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The American Bahá’í

Volume 23, No. 4 ‘The real treasury of man is his knowledge.’—Bahá’u’lláh Bahá B.E. 149 / March 21, 1992

THE SIX YEAR PLAN

Achieving ‘greater involvement in the life of society’

This is the third in a four-part series outlining the achievements of the American Bahá’í community during the Six Year Plan. This month we continue our review of the ways in which we have achieved “greater involvement in the life of society.” We will also discuss advancements in social and economic development, Bahá’í literature, and Bahá’í education.

Bahá’u’lláh stressed repeatedly that the fundamental purpose of His Revelation is to uphold the principles that foster unity among people. He also maintained that human behavior must correspond to those principles if they are to prove effective. For this reason the Bahá’ís have been called upon to adhere to the highest standards in their dealings with others; our charge as given to us by the Manifestation of God Himself is to promulgate His Teachings, to set an example that others will wish to emulate, and to demonstrate that within Bahá’u’lláh’s World Order lies the power to translate ideals into reality.

This concept is reflected in the Six Year Plan goals for greater involvement in the life of society and for social and economic development projects. The Bahá’í community today has a greater degree of human and material resources, and a more highly developed Administrative Order, than it has enjoyed since the inception of the Faith.

This new capacity has been achieved just as great opportunities have opened for defining and implementing Bahá’u’lláh’s solutions to the problems that afflict society. As humanity passes through its “darkest hour before the dawn,” our responsibility to call the Faith to the attention of the world’s suffering and bewildered masses grows ever more urgent.

Near the end of the Seven Year Plan the Universal House of Justice issued “The Promise of World Peace,” a statement on peace addressed to the peoples of the world, in which the Supreme Body pointed out the most intractable barriers to world peace and explained what must be done to overcome them.

Since then, and especially during the Six Year Plan, the statement has been widely disseminated to heads of state, government leaders, diplomats, teachers, leaders of religion, professionals in many fields, clubs and associations, and hundreds of thousands of others around the world. The themes taken up in the statement, based on fundamental Bahá’í principles, helped educate its recipients about the nature of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation, and inspired innumerable activities on the part of the Bahá’ís themselves as they answered the House of Justice’s call for “greater involvement in the life of society.”

As indicated earlier in this series, the National Spiritual Assembly has made remarkable progress toward accomplishing this major goal of the Six Year Plan through the efforts of its National Teaching Committee and Office of External Affairs. But those activities make up only part of a wide variety of efforts undertaken in this country on the national, regional and local levels.

Since the beginning of the Plan, several agencies and committees of the National Assembly have undertaken new initiatives and expanded their objectives beyond the Bahá’í community to include the community at large. These efforts have opened many doors for proclaiming the Faith and its principles. These groups often collaborate closely, and all operate under the direction of the National Assembly.

One of these agencies, the National Committee on Women, has become closely involved with a number of organizations dedicated to promoting women’s rights and the equality of the sexes. The following are some of the Committee’s more important projects:

• In the first year of the Plan, the committee presented workshops at the International Peace Conference in San Francisco and took part in several well-attended public meetings on women in California and Texas.
• Committee members took part ‎the in the‎ American Association of University Women “Equity by the Year 2000” Conference and the Iowa Women and Peace Conference, both also held early in the Plan.
• The committee held two conferences on black women in conjunction with the Women’s Studies Department of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. The first was attended by more than 200 people, who heard keynote addresses by a member of the National Spiritual Assembly and a

See SIX YEAR PLAN page 9

Architect Fariburz Sahba (foreground in light suit), director of the Arc Project on Mount Carmel, points out to members of the Universal House of Justice the progress being made in constructing the Terraces above and below the Shrine of the Báb. Mr. Sahba was in the U.S. in February and spoke twice at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.

INSIDE:
2	Project Blaze Young Bahá’ís in Texas establish full-time teaching campaign
3	The Funds Imminent arrival of Lesser Peace poses unprecedented challenges
12	The Nicholas Brothers Two of Hollywood’s greatest dancers receive the Kennedy Center honors
13	Assembly formation As Ridván approaches, questions about how to form are answered

Congress Registration offers lowest New York hotel rates

Hotels in New York City, where the second Bahá’í World Congress has reserved blocks of rooms, have been calling the World Congress office to report that they have received many calls from Bahá’ís who would like to book rooms. These hotels automatically refer the caller back to the World Congress office, as our hotel contracts call for them to do.

The calls are an obvious effort to obtain a lower room rate. However, the hotels have agreed by contract that the rates included in Congress packages are lower than those given to anyone else during the time period of the Congress, and that these special rates are available only through Congress Registration. Among the reasons why rates quoted by hotels may seem lower:

(1) These rates do not include state, city and occupancy taxes totaling more than 20 percent per night. This amount will be added to any price that is quoted.

(2) The price published by the World Congress office includes a full American breakfast every morning of the Congress. No meals are offered in stated hotel rates.

(3) The quoted hotel rates do not include gratuities (tips) which can include, among others, those for baggage handling at the hotel, tipping for breakfast service, and for the chambermaid (which, traditionally, is $1 per person per night). All World Congress packages include taxes, gratuities and breakfasts.

In addition, those who purchase World Congress packages receive bus service from the airport to the hotel and back including baggage handling gratuity.

The most important point to be made, however, is that unified efforts will allow us to meet our contractual obligations to the hotels. Bahá’ís trying to make their own reservations undermine the purpose of our hotel contracts; that is, if enough rooms are occupied from our block, we are given the use of public space for our special events at no cost. If we do not meet our commitment, we will have to pay many thousands of dollars for that space.

In an effort to maintain this unity of effort, the friends are asked not to contact hotels directly, but to refer all questions to the World Congress office at the Bahá’í National Center (phone 708-869-9039). [Page 2]

'Project Blaze' builds on talents, strengths

Bahá’í youth in Texas establish full-time teaching team

Bahá’í youth in Texas have formed a full-time teaching team dedicated to serving the Cause of God and helping to achieve the goals of the Six Year Plan.

Project Blaze, currently a six-member group, is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Duncanville, Texas, and is focusing its efforts in Texas and Oklahoma. The group offers help to local Assemblies throughout the region by enkindling their youth and supporting the teaching activities of the communities. Their fame is spreading quickly among area Bahá’ís and the general public.

BUILDING ON TALENTS, STRENGTHS: Early on, the members of Project Blaze decided to concentrate on activities that build on their individual talents and strengths; for that reason most of their efforts center on media contact, street teaching, and fireside teaching. Since its formation in August 1991 the group has carried out the following types of activities:

• presented copies of "The Vision of Race Unity" to mayors, city councils, college presidents, race relations officers, churches and individuals;
• supported Bahá’í campus club activities at several universities (a special fireside held at the University of North Texas was attended by more than 50 youth seekers, at least 20 of whom have since attended firesides in the homes of Bahá’ís);
• encouraged Bahá’í youth in each community by supporting and presenting youth firesides, emphasizing the importance of prayer and deepening, and challenging the youth to initiate plans for teaching in consultation with their assemblies;
• conducted a weekend deepening for youth that resulted in the formation of five new teaching institutes, all of which continue to function;
• supported and presented public proclamations in a number of communities;
• met with the Urban League in Austin, Texas, to discuss unity and avoidance of drugs;
• spoke to church congregations and Christian youth groups about the significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation;
• provided radio and newspaper interviews; and
• provided manpower for the meals program at a shelter for the homeless.

Project Blaze also developed a program for high schools and junior high schools promoting racial harmony. The program involves the students in open discussion of the problem and its possible solutions in classroom workshops, and also features a show presented for the entire student body that uses video, slides, music, dance, skits and dramatic speeches. Both aspects have proven effective, but the members of the team enjoy the closer interaction in the classroom setting.

STUDENTS RESPOND: The program has been presented to schools in Taylor, Galveston, Pflugerville and Williamson County, Texas, and in Norman, Oklahoma. Many students have responded, including one girl who wrote poetry on racial harmony and sent it to the Project.

In one city a Bahá’í student sent a letter of appreciation to the Project for coming to her school, saying that her friends approached her afterward asking about the team and about the Bahá’í Faith. The principal of another high school was so thrilled by the program that he wrote a letter of recommendation for the team to share with other principals.

Project Blaze operates through prayer, deepening and group consultation. The sponsoring Assembly's coordinator works closely with each host Assembly to plan a busy and effective series of activities for the team. The parents of all the team members have also given their blessing and support to this effort.

Project Blaze encourages all of the Bahá’ís they meet to form teaching institutes and full-time teaching teams. Blaze is scheduled to serve through the end of summer 1992, and its members hope that others will soon be established to take its place.

Pictured (left to right) are five members of Project Blaze, a teaching/deepening campaign led by Bahá’í youth in Texas and Oklahoma: Teo Polk, Ryan Haidarian, Max Kazemzadeh, Anlo Sepulveda and Mark Sobhani. Not pictured is the sixth member of the team, Cheri Plymale.

Kevin Locke performs in Chicago

On Sunday, February 2, Kevin Locke, nationally acclaimed Lakota Indian hoop dancer, performed at the Indian Learning Center in Chicago.

An Auxiliary Board member and an international teaching committee's coordinator for American Indian teaching.

Special guests of Mr. Locke were Continental Counselor Jacqueline Delahunt, Mark Wedge (an Auxiliary Board member from Yukon, Canada) and Cheryl Fennell (an Auxiliary Board member from Northwest Territory, Canada), who had been attending the Auxiliary Board Conference of North America in Wilmette that weekend, and all of whom are American Indian.

Also present were members of the Regional American Indian Teaching Committee for the Central States East, and the National Teaching Committee’s coordinator for American Indian teaching.

The afternoon program was opened with two prayers, one offered by a representative of the Indian Learning Center and one offered by Mr. Wedge. Following opening prayers, Mr. Locke taught those present Indian sign language for the Bahá’í prayer "O God, Guide Me."

The main event for the afternoon program was a workshop on hoop dancing led by Mr. Locke. Nearly 30 children, youth and adults took part. Counselor Delahunt spoke briefly to the group about the importance of our children. Both Mr. Wedge and Ms. Fennell also addressed the group.

Between 200 and 300 people were present for the evening Pow-wow. The Pow-wow included flute and hoop dance performances by Mr. Locke. This event, which was attended by between 15 and 20 Bahá’ís, was noted for its especially uplifting spirit.

A number of positive contacts were made which it is hoped will result in friendships and perhaps active workers for the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.

Listing of local Spiritual Assemblies in jeopardy at Ridván because membership is below nine

Listed below are local Spiritual Assemblies that, because their community membership has fallen below the nine adult believers necessary to form an Assembly, are in danger of losing their Assembly status at Ridván. Bahá’ís in surrounding communities are asked to help with teaching efforts in these areas, traveling teachers are encouraged to arrange itineraries that include these Bahá’í communities, and prospective homefront pioneers are urged to consider them as pioneering posts. Spiritual Assemblies in danger of being lost which have not yet reported their jeopardized status should contact the National Teaching Committee office.

• • ALABAMA**
• Florence

• • ARKANSAS**
• Fayetteville
• Washington County

• • CALIFORNIA**
• Gardena
• La Cañada
• Manhattan Beach
• Ojai
• Palm Desert
• Sierra Madre
• Temecula

• • COLORADO**
• La Plata County

• • CONNECTICUT**
• Danbury
• Ellington
• Ledyard
• New Britain
• Ridgefield
• Southington
• South Windsor
• Torrington

• • DELAWARE**
• Wilmington

• • FLORIDA**
• Altomante Springs
• Davie

• • ILLINOIS**
• Batavia
• Bolingbrook
• Glen Ellyn
• Northfield Twp.

• • IOWA**
• Council Bluffs
• Oskaloosa

• • MAINE**
• Brunswick

• • MICHIGAN**
• Troy
• White River Twp.

• • MISSOURI**
• Boone County
• Rolla

• • MONTANA**
• Helena* (*Top priority—capital city)

• • N. CAROLINA**
• Garner

• • N. DAKOTA**
• Fort Yates
• Grand Forks

• • OHIO**
• Beavercreek
• Xenia

• • OKLAHOMA**
• Midwest City
• Ponca City
• The Village

• • OREGON**
• Benton County
• Forest Grove
• Hillsboro
• Jefferson County

• • UTAH**
• Bountiful

• • VIRGINIA**
• Hampton
• Suffolk

• • WASHINGTON**
• Snohomish Co., SW
• Woodinville

• • W. VIRGINIA**
• Monongalia Co.

The American Bahá’í is published 19 times a year by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201. Application to mail at second class postage rates pending at Evanston, IL, and additional mailing offices. Executive editor: Jack Bowers. Associate Editor: Ken Bowers. Art director: Scot Corrie. The American Bahá’í welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Bahá’í Faith. Articles should be clear and concise; color or black-and-white glossy photographs should be included whenever possible. Please address all materials and correspondence to The Editor, The American Bahá’í, Wilmette, IL 60091. Postmaster: Send address changes to Management Information Systems, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201. Copyright © 1992 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. [Page 3]

Establishment of Lesser Peace poses unprecedented challenges

The completion of the edifices of the Arc on Mount Carmel was referred to by the Guardian as a "stupendous undertaking" that "will mark the culmination of the development of a world-wide divinely-appointed Administrative Order whose beginnings may be traced as far back as the concluding years of the Heroic Age of the Faith.

"This vast and irrestible process," the Guardian continued, "unexampled in the spiritual history of mankind," would "synchronize with two no less significant developments—the establishment of the Lesser Peace and the evolution of Bahá’í national and local institutions—the one outside and the other within the Bahá’í world...." (Messages to the Bahá’í World, p. 74)

The construction of those edifices is now well under way; and in the final decade of the century that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said will witness the emergence of the Lesser Peace, signs everywhere point to the imminent fulfillment of His prophecy.

The third development that must characterize this period of history, the evolution of the national and local institutions, has profound implications for the American Bahá’í community, designated by Shoghi Effendi as "the cradle of the Administrative Order."

NEW INITIATIVES: In recent years, and especially since the inception of the Six Year Plan, the process of maturation of the institutions has greatly accelerated.

The following initiatives of the National Spiritual Assembly illustrate some of the most important developments:

• the reorganization of the management of the Bahá’í properties and the evolution of Bahá’í schools and institutes, particularly the renovations in progress at Green Acre and the development at Louhelen of a strategic model for the training of teachers in anticipation of the future educational needs of the community;
• the reorganization of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust and Distribution Service, which will allow for more efficient service while providing publications at a lower cost to the friends; and
• the radical restructuring of the National Assembly's financial affairs, which has received the admiration of financial institutions that deal with the Bahá’ís. At a meeting with the top officers of a major commercial bank, one executive remarked to the National Assembly's representatives that the changes were astonishing, and would have taken many more years for his organization to accomplish even with its vastly superior resources.

Other processes that are in progress include:

• efforts that are paving the way for the automation of local administrative and financial work and a more efficient network of Bahá’í communication;
• work toward the development of service-oriented consulting bodies that will share the Message of Bahá’u’lláh by helping public and private organizations deal with issues such as racial harmony, conflict management and sexual equality;
• research into the formation of a unique series of Bahá’í financial institutions which may encompass banking, investment, real estate and development; and
• the formulation of plans for the remaining dependencies of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the importance of which was emphasized by the Guardian, who stated that "...the central Edifice of this exalted Temple...cannot be regarded as the sole, nor even the essential, factor in the part which the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, as designed by Bahá’u’lláh, is destined to play in the organic life of the Bahá’í community. Divorced from the social, humanitarian, educational and scientific pursuits centering around the Dependencies of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, Bahá’í worship, however exalted in its conception, however passionate in fervor, can never hope to achieve beyond the meager and often transitory results produced by the contemplations of the ascetic or the communion of the passive worshipper...." (Bahá’í Administration, pp. 185-86)

GREAT DEMANDS: We can be sure that great demands will be placed on our community during the years that will witness the emergence of the Lessser Peace. The challenge for us is to prepare ourselves by whatever means is necessary to meet them, however "thorny and difficult" the road ahead, and however chaotic the condition of the world around us. As Shoghi Effendi said:

"Ours rather the duty, however confused the scene, however dismal the present outlook, however circumscribed the resources we dispose of, to labor serenely, confidently and unremittingly to lend our share of assistance, in whichever way circumstances may enable us, to the operation of the forces which, as marshaled and directed by Bahá’u’lláh, are leading humanity out of the valley of misery and shame to the loftiest summits of power and glory." (The Promised Day is Come, p. 129)

Contribution Comparison - Totals at December 31 (est.)

(000's)	Dec ’89	Dec ’90	Dec ’91 (est.)	Pct Change ’89 to ’91	Pct Change ’90 to ’91
National Bahá’í Fund	$5,434	$6,105	$6,558	21%	7%
Bahá’í International Fund	$367	$490	$885	141%	81%
Arc Projects Fund	$971	$2,412	$550	-43%	-77%
Continental Bahá’í Fund	$209	$187	$120	-43%	-36%
Estate Bequests	$0	$494	$605	N/A	22%
Total Contributions	$6,981	$9,688	$8,718	25%	-10%

Weekend gathering held at Bosch School to prepare video for training facilitators for Assembly Development program

Several Auxiliary Board members and many of their assistants gathered at the Bosch Bahá’í School the weekend of December 6-8 with a member of the National Spiritual Assembly and three staff members from the Bahá’í National Center to prepare a video tape suitable for training the large number of facilitators who will be required as the process of local Spiritual Assembly development expands.

The practice of holding conferences in various areas for the initiation of the development process will continue; however, the increasing demand for additional training of presenters for the modules requires the production of a simple and effective instructional device that is much more accessible than a conference.

The video tape medium will make the swift delivery of modules to the community much easier to accomplish.

The modular process of Assembly development is designed to be both easily understood and highly effective in changing the way in which an Assembly views itself and conducts its affairs.

Those who gathered at Bosch felt that the availability and value of the modules has not been communicated effectively enough to the Bahá’í community. Those local Assemblies that have benefited from training in one or more of the modules have likewise encouraged the National Spiritual Assembly to emphasize more vigorously the worth of the process.

In response to the enthusiastic reception given the modular technique of instruction and analysis, the National Assembly has directed the preparation of new modules and the refinement and improvement of existing materials and methods including the video tape now being prepared.

The National Spiritual Assembly encourages each local Spiritual Assembly to seek the guidance of an Auxiliary Board member in its area so that the process of Assembly development can be accelerated. The modules currently available are:

• The Spiritual Nature of the Institution
• The Application of Spiritual and Administrative Principles
• Consultation
• The Nineteen Day Feast
• Celebrating Diversity in the Bahá’í Community
• Teaching
• Models of Race Unity
• Management of Stress in the Bahá’í Community
• Social and Economic Development
• East Meets West (an introduction to the integration of Persian Bahá’ís into the mainstream)

Watch for these modules now under development and soon to be released:

• Marriage (a help to the local Assembly in fostering strong families and in the solution of marital problems)
• Preparing for Bahá’í Elections

Please contact your Auxiliary Board member now.

World Congress Logistics Office shares new hotel developments

The World Congress Logistics Office has become aware of several circumstances it wishes to make known to better inform the friends.

Maximum of four persons per hotel room

New York city and state laws and fire ordinances require that no more than four persons may occupy one hotel room, and the hotels are responsible for compliance. These laws and regulations are for the protection and safety of hotel guests. The friends should be aware that, even if they should be willing to accept the discomfort of additional persons in the room, the hotel will have no choice but to take action.

