on the UN Convention Against Torture. In the spring of 1990, national efforts were launched to ratify two other international human rights treaties. B’nai B'rith Women was coordinating the activities for the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. Interaction, an association of private volunteer organizations, coordinated the efforts to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The National Assembly's staff from the Office of External Affairs was actively engaged in the planning and implementation of strategies for ratification of the three Conventions. Bahd’is around the U.S. responded to requests from the National Assembly to write or call their senators urging action on the Conventions.

The Bah4’{s had representation at several conferences including the Global Tomorrow Coalition Globescope Pacific Assembly on the Environment, a conference for national religious leaders on AIDS, a UN conference on the environment and development, the American Association of University Women’s biennia! meeting, the World Future Society conference, the Alliance for Our Common Future meetings, the North American Interfaith Network meetings, and the Institute for the Study of Genocide conference. The talk about the persecution of the Iranian Bahd’{s from that Institute’s conference will be published in November 1990 by Yale University Press in a volume entitled ‘Genocide Watch.’’ The Harvard University Law School's Human Rights Speaker Series asked the deputy director of the Office of External Affairs to present a lecture in February called, ‘‘Can World Opinion Affect Human Rights Violations? The Case of the Iranian Baha’{s."’

The National Spiritual Assembly’s Representative to the United Nations increased her involvement with the work of non-governmental organizations affiliated with the UN. The Representative is currently chairman of the Executive Committee of the Conference of Representatives of the United Nations Association of the United States (UNA-USA). The committee met with a U.S. Ambassador, deputy representative on the Security

Council, to discuss U.S. policies at the UN. The committee asked that non governmental organizations be included in consultation on issues related to

their activities and expertise, and also requested a more prominent role for women in policy-making positions. The was a member of the By-Laws and Resolutions Committee of the UNA-USA which has been asked to conduct the first comprehensive review of the by-laws in 25 years. She was also an ex-officio member of that organization's Board of Directors.

officto member of the Executive Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations associated with the UN Department of Public Information whose duties include planning the annual NGODPI conference on special issues.

As a member of the North American Environmental Sabbath Committee, the Representative ensured that a Bahé’{ symbol was displayed on the masthead of the Sabbath Committee's newsletter and that Bahé’{ quotations were included in the 10,000 kits distributed throughout the world for the event.

Almost 900 public information representatives and more than 100 committees provided their local communications media and their Baha’{ communities with updated materials from the Office of Public Information and news releases from the Nationa! Spiritual Assembly.

To improve communication with the Baha’{ Public Information Network (BPIN) and to educate the Baha'is about contact with the media, the Office of Public Information started a newswire on the Baha'i electronic bulletin board, began publication of a newsletter for the BPIN, and heid meetings with Baha'is in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver and San Jose.

Publicity on the Bahé'| Faith in newspapers and on radio and television increased slightly over last year as ¢fforts expanded to define the Faith for the public. Approximately 3,700 newspaper articles and letters to the editor mentioned the Faith. The majority of articles described Baha’! principles and teachings and activities of local communities. An editorial in The New York Times and a column in The Christian Science Monitor deplored the Persecution of the Iranian Bahd’is More than 20 national magazines contained references to the Faith. The office collaborated with Cable News Network (CNN) on program development.

In addition, the office maintained relations with the Religious Public Relations Council, collaborated with the Baha’{ International Community's Office of Public Information at the International Religious Communications Congress, and coordinated visits to the House of Worship in Wilmette by the wife of the President of Guyana and the Consul-General of India.

University of Maryiand Baha'i Club observes Black History Month

On February 25, the Baha’{ Club at the University of Maryland commemorated Black History Month with a twohour program attended by about 70 people.

The celebration, which was covered by the university’s student newspaper, the Diamondback, included the recitation of works by the late Robert Hayden, a Baha'i who was a well-known poet, a performance by the Metropoiitan Washington Baha'i Chorale, and a talk on race unity by Tony Joy.

The 21-member Baha'i Clud planned and carried out the program, inviting the public with flyers posted on campus as well as hand-delivered invitetions. �[Page 6]6 / The American Baha'i / May 1990

Annual report of the Office of the Treasurer

Contributions to the National Baha’{

Fund for the fiscal year ending April 30 were projected at $7.6 million, 10 percent less than last year’s $8.4 million total. The monthly average number of individual contributors was 6,996, down 9 percent, while 796 local Assemblies and 215 groups contributed, changed by +5 percent and -1 percent, respectively, from last year.

must be added also those who support the Funds of the Faith through their local Assemblies, whose numbers we can as yet only estimate. Those believers whose firmness in the Covenant is demonstrated by their deeds are to be warmly commended and cherished.

The Treasurer has coordinated a variety of efforts and initiatives this year, some of which are:

Growth in Earmarked Contributions for 1989 and 1990

$3750 $3250 $2750 $2250 $1750 $1250 $750 T 1Q 2Q

3Q 4Q

69

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CC) National

Fund

CO me GB continental

Part of the drop in individual direct contributions to the National Fund may have been due to an increase in earmarked contributions. Over-all, contributions for the year to the International, Arc and Continental. Funds were up 16 percent, an increase of $435,000 from the previous year’s total of $2.7 million. Total funds contributed by the community, including amounts directed to both National and International Funds, were approximately $10.3 million, down 6 percent from the $11.1 million donated during fiscal 1989.

A significant victory this year was registered when the number of subscribers to the Automatic Contribution System (ACS) surpassed all set goals. The community's support for this program boosted total ACS contributions to about $2.3 million on an annualized basis, or nearly 30 percent of this year’s total. This important achievement provides a strong foundation for future growth.

Estate bequests of more than $240,000 were received this year. We are encouraged by the growth toward the year’s end in the number of inquiries about giving programs based on insurance products and insurance policies that have been received at the Office. Like the Automatic Contribution System, this development augurs weil for the Fund's long-term financial stability.

It is noteworthy that over the last five years, the number of those who give directly to the National Fund, whether individually or institutionally, has remained quite stable. One of the implications of that fact is that the community as a whole owes a debt of gratitude to that core of staunch friends who fund the Faith’s progress in the U.S. and worldwide, since all but 2 of the world’s national bodies depend in some measure on this community’s support. To this valiant band

® Cash concentration system: Centralizing management of all cash resources, including those of the outlying offices and agencies, reduced borrowing needs and increased working capital and interest income. Indeed, as a result of the procedures initiated, nearly $1 million was made available to meet the Fund’s objectives on a timely basis, despite the growing deficit.

® ACS in-house processing: Saved more than $25,000 yearly on processing fees together with $4,000 in banking charges; more important, processing delays and errors were reduced significantly.

Collaboration with the World Center and Huqiqu’ll4h Trust: Provided

ongoing support for banking, legal and investment needs for the International Fund and the Hugiq; recommended measures to improve funds management and control, and assumed a more active role in managing banking relationships for the World Center in the U.S.

Treasurer’s Advisory Committees: We acknowledge with appreciation the work of the Treasurer’s Advisory Committees. The several recommendations received from the Advisory Committee have been effectively implemented. The Fund Development/Estate Planning Committee did an admitable job in organizing 20 Fund Development Conferences around the country, in producing drafts of new planned giving instruction aids, and in creating a pilot giving program called the “Family Fund Boxes.’’

The great variety of effort» that were

detailed in the ‘‘Annual Report of the Agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly."’

Agenda for the coming year *

The Arc—our first priority. As announced by the Universal House of Justice in its message of January 23,

provide $15-$20 million to the Baha’{ International Fund annually for the next 10 years. The station of this community requires that we dare greatly; such goals befit our generation of spiritual descendants of the Dawn-breakers and must be our first priority. Already the friends across the counacting to meet the growing of the Faith. Fund-raising activ- Louis G. Gregory/WLGI increased in scope, number Local Assemblies begun earnest and means of to

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Pe) to important, individual befrom all strata of our Bahd’{ population are rededicating themselves to sacrificial support of the Funds of the Faith.

For its part, the National Spiritual Assembly is pursuing ongoing consultations with the Universal House of

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Justice, the Continental Board of New Jersey, a site mentioned by Sho National properties. The responsibility facing this richly blessed community extends also to the historic

Finding new patterns of giving

A Baha’{ community in the Midwest recently wrote to the Office of the Treasurer, reporting that ‘(our community) has only 13 adult members. Nevertheless, from April 30, 1988, to March 4, 1990, we contributed $11,777 to the Baha’ International Fund and $5,794 to the National Baha’! Fund, a total of $17,571.”

the many virtues of giving in honor of, or in memory of others: “One size i . . No one can use five toasters, but this gift can be given time and

Finally, another idea comes from the Southeast: in preparing receipts for tax purposes for the local friends, the treasurer also made # graph showing the frequency of giving by the community (no names or amounts, of course) and stressed the need for sustained support for the local Fund. dour baet ata <faae Teecets sna in caesee ~

every on cach contributed just six of the 19 months in the year. ak

The community rallied. Total contributions rose from ai average of $580/month to $1,264, and participation from 24 to 48 Baha'is pet month.

What other new are to be discovered Teen patterns are waiting a2 we work to an i

�[Page 7]The American Bahd’{ / May 1990 /7

Annual report of the Office of the Treasurer

resolution to such matters. As a first step, the National Assembly has stipulated that all bequests will be used for property repairs and for the creation of a set-aside fund. A minimum of $45,000 each month is to be allocated to the set-aside fund until it reaches $6 million. However, in the short term,

National Bakd’{ Fund Combined Revenues

Cen Ceatributions 57.888.000

Contributions have averaged $7.9 million during the same five-year per ad ni i a] fa

niversal House of Jus F f

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payments, how, ect the efforts of the

House of Justice, disturb the even flow of projects around the world, and hold back the progress of the Cause.

The Baha’is themselves also provide important levels of credit to the National Fund. By April 1990, loans from

8g &

In March, the National Spiritual Assembly initiated a borrowing program totaling $6.75 million to cover partially the expense of the following objectives:

years. This work includes

‘of the Temple, the Wilhelm cabin res problem will facilitate far-reaching changes in the national administrative structure.

© Reorganization of National Assembly operations: while still in its earliest stages, the reorganization process will be earnestly pursued with a view toward laying a foundation that will accommodate rapid growth without a corresponding increase in the size of the national administration.

It is clear that bank loans are the highest cost financing alternative. The

Ten Year Strategic Plan for Properties Repairs

87 88 69 80 OB

the friends are forecast at $1,809,000. These low-cost funds are very stable; in fact, one out of every four such loans is eventually forgiven by the lender.

Commercial banks are the other main source of credit. The National Bahd’{ Fund experiences temporary cash shortages during the year, and at such times borrows under short-term credit facilities. The National Assembly also has considered the counsel of its outside advisers concerning the need for long-term credit that would support the many crucial projects now under way.

“It is indeed a most excellent favor, a boundless grace vouchsafed unto whosoever is privileged in this day to render service to the Cause of God, for its goodly results and the fruits thereof will last as long as the kingdom of earth and heaven will endure."’—Bahd'u'lidh

Payments for Huqiqu' ll4h should be made to ‘'Bah4'{ Huqiqu'Iléh Trust’’

and sent to one of the Trustees: Dr. Elsie Austin, P.O. Box 927, Silver Spring,

MD 20910 (Tel: 301-589-8481); Dr. Amin Banani,

Santa

Monica, CA 90402 (Tel: 213-394-5449); Dr. Daryush Haghighi, Rocky River, OH 44116 (Tel: 216-333-1506).

Inquiries about Hugiqu'll4h should be referred to one of the Trustees or to the Office of the Secretariat, Behd'{ Huqiqu'll4h Trust,

92 93 94 95 96 Annual Volume of Repairs

a OR 97 98 pow Year

efforts of all the offices and agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly this year will be bent upon fostering growth in contributions, loans from Baha'is and other methods of replacing these loans at the earliest possible moment. The urgent need to implement these programs, and the likely delay while the community comes to grips with its multi-faceted challenge, make such a borrowing program indispensable and unavoidable at present. The shape of things to come

The programs outlined in this report Tepresent an extraordinary departure from the methods and customs of the past. The Universal House of Justice tells us that the Faith progresses through a constant interplay of crisis and victory. In a very real sense, the call to build the Arc has created an opportunity for a major victory. In answering this call, we will experience a deeper level of unity than ever before. Can we not achieve a new relationship to and a higher level of support for the Fund, enabling us to attain a goal more reflective of the demands being made upon our spiritual and material resources in pursuit of “‘opportunities for marked expansion of the Cause'’?

A steady outpouring of material means will enable to American Bahé’{ community to discharge its trust in « manner befitting its unique role in the World Order of Bah4’u’liah.

At this early stage, we can sec that some of the steps we must take to mect the financial needs of the Cause are:

1. Teach. A “‘steady flow of mew recruits” is the best way to expand the spiritual and material resources of the community.

2. Consult. Consultation and collab National Bahdé’{ Fund

oration between and among the National Spiritual Assembly, the Counselors and their agencies, the local Spiritual Assemblies and the body of believers will nurture the growth of the creative energies that lie within the community, producing solutions to problems that today might appear as insoluble.

3. Spiritual growth. A broadly bas-< increase in the number of active sup porters of all the Funds of the Faith s essential.

The following words of the beloved Guardian speak forcefully to us at this portentous hour in our community's history:

“It is therefore imperative for the inticularly for the affluent, the independent, the comfort-loving and those obsessed by material pursuits, to step forward and dedicate their resources, their time, their very lives to a Cause of such transcendance that no human cye can even dimly perceive its glory. Let them resolve, instantly and unhesitatingly, to place, each according to his circumstances, his share on the altar of Baha’! sacrifice, lest, on a sudden, unforeseen calamities rob them of a considerable portion of the earthly things they have amassed.’’ (Citadel of Faith, p. 131)

Russian-born Bahé’i visits friends In Flagstaff, Arizona

On March 1-3, Maya Plaksina, a Russian-born Baha'i from Chicago, shared the Faith with people in the Flagstaff, Arizona, area, recalling ber early life in Russia, her acceptance of the Faith after coming to the U.S. in 1978, and her visit last year to her homeland to share “‘The Promise of World Peace."

Her story was heard on radio and television, an article about her appeared in the local newspaper, and she spoke to classes at Flagstaff Junior High School, presented a fireside for 50-60 people at “Macy's Buropean Coffee House."’

In Sedona, en route to Phoenix, Mrs. Plaksina recorded a 20-minute radio interview that was broadcast on Sunday, March 4.

Arise! �[Page 8]8 / The American Baha'i / May 1990

‘o Lxsasiien

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

.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

THE INTERNATIONAL Bahé’{ Audio- Viswal Centre is seeking a manager for its Video Services Office, to be relocated in Wilmette. This office collects, catalogs and sciectively distributes video materials from around the world in various languages, providing support to producers, Baha’! agencies and communities worldwide. Please send resumé and/or further inquiries to Dr. Kurt Hein, secretary of the Executive Committee, IBAYC, . Ontario L3T @L4, Canada, or phone 416-764-2960.

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

FAIRFIELD, lows, needs at least four adult Babd's to maintain its nine-year-old Amembly satus. This community of 10,000 offers « comdination of solid Midwestern values and global swareness with employment in basic industries, computer software, video production and many mall dusinesses, plus excellent public library, public and private schools. Variety of wholesome activities for children such as Scouts, 4H, dramaspeech competition, karate from a world<iass instructor. Undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education programs in town (Maharishi University) and nearby (community college in Ottumwa, University of Iowa in Iowa City). For more information, write to Jo Beth Wilson, secretary, Spiritual Assembly of Pairfield, P.O. Box 255, Fairfield, LA 52556, or phone 515-4728328.

HOMEFRONT pioneers: The Chinle Valley (Arizona) School for Exceptional Children needs & pre-school teacher certified in early childhood development with emphasis on the handicapped. Also needed is a special education teacher for traimabies. Must be willing to acquire an Arizona teaching certificate. The school is on the Navajo Reservation; lovely country, wonderful people. Living arrangements consist of trailers next to the school. For information or to send a resumé, contact Ginny L. Evans, Chinle, AZ

BOZEMAN, Montana—far from the mad Employment opportunities

The Department of Human Resources at the Bahd’{ National Center is presently accepting applications for the following positions. For more information, applications and position descriptions, please phone Lea Mallow or Geneva Sutton at 708-8699039, or send your qualifications to the Department of Human Resources, Bahd’{

National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

— Administrative Services: media services assistant (Studio); secretary (float

in three departments); filing clerk (parttime, records room)

— Bahé’{ Publishing Trust: associate

— Office of the Secretary: administrative aide/District Convention coordinator

— Office of the Treasurer: staff accountant; administrative assistant

— Persian/American Affairs Office: translator (must be fluent in Persian and

grants, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 708-869-9039.

URGENT need for pioncers in the Bahamas. San Salvador, formerly Watling Island, is the only island in the Bahamas mentioned by ‘Abdu’lBahd in the Tablets of the Divine Pian. (In 1992, the world will focus on this island when it ceiebrates the S00th anniversary of the landing there of Christopher Columbus.) San Salvador is a rural community (pop. about $00) situated one

YOUTH of the United States: here's a task for you—the BAHA'! YOUTH SERVICE CORPS! Have you ever thought of serving at a Baha’! orphanage in the Amaron jungle? Or at « Bahd’! radio station at an elevation of 14,000 feet in Bolivia? Or of being part of large-scale growth in Guyana? Have you wondered how to initiate steps that would lead you in these directions? If 80, contact the National Teaching Committee office at the Bahd'{ National Center and learn how YOU can become a Baha'i Youth Service Corps

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N.W., Washington, DC 20011. or 291-5532 of 201-338-8462.

