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[Page 1]Ridván message from the Universal House of Justice, page 3

‘Azamat B.E. 151 / May 17, 1994 Volume 25, Number 7 The American Bahá’í

Delegates applaud renewed spirit, press forward

By Tom Mennillo

“Whatever the outward conditions of mankind in the year ahead, the Bahá’í community must gather strength, demonstrate more clearly the distinguishing character of its way of life, reach out with confidence to proclaim and teach its message, and draw down in ever-greater measure the confirming assistance of the Hosts of the Supreme Concourse. In every aspect of this work, it is the individual Bahá’í who holds the key to victory.” (Ridván 151 message of the Universal House of Justice)

Call it an outpouring of bounties from the Holy Year and release of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.

The hand of destiny, if you will. Whatever the source, a spirit of love and confidence pervaded the 85th Bahá’í National Convention from beginning to end.

Little wonder delegates moved unwaveringly to grasp the “key to victory” and unlock, with their fellow believers, all doors before them.

The sacred convocation April 21-24 at the Bahá’í House of Worship abounded with symbols of the Faith’s first 100 years in America:

• appearances by David S. Ruhe, retired member of the Universal House of Justice, and Margaret Ruhe;
• the personal reminiscences of Elsie Austin, a former member of the National Spiritual Assembly;
• an audio-visual history of the institutions of the National Convention and the National Assembly;
• stirring choral renditions of songs long dear to American Bahá’ís;
• even the presence and use of the table/lectern that had solidly served so many early Conventions.

And there were manifest confirmations of this community’s growing maturity:

• a burst of spiritual energy in the past year resulted in a 48 percent increase in annual enrollments and the promise of a plentiful harvest to come;
• generosity of spirit enabled the National Fund to end its year without an operating deficit;
• victory in one Three Year Plan goal—traveling teaching—was achieved and several other goals, such as in pioneering, are within immediate reach;
• the delegates themselves gave inspirationally, through an extraordinary level of consultation and their contributions totaling five units of $9,000 each for the construction projects on God’s Holy Mountain.

National Assembly elected

Filled with the significance of the occasion, the delegates gathered on Saturday morning, April 23, in Foundation Hall to elect the National Spiritual Assembly for 1994-95: Juana Conrad, William E. Davis, Alberta Deas, Robert C. Henderson, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Patricia Locke, Jack McCants, Dorothy W. Nelson and James F. Nelson.

The new National Assembly met shortly afterward to elect its officers: James Nelson, chairman; Dorothy Nelson, vice-chairman; Robert Henderson, secretary-general; William Davis, treasurer; Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary for External Affairs; and Juana Conrad, assistant secretary.

An awareness of the National Convention’s import and the American community’s role in building the Kingdom had been made abundantly clear from the outset by Counselor Arturo Serrano.

The National Convention “is not a meeting of individuals but a means of expressing our respect for the National Spiritual Assembly,” he said.

Conducted in the proper spirit, Counselor Serrano said, it will return blessings “a thousandfold” and hasten entry by troops.

Delegates will return home “confident of the community’s capacity to usher in a new stage in the Faith’s progress,” he averred.

Mr. Henderson continued the theme in his remarks following the annual report of the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies.

He began by recounting the National Assembly’s recent three-day consultation in Haifa with the Universal House of Justice.

See CONVENTION page 8

The members of the newly elected National Spiritual Assembly are presented to the Convention. From left: William E. Davis, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Patricia Locke, Robert C. Henderson, Dorothy W. Nelson, Juana Conrad, James F. Nelson, Alberta Deas and Jack McCants.

Vision in Action

Hmong Institute makes friends	2
International collaboration goals	4
National Arts Task Force formed	10
Annual Report pull-out section	11-22
Chicago banquet to mark centenary	27

House of Worship restoration honored thrice more

Chalk up three more awards for the Bahá’í House of Worship restoration.

The decade-long project is being honored this time by the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois (LPCI), the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI) and the Village of Wilmette, Illinois.

These awards follow on the heels of the International Concrete Repair Institute’s designation of the Temple work as its “Project of the Year.”

Restoration project manager Robert F. Armbruster was informed by LPCI on March 22 that the Temple Restoration Group has received the 1994 Richard H. Driehaus Preservation Project of the Year Award.

In announcing the award, LPCI cited the “enormity” of the project and said judges were impressed with the “strong degree of collaboration that was attained between the project managers and the contractors.”

‘First-rate effort’

The judges also referred to the project as “a first-rate preservation effort—a model for other religious institutions.”

A letter of recommendation from Wilmette Village President John Jacoby accompanied the nomination.

Calling the House of Worship a “magnet for

See AWARDS page 26 [Page 2]

Teaching: toward a more mature approach

Teaching the Cause of God is a privilege and a responsibility for everyone who has been so blessed as to have recognized Bahá’u’lláh as the supreme Manifestation of God in this wondrous age. There is no activity more fundamental to the life of a true believer. Bahá’u’lláh has thus proclaimed: "Teach ye the Cause of God, O people of Bahá, for God has prescribed unto every one the duty of proclaiming His Message, and regardeth it as the most meritorious of all deeds."

In its Ridván 1988 message, the Universal House of Justice wrote: "...the paramount purpose of all Bahá’í activity is teaching. All that has been done or will be done revolves around this central activity...to which all progress in the Cause is due....Every individual—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 serve, that the success of the entire community depends."

As the generality of humankind sinks deeper into a state of confusion, despair and hopelessness, the commitment, sacrifice and effectiveness of those who teach the Cause should rise to unprecedented levels.

In its Ridván message last year, the Universal House of Justice called for a massive expansion of the Faith, and stated that the goals of the Three Year Plan must be magnificently achieved "...whatever the sacrifice."

The success of this community in achieving the goals of the Plan will depend on our increasing our understanding of the nature of the teaching work and our taking a more mature and holistic approach to this vital responsibility.

As a community, we have reached a point in our development, as well as a time in the world's history, where as individuals, communities and institutions, we are called upon to carry out the teaching work in a more systematic way, with a clear vision of the purpose of the work we are called upon to perform—the spiritual conquest of the planet.

The Universal House of Justice has written: "Armed with the strength of action and the cooperation of the individuals composing it, the community as a whole should endeavor to establish greater stability in the patterns of its development, locally and nationally, through sound, systematic planning and execution of its work—and this in striking contrast to the short-lived enthusiasms and frenetic superficialities so characteristic of present-day American life."

In a letter of February 27, 1975, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, it was stated that "proclamation, expansion and consolidation are really three different aspects of teaching which to some degree merge into one another....As a community, we must teach with the understanding that these three components of teaching are complementary and mutually supporting. It is not only necessary that we give due attention to these aspects of the teaching work, but we should also balance the amount of time and attention devoted to each."

In a process of systematic teaching, one's declaration of faith and request for enrollment in the Bahá’í community is only the beginning. In a letter of April 17, 1981, the House of Justice wrote: "Consolidation is as vital a part of the teaching work as expansion. It is that aspect of teaching which assists the believers to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Teachings, and fans the flame of their devotion to Bahá’u’lláh and His Cause, so they will, of their own volition, continue the process of their spiritual development, promote the teaching work, and strengthen the functioning of their administrative institutions.

"Proper consolidation is essential to the health of the community, to the protection of its interests, to the upholding of its good name, and ultimately to the continuation of the teaching work itself."

Teaching the Cause in a way that systematically addresses each of the complementary aspects of teaching is more effective when the Bahá’í community is so organized, and the pattern of community life so established, as to ensure the proper balance between proclamation, expansion and consolidation.

Each community should initiate a process of building a spiritual and social infrastructure that supports systematically each aspect of the teaching work. For instance, each proclamation activity should be supported by direct teaching such as firesides, individual and door-to-door teaching. In turn, deepening classes, Sunday school classes, institutes, summer and winter schools should be available and accessible to newly enrolled believers.

Other activities within the community's spiritual and social infrastructure may include regular social gatherings, deepenings, children's classes, programs for youth and local Spiritual Assembly Development Program modules, in addition to Assembly meetings, Feasts, and Holy Day observances. These activities help establish the distinctive pattern of Bahá’í community life. Once started, they should not be allowed to disappear.

It is also important to note that most of these activities may, and should, be attended by those who have not yet embraced the Cause. In this way, many avenues for learning about and capturing the spirit of the Faith are made available to those we wish to teach.

A clear illustration of why it is necessary to establish such patterns of Bahá’í community life may be found in the answers to the following questions:

If your community were able to conduct a successful teaching campaign that resulted in 100 or more enrollments in a brief period, say several weeks, how would the community respond to ensure that these newly enrolled believers were welcomed properly into the community and the consolidation process begun?

• Who would deepen them?
• Where would this be done?
• What would be the subject matter, and what materials would be used?
• How would the community deal with differences in language and culture?

When distinctive patterns of Bahá’í community life are established, the various aspects of teaching happen in a more routine and systematic way. When decisions about consolidation are considered only after expansion activities have met with success, our approach to teaching tends to become frenetic and inconsistent.

Through the guidance and direction provided by the institutions of the Faith and the commitment to sacrificial endeavor on the part of each individual believer, we will soon witness the process of entry by troops as the next stage in our mission of the spiritual conquest of the planet and the long-awaited establishment of God's Kingdom on earth.

The National Teaching Committee May 1994

Portland's Hmong Institute deepens believers, makes friends

Efforts by the Bahá’ís of Portland, Oregon, to reach their Southeast Asian neighbors through the Hmong Teaching Institute have led to the recent declarations of eight new believers in that city.

The Institute, which was brought into being at the end of the Holy Year a year ago, began by holding children's classes in the home of a Hmong Bahá’í. Within two months the children had memorized prayers and passages from the Writings, and the end of the first term saw the first declaration as a result of the classes.

After moving the classes to the larger Bahá’í Center in Portland, the Bahá’ís found a Bahá’í, Song Lor (Mike), who had lived in the city for 10 years but had lost contact with the Bahá’í community. During the first visit to their home, his wife declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

Song Lor now meets with a Bahá’í each week to study for his GED (high school equivalency diploma), and through him the friends found that there is a need in the Hmong community for such classes. A program was set up based on the Writings to study science, reading skills and math. While the adults study, their children have Bahá’í classes based on the Core Curriculum materials. There was one declaration at the very first GED class.

In consulting with Hmong elders about teaching, the Bahá’ís were told that it is perfectly proper to ask the Hmong how they feel about the Faith and if they would like to become Bahá’ís. [Page 3]Ridván message ‘AZAMAT B.E. 151 MAY 17, 1994

"There is so little time and so much to do..."

To the Bahá’ís of the World

Dearly loved Friends,

One year of the Three Year Plan is now behind us, a year in which the turmoil of the world engendered in hearts and minds both hope and fear, both optimism and despair, both admiration of people's courage and shame at the cruelty to which mankind can sink. Amidst these trials, the followers of Bahá’u’lláh press forward, clear-visioned and confident, raising the structure of God's Kingdom, suffusing society with a new spirit, and demonstrating to all people the revitalizing effect of the divine Teachings.

At the World Center, the 23rd of May saw the opening of a new five-year term of the membership of the International Teaching Center. In our first joint meeting we applauded the many initiatives which it had pursued during the previous term and urged their further development. Prominent among these initiatives was the guidance given to the Continental Counselors to promote consultation at local and national levels, among institutions and believers, leading to the initiation and sustaining of processes of growth in the Bahá’í community. Another was the progressive clarifying of various approaches to the teaching work. As the year has proceeded, these actions have intensified the impetus being given to the development of the Faith and its institutions by the Counselors, the Auxiliary Board members and their assistants, reinforcing the insight and encouragement that they give to the National and local Spiritual Assemblies and the individual believers.

The growing reputation of the Faith in the eyes of the world, and the attention that this is drawing to the World Center, underscore the importance of completing the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb and the buildings for the World Administrative Center of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. Since the issuing of the special appeal to the Bahá’í world to raise $74 million for this project during the course of the Three Year Plan, the response has been heartwarming, and it is our ardent hope that the continuation of this spirit of sacrifice will result in the speedy achievement of this goal and will ensure the uninterrupted progress of the work, drawing to God's Holy Mountain the admiring gaze of visitors and residents alike.

Study of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas is illuminating the lives of the rank and file of the believers. Awareness of the importance of upholding the principles of the Faith and obeying its laws is rising. Universal application of the law of Huqúqu’lláh has aroused an enthusiastic response. The friends' consciousness of their individual obligation to teach the Faith is growing. As they discharge their spiritual responsibilities and learn greater dependence on the confirmations of Bahá’u’lláh, they find that their faith gains new vitality, and their hearts fresh confidence. These are all areas where the action of the individual need not wait for either urging or help. Alone, and aided solely by the power of the Almighty, each believer is challenged to develop these spiritual strengths which will contribute beyond measure to the evolution of the community.

More systematic deepening

The human resources of the Cause are being augmented in two ways. People of capacity are being moved to embrace the Faith, reinforcing the ranks of those who are already serving. The latter, for their part, have been enriching their experience and acquiring greater capabilities through a more profound study of the Teachings and through expressing them in action. Recognizing the need for a more systematic deepening of their understanding of the Teachings and their application to society, the friends have increased the use of workshops and institutes, with notable success. In the year ahead these two complementary processes—attracting people of capacity and increasing our own abilities—must be further advanced, stimulating individual action and the harmonious development of a wide range of activities for the promotion of the Faith.