Hotel and air group formation status changed

The Registration Guide indicated that it was possible for groups of registrants to request to travel together or to stay in the same hotel. Because of the volume of these requests and the impact it has had on our limited physical, human and financial resources, we regret to announce that we can no longer accommodate these requests with assurance.

However, for those who have already registered in a hotel or air group, it is likely that the requests will be accommodated because of the sequential nature of receiving and entering the registration information.

This does not affect those who have asked to share rooms. Roommates will continue to be accommodated.

Thousands of youth expected to attend Bahá’í World Congress

Bahá’í youth: where will you be in November 1992? Thousands of your brothers and sisters will be getting together in a very special city (New York) to feel the Spirit of Bahá’u’lláh, the most precious Being ever to have drawn breath on this planet. They will be at the Bahá’í World Congress.

By now you have probably heard a lot about this incredible event. Bahá’ís will be there from all over the world. The World Congress is one of the two major events that will take place during the Holy Year, which will begin in just a few weeks.

The gathering of the friends will move each of us and will shake the world. We will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Covenant and we will share Bahá’u’lláh’s Name and Mission with the entire human race. We, being Bahá’í youth, are especially blessed to be alive at such a time. We are a part of something that our grandchildren and every generation of the future will study as history!

Every month, look for more information about the World Congress and Youth in The American Bahá’í. We look forward to news of your audacious and creative acts of service.

Gala party marks Birth of Báb

A dozen guests joined more than 100 Bahá’ís in San Jose, California, for a gala celebration October 20 of the Birth of the Báb.

The evening of entertainment, refreshments and laughter was begun with a recitation in five languages of the Remover of Difficulties, revealed by the Báb. [Page 4]

National Spiritual Assembly announces phased-in plane to reorganize Bahá’í Publishing Trust, Distribution Service

The National Spiritual Assembly has announced a plan to reorganize the Bahá’í Publishing Trust and Distribution Service.

The result of several years of consultation, the plan includes several phases, focusing on expanding the capacity of the Publishing Trust to achieve the National Assembly's goals for publishing and distributing Bahá’í literature.

One phase, that of relocating the Distribution Service, is under way. The National Spiritual Assembly has approved a search for a larger facility in a lower labor-cost area. Presently, a facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is being evaluated.

Once a suitable location is determined and obtained, two or three months will be needed to arrange for the move. It is hoped that the actual move will be completed over a long weekend, with minimal disruption of service.

Another phase of the reorganization centers on ensuring that adequate stocks are available of the authoritative texts of the Faith—the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice.

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS

BEVERLY WALKER, co-administrator of the Bahá’í Home in Wilmette, Illinois, received this year's Larry-Madge Award at the annual convention of the Illinois Activity Professionals Association (IAPA). The award recognizes activity professionals for their leadership qualities in local and state organizations. Mrs. Walker, a charter member of IAPA, served as its president from 1989-90 and has been a member of the board of directors since 1983. The non-profit group has more than 700 members working in long-term care and mental health care centers. Mrs. Walker is also a founding member of the Activity Therapist Association (ATA), which serves the metropolitan Chicago area with more than 100 members, served as its president in 1976-77, and has been on the board of directors for more than 20 years.

ALONZO W. NESMITH JR., a Bahá’í who is director of Plant Technology at MUSC Medical Center in Charleston, has been named a South Carolina Distinguished Healthcare Executive for 1991. The award, sponsored by the American College of Healthcare Executives, recognizes those who are not chief executive officers but who have made outstanding contributions to health care management in the state.

An anti-drug video co-developed by ADAM PHILLIPS, an 18-year-old Bahá’í from Santa Cruz, California, has been released for nationwide television broadcast after having been judged best among 1,100 such efforts by students in 14 states in a contest sponsored by the Scott Newman Center, founded in 1980 by actor Paul Newman in memory of his son who died of a drug overdose. Mr. Phillips, a senior at Santa Cruz High School, is also a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist and has been accepted as a student at Princeton University.

ROGER HOGAN, a Bahá’í musician who lives in Redding, California, was profiled December 22 in a full-page article in the Redding Record Searchlight that mentions his Bahá’í affiliation and some of the principles of the Faith. The multi-talented composer, arranger and reedman, a former Los Angeles studio musician who played for more than a decade with the U.S. Air Force jazz ensemble, the Airmen of Note, teaches music in Redding, plays in a trio and the Roger Hogan quintet, is musical director of a 16-piece band, Straight Ahead, and has played on several occcasions with the Bahá’í Peace Orchestra at the Louis G. Gregory Institute's annual Peace Fests.

From Behind the Veil, a novel written by Bahá’í KATHLEEN J. DEMAS, is listed as reading material for students in the Holocaust program developed by the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center for the Florida Department of Education, Curriculum Services Section. The book tells the story of an American girl living in Iran during the mid-19th century and the religious persecution she suffers as a member of the Bahá’í Faith.

MONDANA PAYMANIAN, a 17-year-old Bahá’í from Ridgecrest, California, recently won first prize of $100 in an essay contest on the Bill of Rights sponsored by the East Kern Democratic Club. Miss Paymanian, a senior at Burroughs High School, plans to begin her university studies next year in electrical engineering.

DAN RUFF, a 29-year-old Bahá’í from Enfield, Connecticut, recently received an Eagle Award worth $500 from his employer, Pratt & Whitney division of United Technologies Corporation, for his work in enhancing employee involvement through the use of successful consultation techniques.

ANISA KINTZ, a nine-year-old Bahá’í from Hemingway, South Carolina, has organized "Calling All Colors," the first conference on racism in Horry County especially designed for children. The conference, for those in grades 3-8, was held at Coastal Carolina College, where Anisa's mother, Ginny Kintz, is employed in the Graduate and Continuing Education Department. Anisa's efforts led to feature articles in the Myrtle Beach Sun-News and Greenwood Index-Journal and an editorial in the Greenville News, in each of which the Faith was mentioned prominently as her inspiration for tackling the problem of racism.

DAYNA RING, a Bahá’í from Larimer County, Colorado, was recently honored by American Mothers Inc., a national organization that promotes moral and spiritual foundations in the American family, as first runner-up for Young Mother Representative of the Colorado Mothers. Besides performing volunteer work in the public schools, serving on her local Spiritual Assembly, teaching classes at a Bahá’í school, serving as a Brownie Scout leader, managing rental property and providing professional child day-care in her home, Dayna and her husband, Brian, are providing an inspirational Bahá’í home life for their four young daughters.

The National Spiritual Assembly has approved a grant to help with the publication of these essential titles. The present editorial staff of the Publishing Trust is being reassigned to an Authoritative Texts Department.

This phase of the reorganization will result in significant reductions in prices for the Authoritative Texts. A price reduction will be possible, in part, because of a decision to sell the texts at "net" or no discount. This decision applies to books sold by local communities as well as to the Bahá’í Distribution Service. All Bahá’í customers will be charged the same low price.

The new net prices, to become effective May 1, will be announced at Ridván. Refunds will not be given for copies purchased at higher prices before May 1.

Other aspects of the reorganization will be phased in over the next 18-24 months. These include establishing a series of editorial boards for developing materials for expansion and consolidation, community development, children and youth, Bahá’í studies or scholarship, and trade or outreach books.

Establishing these boards will provide greater opportunities for Bahá’ís in a variety of publishing professions—writing, editing,design, desktop publishing and the like to serve the Faith in volunteer and compensated capacities,

Centralized production facilities will be developed to enhance the National Assembly's capacity for in-house and freelance preparation of its publications. New consultative management techniques will be implemented for developing a publishing plan and monitoring its status and progress.

The National Spiritual Assembly anticipates that the reorganization will enable it to meet the need for materials supporting the expansion and consolidation of a vastly expanded Bahá’í community with greater speed and economy. More information will be shared as the reorganization is implemented.

100 mark Birth of Bahá’u’lláh

About 100 people including more than 20 who were not Bahá’ís attended a proclamation sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Tigard, Oregon, to celebrate the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh.

The friends and their guests enjoyed refreshments and a short musical presentation by the Citadel Bahá’í youth team.

TRAVELING TEACHING CALENDAR

BULGARIA: Present-April 21, 1992—Dr. Magdalene Carney Project. February 1992, Bahá’í Winter School, "Bahá’í Fundamentals."

UNITED KINGDOM: Clifton, York, August 10-15, 1992—Music and Arts Festival to celebrate the Centenary of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh.

BRAZIL: The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED-Earth Summit '92) and the Global Forum, June 1-12, 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Bahá’ís are free to participate in the Global Forum events provided they have registered by March 15, 1992. Individuals are responsible for arranging their own travel and accommodations. For more information contact the Office of Pioneering, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-869-9039).

ONGOING TRAVELING TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

Barbados; Bophuthatswana; Brazil; Burundi; Cambodia; Canada, Native and Chinese Teaching, and Yukon Bahá’í Institute; Chad; Ciskei; Cook Islands; Costa Rica; Eastern Caroline Islands; East Leeward Islands; Fiji; French Polynesia; Grenada; Guyana; Haiti; Hong Kong; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Kenya; Malaysia; Martinique; Mauritius; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Pakistan; Panama; Republic of Benin; Singapore; South Africa; Taiwan; Tonga; Uganda; United Kingdom; Venezuela; West Leeward Islands; Yucatan; Yugoslavia. For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-869-9039).

TRAVELING TEACHERS Area / Country Goal Filled Ukraine 100 173 Kazakhstan...... 6 8 USSR (Other Republics). 150 240 Bulgaria 5 6 Czechoslovakia 30 32 DDR/East Germany 10 4 Hungary 35 16 Poland 15 16 Romania 10 11 Yugoslavia 40 9 Mongolia 4 2 China 35 85 Totals 440 602

TWO-YEAR PLAN U.S. GOALS SHORT-TERM PIONEERS Goal Goals Sent Bulgaria 2 0 Czechoslovakia 4 2 DDR/East Germany...... 2 0 Hungary 2 1 Poland 1 3 Romania. 4 4 USSR 4 0 Ukraine 1 0 Kazakhstan.. 4 5 Other Republics. 2 0 Yugoslavia... 2 0 Mongolia. 2 0 China. 2 0 Totals 32 15

LONG-TERM PIONEERS Goal Goals Bulgaria 1 1 Czechoslovakia 2 2 DDR/East Germany...... 2 1 Hungary. 2 0 Poland 1 2 Romania. 2 0 USSR 21 4 Ukraine 0 Kazakhstan 0 Other Republics. 0 Yugoslavia. 0 China 4 Totals 31 14

BAHA B.E. 149/MARCH 21, 1992 [Page 5]

Refugee Office sponsors Bosch ‘Round Table’ discussion

On January 3-5, the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office sponsored a Community-Builders Round Table discussion at the Bosch School in California for Bahá’ís working with Southeast Asians.

Southeast Asian leaders from around the country and other Bahá’ís involved in working with Southeast Asians gathered to discuss their needs and plan strategies for building strong Bahá’í communities.

Representatives from four Southeast Asian cultures (Cambodian, Hmong, Lao and Vietnamese) attended. Many of them are serving on local Spiritual Assemblies, as assistants to the Auxiliary Board, or on District Teaching Committees.

EXPERIENCED PERSPECTIVE: Their combined experience as leaders among their own people and in Bahá’í administrative positions gave a perspective on present conditions and possibilities for expansion and the consolidation of these peoples into the American Bahá’í community.

Several sessions were devoted to finding ways in which the resources of the Bahá’í community can be tapped to solve the problems of language, culture, family and economic security faced by Southeast Asian Bahá’ís who are new to this country.

It was pointed out that one urgent need is for young Bahá’ís to reach out and befriend their peers from Southeast Asia. Their desire to be readily accepted as a part of the American culture has caused serious problems because they feel drawn to join groups of young people who accept them but lead them astray.

Those at Bosch agreed that American and Southeast Asian Bahá’í youth, working, praying and playing together, can produce benefits beyond measure.

Besides considering ways in which the resources of the American Bahá’í community can be effectively used to consolidate the Southeast Asians, extensive consultation was held on the various ways American and Southeast Asian Bahá’ís can reach out and teach the Faith to other refugees.

As an example, it was said that when the Faith was introduced in Laos, in the early 1950s, a drought struck a village in which a Bahá’í pioneer lived. The Bahá’í joined the other residents in praying that the rains would come. When rain did come, the village leader asked to talk to the Bahá’í, who had a chance to teach the Faith. The leader recognized Bahá’u’lláh, became a Bahá’í, and everyone else in the village soon accepted the Faith too.

The Southeast Asians at Bosch suggested that we can repeat this experience many times among the refugee groups in America. Through our service and prayers we will be able to bring the rain, but we must be known as Bahá’ís as we offer these services and prayers.

It would be most effective, they said, for an older Bahá’í, perhaps a member of a Spiritual Assembly, to approach the leaders of the Southeast Asian group with the Bahá’í message. When the leaders recognize Bahá’u’lláh, the friends should be prepared to share this with the rest of the group so that they will embrace the Cause together. Declaration cards, children’s registration cards, prayer books and deepening materials should be made available.

FUND IS IMPORTANT: The Southeast Asians said their people need to know about the Fund because they feel a strong spiritual need to make a material contribution to their religion.

Although those at Bosch came from a number of areas of the country, many Southeast Asians whose contributions would have enriched the consultation were unable to travel to California for the meeting. Those who were there recommended that similar meetings be held on a regional basis at various times throughout the year.

Such meetings, they said, should help bring about a greater commitment from everyone to develop a greater appreciation of the diversity of the Bahá’í community, more effective strategies for teaching and consolidation, and better ways of locating the thousands of Southeast Asian Bahá’í refugees who are already in the U.S.

Bahá’ís representing four Southeast Asian cultures (Cambodian, Hmong, Lao and Vietnamese) are pictured during a discussion January 3-5 at the Bosch School in Santa Cruz, California. The meeting, whose purpose was to plan strategies for building strong Bahá’í communities where there are Southeast Asian Bahá’ís, was sponsored by the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office.

UNITED NATIONS

Presentation of position papers, travel abroad continues for busy Bahá’í representatives

While leaders of the 16 countries on the United Nations Security Council were meeting in late January at UN headquarters in New York to discuss the role of the UN in global affairs, across the street at the Bahá’í offices (Bahá’í International Community and the U.S. Bahá’í UN Office) the steady flow of Bahá’í statements on economic and social issues before the UN and the travels of Bahá’í representatives to the UN continued unabated.

Mary Power, specialist on women’s issues for the BIC and chairman of the UN Non-Governmental (NGO) Committee on the Status of Women, has been working with her counterparts in Geneva and Vienna on plans for the 1995 NGO Forum to be held at the time of the fourth World Conference on Women.

Ms. Power, in her role as liaison to the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), also took part in a consultation in Washington, D.C., on progress of the joint BIC/UNIFEM project on “Traditional Media as Agents of Change.” Dr. Mona Grieser, a Bahá’í, is project director, and Dr. Richard Grieser, Alesabu Gebre-Selassie and Carol Seubert, also Bahá’ís, are the consultants.

GLOBAL FORUM: The BIC Office of the Environment, under the direction of Lawrence Arturo, is deeply involved in planning for the NGO Global Forum and the UN Conference on Environment and Development, which will take place in Brazil in June 1992.

Besides preparing material in four languages for distribution at the conference, creating a Bahá’í display, attending preparatory discussions, and informing and helping Bahá’í participants from other countries, the BIC-OE has been asked to coordinate the 10 nights of cultural events that will be held as part of the Global Forum.

The Education for All Network, an outgrowth of the 1990 world conference in Bangladesh, has the strong support of the BIC whose representative to the UN, Daniel Wegener, is co-convenor of the Network’s international coordinating committee. The Network is funded by the World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF and UNDP (United Nations Development Program).

Techeste Ahderom, senior representative to the UN for the BIC, visited Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January to consult with the BIC committee of representatives to the Economic Commission for Africa. In early February, he attended a meeting in Geneva of the UN Commission on Human Rights.

As chairman of the UNA-USA Conference of UN Representatives in New York and member of the Board of Governors of the UNA, Shirley Lee, the National Spiritual Assembly’s representative to the UN, took part in January in a meeting of the Board at which Board and staff restructuring and budget realignment were accomplished.

From the vantage point of the City of the Covenant, the home of the UN and headquarters of the Bahá’í International Community, the unfoldment of the Major and Minor Plans of God and the gradual fulfillment of the vision of world unity slowly emerges.

Youth Institutes welcome adults

The answer is yes. This summer at the Bosch Bahá’í School, adults, too, may take part in a session similar to the school’s successful Youth Institutes.

The five-day session begins Saturday, August 8, and ends with lunch on Thursday, August 13. It is under the direction of Auxiliary Board member Miguel Osborne.

There will be a children’s program so that parents can also experience this disciplined program of devotions, lectures, study and discussion.

A Youth Institute conducted by Sean Lurie will begin at the same time and continue for the regular 12-day period.

For information or to reserve your place, contact the Registrar, Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or phone 408-423-3387 (FAX 408-423-7564).

For youth applying for the 12-day program, contact Angelina Allen, 619-944-6441.

The Bahá’í community of San Jose, California, joined the American Indian Center of the Santa Clara Valley last November 23 for an evening of intercultural sharing, ‘The Spirit Way,’ honoring the American Indian culture. The event was sponsored by the San Jose Bahá’í community’s teaching committee as a part of its ongoing Cultural Enlightenment series. Nearly 200 Bahá’ís and their guests including several mainland Chinese enjoyed a potluck supper, American Indian drumming and dancing, and stories of various Indian cultures by historian Art Millard who illustrated his talk with American Indian artifacts. [Page 6]BAHÁ’Í DISTRIBUTION SERVICE Electrician and Staff consult on rewiring the building for computer upgrade.

Bahá’u’lláh: A Glimpse of His Life and Teachings

by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada VT $25.00

As the Holy Year approaches, new ways of teaching the world about the life of Bahá’u’lláh are being developed. This new introductory video is an example of this new approach in which the person of Bahá’u’lláh is featured and the history of His Faith is secondary. Seekers are presented with a glimpse of Bahá’u’lláh’s life as an exile and prisoner and only then offered a look at His community. It begins with a description of Bahá’u’lláh’s vision of a united world at peace. Madame Ruhiyyih Rabbani narrates this portion of the presentation beginning with Bahá’u’lláh’s arrival in Haifa; His confinement in the Fortress of ‘Akká; the move to the house of ‘Abbud; ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s successful efforts to move Bahá’u’lláh to the surrounding countryside, first to Mazra’ih, and finally to the Mansion of Bahjí. Bahá’u’lláh’s writings—centering on the oneness of humanity, are presented by narrator Don Glen in the form of the general principles enunciated by Bahá’u’lláh as the foundation of world unity. The video concludes its presentation by mentioning the current interest shown the Bahá’í shrines in Haifa/‘Akká; a description of Bahá’í pilgrims; the nature of Bahá’í devotions; and the Bahá’í Administrative Order.