CALLING all Bahé" collectors: | am attemp: ing to compile a complete listing of insert: tha: have appeared in Bahd'Y News and the Netone Bahd'{ Review, as well as the U_S. Suppiemen

Young Baha’f’s speech on Dr. King highlights San Jose’s Good Neighbor Awards breakfast

A brief talk by 12-year-old Baha’{

ticians ever could.’”’ As a member of the Bahd’{ Children’s Speech Club, Neda memorized a

The National

resource for the National

pondence to: States, Office of External Affairs, Washington, DC 20009.

National Spiritual Assembly seeks resumés

Spiritual Assembly would appreciate receiving resumdés

from Baha’i professionals working in the fields of child development, chil EOC fie Car ate nT eae Assembly to when

revextalicn (n CAMA? Hes Raliny G-aiaaNS be vemeteenammome ss

for the submission of papers, articles and the like.

the

National Spiritual Assembly of

sion. It consisted mainly of quotations from the writings of Bahd’u’lléh anc ‘Abdu’l-Bahé.

Please address corres Bahé'is of the United

�[Page 9]The American Band’! / May 1990 / 9

Santa Maria Baha'is target nearby Guadalupe, raise Assembly there

In 1987, the Spiritual Assembly of Santa Maria, California, adopted its neighboring community of Guadalupe as an extension goal area in order to help regain its Assembly status which was lost in 1986.

In February, a teaching institute involving members of the Santa Maria community began to direct its efforts toward the residents of Guadalupe.

By March, the Baha’{ community of Guadalupe, which had only five adult members a few short months ago, had grown to nine adults, and at Ridvan was able to form an Assembly.

Due to the efforts of the teaching institute, nine residents of Guadalupe and one resident of Santa Maria have declared their belief in Bahd’u'll4h.

Many of the enrollments were the result of door-to-door teaching undertaken every Sunday in Guadalupe. One was the result of an ongoing youth deepening institute, which was formed by Baha’! youth to help deepen young new believers

To help consolidate the new Baha’ {s, bi-monthly meetings for deepening and social interaction are being held in the homes of two married couples who have recently become Baha’{s.

It is hoped that these meetings will further the teaching process as the new believers invite their friends to hear the Message of Bahé’u’ll4h

Washington-area colleges form teaching institute to

heip inspire racial harmony

As a result of a series of recent meetings at the Baha’{ Center in Washington, D.C., on “the most vital and challenging issuc,"’ a teaching institute was formed comprised of at least one member from each of six Baha’! College Clubs in the D.C. area.

Its purpose is to inspire, create and support campus activities that are conducive to the elimination of prejudice and the fostering of racial harmony.

In February, the institute supported three public meetings that had already been planned by Baha’{ clubs at the University of Maryland, American University in Washington, and George Mason University in northern Virginia.

Among those taking part in the meetings were Evander Gilmer, a member of the National Race Unity Committee; the Metro D.C. Baha’{ Chorale; Prof. Leon Jones, a Baha’{ who teaches at Howard University; and performers Donna Denizé and Tony Joy.

Please indicate when | Spanish literature needed

If, when filling out declaration cards for Hispanic believers, there is a need for Spanish literature, please indicate on the card ‘‘Spanish literature.’”

The Management Information Systems office at the National Center will send Spanish new believers packets when the declaration card is so marked. Otherwise, the new believer(s) will be sent packets in English.

The Northern Virginia Bahd’t School,

sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of cessful year of operation. More than

Reston with the cooperation of 19 Ba 100 students ages 3-25 are registered

hd’{ communities in Northern Virginia, for the classes, with deepenings provid ‘Synergy’ means unity at Galveston, Texas, high schoo!

On March 9, an education administration building in Galveston, Texas, was transformed into an arena for fostering greater racial understanding and amity through the efforts of a youth group, “‘Synergy.”’

Synergy—named for synergism, “the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of individual elements or contributions’’—came about as a result of one Baha’! youth, Mary um Tirandaz, consulting with three other (non-Baha'l) high school stu dents.

Members of the group wanted to change the racial and cultural relations in thelr high sehool. They felt that if mudent leaders would openly address

} }

On December 11, the Bahd'ts of Greater Gainesville, Florida, presented their 12th annual Human Rights Award to Dr. Winston P. Nagan (right), prafessor of law at the University of Florida and recently elected chairman of the Board of Amnesty International U.S.A. Dr. Nagan has published many human rights articles on political and economic rights in the Third World, in those issues and try to go forward in unity, perhaps the student body would follow.

They conducted a survey and identified 46 recognized student leaders, whom they invited to an all-night

“‘lock-in.’’ At the lock-in, all participants would focus on the forces that

create divisions between people, espec ially those that affect their school.

Synergy decided that they wanted a Baha'i as mediator, and asked Rocky Moncho, a member of the National Youth Committee, to come

During the lock-in, he spoke about

the unity of mankind and helped foster a discussion of prejudice and stereo typing that might prevent understand

ing and tolerance

ternational law, and the case of the Sharpeville Six in South Africa. Presenting the award is Ike Welsh, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Gainesville. Keynote speaker at the observance was Dr. Soheil Bushrui, chairman of Khalil Gibran studies and visiting professor of English at the University of Maryland in College Park

this month completed its second suc- ed for the adults. A number of mow-Be hd’ts attend, and there was ration this year

ee DEON

Non-competitive games were playec and “boundary breaking of intimate personal feelings were beic

At the end of the session, cach those who attended lit « candice anc x pressed what had been personally ga ed through the evening

Most expressed a footing lock-in was a “‘revolubomary cver which racial barriers were Orokes

On the following evening. Mr. Mo cho gave a fireside at which some o \ Gay &@ic Priscilla Gilman, one of the organizers of Synergy, declared Der fad Bahda’u'llah, thereby dowdling the qumber of Baha bh in Oalvesto

The group plans to have more moe ings at the schoo! and would Uke fo ox pand to include other schools

The efforts to improve dialogue on the ‘‘most vital and challenging issuc certainly demonstrate the validit their concept and name

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the youth were present

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100 attend Baha’! forum on role of religion in peace

On February 10, 100 peopie in ing 60 who were not Baha'is attended a forum on “The Role of Religion in Establishing Worid Peace” sponsored > the Baha'i community of Mint Hil North Carolina.

The event was beid at St. Luke Catholic Church with Father Joseph Mulligan moderating

Panelists represented the Christian Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist and Baha faiths.

Members of Charlotte's Jewish com munity later discussed the event anc decided it was the kind of activit wanted to be included in for the future while the Hindu community asked a Baha'i speaker to come ¢

The forum was a part of th Hill Peace Project,”’ which 1986 with the presentation of Promise of Workd Peace” to the mayo and city council

The first peace panei, in 1989, drew about SO people including several no Baha’is

�[Page 10]INCREASE YOUR DEEPENING AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE FAITH

Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha

“Abdu"l-Baha's Will and Testament, Shoghi Effendi writes, is “the immortal Document”’ from which the Administrative Order of Bahd'u'Iish “derives its authority"’; it is “The Document establishing that Order, the Charter of a future world civilization, which may be regarded in some of its features as supplementary to no less weighty a Book than the Kitab-iAgdas. . . ."* The Will and Testament delineates the major features of the administrative institutions of the Bahd’{ Faith and ensures the protecion of the integrity and unity of the Faith.

Back in print, this important document is invaluable for deepening and studying of the Faith by groups or by individuals. Bahd’l Publishing ing Trust of the Onited States

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An appendix includes letters of remembrance from other Hands of the Cause of Ged, fromm Counselors, from Bah4’{ institutions, and from many friends who were touched by his warmth and inspired by his zeal Bahé’( Publiching Trust of the United States

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C ‘ongressional Resolution on Emancipation of Baha’ sun iran

Teaching and Development in Guyana and Haiti

- May Maxwell Conference, Buenos Aires

- Botswana Music Conference Shows Prominent Emergence

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baha'i Distribution Service �[Page 11]The American Bahé’{ / May 1999 / 11

11,000 are enrolied in past three months

In Guyana, ‘entry by troops’ gathers momentum

Ellen Widmer, a U.S. pioneer to Guyana who serves as an Auxiliary Board member in that country, spoke recently to staff at the Baha'i Nationa] Center in Wilmette about teaching victories in Guyana’s Muhdjir Project.

“When I arrived in Guyana, in 1969,"" she said, “there were 110 Baha’is in the entire country. At the end of 1989, there were 22,000. And as a result of the Muhdajir Project, 11,000 new believers have been enrolled in the past three months."’

This means that, with a total population of 750,000, more than four percent of Guyana’s citizens are now Bahé"fs.

About a year and a half ago, said

Mrs. Widmer, the Universal House of

Justice asked the Counselors in the Americas to suggest a country that was ready for a campaign to initiate entry by troops.

Specifically, it was looking for a country whose government had a good relationship with the Bah4’{ community and whose people would benefit greatly from the increased participetion of the Bahé’{s in the affairs of the community at large.

Guyana was chosen, and the Muh4jr Project came into being, coordinated by the Board of Counselors.

Following a week of orientation, Counselors Eloy Anello and Peter McLaren chose 26 full-time teachers to

serve on the project, looking specifically for those to whom unity and obe dience were paramount. They also concentrated on creating a balance among

Bahé’i Faith Forum added to Cleveland’s Free-Net

The Baha’{ Faith Forum was recently added as an informational component of the Cleveland (Ohio) FreeNet, the world’s largest public-access computer system.

The Forum, manned by Baha’{ volunteers from the Cleveland area, provides callers an opportunity to ask questions and obtain information about the Faith through the Free-Net, which permits computer users with modems to connect with other computers over a phone line.

For information about the Forum, write to the Spiritual Assembly of Cleveland, c/o Angela Maldonado, secretary, Cleveland, OH 44109.

projecteers as to sex, age and cultural background, as well as balancing the number of native and non-native teachers.

“One of the most important factors in our success, I believe,’’ said Mrs. Widmer, ‘‘was that we took the time to clarify our vision of ‘entry by troops.’ We talked about our fears and perceived obstacles and what steps we could take to overcome them.”’

An initial goal, she said, was ‘‘to identify receptive villages, but we soon found that every village was receptive.

“The people were so ready to hear the Message that they were offended if teachers did not stop at their house. Some even said they had dreamt of the visit, and said they had been waiting eagerly for the friends to arrive."’

The next step in the campaign was to revisit the homes of those who had accepted the Cause and teach their families.

Next, the groups approached leaders and people of influence in each village to enlist their support and help in reaching the people. As a result, the leader of one Buddhist temple became a Baha’{.

Within four weeks, Mrs. Widmer said, 26 Guyanese had arisen to join the project while all over the country, new Baha’is were arising to serve.

The Bahé’{ community, which was

growing so rapidly that in one locality the only place large enough to hold the

Feast was a local ballpark, soon found itself looked to by the community at large for help with many of the social problems it was facing.

“The people are quite concerned about the moral decline of the youth,”’ said Mrs. Widmer. ‘So the Baha'is have begun teaching classes in morals for children. The classes are so large, numbering about 200 each, that we are restricted in the activities we can offer. But the children learn songs and prayers and The Hidden Words."

Classes also were started for mothers, but before long the men in the villages wanted to learn about health care and educating children, so now the classes are called couples’ classes.

As a result of these and other activities, the Baha’{s in Guyana have been catapulted from obscurity and are having a nationwide impact. In fact, the president of Guyana has asked for a meeting with the National Spiritual

Assembly to consult on the future of Guyana.

Already, the government has decided to introduce a new curriculum in public schools to teach moral values, and is considering using the Mother's Books published by the Nationa! Spiritual Assembly of Kenya as a guide in developing that curriculum.

Other nationwide projects receiving help from the Bahaé’{ community, said Mrs. Widmer, include a medical project, a literacy program, and the prime minister's anti-drug campaign.

Last year the prime minister addressed a Baha’{ youth conference in Guyana, saying that the most effective

For the 21st year in a row, the Bahd'ts of Manatee County (Bradenton area), Florida, had an exhibit during January at the Manatee County Fair. This year’s theme was ‘The Beauty and Bounty of Manatee County.’ The Bahd’ts won first prize in the category of Religious and Service Organizations

thing the young Bahd’is could do to heip other youth would be to teach the Faith as much as possibic.

The Bahaé’{ community in Guyana is achieving its great success despite « lack of material advantages that many countries might take for granted. The greatest need, said Mrs. Widmer, is for written materials (in English), especially children’s books and the Bahd’/ Writings.

“The House of Justice,"” she said, “designed this project as a pilot to be replicated around the worid.

“It has been successful,"’ she concluded, “‘because of the power of Baha’u’llah."”

Jor this exhibit which included quotetions from the Writings and video tapes of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the Shrines of Bahd’u'lldh and the Bab, and Houses of Worship around the world. More thar 100,000 people attended the Fair

Overseas events, projects, conferences

Alaska: Northern Star Project. Need traveling teaching to help teach in the Aleutian Island chain villages, June-August.

Barbados: Caribbean Baha’{ Youth Conference, August 10-12. Retired couple or person to help with archives, ongoing.

SUMMER PROJECTS

BAHAMAS (June to August). Summer project with the focus on the establishment of clubs on the environment for youth and pre-youth.

BELIZE (July and August). Ongoing goal-oriented campaign involving both teaching and consolidation.

BOTSWANA (June to August). ‘Star 90."’ The thrust of this year’s effort will be for youth coming to Botswana to join indigenous youth in all aspects

of Baha’{ work. CANADA (June to August). Yukon Baha’{ Institute summer programs.

HONG KONG (June to August). Continuous flow of traveling teachers to take part in a variety of activities to support the process of entry by troops. KOREA (June to August). Continuous flow of traveling teachers to help achieve specific teaching and consolidation goals.

EASTERN EUROPE Crrchoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia, Soviet Union.

Canada: Yukon Baha’ Institute, ongoing. Five Internationa! Youth Conferences, ‘‘An Environment of Peace With Nature and With Each Other,” various dates.

China: Sino-American Women’s Conference, June 25-28.

Dominica: Summer School, August. ‘Sparks of Peace’’ Youth Project, summer.

El Salvador: Ongoing project in metropolitan areas, emphasizing teaching and consolidation; youth are especially welcome. ‘

Fiji Islands: Need radio communications volunteer to help produce radio programs to help deepen local believers, ongoing.

Guatemala: Project Quiche. Urgent need for Spanish-speaking teachers to help reach the Maya Quiche Indians, ongoing.

Jamaica: International Chinese Teaching Symposium, June 14-17

Malawi; Baha’i International Summer School, December 21-27

Norway: Norwegian Summer School, July 22-29.

Puerto Rico; Brilliant Star Project, mass teaching, ongoing

Switzerland: Teaching projects in St. Gallen, Lucarno and Lausanne, ongoing. Bike Tour for Peace, August.

Trinidad: Dr. Ugo Giachery Teaching Project, ongoing

Zimbabwe: Traveling teachers needed to teach in rural secondary schools, ongoing.

For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baba’) National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 708-869-9039

�[Page 12]12 / The American Bahi'i / May 1990

BAHA'! NATIONAL REVIEW

MAY 1990

uO. 129

Baha’i schools, agencies, committees: annual reports

1. Carrying the Healing Mesmge of Bahd'u'ldh to Mankind

Committee for the Bahd’{ House of Worship

Goal: To prociaim the Bah4’{ Faith, to work in conjunction with Baha’{ communities in serving the needs of the House of Worship, and to involve greater numbers of people in activities held in the Temple.

Status: Ongoing.

Activities: Welcomed more than 112,180 visitors from more than 40 countries to the House of Worship. (Noted increasing numbers of visitors from Russia, Pakistan, China and Latin American countries.)

Trained 363 people to guide at the House of Worship. Hosted discussions for communities in the area of the House of Worship about collaborating on advancing the teaching work.

Initiated a series of three-part firesides, focused on the Central Figures of the Faith and which discussed candidly the spiritual significance of the Station of Bahd’u'll4h, aimed at individuals who are already familiar with the basic principles of the Faith.

partners, three joined couples in which only one was a Baha'l, and 10 joined non-Bahd’{ couples.

Assisted the teaching and proclamation efforts of local Spiritual Assemblies by providing the facilities of the House of Worship and refreshments for such events.

Responded to requests by non-Bahd'{ peace groups for copies of appropriate Bahd’{ materials for their events.

Teaching/Consolidation/ Proclamation Projects National Teaching Committee

Goal: To work with the four major large-scale teaching projects to bring about unprecedented growth in those areas and to identify and work with other areas that show potential for large-scale growth.

States: In progress.

Acttrities: Continued to support the teaching efforts in the four major teaching project areas: Atlanta—Major activities in Atlanta have centered on the annual youth conference and « wide involvement with the

Martin Luther King Jr. holiday celebrations. Approximately 800 youth and adults attended the youth conference hosted by the Spiritual Assembly of Roswell. Youth participated in direct teaching activities in Marietta and Griffin. Bahd’{s from all over the country took part in King Week activities, and 2,000 Bahd'is from more than 30 states marched in Atlanta. The Atlanta-area Bahd'{s arranged for 19 American Indian from more than eight tribes to take part in the march. Enrollments in the Atlanta area this year total 179. Chicago—Noticed that an increase in teaching institutes in the Chicago area has had a healthy effect on the teaching work resulting in 47 enrollments. Adassachusetts—Close involvement of the Auxiliary Board has helped to re-direct the efforts of Project Massachusetts. The Boston-Cambridge area has been designated a target for a focused teaching project. Massachusetts had 33 enrollments this year.

San Jose—Southeast Asian teaching has been the most successful aspect of San Jose’s Metro 1000 Project. The increase in such teaching has had a corollary benefit in the increase in Chinese teaching in the Bay area. The Sacramento and Stockton communities have been drawn into this increased teaching and are counted in the victories associated

surrounding Phoenix have resulted in 575 enrollments since the beginning of the Six Year Plan. Present efforts are focused on the cities of Mesa and Avondale to reach the Hispanic population. Total enrollments in the area this year were 130.