As the potentialities of the individual believers unfold, so the local and national Bahá’í institutions are gaining ability to foster the quality of the life of their communities and to conceive and implement imaginative programs. In many areas local Spiritual Assemblies have collaborated in teaching the Faith in a region. National Assemblies, likewise, have been evolving innovative projects to seize the opportunities presented by developments outside the Cause. Some examples of such activities, in very different fields, have been the Open Letter Project in Albania; the response to the extraordinary receptivity of the authorities and the general population in the Sakha and Buryat Republics in Siberia; and the agreement signed between the National Spiritual Assembly of the Marshall Islands and the local government of Majuro Atoll in response to the national authorities' request that the Bahá’ís assume responsibility for the operation of five state elementary schools.

To assist them in their endeavors, to help the Bahá’ís in other countries to initiate and maintain this process, and to dispel the misconceptions which inevitably surround so challenging a concept, a compilation on "Promoting Entry by Troops" has been issued. Study and application of the principles and approaches described therein will undoubtedly assist every Bahá’í teacher and community, whether in an area where entry by troops has been a reality for many years, or in one where no sign of it has yet appeared. In respect to the latter, it will help to convince individual believers of the reality and validity of this process and will enable Bahá’í communities to prepare themselves spiritually and materially for this surge forward, to eagerly anticipate its occurrence, to take those steps which will foster its beginning, and to ensure the measures which will perpetuate its growth.

Crucial prerequisite

The evolution of local and national Bahá’í institutions has made possible an increased measure of decentralization in the administration of the work. For this beneficial process to expand, however, the crucial prerequisite in most countries is the speedy improvement of the functioning of local Spiritual Assemblies. This calls for the close attention of every believer. These local Bahá’í institutions, ordained in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas itself, constitute a reservoir of strength and guidance which will amplify the effectiveness of the work of the Cause as they mature.

We live in the midst of populations which are in desperate need of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. It is our duty to present it lucidly and convincingly to as many souls as possible. The darkness and suffering around us not only are the signs of a need, but also present us with an opportunity which we must not fail to use. Conveying the message is merely the first step. We must then ensure that it is understood and applied, for, as we read in one of the letters written on behalf of the Guardian: "Until the public sees in the Bahá’í community a true pattern, in action, of something better than it already has, it will not respond to the Faith in large numbers." When people embrace the Cause, they should then, through the Teachings, develop their relationships with each other and with their fellow-citizens to gradually produce a truly Bahá’í community, a light and haven for the bewildered.

After the glorious events of the Heroic Age of the Faith, entry by troops of the peoples of the world into the Cause of God first occurred in Africa during the ministry of Shoghi Effendi, and then spread to other areas. Gradually, the Bahá’í communities of those regions are learning through experience and are evolving methods and programs which aim to draw these large numbers of believers together in functioning communities and to establish strong bases for continuing growth.

The notable rise in international collaboration during the past year, the settlement of pioneers, and the flow of traveling teachers have knit ever more closely the fabric of the Bahá’í community. Leading the way in such achievements, Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum undertook an arduous journey for the encouragement of the believers and the proclamation of the Faith, covering Russia and other lands which were formerly parts of the Soviet Union, from the Baltic States in the west to Siberia in the east, from the Central Asian republics in the south to St. Petersburg and Yakutsk in the north.

This Ridván seven inaugural National Conventions will be held. Our representatives at these historic events will be the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum for the election of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, and for that of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Mongolia in Ulaan Baatar; the Hand of the Cause ‘Alí-Muhammad Varqá for the election of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Slovenia and Croatia in Ljubljana; Counselor Lauretta King for the election of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kazakhstan in Alma-Ata, and for that of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek; and Counselor Shapoor Monadjem for the election of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Tajikistan in Dushanbe, and for that of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Uzbekistan in Tashkent. The present Regional Spiritual Assembly of Central Asia, with its seat in Ashkhabad, will then become the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Turkmenistan.

Two primary tasks

The end of the century is fast approaching. There is so little time and so much to do. We call upon every follower of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh to consecrate the utmost endeavor to the two primary tasks of teaching the Faith to every thirsting soul, and of providing the material means for the completion of the monumental projects being pursued on Mount Carmel. Whatever the outward conditions of mankind in the year ahead, the Bahá’í community must gather strength, demonstrate more clearly the distinguishing character of its way of life, reach out with confidence to proclaim and teach its message, and draw down in ever-greater measure the confirming assistance of the Hosts of the Supreme Concourse. In every aspect of this work, it is the individual Bahá’í who holds the key to victory.

The Universal House of Justice

Ridván 151 B.E. [Page 4]

International collaboration goals!

On June 27, 1993, the Universal House of Justice defined the international needs of the Faith by four categories. These are goals that the worldwide Bahá’í community must achieve in the Three Year Plan. Information on the specific needs of many of these countries is available from the Office of Pioneering at the Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091. Telephone 708-733-3508; fax 708-733-3509.

CATEGORY 1

The following are countries and territories where there are now especially fertile opportunities for the rapid spread of the Faith that must be urgently met.

Africa Benin, Congo Republic, Djibouti (Ethiopia), Equatorial Guinea*+, Guinea, Guinea Bissau

Americas Nicaragua

Asia Asiatic Russia including Sakhalin, Azerbaijan, Cambodia), Georgia, Kazakhstan Kirgystan*, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan*

Europe Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland+, Russia*, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Ukraine

CATEGORY 2

The following are countries and territories where the Faith is established, but pioneers are needed to stimulate the process of growth and to assist in the opening of new centers.

Africa Bophuthatswana, Botswana+, Burkina, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Ciskei, Gabon, The Gambia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi*+, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Réunion, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal+, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, St. Helena*, Tanzania, Transkei, Uganda, Venda

Americas Argentina, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, Bahamas, Bermuda, Chile, Dominica, East Leeward Islands, Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe+, Guatemala*, Jamaica including the Cayman Islands, Martinique+, Mexico, Paraguay+, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, St, Vincent and the Grenadines, West Leeward Islands+

Asia Andaman and Nicobar Islands, South Korea+, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Australasia Cook Islands+, Eastern Caroline Islands*+, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands+, Nauru, New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands+, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Caroline Islands

Europe Andorra, Azores, Belgium+, Channel Islands, Corsica, Cyprus, Denmark, Elba, Estonia Faroe Islands, Finland, Gibraltar, Greece*+, Latvia*, Liechtenstein, Lithuania*, Madeira, Malta, Monaco, Portugal+, Sardinia, Spitzbergen

CATEGORY 3

The following are countries and territories where the process of expansion and consolidation has a significant momentum, but there is a need for pioneers who can undertake specific tasks, such as arousing the interest of prominent people, strengthening the communities in certain areas, or assisting with projects of social and economic develop-ment.

Africa Cameroon, Chad*, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland+, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Americas Barbados, Belize+, Bolivia+, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica+, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Haiti+, Honduras, Panama+, Peru, Suriname*, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela

Asia Bangladesh, Hong Kong+, India, Japan*, Macaw+, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan

Australasia Papua New Guinea+, Samoa*

Europe Canary Islands+, Iceland, Romania*

CATEGORY 4

The following are countries and territories where pioneers are greatly needed, but entry is difficult because of restrictions on Bahá’í activity, lack of security, or other circumstances. These conditions present a need for believers who will resourcefully seek out opportunities for pioneering.

Africa Angola, Comoros, Liberia, Mauritania, Mozambique, Somalia, Togo+, Zaire

Americas Cuba

Asia Afghanistan, Armenia, Bhutan, Brunei, Indonesia, North Korea, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Tadzhikistan*, Vietnam

Australasia French Polynesia*, Wallis and Fortuna

\* Need for traveling teachers specified, to date + Opportunities for youth

Five-year-old Bahá’í sends 'lot of money' to Fund as he prepares to pioneer with family

This precious letter was written by Kevin Alexander Hewitt Kastle the day after his 5th birthday and on the eve of his family's departure for the pioneering field.

National Bahá’í Center Office of the Treasurer Wilmette, IL

Dear Friends,

I'm sending you a lot of money because I love all of you. Send it to all the Funds.

This is not all the money I have but I sent you more than I have.

We're [going pioneering] soon and my mommy wonders how we can send money to the Fund while we are there. But we will send some.

We're Bahá’ís. I bet you are too. I love all of you. I would like to see all of you and see how the Funds are doing.

Love, Kevin

Friends close to winning goal for traveling teaching trips

In his message to the 1943 All-America Centennial Convention, Shoghi Effendi expressed deep gratitude for work of the pioneers and traveling teachers, saying: "To the band of pioneers, whether settlers or itinerant teachers, who have forsaken their homes, who have scattered far and wide, who have willingly sacrificed their comfort, their health and even their lives for the prosecution of this Plan;...I myself, as well as the entire Bahá’í world, owe a debt of gratitude that no one can measure or describe.

"To the sacrifices they have made, to the courage they have so consistently shown, to the fidelity they have so remarkably displayed, to the resourcefulness, the discipline, the constancy and devotion they have so abundantly demonstrated, future generations viewing the magnitude of their labors in their proper perspective, will no doubt pay adequate tribute a tribute no less ardent and well-deserved than the recognition extended by the present-day builders of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh to the Dawn-Breakers, whose shining deeds have signalized the birth of the Heroic Age of His Faith."

Thanks to the outstanding spiritual commitment to teaching and reporting to the National Assembly evidenced in this first year of the Three Year Plan, we are close to achieving our initial goal of deploying 2,000 international pioneers and traveling teachers. With only months to go before completing "Mission 19," the mid-point of the Plan, it is critical that the friends report all international trips of any nature taken during the last Bahá’í year, and begin planning teaching trips for the summer months and beyond.

In the Tablets of the Divine Plan, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá told the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada that three vital conditions must be fulfilled by our communities. The third of these conditions is that "Teachers must continually travel to all parts of the continent, nay, rather, to all parts of the world...."

The National Spiritual Assemblies of the countries listed below welcome the support of such traveling teachers, whose vital role Shoghi Effendi describes as "to give the final touch to the work that has already been done" and to "encourage and inspire the individual believers, and to broaden and deepened their vision of the task that is to be done...in the spirit of simple and whole hearted cooperation."

There are certain areas of most urgent need not listed below about which the friends can only be informed by contacting their local Spiritual Assembly, Auxiliary Board member, or the Office of Pioneering.

AFRICA: Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Senegal, South Africa and St. Helena, Transkei, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

AMERICAS: Alaska, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Belize, Brazil, [Page 5]

3 YEAR PLAN 1993-1996

MISSION 19 ‘AZAMAT B.E. 151 MAY 17, 1994 (6 MONTHS TO GO!)

TEACHING

HOMEFRONT TRAVEL GOALS 3,000 3,357

HOMEFRONT PIONEER GOALS 500 477

INT'L PIONEER, TRAVEL GOALS 2,000 1,652

Goal for the 3 Year Plan Completed as of this report

TEMPERATURE’S RISING!

Teaching 'Fires' Enkindled Across the Country

Billings Denver Minneapolis Iowa City Walla Walla Ames Portland Marquette Fort Wayne Cleveland Lancaster Rochester Woodburn Detroit San Francisco. Las Vegas San Diego Scottsdale, Mesa, Avondale, Phoenix Las Cruces Jicarilla Wichita Providence Charlottesville Charlotte/Gastonia Greensboro Durham Chattanooga Florence Conway Kingstree Columbia Boca Raton Covington Rolla Oklahoma City Augusta Tallahassee Magdelene Carney Institute Central Dade County Houston Miami, OK South DeKalb County Sarasota St Petersburg

In recent weeks the National Teaching Committee has received news of teaching victories from all over the country:

• The number of reported firesides has risen.
• The number of communities making teaching plans is on the upswing.
• New teaching campaigns are being launched almost every day.

The fires ignited must now spread to other areas, until the entire United States is ablaze!

Let us continue to carry "the torch of God's undying flame to the waiting multitudes" and witness the victory of the Divine Plan.

THE FUND

(As of March 31, 1994)

FOUR MAJOR FUNDS Goal for 150 B.E.: $25,000,000 Contributions to Date: $13,610,235

NATIONAL FUND From Nat'l Bahá’í Fund: $11,613,960 Earmarked Dollars: $1,355,224 Total Contributions: $12,969,184

INTERNATIONAL FUND From Nat'l Bahá’í Fund: $916,667 Earmarked Dollars: $438,557 Total Contributions: $1,355,224

ARC PROJECTS FUND From Nat'l Bahá’í Fund: $1,872,473 Earmarked Dollars: $1,382,993 LEOBRIS $3,255,466

CONTINENTAL FUND From Nat'l Bahá’í Fund: $110,000 Earmarked Dollars: $174,725 Total Contributions: $284,725

TOTAL ENROLLMENTS

April......... 82 Year to date.... 1,898

Does your community have a teaching project? Have you seen victories in teaching? Let us know. Please call the National Teaching Office at 708-733-3494. [Page 6]

Robe of Light

The Persian Years of the Supreme Prophet Bahá’u’lláh 1817-1853 by David S. Ruhe HC $24.95/CODE-ROL

In this study of the life of Bahá’u’lláh, Dr. David Ruhe focuses on the early years of Bahá’u’lláh’s life from His birth in 1817 to His banishment to Iraq in 1853. The book discusses that most mysterious time when, in the underground prison, Bahá’u’lláh became aware of His station as the Manifestation of God for this age and embarked on His world-embracing, world-healing mission.