27:40 minutes Images International for IBAVC

Further Thoughts on Teaching Institutes

SC $2.50

This book continues the thoughts and themes of “An Evolutionary Approach to Teaching Institutes”, compiled by the National Teaching Committee. It presents a number of extracts from letters of the International Teaching Centre on the nature, purpose, and function of teaching institutes. The concept of “Teaching Groups” is introduced as a preliminary stage to the teaching institute in areas where large-scale expansion has not yet occurred. It discusses the experience of the Ruhi Institute in ‎Columbia Colombia‎ as a description of a successful project, comments on the importance of relying on the Word of God as the foundation of all institutes, poses the thought of the development of specific materials related to the target audience of the institute, presents a view of an institute’s relation to the Institutions of the Faith, and calls for the involvement of youth and children in the teaching work carried on by the institute’s programs. This book is an invaluable asset to anyone interested in teaching and committed to aiding the process of “entry by troops” in the United States.

8-1/2" x 11", 28 pp., preface, appendix Palabra Publications

Bahá’í Newsreel Volume 2, No. 3

by Media Services VT $15.95

1) Native believers gather from Greenland to Samoa. North American tribes gather at the 6th Indigenous Council. In Panama, 7 native tribes consult about the role of native peoples in creating a global society. ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ of Greenland host the largest Bahá’í gathering in Greenland history. Samoa hosts native believers from 10 island nations, to consult on a Pacific-wide teaching plan.

2) Teaching in the old Soviet Union. The first local inhabitant of Sakhalin Island declared his belief in Bahá’u’lláh last year—now there are over 500 believers. In Siberia new believers elect 8 local Spiritual Assemblies.

3) Hand of the Cause of God William Sears. Mr. Sears travels to five states to inspire the friends to win the remaining goals of the Six Year Plan.

4) Race Unity and the Bahá’í Faith. Several newspapers have recently printed articles on the Faith. Bahá’í events have generated participation from Buddhist monks in California and the appearance of the ‎Klu Ku‎ Klux Klan in New Hampshire.

5) Television Coverage. The Bahá’í Faith has been the subject of attention on the national television networks of several nations, including Israel, Taiwan, Namibia, Antigua, and Iceland.

6) Application of the Huqúqu’lláh. The Trustee of the Huqúqu’lláh, Hand of the Cause of God Mr. Varqá calls a conference of his assistants to consult in preparation for “The Right of God.”

7) The Holy Year. Plans are discussed for two major events: the gathering in Haifa to commemorate the centenary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, and the holding of the Second Bahá’í World Congress in New York City.

8) Construction of the Arc. Construction includes laying the foundation for three buildings and the retaining wall of the main terrace of the Shrine of the Báb.

9) The passing and funeral of Counsellor Magdalene Carney was commemorated in the Bahá’í cemetery of Haifa.

30 minutes Media Services

International Legislation for Environment & Development

by the Bahá’í International Community PA 10pk $2.50 PA 50pk $11.00

This statement was presented by the Bahá’í International Community to the Preparatory Committee of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development at the UNCED—Earth Summit 1992. The statement discusses the inadequacy of “the present ad hoc process for environmental legislation” and affirms the Bahá’í view that “the establishment of a sustainable pattern of development is a complex task with widespread ramifications. It will clearly require a new level of commitment to solving major problems not exclusively associated with the environment.” Through this statement the Bahá’í International Community urged the Preparatory Committee “to consider bold and creative approaches to the creation of international legislative machinery and processes.” This statement is an excellent teaching and deepening tool for environmental groups, International Federalist groups, and the network of local United Nations Associations.

3-1/2" x 8-1/2", 4-panel Bahá’í International Community

Women and Men: Partnership for a Healthy Planet

by the Bahá’í International Community PA 10pk $2.50 PA 50pk $11.00

This statement presents the Bahá’í view that the search for balance between the needs of society and “the limited resources of the natural world is taking place within the larger context of the search for balance, peace, and harmony within society itself.” The accomplishment of the equality of the sexes, as presented in the Bahá’í writings, is an intimate link in the establishment of the unity of the human race. This statement refers to some of the recent progress in our awareness of the growing participation of women in the social and economic life of their nations, but focuses mostly on the yet-untrodden steps of the transformation of women’s roles in society. This statement is an excellent teaching and deepening tool for women’s groups, Future Studies groups, and individual women and men.

3-1/2" x 8-1/2", 4-panel Bahá’í International Community

Earth Charter

by the Bahá’í International Community PA 10pk $2.50 PA 50pk $11.00

This statement, offering suggestions for the proposed “Earth Charter,” was presented by the Bahá’í International Community to the Preparatory Committee of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development at the UNCED—Earth Summit 1992. The statement outlines the Bahá’í view that “any call to global action for environment and development must be rooted in universally accepted values and principles,” and that “the search for solutions to the world’s grave environmental and developmental problems must go beyond technical-utilitarian proposals and address the underlying causes of the crisis.” The conclusion of the statement is that “nothing short of a world federal system, guided by universally agreed upon and enforceable laws, will allow nation states to manage cooperatively an increasingly interdependent and rapidly changing world.” This statement is an excellent teaching and deepening tool for environmental groups, Future Studies groups, World Federalist groups, and individuals concerned with the world’s current condition.

3-1/2" x 8-1/2", 3-panel Bahá’í International Community

A for Effort: And Other Stories for Today’s Young Heroes

by Susan J. Allen SC $7.95

A new book of young adult fiction that presents Bahá’í teachings as spiritual guidance for everyday situations. In this book we meet Lucy, Ralph, Carrie, Nick and many other young people ‎who, are who are‎ trying to understand what being a Bahá’í is all about. We read how these characters deal with the feeling of being just a little “different” and alone, because they try to be good Bahá’ís and their non-Bahá’í friends don’t understand. This book will interest young readers from approximately ten years old through later teens.

5-1/8" x 7-3/4", 149 pp. OneWorld Publications

Bahá’í Datebook 149-50 B.E. (1992-93)

SC $3.25

This datebook from Australia uses a two-week-at-a-glance format showing both Bahá’í and Gregorian dates. Bahá’í and Gregorian names are provided for each day of the week and for each month. Holy Days, 19 Day Feasts, and the 19 Day Fast are also highlighted for easy reference. The datebook includes three pages for notes and eight pages available for addresses. Thirty-two quotes from Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at the top of the calendar’s pages provide inspiration and focus for developing a Bahá’í spirit and identity.

3-3/4" x 6-3/4", 80 pp. Century Press Pty. Ltd.

Order now through the Bahá’í Distribution Service • 1-800-999-9019 [Page 7]

Enlighten Curriculum

Fifth Grade; Sixth Grade

by Lea Iverson SC $19.95 per volume $140.00 eight volume set

With the addition of these two titles the Bahá’í Distribution Service is now able to offer all eight grade levels of this easy-to-use, comprehensive curriculum for the teachers of Bahá’í children’s classes. Developed between 1988 and 1990 for the Glad Tidings Bahá’í School located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, each lesson has a variety of activities to be performed both in the classroom and at home. This curriculum is highly recommended by the National Education Committee. 8-1/2" x 11", approximately 94 pp. Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Golden Valley, Minnesota

Bahá’í DayBook

Passages for Deepening and Meditation

SC $6.95

A book of daily devotions compiled from the Bahá’í writings and other scriptures for each day of the Bahá’í year, beginning with Naw-Rúz (March 21). The passages deepen the reader systematically on nine facets of the Faith. Some months focus on Bahá’u’lláh, Bahá’í history, and progressive revelation. Other months focus on Bahá’í spiritual and social teachings and Bahá’í laws. Yet other months explore Bahá’í administration, the local Spiritual Assembly, and Bahá’í community life. Also included are questions and answers about many aspects of Bahá’í life: explanations and suggestions for Feasts, Holy Days, and special events, and definitions of selected words from the writings. This book helps new Bahá’ís and youth catch “the spark of faith” and learn about its Central Figures, laws, and administration. Bahá’í DayBook introduces readers to the rhythm of Bahá’í life and fosters the habit of daily meditation, which reinforces our purpose of knowing and worshipping God and contributing to an ever-advancing civilization. 4-1/8" x 6", 374 pp., foreword, illustrations, references Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United States

Learning About Growth:

The Story of the Ruhi Institute and Large-scale Expansion of the Bahá’í Faith in Colombia

by the Ruhi Institute SC $5.00

In Learning About Growth, the Ruhi Institute is described—both its conceptual framework and its programs. It tells the story of one national community’s efforts to maintain large-scale expansion, and provides an ‎analyzes analysis‎ of the lessons it has learned. In reading this book one appreciates the fact that the Ruhi Institute makes no claim to present a model for emulation; the value of its experience lies in its systematic description of a process that in one way or another has been repeated wherever Bahá’ís have labored to bring about large-scale growth of the Faith. Reflection on the dynamics of the efforts of others yields insights into the causes of crisis and victory in one’s own endeavors. This document is of particular value for such reflection. The National Teaching Committee has recommended this book to the friends as a part of our own reflection on the way we can achieve the approaching goal of entry by troops within the United States. 6" x 9", 72 pp., foreword, preface, references Palabra Publications

The Journal of Bahá’í Studies: Vol. 3, No. 3

by the Association for Bahá’í Studies SC $6.00

This issue of five articles and six book reviews begins with Lev Tolstoi (Leo Tolstoy) and the Bábí and Bahá’í Religions: A Bibliography. “The great spiritual crisis of Tolstoi’s life led him to a rejection of Christian dogma and the search for a pure faith. This bibliography sets the sources of Tolstoi’s association with” the Bahá’í Faith “in context.” The Angel in the Garrison, is an unedited article reprinted from Star of the West, vol. 8. It explores the view that modern science’s attempt to establish the study of psychology as an exact science is flawed because “the psyche is not spiritual fact observable, but a spiritual power to observe all fact.” Towards a World Economy, discusses the two major themes of the Bahá’í vision of a future economy: that the economy will be global and serve the material, intellectual, and spiritual needs of all humanity; and that the underlying force driving the economy will be spiritual. The Conversion of Religious Minorities to the Bahá’í Faith in Iran looks at the years between 1877 and 1921. It presents factors involving the transition of the Bahá’í community from Islamic particularism to a universalism that attracted non-Muslims, and discusses the manner in which actual conversions took place. The End of the World: Whatever Happened? Or Left-over Time To Kill, compares the eschatology (doctrines of the last or final things, as death, the judgement, etc.) of Bahá’u’lláh to that of the nineteenth century philosophers Hegel and Nietzsche. The article explores the spiritual origins of planetary consciousness.

Reviews in this issue include: The Bahá’í Teachings: A Resurgent Model of the Universe, Bibliography of English-Language Works on the Bábí and Bahá’í Faiths 1844-1985, A Pictorial History of the Bahá’í Faith in South Africa, 1911-1989, The Blazing Years: 50th Anniversary of the Bahá’í Faith in the Philippines, Immortals, and Traces That Remain: A Pictorial History of the Early Days of the Bahá’í Faith Among the Japanese. 6" x 9", 80 pp. Association for Bahá’í Studies

The Pinckelhoffer Mice

by Shirin Sabri illustrated by Sue Podger SC $7.95

A delightful story casting animals in the role of acquiring spiritual attributes. There is an island without any name in the midst of the Pacific Ocean. The kitchen of the deserted Old House has been a safe home to generations of Pinckelhoffer Mice. Now danger looms, for wild rats have invaded the Other Room and one of them has a plan . . . Will the plan succeed, or can Brown, Dark, Jump and the other young mice save the island from the rats? Whatever the result, the attempt to stop the rats has consequences none of them could have ‎forseen foreseen‎. Appropriate for children and youth from approximately six years old through eleven. 5" x 7-3/4", 156 pp. Oneworld Publications

The Pure in Heart

by Jimmy Ewe Huat Seow SC $8.50

‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote, “The Bahá’í teacher of the Chinese people must first be imbued with their spirit, know their sacred literature, study their national customs and speak to them from their own stand-point, and their own terminologies.” This book will aid that teacher to understand the history of Chinese response to the message of Bahá’u’lláh and will thereby increase his or her success in teaching this people whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá called a people “free from any deceit and hypocrisies.” This book is an essential first step for anyone wishing to trace the history of Bahá’í teaching of the Chinese people in the Far East. The introduction provides a glimpse into the cultural, political, and religious setting facing early Bahá’í teachers involved in the region as early as 1862. It records the first mention of Chinese believers made in a letter to Shoghi Effendi on June 7, 1919: “Shanghai is awakened. Chinese people are converted and bestow in their turn the Light to their fellow men.” 5-3/4" x 8-1/4", 86 pp., foreword, preface, introduction, 42 photographs, bibliography Bahá’í Publications Australia

Recent New Titles

Accents of God edited by M. K. Rohani SC $12.95	Per: Hova’lláh: Volumes 1 and 2 by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Bahá’u’lláh: The Prince of Peace A Portrait by David Hofman HC $21.95 SC $9.95	Spn: La Fe Bahá’í y su ‎Communidad Comunidad‎ Mundial by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United States PA 10pk. $3.50 PA 50pk. $15.50
Call to the Nations by Shoghi Effendi SC $2.50	Spn: La Fe Bahá’í Teaching Booklet by Dr. Hidáyatu’lláh Ahmadiyyih SC $1.00
Days of Certainty by Martin Newman CS $9.95	Studying the Writings of Shoghi Effendi edited by Morten Bergsmo SC $13.95
Emergence: Dimensions of a New World Order edited by Charles Lerche SC $14.95	Tear Down Those Borders by Peace Moves CS $9.95
Ger: Die ‎Verborgennen Verborgenen‎ Worte (The Hidden Words) by Bahá’u’lláh HC $8.50	Unrestrained As the Wind: A Life Dedicated to Bahá’u’lláh compiled from the Bahá’í Writings by the National Youth Committee and the Bahá’í Publishing Trust SC $9.95
Per/Eng: Bahá’í Prayers Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá SC $2.75

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[Page 8]

CLASSIFIEDS

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

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

THE BOSCH Bahá’í School is accepting applications for summer 1992 employment. Positions available include children’s teachers (3), recreation director, lifeguard, music director, kitchen assistants (2) and maintenance assistants (3). All positions require a willingness to serve and interact with children, youth and adults. Those chosen will serve from July through August (9-10 weeks) and receive a small stipend plus room and board. To apply, send a brief résumé of your experience or ask for an application for employment from the Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (phone 408-423-3387).

THE GREEN ACRE Bahá’í School is accepting applications for summer 1992 employment. Positions include children’s teachers, food service, housekeeping and maintenance help, recreation director, assistant registrar, librarian, and program assistant. Applicants should be available from mid-June through the end of August. Room and board are provided with a small stipend. Please send a brief résumé to the Administrator, Green Acre Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903, or phone 207-439-7200 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., for more information.

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

THE BAHÁ’Í community of Harlingen, Texas, is poised for unprecedented growth. The special significance of the U.S.-Mexico border has been outlined by the Universal House of Justice. The Free Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Mexico will be a great impetus for growth there. There are four Spiritual Assemblies in the Valley: Edinburg, McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen. If you would like to be a homefront pioneer or help bolster our communities, you would be most welcome. Employment in medicine is immediately available, especially for internists and family practitioners, but also in the sub-specialties. Teaching positions in primary and secondary education also available. One need not be bilingual. Write to the Spiritual Assembly of Harlingen, P.O. Box 830, Harlingen, TX 78551, or phone 512-421-2233 or 512-425-6385.

THE SPIRITUAL Assembly of Annapolis, Maryland, is in jeopardy. Annapolis, the capital of Maryland and home of the U.S. Naval Academy, is a well-known center for sailing, boating and other maritime activities. Please pray for us. We invite all those who are interested in pioneering to contact us c/o Bahá’í of Annapolis, P.O. Box 4486, Annapolis, MD 21403, or to phone Linda Platt, 410-280-3408.

WOODBURN, Oregon, is poised for entry by troops. Those charged with the responsibility of coordinating the teaching in that community have established an audacious goal: 50 full-time teachers in the field by April. Spanish-speakers are especially useful, as most of those who have enrolled there so far speak Spanish. However, 4,000 Russian-speaking people and some 10,000 who speak English also need to hear of Bahá’u’lláh. There is work for all. Pioneers are most welcome, as are those who can come on vacation whatever the time of year. Most people will need to be self-supporting, but there are jobs in the area, and housing is relatively inexpensive. The friends are planning to extend and strengthen a diverse and complex effort, which has included social and economic development and service projects, both short- and long-term. For example, there are ongoing nightly classes in English as a second language which need more teachers. Musicians have been of great help, and there are many possibilities for using music in the teaching work. If you are interested, whether you intend to come or not, please write for more information to the Spiritual Assembly of Clackamas County Northwest, Jan House, P.O. Box 167, Aurora, OR 97002, or phone 503-678-5162 (home) or 503-678-1085 (business).

BECOME a homefront pioneer in the university town of West Lafayette, Indiana, home of Purdue University—top-notch in engineering, sciences and many other fields. An attractive town of about 32,000 with many cultural opportunities in theatre and the arts. Excellent medical facilities, various industries nearby (Alcoa, Isuzu, etc.) and many small businesses as well as Indiana Vocational Technical College. The Assembly is more than 25 years old; help save it! We are active, united, and very much in need of permanent members, but will joyously welcome the transient and not-so-permanent as well. For information, please contact the Spiritual Assembly of West Lafayette, P.O. Box 3066, West Lafayette, IN 47906, or phone Shirley Morris, secretary, 317-743-3340.

HOMEFRONT pioneers: internist, pediatrician and family practitioner are needed at the Fort Yuma Indian Hospital, a 17-bed hospital and clinic on the Quechan Indian Reservation at the Arizona/California border. Should be Board eligible/Board certified. Positions available for both locum tenens and permanent assignments. Will also consider nurse practitioner or physician assistant for full-time position. Write to the Fort Yuma Indian Hospital, P.O. Box 1368, Fort Yuma, AZ 85366, or phone Dr. Jeane Washington, clinical director, 619-572-0217.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are welcome and much needed in Garner, North Carolina, within 40 minutes of the nationally recognized Research Triangle Park whose tenants include Glaxo, Burroughs-Welcome, Northern Telecom, IBM and several others; within 15 minutes of the capital city, Raleigh, and North Carolina State University; and within easy driving time of the University of North Carolina and several private community colleges. The central location means only a two and one-half hour trip to the beach, or a three-hour trip to the mountains. We are an active community of eight adults, two youth and four children. Please consider pioneering to help save our Assembly. For more information, please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Garner, Mojdeh Barghassa, secretary, Garner, NC 27529, or phone Corinne Mills, 919-779-1541.

ATTENTION college students: Homefront pioneers are needed in Marshall, Texas, in the northeastern part of the state, about 30 miles west of Shreveport, a city of 25,000 with two institutions of higher learning—East Texas Baptist University, which offers bachelor’s degrees in the humanities; and Wiley College, a predominantly black college that also offers bachelor’s degrees. There is a crying need for a Spiritual Assembly, and teachers of the Faith could be used here. For more information, please contact Carol Eakin, secretary, Spiritual Assembly of Harrison County, Hallsville, TX 75650, or phone 903-935-1626.

THE BAHÁ’ÍS of Crawfordsville, Indiana, would welcome Bahá’ís to help further the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. There is an urgent need in Crawfordsville for three general practice or family physicians, a general surgeon, and an OB-GYN specialist at modern, well-equipped AMI Culver-Union Hospital. Crawfordsville, home of Wabash College, is a city of 13,000—the county population is over 30,000—within an hour of Purdue University and other major schools in Indianapolis. If interested, regardless of profession or trade, please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Crawfordsville, c/o Sue Versteeg, corresponding secretary, P.O. Box 671, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.