(c) South Carolina: The South Carolina Coordinating Committee, with the support of the National Teaching Committee, launched a major teaching effort in January that was to begin in two or three towns and progress to others as each town assumes responsibility for its own teaching work.

(d) El Paso/Southern New Mexico: A teaching project that emerged from a teaching institute has targeted the Hispanic population in western Texas and southern New Mexico. Most of the teaching has been door-to-door, although some efforts have been made to use firesides. Since the believers involved in the institutes launched themselves into the Se pe oa gti eiacct a exrolionents foe: ttie yom coach

3.

Reported enrollments for the nation as a whole (as of March 13) were 1,894.

Assisted the Native American Baha’{ Institute to move toward functioning as a center for the deepening of Indian believers and the training of Baha’{ teachers.

Assumed responsibility for the second series of Vision to Victory conferences and compiled a conference workbook to assist the friends attending the conferences to focus on the nature of teaching, on the Pund, and on the significance of the Arc on Mount Carmel. The National Teaching Committee will continue to work with the communities that hosted the conferences and with the Auxiliary Boards to initiate large-scale teaching projects at each of the sites. Encouraged the establishment of teaching institutes and published a booklet to help the friends gain a clearer understanding of the process. Indications are that an increase in

teaching activity has taken place as a direct result of such institutes.

Other Teaching/Consolidation/Proclamation Projects

Green Acre Bahd’{ School

Goal: To publish a commemorative booklet highlighting the school’s history,

States: In progress. 1 Activities: Compiled, with the help of volunteers, extensive research on the history of the school for the book which is

scheduled to be published in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Sarah Farmer Inn.

National Committee on Women Geak: To promote the principle of the equality of men and

in western New York in which several local dignitaries participated. The final event was an evening of talks on the principle of equality, held at the University of Rochester and given by members of the Baba’! International Community, the National Spiritual Assembly, and the Auxiliary

as the National Council of Women.

Sponsored a consultative session, attended by Bahé’is and non-Bahd’{s of both the Navajo and Hopi tribes, on substance abuse and its multi-generational effects. The conference was held on the Navajo Reservation in Tube City,

Arizona.

Co-planned and co-sponsored, with the U.S. Bahd’{ Refugee Office, a banquet in Oakland, California, honoring selected women of Asian descent.

Developed deepening materials on the equality principle for use by Bahd’{ communities.

Drafted a pamphlet on the equality principle suitable for the general public.

WLGI Radio

Goal: To bring the Faith and its principles to the attention of listeners to Radio Bahé’i WLGI.

States: Ongoing.

Activities: Increased on-air broadcast time to 15 hours a �[Page 13]The American Bahs'i / May 1990 / 13

BAHA'! NATIONAL REVIEW

May 1890 Mo. 129

consolidation goals of national communities and called for a range of short-term pioncer projects for the remainder of the Six Year Plan. The American Bahd’{ community has been charged with completing 708 months of full-time service to the Cause between now and the end of the Plan. Activities: Placed 455 pioneers abroad, completing 50 of our 77 long-term goals for the Six Year Plan. Completed 13 months of 708 months’ service in short-term pioneer goals.

Monitored 472 trips undertaken by 226 traveling teachers to 70 countries including trips to Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and the People’s Republic of China.

Monitored the progress of the National Spiritual Assembly’s consolidation goal in the Turks and Caicos Islands and noted with pleasure that increased teaching activities have resulted in a number of declarations, particularly on the island of Providenciales, which brings the goal nearer to completion.

Monitored and supported the activities in the Falkland Islands, an assigned consolidation goal, and observed increasing maturity and strength in that community. Collaborated with the National Teaching Committee on with concentrations of minorities singled out for special attention in the Six Year Plan.

Mass Media Use External Affairs’ Office of Public Information

Goal: To develop the Baha’i Public Information Network as a local source of news and background material about the Faith, major developments affecting the Baha'i world, and the activities of the Baha'i community.

States: Ongoing. 862 Public Information representatives were appointed this year and 113 Public Information Committees were established.

Activities: Held public information conferences in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver and San Jose, and met with the local Spir itual of Atlanta and Richardson, Texas, and with the San Jose Metro 1000 Tusk Force to discuss public information work.

Helped the local Spiritual Assembly of Huntsville, Alabama, in developing a statement about the ‘‘Promise of Alabama."

Established contacts with Public Information representatives in cities hosting the 1989-90 Vision to Victory conferences to help them take advantage of media opportunities for the conferences.

Published a biannual ‘‘Public Information Bulletin” for Public Information representatives to provide practical information and request specific actions.

Began recruitment of Public Information representatives as part-time reporters for The American Bahd't.

Updated the following public information materials: ‘‘National Spiritual Assembly Fact Sheet,'’ ‘‘The Baha'i Faith and Its World Community,"’ and ‘Baha’! Statistics,"" and published a new fact sheet titled ‘‘Bahda'{ Funeral Practices.””

Established ‘‘NEWSWIRE"' on the public information section of the Bahd'{ National Center’s electronic bulletin board which includes news releases from the National Spiritual Assembly, news of major developments that affect the Baha’{ world, and facts that can be used by Public Information representatives.

Issued news releases through the Baha’i Public Information Network about the Congressional resolution on the persecution of Baha'is in Iran and one news release about the establishment of the Bahé'{ Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland.

Goal: To inform the National Spiritual Assembly and its committees and agencies and the Public Information Network about media coverage of the Faith.

Status: Ongoing.

Activities: Noted significant reference to the Faith on National Public Radio, and that C-SPAN aired coverage of the House of Representatives’ consideration and vote on a resolution regarding the Bahd’{s in Iran. Stories based on the National Spiritual Assembly's news releases appeared on the AP, UPI and Reuters news wires. Mention of the Faith was also made in the following newspapers and magazines: The New York Times, Boston Globe, Chicago

Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Christian Science Monitor, Houston Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, National Catholic Reporter, The Washington Post, Washington Times, USA Today, Iran Times, Lakota Times, Denver Post, The Dallas Morning News, Houston Post, St. Petersburg (Florida) Times, ‘Concrete International,"’ ‘World Peace News,"’ “‘Inspired,’’ ‘'The Christian Century,’ ‘‘Liberty,"’

“Time,"’ “‘The National Review,"’ ‘‘The Rotarian,’’ “Scouting Magazine,’ ‘‘TV Guide,"’ ‘‘Lighting Design and Application,’’ ‘‘Glass’’ magazine, ‘‘Glamour,'’ ‘Ladies’ Home Journal,"’ and ‘‘Signs of the Times."’ Collected references to the Faith in books published in 1988 and 1988 include: The Encyclopedia of American Religtons; Religious Creeds; Another Gospel; Alternative Religjons and the New Age Movement; Out of the Shadow of Night; The Closed Circle; Down to the Wire; UPI's Fight Jor Survival; Islam in Practice; Religious Beliefs in a Persian Village; The Future of Religion; Paved with Good Intentions; The State, Religion and Ethnic Politics; Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan; and My Friends’ Beliefs: A Young Reader’s Guide to World Religions.

Goal: To assist the National Spiritual Assembly to expand contacts with national and regional communications media and similar efforts.

Status: Ongoing.

Activities: Provided information to universities, libraries, organizations and publishers including the following: University of the District of Columbia; University of Delaware; University of New Orleans; New York State Senate Department of Minority Communication; Wisconsin Conference of Churches; Great Lakes Naval Training Center; Ecumedia News Service; Atlas History of Christianity; ‘‘The Europa World Year Book 1990’*; the *‘Directory of Experts, Authorities and Spokespersons’’; ‘‘Christian Woman"’ magazine; Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies; Gale Publishers; Governors State University; Columbia University School of Social Work; Brigham Young University; Retigious News Service; Ecumenism Research Agency; World Book Encyclopedia; Compton's Electric Encyclopedia; Year Book of American and Canadian Churches; the Boy Scouts of America; and to the writer of **Dear Abby.”

Coordinated visits to the Baha'i House of Worship by the Consul-General of India and the wife of the President of Guyana,

Maintained membership in the Religious Public Relations Council, attended regional meetings in Chicago, and attended the Council's National Convention in Washington, D.C,

Attended an organizational meeting of the North American Interfaith Network.

Worked with the Baha'i International Community's Office of Public Information to coordinate Bah&'! participation in the International Religious Communications Congress in Nashville, Tennessee.

Provided video tape and background information about the Faith to the Cable News Network (CNN) series ‘‘Future Watch"’ for a program about the future of religion. Contacted the Illinois Department of Transportation to investigate the possibility of placing a sign on Interstate highway 94 in Wilmette to note the historical importance of the Baha’{ House of Worship.

Dramatic/Musical Presentations

Louhelen Bahd’{ School

Goal: To create forums for artistic expression and the ree of appreciation for diverse cultural expres aia Ongoing.

Activities: Hosted the fourth Robert Hayden Poet-in-Residence program, at which two public readings and a writers’ workshop were given.

Co-sponsored the Robert Hayden Conference and sponsored several events in association with it including: the publication of an anthology of work by the four Robert Hayden Fellows in residence at the school; a performance, “Angle of Ascent,'’ based on Mr. Hayden’s works; and statewide poetry events for high school students at which two Robert Hayden Fellows, who are Baha'is, led workshops. The Louhelen Baha’{ School and the Association for Baha'i Studies were identified as co-sponsors on all publicity materials that were sent to all major universities throughout Michigan.

Other activities at Louhelen included a week-long family session at which seven artists and musicians conducted classes for all ages, and international music, readings and dance in three major cultural events held in conjunction with Holy Day observances.

2. Involvement of the Faith in the Life of Human Society Public Relations

External Affairs’ U.S./UN Representative

Goal: To represent the National Spiritual Assembly to U.S. non-governmental organizations at the United Nations; to inform Baha'is in the U.S, about UN-related issues and the work of the Baha’i International Community; and to encourage American Bahd'{s to take part in UN activities at various levels.

States: Ongoing.

Activities: The U.S. Bahd'i UN representative attended the following meetings, briefings and events: 23 UN Department of Public Information briefings; meetings of the NonGovernmental Organization/Department of Public Information Executive Committee; five U.S. UN Mission briefings; Non-Governmental Organization Committee mectings; UNA By-Laws Resolution Committee meeting; International Literacy Day and | Percent for Peace programs at UN headquarters; a meeting of Intercultural Center for Youth; The National Council of Women’s 100th anniversary celebration and dinner; a meeting on women with Baha’i committees and the president of the National Council of Women; and the Young Women Achievers Awards presentation sponsored by the National Council of Women for the United States.

Maintained memberships in the following: Advisory/Pianning Board of the North American Environmental Sabbath Committee; ex-officio member of the Executive Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations associated with the UN Department of Public Information; and chairman of the Executive Committee of the Conference of UN Rep resentatives of the UNA/USA.

Attended the following conferences and seminars: Women and World Population; Forum on the Environment; Mode! UN Seminar on Rights of the Child; Second Annual Giester Hinds World Service Luncheon (sponsored by the Harlem YMCA in connection with the Africa Focus project); the Baha’{ International Community and Club of Rome Sympesium on Africa; Development and Environment; annual Department of Public Information/Non-Governmenta! Organization Conference at UN headquarters (served as rapporteur); Conference on Religion and the Environment; Symposium IV for Advocates of African Food Security; First National Conference on the United States and the United Nations; and a reception given by Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc. in celebration of its sponsorship of

- Waging Peace,”’ a CNN special report broadcast

Other activities: Helped plan and served as chairman of the UNA-USA Non-Governmental Organization's orientation and tea; held a luncheon for Non-Governmental Organizetion colleagues at the offices of the Baha’! International Community; attended a retirement party for the UN Department of Public Information (NGO) Section Chief; beled peepers te UND Elma Beceeer Aad peogram; at a Coretta Scott Sic hc a GRA Mees acc was D.C.; hosted a meeting with representatives of UNICEF to discuss collaborative activities; responded to more than 200 requests for UN materials from Baha’! communities and individuals; gave two presentations in celebration of United Nations Day; presented informal talks on “Baha'is and the UN” and distributed UN literature to Baha’! communities; sent a U.S./UN Office display to Bahd’is in Washington, D.C., for use in the Bahé’{ booth at the first National Conference on the United States and the United Nations; prepared 14 articles for The American Bahd’/ and two articles for Bahd' News.

Louhelen Baha'i School

Goal: To build relations with local non-Baha’{ organizations and the community at large.

Status: Ongoing.

Activities: Collaborated with the Midwest Regional Committee of the Association for Bahd’i Studies and the English department at the University of Michigan on a major conference in February honoring the late poet Robert Hayden Funding for the conference was provided by the Michigan Council for the Humanities, the Michigan Council for the Arts, Wayne State University, and the University of Michigan. A room in the Afro-American Center at the University of Michigan was dedicated in Mr. Hayden's honor. Hosted the conferences of 11 local community groups and provided facilities for a local chapter of Adult Children of Alcoholics.

Hosted the University of Michigan-Flint's weekly Cultural Anthropology class in the fall and began arrangements to offer additional classes each semester that students in the Louhelen Residential Program and others may attend. Rented classrooms to the Davison Montessori Academy which schools 130 local children.

Hosted training sessions and multi-cultural awareness seminars for bank employees at Genesee Bank, a major bank in the county, at the school. One of the students in the residential program gave a talk to cach group about the Faith and about the Louhelen Baha'i School.

Arranged for two Elderhostel programs to begin in the summer of 1990 in conjunction with the University of Michigan.

Participated in literacy initiatives as follows: the school's director served as chairman of the Committee on Occupetional Literacy for the Michigan State Department of Bducation and gave presentations on literacy to teachen in Michigan and to Baha’is in Sowth Carolina. �[Page 14]4 / The American Baha'i / May 1990

BAHA'l NATIONAL REVIEW May 1990 No. 129

Louis G. Gregory Bahd’i Institute

Goal: To imcrease the Institute's participation and involvement in community affairs.

Status: Ongoing.

Activities: Provided emergency and long-term relief to victims of Hurricane Hugo as attested by the following: Furnished shelter at the Institute during and immediately

or find new housing; helped directly 60 households in repairing their roofs, ceilings, walls, floors and windows. The success of the relief efforts has made the In Began in November 1989 to air live broadcasts of the University of South Carolina-Conway campus basketball

games. Experimented with formats and broadcast an obituary pro =—. Aiped live remote broadcasts from A:lanta, Georgia, coverimg Martin Luther King Day activities and aired live remote

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phasis on serious study of the Faith and the application of the Teachings to personal, community and civic life. Continued the development of regular programs and procedures to promote a serious plication of the Teachings to civic life.

3. The Enrichment of Baba’! Literature

Bahd’t Publishing Trust Committee

Goal: To develop, in consultation with other advisory agencies, a concept of the publications that are needed by the community through the end of the Six Year Plan.

States: In progress. Activities: Researched the letters of the Universal House of

Justice about publishing and proposed to the National Spiritual Assembly guidelines for developing a publishing pro gram. Recommended a publishing agenda to the National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’i writings to be published in 199091.

Met with the administrator of the Baha’{ House of Worship to consult about literature needed for introducing the Faith to the many visitors to the Temple.

Began work on an updated mission statement for the Baha'i Publishing Trust.

Bahd’i Publishing Trust Geal: To publish and distribute the writings of the Faith,

introductory and historical works, pamphlets and other teaching literature, literature for children, and video and

cassette tapes. Status: Ongoing.

Began work on reprints of The Hidden Words, the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, The Advent of Divine Justice, Baohd'u'lidh ond the New Era, On Becoming a Bahd’{ (in

ber 29, 1988, to the American Bahé’{ community as /ndividual Rights and Freedoms in the World Order of Bahd’u"lidh; Developing Distinctive Bahd’i Communities; a four Bahd'i Elections, Of the Earth's Resources with Bahd'{ (Canade and the Bahd’{ Publishing Trust of the United

Kingdom. Distributed “The Seat of God's Throne” and ‘‘Bahd'{

suggestions received in a letter written om behalf of the Universal House of Justice and a memorsadum from the Re search Department of the Babdé’{ World Center, both of which helped to define the functions of such an office. �[Page 15]The American Baha’! / May 1990 / 15

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tional Spiritual Assembly including human resources management, management information systems (data processing, membership and records management, mail services, aed communications) and media services.

Status: Ongoing.

Activities: Human Resources—Restroctured the Human Resources Department and cross-trained staff to broaden the scope of responsibility for each member; purchased and installed a new human resources software aid in recordkeeping; began the development of a formal policy and procedures handbook for employees at the Baha'i National Center; altered some aspects of the employee benefits package; reviewed the National Center’s compensation policies to remain current with state and federal laws; and filled 35 full-time staff openings.

Management Information Systems— Arranged for the purchase of a new central computer system for the Bahd’{ National Center through Resources Inc. The new system features hardware by Digital Equipment Corporation and software by Resources, focusing on accounting and a centralized data base. Installation is expected to be completed in late May with total conversion from the existing Sperry computer to take place by midsummer. Established an electronic bulletin board system whose user dase inchades 510 individuals and just under 200 institutions establishing contact with Baha'is from 44 of the 48 contiguous states. More than 4,300 calls from Bahd'{s around the U.S. were received this year by the bulletin board. Processed more than 14,500 address changes, 1,750 enrollments (inchading 73 Southeast Asian refugees and 46 children) and 930 child registrations.

Transferred nearly 1,050 Baha'is into the U.S. including 340 Persian believers.

Mail services mailed out more than 224,455 pieces. Completed the first phase of a data entry program in the development of an in-house Automatic Contribution Sys tem. Developed a new data base for the Assembly Formation report and recorded information on 1,500 Assemblies. Developed enhanced personal computer support systems which contributed to improved productivity from computer resources,

Media Services—Provided technical support and advice to agencies and individuals and to conferences held throughout the country during the year; filled hundreds of custom requests for copies of slides, audio tapes and video and film materials throughout the U.S. and abroad; assisted the Baha’i communities of Puerto Rico and El Salvador and the Radio Division of the International Baha'i Audio-Visual Center in the acquisition of professional production equipment for television and radio.