9-1/2" x 6-1/4", 230pp., contents, list of illustrations, preface and acknowledgments, introduction, appendices, glossary, bibliography, references, index George Ronald, Publisher

On the Shoulders of Giants

by Craig Loehle SC $9.95 / CODE-OSG

Isaac Newton is famous for his statement that if he saw farther than others it was because he had stood on the shoulders of giants. The theme of this book is the same: what we can see when our perspective is elevated. If we combine science and religion into a genuine partnership, we will be able to solve problems that have bedeviled humanity for thousands of years. Mr. Loehle’s essays explore how the partnership of science and religion can be used to address real problems and issues such as racism.

7" x 4-1/2", 201pp., contents, acknowledgments, introduction, bibliography, references George Ronald, Publisher

Melodies From the City of the Covenant

CD $16.95 / CODE-MFCCCD CS $10.95 / CODE-MFCCC

This unique album includes a special introduction in Persian by Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, with chants by Hands of the Cause of God Dr. Varqá and Mr. Furútan. This collection of Persian music and chanting was recorded at the World Congress in New York, featuring Dr. Manoochehr Sadeghi on santour, accompanied by Behruz Sana’i on the zarb. A selection of prayers and poems is chanted and sung by Shokouh Rezai and Narges Nouhnejad.

78 minutes Live Unity Productions

There are only 300 copies of the deluxe leather edition of The Kitáb-i-Aqdas in print. To order, please call 1-800-999-9019 $39.95 each

Prayers For Young Bahá’ís

compiled from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and the Greatest Holy Leaf HC $11.95/CODE-PFYB

Children will cherish this illustrated compilation of some of the short prayers of the Central Figures of the Faith. Passages have been chosen for easy reading and memorization. A charming gift for children from 6-12.

6-11/16" x 6-3/4", 36pp., contents Kalimát Press

Fires in Many Hearts

by Doris McKay SC $15.95 CODE-FIMH

Fires in Many Hearts is the stirring "life of a Bahá’í" by Doris McKay, who became a Bahá’í in upstate New York in 1925. After her passing in late 1992, the Universal House of Justice wrote, "her years of devoted service will long be remembered by countless believers whose lives were touched by her manifold activities on behalf of the Cause." Intimate and moving portraits of Grace and Harlan Ober, Louis Gregory, May Maxwell, Martha Root, the Ives, Dorothy Baker, and many other early believers show how the Faith was taught, how racial amity was achieved, and how they took the first baby steps in the Administrative Order.

5-1/2" x 8-1/4", 338pp., photographs Nine Pines Publishing

REFER ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

SW $75.00/CODE-RA3.5 OR RA5.25

A reference program for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s writings and utterances. Among the authenticated texts included are Memorials of the Faithful, Some Answered Questions, The Secret of Divine Civilization, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of the Divine Plan, the Tablet to Dr. Auguste Forel, A Traveler’s Narrative, Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, prayers of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá found only in the U.S. or U.K. editions of Bahá’í Prayers, the economic talk found in Foundations of World Unity, the Tablet to the Hague, and passages from various compilations researched and compiled by the Universal House of Justice. Among the included talks and explanations based on notes are Paris Talks, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London.

Information about the editions of publications used to compile the program is also included and easily retrieved. The user’s manual provides information on hardware requirements; installing the software; starting the program; changing colors to alter the background screen or the text screen; making ‘Abdu’l-Bahá REFER memory resident; changing the hot key; exporting text to a word processor; and problems, questions, and solutions. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá REFER will help Bahá’ís to delve into the vast seas of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s teachings to acquire the "priceless treasures" it holds.

5-1/4" floppy disks or 3-1/2" disks, user’s manual (please specify 5-1/4" or 3-1/2" disks when ordering) Crimson Publications [Page 7]

Promoting Entry by Troops

A Statement and Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice SC $3.50/CODE-PEBT

The Universal House of Justice released this statement to help the friends "understand, welcome, initiate and sustain" the process of entry by troops, which "will soon become an established pattern for the growth of the Faith in country after country." They also urge the friends to "study this compilation, to understand the coherence of its statements, and to use its counsels to lend a renewed impetus to the spread of the Faith and the establishment of the institutions of the Cause of God."

5-1/2" x 8-1/2", 60pp. Bahá’í Publications Australia

The Bahá’í Songbook

Volume 1 SC $10.95/ CODE-BSB

A brand new collection of songs to enhance the quality of music and encourage singing at Feasts, Holy Days, Bahá’í schools, and firesides. Melodies, lyrics, and simple guitar chords are included. The Bahá’í Songbook can be used by beginners, professionals, solo performers, and groups. Designed and embellished with meditative illustrations, this excellent new publication will help spread the word of God through the arts and deepen the spirit of the Faith.

The Bahá’í Songbook features some of the most popular Bahá’í songs of recent years—Mona with the Children, Traces, Peace Moves, The Royal Falcon, Storming the Gates of Heaven, Unity House, and more than 20 others.

8-1/4" x 11-3/4", 64pp., contents Bahá’í Publishing Trust - United Kingdom

BAHÁ’Í SONGBOOK 1 ‘AZAMAT B.E. 151 MAY 17, 1994 NEW FROM BPT

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh

New Edition by Bahá’u’lláh HC $11.00#/CODE-TB

The Bahá’í Publishing Trust has just released a new edition of Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh to match the series of maroon hardcover editions of the writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh contains 16 of Bahá’u’lláh's most significant and well-loved Tablets. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has urged us to read a number of them with close attention so that we will have a model of how to be and how to live and may become the center of attraction wherever people come together. Also included is the Book of the Covenant, which Shoghi Effendi says will enable Bahá’ís to withstand every test and the attacks of enemies outside the Faith.

A Notice to Our Customers

Effective May 1, 1994

1. All domestic orders charged on an account will be due 30 days after the date of invoice. This is a change from the unpublished policy of 90 days after the date of invoice.

2. Credit balances under $5.00 and over 4 months old will be donated to the National Fund. Those customers with credit balances over $5.00 will be issued reimbursement checks.

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Life, Death, and Immortality The Journey of the Soul

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

Convention grasps 'key to victory' of the Cause

As he described the love of the Supreme Institution for this community, a picture emerged of the higher calling to which we are summoned.

The challenge ahead

Several fundamental issues face American Bahá’ís, said Mr. Henderson. The first of these is developing a passion for teaching. There exists in the United States a growing openness to Bahá’í principles, he said, but the Faith is growing too slowly to exert its influence on events.

In short, he added, we must establish habits of teaching that will open hearts to Bahá’u’lláh.

The second fundamental issue is inspiring individual initiative. Mr. Henderson noted the Ridván 150 message's appeal to the individual believer, "who possesses within himself or herself the measures of initiative that ensure the success of any global Bahá’í enterprise."

He wondered aloud whether sometimes individuals feel stifled. A balance must be struck, he said, between audacious initiative and the loving guidance of institutions. In that way, progress will accelerate.

A third issue facing the friends, he said, is building loving, nurturing and mature local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í communities.

If we exhibit "bonds and ties that are stronger than blood," Mr. Henderson said, we will be "seized with power" and people will be magnetically drawn to the Faith.

A fourth challenge is fostering race unity and equality of the sexes. A statement by the National Assembly on the equality of women and men is upcoming, and the race unity work is well under way, said Mr. Henderson.

But an unfortunate pattern has unfolded, he said, in which diversity is emphasized more than the power of unity.

"Is this appropriate in light of the Writings?" he asked, noting the few references to diversity and the legion of references to unity in the Sacred Texts.

Only through living our unity will the Bahá’í community become a true model for the peoples of the world, he said.

The fifth important issue is meeting the financial requirements of the Faith. Although admirable progress has been made, Mr. Henderson said, a core of the friends shoulders a disproportionate burden in supporting the Funds.

Universal participation, he pointed out, will bring both spiritual and practical blessings at a time in which unprecedented opportunities for the Faith exist.

Three Year Plan update

Those opportunities underscore the spiritual advances made in the first third of the Three Year Plan, Mr. Henderson reported.

To the Universal House of Justice Dearly Loved and Esteemed Members,

The delegates to the 85th Bahá’í National Convention gathered in the presence of Counselors Jacqueline Delahunt, Wilma Ellis, and Arturo Serrano and retired member of the Universal House of Justice Dr. David Ruhe and Mrs. Margaret Ruhe were heartened to learn in your Ridván 151 message of the progress of the Faith throughout the world. We were likewise touched by reports from our beloved members of the National Spiritual Assembly about their meeting with you, accounts that reflected the depth of love and kindness you showered upon them. The effects of this guidance and encouragement have had a profound influence on the atmosphere of our consultation which has, we feel, exhibited what may well be an unprecedented level of maturity, love, and unity.

We have also been inspired by reports from our National Spiritual Assembly regarding successes and progress in the American Bahá’í community in fulfilling the goals of the Three Year Plan. Specifically, we have been encouraged by achievements in the arenas of pioneering, traveling teaching, and homefront pioneering, as well as important increases in the Fund. We have also been uplifted by reports of a steady increase in recent enrollments. It is our fondest hope that the years of planting seeds and nourishing growth will at long last yield a mighty harvest.

However, as you so aptly note in your message, and we now understand more clearly, "There is so little time and so much to do." As you also observe, and as we have confirmed in our own consultation, our community, however devoted, energetic, and well intended, cannot achieve the glorious goals of the Faith without the immediate increase in the number of believers, and this can only occur through the process of entry by troops. This increase in believers is also the most effective method by which we can provide the material means for the completion of the projects on Mount Carmel.

As you state in closing, the fulfillment of this task can only be accomplished when the community achieves the collective realization that "it is the individual Bahá’í who holds the key to victory." Therefore, we, the assembled delegates at this 85th Convention, pledge to take upon our individual shoulders the task of sharing with those in our districts this clear message. We further pledge to help foster communities that will exemplify the very "pattern in action," which may offer "a light and haven for the bewildered," a pure draught for "every thirsting soul."

We humbly beseech your prayers at the Holy Theshold that each one of us may arise and serve.

Delegates to the 85th Bahá’í National Convention April 22, 1994

Delegates to the 85th Bahá’í National Convention of the United States Dearly loved Friends,

Your message has thrilled our hearts. We are especially grateful for the news that notable progress is being made in expansion on the home front and that a massive deployment of pioneers and traveling teachers has been effected during the first third of the Three Year Plan. May this evidence of movement be the sign of an unrelenting momentum that will propel the American Bahá’í community to new peaks of triumph. You should have no doubt that conditions are ripe for the realization of such a wonderful prospect.

We welcome your pledge as delegates to impress upon the individual friends when you return home the awareness that they hold the key to victory in their own hands. Tell them to persevere in courage, patience and confidence and doors of success will be opened to them. You may also rest assured of our ardent supplications at the Holy Threshold on behalf of your beloved community.

The Universal House of Justice April 24, 1994

Seven months remain in Mission 19, the National Teaching Committee's challenge to win the numerical goals of the Plan by the anniversary in November of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh. Already, however, significant teaching successes have been achieved:

• as of the first Day of Ridván, international pioneers and traveling teachers totaled 1,636—closing in on the goal of 2,000;
• homefront pioneers numbered 447, near the goal of 500;
• domestic traveling teachers exceeded the goal of 3,000 by more than 300;
• enrollments of 2,349 believers were recorded, an increase of 48 percent from the previous year and the highest total since 1987.

A change in spirit among the friends has brought about these successes, said Mr. Henderson.

He counted among the more exciting initiatives during the year the HEAT Wave nationwide fireside campaign and the burgeoning number of teaching projects.

And he saw these as evidence of a developing trend toward greater enrollments and teaching energy—if, he said, we harbor the spirit in our hearts before we enter the field.

Looking outward

The historical continuum of the Faith's institutions also was on the mind of Mr. Kazemzadeh.

Fifty-three years ago, he told the Convention, he stood behind Shoghi Effendi as the Guardian chanted the Tablet of Visitation at the Holy Threshold.

Now, in January, he again was present as a member of the Universal House of Justice performed this supplication.

A similar "merging of the institutions" exists in the external affairs work of the Faith, said Mr. Kazemzadeh.

From Bahá’u’lláh's Tablets to the Kings onward, he said, relations with the world and its leaders have been integral to the development of the Faith.

A special role in that arena falls to the American Bahá’í community today, he pointed out, especially in view of the United States' global position and the United Nations' presence here.

It is a role the Universal House of Justice has appealed to the National Assembly not to diminish, even in the face of financial challenges that have resulted in a dilution of the workforce and temporary closing of the Office of Public Information.

Indeed, he said, the Bahá’í community is being exhorted to move its involvement in world affairs a giant step forward, until the Cause of God speaks for all peoples with a voice of moral persuasion based on the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.

All external affairs activity, then, must further that aim, whether it be in defending the Faith and its believers wherever they are under persecution; working with the UN and its non-governmental organizations; sustaining support for the Martin Luther King Holiday Commission and the Carter Center; continuing our linchpin efforts toward ratifying international conventions; or helping local Spiritual Assemblies work toward their goal of making local officials more aware of the Faith and its aims.

Looking within

It was to the American community's support of the material needs of the Faith that Mr. Davis addressed his remarks to the Convention.

The gratifying response to the "Vision in Action" message of the National Assembly has laid a foun- [Page 9]

National Convention

dation for sustained levels of giving, he said.

The keys to its continuation, he said, lie in expanding the number of contributors to the Fund as well as the over-all number of believers in this community.

Mr. Davis called on local Spiritual Assemblies to fulfill the function of inspiring in the friends a spirit of giving.

And he urged the delegates to help the community look beyond provincial interests to its pivotal role in the worldwide development of the Faith.

