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[Page 1]MASÁ’IL B.E. 151 / DECEMBER 12, 1994 VOLUME 25, NUMBER 18

The American Bahá’í

Meeting in Canada reviewed

The National Spiritual Assembly met October 21-23 in Wilmette, Illinois. An important topic of consultation was its meeting with Counselors and the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada held two weeks earlier in Vancouver, British Columbia, a meeting that was focused on a study of the Tablets of the Divine Plan and various aspects of teaching.

The U.S. National Assembly is determined to expand cooperative ventures with Canada, especially in the areas of administrative development, teaching Native Americans and promoting the work of the Association for Bahá’í Studies.

The secretary for External Affairs reported on Senate ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REPORT

The ratification process, begun 28 years ago, was brought to a successful conclusion with the National Spiritual Assembly coordinating the efforts of other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that were working for its ratification.

The National Assembly continued its consultation on the guidance provided by the Universal House of Justice in its letter of May 19, 1994, with particular emphasis on teaching and decentralization. The following are among actions already taken in response to the letter:

• dispatched the letter immediately to the Counselors, arranged to meet with them to discuss it, and held a retreat with the Counselors for that purpose;
• delayed printing The American Bahá’í to assure immediate distribution to the community;
• initiated a series of meetings with staff at the Bahá’í National Center which began with a talk by Counselor Stephen Birkland, included a survey of staff for suggestions of possible actions to be taken based on their study of the letter, and led to the establishment of an internal task force to coordinate a long-term study plan;
• continued discussions on decentralization, teaching, the Funds, and communications; and
• decided to hold the 1995 National

See NATIONAL page 15

You are invited to National Convention

The National Spiritual Assembly invites you to attend the 1995 Bahá’í National Convention, to be held next April 27-30 in the Chicago area.

Plans are being made to accommodate a larger number of the friends—about 1,800—than has been the case in recent years. This will afford an opportunity for you to join delegates, members of the National Spiritual Assembly, and your fellow Bahá’ís as we enter the final and most critical year of the Three Year Plan.

Information on Convention registration and hotel accommodations will be included in the next issue of The American Bahá’í.

Carol Butler, a public information representative from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, shows a newspaper clipping to Trish Swanson (far left), director of the Office of Public Information, and local PI representatives meeting in Louisville, Kentucky.

It’s about media relationships, PI reps told in series of briefings

By Tom Mennillo

Keep your eye on the prize, the Office of Public Information is urging local PI representatives in a series of workshops being held around the country.

“The main responsibility of a PI representative is to work with the news media,” director Trish Swanson told a recent gathering in Louisville, Kentucky, of 17 Bahá’ís interested in doing just that.

It means building relationships, she said. The goal is to create an awareness of the Faith and enhance its credibility with the media and the public.

The Office of Public Information was reopened in mid-July after a move from Wilmette, Illinois, to New York City. One of Ms. Swanson’s tasks will be to build relationships with media on a national level.

The other major emphasis of the office will be to further develop the PI network, and Ms. Swanson is touring the country to find out what materials and training local representatives need to effectively represent their Bahá’í community.

At the meeting in Louisville were Bahá’ís who had traveled there from

See REPS page 11

Bahá’í principles provide Cairo conference model

By Tom Mennillo

For a week in September, much of the world’s attention was focused on the United Nations Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt.

Politicians clashed, religious leaders blustered, and the media recorded it all.

But the swirl of controversy had an unintended effect. It provided a perfect backdrop for the contrasting example of Bahá’í principles in action.

In workshops and conversations and on the floor of a large arena, Bahá’ís fostered an atmosphere of harmony and reverence for consultation on vital issues facing humankind.

“I thought so many times of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s statement that it is from the clash of differing opinions that the spark of truth emerges,” participant Elizabeth Bowen told an audience at the Bahá’í World Center the day after the conference ended, “and again and again one saw those sparks at that gathering.”

Dr. Bowen, a Bahá’í from Atlanta, Georgia, is a family physician and professor of medicine. She also is a director of Mottahedeh Development Services Inc., an agency of the National Spiritual Assembly.

She and Lawrence Arturo, director of the Bahá’í International Community’s Office of the Environment in New York, traveled to Cairo at the invitation of the World Conference on Religion and Peace.

The Bahá’ís were asked to submit a paper and to take part in workshops on an interfaith approach to population and development.

The paper, written by Brad Pokorny of the Bahá’í International Community Office of Public Information, was printed in a publication of the World Conference on Religion and Peace titled Religion, Population and Development: Multi-Religious Contributions that was circulated widely at the conference and will be published as a book in 1995.

The publication noted the need for various religions to present their viewpoints in the context of offering guidance to governments.

Population policies and programs are only one element in an over-all development strategy, it said. True development must take into account the intrinsic good of every person and community, and it must consider the social, cultural and spiritual dimensions of human beings.

The resulting policies must be based on the inherent dignity and equality of all people and promote

See PERSPECTIVES page 11 [Page 2]

NYC Bahá’ís talk unity at Lollapalooza Fest

When the giant alternative music tour known as the Lollapalooza Festival hit the New York City area in August, the Bahá’ís were there to promote race unity.

The event on Randall's Island drew more than 25,000 fans, hundreds of whom stopped at the "Racism Just Undo It" table.

At the table, they could pick up RJUI and Bahá’í race unity leaflets, buy buttons, shirts and stickers, and have their hands stamped with multi-colored "Racism Free Zone" stamps.

In addition, a European television crew filmed the booth, and an article in Young American Press followed a few weeks later.

Bahá’í involvement was the idea of Shoghi Fret, a New York City Bahá’í youth.

"It was an idea I had been pushing for—the idea of Bahá’í youth involvement in Lollapalooza and other music events since I declared last year," he said.

The idea came to the attention of United Endeavors, the parent organization of Racism Just Undo It, at an RJUI Fact Finding Forum. United Endeavors' Fred Jackson and RJUI's Michael Shetler worked with Shoghi to make his dream a reality.

As a result, RJUI sponsored the table, complete with volunteers and a special version of the "Racism Free Zone" logo made into a banner by Bahá’í artist River Brandon.

The table was so well-received that organizers of the festival were open to having it present at later stops on the tour. UE made the arrangements, and the table was successfully staffed in Oregon.

Pictured is the Bahá’í table at New York City's Lollapalooza Festival.

Major three-phase expansion is under way at Bosch Bahá’í School

By Randy Dobbs

A major expansion is under way at the Bosch Bahá’í School in Santa Cruz, California. Phase One of the planned three-phase construction of the new Amelia Collins classroom building has been completed, according to school Director Mark Bedford.

The first phase of the project, at a cost of $120,000, provides a winterized shell for the new building which will include three new classrooms adjacent to Martha Root Hall.

Construction of the new classrooms began August 1, using funds contributed by individual Bahá’ís and Bahá’í communities over the last few years.

The Bosch Bahá’í School, situated on 67 acres of wooded land nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains off California's central coast, observed its 20th anniversary at that location last July.

Originally located in Geyserville, on property once owned and donated to the Cause by John and Louise Bosch, the Bosch School was moved to Santa Cruz when the state of California purchased the Geyserville property as part of a freeway development plan.

"The Bosch School has the bounty and challenge of training new teachers in the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh," says Mr. Bedford, adding that the challenge sometimes includes holding impromptu classes in the administrator's home when present facilities become overcrowded.

The new construction could cost as much as $250,000, although some of the estimated cost will be offset by volunteer labor and donated building materials. Those who would like to donate labor, materials or funds may contact the Bosch School at 408-423-3387.

In addition to the new Collins building, the school boasts a successful bookstore-coffee house, a yogurt shop adjacent to the main lodge, administrative offices and library, a secluded area for meditation known as "prayer island," nature trails among the giant redwoods, and a waterfall (in winter) on the San Vicente Creek which runs through the northwest section of the campus.

‘Women in Bahá’í Perspective’ topic of scholarly January conference to be held at Bahá’í National Center

A scholarly conference on the topic "Women in Bahá’í Perspective" will be held January 27-29 at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois.

The event, whose purpose is to foster substantive scholarly discussion, based on the Bahá’í Writings, on the role of women in the Bahá’í community and the world, is being planned by a task force appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly.

Owing to limitations of space and human resources, attendance must be limited to a maximum of 100. Those who would like to attend should contact Lynnea Prochnow for registration information at the following address:

Research Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Phone 708-733-3548; fax 708- 733-3563; Internet, research@usbnc.org.

Registration is now open, and seats will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Vandalism at Las Vegas Center rallies support, leads to teaching

Bahá’ís in Las Vegas, Nevada, see the recent vandalism of their Center as two sides of a coin.

On one side is the act itself. Someone threw a brick through the Center's glass front. Later, an anonymous letter was left in the mailbox promising "death to all you Bahá’ís."

The flip side of the coin manifested itself quickly once friends of the Bahá’ís became aware of the desecration.

Rabbi Sanford Akselrad, chairman of the National Conference Interfaith Committee of Las Vegas, wrote a letter to the editor of the Las Vegas Review Journal that was published September 28.

"I am writing for two reasons," Rabbi Akselrad wrote. "The first is to express the support of myself and others who are a part of the National Conference for the Bahá’í community. Theirs is a religion that has been persecuted for too long and yet, ironically, it is one of the most peace-loving of all faiths. The second is to remind our community that we must all stand united against hate crimes."

Rabbi Akselrad concluded: "Las Vegas is a wonderful community. It is a shame that there are those who seek to divide our city through hatred and scare tactics rather than [bring us together] through mutual respect and understanding."

Las Vegas Bahá’ís believe the vandal is someone who was disturbed by their ambitious and vigorous teaching campaign known as the Southern Nevada Bahá’í Vision Project.

Under the theme "Bahá’í Solutions," the project has become quite visible with bus-stop signs, newspaper ads and news releases. Television spots and highway billboards are planned for the near future.

"We are busy teaching up a storm—a storm we expect to release a downpour of declarations, a storm that has already sprinkled us with successes," says Marion West-Hoffman, publicist for the project.

"The persecutions we have been told to expect won't come until we really get out and teach," she says. "And persecutions will lead to recognition and success."

Two sides of a single coin. [Page 3]

TOTAL ENROLLMENTS OF NEW BELIEVERS

October ......... 184

Year to date.. 1268

THE FUND
As of October 31, 1994

FOUR MAJOR FUNDS
Goal for 151 B.E.	$25,000,000
Contributions to Date	$7,400,688
NATIONAL FUND
Total Contributions	$6,304,651
INTERNATIONAL FUND
From Nat’l Bahá’í Fund	$117,176
Earmarked Dollars	$118,643
Total Contributions	$235,819
ARC PROJECTS FUND
From Nat’l Bahá’í Fund	$1,363,324
Earmarked Dollars	$922,831
Total Contributions	$2,286,155
CONTINENTAL FUND
From Nat’l Bahá’í Fund	$60,000
Earmarked Dollars	$54,563
Total Contributions	$114,563

New Levels of Activity

(Map of the United States indicating activity in the following locations: Snohomish County SW, Seattle, Renton, Portland, Woodburn Project, Salt Lake County, Four Corners Bahá’í School, Aneth, Bosch Bahá’í School, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Corona, Del Mar, San Diego, NABI, Phoenix, Holbrook, Jicarilla Reservation, Las Cruces, El Paso, Billings, Denver, Bedford, Dallas, Standing Rock Reservation, Rosebud Reservation, Wichita, Topeka, Tulsa, Baton Rouge, Grand Rapids, Minneapolis, Iowa City, Rolla, Birmingham, St Petersburg, Heartland Bahá’í School, Lafayette, Indianapolis, Portland, Green Acre Bahá’í School, Providence and E. Providence, Shelburne Falls, Louisville, Cary, Florence, Conway, Louis Gregory Institute, Dekalb County N, Atlanta, Georgia Summer School, Magdalene Carney Bahá’í Institute, Key Largo.)

“Now is the time,” writes the Universal House of Justice, “for the friends to ‎sieze seize‎ new opportunities to extend the range and influence of the Faith, to reach a new level of action in expanding the community and fortifying its foundations.”

The National Teaching Office has been receiving numerous reports from all over the nation about multiple declarations, new levels of inter-community activities, and a heightened sense of awareness of the urgency of the moment. The above communities and schools are amongst the many that have reached a new level of unity, activity or commitment.

Most encouraging is the repeated ‎occurances occurrences‎ of individuals, groups, and communities pledging to keep up this new level of action in the years to come.

“You may rest assured that your particularly blessed community will not be denied a triumphant expansion if its members remain constant and confident in their teaching activities.

“Step forward then to meet the requirements of the hour with undiminished hope and confidence.”

Bahá’í teachers on fire in forest camp

A forest was ablaze. So was the team of five Bahá’ís who spent 22 days working and teaching the Faith in an Oregon fire camp.

The call went out September 1 from Enterprise, Oregon, for volunteers to support the fire fighters at Twin Lakes.

Several Bahá’ís were quickly contacted, and in less than 24 hours Jennifer Gill, Patti Goebel, Diana Tufts, Ruhi Tufts and Shoghi Tufts found themselves in the smoke-filled air of a mountain top.

There, they helped provide meals and amenities for the men and women of the fire crews.

They also exuded a spirit that from the start attracted notice and, inevitably, questions.

In fact, the first person they encountered, a human resources specialist who had been dispatched from the Mount Hood National Forest to join the management team, later declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

This new believer also has asked the Bahá’ís to introduce the Faith to the congregation of her former church near Portland.

Among the other new friends with whom they shared the message of Bahá’u’lláh in camp were the members of Teen Challenge, a group of Christian youth from California who toiled in the kitchen.

The group held a Sunday service at which the Bahá’ís were invited to pray, speak and sing.

After the service, several youth asked for the words that were sung and were given copies of The Hidden Words.

Each evening brought additional teaching opportunities. Around 7 o’clock, the fire fighters would march into camp single-file singing as they lined up for dinner in their smoke-filled clothes and soot-smeared faces.

Then the crews, of diverse origin including American Indians and others from around the country, would gather around heaters—known as salamanders—for conversation and music.

Luckily, one of the Bahá’ís had brought a guitar. This became the basis for much sharing of music and fellowship as the instrument was passed around. Considerable laughter and spirit filled the evenings.

As the fire was contained and crews were demobilized, the Bahá’ís helped to close down the camp. Then it was on to Duck Creek for two days at another camp.

Duck Creek provided new opportunities to share the Writings and music in all-night fests. Literature was given to many new friends before they departed.

At signout, the Bahá’ís were given high marks by the camp boss, who commented, “Your crew was different than the normal camp crew. The job didn’t seem challenging enough for you.”

Maybe the job wasn’t, but the challenge of spreading the Faith amid a spreading fire was, and the Bahá’ís were up to that, too. [Page 4]

Marion Jack: sterling example for pioneers

(This is the second and concluding part of our look at the exemplary life of Marion Jack, an “immortal heroine” of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.—Ed.)

When Marion Jack arrived in Bulgaria, she took a room in a hotel and began to make friends and to teach the Faith. In addition to physical weakness and a limited budget, Marion was unable to speak Bulgarian. She had never learned the language as she did not expect to stay long in the country.

She never had a home or even an apartment of her own in Bulgaria, but would invite seekers to her small hotel room where she would give “talks” from Paris Talks by having her words translated into French or German by one guest, then translated again into Bulgarian.

In November 1931, when Marion had been in Sofia for about eight months, the Guardian wrote to her: “Your splendid services, rendered with such faith, such humility, such perseverance and devotion, have at least been crowned with success. You have achieved a task that will ever live in, nay adorn and enrich, the annals of God’s immortal Faith. What is now necessary is to consolidate the work already achieved. ...”

Despite certain restrictions which the authorities placed in 1933 on the teaching activities of the Bahá’ís, the teaching work went ahead and earned continual praise and encouragement from Shoghi Effendi.

By July 1934, the first local Spiritual Assembly of Sofia was elected from a community of more than 30 believers. Although the Guardian indicated to her that she could move on to another post, Marion Jack chose to stay on in Bulgaria.

As the decade of the ’30s drew to a close, Bulgaria became the center of the European spy system, and the outbreak of open conflict in Europe became inevitable. Although the Guardian first advised Marion to return to Canada, when it became clear that it would not be possible for another Bahá’í to replace her, she was then advised to stay on.

She was, by this time, 73 years old. There were now approximately 150 Bahá’ís and friends of the Faith in Sofia, meetings were held three times a week and Feasts were held regularly.

During World War II correspondence with Bulgaria was limited. In March 1941, when Nazi troops secretly entered the country, Bulgaria signed an agreement with Germany and thus entered the conflict on the side of the Axis powers.

Marion Jack had a British passport and was in constant danger of ‎inprisonment imprisonment‎ until the end of the war. When Sofia was bombed in January 1944, the house where Marion lived was destroyed as was the house where all the Bulgarian editions of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era were stored. Marion was evacuated from the city and all her luggage was stolen. She commented at that time, “It seems wonderful what one can do without.”

In September 1944, Soviet troops entered Bulgaria and the country switched to the Soviet side in the war. By the end of 1947 a communist regime was firmly established in Bulgaria.

As soon as she was allowed, Marion returned to Sofia to rebuild the Bahá’í community and to continue the teaching work. She suffered from cold, inadequate food and housing and continual health problems, but she persevered cheerfully.

It was no longer possible to hold meetings, a few Bahá’ís had been killed in the bombings and many had emigrated. But Marion adapted to every change with good spirits.

Her room was little more than a cubbyhole with one end stacked high with firewood for the stove. One-third of her small income was spent for heat. Although a number of friends sent help, parcels for her often failed to arrive and the exchange rate fluctuated so dramatically that she often lost funds intended for her support. In 1947 she wrote to her niece: “...I had a letter this week from Haifa, and as I am told to persevere and keep on working I can turn a deaf ear to certain friends, who think I should go back where I came from just because I have turned 80; I tell them that I never suffer in anticipation of what may come. It is the most foolish of all worries. ...”

In 1948 Shoghi Effendi wrote to the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. through his secretary: “He (Shoghi Effendi) feels that the spirit of Marion Jack, her evident desire to stay with the community she loves so dearly and has fostered through thick and thin, reflects glory not only on the North American community but on the entire Faith. “She should be left free to remain in Bulgaria, and your Assembly should see to it that she receives a sufficient income to end her life in peace and with no more hardships to be endured. She is a heroic soul, the finest example of the pioneer spirit which we have anywhere in the world, and the Guardian feels deeply indebted to her, and loves her very dearly.”