THE BAHÁ’ÍS of Boone County, Missouri, would welcome homefront pioneers to help save their jeopardized Assembly. Boone County, midway between St. Louis and Kansas City, includes the lovely college town of Columbia, which has its own Assembly. Major sources of employment include the University of Missouri and two colleges, five hospitals, many restaurants, and light industry. Please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Boone County, c/o Willenberg, Hallsville, MO 65255.

THE BAHÁ’ÍS of Lakeport, California, need your help to re-establish their Assembly. Lakeport is in a lovely rural resort area of Northern California on the state’s largest natural lake, Lake Clear, about 125 miles north of San Francisco/Sacramento. There is an immediate opening for a physical therapist in a Bahá’í-owned outpatient clinic. The county also needs more physicians and nurses; the friends will help in your job search. Or you may find that perfect place to retire. Excellent outdoor recreation; great place to raise one’s family. Please contact Rick Green, Lakeport, CA 95453, or phone 707-263-1295 or 707-263-1005 (evenings).

ARCHIVES

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following individuals: Alta Krueger (died Salem, OR, 1946), Jane Krugly, Leo Kundert, Anna Kunz, Joseph Kuperberg (died New York City, 1956), Henry E. Kuphal, Konstantin Kutepoff and William F. Kyle (died Los Angeles, CA, 1944). Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these letters from the Guardian is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-869-9039).

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is missing the minutes of the National Teaching Committee for the years 1948-62. If anyone who served on the National Teaching Committee during those years still has copies of the minutes, the Archives would appreciate receiving them. Donations should be sent to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

WANTED

THE SPIRITUAL Assembly of Barnstable, Massachusetts, seeks information about Gospel singers who would be interested and able to perform at a Race Unity Conference next June 14 on Cape Cod. Please send information to the Spiritual Assembly of Barnstable, P.O. Box 1275, Hyannis, MA 02601.

WANTED: poems about the Green Acre Bahá’í School—old or new, authors known or unknown. Send to Dick Grover, Exeter, NH 03833.

INFORMATION on Mark Tobey is sought for a biography and catalog of his works. Anyone, individuals or institutions, with information about the works of Mark Tobey or his life is asked to write to Paul Cummings, New York, NY 10021.

LIFEGUARDS are needed August 12-16 at the Eastern Oregon Bahá’í School in Meadowood. We have a lake and swimming pool area, each of which needs a lifeguard with a current Oregon certification. Scholarships are available. For more information, please contact Rich Young, Hood River, OR 97031.

THE MARTIN Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission would like to thank members of the Bahá’í Faith who made an effort to observe the “Let Freedom Ring” ceremony at noon on the federal holiday (January 20). The bell-ringing ceremony, sometimes accompanied by a reading of Dr. King’s words, was supported by the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, and was publicized around the world by the news media. The Commission would like to hear from those who were able to take part, so that we might judge the effectiveness of our appeal. Please send details to Denny Townsend, public affairs director, Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR SALE

FOR SALE: sets of four audio cassettes containing the talks given by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears during his visit last November 16-17 to Portland, Oregon. The price is $25, a large part of which is a fundraiser for the Woodburn Project. For more details and quantity prices, write to the Spiritual Assembly of Clackamas County Northwest, c/o Erich Reich, P.O. Box 68235, Milwaukie, OR 97268.

EL RUISEÑOR (The Nightingale), a quarterly bi-lingual (Spanish-English) magazine sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly, is available to Bahá’ís on a subscription basis. The magazine’s editorial content is varied and includes items of interest to the Bahá’í community around the world: current developments and goals of the Cause, articles aimed at deepening our understanding of the Bahá’í teachings, reports of victories in the Hispanic community worldwide, ideas from the friends, a cultural page, letters to the editor, a calendar of national and international events, and other items of special interest to Bahá’ís everywhere. The subscription price is $12 a year (U.S. and Canada) and $15 a year overseas. Donations from Bahá’í institutions and individual Bahá’ís are welcomed. To subscribe, write to El Ruiseñor/The Nightingale, P.O. Box 512, San Fernando, CA 91340.

MISCELLANEOUS

AGRICULTURE seminar: Two of the goals set by the organizing committee for an Agriculture Seminar are (1) to plan a sectional conference on agriculture for the June 1993 meeting of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, and (2) to serve as a clearing-house for information. The committee, an affiliated committee of the ABS, invites Bahá’ís who are farming or interested in agriculture to send their name, address and pertinent information to the Agriculture Committee c/o Nancy McIntyre, corresponding secretary, VA 24091, U.S.A.

ALL FORMER MEMBERS of the Bahá’í community of Brookhaven, New York, are warmly invited to attend the celebrations in April and May of the 25th anniversary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Town of Brookhaven. Even if you can’t come, we would love to hear from you and/or receive photos. For more information, or to send messages, phone 516-289-2006, or write to the Spiritual Assembly of the Town of Brookhaven, East Patchogue, NY 11772.

THE DISTRICT Teaching Committee of Nebraska is developing a full-time teaching campaign, “The Trail of Light Peace Caravan,” to cover the state from June-September 1992. Its purpose is to bring the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh to the generality of mankind. The caravan will travel through the smaller communities, setting up camp for 1-2 days at a time. Campers will have large banners addressing peace themes. Copies of “The Promise of World Peace,” the National Assembly’s statement on race unity, and the compilation on Bahá’u’lláh will be available for distribution. Anyone with ability in the performing arts is especially encouraged to take part. Anyone with the desire to teach, or otherwise help us reach our goals, may write to the District Teaching Committee of Nebraska, North Platte, NE 69101, or phone Ernie Dumas, 308-534-3367.

THE 1992 EDITION of “The Directory of Bahá’í Book Collectors, Bibliophiles and Researchers” is now being compiled. If you would like to be included, please write to Payam Afsharian, Santa Monica, CA 90402. The directory is distributed free of charge. [Page 9]

THE SIX YEAR PLAN

from page 1

member of the Auxiliary Board. The weekend of the conference was proclaimed “Bahá’í National Committee on Women Weekend” by Andrew Young, then Mayor of Atlanta.

• In October 1987, the committee became a member organization of the National Council on Women. In November of that year members attended the Council’s Decade of Achievement Conference in Washington, D.C., took part in a workshop on women and religion, and hosted a reception.
• Representatives of the committee attended the National Council on Women seminar and awards dinner at the United Nations in 1988, at which a special award was presented to Counselor Wilma Ellis.
• That year the committee co-sponsored, with the Bahá’í International Community, a luncheon in Washington, D.C., for the International Council on Women and attended the opening ceremonies of their International Conference.
• A representative was also sent to the National Council of Women’s Young Achiever Award ceremony at the UN in 1989. Since then the committee has remained involved in Council activities.
• In March 1988, a committee member gave the keynote address at the annual dinner of the local American Association of University Women and Business and Professional Women held in Seneca Falls, New York. The theme of her address was the convergence of the events at the conference of Badasht and the beginning of the first women’s rights convention in America. Focusing especially on the connections between the lives of Táhirih and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the talk was later published by the Stanton Foundation in its newsletter and sent to several thousand subscribers.
• In 1989, the committee hosted three teaching events in central New York State that explored ancient beliefs of gender equality held by the Iroquois Indians of that region and their connection to the western women’s movement, which had its origins in the same geographic area. It also hosted annual honors banquets for selected women who have served the Iroquois Indian community in western New York state.
• The committee researched and disseminated materials concerning the contribution of the ancient religious teachings of the Iroquois to the women’s movement and to the formation of the U.S. government.
• The committee helped various local communities take part in and sponsor events related to women’s issues. The local Assembly of Frederick County, Maryland, was assisted to take part in a major women’s conference, and the committee sponsored an honor feast for selected Lakota and Chippewa Indian women, in collaboration with the local Assembly of Minneapolis, which was attended by more than 300 Indians, two-thirds of whom were not Bahá’ís.
• Other activities included collaborating with the National Assembly’s Office of External Affairs in sponsoring an information booth and an advertisement in conference materials at the 35th biennial convention of the American Association of University Women in Washington, D.C.; an interview on KGNU, Boulder, Colorado’s public radio station, on equality and the American Indian Community; sponsoring a consultative session, attended by Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís of the Navajo and Hopi tribes, on substance abuse and its multi-generational effects held on the Navajo Reservation at Tuba City, Arizona; co-sponsoring, with the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office, a banquet held in Oakland, California, honoring selected women of Asian descent; and conducting lectures on equality at the University of Rochester.

Significant work has also been done by:

• The National Race Unity Committee, which has tirelessly promoted dissemination of “The Promise of World Peace” through work with local communities and presentations to groups such as the National Urban League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. It has also supported Race Unity Day activities and conferences on race unity designed to acquaint the public with the Bahá’í approach to achieving interracial harmony.

The committee is involved with an increasing number of institutes for race unity, which are planned and operated on the local level. The committee provides counsel, takes part in many of their activities, and communicates to the National Assembly and other communities the degree of success met by their various approaches; and

• The National Youth Committee, which also has supported peace statement presentations, especially on college campuses. The Youth Committee has encouraged contact with administrators, faculty and student peace organizations, and helped Bahá’í College Clubs develop relations with groups pursuing agendas in accordance with Bahá’í principles.

Several other national agencies have made important contributions:

• The National Assembly’s Office of Research and Review, established during the Plan, organized programs on the Faith at conferences of the American Academy of Religion; took part in annual meetings of the American Historical Association and the American Society of Church History; completed a draft of “A Curriculum Guide to the Bahá’í Faith” to help college professors include the Faith in their courses; gave talks at several universities and at a meeting of the National Council of Christians and Jews; and maintained contact with Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í scholars who are conducting research about the Faith.
• The U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office took part in a number of public meetings and forums, such as the “Behind the Golden Door” photo exhibit in Chicago in 1991. The office’s coordinator is a member of the National Refugee Policy Group, the regional Network on Immigration and Refugee Policy, the Illinois Refugee Social Service Forum, and the Illinois Refugee Social Services Consortium. These contacts have served to acquaint many people with the Faith. The Refugee Office also collaborated with other Bahá’í groups (such as the National Committee on Women, mentioned above) to promote Bahá’í principles.
• The Office of Pioneering helped the friends become involved in international projects that offered potential for teaching the Faith.
• The National Spiritual Assembly contributed to the budget of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, which is based in Canada. The Association sponsored the “Models of Race Unity” conference in Atlanta in 1990, as well as many others, and promotes Bahá’í scholarship in a number of fields. Several members of the Association’s executive committee are from the U.S.
• The National Assembly is also a co-sponsor of the Parliament of World Religions, to be held in Chicago in 1993. An important feature of the gathering will be a commemoration of the centenary of the World Parliament of Religions, also held in Chicago, which opened the door to interfaith dialogue and marked the first major step toward an understanding of religious pluralism in America. It was on that occasion, in 1893, that the Bahá’í Faith was first publicly proclaimed in the West.

THE MASHRIQU’L-ADHKÁR

A broad range of activities at the House of Worship in Wilmette has introduced Bahá’í principles to the public. Among the highlights:

• Annual presentations of the David Kellum award for humanitarian service, which will continue beyond the current Plan. Most of the recipients to date have been non-Bahá’ís.
• Yearly activities in honor of Black History Month and World Religion Day.
• Public meetings on topics related to issues raised in “The Promise of World Peace,” and a special workshop for teachers from an area high school on the peace statement.
• Participation in a Chicago Board of Education Resource Fair that provided an opportunity to tell teachers and administrators about the House of Worship and to invite student tours.
• Collaboration with an area Committee for the Celebration of Humanity to develop programs related to various cultural and ethnic groups.
• The hosting of regular public forums, such as “The Light Exchange” and the “Idea Forum,” for the discussion of current events and issues related to Bahá’í interests. These meetings often featured non-Bahá’í speakers and guest panelists, as well as the works of non-Bahá’í authors.

INSTITUTES AND PERMANENT SCHOOLS

The country’s three permanent Bahá’í schools and two institutes have played an important role in furthering the involvement of our community in the life of society. Facilities have been rented to non-Bahá’í service groups and Montessori at the Louhelen Bahá’í School; the staff there has also collaborated with race relations groups and substance abuse professionals on several programs, and are members of various business and professional organizations. Other major activities at Louhelen included:

• opening the Louhelen Residential Program in 1987. Bahá’í students in this program came from the U.S. and several other countries. They resided at Louhelen and took classes there and at two area colleges. The students became deeply involved in Bahá’í teaching and service activities, such as the International Arts Ensemble, which combines dance, drama and music to promote Bahá’í concepts (some of the members are not Bahá’ís). The Arts Ensemble recently performed at an annual fund-raising dinner for the Flint area United Negro College Fund, and has made several other appearances before large non-Bahá’í groups. It is one of many ways in which the Residential Program students greatly enhanced knowledge of and respect for the Faith in the general community;
• sponsoring the annual Robert Hayden Poet-in-Residence fellowship, the Bahá’í recipients of which frequently visit and speak at local colleges;
• co-sponsoring a conference on Models of Race Unity by the Louhelen Center for Interracial Unity, which was attended by many non-Bahá’ís and covered extensively by the media;
• active participation in American Indian events in Michigan by the Louhelen Native American Task Force, and the augmentation of the library’s Native American collection;
• holding a National Teacher Training Conference attended by representatives of B’nai B’rith, the Council on Interracial Books and the Urban League;
• providing site facilities for conferences sponsored by Michigan Legal Services and other social service groups, and space for a local chapter of Adult Children of Alcoholics;
• co-sponsoring a major conference on the poet Robert Hayden and sponsoring events related to the conference;
• hosting training classes and ‎muti-cultural multi-cultural‎ awareness seminars for employees of the Genesee Bank;
• taking part in other initiatives, such as an Elderhostel program and classes on Cultural Anthropology, both in conjunction with the University of Michigan;
• membership of the school director on the Committee on Occupational Literacy for the Michigan State Department of Education; and
• instituting an annual human rights award.

Work at Bosch Bahá’í School during the Six Year Plan included:

Kris Martin has his books and papers piled high as he immerses himself in study during one of the Youth Academies at the Bosch Bahá’í School near Santa Cruz, California. [Page 10]

The 6 Year Plan

• a successful Elderhostel program, in which retirees enjoyed four- to five-day retreats featuring classes and presentations given by Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís on peace, comparative religion, and other topics. During the Plan the programs have been held as often as 12 times a year;
• CPR training classes for staff and the general community; and
• renting space to various groups, such as the Boy Scouts, the Indigenous Women’s Council, and church organizations. Bosch has become a popular site for non-Bahá’í activities because of its natural beauty and low rental fees, and is steadily moving toward financial self-sufficiency.

At the Green Acre Bahá’í School, attention has centered for several years on major property renovation. This work, however, has resulted in valuable interaction with tradesmen and favorable attention from the surrounding community, which is aware to a certain extent of the site’s historic significance. The staff recently researched and published a book, “Green Acre on the Piscataqua,” and produced a video, “Blessed Is the Spot,” both concerning the history of the school. These important works have been distributed to many non-Bahá’ís in the area.

The school also rents facilities to charitable groups and non-profit organizations, and provides its softball diamond to the local league at no charge.

The Native American Bahá’í Institute centered its Six Year Plan efforts on the educational needs of the local American Indian population. A significant recent development is the initiation of a tutoring program in conjunction with a nearby elementary school. The Institute holds classes on Navajo culture and also makes facilities available to certain Indian groups.

The Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute has sponsored and taken part in a variety of activities:

• The annual Peace Fest was initiated at the very beginning of the Plan, inspired by the International Peace Conference and the release of the peace statement by the Universal House of Justice. Featuring a range of talks and presentations on peace, outstanding musical entertainment and the presentation of the Louis G. Gregory Humanitarian Award, the event has steadily grown in influence and popularity.
• The Institute was heavily involved in relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo, which struck the coastal region of South Carolina in 1989. Shelter was given and food and clothing (donated by 300 Bahá’í communities across the country) distributed to about 2,000 victims of the disaster; staff members helped with home repair and finding temporary lodging and permanent homes for hundreds; and the executive director of the Institute accepted an invitation to serve on an Interfaith Board set up to meet the physical needs of the victims.
• The executive director was also elected to a two-year term on the Action Council for Red Cross Cultural Mental Health and Human Services, the Board of Directors of the Horry County Cultural Arts Council and the Board of Commissioners of the Smith-Jones Community Center in the city of Conway.
• Two Bahá’í Youth Service Corps participants became the first non-African Americans to be part of the “Freedom Choir,” a distinguished area youth Gospel group.
• The Institute provided staff members as speakers in the Williamsburg County School District for National Geography Week, Black History Month, and social studies classes. The Institute has also actively supported MLK Day and Human Rights Day observances in the area.

WLGI Radio Bahá’í made great steps forward in the variety and quality of its programming, which included a much higher level of community involvement:

• In 1988 the station became the first corporate life subscriber of the Williamsburg County, South Carolina, branch of the NAACP and helped that organization develop a strategy to recruit other corporate members.
• That same year WLGI’s general manager served on the Assembly on the Future of South Carolina at the request of the state’s lieutenant governor. The organization was commissioned to formulate policies and vision for the future growth of the state.
• WLGI was recognized by the Iota Tau Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity for outstanding community service by a radio station.
• The general manager served with the executive director of the Gregory Institute on local and state planning committees for a South Carolina Cross-Cultural Planning Conference.
• The radio station provided programming in support of Black History month and MLK Day activities; aired the “Carolina Radio Series,” integrating weather and environmental issues with Bahá’í teachings and concepts; and broadcast a regular calendar of community events. Audience response to both Bahá’í and general programming and WLGI’s on the air operators has increased considerably—more and more community agencies and individuals, in recognition of the station’s growing popularity, are seeking it out to announce their activities, services and special events.

6 YEAR PLAN GOALS

Carrying the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh to the generality of mankind Greater involvement of the Faith in the life of human society A worldwide increase in the translation, production, distribution and use of Bahá’í literature Further acceleration in the process of the maturation of local and national Bahá’í communities Greater attention to universal participation and the spiritual enrichment of individual believers A wider extension of Bahá’í education to children and youth, and the strengthening of Bahá’í family life The pursuit of projects of social and economic development in well-established Bahá’í communities

‘The Vision of Race Unity’

In June 1991, the National Spiritual Assembly published a statement on race unity whose purpose was to define and present Bahá’í solutions to the most challenging issue facing the American nation. The statement, entitled “The Vision of Race Unity—America’s Most Challenging Issue,” was the centerpiece of a campaign to educate the public on Bahá’í approaches to the subject.

The statement was intended for use not only in teaching and proclamation, but also in service-oriented enterprises. In the few months since its release it has been successfully used for all of these purposes, and has helped to place the American Bahá’í community in the vanguard of groups dealing with this timely and urgent problem. The believers in this country have taken advantage of the statement with energy and enthusiasm (nearly 200,000 copies have been sold to date), and it has been met with a highly favorable response in virtually every circle of society into which it has been introduced. Its publication already deserves to be recognized as a milestone in American Bahá’í history.

The National Spiritual Assembly announced as early as Ridván 1991 that it would plan special efforts in conjunction with the statement for the final year of the Six Year Plan, including a race unity conference and a study of models of racial, ethnic and religious unity in conjunction with the city of Chicago.