Expanded the Media Services staff from two to four by

sponsibility for housing the Video Services Office of the International Bahé’{ Audio-Visual Center and will explore ways to extend the international focus of video

work to serve more effectively the needs of the Faith woridwide.

Released woridwide the English-language video ‘“The Seat of God’s Throne."’ In January, the video received an award from the International Film and Video Festival of New

ference on Literacy held this spring in Bangkok, Thailand. Produced the “‘Bahé'{ Newsreel,’’ the first video in what is intended to be a quarterly review of significant Bahd'{ acUvities in this country and around the world.

Produced “Like an Eagle in the Sky,’’ a short video program about the spiritual destiny of the native peoples of the

stages of editing. National Bahd’{ Archives Committee

Goal: To assist the National Spiritual Assembly and its committees and agencies by assuming responsibility for records management and assisting research functions at the National Center.

States: Ongoing.

Activities; Answered 164 research requests including 85 from the National Assembly and its agencies and 16 from the Baha'i World Center.

Furnished 24 historical photographs for Baha’i publishers. Worked with the Offices of Public Information and Human Resources to establish a collection of video tapes of current events programs for the library at the Bahd’{ National Center.

Provided documents and photographs about AfricanAmerican Baha'is for a Black History Month exhibit at the House of Worship, and provided a display on the National Spiritual Assembly's first fund campaign (1925-30) for a tour of special visitors hosted by the Office of the Treas urer. Started microfilming minutes and annual reports of some of the oldest local Spiritual Assemblies in the U.S. to safeguard those important historical documents.

Received for permanent deposit minutes from the Baha’i community of New York City from 1914-18 and Assembly records and minutes from 1923-38.

Verified source citations for ‘Developing Distinctive Baha’ Communities.”

National Properties Committee

Goal: To oversee the protection and development and the acquisition and disposition of all Bah4'{-owned properties in the U.S., to manage the staff of NSA Properties Inc., and to provide guidance to local Assemblies concerning property acquisition or development.

Ongoing. Activities: Continued restoration work on the Baha’{ House of Worship by vacuuming part of the interior panels of ornamental concrete, by removing calcium sulfate deposits from the first-story pylons, and by washing away deposits of lichen and dirt from outside dome panels. The cleaning will continue throughout the coming ycar. Produced, after two years of testing and experimentation, concrete that duplicates the composition, color and texture of the original concrete used on the Temple. Removed the monumental steps at the main door to the House of Worship and replaced them after installing a heating system under them designed to melt snow and ice without using de-icing chemicals. Continued engineering for repairs to the main gutter below the Temple dome and engaged sculptors to make molds for the ornamental concrete panels that must be replaced. Added a Project Manager with considerable experience in construction management to the staff of NSA Properties Inc. to help complete the backlog of deferred repairs on other properties. Began construction of the first phase of restoration of the Sarah Farmer Inn at the Green Acre Baha’i School.

Held an orientation meeting for Auxiliary Board members to explore the process of Assembly development as envis Ste eee ccomee® anal tht New era ee ee tie Belg Be ee

munity Life; Baha’! Social and Economic Development; Celebrating Diversity; That the East and West May Embrace (the Integration of Persian-American Baha'is into the aan Bah4'{ Community); and The Nineteen Day +) Distributed modules to Auxiliary Board members and their uate itiaemae eel les.

Secretariat—Special Events

Goal: To coordinate logistics for national and district conventions; to facilitate the travel of the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies; to provide information and resources for conference and mecting planning to local comtounities; and to provide support to the National Spiritea! Assembly for the Local Spiritual Assembly Development Conferences.

Status: Ongoing.

Activities: National Convention—Coordinated convention logistics and processed the recommendations made by deiegates to the National Spiritual Assembly during the 1989 Convention.

District Conventions—lIdentified host Assemblies and heiped them in their preparations for district conventions: processed delegate election results.

Assisted in initial logistics and planning for the 1990 AssoGation for Bahé’{ Studies Conference, ““Modeis for Racal Unity.”

Local Spiritual Assembly Development Conferences—Provided staff support in producing and mailing letters of invitation to participating local Spiritual Assemblies. Meeting Planning Services—Maintained conference planning resource files and provided agencies of the Nationa! Spiritual Assembly with logistical and reference materials and information for conferences, hotels and travel arrangements.

National Committee on Women

Geak: To hold conferences for promoting the principle of the equality of the sexes.

States: The committer has noted an increase of conferences on this topic that have been sponsored by local commnunities and that the issue has become « major focus of community life at this time.

Activities: Sponsored the second annual conference on the equality of the sexes with special emphasis on Hispanic anc Native American women in Albuquerque, New Mexico, «t which relevant cultural entertainment and ceremonies were included. Workshops offered to the 150 attendees featured such topics as teaching spiritual values and equality in the Hispanic community.

Louis G. Gregory Bahd’( Institute

Goal: To initiate and support efforts to teach the Faith, to foster local Spiritual Assembly development and individual persona] transformation, to train Bahé’{s to become effiective teachers, to provide Baha’! education and social and economic development activities, and to bring all activities in accordance with the principles and patterns of Baha"! life.

States: Ongoing.

Activities: Held the South Carolina Summer and Winter Schools, three-day sessions each of deepening classes for children, youth and adults.

Hosted a planning meeting of the South Carolina Coordinating Committee to coordinate statewide teaching and deepening strategies.

Held a Youth Academy, an intensive deepening, study and training program for 14 youth from around the country including some from American Indian communities in South Dakota.

Held a Black Men's Gathering sponsored by Counselor William Roberts for more than 50 black men to study the Writings for the purpose of personal and community transformation and for teaching the Faith.

Sponsored a work weekend in September that incorporated elements of prayer, music, fellowship and recreation in finishing many chores that the Institute needed done. Sponsored the fourth annual Peace Fest which welcomed hundreds of South Carolina residents in 2 celebration of music, prayer and cultural performances, and presented the Peace Award to Dr. William Gibson, chairman of the Netional Board of Directors of the NAACP.

Established Sunday unity worship services that evolved out of the Hurricane Hugo relief effort and that drew an average of 75 Baha'i and non-Baha’i adults, youth and chiki ren. Held a two-day staff retreat to discuss the development of the Institute and of WLGI Radio Baha'i.

Held a week-long Baha'i Youth Service Training program. coordinated with the National Teaching Committee, at which youth learned from veteran adult and youth pioneers and joined experienced South Carolina traveling teacher to teach in rural areas.

Held a reorganization meeting for the Louis G. Gregory Institute Choir and defined its primary goals as being to sap port the Institute and WLGI and to support the teaching activities in the six counties surrounding the Institute. Arranged work schedules of Institute staff to allow approx imately one-quarter of the staff to spend cach Friday in the fieki involved in direct teaching activities The rest of the �[Page 16]16 / The American Bahd’{ / May’1990

BAHA'! NATIONAL REVIEW

May 1990 Mo. 129

staff assumes the duties of staff who are in the field. Seekes are invited to weekly Friday night firesides at the Institute. In conjunction with this effort, four teaching institutes have been established, incorporating non-staff members and newly enrolled Baha’ fs. Held a two-day Literacy Symposium, attended by 40 people, featuring study of the Writings and workshops. week-long Teacher-in-Residence program whose goals were to begin to collect an oral history of the South Carolina and to generate material for an onradio series about the early days of the Faith in the state.

Held a New Believers’ Institute weekend, planned and coordinated in collaboration with the South Carolina Coordinating Committee.

Invited the full South Carolina Bahé’{ community to a Naw-Ruz celebration at the Institute that included live mu sic, dancing, fireworks, games and food. Native American Bahd’t Institute

Goal: To further the development of the Native American Baha’! Institute; to develop systematically local Spiritual Assemblies on the Navajo and Hopi Reservations and to host local Spiritual Assembly training programs under the guidance of the Auxiliary Boards; to help the Spiritual Assembly of Oak-Pine Springs establish and maintain communication and spiritual ties among Native Americans through use of the Eternal Peace Flame; and to assist with and take part in programs sponsored by other tribes who sponsor sessions to help resolve social problems and issucs. States: Ongoing.

Activities: Began using a traditional Navajo Sweat Hogan, donated by a newly declared Navajo medicine man, as a teaching tool and healing institute.

Worked with the Council for the Native American Baha'i Institute to draft a document giving the Navajo Reservation a “third world” status so the influx of pioneers to the Reservation will be better coordinated through the Office of Pioneering.

Appointed an Education Task Fores to work with the National Bahd"{ Education Committee in preparing materials and programs for use at the Institute.

Conducted bi-weekly children’s classes and weekly deepenings for staff and visitors to the NABI.

Continued translating the Sacred Writings into the Navajo language and gathered Navajo teachings and sacred chants that correspond to Baha’ teachings.

Supported and assisted efforts by nearby Assemblies in hosting Baha’i activities, observances and district-wide conferences, and hosted Spiritual Assembly training sessions and the Navajo-Hopi District Teaching Committce’s twoand three-day teaching institutes.

Assisted the Spiritual Assembly of Oak-Pine Springs in its teaching efforts to reach local people and other American Indian tribes.

Arranged with the Spiritual Assembly of San Francisco for the transfer of the Eternal Peace Flame to Oak-Pine Springs. In conjunction with the transfer of the Flame, presented ‘‘The Promise of World Peace’’ to a traditional Hopi leader on Second Mesa, a key person in the operations of the Hopi tribe, and to spiritual leaders (medicine men) of the White Mountain and San Carios Apache tribes. Co-hosted, with the Spiritual Assembly of Houck, Arizona, a weekend conference on alcoholism and supported efforts to rehabilitate alcoholics through weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Made several property improvements to the Institute including installing a new skylight in the prayer hogan, purchasing a new, efficient wood heating stove, and painting buildings and fences.

Office of Pioneering

Goal: To hold Pioncer Training Institutes regularly and to educate the community about the practical and spiritual aspects of service to the Faith /

States: The Office of Pioneering reports that attendance at the Pioneer Training Institutes has continued to decline and is concerned that persons leaving for pioneering posts are doing so without taking advantage of the training and guidance available to.them. Of 435 prospective pioneers, 119 Assemblies and 21 District Teaching Committees invited to attend such programs, only 83 individuals, two Assembly members and three members of District Teaching Committoes attended last year.

Activities: Held Pioneer Training Institutes at the Bosch, Louhelen and Green Acre Bahé'{ Schools and at the Louis G. Gregory Baha’! Institute. The program at Louhelen focused on a discussion of pioneering as a family endeavor.

Hu

Permanent Schools

Bosch Bahd’{ School

Goal: To contribute to the education of the Baha’ fs and the improvement of Baha’{ family life and to provide programs on an increasingly broad range of topics.

Status: Ongoing.

Activities: Achieved an increase in attendance in programs with more than 1,900 Bahd'{s taking part in classes and conferences. Minority attendance has increased over the

past year. Offered program days for non-Baha’{s in which more than

375 people participated.

Arranged programs for Baha’ {s that included nine five-day summer sessions and two winter sessions; a marriage enrichment conference; a session on teaching institutes; weeklong programs for young adults, youth and pre-youth; and classes on the Creative Word, marriage, family life, parenting, historical perspectives, teaching, and presenting the peace statement.

Developed and held three Bosch Bahd'{ Youth Academy sessions. These 12-day intensive study classes are designed to prepare young Bahé’{s to better serve the Cause through in-depth study and understanding of the Writings. Fiftyfour youth attended the three sessions.

Hosted five six-day Elderhostel sessions and rented Bosch facilities to five other organizations.

Green Acre Bahd’t School

Goal: To contribute to the education of the Baha'is and the improvement of Baha’{ family life and to provide programs on an increasingly broad range of topics.

States: Ongoing.

Activities: Hosted two new summer programs: a conference for youth ages 13-17 and a children's camp for ages 8-12. Hosted family enrichment conferences that focused on preparation for marriage, family unity, and maintaining a spiritual marriage; a Black Teaching Conference; an Hispanic Teaching Conference; a Teacher Training Institute; the third annual Arts Conference; a Local Spiritual Assembly Development Conference; and a forum on social change sponsored by the Association for Bahd'{ Studies. Continued fund-raising efforts for the Sarah Farmer Inn restoration project. More than $300,000 in earmarked con Louhelen Bahd’{ School Goal: To contribute to the education of the Baha’{s and the

personnel.

Hosted conference sessions on Child and Family Development, Education, Prayer and Meditation, the Kitdb-i-[gdn, Consultation, Developing a Baha’! Life, Enhancing the Role of Women, Teaching, and Pioneering. In addition, hosted three youth conferences that were planned and implemented by a Youth Board and included intensive study of the Writings.

Regional Schools

ican Bahd'{ community.

States: There are presently 38 regional schools in the U.S., offering summer and/or winter sessions primarily to Bahé’{s in the states where the schools are located. During the 1989-90 school season, 7,744 adults, youth and children attended sessions over 141 school days. Of those attending classes, 228 were not Bahd'{s.

Activities: Made efforts to attract student enrollment reflecting the racial diversity of the states each school serves: however, the combined total of minority attendance for all schools was only 15 percent. School committees continue to work on arranging transportation and scholarships to heip minority students from metropolitan areas attend the schools which often are beld in rural areas away from large: Cities.

Noted that the majority of participants are either isolated believers or from smaller communities of nine or 10 believexs and expressed concern that Bahd’is from larger communities may be depriving themselves of the spiritual and social benefits of attending the schools.

In addition, each of the schools pursued the following activities in their operations:

Acquired sites in which to hold classes, recruited teachers. and arranged for meals and accommodations for students. Publicized school sessions through mailings, Bahd"{ bulletins and some local newspapers.

Strived to maintain a Bahd’{ environment at the schools where close association and fellowship, both spiritual and social, could exist.

Focused classes on the Covenant and on the Universal House of Justice’s letter of December 29, 1983, to the American Bahdé’{ community on Individual Rights and Freedoms in the Bahé’i Faith.

5. Spiritual Enrichment of the Bahd’{ Community National Race Unity Committee

Goal: To recognize trends and patterns of race relations, to recommend to the National Spiritual Assembly actions to be taken or programs to be adopted to meet the challenge of racial prejudice, and to take part in activities that lead to greater harmony among racially diverse people.

Status: Ongoing.

Activities: Prepared « training module for the Local Sow itual Development Program entitled “Celebrating Divers ty.”

Began work on a training institute to help assistants to the Auxiliary Boards work with local Assemblies in dealing with problems of racial discord.

Participated in the Summer School at the Louis G. Gregory Bah’! Institute, the Dayspring Bah’! School in Maryland. the Association for Baha'i Studies’ annual meeting im California, and the “‘Black Teaching Conference” at th Green Acre Baha’{ School.

Planned end implemented, at the request of the Nations! Spiritual Assembly of Bermuda, the Bermude Winter School whose theme was ‘The Most Vital and Challenging Issuc."’ This was the first isiand-wide meeting on race unity held in Bermuda, and it attracted wide media coverage. Took part in the dedication of the Bahé’{ Chair for Worid Peace at the University of Maryland.

Conducted an informal survey on individual, Assembly and community race unity initiatives across the U.S. and found that many of the initiatives are in outreach activities and prociamations.

Conducted a race unity institute in Madison, Wisconsin, at the request of the Spiritual Assembly of Madison which helped to confirm the committee’s observation that the American Bahé’{ community has, in general, matured considerably in its willingness and ability to undertake seriou: deepening and to seek spiritual assistance in dealing with the most challenging issuc.

6. Baké'{ Education of Children and Youth, and the Strengthening of Bahd’{ Family Life

National Bahd’i Education Committee

Goal: To complete the first edition of the catalog of Baha’!

prepared a list of available materials which was published in the September 1989 issue of The American Bahd't. �[Page 17]The American Bahd’i / May 1990 / 17

BAHA'! NATIONAL REVIEW May 1890 Mo. 129

the core curriculum in the national Bahd’{ community. Provided information for an article in the April 1990 issue of The American Bahd’i,

National Committee on Women

Geal: To foster the practice of the equality of the sexes, both in the life of the Bahd’{ community and in society as a whole, and to hold special training programs for women and men.

States: Ongoing.

Activities: Began efforts to make children’s classes at all committee-sponsored events a matter of high priority. Advertisements placed in The American Bahd’i helped to locate people who will prepare curricula, recruit teachers, and obtain other resources for such classes.

Consulted with the National Bahd’{ Education Committee to locate prospective writers of children’s curricula on the equality principle for use at Bah’! schools. Collaborated with the National Spiritual Assembly Office of External Affairs to work on establishing an association of professional Bahd’{ educators.

1. The Pursuit of Social and Economic Development

Bahd’ Committee for Service to the Blind

Geel: To provide literature in mediums for individuals who are unable to use normal print.

States: Ongoing.

Activities: Placed notices in a variety of publications for the blind offering free information about the Faith, and responded to requests for such mate .als.

Maintained a lending library in raille and cassette formats for Baha'is and non-Bahd'{is. Upgraded and re-recorded some items to achieve higher quality.

Provided subscriptions on tape to The American Bahd’{

(gratis) and to the Journal of Bahd’i Studies (for a one-time charge of $5).

Donated books in braille to the Louhelen Baha’i Schoo! library.

Bahd’{ Committee for Services for the Hearing Impaired and Deaf

Goal: To facilitate understanding and acceptance of individuals with hearing loss in the American Baha’! communi ty and to provide services for those who are deaf and their Bahd’{ communities.

States: Ongoing.

Activities: Began steps to purchase for TDDs (teletypewriter device for the deaf) for the committee so that its members can communicate with one another by telephone.

Offered sign-language interpreters to the Vision-to-Victory

around the time of the second Baha’i World Congress. Persian/American Affairs Office

Submitted to the Bahd’{ Publishing Trust Committee a Persian/English Glossary of Bahd'{ Terms, a booklet entitled “*Abdu'l-Baha’s Teaching Styic,"’ and two audio tapes of prayers and Tablets in Persian.