Despite her confident outlook, she did long to see more of her family and to deepen her understanding of the Faith. By 1951, walking had become difficult for her and she was no longer able to get out about the city as she loved to do. She was by then unable to get even to the post office without great pain. In 1953 she wrote: “...Thanks be to God I am so much better and the M.D.’s are quite amazed, but they need not be as the Bahá’í family all over have been praying for my health. ...”

During the last months of her life she was bedridden and suffered greatly, but her worry was for those who cared for her. A friend who visited her in her last illness wrote: “...I feel she is better in her self, but that at 87, she will not have the strength to get up again. She does not say very much at least when I go to see her—just smiles and likes to hold my hand. ...She does sleep a lot and when awake seems to be already in another world. ...”

Marion Jack died on March 27, 1954, at age 87, and was buried in the British Military Cemetery in Sofia.

“Young or old could never find a more inspiring pioneer in whose footsteps to walk than this wonderful soul. ...He thinks that every Bahá’í and most particularly those who have left their homes and gone to serve in foreign fields, should know of, and turn their gaze to Marion Jack.” (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the European Teaching Committee in May 1954, published in Bahá’í News, August 1954)

Service Corps volunteers, youth pioneers are needed

Veteran Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteers, youth pioneers, and Army of Light participants are urgently needed to help raise up and prepare increasing numbers of youth pioneers and traveling teachers.

If you have served in one of the ways mentioned above during the last 10 years, would you be willing to help:

__ tell youth about service opportunities at a booth during the “Army of Light Boot Camp: National Conference for Preparing the Soldiers” in December?

__ draft articles on a variety of topics related to youth service for The Banner, The American Bahá’í, or Be Magazine?

__ co-facilitate a training institute for Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteers in your area or at one of the Bahá’í schools?

__ serve as a regional contact person for youth interested in service in the U.S. or abroad?

__ speak about the urgency for and rewards of youth service, teaching or pioneering?

__ help the Office of Pioneering and the National Teaching Office in other ways to ‎raise and and raise and‎ prepare youth for service?

__ think of other ways to raise up or prepare youth for service? Some ideas I have are _________________________________________________________________

Please check off one or more items above and mail or fax this form to the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Fax 708-733-3509 or phone 708-733-3511.

Recruiting teachers for overseas jobs has begun

Following is a schedule of recruitment fairs:

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS SERVICE (ISS) February 2-5, 1995—Boston, MA February 16-19, 1995—New Orleans, LA June 23-25, 1995—Philadelphia, PA Registration deadline for the February fairs is December 15. Contact ISS, Educational Staffing Program, P.O. Box 5910, Princeton, NJ 08543 (phone 609-452-0990; fax 609-452-2690).

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY February 3-5, 1995—Columbus, OH Deadline to sign up is January 13. Contact OSU, Student Academic and Career Center, 110 Alps Hall, 1945 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43210-1172 (phone 614-292-2741; fax 614-292-4547).

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA February 10-12, 1995—Cedar Falls, IA Contact Overseas Placement Service for Educators, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0390 (phone 319-273-2311; fax 319-273-6998).

U.S. Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS) For an application, contact Department of Defense, Office of Dependent Schools, Hoffman Building I, 2461 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA 22331 (phone 703-696-3065).

Other recruiters for Primary and Secondary Teachers/Administrators:

ANTILLES CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL SYSTEM (ACSS), an independent recruitment service maintained by U. S. government schools at military facilities in Puerto Rico. Contact ACSS/F, U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Road, PSC 1008, Box 3200, FPO AA 34051 (phone 809-865-34051). [Page 5]

Community sees giving double, spirits soar

Feast attendance was low in one Midwestern community, and so were contributions to the Funds. Many things were going on, but in general the spirit of this large, veteran community seemed to be at a low ebb.

The Assembly took these conditions under serious consideration. Their recently elected treasurer had been struck by the ideas discussed at an Area Development Seminar he had attended some months before, where the discussion had centered on ways to plan for the involvement of the friends in every aspect of the community’s life.

These ideas combined with others brought forward in consultation produced a plan of action: to promote spiritual meetings in every neighborhood; increase the flow of news and information to the friends; and work hard to dispel feelings of distance or alienation.

Assembly members and assistants to the Auxiliary Board actively sought out members of the community, building relationships, having a good time, sharing news, asking (and answering!) questions about local and national programs, how the money is spent—all kinds of things.

By the midpoint of the year, remarkable changes had taken place. Nearly a dozen neighborhood meetings are held at least every two weeks, in addition to the city-wide Feast; there is one of these gatherings within a five-minute drive of every Bahá’í in town.

The friends come together, pray together, and generally enjoy each other’s company. Believers who haven’t come around in years are now regulars, and EVERYONE is happy about that. Even better, there has been a spate of new believers, a dozen within the last month!

And contributions? A good month used to be $3,000; last month’s total was $6,000!

Not big money; simply many modest offerings by people who hadn’t given in some time.

There was a good percentage of giving to the National Fund and the local Fund, too, which hadn’t been the case just a short time ago.

When the friends learned, however, that the U.S. community is the largest supporter of the work in Haifa, that there were also important programs under way nationally, and that money given locally or nationally could be used faster for the work of the Faith instead of being stalled in the international banking system, the flow of funds began to change.

Involvement has been the key, and an emphasis on spiritual sustenance. Trust the institutions. Bring the Creative Word close to the friends, create ways for the believers to come together, and watch what happens!

Arc giving rises; National Fund deficit grows

Figures listed in the accompanying graphic disclose a remarkable increase in giving to the Arc Projects Fund: more than double the amount given last year at the same time.

This growth has propelled a 20 percent increase in total contributions for the first half of the year. The American community has thus contributed nearly $5.5 million to the Arc Projects since the start of the Three Year Plan.

Unrestricted contributions to the Bahá’í National Fund, however, are up only 6 percent, reflecting notable declines during the summer months.

This seasonal drop took place at the same time that critical capital improvements were being implemented at the House of Worship and Green Acre. The result has been a major cash shortage at the national level.

These trends have prompted a careful review of the national budget, with the prospect that a number of programs and planned expenses would be curtailed or cut.

“This is a classic good news/bad news situation,” said one Treasury staff person. “The friends have made a real effort to respond to the call of the Universal House of Justice for an increase in the flow of funds to the Arc Projects.

“This has come, however, somewhat at the expense of the National Fund, to a degree that has placed significant pressure on the plans and programs of the National Spiritual Assembly.

“The plain fact is that all the work needs to be done, and the resources are being stretched very thin right now.

“We suspect that an analysis of giving we’re now doing will indicate that there has been some increase in the number of believers who are giving, but that much of the increase has come from a core group of dear friends who are making really heroic efforts. There are many friends who do not appear to be giving, and large gifts are scarce so far this year.”

Steps to think about include:

• efforts by local Assemblies and individuals to bring back to active involvement friends who have distanced themselves from their communities;
• ensuring that local Assembly goals for the National Fund are met;
• promoting the Automatic Contribution System at the local level; and
• redoubling teaching efforts to ensure a steady stream of new believers.

“This is a spiritual process,” the staffer indicated. “Information can help the friends make their decisions about which fund to support, but the love of Bahá’u’lláh will help them find lasting solutions.”

CONTRIBUTIONS	1993-94	1994-95	% change
International Bahá’í Fund	$411,830	$235,401	-43
National Bahá’í Fund	4,283,886	4,553,681	6
Arc Projects Fund	1,082,416	2,286,156	111
Continental Bahá’í Fund	155,030	101,125	-35
Other Earmarked	203,051	210,136	3
Total	$6,136,213	$7,386,499	20

Huqúq bounty

How is Huqúqu’lláh to be paid? Here’s one believer’s answer: “I felt so good about that payment, the very first I made, I don’t know what got into me, but I kissed the envelope before I put it in the mailbox. When I got home, my husband told me we had just received a tax refund, and you know, it was for a little more than the payment I had just sent!”

Bank congratulates National Assembly on Faith centenary

Members of the National Spiritual Assembly and National Center staff were invited recently to a luncheon in honor of the Faith’s centenary in the West, hosted by the chairman and senior managers of the Northern Trust Company of Chicago.

David W. Fox, chairman of the bank’s board of directors, noted with evident pride that for more than 70 of those 100 years, the National Assembly has done business with the Northern Trust.

“There have been good times and hard times,” Mr. Fox said, “but the relationship between us has ... through it all.”

Mr. Fox presented Robert Henderson, secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly, a beautiful crystal sculpture emblazoned with a nine-pointed star and the Bahá’í ringstone symbol, in commemoration of the event.

Dr. Henderson, after explaining to bank officials the meaning of the ringstone symbol, went on to say that relationships such as that with the bank, which dates to the opening of an account by the Hand of the Cause of God Corinne True in the name of the Bahá’í Temple Unity, are expressions of the highest principles of integrity, mutual trust and service, all key aspects of the Bahá’í teachings. [Page 6]

SALE

Bahá’í Faith in America Vol. 1 A candid, detailed study of the introduction of the Bahá’í Faith to the Occident in 1892 and its development during its first eight years in North America. Appropriate for non-Bahá’ís as well as Bahá’ís, the book helps to provide sound knowledge of religious history, which Shoghi Effendi says is of great help in teaching the Cause to intelligent people. HARDCOVER ONLY—$2.50#

Bahá’u’lláh Statement An introduction to the life and work of Bahá’u’lláh, conveying His vision of the oneness of humanity and offering a perspective on the feeling of confidence with which Bahá’ís view the future of our planet and our race. Published in preparation for the centenary anniversary of Bahá’u’lláh’s passing and the inauguration of His Covenant, the book will aid Bahá’ís in their efforts to achieve the widest possible proclamation of the Name of Bahá’u’lláh. HARDCOVER ONLY— $2.25#

Centers of Bahá’í Learning This booklet sets out the objectives and principles underlying Bahá’í schools and teaching institutes. Shoghi Effendi has stressed that Bahá’í schools are an inseparable part of any teaching campaign and that attending them is the best preparation for all prospective Bahá’í teachers. The compilation contains information that will deepen one’s understanding of and motivation to attend Bahá’í schools and institutes. SOFTCOVER ONLY—$.50#

From Strength to Strength A concise account of the worldwide spread of the Bahá’í Faith and the development of its Administrative Order. The Universal House of Justice has encouraged Bahá’ís to study this important period in the history of the Cause to prepare for opposition to the Faith. It will inspire greater zeal in contributing to the current teaching plans. SOFTCOVER ONLY—$.50#

Peace: More Than an End to War This is a comprehensive compilation of the Bahá’í writings on peace. Prepared to make widely known the Bahá’í texts on which the peace statement is based, it provides a resource for deepening on the peace statement, for preparing talks on Bahá’u’lláh’s plan for achieving peace and reordering society, and for conveying the contents of The Promise of World Peace to all people. SOFTCOVER ONLY—$2.25#

The Power of Unity A work created to help American Bahá’ís free themselves from racial prejudice and to fulfill the purpose of the Bahá’í Faith by achieving unity in diversity. The book calls for the protection, cultivation, and assimilation of all minorities in the Faith, as well as the unification of all humanity, which Shoghi Effendi called the most vital and challenging issue facing American Bahá’ís. SOFTCOVER ONLY—$1.50#

Special World Congress Commemorative Item!

Call to Remembrance A compilation of extracts primarily from Bahá’u’lláh’s writings telling the story of major events in His life and ministry, from His extraordinary childhood and youth to His ascension and the inauguration of His Covenant. Brief explanatory passages provide context for the extracts. The book was published to commemorate the centenary of Bahá’u’lláh’s ascension. Appropriate for both seekers and Bahá’ís.

6-1/4" x 9-1/4", 308pp., contents, preface, references, events in the life of Bahá’u’lláh, glossary, bibliography Bahá’í Publishing Trust - United States HARDCOVER ONLY—$10.00#

Youth In the Vanguard The story of the first Bahá’í student at the University of California at Berkeley (1920) and at Stanford University (1923), and of the Bahá’ís in the San Francisco Bay area. The narrative includes accounts of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s 1912 visits to those universities, and shares stories of the work of some early Bahá’ís. The book provides inspiration, encouragement, and practical advice for Bahá’ís involved in teaching the Faith to academics. HARDCOVER ONLY— $1.50#

Transform My Spirit A selection of 20 of the prayers of Bahá’u’lláh in English, Spanish, and French. The book was compiled especially for the Holy Year to help Bahá’ís recommit themselves to Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant, rededicate themselves to duty, and revitalize their energy for teaching. An excellent resource for personal devotions and an appropriate gift for seekers. SOFTCOVER ONLY—$3.50

Order Now by Calling 1-800-999-9019

[Page 7]

Distribution

Songs of the Ancient Beauty Vol. II conducted by Tom Price CD $17.00# CS $11.95#

Since its release in 1992, Songs of the Ancient Beauty has become one of the most popular recordings in Bahá’í history. Volume II contains an entirely new collection of a cappella (unaccompanied) choral music set to the writings of the faith. The recording contains an outstanding collection of music in English, Persian, French, Arabic, and Hindi by such composers as Ravi Shankar, Graham Major, Tom Price, Niki Manavi and others. The professional quality of this recording makes it suitable for radio broadcasts and other proclamation purposes as well as for feasts, holy days, and other Bahá’í gatherings. One of the finest Bahá’í recordings available today.

50 min. Global Music Inc.

New Videotape on the Arc and the Terraces Projects on Mount Carmel

“Within the heart of this planet lies the ‘Most Holy Land,’ acclaimed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as ‘the Nest of the Prophets’ ... Within this Most Holy Land rises the Mountain of God of immemorial sanctity, the Vineyard of the Lord ...”

Vineyard of the Lord A Perspective on Four Years of Developments of the Projects of the Arc and Terraces on Mount Carmel VT NTSC (U.S. VERSION) $23.00 VT PAL $25.00 VT SECAM $25.00

Vineyard of the Lord brings alive the exciting developments taking place in the very heart of God’s Holy Mountain, from the commencement of the projects of the Arc and Terraces in 1990 until the present time. It contains valuable, detailed, and current information on the designs and the construction of the projects. It includes interviews with Mr. Husayn Amanat, architect of the Arc buildings, and Mr. Fariburz Sahba, designer of the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb. Vineyard of the Lord is beautifully packaged with a full-color jacket and hard case. Please specify desired format when ordering.

45 minutes The Universal House of Justice

Life, Death, and Immortality The Journey of the Soul SC $10.95

Is there life after death? What is the purpose of earthly existence? What is true happiness? How will my actions in this life affect me in the next life? What will it be like after I die? These and many other fascinating questions are explored in Life, Death, and Immortality, a collection of Bahá’í sacred writings that examines the nature of the soul and its development.

5-1/2" x 8-1/2", 193pp, contents, foreword, references Bahá’í Publishing Trust - U.S.

OVER 5,000 COPIES SOLD

Marrying Smart A Practical Guide for Attracting Your Mate by Kalyn Wolf Gibbens SC $10.95

In Marrying Smart, the author asks readers to investigate and take action on various aspects of the mating game. Readers will ask themselves why they want to get married, declare their wedding date, begin to create their future by taking responsibility for their past, discover the qualities they bring to a relationship, find the trust it takes to have faith in the universe, and marry smart. Intended primarily for an adult, non-Bahá’í audience, the book offers frank, no-nonsense advice about preparing for marriage. Not recommended for youth.

5-1/2" x 8-1/2", 117pp., contents, foreword, suggested reading, index Just Your Type ‎Publlshing Publishing‎ & Marketing

AUH_

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Bahá’í Distribution Service • 5397 Wilbanks Dr., Hixson, TN 37343 • 1-800-999-9019 • Fax: 1-615-843-0836 • Internet: [Page 8]

Classifieds

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 has an immediate opening for a Youth Service Corps worker. We will accept applicants who wish to serve from three months up to a year or more for their room and board. Applicants must have their own medical coverage, if possible. Work at the school includes maintenance, food services, work in the Bookshop/Café or training to conduct children’s classes. Please contact the school by phone (408-423-3387) or fax (408-423-7564).

THE LOUHELEN Bookstore Cafe and Twin Oaks Dining Room are new additions to the operation of the Louhelen Bahá’í School. Both offer improved service to those attending sessions at the school as well as to members of the general public. More volunteer staff are needed for these two operations. In particular, mature youth or adults are sought who are pursuing training or have career experience in the restaurant or hotel industries or other food service/hospitality-related professions. The possibility of internships exists for students who would wish to explore such options. While no cash stipends are available, full room and board are offered for those accepted to serve. Length of service is flexible, with service opportunities ranging from a few weeks to a year or more. For an application, contact Mrs. Penny Schmicker, volunteer services manager, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. Phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-8850; INTERNET

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

Employment opportunities overseas. AFRICA: Tanzania—English/ESL teacher. AMERICAS: Belize—assistant manager/operations manager-comptroller at resort lodge; tutor. Chile—elementary school teachers. Haiti—project manager needed by CARE for Improved Stoves and Fuel Substitution project. Venezuela—computer industry. ASIA: Japan—teachers. EUROPE: Czech Republic—teachers. MULTI-REGIONAL: nurses, family therapists, psychologists, social workers needed for U.S. Air Force Domestic Violence Prevention programs; associate Peace Corps directors for small enterprise development in Poland, Vladivostok and Ukraine; assistant director for maternal & child health programs. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091 (phone 708-733-3512; fax 708-733-3509).

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

STUDENTS of all ages: consider attending Sinte Gleska University in Rosebud, South Dakota, and help form a Bahá’í student organization. Sinte Gleska (named after Spotted Tail, the last great chief of the Rosebud people), is a well-respected tribal university offering associate and B.A. degrees and a MEd. Students from all over the area (and from other countries) attend the school where those from many ethnic backgrounds enjoy learning in an atmosphere of tolerance and encouragement. This may be your chance to become part of a community where interracial reconciliation is a topic of interest. For information, please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Rosebud, c/o Virginia Hoefler, secretary, P.O. Box 557, Rosebud, SD 57570.

HOMEFRONT pioneers wanted in Roxbury, Connecticut. Roxbury (pop. 1,800) is an hour and a half from New York City. Homes are available for $200,000 and up, and many New Yorkers own “country” or “weekend” homes there. For more information, please phone Owen or Shar Gardella, 203-354-0103.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are welcome in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where a small but active Group of three adults and two youth serves a community of 15,000-plus in and around the city, situated in north-central Minnesota amid lakes and forests. Grand Rapids (birthplace of Judy Garland) is noted as a regional center for tourism, retail trades, printing and paper manufacturing. Close to Indian Reservations. For information, write to the Bahá’í Group of Grand Rapids, Box 29, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 (phone 218-327-0319).