Other national agencies and committees have made the statement an important aspect of their work, most notably the National Race Unity Committee and the National Teaching Committee. On the local level, scores of institutes on race unity have been formed, some focused on teaching the Faith directly, and others geared toward community service. The statement on race unity has become a foundation for Bahá’í deepening and education, has given an added dimension to ongoing service and teaching projects, and has fostered much greater unity of thought and approach among the friends.

OTHER INVOLVEMENT

The American Bahá’í community’s efforts toward greater involvement in the life of society are legion; the above instances are only part of a vast range of activities undertaken during the past six years, and hardly begin to describe developments on the local and individual levels. While we cannot do justice to them at this time, a few more advancements are worth noting:

• There has been tremendous growth of Bahá’í participation in the field of conflict resolution, which has included work with school systems, local governments and private organizations.
• A growing number of Bahá’í professional associations are dedicated to promoting the Faith through service to humanity. Notable among these is the Bahá’í Justice Society, formed and chartered during the first year of the Six Year Plan. Through its annual conferences the Society promotes a better understanding of the relationship between the Faith, jurisprudence, the administration of justice, and the practice of law. It has also collaborated with Bahá’í organizations such as the Association for Bahá’í Studies to offer information on conflict resolution to the friends.

The Society communicates the principles of the Faith to others through the distribution of “The Promise of World Peace” to judges, attorneys, court administrators and others, participation of its members in events in Eastern Europe and the USSR, and the development of relationships with other like-minded groups, such as the Alliance for Our Common Future.

• The friends are involved in other movements around the globe, such as two international women’s forums; Physicians Against Nuclear War; the international “Project Classroom”; Parent Responsibility Forum; Collective Farm Tour; Professional Tour; and work with the All China Women’s Federation.
• Some teaching institutes, full-time teaching teams and communities have introduced beneficial programs for area residents, such as the literacy programs in Woodburn, Oregon, and Okeechobee, Florida; other groups of Bahá’ís have developed educational programs that have received favorable attention from the government and the media—the Elbow Learning Lab in Griffin, Georgia, and Fathers, Inc. of Detroit are two good examples; still others are at work on projects on various Indian Reservations, or have organized short- or long-term humanitarian efforts in other communities.
• Many more Bahá’ís have become involved in groups and organizations pursuing agendas in accordance with Bahá’í principles, involving environmental, religious, social and other issues.

GROWING LEADERSHIP

In its 1991 annual report, the National Spiritual Assembly noted “the widespread involvement and increasing leadership of Bahá’ís in the life of society, particularly in the promotion of race unity, sexual equality, and the protection of the environment. . . .” The National Assembly also reported an increase in “requests received. . .to help cities and organizations resolve intergroup conflict and foster unity” both locally and nationally. It added, however, that such special efforts alone would not produce unity in society. Ultimately, models would be needed. “People need to see models of unity in diversity,” the National Assembly wrote, “of conflict resolution, of intermarriage. For such models we turn to you, the Bahá’ís of the United States. You must be the ones to define the language of unity, to demonstrate the secret harmony that lies beyond the limits of race, class, sex and religion. Therefore, you must perfect the unity of our communities to ensure that they become beacons of light. This urgent responsibility. . .rests squarely on your shoulders.”

A frequent experience of Bahá’í communities who undertake such services is that it leads to an increase in teaching, participation and unity among the friends themselves; what we learn about the transforming power of the Faith from our work with others may prove to be as important as what we teach, as we strive to build a community that lives in true conformity with Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

In 1983 the Universal House of Justice addressed a message on social and economic development to the Bahá’ís of the world. In response, the National Spiritual Assembly formed the National Social and Economic Development Committee whose mandate was to foster discussion in the American Bahá’í community on the subject and to support the development of local and national projects.

The committee sponsored or co-sponsored a series of conferences and discussions in the final years of the Seven Year Plan and for the first few years of this Plan, providing the impetus for progress [Page 11]

The 6 Year Plan

toward greater involvement in the life of society. The committee’s work inspired the establishment of literacy projects, institutes and centers for racial understanding, and other community programs. It successfully encouraged Bahá’í communities to approach local authorities with suggestions for promoting racial harmony and sexual equality, and supported the involvement of Bahá’í children in service projects.

A number of other enterprises for social and economic development within the Bahá’í community have been undertaken or enhanced during the Plan:

• On the national level have been the augmented efforts of the National Persian-American Affairs Office, the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office, Bahá’í Services for the Blind, and the National Committee for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired, all of which have worked to improve the quality of life of the friends, both spiritually and materially.
• The Native American and Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institutes have been active in promoting literacy and education for Bahá’ís in their respective areas.
• Several teaching institutes have made special efforts to improve literacy among new believers; and some Bahá’í communities have conducted food and clothing drives, usually for the benefit of believers on Indian Reservations.
• The New Era Foundation for International Development Inc. was established in 1990 as an independent corporation guided by the National Spiritual Assembly. Its goals, based on Bahá’í principles, include expanding linkages with other socio-economic development agencies such as donors, non-governmental organizations, civic associations, and universities, both domestic and overseas; raising the social consciousness of Bahá’ís and drawing on their skills and talents; supporting development projects financially and through technical assistance; and carrying out fund-raising for these activities aimed at development organizations and concerned individuals.

The New Era Foundation has funded or supported projects for literacy, public health, environmental awareness, and vocational and agricultural training in the U.S. and many other countries including China, Samoa, Macau, Swaziland, Kenya, Malawi and India. The Foundation has also developed strong connections with universities, governments and non-governmental organizations around the world, often in cooperation with the Bahá’í International Community or other Bahá’í groups.

LITERATURE, EDUCATION, FAMILY LIFE

The foundation of all endeavors, whether in teaching, proclamation or other service, is our understanding of the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and our adherence to His commands. Without a proper appreciation of the Faith and application of its principles in our own lives we can never hope to teach others effectively or offer workable solutions to the problems facing humanity.

For this reason the House of Justice included the development of Bahá’í literature, education and family life in its goals for the Six Year Plan.

A wide variety of literature was made available to the friends through the efforts of the U.S. Bahá’í Publishing Trust, whose agenda for the Six Year Plan focused on supporting teaching and consolidation of the Faith. Materials published for that purpose included Sacred Writings, historical and introductory works, pamphlets and other teaching materials, Assembly development modules and related items, and literature for children and youth.

In all, more than 800 titles have been produced worldwide since the beginning of the Plan. Many of those produced by the U.S. Bahá’í Publishing Trust were reprints, such as The Advent of Divine Justice, Some Answered Questions, The Hidden Words, The Secret of Divine Civilization, Bahá’í Prayers, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, God Passes By, The Promise of World Peace and Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era. Many of these appeared for the first time in low-cost pocket-sized editions.

During the Six Year Plan the National Spiritual Assembly published more than 100 new items. Among these were A Concordance to the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh; Developing Distinctive Bahá’í Communities; Zikru’lláh Khádem: Itinerant Hand of the Cause of God; several compilations from the Universal House of Justice (often in collaboration with other Bahá’í Publishing Trusts) on such topics as marriage, individual rights and freedoms and teaching prominent people; the House of Justice’s statement on Bahá’u’lláh; “The Vision of Race Unity”; Unto Him Shall We Return; and many other books, cassettes, videos, pamphlets, study guides and compilations.

Two developments unique to the Six Year Plan were the publication of the first electronic software and the participation of the Publishing Trust in international book fairs in Miami, Beijing and the United Kingdom.

Other achievements of the Trust included:

• operating Bahá’í bookstores at the International Peace Conference in San Francisco, the “Youth Can Move the World” conference in Bloomington, Indiana, the “Vision to Victory” conferences, annual meetings of the American Academy of Religions, and an annual convention of the American Booksellers Association;
• conducting workshops for Bahá’ís on research, writing and publication held in various parts of the country;
• revising selected pamphlets to remove sexist and apologetic language;
• publishing newsletters and catalogs for use by local distribution representatives, and regional training conferences for these individuals;
• enhancing the network of trade representatives;
• developing a distribution agreement with the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United Kingdom;
• continuing work on A Short Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith and Messages From the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986. Both of these are international efforts requiring cooperation among scholars and institutions around the world;
• producing notecards from the tapestry prepared by Vicki Hu Poirier for the National Committee on Women for the dedication of the House of Worship in India; and
• taking part in the formation of the first International Association of Bahá’í Publishers in February 1992. The general manager of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust was elected to that body’s executive committee.

The substantial output of the Trust was due to the efforts of its own staff, the work of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust Committee (which was responsible for setting an agenda in line with the National Assembly’s vision for the Plan) the talents of writers and editors in other parts of the country and around the world, and the support of many Bahá’í committees and agencies. The following are some national Bahá’í organizations whose contributions were especially significant, and who have also produced independent materials:

• The National Teaching Committee encouraged the translation of the Writings into several American Indian languages (and was helped greatly by the Native American Bahá’í Institute, among others). It also directed work on the booklet, “Building Unity of Thought on Teaching”; the study guides “The Word of God,” “The Significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation,” “The Covenant: Its Meaning and Origin and Our Attitude Toward It,” and “An Evolutionary Approach to Teaching Institutes”; a Spanish-language version of “The Six Year Plan,” and many other important works. The committee was responsible for the establishment of a Spanish page in The American Bahá’í, which has included translations of worthwhile study guides on various topics.
• The Persian-American Affairs Office helped produce Persian texts of The Advent of Divine Justice, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh and the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. That office regularly translates messages from the Universal House of Justice for the benefit of the Persian believers, and produces audio cassettes and the Persian section of The American Bahá’í.
• The National Race Unity Committee developed “The Power of Unity: Beyond Prejudice and Racism”, a companion study guide, and other pamphlets.
• The Office of Pioneering helped coordinate translation of a Bahá’í pamphlet into the Kazakh language, and is also assisting with translations into Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Latvian and other languages of the former Soviet Union.
• The Committee for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired prepared transcripts of selected tapes, while Bahá’í Services for the Blind produced cassette, large-print and braille editions of several Bahá’í books.
• The U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office published “Refugees in America: A Cross-Cultural Perspective”; “America: A Nation of Immigrants”; audio cassettes in the Khmer language on the Bahá’í teachings; and Khmer translations of Feast letters that were sent to selected communities.

Counselor Magdalene Carney presents the 1991 Bahá’í Peace Award to the Rev. Antoine Campbell during Peace Fest ’91 last September at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute in South Carolina. Dr. Carney, a member of the International Teaching Center in Haifa, Israel, returned there shortly afterward and passed away early in October.

SCHOOLS AND CURRICULA

In its most recent annual report, the National Spiritual Assembly noted with pride “the growing success of some 450 local Bahá’í schools and 38 regional schools, three permanent schools and two institutes,” which had served more than 35,000 Bahá’ís the previous year.

This great level of participation on the part of the friends was due largely to improved class quality and the development of activities for specific segments of the Bahá’í population. This was especially true at the permanent schools and institutes, all of which now have programs designed for youth, children and minorities, in some cases in languages other than English. The importance of these institutions cannot be overemphasized, for not only do they serve as bases for regional teaching efforts and service projects, they are deeply concerned with improving the community’s understanding of the Bahá’í teachings. They also help strengthen the “building blocks” of Bahá’í society through regular programs and classes on marriage and family life.

The National Committee on Women contributed greatly to Six Year Plan programs aimed at strengthening Bahá’í family life. The Committee helped foster the practice of equality through special training programs, classes for children, workshop modules and pamphlets, often developed in cooperation with the National Education Committee.

NATIONAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The National Education Committee has been the guiding force in improving the quality of Bahá’í education; among the goals assigned to it by the National Assembly for the Six Year Plan were evaluating and cataloging existing educational materials for children and developing, in close cooperation with the Bahá’í schools, the International Teaching Center, the Board of Counselors and the education committees of other countries, a core curriculum for children ages 6-12. Both goals were successfully completed. The catalog of Bahá’í educational materials was published in 1989 and 1990; the core curriculum, still in draft form, was completed early this year.

The committee is now working on a pilot program for teacher training based on the new core curriculum. The establishment of a national, standardized system of education for Bahá’í children will be a breakthrough of great significance, effecting tremendous advancement for the Faith in this country as it holds the potential to ensure that all Bahá’í children have a strong foundation in the Bahá’í teachings.

NEXT: A survey of ways in which we have fostered the spiritual enrichment of the community, followed by a discussion of the process of maturation of our local and national communities. [Page 12]

The Nicholas Brothers

Honoring a lifetime of achievement in dancing

By KEN BOWERS

From earliest childhood Fayard Nicholas dreamed only of becoming a dancer. To say that his dream came true would be somewhat like saying Dizzy Gillespie is just another trumpet player.

Mr. Nicholas, a Bahá’í from Woodland Hills, California, and his brother Harold, who together made up the world-renowned tap dancing team the Nicholas Brothers, were paid special tribute for their unique contribution to the performing arts at the annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony December 8 in Washington, D.C.

Other honorees this year were actor Gregory Peck; country singer Roy Acuff; conductor Robert Shaw; and Broadway composer/lyricists Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

Another world-renowned Bahá’í entertainer, jazz trumpeter John Birks (Dizzy) Gillespie, was among those honored a year ago.

NEVER TOOK LESSONS: The Nicholas Brothers, who never took dancing lessons, began performing as children while living in Philadelphia. Although they started dancing in local nightclubs mainly for fun, they were encouraged by their parents, who quickly appreciated their talents and quit their jobs as musicians to manage the new act.

The brothers rose to fame not long afterward during a two-year stint at New York’s Cotton Club, headlining with such great orchestras as Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway. In 1934 they landed a dancing part in their first movie, “Kid Millions,” with Eddie Cantor.

A long Hollywood career followed during which the team appeared in more than 50 films including such well-remembered musicals as “Stormy Weather” (with Lena Horne), “Orchestra Wives” and “Sun Valley Serenade” (with the Glenn Miller orchestra), and “The Pirate” (with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland).

The Nicholas Brothers became renowned for their distinctive dancing style, which combined superlative athletic power and agility with a grace that made what they were doing appear deceptively easy. In one film, “Down Argentine Way,” the brothers performed a routine so extraordinary that audiences all over the country demanded that the sequence be rewound by the projectionist and shown again!

All their splendid ability, however, could not change the attitudes of the era in which their career flourished. Black performers in those days rarely were given the kinds of roles their white counterparts were. For this reason the brothers’ film appearances were limited to brief dancing and singing sequences with little or no dialogue. Ironically, many of the movies in which they appeared are now remembered chiefly for the few minutes of screen time devoted to them. ‎those Those‎ movies helped fill the clubs and theaters to capacity.

They also preserved the brothers’ virtuosity for all time, inspiring such respected artists as Sammy Davis Jr. and Gregory Hines, who emulated aspects of their style.

Fayard and Harold Nicholas have received much recognition for their work including an Emmy Award, a Tony Award, the Ebony magazine Life Achievement Award, and the Josephine Baker Award. In 1989 they were inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.

But the brothers refuse to be bitter about the past. Instead, they are happy that they were able to help pave the way for the black performers of later generations.

PERFORMED FOR THE KING: “Those films made us world famous,” said Fayard, “and they led to wonderful opportunities for us. Over the years we met four presidents and performed for the king of England. Wherever we toured, either in America or any of the scores of other countries we went to,

Despite the many honors he has already enjoyed, Fayard was thrilled to have been recognized at the Kennedy Center ceremony, which was attended by George and Barbara Bush. “I was speechless,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do when I met the President.”

But the highlight of his trip, he said, was the opportunity to meet the Bahá’ís in Washington, D.C.

“It’s the same wherever we go,” he said, “Paris, London, and so on. I remember what fun we all had at the Bahá’í Center in Japan, where only one of the friends spoke English. We celebrated the Báb’s birthday there, which also happens to be mine, with a big birthday cake. It was wonderful.”

Fayard and his wife, Barbara, first learned of the Faith from his daughter, herself a Bahá’í.

FEELING OF LOVE, WARMTH: “I had been associated with many groups in the past,” he said. “But with the ‎Bahá’í is Bahá’ís‎ I got such a wonderful feeling; I felt this love, this warmth, that I never got from any other religion.

“My wife and I both began to investigate the Faith. She became very attracted to it; in my heart I also knew that it was the truth, but we did not declare right away.

“We both grew more and more in love with the Faith. Eventually I happened to go to a bank for a loan. On the application a question was asked about my religion. Without thinking about it I answered that I was a Bahá’í. I realized at that moment that the Faith had become a part of me; so I decided to go ahead and make it official. Shortly afterward we both declared. That was 20 years ago.”

Fayard, now semi-retired, is still very much in demand. In 1989 he choreographed a Broadway musical, “Black and Blue.” In 1990 he starred in the ballet “The Nutcracker” with the San Diego Ballet Company. And he occasionally performs with his brother for the benefit of various charities.

“I am thankful for all I have had,” he says, “but especially for the bounty of serving the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.”

The Nicholas Brothers, Harold (left) and Fayard, perform one of their spectacular acrobatic dances to the Glenn Miller Orchestra’s ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ in the film Sun Valley Serenade. Inset: Fayard Nicholas today (photo by Jeff Vilencia).

Bahá’ís of the Khao-i-Dang refugee camp gathered at their newly expanded Bahá’í Center to welcome Puran Stevens, co-ordinator of the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office (seated front row center), during a stop on her tour of Thailand last November. About 50 believers live in the camp, and gather at the Center regularly for prayers, Bahá’í observances and deepenings. Mrs. Stevens visited several other refugee camps in Thailand, and also met with Bahá’ís in Laos. [Page 13]

Assembly formation: Questions, answers, forms

The following are the answers to the questions most commonly asked about Assembly elections at Ridván. If, having reviewed these remarks, your Assembly or Bahá’í Group still has questions or would like further clarification, please contact the Bahá’í National Center.

FORMATION

• • Must a previously established Spiritual Assembly re-form between sunset April 20 and sunset April 21 to be recognized by the National Spiritual Assembly?**

An existing Spiritual Assembly or a community that has had an Assembly before can only re-form on the first day of Ridván (unless an extended period is granted in advance by the National Spiritual Assembly). Assemblies that have been lapsed for lengthy durations (10 or more years) may form as a new Assembly at any time during the year if permission is granted by the National Spiritual Assembly.

• • When can a Bahá’í community have an extended period in which to elect its Spiritual Assembly?**

Advance permission must be sought. Permission is granted by the National Spiritual Assembly on a case-by-case basis each year, according to current circumstances.

• • Year after year, a community has a local Spiritual Assembly, but the individuals listed on the community list do not take part in Bahá’í activities. Should the Assembly continue to be formed under these circumstances?**

Yes. The Universal House of Justice, in a letter dated April 19, 1979, has advised: "While it is true that some Assemblies have unsteady foundations at first, the friends obviously do not form Assemblies to lose them. At the time of their establishment they may appear to be 'artificially created' but are in fact a stepping stone in the progressive development of the teaching work, a fact recognized by Shoghi Effendi."

• • What happens if 15 days advance notice is not given before an election?**

Less than 15 days advance notice will not necessarily invalidate an election. The principle is that all members of the community must be notified of the election. The Assembly should form and write a letter to the National Spiritual Assembly explaining the reasons why 15 days notice could not be given. The election should be considered valid unless the Assembly is notified by the National Spiritual Assembly that it cannot be recognized.