With that preparation, the Ridván 151 message of the Universal House of Justice was presented to the Convention.

Twin priorities

Counselor Jacqueline Delahunt summed up for the delegates the ongoing priorities contained in the message: completion of the Arc Projects and teaching.

These, plus the emphasis on individual initiative, she said, add up to powerful guidance for the Bahá’í community.

She related how a young man in her South Dakota community had his heart set on serving for a year at the World Center of the Faith.

At the last minute, though, the youth re-examined his priorities and decided instead to stay home and work so he could raise a unit for the Arc.

Counselor Serrano also saw in the Ridván message the means for connecting all individual believers to the effort to bring about entry by troops.

No one can feel isolated anymore, he said. In the same vein, no local Spiritual Assembly can be said to be “jeopardized”; rather, it is a body “with capacity to grow.”

Completing the projects on Mt. Carmel will cement that connectedness, said Counselor Wilma Ellis.

“The click, click, click of machines [during construction] is preparing the way for entry by troops,” she said. “When people come into the Faith, it will be their Arc.”

Counselor Ellis invited particular attention to one facet of the Arc in light of the Ridván message’s exhortation to “gather strength”: the Center for the Study of the Texts.

“Where are the scholars who will study the Scriptures?” she asked, urging Bahá’í communities to guide young people toward fields of study that will produce such minds.

“It takes many years to grow a scholar, so we’d better get started with it,” she said.

Similarly, said Counselor Ellis, the Faith needs an army of confident speakers. We must turn ourselves into great teachers.

Consultation

The stage was set for consultation among the delegates over the next two and a half days on such vital issues as teaching, Bahá’í community life, race unity, the Funds, and pioneering.

Paul Lample, a member of the National Teaching Committee, reminded delegates at the outset that, as Sir Winston Churchill once said, “This is not the end or the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning.”

He said the past year’s initiatives, including the Atlanta conference on large-scale growth, have begun to transform teaching efforts in the community.

One piece of evidence, he said, is that enrollments are coming in from every corner of the nation. No single district, in fact, recorded more than 100 enrollments during the year.

Mr. Lample attributed the new teaching spirit in part to a higher level of cooperation between communities and their Auxiliary Board members and assistants.

Other key factors, he said, have included the recognition that many avenues of teaching legitimately lead to growth, a renewed emphasis on teaching about Bahá’u’lláh and His message, and placing youth in the forefront of teaching.

The tulips on the grounds of the Bahá’í House of Worship bloomed literally overnight, to the delight of National Convention delegates and visitors.

Fellow National Teaching Committee member Ken Bowers put it another way: “I’m jazzed by what’s going on in this country.”

One thousand of the year’s traveling teachers reported their involvement just that week, he said. “They’re on fire and want to make their contributions count toward the Three Year Plan goals.”

Mr. Bowers asked the friends to take heart if the same level of activity is not yet present in their community.

“It soon will be,” he said, if the proper spirit is present.

Homecoming

Delegates also were heartened in their consultation by words of encouragement from Dr. and Mrs. Ruhe and by a special Saturday evening program.

In between, the hushed assemblage heard a tape of the National Public Radio commentary on the slaying of three Bahá’í pioneers in South Africa. As the tape trailed off, a refrain of “Alláh’u’Abhá” was quietly but resolutely taken up.

Mrs. Ruhe, in her remarks, observed that spiritual rebirth and renewal of the individual is the main teaching of the Faith.

It is the first spiritual principle, she said, just as unity is the first social principle.

She also counseled delegates to win hearts as well as minds.

“Hospitality, love and friendship will bring in more Bahá’ís than talk,” she said, adding that music also serves uniquely to touch the soul.

Dr. Ruhe told of the couple’s recent trip to South America, where they toured the three Bahá’í universities that promise to blaze new paths in values-based education.

Down memory lane

Saturday night, delegates and guests enjoyed the recollections of Elsie Austin, whose half-century of service to the Faith connects the early community-builders to a Faith that today has emerged from obscurity.

Dr. Austin shared an incident from the first National Convention she attended that left a lasting impression on her.

Delegates were in the midst of consultation on administration and teaching, she related, when sharp disagreement broke out. Suddenly a non-delegate took the floor to verbally attack the National Spiritual Assembly in general and one member in particular.

Then “one lovely voice” could be heard saying the Remover of Difficulties, to which all joined in.

The effect, said Dr. Austin, was “electrifying.” Tensions receded and, without comment, the chairman took out his agenda and proceeded to the next item.

“To a new believer it was a revelation,” she said. “There was no acrimony, no chastisement, only the power of prayer and dedication.”

Dr. Austin’s remarks were followed by a slide presentation on the development of the sacred institutions of the National Convention and the National Spiritual Assembly.

The program took the Faith in America from the days of Temple Unity to the 1960s, emphasizing the community’s steadfast guidance from and devotion to the representatives of God on earth: first ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, then Shoghi Effendi, the Hands of the Cause of God, and the Universal House of Justice.

The self-styled 85th Bahá’í National Convention Choir, a group of singers from 13 states conducted by Tom Price, brought the evening to an appropriate conclusion.

As audience members sang along and linked arms, the choir presented an uplifting medley of songs beloved by Bahá’ís. The choir then made a transition to the present with “O Bahá’u’lláh” from the oratorio first heard at the second Bahá’í World Congress in 1992.

The Right of God

The final morning of National Convention was devoted to our material devotion to the Cause.

Daryush D. Haghighi, a Trustee of Huqúqu’lláh in America, reminded the delegates that this community was instrumental in making the Right of God universal.

Since then, he said, the believers have shown loving obedience to this spiritual law.

Fifty-three percent of offerings in 1992-93 were first-time payments, he pointed out, adding that the letters that accompany Huqúqu’lláh invariably end with such words as “we pray that this offering may be acceptable at the Holy Threshold.”

Dr. Haghighi said the Right of God is destined to have a great effect, both on our personal behavior and on society as a whole.

If we remember that 19 percent of our assets belong to God, he said, no longer will the old order exist and we will be that new race of men brought into being by the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh.

Then, the impact will flow from the economy of the family to that of the Faith and the entire human race.

Ongoing deepening on the spiritual application of the law will be necessary to bring this about, said Dr. Haghighi.

All laws of the Faith, including Huqúqu’lláh, must be presented as a gift to people the moment they come into the Faith, he said.

Dr. Ruhe also addressed the “genius” behind the law of Huqúqu’lláh.

In contrast with the United Nations, which must rely on governments for funding, he said, the Universal House of Justice can draw on the support of the individual.

In future, he said, the Universal House of Justice will receive nearly all of its support for expanding the Cause in this manner, and it will fuel pioneering, traveling teaching and other activities worldwide.

As such, he concluded, the Right of God is the most important structural element of the world society we are building.

The Funds

Mr. Davis opened consultation on the Funds with an announcement that the National Assembly anticipates closing the fiscal year without an operating deficit.

He cautioned, however, that capital deficits remain. There are significant ongoing property obligations that must be met from the Faith’s meager discretionary resources.

Fortunately, this community does not look inward to its weaknesses but outward to development and growth, he said. When the spirit is moved, we find out deep down that we have capacities we didn’t know existed.

He drew a parallel between the capacity to love and the capacity to be generous, and called on the institutions to find the concepts and words that will give life to this capacity.

One element that Mr. Davis said will be critical to the maturity of local communities is the Local Assembly Goal Program. In the past, goals were suggested by the Treasurer’s Office; starting this year, communities will set their own goals. [Page 10]

Teaching Committee establishes National Arts Task Force

“That day will the Cause spread like wildfire when its spirit and teachings are presented on the stage or in art and literature as a whole. Art can better awaken such noble sentiments than cold rationalizing, especially among the mass of the people.” (Shoghi Effendi)

The Guardian said it is the arts that will ignite the wildfire—not only those of us who are professional artists.

It is the general body of believers who arise to use the arts as a tool in their teaching, deepening, and social and economic development activities who will reach the masses.

The National Teaching Committee has established a National Arts Task Force (NATF) and asked its members to work, in collaboration with professional Bahá’í artists nationwide, to develop a program that will allow each believer to know that, whether you are a professional artist or not, the arts can play a role in your teaching efforts.

The goal of the NATF is to foster the integration of the arts into all areas of Bahá’í community activity.

In collaboration with professional Bahá’í artists nationwide, the NATF will produce a publication titled Art Matters. Three issues will be produced each year to provide you and your community with in-hand information and resources to help your teaching and deepening efforts.

Plainly and simply, this is a resource guide to support the use of the arts toward massive expansion.

The Art Matters resource guide will highlight creative ways to teach and deepen; present ways to use the arts for Holy Day programs, the Nineteen Day Feast, public meetings and weekly prayer services; print a calendar of events for nationwide Bahá’í concerts, plays, workshops, projects and performances; index where to obtain artistic resources (such as banners, songs, books, T-shirts, posters, scripts) created by Bahá’í artists to assist teaching and deepening activities; create a national directory of Bahá’í artists willing to use their art in local and traveling teaching; list scholarships; and offer space for classified ads.

And, of course, there will be space devoted to exhibiting work donated to the newsletter in the form of poems, drawings, graphic designs, children’s stories—any art form capable of being printed.

You’ll find a subscription form for the Art Matters resource guide on this page in The American Bahá’í.

If you would like to be a part of this effort toward massive expansion, please write to the NATF via the Bahá’í National Center.

We invite you to send us (a) announcements and photographs of newsworthy Bahá’í events that incorporate any of the arts, (b) profiles of local artists in your community who use their art to teach or express the principles of the Faith, (c) inspirational anecdotes of arts-related teaching and deepening activities, and (d) ideas you would like to share about successfully using the arts in social and economic development projects.

Also, please let us know about any upcoming performances, conferences, or activities that you would like listed in the calendar of events.

In addition, if you are a professional artist who has created items and resources that can assist in the teaching work of your fellow Bahá’ís, please refer to the Art Matters subscription form for details on how to get a listing in the resource guide.

We look forward to receiving your input, and hope that you and your community begin using the arts to spread the Faith like wildfire today!

ART MATTERS Subscription Form

ART MATTERS is a resource guide to support the use of the arts towards massive expansion. ART MATTERS, a publication of the Bahá’í National Arts Task Force, will provide you and your community with on hand information and resources to assist your teaching and deepening efforts.

Please send ART MATTERS to: Name ____________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Telephone _______________________________________________________________ Bahá’í ID # (for individuals) _______________________________________________ Bahá’í Locality Code (for LSAs, groups) _______________________________________

Please enclose for your one year subscription (3 issues): [ ] $9 individual       [ ] $12 group       [ ] $15 LSA

Please make check payable to the National Teaching Committee, re: ART MATTERS, National Bahá’í Center, Wilmette, IL 60091

We invite you to send us a) accounts and photographs of newsworthy Bahá’í events that use any of the arts, b) profiles of local artists who use their art to teach or express the principles of the Faith, c) inspirational anecdotes of arts-related teaching and deepening activities, d) ideas you would like to share about successfully using the arts in social and economic development projects, and ‎d) e)‎ please inform us of any upcoming performances, conferences, or activities that you would like listed in the Calendar of Events. In addition, if you have created any artistic resources that can be used for teaching and deepening efforts, such as banners, scripts, children’s books, songs, buttons, posters, please send us a brief description of the item as well as your name and address/phone number through which readers can contact you directly. Please write to us via the National Teaching Committee, Attention: National Arts Task Force, National Bahá’í Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Greensboro Bahá’ís mark 99th birthday of first North Carolina believer

On January 29, the Bahá’ís of Greensboro, North Carolina, gathered at the Bahá’í Center in Greensboro to celebrate the 99th birthday of Louise H. Sawyer, the first Bahá’í in North Carolina.

After an opening prayer, Joseph Sawyer Jr. recalled how his mother had been introduced to the Faith by traveling teacher Ruth Moffett. Farzad Roberts then spoke on progressive revelation, the topic emphasized by Mrs. Moffett in all her presentations of the Faith.

William Tucker, another of the early Bahá’ís in North Carolina, paid tribute to Mrs. Sawyer’s service and dedication, adding that she was always kind and loving and never criticized anyone in any way. Her home, he said, was always open to everyone, black or white, rich or poor, educated or uneducated.

After a video presentation of the early days of the Faith in North Carolina by Joe Sawyer, a choir closed the program by singing “Alláh’u’Abhá,” after which cake was served as everyone sang “happy birthday” to Mrs. Sawyer.

At Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette: Second Arjmand Scripture Conference held

The second Haj Mehdi Arjmand Conference on Scripture was held March 25-27 at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette, Illinois.

The purpose ‎was was was‎ to explore scripture, both Bahá’í and that of other religions, using perspectives derived both from the Bahá’í revelation and academic scholarship.

Among those taking part were persons from Canada, Japan, four European countries, and 11 states.

Each of the conference’s five formal sessions included presentations reflecting its particular theme. The themes were: (1) “Revelation: The Roles of the Divine and Human,” (2) “Revelation and the Human Response,” (3) “Myth and Parable in Scripture,” (4) “Examination of Specific Works by Bahá’u’lláh,” and (5) “New Revelation and Old.”

A dozen presentations were made during the course of the weekend. The conference was opened Friday evening with brief remarks including a talk about Haj ‎Medi Mehdi‎ Arjmand (1860-1940) by one of his grand-daughters, Minoo Mahboubian, who explained that Haj Mehdi Arjmand was a highly effective Bahá’í interpreter of both the Old and New Testaments; for two years he regularly debated an American Protestant missionary in Iran about biblical prophecy, and his arguments were eventually published in Persian.