U.S. Bahd’t Refugee Office

Goal: To facilitate the resettlement of refugees, mostly Iranian and Southeast Asian, into the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii); to locate areas in the U.S. with significant concentrations of Southeast Asian Bahd'{ refugees; and to work with local Spiritual Assemblies to ensure that refugees are contacted and integrated into the U.S. Baha’!

The flow of Iranian Bab4' refugees from Pakistan, and other countries to the U.S. from January to December 1969 reached its highest level in five years, to Fetes Ties local fpicti vere Res arppiing

Baha’! refugees and provided a list of those parties to Baha’i refugee coordinators in Thailand and the Philippines. Provided materials in Southeast Asian languages for teaching and consolidation of Southeast Asian Bahd'{ refugees.

Bahd'{ refugees from Thailand and the Philippines and the registration of their children. Provided newly arrived refugees a letter of welcome from the National Spiritual Assembly, a handbook, a check list for Baha'| membership transfer and a membership questionnaire, and Baha’! registra Visited a number of Bahé'{ communities in the U.S. where Southeast Asian Babd’! refugees reside to locate them and assess their needs, and to consult with members of the local Spiritual Assemblies in those areas.

Attended the first Cambodian National Convention in Aus tin, Texas, in September, the Hmong New Year celebration in San Diego, California, in December, and the Southeast Asian Bahd’{ Conference in Stockton, California, in Jan wary. Accepted appointment for a third year of service as a member of the Mayor of Chicago’s Immigrant and Refugee Acvisory Committee.

Hosted the first Soviet Bahd’is to visit the U.S. in 50 years by providing hospitality and tours of the Bahé"! House of Worship and the Behd’{ National Center.

Presented a program at the Green Lake (Wisconsin) Baha’! Conference entitled “Transforming Hearts: Teaching Among the Chinese and Southeast Asians.”’ Co-sponsored, with the National Committee on Women, and attended the United Nations Human Rights Award ceremony in Oakland, California, at which four Southeas: Asian women were honored for their accomplishments. Goal: To coordinate the Bahd’{ International Chinese Symposium in San Francisco.

States: Completed.

Activities: Coordinated, with the local Spiritual Assembly of San Francisco, the logistics and activities of the various task forces for the Symposium and the program which festured as the keynote speaker David Hofman, retired member of the Universal House of Justice, and more than « dozen international speakers and panelists from such countries as Canada, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.

Coordinated two public events held in conjunction with the Symposium: ‘A Tribute to Chinese Culture," featuring 2 performance by the internationally acclaimed entertainer Zhu Ming Ying, and a Southeast Asian Bahd*{ Conference, the program for which was conducted in six languages (English, Chinese, Lao, Hmong, Khmer and Vietnamese) and which featured music, testimonials and short presentetions.

Invited and helped arrange for key speakers from the Symposium to remain in the U.S. to belp with efforts to reach the Chinese people in the San Francisco area and on college campuses in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Houston anc Austin, Texas, with the of Bahé’u’lidh Prepared packets for attendees that included information about the Faith and a Bahé’! prayer book in Chinese, a copy of A Manual for Chinese Teaching, « National Teaching Committee newsletter on Chinese teaching. statistical information about Chinese people in the US., the ‘‘China Tablet"’ by ‘Abdu'l-Bahd, information provided by the International Chinese Teaching Committee on ee ae and basic facts about Chinese cul Der iaic titer teste Al verecbeciteeeteene. tional Chinese Teaching Committee's publication, A Manual for Chinese Teaching.

Printed for the Symposium 1,000 copies of the Chinese translation (approved by the Bahdé’{ Committee for China) of The Faith of Bahd’u’lidh by Shoghi Effendi in classical and simplified Chinese.

Reprinted for the Symposium 100 sets of the Baha"! deep ening series in Chinese (seven booklets produced by the International Chinese Teaching Committee).

Arranged for display and sale at the Symposium Baha’! introductory and deepening materials in the Chinese, Vietnamese, Lao, Hmong and Khmer languages. Coordinated the video taping of Symposium sessions.

N.Y.C. marks African-American Month The Baha'is of New York City observed AfricanAmerican History Month in February with a series of public meetings and an exhibit of photographs at the Baha’i Center featuring prominent African-Americans and their contributions to American history.

The first public meeting was held on Sunday, January 30, with Counselor William Roberts speaking on ‘‘The Most Challenging Issue."" As it would be for all the meetings, the auditorium was filled with Bahé'{s and seekers, two of whom declared their belief in Baha’u’llah.

On February 11, Auxiliary Board member James Sturdivant spoke on ‘‘The Destiny of African-Americans."’

One week later, Charles Lynch discussed the life and work of Robert Hayden, a Baha'i who was one of America’s leading poets, and on February 25, Counselor Robert Harris spoke about the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory, a prominent black attorney and staunch promoter of racial unity during the carly years of the Faith in this country.

�[Page 18]18 / The American Bah4's / May 1990

Complete listing of Baha’i summer schools

Green Acre Baha'i School Summer 1990

Exciting developments are taking piace at Green Acre as extensive repairs and improvements to many buildings continue at a stepped up pace. Due to construction activity Green Acre will open later than usual for summers school Classes will begin on July 22 and will be held weekly, through August 26. Each session will be 5 days in length with arrival aod departure on Friday.

Capacity this year will be temporarily reduced as a result of the ongoing repairs. Early registration is strongly encouraged. Program highlights were not available at the time of this printing but may be obtained by calling the Green Acre office at 207/439-7200 Monday thm Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. If you wish to write: Green Acre Bah&'f School, 188 Main St, Ellot, Maine 03903.

Louhelen Baha'f School Summer 1990

Special Notes on Summer Sessions:

Outstanding children’s programs (ages 14

and under) offered at all sessions, unless otherwise noted

Youth program included at all general

sessions

Devotions, singing, recreation,

fellowship, service opportunities at all sessions

Coordinators of programs - Nancy Furst

Watter (adults), Nancy Coker & Aminata Turay (children), ia Berhane & Najin Mansouri (youth and youth academies)

Poet-in-Residence and Artists-inResidence programs to enhance cultural

program

Weekly events (beginning July 6):

Friday evenings: Register 4-8 pm. Opening session at 8 pm. No dinner served on Friday

Saturday evenings: Performances, presentations by artists, writers and musicians

Sunday PM, evenings: Beach trip Monday evenings: Presentations by participants and/or by Center for Interracial Unity, Treasurer's Office, DTC also sing-a-longs, bonfire, recreation Tuesday evenings: Variety Show

JUNE 1-3 DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS IN AN AGE OF RAPID CHANGE (women's/men's conference) The traditional Louhelen conference on women's concerns, held the first weekend in June, is being broadened to a conference on issues in developing relationships in a stressful and materialistic society.

Dixie and David Rouleau, will lead sessions on communication, stress management and esteem building and how they relate to marriage, interpersonal relationships and community development. Dixie is an instructor in ESL at Truman College in Chicago and David, developer of many of the local Spiritual Assembly development modules, works in the Office of the Secretary

Mike Rogell, a Counselor at Michigan State University and on the LRC staff, will conduct « special workshop on how sexism affects men.

Other sessions and workshops will explore Uy challenges facing women and men as they try to forge new, healthier and more spiritual patterns of interacting, the

problems confronting Baha'i relationships aod ways individuals and local Spiritual Assemblies can help prevent or resolve problems. The Writings about the equality of women and men, the institution of marriage, and interpersonal relationships will be the basis in exploring these issues.

Special Saturday evening performance by theatrical group “Miraj” (“Experience of Spirit”) with Diane Maggard, Emily

Merrell, Hermione Pickens and Carolyn

Complete aioe progres (0-14 years) with Martha Slea, Heidi Burns, Jane

Wilson, Aminata Turay.

JUNE 10-16 ELDERHOSTEL (with the University of Michigan-Flint). Write to Louhelen for details.

JUNE 17-23 CAMP LOUHELEN

Now in its 4th year, Camp Louhelen combines spiritual, educational, social, emotional and physical development for children in a camp-style program. Arts, crafts and nature study, devotions and classes on Bah4'{ history, camping and outdoor activities, group building and interpersonal, intercultural activities, recreation and lots more are included in the program. Non-Bah4'l’s welcome! Children must be of 3rd through 6th grade age, note special rates for the camp - $200 per camper ($145 for each additional

camper from the same family). Staffing includes one counselor per four children

and one Instructor per cight children. Enrollment limited! Local Spiritual Assemblies and DTCs: Sponsor a camper and receive a 33% discount. Directors: Carol & Allen McKeil & Gwen Taylor. Contact Louhelen for full camp information and application materials.

JUNE 29-JULY 5 7TH ANNUAL TEACHER TRAINING WEEK

This outstanding hands-on program, sponsored by the Louhelen Council, is for teachers and administrators of local Bahé'{ children's classes, parents and others interested in developing their practical skills and knowledge in Bahf'{ education. Workshops, discussions, observation and work with “master teachers,” materialmaking sessions, consultation about YOUR Bah&'{ educational program needs, and more! Also - book & material displays, including displays by UNICEF and Scholastic Books and craft displays by Bah&'{ artists. InternationaVethnic dinners: Teacher Appreciation Banquet.

Local Spiritual Assemblies and Jocal Bah4i schools are encouraged to send representatives. Special emphasis will be on: Developing Bahé'f literacy, laboratory classroom experience, incorporating the arts, material development.

Keynote speakers:: Dr. Ray Johnson, Director of the Maxwell International School and formerly Director of the New Era School in India. Leonard Smith, Assistant to the Auxiliary Board, Professional Educator, Management and Development Consultant, and member of the National Bah4'{ Education Committee.

NOTE: DUE TO THE INTENSIVE NATURE OP THIS CONFERENCE, THERE IS NO PROGRAM OR PROVISIONS FOR THE UNDER-3 YEAR OLDS. ADDITIONAL $25 FEE POR THIS CONFERENCE POR THE

COST OF "MAKE AND TAKE” MATERIAL WORKSHOPS — YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER EARLY.

JULY 6-11 "LIFETIME OF SERVICE" CONFERENCE sponsored and arranged by the Office of Pioneering, this week includes pioncer training, sessions for returned pioneers and homefront pioneers and sessions on social and economic development, community

building, teaching institutes, and mullticultural awareness suitable for ANY

BAHAT INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN SERVICE TO HUMANITY. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: Strong children’s program dealing with multi-cultural issues, deepening, international travel, pioneering at home or abroad. Adult program will focus on immersion in the Writings and workshop approach to topics. Special SATURDAY AFTERNOON (JULY 7) session - “Re-adjusting--concerns of returning pioncers, families and their communities” a workshop with Dr. Curt Russell.

Special SATURDAY AND SUNDAY SESSIONS (JULY 7-8) - “The youth year of service” with Kemba Thomas, recently returned from Botswana; “Building Bah4’{ communities” with Dr. Richard Thomas; “Breaking down barriers to intercultural

understanding” with Auxiliary Board member Dr. June Thomas.

Session leaders, teachers include: George Cannon, Auxiliary Board member for the Virgin Islands; Dr. Rod and Mary Jo Clarken, recently retumed from Tanzania and the Virgin Islands; Greg and Virginia Kintz, recently returned from Tanzania and Liberia and currently in South Carolina (Greg is with WLGI); Dr, Diana Malouf, recently returned from Morocco.

JULY 6-11 ADULT INTENSIVE SESSIONS “Writing and the Writings” with Robert Hayden Poetry Fellows. This session will run concurrently with the “Lifetime of Service” and will focus on: Using the writing- reading connection to improve consultation and your spiritual life; intensive writing workshops to help hone your talents and skills.

Kim Mceilecke, coordinator for this session, has an MFA in writing from the University of Arizona, where she has taught composition. She is a poet and recipient of the Hayden Fellowship in 1988. Other Hayden Poetry Fellows, including the 1990 Hayden Fellow, have been invited to assist.

JULY 13-18 SENIOR YOUTH WEEK Classes, recreation, devotions, consultation, and other activities, planned by Louhelen's Youth Board, for Senior Youth (ages 15 and older), Please check with Louhelen to confirm the teachers for the week. Coordinators: Sophia Berhanc, from Ethiopia, a counselor at the Louhelen Residential College and Najin Mansuri, former LRC student from Ecuador. YOUTH WATCH FOR SPECIAL YOUTH FLYER WITH DETAILS ABOUT THIS AND OTHER YOUTH ACTIVITIES!

JULY 19-22 FAMILY WEEKEND CONFERENCE PERSIAN FOCUS! This three-day conference will include sessions in Parsi and concurrent sessions in English. A number of outstanding and renowned teachers have been invited but most, have not confirmed as of this printing. Please contact Louhelen for updated information or watch for special

flyer about this event Confirmed speakers include: Shokowh Rezai — “The History and Significance of Tahirih” (in Farsi). Ms. Rezai is an Assistant to the Auxiliary Board in Minnesota and was 2 member of the National AV and National Education Committees in Iran and 2 professional brosdcaster and anchorwoman. She is also a renowned singer and has performed at Bahl events throughout the world; she will be performing at this conference as well as giving the class on Tahirih.

Melanie Smith, outstanding teacher and developer of deepening materials (including The Word of God) will lead sessions in English on Prayers and Meditations. Music, food, fellowship and other activities all with a Persian focus (and with the help of some outstanding Persian cooks). Children’s program teachers include Farnoosh Etemad, Christine Zonyk, Judy Russell and others.

JULY 22-31 YOUTH ACADEMY #1 Youth Academies are designed for youth who are seriously motivated and wish to be challenged in their study of the Faith. They involve intensive, disciplined and serious study of the Writings and their application to the major issues confronting youth, The Academies inclad< classroom study, homework, writics and oral presentations, independent and group study and daily work-service wo the schoo! Youth must apply, through their local Spiritual Assembly or another institetion or agency of the Faith, to attend. Limited to 10 youth cach session. The 9-day session is $290. Information, requirements and applicetion matcriais arc available from Louhelen.

JULY 22-28 ELDERHOSTEL (with the University of Michigan-Flint). Grandparent-grandchild emphasis. Write to Louhelen for details.

JULY 31-AUGUST 9% Youth ACADEMY #2 (see description for Youth Academy #1 - July 22-31)

AUGUST 3-8 GENERAL SESSION (for adults, youth, children) Adult Classes: “Healing Ourselves, Healing Society: �[Page 19]‘The American Bgbs’{ / May 1990 / 19

AUGUST 10-15 JUNIOR YOUTH WEEK Classes, recreation, devotions, consultation, and other activities, planned by Loubelen's Youth Board, for Junior Youth (ages 11-15). Adult teachers and senior youth counselors will facilitate this lively, spiritually enriching week! YOUTH — WATCH FOR SPECIAL YOUTH FLYER WITH DETAILS ABOUT THIS AND OTHER YOUTH ACTIVITIES!

AUGUST 17-26 YOUTH ACADEMY

ption for Youth Academy

1, July 22-31)

AUGUST 17-22 GENERAL SESSION SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE ARTS! Adult Classes: “Growing Spiritually” with Betsy Ha: cathusisstic and inspiring teacher, Administrative Coordinator for the South Carolina C Committee and a member of the Advisory Council for the Louis Gregory Bahé'{ Institute.

“Prayers and Meditations” with Mclanic Smith, outstanding teacher and developer of deepening materials (including “The Word of God") will lead this in-depth study class.

CHILDREN'S CLASSES AND AFTERNOON FAMILY ACTIVITIES will focus on integrating the arts with Bah4’{ learning experiences. Teachers include: Bonnie Tandy, Emily Pane, Susan Engle and Mike Moutrie, Gwen Taylor, Thirlene King and Lewis Tandy. Activities include: storytelling, drama, creative writing, mousic arts, and crafts, and special nature activities.

AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 3 HOMECOMING WEEKEND Traditional social occasion at which Louhelen alumni, old and new, gather for fellowship, recreation, inspiration and — especially, fun. Annual friends of Louhelen meeting scheduled. “Old-time” alumni especially requested to come!

SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDE: HUGE OUTDOOR DINNER AND CONCERT - Saturday, September 1, 6 sears ***DO’AH World Music

- an outstanding, nationally

ecclaimed group plus Confluence a young Canadian group, with the recent release of "Groundworkyproduced by Jack Lenz. ($5 for concert; $10 for dinner and Concert; family rates available — check with Louhelen)

INSPIRING TALKS by Dr. Dwight Allen sad by visiting pioneers, international teachers and distinguished alumni of the school.

‘THE ANNUAL LOUHELEN VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION AWARDS AND "ROASTS". THE ANNUAL MEETING OF ‘THE FRIENDS OF LOUHELEN. THE OPENING OF THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE LOUHELEN RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE. GAMES|! CONTEST! MUSIC}! FELLOWSHIP! FUN!!!

Session Rates - Louhelen Bahf'{ School Advance Registration ($10/person deposit received two weeks prior to session includes meals, lodging, program)

Weekend $ 67 adult/youth over 12 3days $101 * # Sdays $169 Weekend $ 93 one parent one child

3days $144 * " Sdays $246 ~ .

Weekend $120 one parent two or more children

3 days 5 days

$186 7 $318 = * =

Weekend $145 two parents one or more children 3 days 5 days

$74 —C* " $382 “ e

CAMP LOUHELEN - $200 for first child; $145 for each addtl YOUTH ACADEMIES ~ $290 for nine days.

Sheets, towels and pillow case can be brought with you or rented from the schoo] at $5.00/set. Keys: There is 2 $2.00 refundable key deposit.

Transportation is available, at a small cost, from area airports and stations; make advance arrangements with Louhelen.