ELIGIBILITY

• • Some believers, such as university students, live part of the year in one community and the rest of the year in another. In which community are they eligible to serve on the Assembly?**

Believers cannot be considered members of more than one community at the same time. The locality in which adult believers reside for the longest period of time (e.g., seven out of the 12 months) should be considered the community in which they are eligible to serve on the Assembly. If the length of time they spend at each residence is approximately the same, they may choose the community in which they desire to hold membership.

• • Can believers who live just outside of the city limits but have a business and receive mail at a post office box in the city be considered eligible to serve on the city's Assembly?**

Only those who actually reside within the boundaries of an established locality have the privilege either to vote for or be elected as a member of the Assembly.

• • If some Bahá’ís are planning to move into a community to help save a jeopardized Assembly but cannot physically be living in the community until after the first day of Ridván, can they be counted as community members?**

According to the current policy of the National Spiritual Assembly, if they have made a firm commitment, such as obtaining a lease or placing a down payment on a house, then they can be counted if they are able to physically reside in the community within 90 days of the first day of Ridván.

• • Are Bahá’ís who have recently been enrolled (card counter-signed) but have not yet received their Bahá’í identification cards from the National Spiritual Assembly eligible for election to a Spiritual Assembly?**

Unless they are from the Middle East, newly enrolled Bahá’ís may be included on the voting list. Persian declarants (any person from Persian background regardless of their immigration status or length of stay in the U.S.) and Middle Easterners may take part in administrative functions only after their enrollments and transfers are confirmed by the National Spiritual Assembly.

• • Is a Bahá’í with credentials from another country (not a visitor) who has not yet received U.S. Bahá’í credentials eligible for election to an Assembly?**

Yes, pending the transfer of their membership into the U.S. Bahá’í community from the community of the country in which they were last residing, Bahá’ís with credentials from other countries may be considered eligible for election to an Assembly. They must submit their credentials (return receipt requested) to the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly, attn: Management Information Systems, and request that their membership be transferred to the U.S. Bahá’í community. If, after 60 days following the election, the Bahá’ís still have not received their U.S. Bahá’í credentials, the National Spiritual Assembly should be notified.

• • Are believers from other countries who do not have any credentials considered eligible to vote for or serve on a local Spiritual Assembly?**

No, such believers are not eligible to participate in elections until their status has been verified and their transfer has been completed. They must contact their former National Spiritual Assembly and ask that their credentials be sent to our National Assembly.

• • Can members of the community who are mentally ill or senile vote in the election and/or serve on the local Assembly?**

If these believers are obviously incapable of serving, they should not be considered eligible to vote for or serve on the Assembly. The local Spiritual Assembly or community should immediately inform the National Spiritual Assembly of their condition. If the community is uncertain whether a person is capable of serving, that person should be added to the voting list and can be elected to the Assembly. (If elected, that person must be invited to attend the Assembly meetings.) If the Assembly later determines that the person is not capable of serving (or that their behavior is disruptive to the functioning of the Assembly), the Assembly should write to the National Spiritual Assembly, recommending that the person be removed from the Assembly and declared ineligible to vote.

• • For several years we have certain Bahá’ís whose mail has been returned and whom we have been unable to visit to verify their address. Should their names be removed from the voting list?**

Their names should not be removed from the mailing list. Periodic efforts should be made to try to visit them and, if successful, to encourage them to take part in Bahá’í activities.

• • If a person has asked to withdraw from the Faith but the community has not received notice from the National Spiritual Assembly that the withdrawal has been accepted, should he or she be counted on the voting list?**

If word has not been received before the election that the National Spiritual Assembly has officially accepted the withdrawal, that person must be counted as a member of the community.

• • Is a person who has withdrawn from the Faith and wishes to be reinstated before an election takes place eligible to serve on the Spiritual Assembly?**

Before a person can be reinstated to Bahá’í membership, a recommendation from the local Spiritual Assembly must be sent to the National Spiritual Assembly. Once the person has been approved for reinstatement, the Assembly will be notified. Until then, he or she will not be eligible to serve on the local Spiritual Assembly.

• • If the boundaries of the civil community change during the year due to local government action, will this affect the boundaries of the Bahá’í community? Will those members no longer in the civil boundary be ineligible to vote in the community at Ridván?**

Bahá’í community membership is often affected by civil boundary changes, and because of this, those who are eligible to serve during one year on the Assembly may not be members of the same community the next year. The National Spiritual Assembly should be notified of all civil boundary changes. No change in a membership list due to civil boundary changes should be made until the National Spiritual Assembly approves of or acknowledges the changes.

• • Is it permissible to consider ineligible for election to an Assembly those who have moved into a community after the election calls have been sent?**

There is no minimum amount of time Bahá’ís must reside in a community before they can take part in a Bahá’í election. If they move to a community the day of an election, they may participate fully in it as long as it is evident that they are making their home in that community.

JOINT DECLARATION

• • Must everyone sign the election form at the same time? What if a member is temporarily unavailable?**

Those who are unavailable to sign the joint declaration at the same time as the others may sign their name(s) earlier or later.

• • If a member of the community refuses to sign or consent to serve on the Assembly, can the Assembly still be formed?**

If an Assembly is forming for the first time, it is essential that all nine signatures appear on the form. If all nine signatures cannot be obtained, the formation of the Assembly has not taken place. However, if an Assembly has previously been established in the community and a person refuses to sign, or, if for any other reason one of the signatures cannot be obtained, the election form should be sent to the National Spiritual Assembly with an explanation of why the signature is missing. A decision will be made regarding recognition of the Assembly and communicated to the Assembly.

ASSEMBLY ELECTION

• • What is the minimum number required to attend an election meeting?**

No quorum is needed to hold an election for a Spiritual Assembly. As long as all community members are properly notified of the meeting the election is valid, even if no more than one person is at the meeting to vote.

• • Is it permissible to go to believers' homes to collect ballots in order to form an Assembly?**

In areas where it is likely that a large percentage of the believers will not attend the election meeting, it is recommended that visits take place to encourage their participation. If it is found in the process that a believer will not be able to attend, absentee voting should be encouraged.

• • Is it permissible to vote by telephone if a person unexpectedly finds that he cannot attend the election? What about people who do not speak English, can't write, or are handicapped?**

Those who unexpectedly cannot attend the election may call a person previously designated by the Assembly to accept the ballots (usually the teller or the Assembly secretary). Arrangements should be made by the Assembly to accept ballots from those who cannot speak English, write, or, for whatever reason, are unable to attend the election. (A person can be authorized to fill out the ballot on behalf of another person, according to their wishes.)

• • If no one comes to the election meeting but absentee ballots are obtained, can an Assembly be elected and recognized?**

In all cases, an Assembly should be formed and the formation papers submitted to the National Spiritual Assembly describing any unusual or extenuating circumstances. The information will be reviewed and a decision will be made. In the meantime, those elected should begin to carry out the duties and responsibilities of an Assembly.

• • Is it permissible for people to vote for themselves?**

Yes. Shoghi Effendi said, "This is entirely a matter of conscience. If the individual feels for some reason justified in voting for himself, he is free to do so."

• • At the election meeting one of the elected members declines service on the Assembly. What should be done?**

The newly elected Spiritual Assembly should consult, seeking the guidance of the National Spiritual Assembly if necessary, and call for a by-election if a vacancy is declared. Before the person can be replaced, all members of the community must be notified of the need for a by-election.

• • What should be done if there is a tie vote for the ninth position on the Assembly?**

A second ballot to break the tie must be cast by those present at the election meeting. Each voter should vote for one of those who have tied for the ninth position. No other names should be introduced on the ballot. There is one exception to this rule: If one of the persons involved [Page 14]represents a minority, that person should be given priority without question. The National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. has decided that in this country a minority is defined by race, not nationality. In all cases of doubt, or if both persons represent a minority, a re-vote should be taken to choose between those who have tied.

After the Spiritual Assembly is elected, it is found that a person elected to the Assembly moved out of the community prior to the election. Should the person who received the next highest number of votes fill the ninth position on the Assembly or should the newly elected Assembly call for a by-election?

If the Assembly discovers that an elected member had moved prior to the election, the votes cast for that person must be considered invalid and the person with the next highest number of votes becomes a member of the Assembly. If the ballots have been destroyed and the tellers do not recall who had the next highest number of votes, a by-election should be called.

Reporting results

How is election information to be reported to the National Spiritual Assembly?

Shortly before Ridván every year, the National Spiritual Assembly sends election forms and instructions to established local Spiritual Assemblies. Communities that have not received the forms by April 10 should request them from the Management Information Systems office at the Bahá’í National Center. The forms should be completed carefully according to instructions and returned to the National Spiritual Assembly immediately after the election or formation by joint declaration.

NOTE: It is preferable that Assembly officers be elected and so noted on the election or joint declaration form at the time it is returned to the National Spiritual Assembly. However, if it is not possible to elect officers immediately after the Assembly formation, a temporary secretary (someone to receive mail and telephone calls) should be appointed and recorded on the form, and the form sent in immediately. Permanent officers should be elected and reported as soon as possible on the "Assembly Officer and Address Change" form.

What should be done if a Formation Report Form cannot be obtained in time for the election or joint declaration?

The election results may be reported in a letter to the National Spiritual Assembly. The letter should include the name of the Bahá’í locality, the time and date of Assembly formation, and the names and I.D. numbers of the Assembly members. If the Assembly is formed by joint declaration, the letter should include the nine signatures of the members. If the Assembly is formed by election, the number of Bahá’ís in the community, the number of those voting in person, the number of those voting by absentee ballot, and the number of votes each elected member received must also be included. If Assembly officers have been elected, these should also be noted.

RIDVÁN ELECTION FORMS

Please fill in all information requested for officers of your Assembly including name, Bahá’í identification number, current address and telephone number.

LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY FORMATION REPORT FORM

PLEASE COMPLETE AND SUBMIT IMMEDIATELY EVEN IF OFFICERS ARE TEMPORARY PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT CLEARLY

ASSEMBLY MAIL Send all mail for Secretary to: Assembly address given below (Post Office Box or Bahá’í Center) Secretary's home address

Assembly's Address: (differs a Secretary's home addr)

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Locality Name Bahá’í Locality Code District "The Cy's Bay City So Rard RPO Oy, Jan. Jp

If you are not able to elect officers right away, please appoint a temporary correspondent and list that person's name, address, Bahá’í identification number and telephone number in the box marked "corresponding secretary." When you elect officers at a later date, report them on the local Spiritual Assembly Officer and Address Change form.

CHAIRMAN Name Address City/State Home Phone (Area Code) ID Zip Work Phone (Area Code)

VICE-CHAIRMAN Name Address City/State Home Phone (Area Code) ID Zip Work Phone (Area Code)

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY Name Address City/State Home Phone (Area Code) ID Zip Work Phone (Area Code)

TREASURER Name Address City/State ID Zip Home Phone (Area Code) Work Phone (Area Code)

OTHER OFFICER (IF ANY) Name Address Work Phone (Area Code) Office Held ID Zip

SIDE A

COMPLETE THIS SECTION IF YOU ARE REPORTING AN ASSEMBLY ELECTION For each Assembly member, please provide the following information: Name ID Votes Received

In this box, please list all nine names and Bahá’í identification numbers of Assembly members, and the number of votes each member received. Do not fill in this box if you are forming by joint declaration.

COMPLETE BOTH SIDES OF THIS FORM

I certify, on behalf of the Local Spiritual Assembly, that all nine members of the Assembly are Bahá’ís in good standing and that they are registered by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States as members of the American Bahá’í community residing in the locality indicated above.

City/State Home Phone (Area Code) Work Phone (Area Code)

The secretary of the Assembly, or the person assigned to help in its formation, should complete this box certifying that he or she has verified the membership of each member of the Assembly.

Remember to send the yellow copy immediately to the Management Information Systems office at the Bahá’í National Center and to keep the blue copy for your files.

Individual ID numbers are on the community membership list or the individual's membership card

Signature Print Name ID Home Phone

Send YELLOW copy to: BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER MIS OFFICE WILMETTE, ILLINOIS 60091

Keep BLUE copy for your records NTC 2/

You can look for identification numbers on your community membership printout or the person's Bahá’í membership card.

Please be sure to print your name, as well as sign it, and to provide us with your telephone number(s). [Page 15]

RIDVÁN ELECTION FORMS

Here are samples of both sides of the Ridván election form for this year. We have highlighted each section with a brief explanation to help you with questions you may have about the form. In addition, please note the following:

1. Remember to complete both sides of the form and to include all requested information.

2. If you are not able to find an identification number or some other piece of information, please attach an explanation on the form, such as "new believer, doesn't have I.D. card yet," and so on.

3. If your Assembly does not receive election materials in time for Ridván, you may request extra forms and instructions from your District Teaching Committee, or you may cut these forms out of The American Bahá’í and use them.

4. Please review the forms before sending them in to be sure you have included as much information as possible and an explanation for anything you have had to omit. Remember that we are receiving and recording information from more than 1,500 local Spiritual Assemblies, and sometimes inadvertent mistakes or incomplete or incorrect information on an election form will cause delays in getting your Assembly's information properly recorded.

5. Any questions about Assembly formations may be addressed to the Bahá’í National Center. A National Center hotline will be available from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. (CST) on April 20 and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on April 21. The number is 708-869-9039. Please call if you feel that there is any problem with your Assembly forming.

Please let us know where you want your Assembly mail to go and what the Assembly's current address is.

Election forms that have been sent to existing Assemblies will have the Assembly's address label already attached over the upper right-hand box where the locality name, Bahá’í locality code and district are requested.

Your Bahá’í locality code can be found on your membership printout or your mailing label on the Assembly's copy of The American Bahá’í.

Remember that all Assembly mail will be sent in care of the secretary. If this is not the case with your Assembly, please be sure to provide your locality name, Bahá’í locality code, and district in this box.

If you are forming by election, please complete the top section of side B.

If you are forming by joint declaration, please complete the bottom section of side B.

COMPLETE ONLY ONE OF THE SECTIONS BELOW:

ASSEMBLY ELECTION

(to be completed if there are 10 or more adult Bahá’ís in your locality)

An election meeting was held on, 19 at a.m. p.m.

SIDE B

The following should be reported to the community after the ballots are counted:

You can look for identification numbers on your community membership printout or a person's Bahá’í membership card.

TELLERS REPORT

Number Voting in Person............. Number Voting by Absentee Ballot Total Number of Ballots Cast Number of Invalid Ballots, If Any Total Number of Valid Ballots Cast Number of Believers not Voting................... Total Number of Adult Believers in Locality....

Tellers: (There must be more than one)

P Has the community accepted the tellers' report? PH Signature of Chief Teller

JOINT DECLARATION

(to be completed if there are exactly nine adult Bahá’ís in your locality)

JOINT DECLARATION A joint declaration was held on 19 at a.m. p.m.

ID Number* Name Signature

Individual ID numbers on are on the community membership list or on an individual's membership card

PLEASE REPORT ELECTION OF OFFICERS ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS FORM [Page 16]

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM / آزادی ادیان

محفل روحانی فالز چرچ Falls Church در ایالت ويرجينيا مبادرت به تهیه برنامه ای تحت عنوان آزادی ادیان از دیدگاه بهائی نمود که در ۱۴ دسامبر سال ۱۹۹۱ در سالن شهرداری فالز چرچ اجرا شد

بهار گذشته کمیسیون برگزاری مراسم بزرگداشت دویستمین سال منشور حقوق بشر شورای شهر از همه جوامع دعوت کرده بود که برنامه هائی برای آگاه ساختن مردم از اهمیت منشور حقوق بشر ترتیب دهند. برنامة محفل فالز چرچ در پاسخ به این دعوت تهیه شده بود.

بخشی از برنامه مذکور از طریق یکی از ایستگاههای محلی تلویزیون پخش شد که اولین برنامه بهائی ۵ نفر از اعضای گروه تبلیغی از چپ به راست تئو ،پك ريان ،حیدریان مکس ،کاظم زاده آنلو سپول ودا مارك سبحانی بود که از طریق تلویزیون در منطقه واشنگتن دی سی پخش میشد. سازمان زنان رأی دهنده League of Women Voters در ماهنامه خود مقاله ای درباره برنامة مذكور منتشر کرد و منشی انجمن شهر نیز ترتیبات لازم را برای انعقاد جلسه در محل شهرداری فراهم ساخت.

یکی از سخنرانان جلسه حضور احباء را خیر مقدم گفت و از آنان برای طرح برنامه سپاسگزاری کرد.

سخنران اصلی جلسه آقای ویلیام کالینز بود که پیش از این ۱۳ سال مدیر کتابخانه بین المللی بهائی در أرض اقدس بوده است.

آقای کالینز کلیاتی درباره تاريخ منشور حقوق بشر و فقرات مربوط به آزادی ادیان را که در آن آمده است بیان نمود و سپس دیدگاه بهائی را درباره حقوق و مسؤولیتهای فردی تشریح کرد همچنین گزارشی درباره تضییقات بهائیان ایران به آگاهی حاضران رساند و اظهار داشت که بهائیان سراسر جهان از وجود منشور حقوق بشر بسیار خشنودند زیرا آن منشور باعث گردیده است که بهائیان جامعة ملی موفقی داشته باشند و بتوانند هم کیشان مظلومشان را در ایران کمک کنند.

۶۸ نفر در این برنامه شرکت کردند که ۲۴ نفر از آنان را افراد غیر بهائی تشکیل میدادند. عده ای از این افراد عبارت بودند از اعضای شورای شهر و کمیسیون برگزاری مراسم بزرگداشت منشور حقوق بشر.

PROJECT BLAZE / فعالیتهای تبلیغی جوانان بهائی در تکزاس

به تازگی جوانان بهائی تکزاس يك گروه تبلیغی برای انتشار کلام الهی و كمك به اتمام اهداف نقشه شش ساله تشکیل داده اند.

این گروه مرکب از شش نفر است و برنامه تبلیغی آنان پروژه افروختن Blaze نام .دارد. گروه مذکور تحت اشراف محفل روحانی دوکان ویل Ducanville تکزاس فعالیت میکند و دو ایالت اوکلاهما و تكزاس نقطة تمركز آن است.

فعالیتهای گروه مذکور عبارت است از كمك به محافل روحانی اطراف از طریق افروختن شعله ایمان در دل جوانان؛ ارتباط با رسانه های گروهی؛ تبلیغ خانه به خانه تشکیل جلسات تبلیغی

این گروه تبلیغی از ماه اگست سال ۱۹۹۱ تشکیل شده .است صورتی از فعالیتهائی که تاکنون داشته است در زیر درج میشود

تقدیم نسخه هائی از وعدۀ صلح جهانی به شهرداران و اعضای انجمن شهر و رؤسای کالج ها و مسؤلان روابط نژادی و متصدیان کلیساها و افراد گوناگون

كمك به کلوپهای بهائی کالج ها و دانشگاهها (بعنوان نمونه) تشكيل يك جلسه تبلیغی در دانشگاه شمال تکزاس که ۵۰ نفر مبتدی در آن شرکت کردند حد اقل ۲۰ نفر از این افراد در دیگر جلسات تبلیغی نیز حاضر بوده اند.