A volume of selected papers from this and the first Arjmand Scripture Conference is planned. The abstracts of the conference may be obtained by sending a check for $3 to the Research Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. The check should be payable to “Bahá’í Services Fund” and marked for “Arjmand Abstracts.”

A third Arjmand conference is planned for March 24-26, 1995, on the theme of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.

Dr. Robert H. Stockman, director of the Research Office at the Bahá’í National Center, welcomes participants to the second Haj Mehdi Arjmand Conference on Scripture. [Page 11]

The Annual Report

Of the National Spiritual Assembly

Fundamental Issues Facing the American Bahá’í Community

Toward the end of Shoghi Effendi’s ministry he made the following appeal to the American believers about the teaching work:

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

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

The need for growth is urgent. Its slow rate compels the National Spiritual Assembly to raise fundamental questions that our community must discuss and resolve.

Developing a passion for teaching

The time is right for the Bahá’í Faith to begin exerting a greater ‎in-uence influence‎ in society. The growing openness to Bahá’í principles and ideas, combined with the declining confidence in old approaches, is creating unparalleled opportunities for the Bahá’í Faith to infuse a fresh spirit and to point our struggling nation in a new direction. However, the Bahá’í community is too small and is growing too slowly to sway mainstream patterns of thought, spirit, and action. To accelerate the expansion of the Bahá’í community, we must cultivate a passion for teaching among individuals, Bahá’í families, and local spiritual assemblies. Sharing Bahá’u’lláh’s message and winning the hearts of increasing numbers of people of all backgrounds must become the cornerstone of Bahá’í life. We must ask ourselves, What steps can we take to inspire and sustain the passion that will move the teaching work forward?

Inspiring individual initiative

Redoubling individual effort is the key to growth. Yet the friends sometimes feel stifled in their desire to teach and serve. Let us ask ourselves, How can we achieve a better balance between encouraging individuals and loving guidance and assistance from Bahá’í institutions, their agencies, and the believers generally? What does the community need from the National Spiritual Assembly to help in this process?

Building loving, nurturing, and mature Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í communities

The goal of the Bahá’í Faith is the spiritual transformation of the world. Achieving the goal requires Bahá’í communities to develop high standards of loving encouragement and concern for every soul and demands that Bahá’í institutions become models of spiritual maturity and competence. In an age of widespread distrust of institutions, Bahá’í assemblies must function as affectionate partners to their communities and models of loving cooperation between the institutions of the Learned and Rulers. At a time when interpersonal conflict and disunity are commonplace, Bahá’ís must struggle to build a universal family held together by “bonds and ties that are stronger than blood.” The pursuit of these essential virtues is a never-ending process. What actions can individuals and institutions take to reinforce such roles and qualities in their communities and in their spiritual assemblies? Moreover, in larger communities where the problems of size, complexity, and social ills are compounded, what special measures are needed?

Fostering racial unity and the equality of the sexes

Conflict and division among the races and between the sexes are rife in American society. Bahá’ís face the same challenges. Nevertheless, Bahá’ís have made important strides toward building models of unity and equality within and outside the Bahá’í community. Moreover, Bahá’ís generally understand the spiritual and social importance of these cardinal principles of their Faith. It appears, however, that an inordinate emphasis on diversity and an incomplete understanding of the power of the principles of oneness and unity may be impeding our efforts to achieve the Bahá’í ideal. What is the status of our community in this regard and what should our next steps be?

Increasing the number of Bahá’ís contributing to the Fund

The opportunities and challenges facing the United States Bahá’í community are greater than ever. The funds available to seize the opportunities and to meet the challenges have not been adequate for some time. This scarcity of funds has forced the National Spiritual Assembly to reduce sharply its work force, to postpone important projects, and to curtail services. Our challenge is to increase the number of individuals contributing regularly and consistently to the Funds and to deepen their understanding of the spiritual significance of sacrificial giving. What is holding the friends back, and what will inspire their sustained commitment?

We commend the aforementioned thoughts and questions to your prayerful consideration and vigorous discussion. We pray that Bahá’u’lláh will guide us to a clear understanding of what we must do and a resolute determination to act “promptly and decisively.”

Highlights

The reports of the National Spiritual Assembly’s offices and agencies provide detailed summaries of the community’s activities during the year. What follows is a brief summary of highlights from the first year of the Three Year Plan:

The Universal House of Justice’s call for 2,000 long- and short-term pioneers and traveling teachers during the Three Year Plan has been answered by 1,460 pioneers, Youth Service Corps volunteers, and international traveling teachers leaving American shores for service abroad.

The enthusiastic response to the Vision in Action message demonstrated the friends’ abiding commitment to the progress of the Cause. The leadership and participation of the Continental Counselors and Auxiliary Board members and the enthusiastic efforts of 300 representatives who carried the message prompted a sustained response from the friends. So far, the results include a strong surge in the number and intensity of teaching projects and a sizable reduction of the fund deficit.

Bahá’í teacher training made solid progress through the National Teacher Training Center at the Louhelen Bahá’í School, which trained 125 Core Curriculum teacher trainers, 1,000 teachers, and 25 race unity liaisons, preparing them for new levels of service in the spiritual education of their communities.

The final phase of ten years of restoration work on the House of Worship was completed with repairs to the cornice and gutter. Five seasons of construction were finished ahead of schedule and below budget. The project’s outstanding craftsmanship and technical achievement earned the “Project of the Year” award from the International Concrete Repair Institute. The leadership and competence of project director Robert Armbruster are largely responsible for this historic achievement.

Progress on the Three Year Plan goals

At the outset of the Three Year Plan the National Spiritual Assembly adopted twelve goals for the American Bahá’í community. These incorporate the three goals outlined by the Universal House of Justice, as well as a continued emphasis on the goals of the Six Year Plan. The twelve goals are listed below, along with highlights of the American Bahá’í community’s progress toward meeting them.

1. intensify study of the Sacred Writings as a means of fostering spiritual strength and transformation.
   • Organized at the permanent and regional schools courses for studying the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.
   • Sustained the Master Key program, greatly increasing distribution of the sacred texts.
   • Trained 125 Core Curriculum teacher trainers and 1,000 teachers.
2. expand vastly the human resources of the faith.
   • Increased greatly the use of volunteers in all phases of service.
   • Initiated many teaching projects.
3. raise at least 3,000 traveling teachers.
   • Received reports from 3,357 traveling teachers who, we are confident, represent only a portion of those who have arisen.
4. settle at least 500 homefront pioneers on Indian Reservations, in the South, and in other areas of great need.
   • Settled 477 homefront pioneers.
5. establish a local Spiritual Assembly in every city with a population of 50,000 or more, resulting in no fewer than 150 new local Spiritual Assemblies.
   • Prepared to establish 37 new local Spiritual Assemblies in cities of 50,000 or more.
6. strive to become leaders in the movement for race unity and to make Bahá’í communities models of unity that inspire emulation and lead to growth.
   • Were asked to lead the effort to have the United States Congress ratify the United Nations Convention Against Racial Discrimination.
   • Conducted a large-scale, soon-to-be published study of models of racial, ethnic, and religious unity in metropolitan Atlanta. Similar studies are either in progress or have been completed in Portland, Oregon, and Greensboro, North Carolina.
   • Sustained among local Bahá’í communities across the nation a high level of initiative and participation in race-unity activities.
   • Received appointment of two Bahá’ís as Federal Commissioners of the Martin Luther King Federal Holiday Commission.
7. teach Bahá’í and other children and youth to become the first generation of Americans free of all prejudices and truly united.
   • Trained 25 race-unity liaisons to help individuals and communities develop Core Curriculum materials on race unity.
   • Increased the number of Bahá’í youth workshops and youth training activities to over sixty.
   • Saw local communities across the country

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develop race-unity programs and curricula. 8. expand programs for the education of Bahá’í children, youth, and adults and programs for the strengthening of Bahá’í family life. Advanced the Core Curriculum training. Expanded programs and academies for youth and children and began planning programs for strengthening marriage and family life. 9. promote the advancement of women and publish a statement on women. Coordinated NGO involvement in the U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Furnished detailed information about the status of women in Bahá’í communities to the Bahá’í International Community’s Office for the Advancement of Women for its survey titled “Participation of Women in Bahá’í Community Life.” Began drafting a statement on women. Published a special issue of World Order magazine devoted to the equality of the sexes. 10. foster the maturation of local and national institutions with particular emphasis on the development of Spiritual Assemblies, the refinement of the art of consultation, the refinement of the Feast, and the operation of the Funds. Began planning a new local Spiritual Assembly training program and sustained the Local Spiritual Assembly Development module program. Conducted the Vision in Action meetings. Conducted an inspirational and planning conference for the Southern states, together with the Continental Counselors, the Auxiliary Board members, and their assistants. 11. strengthen the financial position of the national community. Conducted the Vision in Action meetings. Reduced staff, postponed projects, and curtailed some services of the national administration. 12. extend the range of the National Spiritual Assembly’s collaborative projects with the Bahá’í communities of Alaska, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Eastern Europe, Greenland, Mexico, the countries of the former Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom. Initiated a wide range of service and teaching projects with the National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies of Brazil, Canada, Russia, and Australia and in the Peoples’ Republic of China.

External Affairs

The National Spiritual Assembly continued its external affairs activities in Washington, D.C., New York, Atlanta, and Wilmette, consisting in part of the defense of Iranian Bahá’ís, ratification of United Nations human rights treaties, promotion of the principles of sustainable development, protection and resettlement of Bahá’í refugees, promotion of United Nations activities, and collaboration with the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent and Social Change in Atlanta.

This past year the external affairs work was impaired by the drastic cuts in personnel and funding, which resulted from the severe shortage in the National Fund. Since April 1993 there has been a 40% cut in staff and a $200,000 cut in the external affairs budget. One result was the closing of the Office of Public Information in Wilmette in September. The National Assembly has maintained contact with the national communications media through its Washington office and with the assistance of Fleishman-Hillard and Marjorie Sonnenfeldt. However, the development and support of the 1,200 local public information representatives and committees were severely affected by the closing of the office. Advice and guidance continued from Washington, D.C., but public information materials were not available for sale, and the systematic education of this excellent nationwide network ceased.

In spite of difficult circumstances caused by reductions in staff and budget, the accomplishments of the external affairs work were several.

Washington, D.C., Secretariat

The primary activity in the Washington, D.C., office of the National Spiritual Assembly continued to be the defense of the Iranian Bahá’ís through frequent contacts with U.S. government officials, the communications media, and other non-governmental organizations interested in human rights issues.

On April 22, 1993, President Clinton mentioned the plight of the Iranian Bahá’ís as an example of human rights violations when he spoke at the dedication of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., Before a crowd of several hundred he criticized the “abusive treatment of the Bahá’í in Iran.”

In July the National Spiritual Assembly learned that the Tehran municipal government had begun to dig up graves at the Bahá’í cemetery. The State Department issued a protest of the action, and the New York Times ran an editorial condemning the desecration of the ‎con’secated consecrated‎ Bahá’í cemetery.

The National Spiritual Assembly placed in the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times on November 22 and 29 ‎advertsiements advertisements‎ titled “An Appeal to the Conscience of Humankind.” Forty-nine individuals, including two Nobel laureates, three former secretaries of state, academics, civil rights leaders, and former government officials, signed the appeal urging the world’s leaders and the United Nations “to continue to speak out against Iran’s plan to destroy the Bahá’ís.” The appeal appeared in November in order to coincide with the U.N. General Assembly’s consideration of its resolution on human rights violations in Iran. The National Assembly sent a copy of the appeal to each public information representative and asked local spiritual assemblies to place the ad in local newspapers.

The National Spiritual Assembly’s secretary for external affairs visited Washington, D.C., frequently to keep officials informed of the latest news from Iran. During the year copies of several court verdicts reached the National Assembly, including the death sentences of two Bahá’ís in Karaj who were condemned in part because of their communication with the United Nations about their incarceration. The verdicts became known as the United Nations General Assembly was meeting to vote on the Iranian human rights resolution. The National Assembly provided the U.S. government with the information, and on December 20, U.S. Ambassador Victor Marrero delivered a speech on the floor of the General Assembly criticizing Iran for continuing “to flout the human rights of its own citizens, unrelentingly persecuting some simply because of their religious beliefs.” On December 31, 1993, the New York Times ran an editorial alerting the world to the decision of the Iranian government.

In November 1993, the U.S. Senate passed Concurrent Resolution 31 that declares “the Congress holds the Government of Iran responsible for upholding the rights of all of its nationals, including members of the Bahá’í Faith, Iran’s largest religious minority” and, as in the resolution of 1992, again urged “the government of Iran to emancipate the Bahá’í community.” At the time of the vote several senators spoke on the floor of the Senate expressing their continued concern for the flagrant violations of the rights of the Bahá’í community in Iran. As of March 1994, the House of Representatives was considering an identical resolution which had over 80 cosponsors. The National Assembly had asked almost one hundred local Spiritual Assemblies in November to meet with their congressmen to ask for support and cosponsorship of the sixth and most recent congressional resolution. The House version is expected to pass during the summer of 1994.

In March 1994 three Bahá’ís in South Africa were killed by terrorists in Ciskei, South Africa. The National Assembly’s Washington office and the Bahá’í International Community’s Public Information Office in New York received a number of requests for further information from the media. One such request resulted in a piece on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition in which the correspondent very movingly described why the Bahá’ís had been killed: because they persisted in holding integrated activities.