RETIREES are needed as homefront pioneers in Del Webb’s Sun City and Sun City West, Arizona. Enjoy life at moderate living expense while pioneering for Bahá’u’lláh: golfing, swimming, bowling, shuffleboard, exercise classes, arts and crafts, computer classes, indoor track and many other amenities as well as “handi-capable activities and classes” and miniature golf for grandchildren. Easy to make new friends and spread the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. Beautiful facilities: new homes, condos, also resale condos and homes at moderate prices. For information, phone Belle Alley, secretary, Bahá’í Group of Sun City, 602-214-0449, or write to __________, Sun City West, AZ 85375. We have seven in our Group; retirees are needed (ages over 55). Truly an outstanding retirement community with great possibilities for teaching the Faith to senior citizens who need desperately to hear Bahá’u’lláh’s Message.

YOU ARE INVITED to come and live in Lake Charles, Louisiana, whose small but diverse Bahá’í community is seeking to establish a Spiritual Assembly as a goal area of the Three Year Plan. We welcome families and their children, singles, those who are working or retired. For students and teachers, there is McNeese State University and Sowela Technical Institute; for physicians, nurses and other health care providers, there are several medical centers. Lake Charles is also a center of the petrochemical industry and is an entrepreneurial paradise. Lake Charles is a family-centered community, influenced by its Cajun heritage, with hot summers and mild winters (like Haifa). For loving support for your move, please phone 318-625-5200 or write to the Bahá’í Group of Lake Charles, P.O. Box 1374, Lake Charles, LA 70601-1374.

THE SPIRITUAL Assembly of Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, strongly encourages Bahá’í students who are in their senior year of high school to consider applying to Bryn Mawr, Haverford or Swarthmore Colleges for undergraduate education. These three splendid liberal arts colleges are located in the beautiful suburbs of Philadelphia with active, loving and supportive Bahá’í communities and efficient and functioning Bahá’í College Clubs. For more information, phone Gity Etemad, 215-527-3114 after 7 p.m. Eastern time.

HELP WANTED in the NATIONAL TEACHING OFFICE The office of the National Teaching Committee has been restructured in light of the present needs of the Faith. As a result, applications are being accepted for the following full-time position: Communications and Development Administrator Responsible for the communications and development agenda of the National Teaching Committee. Some duties include: Develops news and messages to the American Bahá’í community for use in print and audio/visual media. Facilitates the production of teaching and deepening materials. Gathers and analyzes information related to the teaching work. Experience: Professional background in writing and production for the media; superior writing skills; comprehensive knowledge of the Bahá’í Writings; proven ability in research and data analysis; ability to coordinate the work of volunteer task forces; excellent interpersonal skills. For more information or to apply, please write to the Office of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-733-3427).

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: Elizabeth F. Walker (died Nashville, TN, 1967), M. Rita Wallace (died Denver, CO, 1977), Harry E. Walrath (died Leesport, PA, 1956), Irma Marie Ward, N.F. Ward, Pearl Ward, Joseph J. Warley, and Frank Warner (died Loudonville, OH, 1954). 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 would like to hear from librarians who have experience with the following library computer software: Follett Catalog & Circulation Plus, Inmagic, Lexifile, Surpass/2, Sydney and Winnebago. The Archives is evaluating software for the National Bahá’í Reference Library. Please contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-869-9039).

WANTED

GARDEN OF RIDVÁN: Bahá’í artist seeks extensive photo coverage of the inspiring Garden of Ridván where Bahá’u’lláh sat under the mulberry tree (see p. 101 of Door of Hope by Dr. David Ruhe). Artist needs images for a new painting, “Garden of Bahá’u’lláh.” Will make duplicates of your photographs and return them promptly in good condition. Send photos to Wildbank Studios, P.O. Box 219, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 (fax 516-722-5714).

RED GRAMMER is undertaking a recording project (sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Beacon, New York) and is looking for original songs with Bahá’í themes written by children (ages 14 years and under). Please send your name, age, address and telephone number with a (non-returnable) cassette recording of your song and lyric sheet to Laurie Early, c/o BIC, Suite 120, 866 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017.

TEACHERS: we need a capable, qualified and inspired person (or persons) to maintain a regular, ongoing (daily if possible) Bahá’í children’s class. Prefer someone who is early childhood-certified with exceptional educational experience. Teaching positions in the Todd County School District and at the St. Francis Indian School do exist. There is also an excellent opportunity for resourceful individuals to begin a pre-school, Montessori school or day-care center, as none of these services is available in our community. There is a need and a demand for child-care services here. If you feel compelled to respond, please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Rosebud, c/o Virginia Hoefler, secretary, P.O. Box 557, Rosebud, SD 57570.

YOUTH

ATTENTION youth ages 18-25: want to take a semester break from college? There are immediate openings for dancers with the Diversity Dance Workshop, a performing arts program using dance as a powerful tool to address such serious social problems as violence, racism, poverty and drug and alcohol abuse. Opportunity to tour schools throughout the Pacific Northwest and California with summer tours to Europe. Youth of all ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. If interested in obtaining more information or in finding out how to apply for the project, contact Anna Powers, director, 206-391-3303.

ITEMS AVAILABLE

“INTONE, O My servant,” a 43-minute inspirational cassette tape, is available to add another dimension to your personal meditation. Submerse yourself in the ocean of the Creative Word; expand your melodic repertoire; calm and soothe your children at bedtime; make your daily commute spiritually uplifting; or give an inspirational gift to your non-Bahá’í friends. This cassette of Bahá’í prayers and writings sung by Ladjamaya to original music by Lekan is a fund-raising effort of the Spiritual Assembly of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, for the Arc Project. Each cassette is $11. Please send your name, address (please print) and check or money order payable to the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Glenwood Springs, P.O. Box 491, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602.

MISCELLANEOUS

ATTENTION all former Nashville (Tennessee) Bahá’ís—the Spiritual Assembly of Nashville celebrates its 60th anniversary in 1995. We are one of the many communities in the South that were brought into being through the efforts of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory. Plans are under way for a summer “homecoming” celebration, date to be announced, and we are looking for anyone and everyone who has ever been a part of the Bahá’í community of Nashville. Let us know where you are! We want to record your Nashville experiences and to invite you to attend this special celebration. For more information, contact Joyce Jackson, ___________, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 (phone 615-758-3336).

SYLVIA Jenkins of Evanston, Illinois, has a surplus of Bahá’í books and pamphlets. For a listing of what is available, write to her at _____________, Evanston, IL 60201-3276. [Page 9]

511 new Bahá’ís enrolled in Bolivia campaign

A national teaching campaign was held August 25-September 1 in the Chuquisaca area of Bolivia, in accordance with a goal of the Three Year Plan. More than 80 Bahá’ís including members of the National Spiritual Assembly and the Auxiliary Board took part in the campaign, as a result of which 511 new Bahá’ís were enrolled and 10 new localities opened, among which were two entire communities that accepted the Faith.

A successful traditional teaching campaign was held August 20-21 at Marangis village, Kar Kar Island, Papua New Guinea, with the Faith proclaimed to 36 chiefs and more than 350 people at a Bahá’í-sponsored conference. The gathering was opened by the Bahá’ís of Marangis and Mom who welcomed the visitors with a traditional dance, after which the Bahá’í youth from Keng sang a song written in honor of the teaching campaign. Among the topics addressed at the gathering were the history of the Faith; culture, religion and tradition; and Bahá’í administration. According to a report, “One of the invited chiefs, Girager Mano, was interviewed [by a Bahá’í] and said now he knows what the real teachings of God are through the Bahá’ís, and said he would go back home and see or talk to his people...and discuss what he had heard.” Many others responded positively to the Message of Bahá’u’lláh including 93 who were enrolled as new Bahá’ís.

With the help of Mrs. Nina Gordon, Bahá’í youth on a year of service program in Venezuela carried out a teaching campaign in Barquisimeto, supported by the Bahá’ís in the town. As a result of their efforts, 40 people were enrolled in the Faith.

More than 200 people took part in early September in the second Regional Teaching Conference held in Tbilisi, Georgia, in the former Soviet Union. Among those who lent their support were Abbas Katirai, a member of the Continental Board of Counselors; a member of the Regional Spiritual Assembly; and three members of the Auxiliary Board. Ten communities from Georgia were represented along with Bahá’ís from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Spain and Tajikistan. During the conference, Georgian television broadcast a one-hour program on the Faith that included segments on its history and interviews with a Bahá’í from Georgia and a family of pioneers. Nine people declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh during the conference.

From August 28-September 4, about 115 Bahá’ís gathered at the Bahá’í summer school in Tekirova, Antalya, Turkey. “Two members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Azerbaijan, along with the assistant head of the Religious Department of that country, attended the last two days of the school as our guests,” reads the message from the school. Also taking part were Dr. Ilhan Sezgin, a member of the Continental Board of Counselors; five members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Turkey; and members of the Auxiliary Board. Among the topics explored were the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh and the statement, “Promoting Entry by Troops.” As a result of a teaching campaign held during the summer school, a majority of townspeople heard about the Faith and 10 people declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

In the Philippines, the Muhájir Bahá’í Institute recently held its first graduation ceremony. Pictured with their teachers are members of the Institute’s first graduating class.

Meanwhile, a group of 16 Bahá’ís from Turkey traveled to the Republic of Moldova after the “Shaping Europe” Conference in Bucharest, Romania, and helped enroll 25 people under the Banner of Bahá’u’lláh. Throughout their trip, the friends gave introductory pamphlets on the Faith to customs officials at the borders of the countries they crossed—Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Turkey.

A recent week-long teaching campaign in Szczecin, Poland, resulted in the enrollment of 15 new Bahá’ís. The teaching teams—composed of believers from England, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland and the U.S.—distributed more than 3,000 Bahá’í pamphlets, invited people to firesides, and held a Bahá’í exhibition. They also contacted the city’s mayor, who was impressed by the teachings of the Faith and enthusiastically offered his support. The campaign received considerable media attention including one two-hour radio broadcast on the Faith.

Seventy Bahá’ís from 12 countries took part in this year’s summer school in Rijeka, Croatia. Topics for discussion included the transformation of individuals and communities. As a result of intensive teaching and proclamation activities in connection with the school, two people embraced the Cause.

URANIA, an organization based in Austria that helps shape public opinion by providing courses and seminars, has decided, on its own accord, to hold a course on the Bahá’í Faith. The four-part course will focus on the nature and history of the Faith as the youngest of the world’s major religions. “The Spiritual Assembly of Graz has been invited to participate in arranging the seminar program. Two Bahá’ís will thus speak on one evening each,” says the report. The other two lectures will be given by Prof. Hutter, a member of the Faculty of Religious Studies at the University of Graz who has written a book about the Faith and conducted a seminar on Bahá’í themes.

On May 26 Dr. Jona Bos, the newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ethiopia, was officially received by the National Spiritual Assembly of Ethiopia at the National Center. The visit was held in a festive spirit, with six members of the National Assembly greeting the Ambassador in a gaily decorated National Center. During the hour-long discussion, Dr. Bos asked questions about the history of the Faith, its basic tenets and its relationship to other religions.

To honor the 150th anniversary of the Faith, a Bahá’í in Lund, Sweden, presented a video series in May at the Department of Theology of Lund University. The believer also created an exhibit entitled “Bahá’í—150 Years” which was displayed through the summer months at the university. Among those who saw it were the department’s lecturers and students, and participants from various parts of the world who came to Lund to attend the European Congress of the Psychology of Religion.

1st all-S.E. Asian Assembly elected in Yuba County, CA

In September, the Bahá’í community of Yuba County, California, elected the first all-Southeast Asian local Spiritual Assembly in the U.S.

The Assembly, known formally as the Spiritual Assembly of the Yuba County Municipal Court ‎Distict District‎, includes three Hmong women and six Hmong men.

The Sacramento area has the largest number of Hmong Bahá’ís in the country, and its extension teaching and consolidation efforts were instrumental in achieving this milestone for the country’s Southeast Asian Bahá’í community.

10th annual Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Parade and March of Celebration Atlanta, Georgia

Once again, the Bahá’ís of Atlanta will be taking part in the many events of King Week. Please join us to proclaim the glorious Name of Bahá’u’lláh to those in Atlanta and around the world.

Parade: Saturday, January 14. There will be a Bahá’í float; TBS will telecast nationally and worldwide.

Multicultural prayers around the world: Sunday, January 15. Planned by the Bahá’ís and held in Freedom Hall at the King Center to commemorate World Religion Day.

March of celebration: Monday, January 16. Robert C. Henderson, secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly, will be one of the co-Grand Marshals, and we will march with hundreds of fellow Bahá’ís to demonstrate on a massive scale our commitment to the oneness of humanity.

The Bahá’ís of Atlanta are planning many other teaching and proclamation events in mid-January. For more information, please write to Paulette Trail, —————————— Powder Springs, GA 30073, or phone 404-426-7713. [Page 10]

Clues for Leaders from the pages of Brilliant Star.

Unscramble these leadership clues to decode the puzzle at the bottom of the page. You will find the clues hidden on pages in this magazine.

TUCJEIS — — — — — — — 12 2

LSSEESFL VEOTIDNO — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 25 28 11

YOTLAYL — — — — — — — 3

MIDSOW — — — — — — 4

RAEC REOM TUBOA SOHRET — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 6 23 22 21

VEOL CANHIGET — — — — — — — — — — — — 14 26

BEMUHL VREISEC — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 9

DANSUTNIGNRED — — — — — — — — — — — — — 20 19 10

FEBIEL — — — — — — 16

DGOO DONICETAU — — — — — — — — — — — — — 5 8 27 15

TIERAPCC LOTUNCANOTSI — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 24 17 7 18

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
													Z

16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28

Reprinted from Brilliant Star, Leadership, September-October 1993

Order Now!

September-October 1994

Putting the Vision into Action!

Children’s teaching Goals and Activities around the country and around the world!

Purchase Single Issues, Back Issues, Special Editions and Bulk Orders from Bahá’í Distribution Service:

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Issues Available

Putting the Vision into Action! SO 94

Starship: Life of the Báb JA 94

Courage MA 94

Families JF 94

My Part of the Plan ‎ND 9 ND 93‎

Being Leaders SO 93

The Role of Women JA 93

Life’s Journey: Purpose of Life MJ 93

From Racism to Unity MA 93

The Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ND 92

The 1992 World Congress SO 92

Bahá’u’lláh Special Edition 1991

The Covenant Special edition 1992

The Kitáb-i-Aqdas Special Edition 1993

From Gnats to Eagles Special Edition 1994

Kirigami Star

by Meg Anderson ©1994

Each small action makes a bigger difference when you have a plan. Kirigami is a Japanese art form. Kirigami means “cutting paper.” Make a kirigami sea star by following a plan.

1. Fold an 8 1/2" by 11" piece of paper in half. With the fold toward you, corner A is lower left and corner B is lower right.

2. Fold corner B to the middle of side A.

3. Fold up corner A along the folded side B.

4. Fold under side C to match side B.

5. Mark a line from half way down side A to corner B and cut all the way across. Discard the top part of your paper.

6. Unfold your paper. Fold the longer folds toward you and the short folds away. Now your starfish is finished. Decorate it as you like.

Each of your actions was just a fold or a cut. Was each action important? What would happen if one step was left out? For any plan, each step is important. Each action you take will help you reach your goal. ★

Reprinted from Brilliant Star, Putting the Vision into Action!, September-October 1994

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Make check out and mail to: Bahá’í Subscriber Service Bahá’í National Center Wilmette, IL 60091 1-708-733-3453 [Page 11]

Perspectives shared in Cairo with other NGOs

Continued from page 1

justice, harmony and peace among them, the publication said.

The document also dovetailed with Bahá’í teachings that abortion should never be used as a form of family planning or contraception. Rather, it is a last resort a person or family can consider to protect the physical health of the mother, or, as in cases of rape or incest, where there is great psychological risk.

At this point in humanity’s evolution, Dr. Bowen noted, Bahá’í principle calls upon a couple and their physician to consult in a reverent atmosphere as to whether the procedure is necessary or appropriate.

“We’re given the guidelines and the spirit in which they should be addressed,” she said. “We’re given the flexibility to use the best available medical advice and our own conscience, with the clear understanding that we answer to God.”

Although having children is a primary purpose of marriage, and using birth control to avoid having any children at all is unacceptable, the question of how many children to have is left to the family at this time, she continued.

In our choice of planning methods, though, we are asked to avoid anything that causes permanent sterilization. Dr. Bowen said that point is especially important in the light of several governments’ avowed intention to use sterilization as their primary means of controlling rising birth rates.

Likewise, Bahá’ís are not permitted to use any form of birth control that causes the abortion of a fertilized ovum, she noted. Rather, “except in those very special, very delicate circumstances,” we must use those that prevent conception.

At Cairo, Dr. Bowen shared these Bahá’í perspectives in workshops with representatives of other religious non-governmental organizations (NGOs). They were primarily Muslim, but also Buddhist, Christian and American Indian.

Where there are qualifications, they were clearly put forth, she said. And the evolutionary nature of Bahá’í law was explained.

This ability to state squarely a Bahá’í position based on the Writings was in sharp contrast to other faiths’ presentations, she said. Some “never once mentioned the word woman, much less population, abortion, contraception or family planning—and that was the topic they were asked to address.”

She said audience members were pleased to hear that the Bahá’í teachings are perfectly clear about chastity before marriage and fidelity within marriage.

This appealed in particular, she said, to the many Egyptian youth present, “who receive so many competing images from the Western media in their country.”

The Bahá’í representatives had many opportunities during the conference to speak informally with other participants.

On one long bus ride back to the hotel, a physician from Honduras saw Dr. Bowen’s name tag and told her he knows many Bahá’ís, especially those affiliated with Project Bayan, a Bahá’í-sponsored economic development project in that country.

The physician went on to say that ‎Bahá’í is Bahá’ís‎ need to become more prominent at gatherings such as the Cairo conference. After all, he told her, it should be obvious that only the Bahá’í principles will bring peace.

He suggested that Bahá’ís offer orientation in those principles before major conferences so the delegates may proceed in the proper spirit.