Want more information about a program? Want to Register? You can register by letter or by phone, or receive additional information and forms by writing to Louhelen Bah&'{ School, 3208 S. State Rd., Davison, MI 48423 (313/653-5033)

BOSCH BAHA'I SCHOOL SUMMER 1990

The Bosch Bah&'f School will present eight weeks of GENERAL SESSIONS, with classes designed for all ages, one week designed exclusively for JR. YOUTH, ages 12 through 15, and four YOUTH ACADEMIES for the summer 1990.

GENERAL SESSIONS AND JR. YOUTH WEEK

1 JUNE 30 - JULY S THE LIFE

OF SHOGHI EFFENDI, MARTHA ROOT, & AGNES ALEXANDER slides and lecture/some sessions for all ages. Duane Troxel, Ed.D. Assistant Dean U. Colorado-Denver Graduate School of Education

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY IN THE NEW WORLD ORDER Consultation, conflict resolution, role expectations lectures, role playing, discussions. Marvin Hughes, M.S.W. Clinical Social Worker, Co-founder, Youth Academy at Louis Gregory Institute, Co-founder of Fathers, Inc., an agency for urban youth.

BAHA'I PRINCIPLES AND "THE STUDY OF THE SOUL" A mid-week panel resource development workshop. Baht teachings on death and life after death. Slide program by Duane Troxel. If you have experience in the hospice movement or similar practice, please notify program director in advance.

Options: PERSONAL GROWTH GROUP limited enrollment Michse! Bond, Ph.D.

The Chinese University, Hong Kong

TEACHER TRAINING FOR YOUTH ACADEMY - limited enrollment

(to request a place, phone Edward Diliberto 213/439-6289

2 JULY 7-12

THE FUNDAMENTAL REQUISITES FOR PEACE: TRANSCENDING MAN-MADE IDEOLOGIES OF RACISM, SEXISM AND POLITICS Marvin Hughes, M.S.W. Conway, South Carolina

IN THE FOREFRONT OF PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENTS: ACTING OUT BAHA'U'LLAH'S MANDATE FOR MANKIND Robert T. Phillips, Santa Cruz, directs a nonprofit organization specializing in healthpromotion and social change and is an officer of the state-wide Peace Day Project. His graduate study was at Stanford University (International Relations) and was an exchange scholar at the University of Beruit.

LIFE & TEACHINGS OF BAHA'U'LLAH -- FOR ADULTS, YOUTH AND CHILDREN aa cross-age audio-visual study activity, Duane Troxcl, University of Colorado, Denver

3 JULY 14-19 THE

ENVIRONMENT: CONSERVATION OF EARTH'S RESOURCES -— Spiritual, technical, economic and Icgal issues with the compilation by the Research t of the Universal House of Justice as reference. We will consider what we are doing and SHOULD be doing to conserve the earth's resources. What are implications of the Baha’ teachings for our care of the earth and for Bahé'{s in environmental professions? What is the status of international evironmental law? How do environmental problems relate Americans to the peoples of the Third World? What are the economics of environmental issues? What concrete actions and lifestyle changes can we make in our families and communities to address environmental problems.

Our purpose is to provide a forum for consultation. Our goals are a clearer understanding of (1) the underlying spiritual nature of the environmental crisis, (2) how environmental issues relate to Bahé' principles, (3) how to translate knowledge into action in teaching, in our individual lives, and in Bah&'{ community activities?

Presentations and Discussion Topics include:

ECOLOGY, RELIGION AND OUR PERCEPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT Gary Colliver, formerly Research Assistant in Biology, Stanford University; Park Ranger, Yosemite National Park; now studying Human Ecology at Cal State Stanisalus

ECONOMIC ISSUES: BAHA'I PERSPECTIVES Farhad Sabctan, Ph.D., an Economic and Financial Manager for Pacific Bell

THE ATMOSPHERE Fred E. Littman, Ph.D. from the University of Prague, has been a Senior Research Chemist for Stanford Research Institute and has worked for Rockwell Intemational Environmental Monitoring Center.

FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES Roger Guinee, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, US. Fish and Wildlife Service.

THE SEA, THE COMMON HERITAGE OF HUMANKIND: Bahé{

to interastional law governing the of marine coviroament:, Michael Reveal, Volunteer Staff Attorocy, University of Massachusetts Legal Services Offices

EARTH: A UNIQUE AND FRAGILE CREATION, MAN: A UNIQUELY RESPONSIBLE CREATURE Joho Trauger, Ph.D., Project Scientist, Wide Field and Planetary Camera for Hubble

Space Telescope.

Tuesday 4 pm guest speaker: Martin Knowlton, Founder of International Adult Education Program, ELDERHOSTEL, & GATEKEEPERS TO THE FUTURE, « citizens’ environmental education and advocacy group.

SAPELO ISLAND - A CASE STUDY Beveriee Patton-Miller, formerly of Panchgani School, India and World College West, Marin County, California

TOWARD AN ECOLOGY OF MOTHER EARTH, SPIRITUALITY AND ECONOMICS Rothwell C. Polk, Jr., Executive Director, Calumet Area Industrial Commission, Chicago, IL.

THE GROUND FLOW - LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES AND PUBLIC POLICY PLANNING Warres

Jones and Paul Mantic, Nevada County, California

4 JULY 21-26 THE KITAB-IIQAN, UNLOCKING THE

MYSTERIES OF THE BIBLE Brent Poirier, Attorney, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Bring Kitab-i-Jgan and King James or New King James Bible

GLIMPSES OF THE LIFE, THE TEACHINGS, THE TIMES OF BAHA'U'LLAH Marsha Gilpatrick, Auxiliary Board member; Ronald Gilpatrick, Superintendent Belmont Schoo! District

THE ARTS IN TEACHING & EXHIBIT OF TAPESTRIES Vickie Hu Poirier, tapestry artist of cultural history and portraiture in fabric, Las Cruces, New Mexico

S JULY 28-AUGUST 2 (ages 1215) JR YOUTH WEEK -- YOUTH

TRAINING FOR WAGING PEACE An intensive session of study, service, devotions and recreation for jr. youth, ages 12-15. No sponsor required. Cabin counselors will assist team of outstanding teachers.

6 AUGUST 4-9 BUILDING AN

ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITY Also Sunday 4 pm “memories of John and Louise Bosch” Richard Groger, Auxiliary Board member

TOWARD TRANSFORMATION: PERSONAL AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS/ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE Text: Baha'i Education, A Compilation. Joseph Gallata, Ph.D. Administrator, University of Nevada, Reno/SNICC Medical Clinic.

Panel of young adults: Various topics among them: Ridvan 1990 Message of the Universal House of Justice, Paul Allen

facilitating

7 AUGUST 11-16 (Sunday AM 9:00

aod 11:00) REPORT FROM CHINA AND POINTS EAST AND WEST Juana Conrad, member of the National Spiritual Assembly �[Page 20]28 / The American Baha'i / May 1990

Summer schools

TWO INTENSIVE STUDY GROUPS: KITAB-I-IQAN Clarisa Weil, Scottsdale, Arizona; David Young, Grants Pass, Oregon

CREATING TRUE COMMUNITY THROUGH INDIVIDUAL ACTION Jim , Communication Technology Consultant, Electric Power Research Institute

8 AUGUST 18-24 (6 DAYS) see

special fee. MODELED AFTER THE BOSCH YOUTH ACADEMY, THIS IS AN INTENSIVE 6-DAY COURSE for adults of all ages, with a program for children and youth. Academic Director: Auxiliary Board member Miguel Osborec, with assistants. Required texts: The Advent of Divine Justice, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, Citadel of Faith, The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’ !-Baha, Spiritual Foundations: Prayer, Mediation and the Devotional attitude, a Compilation.

Work projects are part of the program. One option will be forest clearing. Bring suitable clothes and shoes. Young families are encouraged to register for this week. The regular children’s program (2 classes in the morning, one in the afternoon, with family recreation after twoch and after dinner and staff supervised children’s activity one evening) will be supplemented by a parent co-operative arrangement for child care at other times. Day students may aitend if they are preregistered and committed to altend the six days. Advance registration, with deposits for all family members, is required. Evening programs at 8PM open to guests. Special evening programs: Army of light: Reaching the heart of Asia, Beth McKenty, Ashiya University, Ashiya, Japan.

9 AUGUST 25-30 ADOPTING A

BAHA'I APPROACH TO INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS: AN ORGANIC PROCESS. Explore the subtle but profound differences between Bahd’{ Principles and western liberal democratic practice. Read in advance and bring the Message of December 29, 1988 to the Baha'is of the United States from the Universal House of Justice. Richard Schickele, Attorney, Washington D.C.

ON BEING TRULY HUMAN:

SKILLS FOR INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION Ebrahim Salid Amanat, M.D. Former Associate Professor of Psychiatry, St. Louis University. In addition to the sessions for everyone, in the afternoon Dr. Amanat will work with couples on communication in marriage.

RATES FOR SUMMER, 1990 WEEKS 1-4, 6,7, & 9 Adults (21 and up):

___ Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA

1 630 tw 7/12/90
2 7/14 to 7/26/90
3 8/4 ww 8/16/90
4 8/18 to 8/30/90

Registrar, Bosch Baha’! School, $500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-9615. To receive « copy of the full brochure, listing discounts, scholarships, and other details about Bosch, write to the above address or call (408)423-3387.

BAHA’I REGIONAL SCHOOLS 1990 SUMMER SCHEDULE

ALABAMA Dates: July 12-15, 1990 Location: Monte Vallo State Univ. Monte

Recreation: basketball, volleyball; swimming, tennis, Rates: Adult $75; 11-14 yr $65; 3-10 yr $35; under 2 free; day students $10. Registrar: Dick Detweiler,

Birmingham, AL 35810 (205)851-8463

Registrar: Susan Sloan,

Casa Grande, AZ 85222 (602)836-9133 Topics: “Baha'u'llah and the Kitab-i-Iqan”

COLORADO WESTERN Dates: June 21-14, 1990

Location: Camp Ilium, Cty Rd. 2121, Forest Service Rd. 625 Telluride, CO Facilities: Meals in main lodge cafeteria style kitchen. Dorms, cabins (with Separate toilet & shower facilities.) Bring own bedding or sleeping bags, towels & individual toiletries, flashlight

Classes: Children, youth and adult Recreation: Volleyball, basketball, soccer, and hiking, fishing

Rates: Adult $40; 13-22 yr $32; 5-12 yr $15; 2-4 yr $5; 0-2 free

Pre- : June 12 - a $10 late fee for family or $5 for individuals Registrar: Carol Hitti,

Cortez, CO 81321 (303)565-7910 (Beautiful mountains, rustic setting at 8,100 ft. elevation. Cool nights. Some tent space available. Join us in Colorado for 1990 summer school)

Topic: “Life and Teachings of Baha‘u'll2h” bring The King of Glory

FLORIDA SUMMER Dates: June 29-July 4, 1990 Location: Florida Institute of Technology, Melboume, FL Facilities: Dorm housing, cafeteria meals Classes: Children, youth and adults in airconditioned classrooms Recreation: Tennis courts, volleyball, basketball; Rates: Adult-19 $175; 13-20 yr $156; 512 yr $120; 3-4 yr $75; day students $15 Pre-registration: June 15 (rates go up $10 for late registration) Registrar: Donna Evertz,

Deerfield Bch, FL 33441 (305)421-8979 (Teachers: Jack McCants, Soo Fouts, Mary Kay Radpour, Cora Oliver John Hatcher, Dodi Theriault, MC: Cap Cornwell Topic: Shoghi Effendi: The Promised Day is Come

GEORGIA

Summer school planned, please call for information: Jamal Ahangarzadch, Powder Springs, GA 30073 (404)439-5528

GREEN LAKE CO) ENCE Dates: September 14-16, 1990 Location: American Baptist Conf. Cr, Green Lake, WI

Facilities: Wide varicty-campsites, dorms, cottages, cabins, hotel rooms; meal package provided, please call the conference center for specifics

Classes: Nursery, children, youth, adults Recreation: Woodlands, indoor pool, bicycling, boating, fishing, tennis, golf Rates: Call American Baptist Conference

Ctr directly (414)294-3323 or 1-800-558-8898

Call for more information: Sharon Holder, WI 53012

(414)375-2335

IDAHO

Dates: June 14-17, 1990 Location: Camp Sawtooth, 10 miles N of Ketchum in Sawtooth Mountains Facilities: Rustic cabins, dorm style;

adults and youth add $10, children add $5) Registrar; Max Newlin, American Falls, ID 83211 (208)548-2677 There will be and classes on the Promise of World to the Soviet Union, a series Family, and on conferences; be nig!

Fred Schechter will be teaching the adult and youth classes.)

ILLINOIS - HEARTLAND

Dates: August 15-19, 1990

Location: Camp Wokands, sear Peoria, IL Facilities: Dorms, cabins, tent sites, pearby motels, meals served in camp dining hall.

Classes: Children, youth and adults,

NO air-conditioning

Recreation: Large pool, outdoor sports, beautiful wooded setting for hiking Rates ( 19 and up S85; 10 18 yr 3-9 yr $50; 2 & under $30; weekend & day rates availabic Pre-registration: August 1, 1990 Registrar: Leon Stevens, Salem, IL 62881 (618)S43-0269 Topic “The Life and Teachings of Baha'u'llah”

IOWA Dates: July 19-22, 1990 Location: Simpson College in Indianola,

1A 52408

(319)364-4277 KANSAS School to be held in late semmmer, Ye call or write for information joyce Gite,

Topeka, KS OA (913)232-5699 LOUISIANA �[Page 21]The American Bait’! / May 1999 / 71

Summer schools

MONTANA

Dates: August 5-12, 1990

Location: Luccock Park Camp, 9 miles S of Livingston, MT

Pacilities: Cabins, camper space available and meals provided

Classes: Children, youth and adult Recreation: Fishing, hiking, basketball, softball, swimming, horseback riding Rates: 16 and up $100; 12-15 yr $70; 511 yr $40; 04 yr S10

Butte, MT 59701 (406)494-6627 (full scholarship for Native Americans)

(spproz.): Adult-youth $60; 8-16 yr 5-7 yr $346; 2-4 yr $18; under 2 free Registrar: Colin Taylor,

North Platte, NE 69101 (308)534-4939 Topic “Study of the Revelation of

Registrar: Navid Ziycen, Freehold, NJ 07728 (201)780-7708 Topic: Study of Baha'u'llah's Tablets

NEW YORK

Dates: June 15-17, 1990

Location: Oakwood School, Spakenkell Rd., Poughkepsic, NY

Facilities: Dorm 2 persons to room, some family rooms available

Classes: Children, youth and adult Recreation: Gym, tennis courts

Rates: Call registrar

Pre-registration: June 1, 1990

Registrar: Jean Jaczko,

Newburgh, NY 12550 (914)496-7579day (914)564-3813 evenings

(Teachers: James Sturdivant, Auxiliary Board Member; Afaf Stevens, Rocky Moncho, dynamic noted youth teacher, Hartford Youth Workshop to perform.) Topic: “Life and Teachings of Baha'u'llah & The Covenant”

NORTH CAROLINA Dates: June 30-July 4, 1990 Location: Univ. of N C. at Asheville

Facilities: Dorms-sccommodating families;

meals included Classes: Children, pre-youth, youth, adult Recreation: Swimming, trails Rates: Call for information Registrar: Diane McKinnley, Carey, NC 27513 (919)469-2783

NORTH DAKOTA Winter school only. Summer activities held on weekends on the reservations call for information: Marian Kadrie,

_ So. Fargo, ND 58103 (701)235-3725

OKLAHOMA School will be in October. Call for information: Al Daniels,

Okishoma City, OK 73131 (405)A78-3779

OREGON EASTERN Dates: August 22-26, 1990 Location: Meadow Wood Speech Camp, (pear Pendleton) Facilities: Dorms, cabins Classes: Children, youth and adults Rates: Call for information Registrar: Pat Stephenson, Ontario, OR 97914 (503)889-2694

OREGON WESTERN Dates: August 14-19, 1990 Location: Camp Myrtlewood; SW Oregon

(206)435-8245

(This is a working school. We are responsible for cooking, keeping the dorms, and outside arcas clean.) Topic: “Making our visions « reality”

WISCONSIN - SOUTHERN Dates: July 16-20, 1990

Location: Byron Center, Brownsville, WI

Facilities: Dorms, campsites; meals in dining hall Classes: Children, youth and sdult

Recreation: Swimming pool sruilabic large playing field

Rates: Adult $137.50; 4-13 yr S62 CH yt $7; day students $7; family 425 Pre-registration: June 30

Registrar: Jim Hannex,

North Prairie, WI 53153 (414)392-330 (Summer school to be officially same< Marian Steffes Baha’ school = recognition of the firs Wiscouss American Indian Baha'i)

Topic: Baha'u'llah; bring Tae King of Glory

Facilities: Cabins, tent space/RV spaces (0 hook-ups), meals in dining hall Classes: Adult, youth, children's classes Recreation: Swimming, field sports, hikes Rates (approximate): Adults $58; Youth $50; 2-8 yr $33; Family $185

Registrar: Star Stone,

Roseburg, OR 97470 (503)673-3737 Topic: Life and Teachings of Baha'u'llah

TENNESSEE Dates: August 31-September 3, 1990 Location: DuBose Conf Ctr, Monteagle Facilities: Deluxe to camp cabins/meals Classes: Children, youth and adult Recreation: Swimming, volleyball, hiking Rates: Please call for information Pre-registration: August 15 Registrar: Kaihan Strain,

Hixson, TN 37343 (615)842-1750

TEXAS-NORTHERN Dates: August 23-26, 1990 Location: Bridgeport Conf. Ctr Facilities: Closed campus, meals provided; bring bedding/linen, air-conditioned; semiprivates available to families with children Classes: Children, youth and adult Recreation: Swimming, summer sports, Rates (approximate): Adult-16 $90; 10-15 $84; 3-9 yr $75 (day students $16.50 included lunch/dinner; $7 - no meals) Day students ere discouraged at summer schoo! due to limited seating/eating facilities. Pre-registration: Due August | Cootect: John Leonard,

Grand Prairie, TX 75051 (214)6427.8065

WASHINGTON-SHELTERING BRANCH Dates: July 1-7, 1990 Location: Camp Wooten State Park, 30 miles from Dayton Facilities: Main lodge, outside amphitheaters, dorm-style cabins, bring slecping bags, some family cabins available. Meals family style Classes: All classes are on-site; we emphasize our excellent nursery, preschool, children and youth programs. Recreation: Hiking, indoor heated pool, roller skating, tennis, volleyball, canocing, archery, fly fishing Rates: Adult $90; 15-17 yr $65; 11-14 yr $50; 6-10 yr $40; 1-5 yr $25; 0-1 yr $15; family rates $320 Pre-registration: June 10 Registrar: Carla Freeman,

Ellensburg, WA 98926 (509)962-6669 (Our emphasis is on community and family life. This is a working camp where everyone, including children, take part in daily upkeep and general camp assistance. Nestled deep in the heart of the Blue Mountains, Camp Wooten is ideal for spiritual, social and intellectual growth.)