The Washington staff of the National Spiritual Assembly also continued its activities, particularly in human rights and the environment. In June, 1993, Kit Cosby, representing the National Assembly, attended the U.N. World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna. She was an active member of the Washington Coalition on Human Rights, which coordinated the activities of many of the U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations at the U.N. conference. After Vienna, the Coalition continued to hold conferences and to prepare testimony on human rights issues for Congress. During the year she also continued to meet with the group of Washington-based directors of human rights organizations.

The National Spiritual Assembly has now entered its tenth year of support for the ratification of U.N. human rights conventions and covenants. The Assembly’s staff in Washington continued to coordinate the NGO involvement in the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. In Vienna, at the U.N. Conference, the Secretary of State called for the immediate ratification of several conventions, including the Race Convention, the Women’s Convention, the Americas Convention, and the Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, all of which the staff of the National Assembly promote and support through meetings with administration and congressional officials as well as other NGOs.

The United Nations Association remains a vital component of the National Assembly’s NGO work in both its Washington and New York offices. Peter Adriance, a Washington staff member, was the secretary of the UNA Conference of Washington Representatives executive committee this year. In this capacity he helped organize a panel on the International Year of the Family and a meeting on the U.N.’s fiftieth anniversary with the U.N. Under-Secretary Gillian Sorenson. Ms. Cosby also continued as a member of the local UNA task force on human rights. The National Assembly’s U.N. Representative and two members of the Washington staff attended the UNA-USA’s National Convention in January. They set up an exhibit, gave workshops, participated on the by-laws committee, and offered resolutions on U.N. conventions. Ms. Cosby was elected to the UNA’s National Council during the convention.

The Washington staff participated in the Third Global Structures Convocation in February 1994. They organized and moderated a panel on U.N. human rights advisory bodies; set up a booth with Bahá’í information on human rights, women, and sustainable development; participated in discussions on global governance; and served as a rapporteur on one of the conference panels.

In May the National Spiritual Assembly participated in the “From Rio to the Capitals: State Strategies for Sustainable Development” conference in Kentucky. Dr. Robert Henderson, secretary-general of the National Assembly, spoke on race unity, a prerequisite of sustainable development. A Bahá’í representative set up an exhibit and gave interviews and firesides on some of the Bahá’í principles related to the conference topics.

In 1993 Ms. Cosby was asked to become a member of the Board of Directors of the Global Tomorrow Coalition, an organization that promotes sustainable development.

During the year the National Assembly’s staff worked with other NGOs who had also partici- [Page 13]

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pated in the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) to inform the President’s Council on Sustainable Development of the suggestions and concerns of the NGO community. Mr. Adriance had an article published in Ethics and Agenda 21, commissioned by the U.N. Environment Program. He is also a member of the national planning committee for the July 1994 conference in Iowa on UNCED two years after Rio. In December he spoke at the North American Bahá’í Conference on Social and Economic Development in Florida on Agenda 21, the document that was produced at the U.N. environment conference in 1992.

Two major events occurred in August that were coordinated in part by the Washington staff. The first, the Parliament of the World’s Religions, was held in Chicago, and had been supported by Bahá’ís from the Chicago Spiritual Assembly since its early planning days. Over thirty Bahá’ís gave talks, and members of the Continental Counselors and the National Spiritual Assembly participated in events of all types.

During the last week of August, over 400 Bahá’ís participated in the March on Washington, commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the renowned civil rights march at which Martin Luther King Jr. had delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech. The Washington Post published a front-page photograph of Bahá’í children in which their Bahá’í tee-shirts were clearly visible. Carole Miller, one of the National Assembly’s representatives in Atlanta, read the Bahá’í prayer for America at the official opening of the March. The MLK Youth Assembly was held in Washington immediately before the March.

Atlanta

The external affairs staff in Atlanta also felt the impact of the shortages of the National Fund. In January the National Assembly had to lay off the clerical support. However, Pat Steele and Carole Miller continued to work with the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, the King Federal Holiday Commission, and the Olympic Committee. Involvement at the King Center included planning interfaith and multicultural conferences, award ceremonies, and youth conferences. During King Week in January, Dr. Henderson was again a co-grandmarshall of the Parade. Mr. David Hofman also participated in the King Week events, and both he and Dr. Henderson received media coverage.

This past year Dr. Henderson was appointed a member of the King Federal Holiday Commission. In January, National Assembly members Robert Henderson and Pat Locke, along with Dr. Miller, a second Bahá’í commissioner on the King Federal Holiday Commission, attended a luncheon with the U.S. Attorney General and a reception hosted by the Secretary of State. One of the Atlanta Bahá’í representatives continued to serve as chairperson on the Religious Involvement Committee of the King Holiday Commission.

Ms. Steele and Ms. Miller are members of the 1996 Olympic Committee’s Interfaith Council, the Committee of Education and Values, and the Committee of the Olympic Village. The Olympic Committee has taken an even greater leadership role in the promotion of interfaith activities for the 25,000 athletes and their families expected in Atlanta during the Olympic Games in two years.

Ms. Steele and Ms. Miller continued to serve on the Religion Committee of the Atlanta Project sponsored by President Carter and directed the “Survey of Attitudes on Racial Unity” to be presented to the Atlanta Project when the work is completed at the National Center in Wilmette.

U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office

The Refugee Office, despite a cut in ‎sta² staff‎, continued to assist Bahá’ís who are seeking refugee status; to represent the National Assembly in governmental and nongovernmental conferences on refugee and immigration issues; to assist Bahá’í communities to integrate newly arrived refugees into the American Bahá’í community; to teach Southeast Asian people the Faith; to locate Southeast Asians and to ensure that they become effective teachers of the Faith within their communities; to help translate Bahá’í written and audio-visual materials into the various Southeast Asian languages; and to develop and coordinate the “Helpers” network that deepens Southeast Asian Bahá’ís.

In March 1994, the National Spiritual Assembly received welcome news. After nineteen months the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) approved the refugee status of 140 Bahá’ís in Pakistan, some of whom will eventually resettle in the U.S. Mrs. Puran Stevens, the Refugee Coordinator, had worked with the U.N. and U.S. authorities, as well as the Bahá’í International Community in New York and Geneva, to solve the distressing situation. She made several visits to the State Department and the UNHCR office in Washington, D.C., and provided documentation to the Office of Document Exchange. The American Refugee Committee interviewed her for their annual survey. The Refugee Office prepared guidelines in Persian and English for the Immigration and Naturalization Services and the State Department on the criteria and priorities of U.S.-bound refugees.

After years of work in the refugee arena, other organizations now recognize the Refugee Office’s expertise and consult the National Assembly’s staff on a variety of issues, including difficult cases of humanitarian parole and asylum. Mrs. Stevens has been asked to speak publicly several times on the Bahá’í persecutions in Iran. She also spoke at the Chicago Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Protection (CCIRP), and at a U.N. Day luncheon, as well as on the accomplishments of the Bahá’í community to promote the principle of the equality of women and men before a U.S. Committee for UNIFEM event. She is a member of the CCIRP and its Refugee Issues Committee and serves on the Illinois Refugee Social Services Consortium.

During the year Mrs. Stevens attended several events related to the development of the Southeast Asian community. She was appointed a member of the Program Committee of the National Association for the Education and Advancement of Cambodians, Laotians, and Vietnamese Americans. In September 1993, she attended a conference in Fresno, California, to promote social and economic development programs. Over six days in October, she visited eleven Bahá’í communities in California and consulted with local spiritual assemblies in Oregon and Washington about their efforts to teach the Faith to Southeast Asians and to integrate those who are refugees into their communities.

U.N. Representative, New York

The new U.S./U.N. representative, Rebequa Getahoun Murphy, continued the education of the U.S. Bahá’í community on U.N.-related activities through The American Bahá’í and through correspondence with individuals and spiritual assemblies. The office monitored or worked with the following committees or groups: the U.S. Mission to the U.N.; the U.N. Department of Public Information; the Environmental Sabbath; the UNA-USA; the NGO Committee of Youth; the NGO Committee on UNIFEM; the Committee of Religious NGOs at the U.N.; the NGO Working Group on Human Rights; the NGO Committee on UNICEF; the International Coordinating Committee on Religion and the Earth; the U.S. affiliate of the International Grass Roots Women Organization; and the Committee for the Day of the African Child.

Taking into consideration the goals of the National Spiritual Assembly’s Three Year Plan and the upcoming events at the United Nations, the U.N. office developed its own three year plan. It calls for a focus in three major areas: International Year of the Family (IYF) in 1994, the Fiftieth Anniversary of the U.N. (UN-50) in 1995, and the Fourth World Conference on Women to be held in Beijing in September 1995. In addition to general announcements in The American Bahá’í for communities to plan activities for IYF, UN-50 and the Beijing conference, sixty local Spiritual Assemblies were invited to collaborate with the U.S./U.N. office to develop activities in all three arenas. The U.N. office also collaborated with the National Spiritual Assembly’s Education and Schools office to involve all the permanent Bahá’í schools in IYF activities. Bahá’í college clubs were contacted to encourage them to initiate campus activities in the three areas.

Treasury

Over the past decade the National Spiritual Assembly has struggled to build a sound financial foundation for achieving financial stability. Internally, the National Assembly has sought to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its agencies. Externally, the Assembly has continued to seek and implement new ways of strengthening the commitment and spiritual response of Bahá’ís in the United States to the major funds.

The spiritual energy of the Holy Year provided the impetus for numerous restructuring plans. Virtually every aspect of the national administration—including properties management, the communications and information systems, the schools and education operations, the publishing organization and its agenda, the teaching organization and teaching strategies, and fund education and development—were examined and revised or restructured. All of the restructuring plans and activities were part of an overall restructuring process that was intended to help the National Spiritual Assembly achieve financial stability.

At the end of the Holy Year a balanced operating budget seemed to be in sight. The need to underwrite capital expenditures of approximately $3 million per year, along with the National Spiritual Assembly’s commitment to support the construction of the Arc, led to a plan for issuing a $50 million promissory note. However, cancellation of the note program in late September made it necessary to find other new ways to balance the budget. Contributions were lagging behind by $1 million, and $3 million were needed for capital expenditures, as was an increase in contributions to the International Funds beyond the $2 million already allocated in the budget. A shortfall of nearly $4.5 million was estimated for the year.

Scaled back plans resulted in a reduction of expenses by over $1.2 million. At the same time the “Vision in Action” program conducted in the Fall of 1993 inspired a substantial increase in contributions. During the last two weeks of November and in December a total of $1 million more in contributions was received than during the same period in 1992. The trends initiated by the “Vision in Action” program have continued and will result in $2 million more in contributions than earlier trends suggested.

Nevertheless, without a significant increase in contributions or further major reductions in expenses, a deficit of approximately $1.5 million to $1.8 million is anticipated at the end of the 1993–94 fiscal year. This is $2.7 million to $3 million less than the shortfall anticipated a few months ago.

The following outline of operating goals and strategies and general review of revenues and expenses from 1978 to 1992 provides a context for understanding the National Spiritual Assembly’s financial position.

Major operating goals and strategies of the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies

The need to meet the goals of the Three Year Plan and the urgent need to achieve large-scale growth have resulted in the following operating goals and strategies for the National Spiritual [Page 14]

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Salaries by Projects and Services (in thousands)

.10% Office Services

.30% South Carolina Coor. Project

.40% Brilliant Star

.40% Subscriber Service

.40% Visitors Center Book Shop

.40% External Affairs - Atlanta Office

.50% Facilities Engineer

.60% Restoration and Repairs

.60% NSA Research

.60% External Affairs - Office of Public Info.

.70% Travel and Meeting Services

.90% Archives

1.0% NABI

1.0% External Affairs - UN Representation

1.0% Legal Affairs

1.0% Refugee Program

1.3% School Coordinators & Education

1.4% The American Bahá’í

1.4% Persian Integration

1.5% Vision In Action (P. Note)

1.7% Green Acre

1.8% Operations Administration

1.9% Custodial

2.1% Pioneering

2.3% Maintenance

2.5% Grounds

2.6% Fund Development

2.7% H.O.W. Visitors Centers

2.7% Louhelen Bahá’í School

3.1% Media Services

3.2% Community Administration

3.4% Bosch

3.6% External Affairs - Washington Office

3.7% National Teaching Committee

4.0% Human Resources

4.1% Security

5% Bahá’í Home

6% LGI and WLGI

6% Bahá’í Publishing Trust

6% Secretariat

7% Finance

9% Management Information Systems

Assembly and its agencies: 1. Balancing the operating and capital budgets 2. Achieving a significant increase in contributions 3. Providing adequate contributions to the Universal House of Justice 4. Achieving large-scale growth 5. Building an administration and infrastructure that will inspire and sustain large-scale growth 6. Developing communication and computer networks that will support large-scale growth 7. Continuing the defense of the Bahá’ís in Iran and other Muslim countries 8. Further developing relationships with non-Bahá’í institutions and organizations 9. Completing the restructuring of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust 10. Refining the management of properties 11. Pursuing a development agenda, including further development and expansion of Mottahedeh Development Services, Health for Humanity, and Race Unity Consulting 12. Expanding Bahá’í institutes, including expanding the Native American Bahá’í Institute, working toward financial self-sufficiency at Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute 13. Meeting the goals of the Bahá’í schools by expanding programs and service, achieving financial self-sufficiency by the end of the Three Year Plan, and raising the first generation of prejudice-free children and youth 14. Meeting the goals for the Bahá’í Home, including expanding its facilities, diversifying its services, and achieving financial self-sufficiency by the end of the Three Year Plan.