During another bus ride, a young Arab woman sat beside Dr. Bowen. On a previous day she had spoken with Mr. Arturo and was delighted that he could converse with her in her language, so she brought along a lovely copy of the Qu’ran to present to him. Dr. Bowen accepted it graciously.

The woman spent the next hour asking questions about the Faith, finally acknowledging that she agrees with everything for which it stands.

Participation in Cairo also gave the Bahá’í an opportunity to place materials in the hands of many opinion leaders, including the media. A Bahá’í International Community statement on world citizenship, for example, was picked up by about 1,000 attendees.

But the highlight for Bahá’í representatives was perhaps the massive interfaith worship service held in a large covered stadium.

This event, an unusual phenomenon for Egypt that took 20 hours to arrange, opened with the Muslim Call to Prayer.

As media representatives jostled for camera angles, though, tensions arose that threatened to plunge the event into violence. It didn’t help that the sound system malfunctioned soon thereafter.

In this atmosphere, Dr. Bowen took the stage. She realized it was incumbent upon her to restore a feeling of reverence and security to the gathering.

Thankfully, at that point the sound system—and the media cameras—returned and Dr. Bowen started to pray, in Arabic and in English. Peace again reigned.

Many youth approached the Bahá’ís afterward to talk about the Faith. A female reporter for the leading women’s magazine in the Arab world also conducted a two-hour interview with them.

The next day, the Bahá’ís were mentioned in the Egyptian Gazette account of the interfaith service. The Faith had not been mentioned in previous articles on the conference.

Reps given materials on women and moral development

Continued from page 1

Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri. They related with pride the successes their communities have scored in placing the message of Bahá’u’lláh before the public through newspapers, radio and television.

They expressed a need, though, for resources—such as news releases, videotapes, radio spots—and advice on using them locally.

Ms. Swanson brought along some materials the local representatives can immediately put to use. They relate specifically to two areas the Universal House of Justice wants Bahá’í communities to focus on right now: women and moral development/education.

With respect to women, the PI representatives can bring attention to the Faith’s emphasis on the partnership between women and men in striving to bring about equality of the sexes, and the Bahá’í involvement in the process leading to the United Nations’ fourth World Conference on Women to be held next September in Beijing, China.

On moral development, she said, Bahá’ís can share with the wider community how we educate our children and the trail-blazing efforts of Counselor Eloy Anello and others to redefine the concept of leadership.

Ms. Swanson also pointed to noteworthy Bahá’í efforts in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the United Nations, in creating violence-free families, and in social and economic development.

And she said perhaps the greatest story we have to tell is that of our youth. Through Bahá’í Youth Workshops and other means, they are living the example of being pure but in the world—“hip but not bad,” as she put it.

In all of our media relations, though, we must keep in mind that PI work is not teaching, cautioned Ms. Swanson. Even when a reporter exhibits great interest in publishing a story, we should not assume that he or she is a seeker.

The other side of the coin, she said, is that we must not assume the media are out to “get” us. They simply are trying to give an audience what they think the audience wants, and we can help them by supplying story angles that will pique their interest.

Achieving such rapport takes skill and effort, said Ms. Swanson. She recommended that PI representatives initiate consultation within the Bahá’í community to establish a long-range media plan and to identify the human and material resources it will require.

Part of that plan, she said, has to be a clear understanding of the PI representative’s role as exclusive media contact—just as the friends must not contact the national news media without the consent of the Office of Public Information.

The community should be aware, Ms. Swanson said, that there are definite limits to what media work can accomplish. Still, she said, such efforts will result, in the long term, in greater and more positive attention for the Faith than paid advertising would achieve.

She illustrated the point with a comparison to teaching. In a letter dated February 9, 1989, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly, it was noted:

“The International Teaching Center has concluded that the Bahá’í institutions in __________ seem to have been placing too much reliance on large, expensive projects, involving a great deal of successful public relations and proclamations.

“These are, in their own way, very useful activities, but it must be realized that they cannot be expected to produce large numbers of new believers.

“The key to the conversion of people to the Faith is the action of the individual Bahá’í conveying the spark of faith to individual seekers, answering their questions and deepening their understanding of the teachings.”

It is that kind of individual teaching opportunity that diligent media work can help bring about. [Page 12]

Vineyard of the Lord, part 6

The photograph at right, taken September 25, shows the view from above the Archives extension, which has areas specially designed to preserve the Holy Writings and relics. Below, a worker lays special material that will provide grid insulation in the Archives extension, thereby maintaining a stable temperature.

The site of the Center for the Study of the Texts/Archives extension has changed dramatically within the span of less than a year since work on the foundations of these buildings was begun. Amidst the welter of concrete, steel and stone strewn across almost 16,560 square meters (54,640 square feet), their structure is steadily beginning to rise. Work is under way on several fronts.

The Extension to the Archives Building starts at what is considered to be level one. The base walls of the strong room, which is located at this level, have been cast and covered with waterproofing material. Compacting of fill material is under way prior to casting its floor slab.

The parking building, with facilities to serve both the Center for the Study of the Texts and the Archives Extension, begins on level two. Its foundation work has been completed and the walls of a mechanical service corridor separating the parking building from the Archives Extension have been built.

It should be mentioned here that the design of the mechanical system aims at independent control of all main areas for easy maintenance and flexibility of system changes in the future uses of the buildings. Operational economy and appropriate architectural appearance in various building areas have also been considered. This has led to the provision of mechanical corridors that will provide complete access to electrical and mechanical systems without disturbing the work areas.

The Center for the Study of the Texts (CST) starts on level three. Its entire perimeter wall from this level upward to level four has been raised in concrete. The building’s columns are also beginning to go up. A shelter 200 square meters (660 square feet) to the east of the CST is under construction. On the west side, the stairway that connects the Center for the Study of the Texts, the parking building and the Archives Extension is nearing completion, and major backfilling of the 6-meter-high (19.8-foot) space adjacent to it is under way. There are four elevators in the complex—two in the Center for the Study of the Texts, and one each in the parking building and Archives Extension. Their foundations have been completed and the elevator shafts are slowly rising.

Inaugurating Phase V

In a major move toward inaugurating Phase V of the Mount Carmel Projects, letters of intent have been exchanged with the contractor, Perez G.G. Engineering, Construction and Management Company Ltd., to build the International Teaching Center.

The company has been nominated on the strength of its work on the Center for the Study of the Texts,

Foreign minister visits Arc Projects; tourism impact studied

In the wake of the recent visit of the Prime Minister of Israel to the Mount Carmel Projects comes the visit on August 4 of Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.

Mr. Peres, with an entourage of high officials, was joined by the mayor of Haifa in touring the construction site.

Earlier, the Foreign Minister was briefed about the latest developments on the projects with a slide presentation and a tour of the models at the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.

The visit is yet another indication of the significance of the Bahá’í projects for the city of Haifa and the State of Israel.

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres (center) views a model of the Terraces. At right is Project Manager Fariburz Sahba.

The view that the Shrine of the Báb will be the prime tourist attraction in Haifa when the Terraces are completed is beginning to crystallize among people in authority.

A distinguished economist from Jerusalem has been commissioned by the Haifa Economic Corporation to study the impact of the Bahá’í projects on the economy and tourism of the city, and offer recommendations about how to exploit the windfall that could accrue if tourists were induced to stay awhile in Haifa.

In this connection, the economist came to the World Center in Haifa to see the models and become better acquainted with the Bahá’í projects. He was accompanied by his assistant, the consultant, and the architect and project manager for the restoration of the German Templar colony at the base of Mount Carmel.

The conjunction of the German colony with the Terraces at the foot of Mount Carmel leading up to the Shrine of the Báb has provided a major impetus for the speedy restoration of the colony and the development of its main avenue with tourist facilities. [Page 13]Applications are invited from Civil/Structural Engineers who have the requisite academic qualifications and, preferably, some experience in supervising work on reinforced concrete buildings. A good knowledge and understanding of structural drawings for reinforced concrete buildings and the working relationships among various disciplines (architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical) would be quite useful. Please write or fax your application to:

Mount Carmel Bahá’í Projects, Project Manager’s Office, P.O. Box 155, Haifa 31 001, Israel; Fax 972(04) 358437, Phone 972(04) 358237

eliminating the long, drawn-out process of going to tender, thus saving both time and money. It is hoped that the contract documents will be formalized by the end of the year, but the foundation work is expected to start even sooner.

The Kings’ Pathway

If one were to look up from the foot of Mount Carmel toward the Shrine of the Báb, a line of stairs would be visible, rising up to meet the majestic Shrine. Inspired by the vision of the Master and the Guardian, one could visualize the kings and rulers of the earth ascending these stairs with great humility to pay homage at the Threshold of the City of God.

The central stairway that constitutes the Kings’ Pathway is now being covered with the bush-hammered Jatt stone. Laying the stone on the stairs is proceeding with meticulous care and patience. Linking each Terrace to another are three flights of stairs, each comprised of 16 steps 2.76 meters (9.1 feet) wide. At the top is an ornamental gate, and from there another short flight of six steps leads to a terrace platform. From Terraces 8 to 6 below the Shrine of the Báb, this stone work has been completed, with 172 stairs already in place.

The areas on the west side of the central stairway are being developed, and olive trees have been planted on Terraces 9 to 5. Both the east and west sides have also been taken up for simultaneous development on Terraces 3 and 4 as the pre-cast gutters and geometric curves are in place, clearly delineating their shape.

Ornaments for the Terraces

Among the many details that will enhance the mystic beauty and delicacy of the Terrace gardens are lovely ornaments cast in bronze and stone. Each Terrace will be adorned with two large bronze urns, one on each side of the fountain pools; and every post interspersing the balustrades on the contour walls will be mounted with stone planter urns holding variegated flowers. Up the Kings’ Pathway on each side of the stairway, alternating stone and bronze urns will stand in the shadows of the cypresses. And on the posts of the wrought iron gates leading to every Terrace, an eagle will stand guard.

These planter urns and decorative figures are being created by the Ornaments Department of the Mount Carmel Projects office in Haifa. The process is fascinating and ingenious; the results, stunning.

In the first instance, a mould is created. A master copy is made of the design in plaster of paris using the original drawings. A six-piece mould of rigid fiberglass with a core is then prepared around this model. The plaster is removed and the mould assembled according to the design specifications.

The second process involves the stone for the urns. The off-cuts from the stone work on the Terraces ‎is are‎ crushed to specific grades ranging from stone dust to pea-sized aggregates. This is blended with white cement and a small quantity of yellow oxide. Mixed together with water and a plasticizer, the blend is then poured into the mould and vibrated for half an hour. The urn takes 12 hours to cure before the mould can be disassembled. Any air bubbles are then filled using a color-matched mix and the surface is hand-sanded, resulting in a beautiful urn to be used as a planter.

About 200 urns are required for the Terraces. Work has begun on casting the eagles, and a variety of urns in bronze will be cast as soon as this is accomplished.

Stone planter urns await placement along the Kings’ Pathway, the central stairway of the Terraces rising to the Shrine of the Báb.

A worker delicately paints one of the decorative eagles that will stand guard on the posts of the wrought iron gates leading to every Terrace.

At right, one can see on Terraces three and four below the Shrine of the Báb the intricate arrangement of stainless steel pipes for the fountains and small streams. The pipes will be covered by concrete and stone work. Above, the east and west sides of Terraces three and four are being developed. This photograph shows topsoil being laid in this area with the help of a crane. [Page 14]

Bahá’ís of Holland, Michigan, receive publicity, support after ‘cult’ remark

“An attack upon the Faith triggers a mighty sequence of events which leads inevitably to the ultimate triumph of the Cause.”—Shoghi Effendi

The Bahá’í community of Holland, Michigan, received favorable newspaper publicity—and support from many friends—following a city council meeting in October during which one councilman voted not to accept a donation of seven Bahá’í books to the public library on the grounds that the Faith is a “cult.”

After an article about the councilman’s vote (the donation was approved 7-1) appeared in the Lakeshore Press (a community-based section of the larger Grand Rapids Press), a reporter from the newspaper contacted the Bahá’ís of Holland (who were preparing a written response in the form of a letter to the editor), came with a photographer to a Bahá’í meeting, and wrote a favorable and generally accurate article about the Faith that appeared in the paper’s October 21 issue.

Many residents of Holland approached the Bahá’ís to offer support and express their amazement at the councilman’s position. A professor at Hope College sent a letter to the councilman, chastising him for his comments about the Faith.

Meanwhile, the books have been placed in the Herrick Public Library and are available to everyone—including the city councilman—who would like to learn more about the Faith.

On August 20-21, nearly 20 Bahá’ís marched in the annual Heritage Festival parade in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and manned an information booth each day. Lending their support were Bahá’ís from Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, Pittsfield Township, Ann Arbor and Detroit. Thousands of people attend the annual parade and festival.

U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office takes part in Illinois ‘Refugee Week’ observance with display, pamphlets

The U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office was invited to take part October 24-28 in “Refugee Week,” proclaimed by Gov. Jim Edgar of Illinois and held at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.

USBRO displayed photographs and books related to its involvement in resettling U.S.-bound Iranian and Southeast Asian Bahá’í refugees, and distributed nearly 200 copies of its informational brochure and the pamphlet on race unity.

Refugee Week in Illinois was observed in an effort to promote an awareness of the many organizations serving the refugee communities.

The 23 groups taking part included medical centers, social service agencies, and educational organizations that serve the needs of refugees.

National Assembly urges friends not to get involved in computer network arguments

The National Spiritual Assembly has noted with concern a growing number of postings on various computer bulletin boards in which the friends tend to become involved in argumentative discussions about the Faith.

Often the friends who are engaged in such discussions are well-meaning and simply desire to set the record straight when they see inaccuracies. Some of the friends have done a good job in this respect, but the wisdom of carrying on frequent exchanges of this nature in a public forum where non-Bahá’ís are taking part is questionable.

The National Assembly urges those friends who are involved in such electronic communications to practice moderation, restraint and wisdom in their discussions about the Faith. Let them be guided by the following counsel of the beloved Guardian from a letter dated November 29, 1937, and written on his behalf to an individual believer:

“...refrain, under any circumstances, from involving yourselves, much less the Cause, in lengthy discussions of a controversial character, as these, besides being fruitless, actually cause incalculable harm to the Faith. Bahá’u’lláh has repeatedly urged us not to engage in religious controversies, as the adepts of former religions have done.

“The Bahá’í teacher should be concerned above all in presenting the Message, in explaining and clarifying all its aspects. ...He should avoid all situations that, he feels, would lead to strife, to hair-splitting and interminable discussions.”

SUPPORT ENTRY BY TROOPS

1-800-SEEKERNET

Toll-free anywhere in the U.S.

Is YOUR name in SEEKERNET?

To join the team of volunteer Bahá’ís who make up SEEKERNET, all you have to do is call and leave your name, Bahá’í I.D. number, address and telephone number. It’s easy, takes less than a minute, and is absolutely free. Simply phone

1-800-SEEKERNET

As a member of SEEKERNET, you will be asked to contact seekers in your area (who have said they would like to be contacted with information on the Faith). You receive the bounty of guiding a soul to its beloved. But you have to phone

1-800-SEEKERNET

SEEKERNET is a nationwide data base of ordinary Bahá’ís like yourself who are taking this extra step to arise and avert the possible financial crisis facing the Faith due to our simple lack of numbers. SEEKERNET maximizes our teaching efforts. The concept is simple:

SEEKERNET “CATCHES” SEEKERS

It keeps seekers from “falling through the cracks.” Say you are traveling or at work when you introduce someone to the Faith—but you don’t know anything about the Bahá’í community in their area. Ask them if they would like to be contacted about the Faith by someone in their area. Then get their phone number, name and address; find a phone, and

CALL 1-800-SEEKERNET

SEEKERNET connects Bahá’ís with seekers. We pass the information on your seeker to the Assembly, Group or isolated believer nearest your seeker. We follow up. We’ll let you know who is handling your seeker and inform you when he or she declares. We’ll check periodically to make sure your seeker has been contacted. We’ll keep informed, and keep you informed.

CALL FOR A SEEKER: CALL TO JOIN CALL 1-800-SEEKERNET Do it while it’s on your mind.

(SEEKERNET is a project begun on the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb by the Spiritual Assembly of the City of the Covenant, in response to the National Spiritual Assembly’s call to arise. Volunteers handle the administrative end. The only expenses are for telephone and postage. For information about SEEKERNET, please contact the Spiritual Assembly of New York City, Bahá’í Center, 53 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10003.)

“Every individual believer—man, woman, youth and child—is summoned to this field of action; for it is on the initiative, the resolute will of the individual to teach and to serve, that the success of the entire community depends.”—The Universal House of Justice, Ridván 1988

Teachers

Continued from page 4

For information on applying to public schools in U.S. Territories, contact:

• Mariana Islands—Director of Education, Personnel Services Division, Department of Education, P.O. Box DE, Agana, Guam 96910.

Personnel Officer, Secretary of Education, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Saipan, Mariana Islands 96590.

• American Samoa—Director of Education, Department of Education, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96920.

• Caroline Islands—Ministry of Education, Government of Palau, Koror, PW 96940

• Puerto Rico (deadline is end of February; you must speak Spanish)—Department of Education, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Attn: Director of Recruitment, Hato Rey, PR 00919.

Addresses of former American territories that hire American teachers:

• Marshall Islands—Recruitment, Ministry of Education, P.O. Box 3, Majuro, Marshall Islands 96790

• Caroline Islands—Office of Administrative Services, ATTN: Personnel Office, FSM National Government, Palikir, Pohnpei 96941.

Teachers for Africa Program—Contact International Foundation for Education and Self-Help, 5040 East Shea Blvd., Suite 260, Phoenix, AZ 85254-4610 (phone 800-835-3530; fax 602-443-1824).

For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette 60091 (phone 708-733-3512; fax 708-733-3509). [Page 15]

Workshop dances across two countries

DDW tour adds dimension to ‘Shaping Europe’ campaign

Audiences throughout Germany and Switzerland gathered in public squares, marketplaces and busy street malls this summer to see Bahá’í teachings demonstrated with commitment and energy by the Diversity Dance Workshop.

The obstacles at times seemed insurmountable: 100-degree heat, lack of drinking water, and costumes dripping with perspiration.

But the Bellevue, Washington-based troupe’s spirit of service to the German Bahá’í community and to youth teaching teams in each city was never lacking.

The 13 young volunteers arrived in Seattle on July 9, the anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Báb, for a week of training with DDW artistic director Laura Lee. They came from near and far: Washington, California, Ohio, Alaska, Canada and Brazil.