تشويق جوانان هر يك از جوامع مورد نظر به تشکیل بیوت تبلیغی با تاکید بر اهمیت دعا و تزیید معلومات امری

ترتيب يك جلسة تزييد معلومات جوانان در آخر هفته که به تشکیل ۵ مؤسسه تبلیغی جدید انجامید

كمك به ترتیب چند جلسه اعلان عمومی امرالله در بعضی از نقاط مذکور و شرکت در برگزاری آنها

دیدار با اعضای شعبه اتحادية شهريان Urban League سازمانی که هدفش رفع تبعیضات نژادی است در شهر آستین تگزاس جهت مذاکره درباره وحدت و دوری گزیدن از مواد مخدر

سخنرانی در کلیساها و در برابر جوانان مسیحی راجع به اهمیت ظهور حضرت بها الله

شرکت در مصاحبه های رادیوئی و مطبوعاتی

كمك به برنامه های مخصوص كمك به افراد بیخانمان در یکی از محلهای ویژه برای آنان

همچنین این گروه تبلیغی به طرح برنامه ای برای دبیرستانها جهت گسترش وحدت و هماهنگی نژادی توفیق یافته است. در این برنامه از دانش آموزان دعوت میشود که آزادانه در گفتگوهائی که راجع به مشکلات نژادی صورت میگیرد شرکت کنند و راه حلهائی را نیز که احتمالاً از خاطرشان میگذرد اظهار کنند.

برنامه ماهانه تبلیغی تا رضوان سال ۱۹۹۲ طرح ریزی شد.

این پروژه تبلیغی از طریق تلاوت دعا و تشکیل جلسات تزیید معلومات و مشورت انجام وظیفه میکند. والدین اعضای گروه حمایت کامل خود را از فعالیتهای آن اعلام داشته اند.

گروه تبلیغی مذکور جوانان همه جوامع امری را دعوت میکند که برنامه های مشابهی طرح ریزی نمایند و به تشکیل مؤسسات تبلیغی مبادرت ،کنند باشد که به تحقق اهداف نقشه شش ساله توفیق یابند قرار است فعالیتهای این برنامه تبلیغی تا آخر تابستان سال جاری ادامه داشته باشد.

WORLD NEWS / اخبار بین المللی

xoooooooox

حاضر بیش از ۱۰ محفل روحانی محلی در آلبانی وجود دارد و ۱۰ درصد اهالی شهرك پرسا Presa در نزدیکی تیرانا Tirana بهائی شده اند.

در هفته آخر ماه دسامبر سال گذشته بیش از ۱۲۰۰ نفر در آلبانی تصدیق امر مبارك کردند. این اقبال چشمگیر نتیجه دیداری بود که اعضاء اروپائی یك گروه موسیقی به نام ال وينتو كانتا El Viento Canta و عده ای مبلغ سیار ایتالیائی از آلبانی به عمل آوردند. در هر یک از کنسرتهای گروه مذکور حداقل ۷۰۰ نفر شرکت داشتند که بیش از نیمی از آنان مایل بودند در جرگه اهل ایمان وارد شوند تنها پس از سه کنسرت ۹۰۰ نفر تصدیق کردند بعد از پایان یکی از کنسرتها اوراق تسجیل که احباء به همراه آورده بودند تمام شد در حال

شهردار ناتال در برزیل در رابطه با هفتادمین سال تأسيس جامعه امری در آن کشور حکمی صادر کرده که بر مبنای آن یکی از خیابانهای شهر را به نام لئونورا آرمسترانگ Leonora Armstrong اولین بہائی مهاجر برزیل نام گذاری کرده است.

در اولین برنامه تبلیغی اروگوئه که از ۷ تا ۱۸ اكتبر سال ۱۹۹۱ اجراء شد ۹۲ نفر به امر مبارك اقبال کردند در رابطه با این برنامه تبلیغی ۴ محفل روحانی محلی تشکیل شد و سه نقطه امری افتتاح گردید و یک شهروندان آن کشور توزیع کرد.

يك گروه تبلیغی به چند ایالت از ایالات فیلیپین سفر کردند و با كمك احبای محل به تأسیس ۹ محفل روحانی محلی و تسجیل ۵۰۰ نفر توفیق یافتند.

در ۵ ماه گذشته در منطقه راج شاهی در بنگلادش ۶۰ محفل روحانی محلی جدید تأسیس گردیده است و برخی از دهات آن منطقه از جانب لجنة محلى نشر نفحات بعنوان دهات نمونه بهائی نام گرفته است. این موفقیت تبلیغی تحقق یکی از اهدافی است که محفل روحانی ملی بنگلادش در اواسط سال ۱۹۹۱ برای منطقه مذکور تعیین کرده بود.

در طی هفته آخر سال ۱۹۹۱ حدود ۴۰ نفر در کشور لهستان به امر مبارك گرویدند. ۲۵ نفر از تازه تصدیقان از ژسیشین Szczecin و بقیه از پوزنان Poznan بودند.

در سال ۱۹۹۱ کنفدراسیون سوئیس هفتصدمین سال تأسیس خود را جشن گرفت .بدین مناسبت كميته مخصوصی از جانب محفل روحانی ملی سوئیس بیانیه ای تحت عنوان آینده سوئیس از دیدگاه بهائی تهیه نمود و آن را در میان سیاستمداران و مؤسسات گوناگون و شهروندان آن کشور توزیع کرد. [Page 17]

نوروزتان مبارک

نوروز بهاری بار دیگر فرا رسیده است. برای ما ایرانیان نوروز حال و هوای ویژه‌ای دارد. گویا وجودش را در هوای پیرامونمان نیز حس می‌کنیم. با خانه‌تکانی و خریدن و پوشیدن جامه نو کهنگی سال گذشته را پس پشت می‌نهیم. با امیدی تازه چشم به سال نو می‌دوزیم و تحقق آرزوهایمان را در آن می‌جوئیم و دنبال می‌کنیم.

چون نوروز در ‎وحلۀ وهله‎ نخستین عید دینی ماست، پیمان روحانی خود را نیز با حضرت بهاءالله دوباره از نظر می‌گذرانیم و می‌اندیشیم چگونه عهد وفا را به جا آوریم. از اینهمه تازگی و بازاندیشی به شعف می‌آئیم و زبان به ستایش می‌گشائیم. اما به زبان حال می‌گوئیم: "به چه زبان ترا شکر نمایم؟" و دوباره با فروتنی و عدم لیاقت "شکر‌نعمای" او می‌گوئیم و از نو شادی روحانی را در صمیم جانمان حس می‌کنیم.

با یاد اینهمه لطف و مهر است که خادمان صفحات فارسی امریکن بهائی دوستان عزیز را به خاطر می‌آورند و برایشان سالی سرشار از کامیابی و شادی و بهروزی آرزو می‌کنند.

لازم به یاد‌آوری است که به تصریح حضرت ولی عزیز امرالله احیاء باید در کشورهای غربی سال نو بهائی را موقتاً مطابق ۲۱ ماه مارچ جشن بگیرند و ملاحظاتی چون سال کبیسه و ساعت تحویل سال را فعلاً در آن مجری ندارند.

— کوشش برای ایجاد مؤسسات مشورتی جهت انتشار پیام حضرت بهاءالله از طریق کمک به سازمان‌های عمومی و خصوصی برای مواردی چون هماهنگی نژادی و حل و فصل اختلافات و تساوی حقوق زنان و مردان،

— اقدامات اولیه برای ایجاد مؤسسات مالی امری که با مؤسسات مشابهی که قبلاً مورد نظر بوده است — مثلاً در ایران — فرق خواهد داشت و شامل امور بانکی و معاملات ملکی خواهد بود،

— طرح نقشه‌هائی برای تأسیس متعلقات باقیمانده مشرق‌الاذکار که اهمیتش را حضرت ولی امرالله تاکید فرموده‌اند.

می‌توان به یقین گفت که در سال‌های آینده که شاهد تحقق صلح اصغر خواهیم بود، مسؤولیت‌های عظیمی بر دوش جامعه امری نهاده خواهد شد. وظیفه جامعۀ بهائی این است که خود را به هر نحوی شده برای قبول و اجرای این مسئولیت‌ها آماده سازد. امیدواریم این بیان حضرت بهاءالله انگیزه خدمات یاران باشد:

"امروز روز ذکر و ثناء و روز خدمت است، خود را محروم منمائید. شمائید حروفات کلمات و کلمات کتاب و شما نهال‌هائی هستید که از دست عنایت در ارض رحمت کشته شده‌اید و از امطار کرم نمو نموده‌اید. شما را از عاصفات شرک و قاصفات کفر حفظ فرمود و به ایادی شفقت تربیت نمود. حال وقت اثمار و اوراق است و اثمار سدرۀ انسانی اعمال طیبه و اخلاق مرضیه بوده و هست. این اثمار را از غافلین منع منمائید. اگر پذیرفتند مقصود حاصل و حیات ظاهر..."

تحکیم اساس تشکیلات اداری

MATURATION OF BAHÁ’Í INSTITUTIONS

حضرت ولی عزیز امرالله فرموده‌اند که اتمام بنای ساختمان‌های قوس در کوه کرمل نقطۀ اوج تأسیس تشکیلات اداری امر مبارک خواهد بود. به فرمودۀ مبارک اتمام این مشروع با دو تحول دیگر همراه خواهد بود: تأسیس صلح اصغر و توسعه و تحول و تکامل مؤسسات ملی و محلی امر مبارک.

همانگونه که یاران عزیز آگاهی دارند بنای ساختمان‌های قوس در جریان است و در آخرین دهۀ قرن حاضر شواهد تأسیس صلح اصغر در همه جا به چشم می‌خورد.

تحول سوم که بلوغ محافل ملی و محلی است اهمیت خاصی برای جامعۀ امری ایالات متحده دارد، زیرا به فرمودۀ حضرت ولی امرالله این جامعه "مهد نظم اداری" است. در سال‌های اخیر به فرمان بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی جریان بلوغ محافل شتاب چشمگیری یافته است. صورتی که در زیر درج می‌شود، نمونه‌ای از اقداماتی است که از سوی محفل روحانی ملی صورت گرفته و یا در دست اجراست:

— تجدید سازمان در مورد ادارۀ املاک امری و تحول مدارس بهائی به ویژه در بازسازی گرین ایکر Green Acre و گسترش فعالیت‌های مدرسۀ لوهلن برای آموزش معلمان با در نظر داشتن امکانات آیندۀ جامعه،

— تجدید سازمان خدمات توزیع مطبوعات امری که امکان خدمات مرتب‌تر توزیع انتشارات امری و قیمت‌های نازل‌تر و توزیع مطبوعات امری از طریق مؤسسات تجاری را فراهم خواهد ساخت،

— تجدید ترتیب امور مالی محفل روحانی ملی که مورد تمجید مؤسسات مالی که با محفل ملی در ارتباطند، قرار گرفته است.

— تجدید سازمان مؤسسۀ مطبوعات امری که شامل يك شبکۀ ملی برای اجرای برنامه‌های خود خواهد شد،

— کوشش برای آسان ساختن امور مالی جوامع محلی و ایجاد شبکه‌هائی برای بهبود ارتباطات.

اطلاعیه دفتر امور اجرائی کنگره جهانی

WORLD CONGRESS NEWS

دفتر امور اجرائی کنگره جهانی مایل است مطالب زیر را به آگاهی دوستان عزیز برساند:

چند هتل از هتل‌های نیویورك که برای شرکت‌کنندگان در دومین کنگره جهانی بهائی در نظر گرفته شده است با دفتر امور اجرائی کنگره تماس گرفته و اظهار داشته‌اند که برخی از یاران برای رزرو اتاق مستقیماً به آنان مراجعه نموده‌اند. یاران باید بدانند که هتل‌های مذکور این قبیل افراد را به دفتر کنگره ارجاع دهند. روشن است که تماس مستقیم یاران بمنظور گرفتن اتاق به نرخ ارزانتر است. ولکن باید توجه داشت که هتل‌های مذکور طبق قراردادهایشان تعهد نموده‌اند که نرخی که به کنگره داده‌اند ارزانترین نرخ ممکن برای آن تاریخ و تأمین این نرخ‌ها تنها از طریق دفتر امور اجرائی کنگره ممکن خواهد بود. اگر نرخ بعضی هتل‌ها کمتر از نرخ اعلان شده از طرف دفتر امور اجرائی کنگره بنظر می‌رسد به این سبب است که:

اولاً نرخ‌های اعلان شده شامل مالیات‌های ایالتی و محلی است که جمعاً معادل بیش از ۲۰ در صد قیمت اتاق می‌شود. هتل‌ها غالباً ذکر مالیات را نمی‌نمایند و هنگام تهیه صورت حساب نهائی به مبلغ کل اضافه می‌نمایند.

ثانیاً نرخ‌های اعلان شده علاوه بر قیمت اتاق شامل صبحانه کامل برای هر نفر در هر روز کنفرانس است، در صورتی که نرخ هتل‌ها هیچگونه غذائی را در بر نمی‌گیرد.

ثالثاً نرخ‌های اعلان شده کلیه انعام‌هائی را که معمولاً باید به کارکنان هتل و پیشخدمت‌هائی که صبحانه را سر میز ‎میآورند می‌آورند‎ داد دربر دارد. نرخی که هتل‌ها ذکر میکنند شامل این انعامها نیست.

بعلاوه یارانی که مجموعۀ هتل و بلیط هواپیما را از دفتر امور اجرائی کنگره تهیه میفرمایند مجاناً با اتوبوس از فرودگاه به هتل و از هتل به فرودگاه برده خواهند شد.

نکته‌ای که از همه مهم‌تر است آن است که اگر همگی متحداً اقدام نمائیم یعنی سفر خود را از طریق دفتر امور اجرائی کنگره ترتیب دهیم به آن دفتر اجازه خواهیم داد که مطابق مفاد قراردادها سالن‌های محل تشکیل جلسات فرعی کنگره را بطور مجانی تهیه نماید. در صورتی که اگر تعداد یارانی که از طریق آن دفتر محل تهیه می‌نمایند کمتر از حد پیش‌بینی شده باشد ناچار باید هزاران دلار برای استفاده از آن سالن‌ها پرداخت.

بنابر مراتب فوق از کلیه احبای الهی تقاضا شده است که مستقیماً با هتل‌ها تماس نگیرند و کلیه ‎سوالات سؤالات‎ خود را با دفتر امور اجرائی کنگره بوسیله تلفن شماره ۸۶۹-۴۰۳۹ (۷۰۸) در میان بگذارند.

عدم مداخله در فعالیتهای سیاسی حزبی

NON-INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS

به تازگی خبردار شده‌ایم که یکی از آمریکائیان ایرانی‌تبار — که البته غیربهائی است — نامزد انتخابات از طرف حزب جمهوری‌خواه شده است. در نقاطی که ایرانیان تمرکز بیشتری دارند جلساتی برای جلب حمایت آنان ترتیب داده‌اند و از آنان درخواست می‌کنند که او را برای موفقیت در انتخابات یاری کنند. در این جلسات از ایرانیان دعوت می‌شود کارت‌هائی را برای عضویت در گروه‌های پشتیبان او امضاء کنند و بدین ترتیب حمایت خود را از شخص مذکور اعلام دارند.

یاران عزیز آگاهی دارند که بر طبق موازین امری شهروندان بهائی هر کشوری که احباء در آن رسمیت داشته باشند، مجاز و مختار و حتی موظفند به حکم عقل و وجدان و تجربۀ خود هر کسی را که واجد شرایط بدانند انتخاب نمایند.

بدیهی است که تشکیلات امری در اینگونه موارد موضع خاصی دربارۀ نامزدهای انتخاباتی برنمی‌گزینند. اما ناگفته نباید بماند که شرکت در فعالیت‌های انتخاباتی احزاب سیاسی و عضویت در انجمن‌های سیاسی یا هر گروهی که به هر ترتیبی وابسته به یکی از احزاب سیاسی باشد، به کل مخالف تعالیم بهائی خواهد بود. یاران عزیز البته آگاهی دارند که شرکت در اینگونه فعالیت‌ها در حکم مداخله در سیاست است که برای اهل بهاء مطلقاً ممنوع است.

حقوق‌الله

از دوستان عزیز مستدعی است تقدیمی‌های حقوق‌الله را در وجه Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust به نشانی یکی از امنای حقوق‌الله ارسال فرمایند.

Dr. Amin Banani Santa Monica, CA. 90402

Dr. Daryush Haghighi Rocky River, OH. 44116

Dr. Elsie Austin P.O. Box 927 Silver Spring, MD. 20910

[Page 18]

World News

More than 1,200 people accepted the Faith in Albania during the last week of December. The enrollments were the result of a visit by the European members of the Bahá’í singing group, “El Viento Canta,” and a team of traveling teachers from Italy. Each concert by El Viento Canta drew an audience of at least 700, almost half of whom expressed their desire to accept the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. After only three concerts, 900 people had been enrolled in the Faith, and after one performance, the Bahá’ís ran out of paper on which to record the names of the new Bahá’ís. There are now six local Spiritual Assemblies in Albania, and 10 percent of the residents in the village of Presa, near Tirana, have enrolled in the Faith.

Sixty new local Spiritual Assemblies have been formed in the Rajshahi area of Bangladesh in the past five months, and the villages of Galimpur, Bahanpur and Fulkuri have been termed “model Bahá’í villages” by the Regional Teaching Committee. The victory fulfills a goal given to the Regional Teaching Committee by the National Spiritual Assembly in mid-1991.

About 40 people were enrolled in the Faith in Poland during the last weeks of 1991. Of these, 25 new believers were in Szczecin and 13 in ‎Poznán Poznań‎.

The Honorable Ranganath Misra, Chief Justice of India, was the guest of honor at an event held at the National Bahá’í Center in New Delhi to mark the 46th United Nations Day. In his address, the Chief Justice said he believed Bahá’u’lláh’s vision of the unity of humankind was “bound to come true” within the next 50 years, and that the inception of the UN was a step in the right direction.

In conjunction with celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the Faith in Brazil, the mayor of the city of Natal issued a decree designating one of the city’s streets in the name of Leonora Armstrong, the first Bahá’í to settle in Brazil. A commemorative plaque mentioning Miss Armstrong’s arrival in Brazil in 1921 was unveiled in one of the city’s squares.

The first teaching events in Uruguay’s “Troops in Action” campaign last October 7-18 led to the enrollment of 92 people, the formation of four local Spiritual Assemblies, and the opening of three new localities. A teaching campaign was planned each month through Ridván 1992.

The Mindanao Teaching Team traveled through the provinces of Lanao and Misamis Oriental in the Philippines recently, as well as through part of Agusan del Norte. With the help of the friends in those areas, nine new local Spiritual Assemblies have been formed and 500 people have embraced the Faith. Six of the new Assemblies are in Misamis Oriental, two in Agusan del Norte, and the other in Lanao.

The South Andamans Teaching Campaign, coordinated in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by Auxiliary Board member Naveen Chandra and supported by members of the National Spiritual Assembly, has resulted in the formation of 19 new local Spiritual Assemblies and the enrollment of 220 new believers. Deepening institutes and a follow-up program are being planned.

More than 230 Bahá’ís and guests including more than 100 children and youth attended this year’s family summer school at Warminster, Wiltshire, England. Six people were enrolled in the Faith during or immediately after the school, which was described by many of those present as the best summer school they had attended.

A three-year teaching campaign for northern Ecuador was launched at a teaching conference held at the end of December in Otavalo. During the conference, 43 believers pledged to take part in the campaign which was organized in consultation with Counselor Gustavo Correa.

In 1991 the Swiss Confederation celebrated its 700th anniversary. To mark the occasion, a special committee of the National Spiritual Assembly prepared a statement entitled “The Future of Switzerland—A Bahá’í Perspective” which was distributed to politicians and a wide variety of institutions and individuals in that country.