Employee salaries and benefits

Employee salaries and benefits account for $7,000,000, or 38% of total expenses. All offices are working with skeletal staffs, and salary and wage increases have not been offered for more than three years. In February 1994, responding to the financial crisis, the National Spiritual Assembly was forced to reduce staff. Graph A shows the projects, services, and activities that require these resources.

Sources of revenue

The National Spiritual Assembly’s revenues come from the following sources: contributions (73%), book sales (14%), estate bequests (5%), schools tuition (3%), Bahá’í Home resident fees (2%), contributions for properties (1%), contributed properties (.03%), and other income (2%) (see graph B).

Before November 1993 the National Spiritual Assembly expected to receive during the 1993-94 fiscal year a total of $10 million to $10.5 million in contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund. Now the total is expected to reach over $12.7 million.

The historic trends

During the 1992-93 fiscal year the National Spiritual Assembly reviewed a fifteen-year strategic plan of operations. After studying the growth of revenues, expenses, and enrollments from 1978 to 1992, the trends were extended to construct an economic model for the next fifteen years.

The historic model showed that the National Spiritual Assembly had achieved an aggregate increase in total revenues of nearly 224% over the fifteen-year period, multiplying our revenues 3.25 times from $3,952,000 in 1978 to $12,800,000 in 1992.

Operating expenses over the same fifteen-year period increased by 263%, multiplying 3.6 times from $4,000,000 in 1978 to $14,500,000 in 1992.

Registered enrollments in 1978 totaled 2,242, including children. In 1992 enrollments totaled only 1,998, including 638 children.

What can be expected if the same trend continues

During the Holy Year the National Spiritual Assembly put into effect a special austerity plan. The National Assembly and its agencies, with help from Bahá’í experts, performed numerous evaluations and in-depth studies in an effort to find ways to meet the community’s many challenges. They concluded that the budget could not be balanced unless contributions increased significantly and the staff of the national administration were reduced by 60%. Such a reduction would have required dismantling most of the national administration, leaving only enough staff to maintain the most important properties and handle only the most critical correspondence. Such a move would cripple the growth of the Faith in the United States.

A forecast of trends in the future, based on our present patterns of contributing, spending, and enrolling new believers suggests that an enormous crisis faces the American Bahá’í community. Without significant, sustained increases in growth or contributions, a $50 million deficit can be expected over the next fifteen years.

Development highlights

Development efforts during the past year have focused on three areas of action: educating the friends about the needs of the Faith, training and supporting local Spiritual Assemblies and their treasurers, and expanding the National Spiritual Assembly’s development agenda.

Educating the friends

The ongoing activities of the Development Department included five Weekend Visits, which brought together nearly 150 Bahá’ís from across the country for in-depth exposure to the operations and concerns of the National Spiritual Assembly; preparing articles for each of the nineteen issues of The American Bahá’í; preparing information for inclusion in a number of Feast letters; and carrying on voluminous general correspondence as well as correspondence about the Local Spiritual Assembly Goal Program, the Honor Roll Program, and social and economic development projects.

In the fall the Development Department was intimately involved in planning and carrying out the “Vision in Action” programs by creating materials, planning training sessions for presenters, and training and following up with the presenters and their communities.

During December and January the Development Office was actively involved in the sixteen-city tour of Mr. Jeffrey Mondschein, chief financial officer of the Bahá’í World Center. Extensive planning for the tour began during the summer to ensure that Bahá’ís across the entire country would be able to obtain

1993-94 Sources of Revenue

Total Revenues	$17,345,950
Estate Bequests	5%
Contributions for Properties	1%
Resident Fees	2%
Other Income	2%
School Tuition	3%
Contributed Properties	0.3%
Sale of Books	14%
Contributions	73%

[Page 15]firsthand information about developments at the Bahá’í World Center. The friends who attended the meetings showed a sense of renewed commitment by pledging a number of “units” to the Arc Projects Fund, as suggested by the Universal House of Justice in its 31 October 1993 letter.

Training and support for local Spiritual Assemblies and their treasurers

During March through May 1993 some fifty Area Development Seminars for local Spiritual Assembly treasurers were held in every region of the nation. These were a direct response to the Development Department’s October 1992 survey of spiritual assemblies, in which many local spiritual assemblies requested training and information. The seminars provided detailed information about professional fund development and the plans and programs of the National Spiritual Assembly. The goal of holding at least three additional seminars during the year was not met because of budgetary constraints.

The Local Spiritual Assembly Goal Program, in which every local Assembly is asked to set contribution goals and inform the National Spiritual Assembly of its annual goal for contributing to the National Fund, made significant progress this year. Now in its third year, the program accounts for roughly 31% of the National Spiritual Assembly’s revenues, with nearly three-fourths of all Assemblies participating and actively pursuing their goals. Based on comments from Auxiliary Board members and on past performance, an effort was made to refine the goals that were suggested to local Assemblies. The system for communicating progress updates was also further refined. In March 1994 a telephone calling campaign was conducted to determine whether a selected group of 362 local assemblies would meet or exceed their goals.

The program has become sufficiently established that in the coming year the National Spiritual Assembly will not suggest goals to local Assemblies. Instead, each local Spiritual Assembly will be asked to set its own goal and to advise the National Spiritual Assembly accordingly.

The Development Office fully expects that, over time, the bulk of the National Spiritual Assembly’s contribution revenues will begin to flow through this vital channel between the local and national institutions of the Faith.

Expanding the National Spiritual Assembly’s development agenda

The National Spiritual Assembly has made meaningful progress, both directly and through its affiliated agencies, in the development field, complementing the heroic efforts made by hundreds of individuals at the grass-roots level.

The Development Department, through its work with Mottahedeh Development Services (MDS), played a direct role in the North American Conference on Social and Economic Development, held in December 1993 in Orlando, Florida. Mottahedeh Development Services cosponsored the event with the Rabbani Charitable Trust; assistance was provided by both MDS and the Development Department in the form of publicity, coordination with the National Spiritual Assembly and its various agencies, copy editing, and program planning. The conference, which brought together nearly 600 adults and 350 children to discuss all aspects of Bahá’í development, may well come to be seen as a turning point in the American Bahá’í community’s development efforts.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States Years Ended April 30, 1994 (Estimated) and 1993

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Contributions	1994	1993	% Change
National Bahá’í Fund	$12,703,479	$11,281,087	13%
Bahá’í International Fund	463,337	425,433	9%
Arc Projects Fund	1,237,703	880,175	41%
Continental Bahá’í Fund	182,236	221,541	-18%
Total	$14,586,755	$12,808,236	14%
Planned Giving
Estate Bequests	785,652	1,956,293	-60%
Combined Operating Results
Total Revenues (Including Estate Bequests)	$17,345,950	$17,405,470	0%
Total Operating Expenses, (Including Contributions to the Bahá’í International and Arc Projects Funds)	(17,754,516)	(18,736,623)	-5%
Excess Revenues (Expenses)	($408,566)	($1,331,153)	-69%
Financial Condition
National Bahá’í Fund:
Assets	$2,569,205	$2,780,620	-8%
Liabilities	(12,596,936)	(11,129,145)	13%
Fund Balance (Accumulated Deficit)	($10,027,731)	($8,348,525)	20%
Operations and Agencies Combined:
Assets	$23,521,443	$22,681,605	4%
Liabilities	(13,078,715)	(11,830,310)	11%
Fund Balance	$10,442,728	$10,851,295	-4%

In addition to its contributions to the Social and Economic Development Conference, Mottahedeh Development Services had an intense year of growth and consolidation. Under the supervision of the Universal House of Justice and its Office of Social and Economic Development, it actively supported educational projects in the Marshall Islands. It also held detailed discussions with the National Spiritual Assembly of Samoa about possible programs in those islands. Domestically, MDS is exploring the feasibility of a number of programs in the Atlanta area, rural Georgia, and Virginia and expects to launch, within the first months of the next fiscal year, programs that will pursue the National Spiritual Assembly’s goal of raising the first generation of prejudice-free children.

Health for Humanity (an affiliate of the National Spiritual Assembly established in 1992 for creating and managing assistance projects in the health-care field) successfully completed its second year of operations. Its growing membership is drawing health-care professionals from both inside and outside the Bahá’í community. Members visited Guyana, Honduras, Albania, Nicaragua, and the People’s Republic of China. A number of program proposals are under consideration, while ongoing programs and program support continue in Guyana, Dominica, Honduras, and Albania. A new effort to develop eye-care services is being launched in Dominica as the result of a request from the island nation’s Ministry of Health to assist in setting up ophthalmic services. A particularly interesting possibility is the “Hospital to Hospital” program, which facilitates collaborative relationships between hospitals at which Health for Humanity members work and hospitals in other countries for the purpose of sharing expertise and materials. Initially launched by the Bahá’í Health Agency in the British Isles and adopted in Spring 1993, the “Hospital to Hospital” program is considering Nicaragua and other countries as possible sites.

Two economic programs lie on the horizon: a race unity consultants’ referral system and a multi-year program for building the community’s financial strength nationally and locally. Feasibility studies are being planned for the next fiscal year to investigate a long-term source of funding for capital expenditures on national properties and investment products that could be offered to Bahá’ís nationwide. [Page 16]

Summary of Operating and Capital Expenditures

For the Years Ended April 30, 1994 (Estimated) and 1993

SUMMARY OF OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

Secretariat General & External Affairs:		Services:
General Operations	1,136,453	Publications:
Legal Affairs	110,500	Brilliant Star	79,065
Community Administration	241,223	Herald of the South	8,058
District & National Conventions	61,615	The American Bahá’í	286,063
		World Order	9,679
External Affairs Offices	756,170	Archives	79,641
Refugee Program	98,052	Chinese Teaching	2,841
		Coordinating Committee	1,908
Contributions to Int’l Bahá’í Funds		Education & Schools Coordination	140,635
International Funds	1,120,000	Finance	635,243
Arc Projects Fund	1,800,000	Fund Development	278,140
Other NSAs and Agencies	361,423	H.O.W. Visitor’s Center	235,493
	5,685,436	Human Resources	342,985
		Management Information Systems	788,543
Committees:		Media Services	252,173
Services for Hearing Impaired	1,300	NSA Research	65,783
Continental Indigenous Planning	500	Office Services	18,713
National Education Committee	73,129	Persian Integration	160,920
National Teaching Committee	415,946	Pioneering	277,012
Race Unity Task Force	1,908	Subscriber Services	26,632
Total Committees	492,783	Travel and Meeting Services	62,419
		Visitor’s Center Book Shop	263,816
Properties:		Total Services	4,015,762
Maintenance, Grounds, Security, etc.	1,446,205
Wilhelm	23,469	Bahá’í Institutes:
Total Properties	1,469,674	Louis Gregory Institute & WLGI Radio	537,704
		Native American Bahá’í Institute	105,197
Projects:			642,901
Assoc. for Bahá’í Studies	46,013
Bahá’í Encyclopedia Project	66,047	Bahá’í Schools:
Bahá’í Newsreel	82,163	Bosch	569,537
Bahá’í Gospel Choir	2,289	Green Acre	309,131
Atlanta Models of Unity	11,568	Louhelen	494,704
El Ruiseñor	4,000		1,373,372
Emerging Projects	46,732
LSA Development	1,600	Bahá’í Publishing Trust	1,862,625
Media Productions	10,137	Bahá’í Home	419,376
Promissory Note Issue-Vision In Action	299,290	Total BPT & Bahá’í Home	2,282,001
South Carolina Coord. Project	25,017
Souvenir Picnic	333	Capital Expenditures	2,200,000
Total Projects	595,189
		Debt Retirement (Mortgage)	94,655
		Grand Total	18,851,773

Combined Operating and Capital Expenditures

For the Years Ended April 30, 1994 (Estimated) and 1993

Combined Revenues: $17,345,950

• Contributions: $12,703,479
• Earned Revenues: $3,562,714
• Estate Bequests: $785,652
• Contributions For Properties: $235,679
• Contributed Properties: $58,426

Combined Operating and Capital Expenditures: $18,851,773

• Services: $4,015,762
• Secretariat General, External Affairs: $2,404,013
• Capital Expenditures: $2,200,000
• Publishing Trust: $1,862,625
• Arc Projects Funds: $1,800,000
• Properties: $1,469,674
• Bahá’í Schools: $1,373,372
• BIF: $1,120,000
• Committees & Projects: $1,087,972
• Bahá’í Institutes: $642,901
• Bahá’í Home: $419,376
• Contributions to Other NSAs & Agencies: $361,423
• Debt Retirement: $94,655

[Page 17]

Secretariat

Community Administration

Goal: To provide administrative support to the National Spiritual Assembly by monitoring the development of Bahá’í communities; offering guidance to local Spiritual Assemblies in their formations, dealing with violations of Bahá’í law, problems of disunity and disputes, personal status issues, withdrawals and reinstatements of Bahá’í membership; assisting Persian believers with issues of immigration and naturalization and with applications for aid from the Persian Relief Fund; assisting Management Information Systems with enrollments and membership transfers of individuals from the Middle East; maintaining files of all correspondence received from the Universal House of Justice; and coordinating arrangements for pilgrimage to the Bahá’í World Center.

Activities: Received and processed a total of 5,558 letters and handled approximately 10,000 telephone calls.

Prepared 114 personal status cases for the consideration of the National Spiritual Assembly. A total of 434 requests for withdrawal were granted, and 34 people were reinstated after having been withdrawn from Bahá’í membership.