Then it was time to depart, accompanied by Ms. Lee, program director Anna Powers, and Judy Rohm, a Seattle resident who became a Bahá’í in Germany many years ago.

But first, an impromptu performance at the airport terminal in Vancouver—setting the stage for spontaneous performances throughout the six-week tour.

Once in Germany, the troupe hooked up with youth teaching teams galvanized by a series of “Shaping Europe” conferences that brought together more than 5,000 young Bahá’ís from all over Europe.

Language and culture may have varied, but not their love for Bahá’u’lláh and the feeling of urgency that youth must act now to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization through service and sacrifice.

After performing at the Shaping Europe conference in Berlin, DDW toured the eastern German cities of Chemnitz, Dresden, Zerbst, Leipzig and Weimar, never knowing what was to come because the Bahá’í youth in that region had no telephones.

Members of the Diversity Dance Workshop who toured Europe this summer include (kneeling left to right) program director Anna Powers and artistic director Laura Lee and (standing left to right) Shahani Porushotma, Ray Jackson, Bevin Powers, Esa Locke, Nava Yeganehfar, David Brown, Rommer Gallardo, Shahab Ma’ani, Tana Rychetnik, Shigoni Beigle, Jesse Cooper and Leili Walker. Susan Kent is not pictured.

It was different, after a year of performing in school auditoriums throughout Washington and California, to take the troupe’s act to the streets, but that is where DDW found large numbers of interested people.

The audiences were surprised, but became captivated as the performance touched their hearts and created an interest in the Faith. Many people asked questions. Pamphlets and booklets were willingly taken everywhere the dancers went.

Declarations also took place—several in the days following the troupe’s departure. In each locality, follow-up teaching continued, initiated through the energy and message of the DDW performance.

The troupe next toured western ‎Ger-many Germany‎, giving performances in ‎Oldenberg Oldenburg‎, Hamburg, Wiesbaden, Stuttgart, ‎Schwabisch Hall Schwäbisch Hall‎, ‎Mulheim de Ruhr Mülheim an der Ruhr‎, Frechen, Aachen and Frankfurt.

Young German Bahá’ís traveled across the country for the group’s final performance, August 27 in Frankfurt. Others came from as far away as the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The Frankfurt performance was part of a celebration of the city’s 1,200th anniversary, and DDW was honored to be featured in the highlight event.

As the dancers moved gracefully on an outdoor stage, Ms. Powers looked out at the sea of young and old, many wearing DDW T-shirts purchased at other performances.

“I focused on the faces in the audience,” recalls Ms. Powers. “I was amazed as I saw their eyes fixed on the movements which told a message, which moved their hearts, and which will never be forgotten.

“The sound system was so incredibly crystal clear that even people sitting in cafés blocks away could hear the message: quotations from the Bahá’í writings that addressed the equality of men and women, the need to help the poor in our midst, the need to abandon the use of drugs and alcohol, the importance of creating stronger family ties, the elimination of prejudices of all kinds, and lastly, the message of the oneness of mankind and unity.

“Even the unity prayer, preceded by the Unity Prayer Dance, a lovely ballet performed by Shahani Porushotma of Cupertino, California, was heard by thousands,” says Ms. Powers. “We have no way of knowing what the effect might be. As two TV stations air our performances in the coming weeks, I am convinced Germany will continue to harvest the fruits of our efforts.”

But the tour didn’t end there. DDW was invited on the spot to perform in four Swiss cities: Basel, ‎Delamont Delémont‎, Nyon and Zug.

On the dancers’ last night in Switzerland, they were hosted by Iraj and Rose Mary Sabet. Mr. Sabet told the moving story of his father’s mission for the Guardian to find the paintings of Marion Jack that were lost after she passed away in Bulgaria.

He then surprised the troupe by presenting a painting of Marion Jack for the DDW office. Many were moved to tears as they realized what this symbolized.

There were other tears shed in the tour of Europe. In the words of DDW member Shahani Porushotma:

“I will never forget the tears in the eyes of a young Bosnian refugee as she approached me after the Racism Dance to express her appreciation to the workshop. She had experienced first-hand in her own war-torn country the problems we were depicting, and she spoke of her many relatives and friends who had lost their lives over these very issues.

“Nor can I forget the reaction of the 200 prison inmates at a performance in ‎Schwabisch Hall Schwäbisch Hall‎ after the Dance of Betrayal (drug dance). I later found out that all the prisoners were there for drug offenses. I was so moved to hear the comments of one of the inmates: ‘I realized through your dance that the solution to all my problems lies not in drugs, but it is a spiritual solution that I am seeking.’”

National Teaching Committee reports greatly increased activity

Continued from page 1

Convention in a facility that will accommodate a larger number of the believers.

The treasurer reported on the continuing shortfall in contributions to the National and other Funds. There followed a lengthy consultation with the staff of the Treasurer’s Office about ways to inform the community of the great financial needs of the Cause in the concluding years of this century.

The National Assembly met with the National Teaching Committee, which reported greatly increased activity throughout the country but no substantial increase in enrollments as yet.

Members of the National Spiritual Assembly offered their services to teach in areas where their participation could be useful to reinforce current efforts.

The National Assembly set aside time for a continuing discussion of the issues of unity and diversity and of the equality of women and men, these two issues being of fundamental importance to the Bahá’í community and to the world at large. [Page 16]

LETTERS POLICY

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

The American Bahá’í welcomes letters to the editor on any topic of general interest. The purpose of the “letters” column is to allow a free and open exchange of ideas and opinions, never to denigrate another’s views or to attack anyone personally. Opinions expressed in these columns are those of the writers, and are not necessarily those of the National Spiritual Assembly or the editors.

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

Suicide is tragic, painful, not condoned by Writings

To the Editor:

I am writing about the letter from Jan Thompson which appeared in the October 16 issue of The American Bahá’í.

First, my heart (and undoubtedly those of everyone who read her letter) goes out to Jan. Her pain and grief are evident; she may be sorting out feelings about her sister Lu Ann’s suicide for the rest of her life.

I am concerned, however, on two counts. While I can certainly understand Jan’s wanting to find meaning in Lu Ann’s tragic death through teaching—this is life-affirming, positive and healing—I would be concerned if, in the name of teaching, the fact that it was a tragedy were somehow denied, undealt with or minimized.

I am also concerned lest anyone should get the idea that taking one’s own life is a way out of depression and a “shortcut” to being with God, or that the Bahá’í Writings in any way condone suicide.

It is a poignant image, that of Lu Ann clutching in death her beloved Bahá’í books. No doubt the healing message of the Faith gave her some of the only moments of peace she knew during her 20-year struggle with depression. I don’t know the people involved, and can only assume that everything possible was done for Lu Ann, including warning her of the spiritual implications of suicide.

It seems to me that her death may have the most meaning if we respond to it by increasing our understanding and knowledge of depression, and how to avert other tragedies like this one.

Jenina Shaw Lepard Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We should recite verses every day from Manifestation

To the Editor:

Many Bahá’ís may be under the impression (as I was) that by reading from the various daily Bahá’í reading books, we are fulfilling the admonishment to “recite ye the verses of God every morn and eventide” (Kitáb-i-Aqdas, para. 149).

But some of those readings are from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and note No. 165 in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas tells us that the term “verses of God” does not include the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. So on those days we should add readings from a Manifestation of God.

Renaldo Raeheim Modesto, California

Teaching foreign students earns bounties for couple, community

To the Editor:

We would like to share with the friends the joys and rewards of two personal teaching experiences here in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

About three years ago we met two Hindus, Koneru and Satish, who were graduate students at the University of Texas-El Paso, invited them to supper, and introduced them to the Faith at what was their first fireside.

They soon asked to become Bahá’ís and brought other friends for us to teach. They also asked if they might call us “uncle” and “auntie.” We felt honored.

In two weeks there were six declarations; those six taught 10 other students at the university in El Paso, all of whom declared. This happened in less than two months.

Koneru was graduated and has a job in Texas. He called to ask if he could take auntie to India for a month to meet his new wife and his relatives and to visit the Bahá’í House of Worship there. He told us we are truly his American parents.

Also about three years ago we introduced ourselves to a couple from Thailand who are Buddhists. They asked if we would be their American parents, and again we were honored.

Pictured (left to right) are Pauline Hoff, Koneru, Satish, and Richard Hoff.

They both were graduated from UTEP with four-point grade averages, and have their doctorates. Their children call us grandpa and grandma; they are as much a part of our family as our own children.

These are among the bounties of teaching foreign students.

Richard and Pauline Hoff Las Cruces, New Mexico

‘Bond of union’ is essential

To the Editor:

To more fully understand the process of becoming a teacher of the Faith, I have been studying the life of the Master teacher and true Exemplar—‘Abdu’l-Bahá—and have found Howard Colby Ives’ book, Portals to Freedom, invaluable for this purpose.

The book offers a fascinating account of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to the U.S. and a compelling reflection of His teaching style.

Mr. Ives recounts how someone once asked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá why everyone who met Him came away with a “shining face.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá replied that “if it were so, it must be because He saw in every face the face of His Heavenly Father.” (p. 46)

This, to me, is the key to success in any teaching endeavor. I don’t want to become so preoccupied with methods and plans that I overlook this essential spiritual attribute.

One of the most important things I want to teach is unity. As the Universal House of Justice said in its recent message to the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly: “The guarantee of well-being and success in all your endeavors to serve the Cause of God can be stated in one word: unity. It is the alpha and omega of all Bahá’í objectives.”

Unity implies a spiritual relationship, and a relationship involves more than one person. Therefore, unity is not something I can teach alone. I need the presence and support of that spiritual community to which I belong—“the community of the Most Great Name.” It is to this community, and not to me as an individual, that seekers will ultimately be drawn. It is this community that embraces us all and empowers us to reflect the Master’s example.

Thus, my first goal as a teacher is to try to follow ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example with my fellow-Bahá’ís: to see “the face of His Heavenly Father in every face” and, as Mr. Ives says, to “reverence the soul behind it.” (Portals to Freedom, p. 116)

I seek the “bond of union,” of which the Master spoke when He visited this country: “This is the bond of union among Bahá’ís all over the world. They become united among themselves, then unite others. It is impossible to unite unless united.” (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 156)

Theodore Heizer Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Line drawings helpful

To the Editor:

I was most happy to see the line drawing approach for children from Brilliant Star on page 10 (The American Bahá’í, September 27).

As a special education teacher for sixth grade through adults and an ESL teacher as well, this method commonly helps children and also a wide range of adults.

Many adults have a strong visual style to retaining what they learn, and this illustration in one major article per issue would be quite helpful.

A person does not have to be an artist to do this, so an original effort each issue on, say, the Fund or teaching would reach the hearts of many readers and not take a lot of time.

Judy Orloff Foxboro, Massachusetts [Page 17]

It takes unity, sacrifice, obedience to reach goals

To the Editor: The answer to the question of why the U.S. Bahá’í community is not growing is spiritual in nature, and can be found in the Writings:

“Say: O people of God! That which can insure the victory of Him Who is the Eternal Truth, His hosts and helpers on earth, have been set down in the sacred Books and Scriptures, and are as clear and manifest as the sun. These hosts are such righteous deeds, such conduct and character, as are acceptable in His sight.” (Bahá’u’lláh, cited in Guidelines for Teaching, pp. 92-94)

As to the question of what will best remedy our budget deficit, the answer lies in a single word: sacrifice. The history of all religions testifies that small acts of sacrifice create phenomenal results.

There is another way to look at the Fund problem; when the Universal House of Justice tells us that the Bahá’í community must come up with sufficient funds to pay for the Arc Project, they are telling us that it is within our present capacity to raise the money, not at some future time when our numbers will have increased.

Responding to the recent letter from the House of Justice, which said that by thinking of the funds needed for the Arc Project in terms of units of $9,000 each the friends might more easily reach the goal, the Bahá’ís of Canada have arisen to conduct an intensive nationwide fund-raising campaign in which even financially strapped communities are vying with one another to raise funds in units of $9,000. The fund-raising has exceeded expectations and created harmony and unity in the community.

The Bahá’ís of Columbus have followed Canada’s example and adopted a goal of one unit beyond their original Fund goal.

Three inter-related principles are involved, and we will achieve our goals according to the degree in which we follow them. They are unity, obedience, sacrifice.

Vafa Motlagh Columbus, Ohio

How accessible are we when seekers call?

To the Editor: In spite of many wonderful proclamation efforts and successful publicity for the Faith, Bahá’í’s in many areas of the country aren’t always accessible to those who are interested in contacting them.

In our area we have “Bahá’í community of ——” listed in the phone book under “Religious Organizations” but haven’t been able to afford the cost of entering “Bahá’í, see Religious Organizations” under the listing for “Churches” in the yellow pages. To be listed in the white pages also costs extra and sometimes requires a business phone listing.

Although we also have paid ads in the church pages on Fridays, we have still heard about cases where people wanted to get in touch with Bahá’ís but didn’t know how. And we’ve heard about traveling Bahá’ís having difficulty trying to contact Bahá’í communities in larger cities—instead of reaching a person they got a recording asking them to leave a message. In some cases the messages were not returned even after repeated calls.

The questions this Assembly would like to raise for other communities to consider are: How accessible is the Bahá’í community to those who wish to make contact? Can we make it easier? Do we want to be more accessible? Can we afford not to be?

Mark A. Reddy, secretary Spiritual Assembly of Durango, Colorado

Refrain from labeling people, ideas racist

To the Editor: As we Bahá’ís are often far from understanding the race issue, we should avoid labeling people or ideas racist.

I know this is difficult to do when we really think we know and can recognize racism on sight. One doctrine currently being questioned is one that seeks to define racism as a power relationship declaring that minorities cannot be racist.

In “Herald of the South,” Vol. 37, Craig Loehle claims that this doctrine is “particularly pernicious...hatred is hatred, whatever excuse we use to justify it. ...”

I agree with much of Mr. Loehle’s analysis concerning the answer to racism, namely that “...true equality is based on reciprocity of trust. ...” I take issue, however, with the characterization of this doctrine as somehow an “excuse” for harboring racial hatred. In a nutshell, I see no inherent relationship between racial hatred and this doctrine.

Since this letter must remain brief, I won’t comment on the history of the concept of racism; instead, I direct the interested reader to an article in Current magazine (January 1993), “Language of Race: Talking Past One Another,” for more information about this.

There is a more important point to be made than the outcome of whether or not the oppressed can be racist. By tossing aside this view without ample consideration and understanding, we run the risk of inspiring mistrust among friends who hold such beliefs.

Furthermore, when we label a doctrine or theory as “particularly pernicious,” I wonder how such well-documented racist practices as segregation, patronizing attitudes, or coolness in response go unmentioned?

My experience tells me that the solution to this problem does not lie in accepting or rejecting any particular theory of how racism works. Perhaps the solution is best expressed by the Guardian in The Advent of Divine Justice (pp. 24-38), and it is here that I strongly urge Bahá’ís to turn.

Albert Taborn II Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Some dictionaries lack definition

To the Editor: In choosing a dictionary, one simple way to decide among them is to look up a word that one may know the meaning of better than the publishers themselves. I look up “Bahá’í.”

I recently chose Webster’s College Dictionary (Random House). The worst definition I came across was in a best-unnamed dictionary that included such statements as “Bahaism, a form of Babism; oriental, mystical quality, and reflecting specifically the attitudes of the Islamic Shiah sect.” There was no mention of such Bahá’í principles as tolerance or the essential worth of all religions.

So beware—and try to be the one in your office who chooses the next new dictionary!

Jeff Jeffries Fairfax, Vermont

L.A. Workshop performance still talked about

To the Editor: The Los Angeles Bahá’í Youth Workshop performed July 8 at my child’s elementary school (Argonne Alternative School). I am continuing to hear from the parents and teachers at the school about what a thrilling experience it was for them.

The principal and teachers say that what impressed them most was the outstanding character every one of the Workshop members displayed. They remarked about their courtesy and positive exuberance. The principal said, “Robert, I had no idea you were a Bahá’í. How interesting!”

A parent said, “I have a good friend who became a Bahá’í. The Bahá’í Faith mellowed her out.”

The principal wants to know if we can make this an annual event.

Robert Berry San Francisco, California

‘Preachy’ letters don’t mirror our compassion

To the Editor: It sometimes saddens me to read the letters to The American Bahá’í; some of them seem to be so “preachy.”

It seems as if, in our zeal for love of Bahá’u’lláh, we overstep certain bounds and enter the realm of condemning others for their laxity, whether it be in contributing to the Funds, attending Feast, doing more to promote race unity, and so on.

In The Hidden Words (Arabic No. 24), we read: “O Son of Man! Transgress not thy limits, nor claim that which beseemeth thee not. Prostrate thyself before the countenance of thy God, the Lord of might and power.” And in Arabic No. 26: “O Son of Being! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and busy thyself with the faults of others? Whoso doeth this is accursed of Me.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “Never speak disparagingly of others. ...” Perhaps I have transgressed those bounds by writing this letter—but it grieves my heart to think of the guilt that must be felt by those of us who don’t seem to be meeting the high standards of our Faith when we read letters by others admonishing us to do so.

Please, let us try to temper our comments with mercy. God is merciful and compassionate. Let us strive to mirror forth this quality.

Francesca Moldenhauer Dunlap, Illinois

‎Subcribing Subscribing‎ to the Arc instead

To the Editor: Do you really want to raise money for the Arc?

I canceled my subscription to TV Guide, and asked for a refund. I received $73.38, which I promptly sent to the Bahá’í International Fund.

I am now thinking about canceling some other magazine subscriptions. May I respectfully and lovingly challenge you to do the same?

Name and address withheld by request [Page 18]

Youth

Youth Service Corps volunteers needed abroad

In the most recent issue of The American Bahá’í we listed the many outstanding services being rendered to the Cause by Bahá’í youth all over the world. The opportunities to do similar "great, great deeds" in service to the Cause are plentiful. Below is a brief description of the needs for Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteers in each of those countries, quoted from a document sent by the World Center to all National Spiritual Assemblies last June or summarized from recently received letters. The widely spoken languages are listed after the name of each country.

AFRICA

Botswana-Tswana and English. "Like so many communities in Africa, the Bahá’í community of Botswana wishes to see its youth arise and serve the Faith on an unprecedented scale during the Three Year Plan. To achieve this, the community would like to receive youth-year-of-service volunteers to work alongside the young people of Botswana and help stimulate a youth movement in the country."