WASHINGTON - WEST Dates: June 21-26, 1990 Location: Bay Horizon Park, Birch Bay Pacilities: Barracks, bring sleeping bags (bunks/mattresses) Dorms are not heated. Classes: Children, youth, and adult Recreation: Gym, hiking Rates Adult-13 $90; 4-12 yr $55; family $235.00 Pre-registration: May 21 Registrar; Harry Taylor,

Arlington, WA 98223

Bahd’( children in Mercer Island, Washington, recently donated a ‘Peace Collection’ of children’s story books to the Mercer Island Public Library. Included were such books as ‘The Butter

‘Excellence In all things...

Bill Massey, a Baha’ from Boca Raton, Florida, was named 1989 South County Football Coach of the Year after leading the Spanish River High School Sharks to a 7-2 record. Mr. Masscy’s charges are 15-4 with two cty championships in the past two seasons.

Dr. Joy F. Benson has been named an Outstanding Woman of Dalton and Whitfield County, Georgia, by the Dalton branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Dr. Benson, who received ber medical degree at the University of Michigan, is medical director of the sixcounty Northwest Georgia Health District.

Karen S.J. Phillips, a Bah&’{ from Peralta, New Mexico, was chosen “Teacher of the Year’’ for 1989-90 at Belen (New Mexico) Junior High School. Mrs. Phillips is a science teacher who has had success in motivating her students to take part in and win awards at district and regional science fairs.

Dawn Lynn Haghighi, a Bahd’{ who lives in Chicago, has been elected assistant treasurer of the Hong Kong Business Association of the Midwest. Ms. Haghighi, who speaks fluent Mandarin and is presently studying Japenese, is employed as an associate attorney with Hinshaw, Culbertson, Mocimann, Hoban & Fuller in Chicago, and serves as an assistant to Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem.

John David, secretary-treasurer of the Baha’{ Association of Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado, who returned to school to prepare himself as a pioneer to Asia, has been elected to membership in the national honor society Alpha Chi. Mr. David also belongs to the local and national chapters of the English honor society Sigma Tau Delta, and is the recipient of the 1989-90 Esther Herr Memoria] Scholarship, one of the most coveted awards given at Mesa State College.

Magazine praises Baha’l’'s development project

The March issue of ‘Organic Gar- lings and cuttings, anc Degac repuac. dening’’ magazine reports on a ons- ¥. woman social and economic development project begun last year by June Bombaci, a Baha'i from Joseph, Oregon.

According to the article, Ms. Bombaci ‘‘decided it was time to do something about northeastern Oregon's badly eroded streams. She !oaded her 1969 Ford pickup with native tree seed Battle Book,’ Sadako and the Thou: and Paper Cranes,’ ‘Follow the Drint ing Gourd,’ and “Upon the Head of the Goat.’ Accepting for the Bbrary was children’s librarian Linda Reed “a

�[Page 22]22 / The American Baha’{ / May 1990

Symposium from page |

In a moving session on Friday morning, 11 Chinese Baha’{s spoke about how they had become Baha’{s and what had attracted them to the Faith.

They were drawn to the Cause, most said, because of the unity of the Baha’is as well as by the social principles and the teachings on world peace.

Their stories reinforced the sentiments expressed in a letter to the Symposium from the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu'l-Bahaé Ruhiyyih Khanum in which she urged the friends to remember that ‘‘this great race (the Chinese) comes from an entirely different historic background outside the JudeoChristian-Muslim line of world religions, and the appeal to their very logical minds and different historic and cultural background should be from their point of view and not the one we are used to in the Western Hemisphere and Europe."’

Speakers, panelists and workshop facilitators at the Symposium represented the Boards of Counselors and Auxiliary Boards of Asia and the Americas; the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly; the Baha'i International

Community; the Baha’{ Committee for China and the International Chinese Teaching Committee, both of whom

April |, 1990

Above: Counselor Bijan Fareed addresses the Symposium. Below: Newly declared Chinese Bahd’is explain why they were drawn to the Faith.

were appointed by the Universal House of Justice; the National Teaching Committees of Canada and the U.S.; and many present and former pioneers and traveling teachers who lived in or traveled through China or other countries with large Chinese populations.

Also attending were members of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Ecuador, Macau, Singapore, Suriname and Thailand.

Plenary sessions included talks on the development of the Cause in China and offered a wealth of ideas about how to teach the Chinese outside of mainland China.

“Understanding the Chinese People and Culture’ was the topic of a talk by Charles Pau of Singapore who also spoke on ‘‘The Vision of Chinese Teaching Outside Mainland China.’’

Mr. Pau referred to a letter from the Universal House of Justice to the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, read to the Symposium by Judge James Nelson, vice-chairman of the National Assembly, which suggested that one of the best opportunities to reach Chinese in America is in the universities where one can meet those who will return to China to become that country’s most influential citizens.

Lori McLaughlin, a former student in mainland China now at Cornell University, reiterated that point in a talk entitled ‘The Role of Youth in Reaching the Chinese.’’

She noted from experience that young people in China are struggling to find answers to their country’s problems, but that many who look to the U.S. to find those solutions are disappointed.

“*Baha’i youth,’’ she said, ‘‘can offer the greatest gift (to the Chinese), the solutions they are seeking.

“One way to reach the Chinese youth is to study the Chinese language in school and go to China to continue your education. Any field can be researched or studied in China."

Farzam Kamalabadi, a member of the Bahd’{ Committee for China, spoke on “The Bahd’{ Faith and China,"’ and later outlined some of the many ways in which Bahdé’{s can use the mass media, especially the many Chinese-language newspapers around the world, to reach the Chinese population.

Andy Sham of the U.S. National Teaching Committee spoke on “Teaching Chinese People in the United States.’’

To the Participants in the Bahd’( International Chinese Symposium Dearly loved friends,

We send our warm greetings on the occasion of your gathering in San Francisco to consult on the opportunities now awaiting you to share the Teachings of Bahd’u'lla4h with the Chinese people living abroad.

These are momentous times in the fortunes of mankind . . . times of rapid and far-reaching global change which gives rise to fundamental] questions of concern about the social order in which we all live. All over the worid, but particularly in China, our contemporaries are searching for answers to these questions. This searching appears to have generated a new kind of receptivity which recognizes in the Teachings basic principles which are at once timely, relevant and compelling The conjunction of this receptivity with the presence of thousands of Chinese in your midst presents an opportunity for teaching that may never recur in your

lifetime. The time is now.

May Baha'u'llah bless and confirm your efforts wherever you may go in service

to His Cause.

Universal House of Justice March 27, 1990

A Bahd’( children’s choir from the San Francisco Bay area charms the audi Sandra Hutchinson of Canada, who has traveled extensively in China, spoke on ‘Establishing Chinese Teaching Networks,’’ pointing out that one of the best ways to form a network of Chinese friends is ‘‘to begin with the Chinese person most available to you. In becoming close to that one person, you will have many Chinese friends before you know it.’’

A slide program by Roland Yazhari depicted some of his trips to mainland China and the personal friendships he has made with Chinese people.

Panel discussions included those on “Differences and Similarities Between Chinese Inside and Outside of Mainland China’’ and ‘‘Teaching Chinese in Universities."’

Panelists for the first of these were Rosalie Tran, Kit Yin Kiang, former residents in China John Skeaff and Deborah Todd, and Victor Greenspoon, a pioneer to Thailand.

Taking part in the second panel were Jene Brusen-Bellows, who has traveled in China and taught in several Asian countries as well as in colleges in the U.S.; Barry Shapiro, a former pioneer to Africa who is active in Chinese teaching at Purdue University; and Lori McLaughlin.

Both panels were followed by an open mike dialogue between panelists and the audience.

On Saturday evening, about 300 Chinese from the San Francisco area were guests at a gala ‘‘Tribute to Chi

ence during Sunday’s Southeast Asian Conference at the Bahd’( Center

nese Culture’ at the Bahé’{ Center

Following the program, many of these guests attended a reception at which 11 people including nine Chinese embraced the Cause.

The program itself included performances by Zhu Ming Ying, a singerdancer from mainland China now living in Boston who in 1989 won China's first-ever Gold Record Award; the Pacific Zheng Ensemble from San Francisco; a Baha’i children’s choir from the Bay area led by Ron and

�[Page 23]The American Baha’i / May 1990 / 23

Symposium

from page 22

Carol Lyles of San Mateo; Elaine Wu, former soloist with the Central Philharmonic Society in Beijing; Lilian Wu, a Baha’{ from San Francisco who is a well-known pianist and former recitalist with the BBC; and the Chinese Folk Dance Association of San Francisco which performed a traditional dance from Mongolia and a fan dance in the Anhui, Shantang and Yunnan styles.

The Chinese Symposium was wellcovered by the media with articles in four Chinese-language newspapers and programs on two Chinese-language television stations.

A video tape of the Chinese cultural evening was requested by a local Chinese-language TV station, to be aired as a one-hour special dubbed in Chinese

On the day the Symposium opened, a press conference and luncheon was held for Chinese-language media at which Mr. Hofman, Rosalie Tran of

Left photo: David Hofman, retired member of the Universal House of Jus explained that the Symposium was being held to promote an understanding of the Chinese culture and to establish friendships among Chinese and Americans.

The Chinese Symposium ended at noon on Sunday, after which about 270 Baha’is and Southeast Asian guests from the Bay area were brought by bus

tice, addresses the Symposium. Right photo: the Chinese Folk Dance Asso Nine of the Southeast Asians accepted the Faith while en route to the conference, which was a reunion for many of them as well as an opportunity to greet and to hear from Mr. Hofman who gave an especially warm welcome to the many children seated on the floor at the front of the room.

At the close of the conference, which

ciation of San Francisco performs.

of those who had taken part in the weekend's events remained in San Francisco to continue teaching efforts that had begun several weeks before the Symposium under the guidance of the Metro 1000 Project Committee. As of the opening of the Symposium the teachers had reported 31 declarations, a number that has since risen to

to the Center for a Southeast Asian Baha’i Conference.

the Hong Kong Office of Public Information, Mr. Kamalabadi and Mr. Kit

Bienamada sierva y martir May Maxwell conmemorada en Argentina

A todas las Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales Queridos amigos bahd'ts, La Casa Universal de Justicia envid el siguiente mensaje a la Asamblea Espiri tual Nacional de Argentina para una conferencia realizAndose all{ del 25 de febrero al | de marzo de 1990:

SALUDAMOS DE CORAZON A REUNION INTERNACIONAL CONMEMORANDO QUINCUAJESIMO ANIVERSARIO FALLECIMIENTO BIENAMADA SIERVA DEL MAESTRO DISC{[PULA DISTINGUIDA MAY MAXWELL. SOLEMNE OCASION EVOCA RECUERDOS INFLUENCIA MAGNETICA EJERCIDA SOBRE ELLA POR ‘ABDU’L-BAHA DURANTE SU VISITA ‘AKKA ACOMPANADA PRIMER GRUPO DE PEREGRINOS OCCIDENTALES. RECORD BRILLANTE DE SUS INVOLVIDABLES LOGROS CORONADOS HONOR INAPRECIABLE MUERTE DE MARTIR DESTINADA A PERMANECER SIEMPRE IDENTIFICADA CON DESPERTAR ESPIRITUAL GENTE LATINA TANTO VIEJO COMO NUEVO MUNDO. SU SACRIFICIO GLORIOSO FORJO ENLACE VITAL E IMPERECEDERO ENTRE EJECUTORES PRINCIPALES PLAN DIVINO EN SU TIERRA NATAL, SU ALIADO PRINCIPAL EN SU PATRIA ADOPTADA CANADIENSE, Y SUS ASOCIADOS POR DERECHO EN LATINOAMERICA, ESCENA DE SUS HAZANAS FINALES. ESPERANZA EXPRESADA POR SHOGHI EFFENDI QUE SU NOBLE EJEMPLO INSPIRARA OTROS A LEVANTARSE A SEGUIR SUS PASOS Y ASf ALEGRAR SU ALMA REINO ABHA ABUNDANTEMENTE REALIZADA POR SERVICIOS DINAMICOS Y CREADORES DE EPOCA CREYENTES HEMISFERIO OCCIDENTAL DURANTE CINCO DECADAS DESDE SU FALLECIMIENTO. LOGROS SIN IGUAL CREYENTES LATINOAMERICANOS TANTO EN SUS PAISES Y EN CAMPOS EXTRANJEROS CONSTITUYEN CAPITULO MEMORABLE HISTORIA DE ESTE PER[ODO ERA FORMATIVA DE LA FE. SU INVOLUCRAMIENTO AUMENTATIVO ACTUAL CON VICTORIAS DE ENSENANZA EN AFRICA Y EUROPA ORIENTAL AL IGUAL QUE SERVICIOS DIGNOS DE CREYENTES SUR Y CENTROAMERICANOS CENTRO MUNDIAL FE ENALTECEN AUN MAS NOTABLE CONTRIBUCION AVANCE CAUSA SENOR DE LAS HUESTES. QUE CONFERENCIA REALIZADA PROXIMIDAD A SU LUGAR DE DESCANSO ILUMINADO Y BENDICIDA POR PRESENCIA E INSPIRACION HIJA ALTAMENTE ESTIMADA SRA. MAXWELL MANO CAUSA AMATU'LBAHA RUH[YYIH KHANUM DESENCADENE NUEVAS OLAS ENERGIA ESPIRITUAL CARGAR PARTICIPANTES MAYOR VISION IMPLICACIONES MISION MUNDIAL TRASCENDENTAL BAHA’{S LATINOAMERICANOS SEGUN SE IMPLICA EN LLAMADO DE BAHA’U'LLAH A PRESIDENTES REPUBLICAS AMERICANAS EN SU LIBRO MAS SAGRADO. SUPLICANDO ARDIENTEMENTE EN SAGRADOS SEPULCROS NUEVAS EFUSIONES GRACIA SOSTENEDORA PERMITIR AMIGOS LOon PREMIOS AUN MAYORES MESES RESTANTES PLAN DE SEIS Os.

CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA

21 de Febrero de 1990

at least $4 including 13 Chinese and 17 Southeast Asians.

was conducted in English, Hmong, Khmer, Lao and Vietnamese, several

“Undoubtedly, it is within your powrer to contribS ute significantly to shaping the we soceDes Of the coming century; youth ge” can move the world.”

—UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE MESSAGE TO YOUTH, 3 JANUARY 1964

FIVE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CONFERENCES ON THE THEME:

“An Environment of Peace"

...with nature and with each other

Cartton University, Ottawa, Ontario, July 27-29, 1900 Dalhousie University, Hallfax, Nova Scotia, July 27-29, 1900 Centre Municiple, Ville de Québec, Québec, (en francais), le 6-8 juillet 1900 Conference Centre, Whistler, British Columbia, June 29-July 2, 1900 Unversity of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, August 3-5, 1990 (All conferences to be held in Canada) CONFERENCE COST: Approximately CDN $185.00 or US $150.00

For more Information contact: National Spiritual Assembly Baha'is of the United States Wilmette, IL 60091 Phone 708-869-9039

Public Information reminder

Whenever a news release is issued or an ad is placed in your local newspaper announcing a public meeting to be held in a residence, the Office of Public Information recommends that you do mot list the address of the residence. In most cities and towns there could be the possibility of lega! problems, since you are inviting the public to a residence that may not be zoned as a public meeting place. It is best to list a telephone number to call for information about the event. Then you can personally 4nvite the individual and provide the address.

�[Page 24]24 / The American Baha'i / May 1990

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Baha’is play large role In World Conference on Education

According to a bulletin published by the four co-sponsors of the recent World Conference on Education for All, the world faces an imminent crisis in education.

One in five adults in the world cannot read or write, and their ranks soon will be swelled by the more than 100 million children who presently have no access to schooling.

Two-thirds of adult illiterates are women.

To set an agenda for a giobal initiative to combat this growing problem, the World Conference on Education

for All was held March 5-9 in Jomtien, Thailand, co-sponsored by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank.

Among the more than 1,500 people attending were five heads of government, the heads of the four co-sponsoring groups, eminent educators and researchers, the media, and representatives of 130 NGOs.

Daniel Wegener, the representative

of the Bahd’{ Internationa] Community (BIC) chaired several sessions of the conference and was chosen a vice-president of the bureau oversecing the conference.

The International Task Force on Literacy’s exhibit at the conference included four Baha’{ statements on education, excerpts from a video tape on the Baha’{ school in Haiti, and the recent ‘‘Survey of Bahé’i Education Programs’’ (an official conference document).

The conference closed with the

unanimous adoption of two doce ments: ‘“World Deciaration on Educetion for All” and “‘Framework for Action to Meet Basic Learning Needs.”