Members of the Marion Jack III Project teaching team that traveled through Siberia last year swapped clothing, songs and dances with some Evenk performers, an indigenous people of the area. Two Siberian girls who recently embraced the Faith were impressed by this spontaneous expression of unity.

The BBC World Service broadcasts of three Bahá’í talks on the “Words of Faith” program were heard by many Bahá’ís around the world including Sean Hinton, a pioneer in Mongolia, who was at the time living with nomads in the Altai mountains, 1,500 km (930 miles) from Ulaan Bataar and 150 km (93 miles) from the nearest town which could be reached by traveling six hours in a jeep followed by two hours on horseback.

Twenty-three prominent women were guests at a Women’s International Luncheon held last November at the National Bahá’í Center in Nairobi, Kenya. The luncheon was followed by a panel discussion on gender and development.

Dr. Leslie Gornall, a Bahá’í from Northern Ireland who is a consultant to the Office of the Environment of the United Kingdom, was interviewed recently on a popular religious affairs program, “Spicer on Sunday,” broadcast on LBC radio (London) which reaches a population of some 10 million in that area. The host spent more than 20 minutes asking about the Faith, its attitude toward the environment, and actions Bahá’ís are taking to help the planet.

An estimated one to one and one-half million people in Zambia saw the video, “Peace...the Promise,” broadcast last September on national television. The broadcast took place after lengthy negotiations between a Bahá’í media officer and the TV station.

In July 1991 the Thai-Cambodian border was opened for trade at Aranyaprathet, almost 200 km (125 miles) east of Bangkok. Since then, each weekend thousands of Thais and Cambodians have been given day-passes to attend large markets on either side of the border. Among the visitors are Bahá’ís from Thailand, who have begun regular trips into Cambodia to share the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

The best-attended winter school ever held in Sweden took place at the end of December in Marsta, just north of Stockholm. Two hundred forty-five Bahá’ís including some from Uzbekistan, China, Northern Ireland and the U.S. were joined by Counselor Polin Rafat and Auxiliary Board member Hans Ohman.

A 10-member Bahá’í delegation from Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad, and also including Wytze Bos and Carmel Hatcher of the Bahá’í International Community’s United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland, paid a recent courtesy visit to Pakistan’s Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Peter John Salhotra. During the meeting, Mr. Salhotra promised the full cooperation of the government in solving any problems the Bahá’ís might experience as a minority group.

About 200 people including some non-Bahá’ís took part last December in Romania’s second Bahá’í Winter School, which was held in Baile Herculane. Nineteen of the country’s Bahá’í communities were represented, with other participants coming from six nations.

The Bahá’ís of Ghana are making effective use of radio. Announcements about a teaching campaign in Yeji and a Feast in Accra were broadcast recently by a local station. Also, a Ghana Broadcasting Corporation producer has approached the National Spiritual Assembly and asked for an interview about the Faith.

Two of this year’s three Rhodes Scholarships for New Zealand have been awarded to Bahá’ís. Susan Lamb and John Danesh, both students at the University of Otago in Dunedin, were chosen from among many applicants for their all-around achievements in scholarship, sports, debating and community service. The prestigious awards will enable them to pursue their post-graduate studies at Oxford University in England.

Sixty young people ages 12-20 gathered recently in Haina, Dominican Republic, for an International Bahá’í Youth Conference planned and carried out by youth. At the close of the conference, many of the participants pledged themselves to a year of service, to teaching and deepening, and to organizing children’s classes in their home communities. [Page 19]

Bosch general sessions to celebrate Holy Year with theme ‘This Is the Day’

The Holy Year will be observed by the content and conduct of the eight general sessions ("general" means for all ages) this summer at the Bosch Bahá’í School near Santa Cruz, California.

Theme of the sessions, which begin June 27 and continue through August 27, is "This Is the Day." Each five-day session begins with registration at 3 p.m. Saturday and ends with lunch on Thursday. The week of August 1-6 is for junior youth only.

Among the teachers for general sessions are Counselor Fred Schechter and Auxiliary Board members Hoda Mahmoudi and Marsha Gilpatrick. Also taking part will be the new Bosch School administrator, Ron Gilpatrick.

Several sessions will include reports from Bahá’ís who were among the 19 representing the U.S. in Haifa for the commemoration of the 100th anniversary in May of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh.

For information, write to the Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or phone 408-423-3387.

ATTENTION: Bahá’í College Clubs Please contact the Youth Activities Coordinator to obtain college club formation papers for this school year: Youth Activities Coordinator, National Teaching Committee office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Phone: (708) 869-9039 extension 232.

Nancy Mondschein, former representative to the United Nations for National Spiritual Assembly, dies in Florida after long illness

DEPLORE LOSS TO AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY OF WARM-SPIRITED, STEADFAST, INDEFATIGABLE MAIDSERVANT BAHÁ’U’LLÁH NANCY MONDSCHEIN. PRAYING HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HER ILLUMINED SOUL THROUGHOUT DIVINE WORLDS. FONDLY REMEMBERING DEVOTED MEMBERS HER FAMILY SACRED THRESHOLD.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

JANUARY 9, 1992

SADLY REPORT THE PASSING LAST NIGHT OF MRS. NANCY MONDSCHEIN AFTER A LONG ILLNESS. THIS DEVOTED MAIDSERVANT OF GOD WILL LONG BE REMEMBERED FOR HER NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CAUSE OF HER LORD. AMONG THEM ARE HER SERVICE AS THE UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, THE UNIQUE CHILDREN’S PROGRAM SHE DEVELOPED FOR THE 1976 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PARIS, HER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ON SEVERAL LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES, PARTICULARLY THE SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY OF THE COVENANT, AND HER EXEMPLARY SERVICE AT THE BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER.

ALTHOUGH WE MOURN THE PASSING OF NANCY MONDSCHEIN, HER FIRMNESS IN THE COVENANT, HER KIND HEART, AND HER GENEROUS SPIRIT ARE EVERLASTING EXAMPLES FOR ALL WHO FOLLOW.

WE BESEECH YOUR PRAYERS THAT THE ALMIGHTY WILL GIVE THIS NEWLY WELCOMED ONE HER FULL SHARE OF DIVINE BLESSINGS AS SHE PROGRESSES THROUGH ALL THE WORLDS OF GOD AND WILL COMFORT THE HEARTS OF HER BEREAVED FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHOSE LOSS WE SHARE.

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY 8, 1992

A memorial service was held February 22 at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, for Nancy Mondschein, former representative of the National Spiritual Assembly to the United Nations, who died January 7 in Manatee County, Florida.

During her more than eight years of service at the UN, Mrs. Mondschein was elected to the executive committee of the Conference of UN Representatives (Council of Organizations, UN Association of the United States), which directs the activities of more than 600 non-governmental organizations at the UN. She often worked with the U.S. Committee for UNICEF and received Service to Children and Volunteer of the Year Awards.

Mrs. Mondschein served on a number of local Spiritual Assemblies including those in New York City and Wilmette, was an assistant to the Auxiliary Board, served as a member of the National Teaching Committee’s task force for the Year of the Child, designed and implemented a health seminar at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, and was responsible for child care programs at Bahá’í international conferences in St. Louis, Missouri, and Paris, France.

Professionally, Mrs. Mondschein was a public health educator who held master’s degrees in health education and community health from Columbia University in New York City.

Bahá’ís host King Day events in Texas, S. Carolina

For the fourth year in a row, the Bahá’ís of Carrollton, Texas (a suburb of Dallas) brought blacks and whites together January 18 to discuss "the most challenging issue" through an inspiring Martin Luther King Jr. Day conference.

About 200 people attended the event including local officials, media representatives, and many area residents. About one-fourth of those attending were Bahá’ís.

The conference, whose theme was "The Family and the Dream: Solutions for Racial Harmony," addressed ways in which to build a prejudice-free home as the foundation for a racially harmonious society.

Speakers included Dallas radio and television personality Bob Ray Sanders; Dr. Marvin Edwards, superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District; Dr. Anthony Cortese, a race relations scholar from Southern Methodist University; and Carrie Smith, a Bahá’í who took part in 1963 with Dr. King in the historic March on Washington.

Also on the program were songs by the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church choir and "World Citizen," sung by Bahá’í J.P. Allen.

Media coverage included four newspaper articles and mention of the conference on several radio stations.

•

On January 16, Millie Ewing represented the Spiritual Assembly of Spartanburg, South Carolina, at a program sponsored by the city’s Human Relations Commission to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Ms. Ewing was one of three persons who spoke for 3-5 minutes during an "Interfaith Reflections" part of the program. The others were a Catholic priest and Baptist minister.

Letters of appreciation from the director and chairman of the Human Relations Commission stated in part: "...Your participation...helped make this event a success. ...Your contribution will always be remembered. ...Without a doubt the Bahá’í faith is very much oriented toward the brotherhood of all people. We learned a lot."

About 200 people attended the event.

"O that I could travel, even though on foot and in the utmost poverty, to these regions, and, raising the call of ‘Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá’ in cities, villages, mountains, deserts and oceans, promote the Divine teachings! This alas, I cannot do. How intensely I deplore it! Please God, ye may achieve it." — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Interested in traveling teaching? Contact: Laura Cessna National Teaching Committee office Bahá’í National Center Wilmette, IL 60091 (708) 869-9039 Ext. 232

IN MEMORIAM

Joseph M. Baker Middlesboro, KY January 18, 1992	Nader Ezhari Lansing, MI September 13, 1991	Robert Manuelito Tohatchi, NM January 1992	Charles Schinlaub Milwaukee, WI December 13, 1991
Nova F. Baker Tulsa, OK November 24, 1991	Everett Feather Man Batesland, SD 1989	Polly Marlowe Bermuda October 26, 1991	Paul M. Schwartz Washington, DC January 14, 1992
Hazel Bornholdt Escondido, CA December 25, 1991	Pauline Gardiner West Orange, NJ October 31, 1991	Peter McComish Cold Spring, NY Date Unknown	Mary L. Stapp Brownsburg, IN November 22, 1991
Benjamin Bracey Newport Beach, CA June 8, 1991	Vernice Glover Fort Valley, GA 1991	Rita McGuire West Haven, CT January 22, 1992	Mildred E. Suggs ‎Sangus Saugus‎, CA 1991
Dorothy Braxton Dillon, SC July 27, 1991	Elizabeth Hackley Urbana, IL January 12, 1992	Patrice Olsen North Bend, WA 1991	Lola Thompson Starr, SC Date Unknown
Ilene C. Brown Ganado, AZ January 11, 1992	Myrl Harman Cherry Valley, CA October 13, 1991	Athelanar Posey Asheville, NC January 13, 1992	Ocie Trotter Portland, OR April 10, 1989
June Chaffee Burlington, WA Date Unknown	Lucia B. Hills Gig Harbor, WA April 25, 1991	Mohammad Rahmanian Malibu, CA September 27, 1991	Sarah Two Lance Batesland, SD 1991
Julia Charon Glendale, WI December 2, 1991	Sarah Hooks Woodson, AR Date Unknown	Robert Rash Hart, MI July 13, 1988	Arthur W. Walde Punta Gorda, FL March 6, 1991
Diana Cheeks Glendale, WI January 9, 1992	Bessie Jackson Georgetown, SC April 1991	Paul Red Owl Batesland, SD Date Unknown	John Weaver Jr. Black Mountain, NC December 12, 1991
Thomas Columbus Morton, MN December 2, 1991	Drucilla Leachman Indianapolis, IN November 1991	Azizullah Rezvani Los Angeles, CA December 1, 1991	Hiram Webb Los Angeles, CA December 1991
Dotha C. Cooper Fruitport, MI November 15, 1990	Marian L. Lewis Long Beach, CA December 2, 1991	Senobar Rowshani Colorado Springs, CO November 29, 1991	Rose Witt Batesland, SD 1991
Rose Marie Dobana Palm Springs, CA Date Unknown	Kevin D. Lott Pasadena, CA December 20, 1991	Luella Sabdurin Ryderwood, WA Date Unknown	Emma Wounded Horse Pine Ridge, SD August 1991
Ruth Dukes Hartsville, SC Date Unknown	Helen Manthorne Hutchinson, KS December 8, 1991	Enayatollah Sapir Los Angeles, CA January 28, 1991	Ata’ollah G. Yazdi Mission Viejo, CA November 3, 1991
Ted Durley Bartlesville, OK March 12, 1991

[Page 20]About 75 Bahá’ís marched in January in the annual Martin Luther King Day parade in Los Angeles, California. Receptivity was high as the friends marched behind their colorful banner proclaiming ‘One Planet, One People...Please,’ and shared principles of the Faith and copies of the National Spiritual Assembly’s statement on race unity with those along the parade route.

MOVING? TELL US YOUR NEW ADDRESS.	To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your copy of The American Bahá’í, send your new address and your mailing label to MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, as soon as you know what your new address will be.	This form may be used for one person or your entire family. Please be sure to list FULL NAMES and I.D. NUMBERS for all individuals, ages 15 years or older, who will be affected by this change.
A. NAME(S): 1. I.D. # __________ Title __________ Full name - No nicknames please! ____________________ 2. I.D. # __________ Title __________ Full name ____________________ 3. I.D. # __________ Title __________ Full name ____________________ 4. I.D. # __________ Title __________ Full name ____________________
B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS:	C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Street address ____________________	P.O. Box or Other mailing address ____________________
Apartment # (If applicable) ____________________	Apartment # (If applicable) ____________________
City ____________________	City ____________________
State __________ Zip code __________	State __________ Zip code __________
D. NEW COMMUNITY:	E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Name of new Bahá’í Community ____________________ Moving date __________	Area code __________ Phone number ____________________ Name ____________________
F. WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S):
Area code __________ Phone number ____________________ Name ____________________ Area code __________ Phone number ____________________ Name ____________________
G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE:	H. I WOULD LIKE A COPY:
[ ] we do not have the same last name. We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) and I.D. number(s) listed above. [ ] the last names and addresses on our address labels do not match. We have listed above the full names of all family members as they should appear on the national records, their I.D. numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.	[ ] Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahá’í. I wish to receive my own copy. I have listed my name, I.D. number and address above.

BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

APRIL

3-5: Youth Teacher Training Institute (ages 11-14), Green Acre Bahá’í School. Planned in collaboration with the National Teaching Committee to empower youth to become better teachers. To register, please phone 207-439-7200.

3-5: Alabama Bahá’í School, Guntersville State Park. Theme: “To Emblazon His Name Across the Globe.” Registrar: Keitha Hudson, Box 311094, Birmingham, AL 35222 (phone 205-595-9905).

3-5: Women’s Conference, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. Sponsored by the Kent State University Bahá’í Club and the National Committee on Women. Theme: “Woman as Educator.” For information or registration forms, phone 216-678-0226.

3-5: Third Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, Association for Bahá’í Studies, Western Maryland College, Westminster. A conference of science, humanities and the arts. Theme: “The Significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation—New Parameters for Human Development.” For information, write to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee of the ABS, c/o Janet Richards, registrar, 11 Brookview Dr., Yardville, NJ 08620.

4-5: Third Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies Mid-Atlantic Region, Western Maryland College, Westminster. Theme: “Global Renaissance: The Significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation.” For information, write to the Association for Bahá’í Studies Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee, 23 Robin Hill Lane, Levittown, PA 19057, or phone 215-949-1157 or 215-949-0699.

9-12: Pioneering Institute, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, Illinois. For information, phone 708-869-9039.

10-12: Youth Teacher Training Institute (ages 15-19), Green Acre Bahá’í School. Planned in collaboration with the National Teaching Committee to empower youth to become better teachers. To register, please phone 207-439-7200.

10-12: New Believers’ Conference with Auxiliary Board member Curt Russell and others, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

16-22: Youth Symposium ’92, Landegg Academy, Switzerland. Theme: “Regenerating the Arts.” For a program brochure, write to Landegg Academy, CH-9405 Wienacht, Switzerland, or phone René Steiner, 41-71-91 91 31, or fax 41-71-91 43 01.

17-19: Youth Symposium on the Holy Year, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

17-19: 12th annual Touchstone Conference, Camp Young Judea, Wimberley, Texas. Registration at the door, $70; pre-registration by April 7, $60. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of San Marcos. Contact Deborah Noble/Solomon Amadon, 501 W. Hopkins, San Marcos, TX 78666 (phone 512-392-1036).

17-19: Oklahoma Bahá’í School, Vian. Theme: “The Mission of Bahá’u’lláh and the Holy Year.” Cost: $50 for ages 11 and older; $25 for children ages 2-10; family rate, $150. Please pre-register by April 3. Registrar: Liz Wakeham, 6205 N.W. 31st, Bethany, OK 73008 (405-789-2525).

23-26: 83rd Bahá’í National Convention, Foundation Hall, Bahá’í House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois.

MAY

2: Ridván celebration, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

2: Intensive Study session, “Bahá’í Law and Principles of Administration,” with Anna Lee Strasburg, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

22-25: A Spiritual Renewal Retreat for couples, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California. Theme: “Love, Marriage, Parenting.” This weekend is for couples committed to working on their relationship. It is not designed to meet the needs of those in a Year of Patience. This is a session for adults, but infants in arms can be accommodated. Group I, Newer Married. Group leaders Terry and Carrie Kneisler will lead the newer married or younger couples as they build strong relationships in the marriage and with their children. Group II, Seasoned Couples. Group leaders Jack and Farzaneh Guillebeaux will guide seasoned couples to focus on obstacles, issues and joys of relating as a couple and as parents to older children. For information, phone 408-423-3387.

23: Intensive Study session, “Morality and Personal Conduct,” with Auxiliary Board member Curt Russell, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 313-653-5033.

JUNE

5-7: 19th annual Conference of Nur, Elizabethtown (Pennsylvania) College. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Theme: “Dawn of the New Age: To Blazon the Name of Bahá’u’lláh Across the Globe.” Pre-registration is required by Friday, May 15. For more information and/or registration forms, write to Behzad Zandieh, registrar, 1557 Hunter Dr., Harrisburg, PA 17110, or phone 717-232-9163.

18-21: Pioneering Institute, Louhelen Bahá’í School, Davison, Michigan. For information, phone 708-869-9039.

26-29: Southern California Bahá’í School, Arrowhead Ranch, Running Springs. Theme: “Preparation for the Lesser Peace: Are We a Model Yet?” For information, phone 714-987-7129 or 714-628-6877.

29-30: Unity Gathering, Jackson Lake Bahá’í Property, Yukon Territory. Sponsored by the Bahá’í Teaching Committee—Yukon. For information or to register, phone Margo Styan, 403-667-6276.

JULY

4-16: Youth Institute, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California. For information or to register, contact Angelina Allen, Bosch Institute Director, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007 (phone 619-944-6441).

18-30: Youth Institute and Graduate Youth Institute, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California. For information or to register, contact Angelina Allen at the address or phone number given above.

AUGUST

1-6: Junior Youth Institute, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California. Because of the high demand for this week, we can register only those who have reached their 12th birthday by August 1. For an application packet, send a $100 deposit to the Registrar, Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.

8-13: Adult Institute, Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California. Conducted by Auxiliary Board member Miguel Osborne. For information, write to the Registrar, Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (phone 408-423-3387).

SEPTEMBER

4-7: Pioneering Institute, Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina. For information, phone 708-869-9039.