Equatorial Guinea-Spanish. "There are many opportunities for growth through the enrollment of new believers and the coming of age of Bahá’í among the youth are good."

Senegal-Wolof and French. "The Bahá’í community is in need of youth-year-of-service volunteers who have international driver's licenses to run its recently-acquired mobile institute, which is proving to be of invaluable assistance in the teaching work."

Swaziland Swazi and English. "The Faith is well-recognized [in Swaziland], and the Bahá’í community has successful social and economic projects in the areas of environment and education, particularly at the preschool level. Short-term pioneers, including youth-year-of-service volunteers, are required to accelerate the teaching work and the institute program."

Tanzania-Swahili and English. "There is a great spirit of receptivity in many parts of our country and both short- and long-term traveling teachers and youth-year-of-service volunteers are urgently needed to assist with all aspects of the teaching work....Entry by troops has started in one area of Tanzania and is on the verge of starting in many other areas."

Malawi-Chichewa and English. "Malawi would be pleased to receive youth-year-of-service volunteers, short-term pioneers and traveling teachers to assist with proclamation and deepening activities, to train teachers of children's classes, and to work on literacy and primary health care projects."

Niger-Huasa and French. "The National Spiritual Assembly of Niger is looking for pioneer youth unmarried, French-speaking, self-supporting and deepened-who can settle for a year or more in the remote cities of Afadez and Diffa... [where] the possibilities for teaching the Faith children. The National Spiritual Assembly has requested youth-year-of-service volunteers. These human resources [including long-term pioneers and traveling teachers] are needed to carry out projects for large-scale enrollment, consolidation, and for children's educational programs."

Tina (right) and Neda Yazdani, sisters who took part this summer in the Marion Jack Teaching Project in Siberia, had this photograph taken for their mother with the book Some Answered Questions in Russian. Their mother, Shanaz Yazdani, of Mt. San Jacinto, California, raised $3,200 to translate into Russian and print 10,000 copies of the book by baking and selling Persian sweets, the proceeds from which were donated to the project. She is now baking for a second publication in Russian, and hopes to raise the funds by Naw-Rúz, The photograph appeared with an article about the girls' teaching experiences in a local newspaper, the Hemet News.

Togo-Ewe, Kabiye and French. "Long- and short- term pioneers who can remain in the country at least 12 months are needed to fill the goal of creating a permanent institute. This would include living on location and planning and coordinating classes. Youth-year-of-service volunteers are needed to assist with establishing children's classes."

Southern Africa via training in Zambia [from a letter received from the National Assembly of Zambia]: "Beginning with a service orientation course at the William Masehla Bahá’í Institute in September 1994, a variety of service opportunities are available for youth age 20 and over in 12 southern African countries, several of which are English-speaking."

AMERICAS

Belize-English and Spanish. "A recent census conducted in Belize showed that a substantial number of residents consider themselves to be Bahá’ís....Youth-year-of-service volunteers could help stimulate the increasing participation of Belizean youth in Bahá’í activities." (Please call the Office of Pioneering about another immediately available opportunity in the Mayan area of Belize.)

Bolivia-Spanish, Aymara and Quechua. "The National Spiritual Assembly would like to receive pioneer families and youth-year-of-service volunteers, preferably Spanish-speaking, to undertake two types of service: (1) to settle in certain regions and assist in teaching the Cause and developing local communities, and (2) to help with social and economic development projects. Youth-year-of-service volunteers could assist in village teaching among the Quechua people, deepening and training activities for local youth, adult literacy classes and children's classes."

Colombia-Spanish. "Among the accomplishments of the Colombian Bahá’í community are the sustainment of large-scale expansion and consolidation over the years, the establishment of a systematic program for the development of human resources, and the settlement of a number of youth 'nuclei' as homefront pioneers throughout the country....There is a need for youth, especially those with artistic talents, to be incorporated into the nuclei of homefront pioneers in order to promote the use of theater and music in local communities."

Costa Rica-Spanish. "The National Spiritual Assembly is asking for short- and long-term pioneers of particular backgrounds...[including] Spanish-speaking North American youth. North American youth who do not speak spanish could also consider serving in Costa Rica, as the National Assembly offers Spanish classes, orientation to Latin American culture, and training courses."

Ecuador-Spanish. Up to two volunteers, either male or female, needed for the 1994-95 academic year at the Raúl Pavon Bahá’í School. Prospective volunteers should plan to attend the Youth-Year-of-Service course at the Ruhi Institute in Colombia beforehand.

Guadeloupe-French and Guadeloupe French Creole. "A few youth-year-of-service volunteers could be used to serve at the National Center, assist the National Secretary, work with the Youth Committee, and conduct children's classes."

Haiti-French and Haitian Creole. "The National Spiritual Assembly would like francophone youth or adults to work at the Anis Zunuzi school and help with literacy and other development projects."

Martinique French and Martinique French Creole. "The Spiritual Assembly of Martinique is looking for mature individuals, well-adapted to the French-Caribbean milieu, who can serve as short- or long-term pioneers. Their assistance is needed in teaching, consolidating local communities, and in helping the community focus on new growth. Youth who could enroll in the university would also be most welcome."

Panama-Spanish. "The House of Worship needs youth-year-of-service volunteers and a pioneer couple in charge of public relations."

Paraguay Spanish. "The people of Paraguay are receptive to the Faith and the Bahá’í community is persistent in its endeavors. ...The area bordering Brazil where the towns of Canendeju, Pedro Juan Caballero and Ciudad del Oeste are situated...could benefit from the service of a pioneer family or youth-year-of-service volunteers able to collaborate on well-defined plans with the Brazilian border communities."

West Leeward Islands-Dutch, English, French, Spanish and Patois. The National Spiritual Assembly of the West Leeward Islands recently praised the efforts of a pair of youth serving in their islands last year, mentioning that "we miss them very much," "please send more youth!" Two youth offering to serve together is ideal for this area.

ASIA

Azerbaijan-Azeri, Turkish and Russian. Baku North University has given the Bahá’í community of Azerbaijan the opportunity to present the Faith through a religious history course and is also offering courses in medicine, economics, law and "application informatics" to foreign students. They have offered language training in Russian and Turkish (Azeri) and a small tuition discount. The National Spiritual Assembly of Azerbaijan feels this is an excellent opportunity for youth pioneers.

Hong Kong-Cantonese, Mandarin and English. Wants "eager and capable youth to work alongside local youth." Call the office of pioneering for further details.

Korea-Korean and English. "English-speaking young adults or youth who can devote full-time or part-time service are also needed. Students may register in universities or work part-time teaching [Page 19]

Youth

English. These pioneers can be of great service in teaching students in urban and rural areas, and in attracting Korean Bahá’ís to teaching and other services.

Macau Cantonese, Mandarin, English and Portuguese. "Youth-year-of-service volunteers are sought to work on specific projects. The Spiritual Assembly is looking for someone to help establish its newly formed institute. Both Chinese- and English-speaking youth are needed to assist teachers at the School of the Nations." Note: Call the office of pioneering about other vitally important service needs in Asia.

AUSTRALASIA

Cook Islands—Carolinian, English and Japanese. "Continuing efforts need to be made to inspire and train the local friends so they can assume responsibility for the ever-growing affairs of the Faith, and contribute to its advancement in every field. Long- and short-term pioneers, traveling teachers and youth-year-of-service volunteers are needed to assist with this work."

Marshall Islands—Marshallese and English. "The Bahá’í community of the Marshall Islands has the high regard and support of the government. Most of the atolls and islands are now open to the Faith, and its influence on the daily lives of the Marshallese people has expanded. Long- and short-term pioneers, traveling teachers and youth-year-of-service volunteers are needed to assist with deepening, consolidation and administration."

New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands—Kanak dialects and French. "Retired people, short-term pioneers and self-funding youth volunteers would be of great benefit to the community."

Papua New Guinea—Pidgin and English. "There is a steady stream of new believers in Papua New Guinea and all districts have been opened to the Faith, including seven nearby islands. Short-term pioneers are needed...to assist with the establishment of a permanent teaching institute for the development of human resources and to support intensive teaching activities. ...In several areas of the country, youth-year-of-service volunteers would be of great assistance."

Samoa—Samoan and English. There are several opportunities for Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteers in Samoa. Call the Office of Pioneering for more information.

Vanuatu—Bislama, French and English. "As a result of the cultural exchange of Bahá’í traditional chiefs...and the publicity generated by this event, unprecedented opportunities for the expansion of the Faith now exist. Short-term pioneers on three- to four-month visas are required in [several places including] Tanna, to assist with mass teaching, foster youth activities and children's classes, and help with social and economic development projects."

EUROPE

Belgium—French. "Young people are sought to work alongside Belgian youth in teaching campaigns that employ direct teaching methods."

Bulgaria—Bulgarian and Turkish. Youth-year-of-service opportunities beginning in July in conjunction with the European Bahá’í Youth Council's "Shaping Europe" teaching project and youth conferences.

Canary Islands—Spanish. "Having made significant advances in recent years, the Bahá’í community of the Canary Islands stands poised for accelerated growth. Short-term youth pioneers to assist local Bahá’í youth in the teaching work are needed, as are Spanish-speaking short-term pioneers or traveling teachers to conduct courses to help consolidate local communities." Note: New opportunities beginning in July in conjunction with the European Bahá’í Youth Council's "Shaping Europe" teaching project and youth conferences.

Young Bahá’í leaves 'piece of her heart' in Bulgaria after memorable teaching trip, summer school

Following are some of the reflections of traveling teacher Maryam Ta'eed who took part in the Bahá’í summer school and while traveling and teaching in Bulgaria:

My traveling teaching trip to Bulgaria this summer was a rewarding and memorable experience for me. A piece of my heart has been left there forever.

Bulgarians are a wonderful blend of European and Middle Eastern cultures. They are a warm, generous, hospitable, curious people who seem to sense sincerity in others.

Bulgarians seem to value knowledge and learning highly. Bookstands can be found on every street and people take pride in their books and personal libraries.

The Bulgarian custom of sitting at outdoor cafes provides ample opportunity to connect with people and teach the Faith. Because of the new openness of Bulgarian society there is ample interest in outside ideas and in foreigners.

Perhaps these are some of the reasons why the Universal House of Justice has included Bulgaria in the list of countries "Where there are now especially fertile opportunities for the rapid spread of the Faith that must be urgently met."

I believe that people all over the world, including Bulgaria, want to see for themselves how the Bahá’í Faith has affected us as people and how it can affect them.

Finland—Finnish and Swedish. "Finland is a highly developed country with a relatively small population. The young people and minorities are receptive to the Faith, as are people migrating from the former Soviet Union. The Lapps, or Sami, living in the north of Finland and the Gypsies in the south have been the focus of Bahá’í teaching activities for many years."

Greece—Greek. "The climate for teaching the Faith in Greece is changing. Recent teaching projects attracted unprecedented numbers who demonstrated an openness to the Bahá’í message. ...A significant number of long- and short-term pioneers, as well as traveling teachers and youth-year-of-service volunteers, are urgently needed. Pioneers who are students, those able to open a business, or those from countries of the European Community will find it easier to settle."

Poland—Polish and German. "The Polish people are very receptive to the Message of Bahá’u’lláh, and the challenge is to raise up a sufficient number of teachers who have the capacity to bring large numbers of people into the Faith. Youth-year-of-service volunteers could assist in developing and expanding the small community of youth in Poland." Note: New opportunities beginning in July in conjunction with the European Bahá’í Youth Council's "Shaping Europe" teaching project and youth conferences.

Portugal—Portuguese. "As the Portuguese youth have proven to be receptive during recent teaching activities, the community would benefit from receiving youth-year-of-service volunteers. These youth could assist the local Bahá’í youth in spreading the Faith among their peers." Note: New opportunities beginning in July in conjunction with the European Bahá’í Youth Council's "Shaping Europe" teaching project and youth conferences.

Russia, Georgia and Armenia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. Youth-year-of-service opportunities beginning in July in conjunction with the European Bahá’í Youth Council's "Shaping Europe" teaching project and youth conferences.

Be among those to arise to answer the call to pioneer during the Three Year Plan! If you or your family have concerns about furthering your education or career, please see "Guidance on Pioneering and Education" in the Alá (March 2, 1994) edition of The American Bahá’í or phone the Office of Pioneering. Contact your local Spiritual Assembly as your first starting point for consultation, guidance and information on the Bahá’í Youth Service Corps. [Page 20]

تجدید اجازه اقامت دائمی RENEWAL OF "GREEN CARDS"

بار دیگر به آگاهی دوستانی که اجازه اقامت دائمی دارند میرساند که کسانی که اجازه اقامت خود را پیش از سال ۱۹۷۸ دریافت کرده باشند باید آن را تجدید نمایند.

اداره مهاجرت تاریخ تجدید اجازه اقامت را که قبلاً ماه سپتمبر سال جاری بوده تا ماه مارچ سال ۱۹۹۵ تمدید کرده است. کارت اجازه اقامت افرادی که پیش از سال ۱۹۷۸ آن را دریافت کرده باشند پس از تاریخ فوق معتبر نخواهد بود و اجازه اقامت آنان نیز باطل خواهد شد.

دوستان میتوانند جهت دریافت اطلاعات بیشتر با دفاتر اداره مهاجرت در محل خود یا با وکیلان متخصص امور مهاجرتی تماس حاصل نمایند.

بزرگداشت یک بهائی سیاهپوست COMMEMORATING RUBY KEY BENTLEY

در ماه می سال جاری جامعه بهائی آگاستا Augusta در ایالت جورجیا جلسه ای برای اعلان عمومی امر الله ترتیب داد که در تاریخ ۸۰ ساله آن جامعه کم نظیر بود. جلسه مذکور به یادبود خانم روبی کی بنتلی Ruby Key Bentley تشکیل شد خانم بنتلی که در سال ۱۹۴۴ به امر مبارک اقبال کرد، نخستین بهائی سیاهپوست ایالت جورجیا بود.

ایشان زنی فعال و مبلغی فداکار بود و با حقوق اندکی که بعنوان کمک پرستار دریافت میکرد ۷ فرزند به بار آورد در سال ١٩٦١ ناگهان بیمار شد و درگذشت و فرزندان خود را به خویشانش سپرد. پتریشیا استیل Patricia Steel یکی از دختران خانم بنتلی که در حال حاضر در آتلانتا زندگی میکند خاطرات آن زمان را چنین باز می شمارد: زمان رقت باری بود. مرگ او در آن زمان فقط برای اعضای خانواده و دوستان و جامعه امری محل اهمیت داشت از دید این جهان گوئی زن سیاهپوست فقیری مانند هزاران نفر دیگر بود که جهان را به درود گفته بود اما او با دیگران فرق داشت. البته فرق او با دیگران این بود که مظهر امر الهی را در این دوره شناخته و به امرش گرویده و حیاتش را در راه خدمت به امر الهی صرف کرده بود.

خانم استیل که اکنون یکی از اعضای لجنه ملی نشر نفحات است در ادامه سخنانش میگفت حیرت انگیز است که مادرش چه تأثیری در حیات بسیاری از مردمان داشته است. وقتی من و خواهرانم دریافتیم که در ۵۰ سال گذشته در اثر اقبال او به امر بهائی چه اتفاقاتی در آگاستا رخ داده است از تأثیری که یک شخص میتواند در افراد داشته باشد به شگفتی افتادیم به همین جهت تصمیم گرفتیم که جلسه ای به یاد بود او تشکیل دهیم. جلسه یادبود به یک جلسه اعلان عمومی امر مبارک تبدیل شد. بیش از ۳۰۰ نفر که ۵۰ نفرشان غیر بهائی بودند در این جلسه شرکت کردند.

در جلسه مذکور برنامه های موسیقی و سخنرانی اجرا شد و دو تن از اعضای محفل روحانی ملی، دکتر فیروز کاظم زاده و جناب جک مک کنتس Jack McCants نیز در آن شرکت داشتند. هر چند دکتر کاظم زاده خانم بنتلی را ملاقات نکرده بود اما فرزندانش را به خوبی می شناخت زیرا شش تن از آنان پس از وفات مادر به نیوهیون New Haven در ایالت کنه تیکت Connecticut رفته و مقیم آن شده بودند که همچنین محل اقامت دکتر کاظم زاده بوده است.

دکتر کاظم زاده گفت عظمت افراد را میتوان از تأثیری که بر دیگران میگذارند دریافت و خانم بنتلی فرزندانش را با فضائل انسانی بزرگ کرده بود از جمله اعتقاد به یگانگی مردم همه نژادها در برابر آستان الهی.

جناب مک کنتس اظهار داشت که ارزش زندگی یک فرد ربطی به معیارهای این جهان مانند ثروت و موقعیت اجتماعی ندارد بلکه بسته به خدمات او نسبت به دیگران است. ایشان گفت خانم بنتلی چنان خدماتی انجام داده که تأثیرش در نسلهای بعدی دیده می شود و این جلسه یادبود خود شاهد این ادعا است. یکی دیگر از احباء که در حال حاضر به طبابت اشتغال دارد نامه ای از یکی از یاران که در ارض اقدس خدمت میکند خواند که در آن اهمیت اقبال خانم بنتلی تاکید شده بود. خانم استیل اظهار میداشت که برگزاری اینگونه جلسات برای بزرگداشت اهل ایمان موجب احساس افتخار در افراد جامعه میشود و دیگران را نیز از آن آگاه می سازد.

اخبار امری BAHÁ’Í NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

پاپوا نیوگینی یک برنامه تبلیغی سنتی روز ۲۰ و ۲۱ اگست در یکی از دهات پاپوا نیو گینی Papua New Guinea اجرا شد که در آن امر مبارک به ٣٦ تن از رئیسان قبیله ای و ۳۵۰ نفر از ساکنان اعلان شد. احبای محل با اجرای رقص محلی از دیدار کنندگان استقبال کردند و جوانان بهائی ترانه ای را که به مناسبت ایام آن برنامه ساخته شده بود، خواندند. موضوعهائی که مورد بحث قرار گرفت عبارت بود از تاریخ امر مبارک؛ فرهنگ و سنت و دیانت؛ نظم اداری بهائی. بنا به گزارش رسیده یکی از رؤسای قبیله که توسط یکی از احباء مصاحبه شده بود، اظهار داشته بود که حالا دریافته است که تعالیم خدا چنان که بهائیان اظهار می دارند چیست. رئیس مذکور همچنین گفته بود که به محل خود باز خواهد گشت و با مردمش در خصوص آنچه شنیده بود گفتگو خواهد کرد. در نتیجه برنامه های تبلیغی که در طی دوره ۲ روزه اجرا شد اکثر مردم شهر با امر بهائی آشنا شدند و ۱۰ نفر تسجیل شدند.