“The degree of commitment from all parties,"’ said Mr. Wegener, ““was impressive. The primary purpose of the conference was to mobilize action on the country level to develop and imple ment plans of action to achieve educstion for ail.

“The door is open,”’ he added, *“for Baha’{ communities to lend their support at all levels.”

Bahé’is making plans for ’92 conference on environment In Brazil

In June 1992, the United Nations will convene in Brazil a two-week conference on Environment and Development, which has generated a high level of worldwide interest, concern and excitement.

Lawrence Arturo, director of the Office of the Environment for the Baha'i International Community (BIC) has already attended several of these conferences including the Danube Meeting, which was held March 19-21 in Vienna, Austria, and Budapest, Hungary.

The BIC was one of 14 international NGOs invited to take part in the threeday event, one of the largest gatherings of environmental NGOs to be held since the UN’s Stockholm Conference in 1972.

The Baha'i contribution in workshop sessions emphasized the need for individual responsibility to accompany accorded rights; the inseparability of environmental concerns from moral values; and the need to promote the concept of world citizenship and the ¢stablishment of a universal framework under which enduring solutions can be found and implemented.

Faith well-represented at Commission on Status of Women, parallel conference for Non-Governmental Organizations

UNITED NATIONS

Eleven Baha'is from five countries represented the Faith at the 34th session of the ‘Commission on the Status of Women"’ February 26-March 9 in Vienna, Austria, and at a parallel conference held by representatives of NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs). The aim of the commission is to ‘‘devise and implement ways of uplifting the status of women in the world.”’

A statement prepared by the Baha’{ International Community (BIC) was presented orally at the session of the

commission.

The statement focused on consultation as practiced in the Baha’{ community to promote the participation of women in decision-making. Comments about the statement alluded to its uniqueness and its relevance to the Catholics and Quakers.

This session brought the Baha’{s in closer contact with representatives from several United Nations agencies including UNESCO, UNICEF, the

On January 21, World Religion Day, the Bahd'ts of Orinda, California, held a reception to celebrate the formation Of the first Spiritual Assembly of Orinda since the city was incorporated in 1986. Members of the Assembly are

(left to right) Farhad Toloui, Diara Krotz, Jaleh Toloui, Douglas Krotz, Shokooh Aghsant, Thomas Kilpatrick, Ziba Fanaian, Jaleh Kilpatrick, Masud Fanatan

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), IFAD, and the regional commissions in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

At the two-day parallel conference of NGOs, the themes for consultation were conflict resolution, attitudinal change, and coalition building. It was attended by more than 200 women from international and related organizations.

Of the 20-plus workshops conducted, the one sponsored by the BIC in collaboration with the International Peace Research Association and Deutsch Frauenrat (the major national council of women’s organizations in West Germany) was acclaimed as the most successful.

The reason for its success was partly because it was participatory, but mainly because it presented new ways to resolve conflicts and promote attitudinal change and supported the possibility of NGOs working together in a coalition.

Also, the BIC was the only delegation that included men, two of whom helped conduct the workshop.

The second of three plenary sessions held during the NGO conference, on

“*‘New Models of NGO Cooperation, was chaired by Mary Power from the BIC office in New York and Alasabu Gebre Selassie from the BIC im Ethiopia.

It was opened with a passage on the equality of men and women from ““The Promise of World Peace.”

Mrs. Selassie shared informatior about the BiC-sponsored p “Advocates for African Food Secu rity: Lessening the Burden of Wom en,”’ and the Advocates later spor sored a luncheon attended by represen tatives from the Organization for African Unity, FAO and UNICEF

Also taking part in the conference were representatives of the BIC offices in New York City and Costa Rice

On the weekend following the NGO conference, six of the Bahdé’! representatives traveled to Budapest, Hungary where they spoke to an audience of 60 at a public meeting on the work of the BIC and their participation at the commission mectings.

While they were there, a journalist from a Hungarian magazine interviewed Mrs. Power about the Baha’! view on women.

oject

Baha'i Justice Soclety co-sponsors conference on ‘Racial Justice and Law’ at Loyola Law Schoo!

Initiated by the Baha’{ Justice Society to support the intensive teaching efforts in Chicago, a conference on “Racial Justice and the Law’’ was heid February 23-24 at Chicago’s Loyola University School of Law.

More than 90 people including some 25 judges, attorneys and law professors and about 30 law students attended the two-day event, which was co-sponsored by 14 organizations including Loyola’s School of Law.

The keynote speaker was Carol Moseley Braun, Cook County recorder of deeds, former member of the Illinois State Legislature, and the first black woman ever elected to county-wide office in Cook County.

Baha’{ speakers were Roya Ayman, professor of psychology at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), and Richard Thomas, professor of history/urban affairs at Michigan State University.

Dr. Ayman addressed the topic of

- Racism in the Workplace” while Dr.

Thomas presented the Baha’i model of racial unity as an imperative for future social progress.

In addition to the Justice Society ican Bar Association, the Black Law Student Association, the Hispanic Organization for Legal Advancement, the International Law Society, the National Lawyers’ Guild, the Public Interest Law Society, and the Women's Law Society.

Manhattan Beach program celebrates Dr. King’s birth

On January 15, about $0 children attended a special program commemorating the birthday of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. arranged with the city’s school system by the Spiritual Assembly of Manhattan Beach, California.

There were several crafts tables, « book table, felt board, and story-telling area with stories of Dr. King’s childhood by Blanche Grant, a Baba’ from Bureka

The chikiren sang songs inchading “We Shall Overcome,” and the pro gram ended with « film sboat Dy King's life �[Page 27]The American Baké’i / May 1990 / 27

s

“The shining spark of truth cometh Sorth only after the clash of differing opinions.’ —'Abdu'l-Bahd

The American Bahd’( weicomes 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 Bahd’f, Baha’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Copyright law, Infringement

To the Editor:

The topic of copyright law is one that I feel needs immediate attention, especially with the increasing involvement of the arts as a goal of the Six Year Plan.

I have recently been made aware of several copyright infringements of my and others’ artwork by Baha'is who, knowingly or not, reproduced our work without permission, for profit

We all enjoy using attractive artwork to promote conferences and exhibits, or for use on greeting cards and for other decorative purposes. Please be aware that someone created this art; and someone owns the copyright.

Art is not yours to use in a public or profit-making way unless you are certain it is copyright-free or ‘‘public domain” art. Seeing a particular design in

to Thailand, was killed in a car acci copyright-free. (Since 1985, the Walt Disney Co. has sued more than 1,700 people for copyright infringement of its Mickey Mouse character!) Whether copyright violators had prior knowledge of their abuse is irrelevant. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. When people use artists’ designs without permission, it is comparable to stealing from them, as the artists are deprived of potential income through each and every illegal use of their art. Sometimes artists will gladly give their art for public use, but many of us depend on our art as our means of livelihood, and must be reimbursed for our service, as is any professional.

Baha'u'llah says, ‘‘The fifth Tardz concerneth the protection and preservation of the stations of God's servants. . . .The people of Baha should not deny any soul the reward due to him, should treat craftsmen with deference, .. ."" (Tablets of Bahd’u'lldh, p. 38)

I feel certain that as law-abiding Baha’{s, ever conscious of our relationship to integrity and honesty, we will Strive to observe copyright laws even in our enthusiasm to promote our precious Faith in an attractive way.

Perhaps the National Spiritual Assembly’s Special Materials Review Committee could contribute further guidelines to those who wish to use existing artwork.

Teresa Smith Dominguez Fort Wingate, New Mexico

On vegetarianism

To the Editor:

As a Bahd’{ who is a vegetarian, | was surprised and comforted by January’s Bahd’{ National Review which contained a previously untranslated quotation from ‘Abdu’l-Bahé that said we are not required to eat meat, and that a vegetarian diet is recommended to those who wish to adopt it.

I feel this passage clarifies something that has bothered me for years.

I have encountered some Bahd’{s who seemed to be of the opinion that my diet is not in accordance with our Faith. They have generally tried to

prove their point by supporting it with quotations from the Writings and from

anecdotes of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd.

This has disturbed me very much because both ideas are close to my heart, and I see no contradiction in them.

Vegetarianism is sometimes thought of as a form of asceticism. Contrary to popular belief, true vegetarians do not secretly yearn for a hamburger. They eat the way they do because they like it that way; there is no self-denial involved.

It is true that the Kitdb-i-Agdas does not forbid any food, but I don’t think this means we must eat things we find objectionable.

On at least one occasion, ‘Abdu’lBaha did discourage a Baha'i from giving up meat. It would not be approp we are not alsomeone of our own

not need to cat meat, so why should we do so if it makes us unhappy?

There are many vegetarians who are interested in race unity, world peace and other Baha’{ ideals. If you should meet one, try to discuss these things with him or her. There is a good chance you'll have found someone who is at least willing to listen to a presentation of the Faith.

Please don’t think of vegetarians as Strange or eccentric. One’s diet need not be yet another source of division or prejudice.

Wallace Pryor Farmington, Missouri

Louhelen students cited

The Louhelen Residential Program and its students from around the world were the focus of a full-page article February 19 in Mott Community College’s student newspaper, the Post.

In addition to describing the Michigan Baha’{ school’s unique residential program for young people, the article touches briefly on Baha’! beliefs and history.

IN MEMORIAM

South Africa produces

pictorial history of Faith in that country: 1911-89

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahdé’{s of South Africa has pro duced a new booklet, “A Pictorial History of the Bahé’{ Faith in South Africa: 1911 to 1989.""

The booklet includes 128 photo graphs and text covering the carly days of the Faith in South Africa, the establishment of its administrative machinConventions, well-known Baha'is, social and cultural events, a number of other topics and a glossary.

Copies are available for $5 each from the National Bahé’{ Literature Committee, 14 Elgin Road, Milnerton 7441, South Africa.

Knight of Baha'u'llah Frederick Louls Laws dies

Frederick Louis Laws, a Knight of Baha'u'llah, died last November 16 after more than SO years of service to the Faith.

Mr. Laws and his wife, Beth, were named Knights of Baha'u'llah by the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, after opening Basutoland to the Faith during the Ten Year Crusade in 1953

They were in Africa from 1953-56 and again in 1976 after Mr. Laws re tired from General Electric in Seattle, Washington.

A native of Pineridge, Alabama, Mr. Laws accepted the Faith in 1935, and he and Mrs. Laws were married four years later.

After Mrs. Laws’ death in June 1978, Mr. Laws continued serving the Cause in Washington and California until illness made it impossible

Melvine Barker Barbara Davenport Ridgeland, SC Davis, CA

1988 September 27, 1989 Roy Batiste Anne L. Davis Los Angeles, CA Baton Rouge, LA March 3, 1990 May 31, 1989 Hannah Bivins Sophia Derbyshire Montezuma, GA Costa Mesa, CA 1990 February 6, 1990 Cora Bowers Louise Dickenson Boone, NC Philadelphia, PA August 29, 1988 | December 3, 1989 Hattie Caldwell Houshang Farrokhzad Marshallville, GA Concord, CA Date Unknown March 7, 1990 Albert Canady Amy Garter Killeen, TX Lantry, SD January 26,1990 1989

Ella Charles Richard Graning Sierra Vista, CA Addison, TX April 30, 1989 Date Unknown Anastacia Chavez Beatrice Haynes Deming, NM Temple, TX 1990 August 1989 John W. Clutter _ Laurie C. Heller Tampa, FL Arcata, CA January 15,1990 March 10, 1990 Ruby Cook Eva Henderson Milwaukee, WI Birmingham, AL December 13, 1988 Date Unknown Ella Mac Cyler Ruth Hicks Ridgeland, SC Albany, GA Date Unknown Date Unknown

Lester Hollings Abdullah Nosrat Birmingham, AL Satellite Beach, FL Date Unknown January 11, 1990 Novaneta Inthisith Celestina Pedrayes Lansing, MI West New York, NJ 1986 1989

Johnnie Jackson Albert Phillips Marshallville, GA Meridian, MS Date Unknown Date Unknown Shubert Jonas Nadeem Rahimpour Pompano Beach, FL Colorado Springs, CO March 13, 1990 February 20, 1990 Mary Lee Jones Alida Rota Marshallville, GA —- Fort Lauderdale, FL January 1989 Date Unknown William Madsen Jennifer Smith Anaheim, CA Memphis, TN January 1990 March 9, 1990 Ardis McLatchie Pheach Tim

Van Nuys, CA Des Moines, LA March 7, 1990 November 29, 1989 Robert Metz Leticia D. Todis Los Angeles, CA Grass Valley, CA March 5, 1990 October 24, 1989 Sarah Mitchell Mousa Toloui Ridgeland, SC Concord, CA 1988 February 10, 1990 Glen Mommsen Dicie Yotter Boone, NC Lake Elsinore, CA September 30, 1989 February 27, 1990 Leroy A. Nash

Rochester, NH

November 27, 1967 �[Page 28]28 / The American Baha'i / May 1990

Pictured is one of the many outstand- tional Chinese Symposium held March ing Chinese musicians who performed 29-April 1 in San Francisco. (Story, during the Bahd’(-sponsored Interna- more photos on pages 1, 22, 23)

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 25-27: 17th annual Conference of Nur, Elizabethtown (Pennsylvania) College. Theme: ‘‘The Unity of the Races.” Speakers: Counselor Wilma Ellis, Auxiliary Board member James Sturdivant, author Nat Rutstein. For accommodations, costs and more information, write to the Spiritual Assembly of Harrisburg, P.O. Box 3108, Harrisburg, PA 17105, or phone 717-232-9163.

May 25-28: Spiritual Renewal Retreat for Couples, Bosch Baha’! School. Sessions on love, marriage and parenting conducted by Dan Popov and Linda Kavelin Popov. Text: ‘‘Family Life,’’ compilation of the Universal House of Justice. Registration: Bosch Baha'i School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (phone 408-323-3387).

June-August: Northern Star Baha'i Project, Alaska.

June 1-3: Young Adult Conference, ‘‘Rendezvous with the Future: An Exploration of the Bahdé’{ Message in Today’s World." Bosch Baha'i School, Santa Cruz, California. For registration information, write to Bosch School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or phone Hooshyar Naraghi, 415-324-1055, or the Bosch School, 408-423-3387.

June 9: Walk for Race Unity, sponsored by the North Shore (Chicago area) Race Unity Task Force. Evanston and Wilmette, Illinois.

June 14-17: South Carolina Bahé’{ Summer School, Louis G. Gregory Institute, Hemingway. Theme: ‘‘South Carolina Count-Down: The Remaining 677 Days of the Six Year Plan.’’ For information, phone the Institute, 803-558-5093, or Moses and Ursula Richardson, 803-332-2411.

June 14-17; Baha’{ International Chinese Symposium, Kingston, Jamaica.

June 17-23: Camp Louhelen (for children entering grades 3-6 in the fall)

Louhelen Baha’{ School, Davison, Michigan. Covering camp skills, nature,

arts, cultural studies, and Baha’{ history. For an application and reserva tion, contact the Louhelen Baha’i School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, M!

48423, or phone 313-653-5033. For information, contact Carol McKiel, Mishawaka, IN 46544 (phone 219-259-4621).

June 22-24: Fifth annual Meeting and Conference of the Baha'i Justice Society, Wilmette, Illinois. Speakers to include Alan Smith, a member of the Continental Board of Counselors and assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Virgin Islands; and Judge Dorothy W. Nelson, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly. For information, phone Ted Amsden, 313-S686554, or Deborah Jackson, registrar, 708-945-3877.

June 25-28: First Sino-American Conference on Women's Issues, Beijing. People’s Republic of China. For information, phone Global Interactions Inc., 602-272-3438.

June 28-July 1; Special Visit program (family version, includes children’s program). Baha’i House of Worship, Wilmette. For details and informetion, phone 708-256-4400.

June 28-July 14: Baha’i Outdoor Leaders’ Course (grades 11-13). July 7-14: Wilderness Base Camp (grades 5-8), Leadership Development Camp (grades 9-10). Camp Kamal, Wisconsin. For information or to register, write to James Lewicki, Camp Kamal! director, Viroqua, WI 54665, or phone 608-637-2743. Camp Kamal is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Beloit, Wisconsin.

June 29-July 5: Seventh annual Baha’i Teacher-Training Conference,

Louhelen Baha’{ School. For information, phone Karen Olin, 805-466-1077, or the Louhelen School, 313-653-5033.

July 14-19; Session on the environment, Bosch Bah4’{ School. Bahé’{s who are professionals, students or active volunteers in environmental issues are invited to submit one-page summaries of papers for possible presentation at the session. Send to: Program Director, Bosch Baha’{ School, $00 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. For program information, phone 805-933-1253. To register, send a deposit of $35 to the school address or register by charge card, 408-423-3387.

August: Bicycle Tour for Peace, Switzerland.

August 46: American Indian Pioneering Institute; location to be announced.

August 5-19: Children’s Academy, Louis G. Gregory Baha’{ Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina.

August 30-September 2: Special Visit program (regular without special children’s program). Baha’{ House of Worship, Wilmette. For details and information, phone 708-256-4400.

September 1-2: Pioneer Training Institute, Louis Gregory Baha’{ Center, Hemingway, South Carolina.

September 6-9: Second annual Story-Telling Festival, Glenwood Springs, Colorado, commemorating ‘Abdu'l-Baha’s visit in 1912. Main story-tellers: Counselor Robert Harris and Aziz Yardi. Mr. Yazdi grew up in the household of ‘Abdu’l-Bah4. The event marks the 90th anniversary of the Faith in Colorado, and all former Colorado Baha'is, traveling teachers and pioncers are being called for a “‘homecoming."’ For registration information, contact Linda Brown, P.O. Box 592, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602, or phone 303-945-2558 or 303-945-9144,

September 21-23: “Peace Fest '90,"’ Louis G. Gregory Baha'i Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina.

October/November: Pioncer Training Institute, Green Acre Baha'i School, Bliot, Maine (exact dates to be announced). �