گرجستان بیش از ۲۰۰ نفر در یک کنفرانس ناحیه ای که در شهر تفلیس در گرجستان از جمهوری های شوروی سابق تشکیل میشد شرکت کردند. جناب عباس کتیرانی مشاور قاره ای و یکی از اعضای محفل روحانی ناحیه ای و سه تن از اعضای هیئت معاونت در کنفرانس مذکور شرکت داشتند. نمایندگان ده تا از جوامع امری گرجستان به همراه احبائی از ارمنستان و آذربایجان و ایتالیا و قرقیزستان و اسپانیا و تاجیکستان نیز در این کنفرانس حضور یافتند. همزمان با تشکیل کنفرانس تلویزیون گرجستان برنامه یک ساعته ای درباره امر مبارک پخش کرد که شامل تاریخ امر مبارک و مصاحبه با یک خانواده مهاجر در گرجستان بود. در طی کنفرانس مذکور ۹ نفر بهائی شدند.

جمهوری مولدوا همچنین گروهی متشکل از ۱۶ نفر از احبای ترکیه پس از شرکت در کنفرانس بهائی در بخارست جهت اعلان امر مبارک به جمهوری مولدوا Moldova سفر کردند. احباء در طی این سفر تبلیغی جزوه هائی به مأموران گمرک در مرز کشورهائی که از آن می گذشتند - بلغارستان و مولدوا و ترکیه و رومانی - تقدیم کردند. در اثر این فعالیتها ۲۵ نفر در ظل امر مبارک وارد شدند.

لهستان یک گروه تبلیغی مرکب از احبای انگلستان و آلمان و لوکزامبورگ و لهستان و ایالات متحده در یک برنامه تبلیغی که در یکی از شهرهای لهستان اجرا می شد، شرکت کردند و موفق شدند ۳ هزار جزوه بهائی در میان مردم توزیع نمایند و جلسات تبلیغی تشکیل دهند. اعضای گروه با شهردار محل تماس گرفتند. شهردار تحت تأثير تعاليم امر مبارک قرار گرفت و با خوشوقتی حمایت خود را از آنها اعلان داشت. رسانه های همگانی نیز از فعالیتهای احباء آگاهی یافتند و یک برنامه دو ساعته رادیونی راجع به امر مبارک تهیه و پخش شد. نتیجه این کوششها تصدیق ۱۵ نفر بود.

ترکیه از ۲۸ اگست تا ۴ ماه سپتمبر سال جاری ۱۱۵ نفر در یک مدرسه تابستانه بهائی در ترکیه شرکت کردند. ۲ تن از اعضای محفل روحانی ملی آذربایجان و دستیار رئیس اداره دیانت آن کشور در دو روز آخر مدرسه مهمان بودند. دیگر شرکت کنندگان عبارت بودند از جناب الحان سزگین Ilhan Sezgin مشاور قاره ای و ۵ تن از اعضای محفل روحانی ملی ترکیه و اعضای هیئت معاونت. در مدرسه تابستانه مذکور مطالبی چون عهد و میثاق حضرت بهاء الله و ورود فوج فوج مردمان در جرگه اهل ایمان مورد بحث و مطالعه قرار گرفت. در اثر این برنامه تبلیغی بسیاری پیام حضرت بهاء الله را دریافت داشتند و مهمتر از همه اینکه ۹۳ نفر به امر مبارک اقبال کردند. [Page 21]

صعود یکی از خادمان امر مبارک

PASSING OF EMANUEL M. REIMER

جناب ایمانوئل رایمر Emanuel Reimer یکی از خادمان امر الهی در ایالات متحده روز ۲۷ اکتبر سال جاری در سن ۸۱ سالگی در ایالت مین Maine به ملکوت ابهی صعود کرد.

آقای رایمر نخستین بار در سال ۱۹۳۶ به مدرسه بهائی گرین ایکر رفت و در آنجا توسط ایادی امرالله خانم دوروتی بیکر Dorothy Baker به امر مبارک اقبال کرد. از آن پس سال‌های بسیاری از عمر خود را در آن مدرسهٔ تاریخی بهائی گذراند: در سال ۱۹۳۷ بعنوان دستیار مدیر و دفتردار در مهمانخانهٔ سارا فارمر؛ در سال ۱۹۴۶ بعنوان دستیار مدیر مدرسه؛ از سال ۱۹۴۷-۵۰ در سمت سرایدار و مدیر مدرسه؛ در سال ۱۹۶۴ در سمت سرایدار و مدیر آشپزخانه؛ و از سال ۱۹۶۵-۷۲ در سمت سرایدار و مدیر مدرسه.

جناب رایمر و همسرش جنت Janet در سال ۱۹۴۱ با هم ازدواج کردند. این دو در تأسیس محافل روحانی گرین بی Green Bay در ایالت ویسکانسین؛ محفل پارک ریج در ایالت ایلینوی؛ و مکوان Mequon در ایالت ویسکانسین سهم داشتند و جناب رایمر از سال ۱۹۶۰-۶۳ مدیریت مدرسهٔ بهائی دیویسون Davison را که اکنون لوهلن نام دارد، بر عهده داشت.

آقای رایمر از سال ۱۹۵۲ تا سال ۱۹۸۷ هر ساله نمایندهٔ بهائی در کانونشن ملی بود.

در سال ۱۹۷۸ مدرسهٔ بهائی گرین ایکر جایزه‌ای به نام آقای رایمر اختصاص داده که به احبائی تقدیم می‌شود که خدمات برجسته‌ای برای مدرسه انجام داده‌اند.

خانم و آقای رایمر در سال ۱۹۹۱ پنجاهمین سالگرد ازدواج خود را در مدرسهٔ بهائی گرین ایکر جشن گرفتند و در مراسم مذکور فیلمی از ایادی امرالله جناب ویلیام سیرز بیاناتی در تقدیر از این دو بهائی خدوم نشان داده شد.

معهد اعلی در خطابی مورخ ۳۰ اکتبر سال جاری که به مناسبت صعود جناب رایمر صادر فرمودند، از خدمات ایشان به ویژه در مدرسهٔ بهائی گرین ایکر تقدیر کردند و آن را به وصف "نمونه" و "به یادماندنی" توصیف نمودند.

محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان ایالات متحده نیز در مرقومهٔ مورخ ۲۸ اکتبر سال جاری از خدمات پنجاه سالهٔ جناب رایمر تقدیر کرد و از صعود ایشان اظهار حزن نمود.

روانش غرقۀ مهر ایزدی باد!

تذکر به مهاجران عزیز

‎REMIDER REMINDER‎ TO OVERSEAS PIONEERS

یاد آوری می‌شود که مهاجران عزیزی که به کشورهای دیگر سفر کنند یا جهت سفرهای کوتاه یا اقامت دائمی به ایالات متحده باز گردند، باید نامه‌ای از محفل روحانی ملی محل اقامت خود در خارج از کشور حاوی موقعیت اداری خود دریافت دارد.

کارت‌های شناسائی بهائی افرادی که رسماً به جوامع امری دیگر منتقل شده باشند، پس از انتقالشان از اعتبار ساقط می‌شود و لازم است پس از مراجعت به ایالات متحده برای انتقال عضویت خود به این جامعه از طریق محفل روحانی محلی و دفتر محفل ملی اقدام نمایند.

کارگاه رقص تنوع

DIVERSITY DANCE WORKSHOP

سیزده جوان بهائی از کانادا و برزیل و ایالت‌های کالیفرنیا و واشنگتن و اوهایو و آلاسکا روز ۹ جولای، سالروز شهادت حضرت اعلی، برای تمرین یک برنامهٔ هنری وارد سیاتل Seattle در ایالت واشنگتن شدند. سیاتل مرکز کارگاهی به نام Diversity Dance Workshop است که ریاست هنری آن را خانم لورا لی Laura Lee بر عهده دارد.

پس از یک هفته تمرین گروه مذکور به همراهی خانم لی و دو نفر دیگر از احباء، راهی سفر به آلمان و سوئیس شدند. اول در فرودگاه شهر ونکوور Vancouver نمایشی فی‌البداهه بدون برنامهٔ قبلی اجراء کردند و این خود روش گروه را برای شش هفتهٔ آینده که حاوی اجرای نمایش‌های بدون برنامهٔ قبلی بود، معین کرد.

این گروه در آلمان به یک گروه تبلیغی جوانان پیوست که با شرکت در یک سلسله کنفرانس به نام "شکل دادن به اروپا" شور و شوقی روحانی یافته بودند. ناگفته نماند که بیش از ۵ هزار نفر از سراسر جهان در این کنفرانس‌ها شرکت کرده بودند.

زبان و فرهنگ هر چند متفاوت بود اما عشق به حضرت بهاء‌الله بی‌دریغ و یکسان بود. گروه رقص پس از اجرای برنامه در یکی از کنفرانس‌های "شکل دادن به اروپا" در برلین به چند شهر در شرق آلمان سفر کرد.

ابتدا برای گروه مذکور کمی سخت بود چون در آمریکا عادت داشتند در مدارس برنامه اجرا کنند و حالا می‌بایست در خیابان‌ها و اماکن عمومی برنامه اجرا کنند، اما واقعیت این بود که تعداد بیشتری از مردم را در اماکن عمومی می‌توان جلب کرد.

شنوندگان در اول به شگفت می‌آمدند اما کم کم جلب اجرای برنامه می‌شدند زیرا اجرای آن در دلشان اثر می‌گذاشت و نسبت به امر مبارک هم علاقه بر می‌انگیخت. بسیاری از مردم راجع به امر بهائی سؤال می‌کردند و هر جا جزوه و ورقه‌ای در معرفی امر وجود داشت آن را با علاقه بر می‌داشتند.

پس از رفتن گروه چندین نفر اقبال کردند و در هر نقطه‌ای که برنامه‌ای اجرا شده بود فعالیت‌های تبلیغی دیگری هم به عمل می‌آمد.

سپس گروه هنری به بخش غربی آلمان رفت و در شهرهای گوناگون برنامه اجرا کرد. جوانان بهائی از سراسر آلمان برای شرکت در آخرین برنامه که روز ۲۷ آگست اجرا می‌شد، به فرانکفورت سفر کردند. بعضی دیگر هم از هلند و سوئیس آمده بودند.

برنامهٔ فرانکفورت بخشی از مراسم جشن هزار و دویستمن سال تأسیس شهر بود و از گروه هنری دعوت شده بود در آن برنامه اجرا کند.

خانم آنا پاور Anna Power رئیس کارگاه که همراه با گروه سفر می‌کرد، می‌گفت: به صورت شنوندگان برنامه نگاه می‌کردم و اثر پیام هنری را در آنها می‌دیدم...

"دستگاه صوتی صدا را چنان زنده و با قدرت پخش می‌کرد که مردمی که در کافه‌های اطراف بودند هم می‌توانستند آن پیام را بشنوند یعنی برگزیده‌هایی از آثار بهائی دربارهٔ تساوی حقوق زن و مرد، کمک به فقراء، دوری گزیدن از مشروبات الکلی و مواد مخدر، اهمیت ایجاد روابط محکم خانوادگی، رفع تعصبات و وحدت عالم انسانی.

"حتی مناجات وحدت را هم ... بسیاری شنیدند. نمی‌دانیم چه تأثیراتی گذاشته شده است. دو ایستگاه تلویزیونی برنامهٔ ما را در هفته‌های آینده پخش خواهد کرد و من مطمئنم که آلمان ثمر کوشش‌های گروه را خواهد دید."

از گروه مذکور دعوت شده بود که در ۴ شهر سوئیس هم برنامه‌هایی اجرا کند.

شب آخر اقامت گروه در سوئیس جناب ایرج ثابت و خانمشان روز مری Rose Mary ضیافتی برایشان ترتیب دادند. آقای ثابت حکایت کرد که چگونه پدرش را حضرت ولی امرالله مأمور فرموده بودند که نقاشی‌های ماریون جک را که در بلغارستان گم شده بود، پیدا کند.

سپس جناب ثابت با تقدیم یک نقاشی از ماریون جک برای نصب در دفتر گروه هنری همه را به شگفتی انداخت و تأثیر شدیدی بر حاضران گذاشت.

یکی از اعضای گروه می‌گفت: "هرگز اشک‌های یکی از پناهندگان بوسنی را فراموش نمی‌کنم که بعد از یکی از رقص‌های ما که موضوعش تعصبات نژادی بود، به طرف من آمد و از کار گروه سپاسگزاری کرد. این پناهنده در کشورش مشکلاتی را که ما در رقص نشان می‌دادیم تجربه کرده بود و راجع به بستگان و دوستان بسیاری که به علت این مشکلات از دست داده بود، صحبت کرد.

"همچنین عکس‌العمل ۲۰۰ نفر از زندانیانی که برایشان رقص خیانت (راجع به استفاده از مواد مخدر) را اجرا کردیم نمی‌توانم فراموش کنم. بعداً خبردار شدم که همهٔ آن زندانی‌ها برای جرائم مربوط به مواد مخدر زندانی شده بودند. خیلی تحت تأثیر قرار گرفتم وقتی شنیدم یکی از زندانیان گفته بود که در اثر دیدن این رقص فهمیدم که حل مشکلات من در استفاده از مواد مخدر نیست بلکه در امور روحانی است."

مهاجرت خارجه

INTERNATIONAL PIONEERING

دوستان عزیز می‌توانند برای دریافت اطلاعات دربارهٔ مهاجرت به خارج از ایالات متحده با دفتر مهاجرت (Office of Pioneering) در دفتر محفل روحانی ملی تماس حاصل نمایند.

تلفن: ۳۵۰۸-۷۳۳ (۷۰۸) [Page 22]

ساختمان‌های قوس

PROGRESS OF ARC PROJECT

مرکز مطالعهٔ نصوص و ساختمان الحاقی دارالآثار

در یک سالی که کار زیرسازی ساختمان مرکز مطالعهٔ نصوص و قسمت الحاقی دارالآثار شروع شده، صورت ظاهری محل آن تغییرات محسوسی کرده است.

ساختمان الحاقی از طبقهٔ نخستین آغاز می‌شود. دیوارهای زیر اتاقی که در این طبقه است با مواد مانع از نفوذ رطوبت پوشیده شده و طرح کف آن در شرف انجام است.

ساختمان پارکینگ که برای استفادهٔ مرکز مطالعهٔ نصوص و ساختمان الحاقی دارالآثار منظور شده است، از طبقه دوم شروع می‌شود. زیرسازی آن اتمام یافته و دیوار راهروی مکانیکی که آن را از ساختمان الحاقی دارالآثار جدا می‌کند، ساخته شده است.

مرکز مطالعهٔ نصوص در طبقهٔ سوم است. دیوارهای دور آن از طبقهٔ سوم تا طبقهٔ چهارم ساخته شده و ستون‌های آن در دست تهیه است. همچنین اطاقی به مساحت ۲۰۰ متر مربع که در قسمت شرقی ساختمان مذکور قرار دارد در دست ساختمان است. در قسمت غربی پله‌هایی که مرکز مطالعهٔ نصوص و پارکینگ و ساختمان الحاقی دارالآثار را به هم می‌پیوندد نزدیک به اتمام است.

۲ آسانسور در مرکز مطالعهٔ نصوص و یکی در پارکینگ و یکی در ساختمان الحاقی دارالآثار نصب خواهد شد. زیرسازی این ۴ آسانسور انجام یافته و ساختن دیگر قسمت‌های آن در شرف انجام است.

تزئینات طبقات

یکی از تزئیناتی که به زیبائی باغ‌های طبقات تحتانی و فوقانی مقام حضرت اعلی خواهد افزود نصب نزدیک به ۲۰۰ گلدان در طبقات مذکور خواهد بود. دو گلدان بزرگ برنجی در هر طبقه در دو طرف حوضچه‌های فواره‌دار نصب خواهد شد. همچنین در دو طرف پله‌های جادهٔ ملوک گلدان‌هایی یکی برنجی و دیگری از سنگ نصب خواهد شد که در سایهٔ درختان سرو قرار خواهد داشت. بر روی تیرهای درهای آهنی هر طبقه نیز یک مجسمه عقاب نصب خواهد شد.

ترجمهٔ پیام معهد اعلی

PERSIAN TRANSLATION OF MAY 19, 1994 LETTER OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

به آگاهی یاران می‌رسد که ترجمهٔ رسمی دستخط بیت العدل اعظم الهی خطاب به محفل روحانی ملی ایالات متحده مورخ ۱۹ می سال ۱۹۹۴ در دست است. دوستانی که علاقه‌مند به دریافت آن باشند، می‌توانند با دفتر امور احبای ایرانی/امریکائی تماس حاصل نمایند تا ترتیب ارسال نسخه‌ای از دستخط مذکور به ایشان فراهم شود. تلفن ۹۰۳۹-۸۶۹ (۷۰۸)

لازم به تذکر است که در صورتی که ترجمه‌های دیگری از این دستخط در دست یاران باشد، احباء باید آن را غیررسمی تلقی نمایند و اعتنائی به آن نفرمایند و از آن در جلسات مطالعه و تزئید معلومات استفاده ننمایند. ترجمه موجود در دفتر محفل به تأیید مرکز جهانی رسیده است.

شروع مرحلهٔ پنجم

جهت شروع مرحلهٔ پنجم ساختمان‌های قوس و بنای ساختمان دارالتبلیغ بین‌المللی مراسلاتی با یک شرکت ساختمانی به نام Perez G.G. Engineering, Construction and Management Company Ltd. صورت گرفته است. این شرکت به خاطر تجربهٔ آن در ساختن مرکز مطالعه نصوص انتخاب شده و بدین ترتیب با حذف جریان طولانی مناقصه و انتخاب در وقت و مخارج صرفه‌جوئی گردیده است. انتظار می‌رود که تا آخر سال جاری اوراق قرارداد به امضاء برسد، اما شروع زیرسازی ممکن است حتی زودتر از آخر سال آغاز شود.

جادهٔ ملوک

اگر از قسمت زیرین دامنهٔ کوه کرمل به طرف مقام اعلی نگاه کنیم، پله‌هایی خواهیم دید که تا مقام مبارک ادامه یافته است. با توجه به بیانات حضرت عبدالبهاء، و حضرت ولی امرالله می‌توان سران جهان را در نظر آورد که با خضوع از پله‌ها بالا می‌روند تا در آستانه مدینه الهی اظهار عبودیت نمایند.

پله‌های مرکزی که جادهٔ ملوک را تشکیل می‌دهد با سنگ‌های مخصوصی پوشیده خواهد شد و در حال حاضر در دست ساختمان است. هر یک از طبقات مقام اعلی با سه رشته پله به هم متصل می‌شود. هر یک از این رشته‌ها ۱۶ پله دارد و پهنای آن ۲/۷۶ متر است. در قسمت بالا یک در تزئینی قرار دارد و از آنجا یک رشته پله مرکب از ۶ پله به سطح طبقات می‌رسد. پوشش سنگی پله‌های طبقه هشتم تا ششم زیر مقام اعلی اتمام یافته و تا کنون ۱۷۲ پله نصب گردیده است.

زمین‌های بخش غربی پله‌های مرکزی برای ادامه کارهای مربوط به آن آماده بهره‌برداری شده و درختان زیتون در طبقات ۹ تا ۵ کاشته شده است. همچنین امور مربوط به ساختن قسمت‌های شرقی و غربی مربوط به طبقات ۳ و ۴ نیز آغاز شده است.

تبرعات به صندوق قوس

INCREASE IN ARC CONTRIBUTIONS, NATIONAL FUND DEFICIT

گزارش دفتر امین صندوق محفل روحانی ملی حاکی از آن است که نسبت به سال گذشته تبرعات یاران به صندوق ساختمان‌های قوس افزایش چشمگیری داشته است. تبرعات مذکور در سال جاری دو برابر وجوه دریافتی در سال گذشته بوده است. بدین ترتیب در مجموع ۲۰ درصد به کل تبرعات افزوده شده است. احبای امریکا از آغاز نقشه سه ساله ۵/۵ میلیون دلار به صندوق قوس تبرع کرده‌اند.

با این حال تبرعات کلی یاران به صندوق ملی - سوای تبرعات به صندوق قوس - فقط ۶ درصد افزایش یافته و حتی در ماه‌های تابستان این تبرعات کاهش چشمگیری داشته است. این کاهش در زمانی رخ داده که مخارجی برای مشرق‌الاذکار و مدرسه بهائی گرین ایکر لازم بوده و در نتیجه در سطح ملی محفل روحانی ملی با کمبود رو به رو شده است.

روند مذکور باعث شده که در بودجه ملی تجدید نظر شود و انتظار می‌رود که برخی از برنامه‌هایی که از پیش طرح شده حذف شود یا عقیم ماند.

به گفتهٔ یکی از کارکنان دفتر امین صندوق "این یکی از موارد خبر خوب و بد است. احباء صلای بیت العدل اعظم را در مورد افزایش تبرعات برای ادامهٔ جریان ساختمان‌های قوس لبیک گفته‌اند. اما این افزایش در قبال تبرعات به صندوق ملی صورت گرفته و فشار زیادی بر نقشه‌ها و برنامه‌های محفل روحانی ملی گذاشته است."

"واقعیت این است که همهٔ کارها باید انجام پذیرد و منابعی که داریم تمام شده است. تحلیلی که از این موقعیت می‌توان کرد نشان خواهد داد که در تعداد افرادی که تبرع می‌کنند اندک افزایشی صورت گرفته اما افزایش اصلی توسط افراد معینی است که واقعاً فداکاری کرده‌اند. بسیاری از یاران در تقدیم تبرعات شرکت نمی‌کنند و در عین حال ارقام بزرگ هم نداشته‌ایم."

برخی از اقداماتی که برای حل این مشکل می‌توان صورت داد عبارت است از:

• کوشش محافل محلی و افراد یاران برای دعوت احبائی که از جامعه امری دور افتاده‌اند به خدمت فعالانه در خدمات امری و در نتیجه تقدیم تبرعات،
• تأکید به محافل روحانی محلی جهت تأمین اهداف مالی آنها به صندوق ملی،
• گسترش سیستم تقدیم تبرعات اتوماتیک بانکی در سطح محلی و
• افزایش فعالیت‌های تبلیغی جهت ورود عده بیشتری از مردم به جرگهٔ اهل ایمان و در نتیجه افزایش وجوه تبرعات به صندوق ملی.

به گفتهٔ کارمند مذکور دفتر امین صندوق "این امر یک جریان روحانی است. در دست داشتن اطلاعات می‌تواند به احباء در خصوص تصمیم‌گیری برای تقدیم تبرعات به صندوق‌های گوناگون کمک کند اما عشق به حضرت بهاءالله است که به آنان کمک خواهد کرد که راه حل‌های اساسی را بیابند."

هشتاد و ششمین کانونشن ملی

NATIONAL CONVENTION

هشتاد و ششمین کانونشن ملی بهائیان ایالات متحده از ۲۷ تا ۳۰ آپریل سال ۱۹۹۵ در شیکاگو تشکیل خواهد شد.

نقشه‌های لازم برای کانونشن ملی که حدود ۱۸۰۰ نفر از احباء خواهند توانست در آن شرکت نمایند، در دست تهیه است. شرکت‌کنندگان در کانونشن فرصتی خواهند یافت که در آخرین سال نقشه سه‌ساله با اعضای محفل روحانی ملی و نمایندگان بهائی و دیگر یاران دیدار نمایند.

اطلاعات بیشتر درباره نام‌نویسی و هتل و غیره در شماره آیندهٔ نشریه "امریکن بهائی" درج خواهد شد. [Page 23]

Manny Reimer, devoted Green Acre stalwart, dies

Deeply saddened passing Emanuel Reimer. His wholehearted devotion, loving spirit, particularly as expressed in long years service Cause at Green Acre Bahá’í School, memorable and exemplary. Kindly convey our loving sympathy members his family. Fervently praying Holy Shrines progress his radiant soul divine worlds.

The Universal House of Justice

October 30, 1994

The National Spiritual Assembly is deeply saddened by the passing of Emanuel Reimer. His devoted service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, spanning over half a century, provides an inspiring example of dedication, humility and selflessness. We recall in particular his long and fruitful association with Green Acre, “to the development of which he gave the unparalleled commitment of time, effort, material and spiritual support.”

We recall with tender affection the great respect and the many contributions of service and humor he made as a long-time delegate to our national Bahá’í Conventions.

Manny Reimer is loved by thousands of friends who will never forget his selfless concern for others, his modest effectiveness and his readiness to undertake any task for the benefit of his worldwide “family.” His smile and his example will remain engraved upon our hearts as a constant reminder of our task to foster human happiness throughout the earth.

We offer our loving condolences to his beloved Janet and to his cherished children, Michael, Daniel, Gloria and Terry.

With heartfelt sympathy,

The National Spiritual Assembly

October 28, 1994

Emanuel M. (Manny) Reimer, a Bahá’í for more than half a century whose exemplary services at the Green Acre Bahá’í School and elsewhere were known and admired by the friends all over the world, died October 27 in Eliot, Maine. He was 81 years old.

Mr. Reimer, who first came to the Green Acre School in the summer of 1936 with a cousin, Marguerite Reimer (Sears), and while there declared his belief in Bahá’u’lláh when invited to do so by Dorothy Baker, returned to the school a number of times in the ensuing years, serving as a desk clerk and bookkeeper at the Sarah Farmer Inn in 1937, assistant manager of the school in 1946, caretaker/manager from 1947-50, caretaker/kitchen manager during the summer session in 1964, and caretaker/manager again from 1965-72.

In between, Mr. Reimer and his wife, Janet, to whom he was married in 1941, helped establish Assemblies in Green Bay, Wisconsin; Park Ridge, Illinois; and Mequon, Wisconsin, and Mr. Reimer served from 1960-63 as manager of the Davison (now Louhelen) Bahá’í School in Michigan.

Mr. Reimer was elected a delegate to the Bahá’í National Convention each year from 1952-87.

In 1978, the Green Acre Bahá’í School established the Reimer Award to recognize individuals who contribute outstanding services to the school.

Mr. Reimer, meanwhile, remained active, serving for six summers as cook at the Batterwood Bahá’í School in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada.

Professionally, Mr. Reimer worked for School Administrative District No. 35, which includes Eliot and South Berwick, until his retirement in 1978, and began the district’s hot lunch program. After retiring, he drove the senior citizens’ bus until the mid-1980s.

Mr. Reimer was active in the Eliot Lions Club (president in 1972), the Eliot Historical Society, the Police Boosters, and Friends of the Fogg Library.

He and Mrs. Reimer celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Green Acre School in 1991 (an occasion that included a video-taped tribute by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears), and served this year as co-grand marshals of Eliot’s Memorial Day and Festival Days parades.

‎Emanual Emanuel‎ (Manny) Reimer

Muriel Miessler, who pioneered for nearly half a century to Brazil, is dead

Muriel Miessler, a pioneer to Brazil since 1946, died in October. When she and her husband Edmund arrived at their pioneering post, there were only two local Assemblies in Brazil, the two of them opening a third locality.

During her nearly 50 years of service in Brazil, Mrs. Miessler watched the Faith grow to “thousands of friends in practically every small and large part of the country.”

Mrs. Miessler was elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly of Brazil in 1961 and continued to serve on that body for more than 20 years.

In 1968, Muriel and Edmund left Sao Paulo to settle in a goal state as homefront pioneers. They served together as traveling teachers to Portugal and the Azores.

When Edmund died in 1977, Muriel and her two children, Bob and Margot, continued to serve the Brazilian community. In 1986, Mrs. Miessler wrote her memoirs in a book entitled Pioneering in Brazil, an account of the growth and development of the Faith in that country.

Upon her passing, the National Spiritual Assembly of Brazil sent the following message to the U.S. National Assembly:

“With saddened hearts we inform you of the passing of Mrs. Muriel Miessler, dedicated pioneer and servant of the Blessed Beauty who for decades served the Faith in our country with joy and utmost dynamism. Her more than two decades of membership and service on our National Assembly will be forever remembered. Member of the first local Spiritual Assembly of Sao Paulo, the third Assembly elected in our country, Mrs. Miessler immortalized the services and sacrifices of the first pioneers who came to Brazil in her book, Pioneering in Brazil, among them herself and her husband, the late Edmund Miessler. We humbly beseech your prayers for the progress of that dear soul in all the worlds of God.”

And from the Universal House of Justice:

“Saddened news passing much loved maidservant Bahá’u’lláh Muriel Miessler. Her nearly half century devoted services Brazil in both teaching and administrative fields unforgettable. Praying fervently progress her radiant soul worlds of God. Our heartfelt condolences to her family and many friends.”

HUQÚQU’LLÁH

Payments for Huqúqu’lláh should be made to “The Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust” and sent to one of the Trustees:

• Dr. Elsie Austin, Unit 612, Silver Spring, MD 20901 (phone 301-589-8481).
• Dr. Amin Banani, Santa Monica, CA 90402 (phone 310-394-5449).
• Dr. Daryush Haghighi, Rocky River, OH 44116 (phone 216-333-1506).

Inquiries regarding Huqúqu’lláh should be referred to one of the Trustees or to the Office of the Secretariat, Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust, Rocky River, OH 44116.

Attention, Bahá’í youth

A new, dynamic and exciting teaching instrument is being created to help the “Army of Light” movement. It will enlist the services of college-age youth (18-25) who will join summer activities and teaching projects across the country. This new initiative will be coordinated by the National Bahá’í Youth Workshop Office.

If you are interested in taking part, please complete the following questionnaire and mail it to: Bahá’í Youth Workshop Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Name __________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________

Name of school _________________________________________

Telephone # where you can be reached ____________________

Will you be attending the Youth Conference in Phoenix, Arizona? ___ Yes ___ No

IN MEMORIAM

Roshan Antilla Coon Rapids, MN October 6, 1994	Donna Kahaloa Sumner, WA October 9, 1994
Mitchell J. Berg Coon Rapids, MN October 5, 1994	Anna Leverich San Mateo, CA September 13, 1994
Ana Betancourt Pflugerville, TX October 28, 1994	Bonnie E. Petit Park Forest, IL October 14, 1994
Lula Mae Chandler Hemingway, SC October 18, 1994	Winona H. Reid Carrollton, GA September 10, 1994
Hazel L. Foster El Paso, TX October 22, 1994	Emanuel Reimer Eliot, ME October 27, 1994
Bill A. Harmon Davenport, IA July 10, 1994	Abbas Sheikhzadeh Austin, TX November 2, 1994
Harry M. Irey Davenport, IA April 1, 1994	Sally Underhill Katy, TX October 9, 1994
Ranea Je’an Sacramento, CA July 24, 1994	Margaret Young Oceanside, CA September 13, 1994
Caleb Jefferson Sumter, SC August 1994

[Page 24]

Calendar

In September the Colorado Bahá’í Youth Workshop was formed as a grassroots initiative guided by the Auxiliary Board. Following the example set by Los Angeles and other Youth Workshops, they hope to combine forces with local communities and youth to advance the teaching plans. Through word of mouth alone, the workshop has already received several inquiries about possible future bookings. Workshop members are (bottom row left to right) Bill Troxel, Laura Formeller, Kate Formeller, Amelia Devine and Arghavan Rahimpour, and (top row left to right) Niya Lenzen, April Goggans and Katie McCloskey.

MOVING? TELL US YOUR NEW ADDRESS.

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving The American Bahá’í, send all family members’ names, new address and mailing label to: Management Information Services, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. If acquiring a Post Office box, your residence address (c) must be filled in. Please allow 3 weeks for processing. (This also updates National’s data base.)

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

DECEMBER

21-25: Classes by Dr. Riaz Ghadimi (in Persian) on Bahá’í Life/Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, plus Level II Core Curriculum Training, and class on the practical application of Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablets (in English) by Keith Christian Jenson, Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, phone 408-423-3387.

23-26: 10th annual Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conference, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona. Guest speakers, entertainment, workshops, special classes for pre-youth. For hotel reservations, phone 800-359-7253 before December 10. For conference information, phone the GCBC hotline, 602-375-8082, from 7-9 p.m. Mountain time. Pre-registration is advised, as seating is limited during the main sessions and workshops.

27-January 1: “Challenges of the Present Hour,” Dr. Soheil Bushrui, who occupies the Bahá’í Chair for World Peace at the University of Maryland, Bosch Bahá’í School, plus social scientist Fred White on “Changing the American Character.” For information, write to the school at 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or phone 408-423-3387.

27-January 1: Winter School Session, “The Life of Bahá’u’lláh” and “Milestones to the Millennium,” Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 810-653-5033.

27-January 1: Annual mid-winter Regional Youth Conference, Cleveland, Ohio. Theme: “...in the love of God a shining torch.” For information, contact the Youth Board of Greater Cleveland, c/o Jenkins, Cleveland, OH 44122, or phone 216-283-8526.

27-January 2: Forum ’94 (fifth annual Forum for Young Professionals), Landegg Academy, Wienacht, Switzerland. Theme: “The Role of the Aesthetic in a Global Society.” For more information: Landegg Academy, CH-9405 Wienacht/AR, Switzerland.

28-30: Second annual May Township Youth Conference, Wilder Forest Conference Center near St. Paul, Minnesota. Theme: “Living a Life of Service.” Youth ages 11-20 welcome. For information, write to Ken or Peggy McNamara, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047, or phone 612-433-5089.

29-January 1: South Carolina Bahá’í Winter School, Louis Gregory Institute, Hemingway. To register, phone 803-558-5093.

29-January 1: Louisiana Bahá’í School, ‎Fountainbleau Fontainebleau‎ State Park, Mandeville. Registrar: Nat West, 504-436-4958.

31-January 1: Deepening class on the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (cover to cover), Dallas, Texas, Bahá’í Center, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of University Park. Interactive session on major issues and questions conducted by Habib Riazati. For information, phone 214-361-9366.

JANUARY

5-8: College Club Weekend, organized by the Stanford College Club, Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, phone 408-423-3387.

7-8: Regional Public Information Meeting, Los Angeles, California. Contact Shamil or Susan, 213-933-8291.

12-17: Bahá’í Youth Service Corps/Pioneer Training Institute and Program for Sensitive International Teaching Areas (SITA), Bosch Bahá’í School, Santa Cruz, California. Attendance is by invitation. For information, phone the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, 708-733-3508.

13-15: Colorado East Winter School, YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park. Contact John Bolz, Lafayette, CO 80026 (phone 303-666-9275).

14-15: Regional Public Information Meeting, Seattle, Washington. Contact Cindy Roat, 206-632-7645.

14-16: Illinois Bahá’í School, Best Western Hotel, Springfield. Contact Pej Clark, 1188 W. Sunset, Decatur, IL 62522 (phone 217-423-9788).

20-22: Rendezvous of ‎t he the‎ Soul Weekend, Ruhi-style Youth Deepening for Hmong/Cambodian/English-speaking youth from northern California. Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, phone 408-423-3387.

20-23: Regional (Eastern/Southern) Bahá’í Youth Workshop Training Conference, Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute. Conducted by Oscar DeGruy for Workshop coordinators, Assembly members, young adults and interested parents. For information, contact Sofia Berhane, LGBI, Hemingway, SC 29554 (phone 803-558-5093).

27-29: Conference, “Women in Bahá’í Perspective,” Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, Illinois. To register, contact Lynnea Prochnow, Research Office, Bahá’í National Center (phone 708-733-3548; fax 708-733-3563; Internet,

27-29: Assembly Team Development Weekend, Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, phone 408-423-3387.

28-29: Regional Public Information Meeting, Dallas, Texas. Contact Kambiz Rafraf, 214-248-8178.

FEBRUARY

3-5: Seekers’ Weekend, Bosch Bahá’í School. Special price for the weekend: $50 for each seeker, the same for Bahá’ís who bring seekers. For Bahá’ís who come without seekers, the cost is $100. For information, phone 408-423-3387.

3-5: Junior Youth Institute, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 810-653-5033.

3-5: Conference, “Equality of Women and Men in the Family and Community,” Brighton Creek Conference Center, McKenna, Washington. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Olympia. To register, phone Ellen Atkinson, 206-352-3605.

4-5: Regional Public Information Meeting, Washington, D.C.

10-12: Black History Celebration, Bosch Bahá’í School, with Robin Evans, Dr. Gloria Haithman-Ali, Dr. George Hill, others. For information, phone 408-423-3387 or fax 408-423-7564.

17-19: Marriage Enrichment Conference, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 810-653-5033.

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

MASA’IL B.E. 151 / DECEMBER 12, 1994