Persian/American Affairs Office

Goal: To further the integration of Persian-speaking Bahá’ís in collaboration with local Spiritual Assemblies, Groups and individuals and the development and distribution of integration programs and materials that can be used also by other agencies.

Activities: Organized a meeting of selected Bahá’ís from the Phoenix, Arizona, area to explore issues of integration and discuss strategies for promoting closer ties among various groups of Bahá’ís.

Held a regional meeting of Chicago-area “Friends of Persian Culture” (formerly the Persian Arts and Culture Association) and met with the Advisory Board of the association to consult about goals, strategies, and specific programs and activities.

Organized a meeting in collaboration with the Persian Media Committee of Southern California (created to keep track of Persian media and respond to misrepresentations of the Faith) to discuss strategies for using the media to enlighten expatriate Iranians. Additionally monitored the activities of that Committee which presented a weekly live program of talks about the Faith for over a year on a “closed circuit” radio station and began a new weekly program of 90-minute talks in February 1994 on an FM station that covers most of Southern California.

Arranged for a weekend intensive deepening program in Persian conducted in Arlington, Texas, by Dr. Riaz Ghadimi and arranged for his participation in the Grand Canyon Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Conducted a weekend program on the Covenant at the Louhelen Bahá’í School.

Prepared an outline for a course in Persian on race relations in the United States to be used in local communities for deepening the Persian believers.

Sent a youth survey questionnaire to 260 local Spiritual Assemblies in areas where youth activities were reported to ascertain Persian youth involvement.

Coordinated the work of the Persian Reviewing Panel; received subscription fees for Payam-i-Bahá’í from U.S. subscribers; and helped to distribute Bahá’í literature in Persian and Arabic published abroad.

Produced a total of 55 Persian pages for The American Bahá’í; produced four issues of Tabernacle of Unity, a quarterly bilingual publication sent to Counselors, Auxiliary Board members and 300 network members; prepared Persian “Vision in Action” materials; and also worked on the following publications: a new edition of An Essay on the Kitáb-i-Aqdas by Mr. Badi‘ullah Farid; An Introduction to the Bahá’í Faith, a booklet written in a contemporary Persian style; Perspectives on Spiritual Integration, a bilingual compilation of the writings about unity and integration; a set of five cards with passages from the writings in Persian/Arabic calligraphy; and the proceedings of the first two Persian Arts and Culture conferences.

Coordinated translations of a number of compilations prepared at the Bahá’í World Center, helped translate the Ridván 150 message of the Universal House of Justice, helped with the Persian translation of The Bahá’í Newsreel soundtracks, prepared Persian translations of National Spiritual Assembly messages, including Feast letters, and prepared English translations of items in Persian newspapers for the Secretariat for External Affairs.

Office of Research and Review

Goal: To perform research, scholarship, literature review, and special materials review functions for the National Spiritual Assembly.

Activities: Wrote 2,229 items of correspondence concerning literature review, special materials review, the Models of Unity Project, World Order magazine, the Bahá’í encyclopedia project, the Association for Bahá’í Studies, the Haj Mehdi Arjmand research grant program and its scripture conference, and replies to research queries.

Completed the literature review process on 111 items; the number of manuscripts received and reviewed more than doubled the volume handled in the previous year.

Conducted Models of Unity research in Atlanta, Georgia, and composed a final report on the findings, continued to encourage Models of Unity projects in Portland, Oregon, and in Greensboro, North Carolina, and collaborated with the Louhelen Bahá’í School on a Models of Unity conference in July 1993.

Conducted a non-credit course on world religions at the Bahá’í House of Worship and pursued opportunities to offer courses on the Bahá’í Faith for college credit at DePaul University. A regular full-credit course on the Bahá’í Faith begins at DePaul in June 1994.

Drafted articles and important letters for the National Spiritual Assembly; wrote four articles for A Short Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith; and wrote two articles for World Order magazine.

Collaborated on the planning of observances for the centenary of the establishment of the Bahá’í Faith in North America, including a conference on Bahá’í history for June 1994.

Served on the Association for Bahá’í Studies International Advisory Committee, its Executive Committee, and the editorial board of its Journal of Bahá’í Studies and served on the editorial board of World Order magazine.

Office of the Secretary—Conventions

Goal: To plan, coordinate and direct implementation of National and District Conventions and to educate the American Bahá’í community on the principles and implementation of Bahá’í elections (National and District).

Activities: Coordinated all activities and reporting procedures for the 156 District Conventions, appointed local Spiritual Assemblies to host conventions, and supported and assisted these assemblies with logistical procedures for hosting Conventions.

Planned and coordinated the logistics for holding National Convention and serving the 171 delegates and approximately 230 visitors in attendance.

Revised, published and distributed to the District Convention host Assemblies the District Convention Planning Guide.

Prepared an informational article and a Convention site listing for publication in The American Bahá’í.

External Affairs

U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office

Goal: To locate Southeast Asian Bahá’ís, ensure their integration into the Bahá’í community as active members, and empower their efforts to translate Bahá’í materials into various Southeast Asian languages for production and distribution; to coordinate the “Helpers” network to reach and deepen Southeast Asian Bahá’ís and to teach Southeast Asian non-Bahá’ís; to assist Bahá’ís who are seeking refugee status from other countries; to help in obtaining Humanitarian Parole for urgent medical cases and to assist with asylum cases; to represent the Bahá’í community in refugee and immigrant matters on state and national levels, in both government and non-government areas; to share information regarding the Bahá’í refugees and asylees with local Bahá’í institutions, communities and individuals in order to integrate them into the American Bahá’í community.

Activities: Visited the director of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Washington, D.C., on several occasions (the UNHCR in Pakistan had been systematically refusing refugee status to all Bahá’ís since August 1992, causing great concern to the families and friends of the reported 400 Iranian Bahá’í refugees in Pakistan) and provided him with copies of the original secret document of the Islamic government of Iran, case summaries and other proofs of persecutions of Iranian Bahá’ís. These meetings, meetings with Mrs. Sadako Ogata of the Commission for Refugees of the UNHCR, and follow-up work by the Bahá’í International Community in New York and Geneva resulted positively in all of the cases of Iranian Bahá’í refugee being approved by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Pakistan.

Prepared, in both Persian and English, and sent to the friends in Pakistan the definition and guidelines from the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Department of State informing them of the criteria and priorities for U.S.-bound refugees since the Bahá’í agencies in Pakistan were unable to provide such assistance.

Provided a variety of documentation regarding the status of the Bahá’ís in Iran to the Office of Document Exchange, a resource information center that provides proof of the need for political asylum around the world.

Added over 350 new enrollments of Southeast Asian Bahá’í adults and children to the U.S. roster. The enrollment figure included individuals who were transferred into the U.S., new declarants and Southeast Asian Bahá’ís already residing in the United States. Since the voluntary agencies resettling refugees are not obligated to inform the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office due to the Privacy Act, the location of thousands of Southeast Asian Bahá’í refugees is unknown. USBRO investigated 14 out of 82 possible communities where Southeast Asian Bahá’ís reside to locate them and to encourage the involvement of American Bahá’ís in those communities with them.

Arranged for the translation and production of [Page 18]

Annual Report

1,000 copies of the Bahá’í Faith teaching booklet in the Vietnamese language; also produced for distribution three new videotapes to assist in teaching and consolidation efforts of Southeast Asians: An Introduction and Deepening on the Bahá’í Faith in the Hmong language; A Deepening Tape on The Bahá’í Faith in the Laotian language; and The Early History of The Bahá’í Faith in Viet Nam and Some Teachings from The Bahá’í Faith in the Vietnamese language. Copies of these items were distributed to places as far as Australia and Hawaii.

Reproduced 300 copies of the teaching pamphlet, 25 copies of The New Garden, and 15 copies of The Hidden Words translated in the Hmong language; 50 copies of a Bahá’í prayer book, 50 copies of The Hidden Words, 25 sets of three prayer cards, and 300 copies of the teaching pamphlet in the Laotian language; and 50 copies of a Bahá’í prayer book, 120 copies of the teaching pamphlet, and 50 copies of Daily Readings books in the Vietnamese language. USBRO provided 800 photocopies of the teaching pamphlet in the Hmong, Laotian and Vietnamese languages for the Atlanta Youth Project and sent 18 boxes of Bahá’í prayer books, Daily Readings and back issues of Child’s Way/Brilliant Star magazine to Bahá’í "Helpers" for distribution to Southeast Asian children and youth for Ayyám-i-Há.

Sponsored and held the second annual Southeast Asian Community Builders Roundtable Discussion at the Bosch Bahá’í School, April 30-May 2, 1993. Forty Bahá’ís from California, Illinois, Texas and Washington represented various cultures, including Cambodian, Hmong, Japanese, Laotian, Vietnamese and American.

Displayed Southeast Asian materials and projects in which the USBRO is involved at the North American Bahá’í Conference on Social and Economic Development held in Orlando, Florida.

Visited 11 Bahá’í communities in California and in Portland, Oregon and Tacoma, Washington, to consult with local Assemblies and individual "Helpers" about the location, integration, consolidation and teaching efforts taking place amongst Southeast Asians; visited Southeast Asian families; and introduced newly arrived refugees and/or families to their local Assemblies.

Produced four issues of the quarterly Southeast Asian Helpers Bulletin (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter) and distributed 300 copies of each to individuals and institutions throughout the country and submitted nine articles to The American Bahá’í regarding success stories of the efforts being made to integrate, consolidate and teach Southeast Asian Bahá’ís.

Met with Ms. Phyllis Oakley, the senior deputy assistant secretary of state to Warren Christopher, to apprise her of the current situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran and the refugees in Pakistan and Cyprus and to seek assistance in resolving some of the difficult cases.

Attended the "United Nations Day Luncheon Celebration" and spoke about refugee women at a special meeting of the Illinois Refugee Social Services Consortium attended by Mrs. Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Later spoke directly to Mrs. Ogata about the plight of the Iranian Bahá’ís and Bahá’í refugees stranded in Pakistan, and also presented her with documents about the persecutions.

Presented a talk regarding the persecution of the Iranian Bahá’ís that resulted in a sign-on letter prepared by the Chicago Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Protection (C.C.I.R.P.) being sent to all the organizations that are members of this group.

Accepted an appointment to the Steering Committee of the Plenary Session "Voices of the Dispossessed" for the Parliament of the World’s Religions and prepared and submitted to the Committee initial documents, photographs and a videotape on the plight of the Bahá’ís in Iran.

Co-sponsored with the U.S. Committee for the United ‎National Nations‎ Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) an evening with Ms. Jewel Lafontant-Makarious, former ambassador-at-large and coordinator for refugees, giving a talk about the goals and accomplishments of the Bahá’ís in promoting the equality and advancement of women in the world and distributing many Bahá’í pamphlets and copies of The Bahá’í Magazine.

Attended a meeting at the request of the new director of the Office of the U.S. Department of State Resettlement and met with 14 other members of the Mutual Assistance Association (MAA) to consult about the future needs of refugees; served as an appointed member of the Program Committee of the National Association for the Education and Advancement of Cambodians, Laotians and Vietnamese Americans (NAFEA); and served as a voting member of the Chicago Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Protection (C.C.I.R.P.) and its Refugee Issues Committee and on the Illinois Refugee Social Services Consortium to stay informed of news, issues, governmental legislation and programs of concern to Bahá’í refugees and immigrants.

Attended the "Legal Training Program" on asylum issues presented by the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law; the Refugee Program of Chicago’s In-Service Training at the Uptown Hull House on June 3, 1993; and two open meetings on the "Future of the Refugee Program" at the State of Illinois Thompson Center in Chicago, presenting the Iranian Bahá’í dilemma to the attention of the new Director of Refugee Resettlement at the Department of State.

Attended the "Oprah Winfrey" show on the subject of "Race and Ethnic Conflicts" (October 27, 1993) at the request of the National Spiritual Assembly, met Miss Winfrey following the show, and presented her with the publications "The Vision of Race Unity: America’s Most Challenging Issue," "Models of Unity," and "World Peace through Racial Unity."

Participated in the discussion of "Racism in the Media and Films" at the Illinois Ethnic Coalition held on September 23, 1993, by presenting the Bahá’í view, which was videotaped for broadcast on television.

Represented the Bahá’í International Community at the Jane Addams International Women’s Leadership Award ceremony and reception honoring Dr. Wangari Maathai of Kenya.

Represented the National Spiritual Assembly at a conference held in Fresno, California, to promote social and economic development programs in the San Joaquin Valley, an area that had a surge of enrollments and where the cooperation of several communities in consolidation efforts was needed.

Teaching

National Teaching Committee

Goal: To support and guide regional and district teaching committees, regional school committees, and local teaching and race unity efforts; to assist the National Assembly in restructuring the administrative aspects of the teaching work; and to help prepare a working agenda for the Three Year Plan.

Activities: Encouraged the American Bahá’í community to achieve the numerical goals of the Three Year Plan in 19 months, by the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh on November 12, 1994. "Mission 19" has a goal of 3,000 traveling teachers, of which 2,000 have arisen; 500 homefront pioneers, of which 321 have settled; and 142 new local Spiritual Assemblies in cities with populations of 50,000, of which three have been formed and 37 await reformation. Recorded enrollments, as of March 1, 1994, at 1,075 adults, 295 youth and 895 children.

Called for all local Spiritual Assemblies to formulate teaching strategies for the first year of the Three Year Plan. About 480 communities out of 3,296 localities responded by submitting copies of their plans, with 198 of those communities adopting extension teaching goals.

Produced and distributed throughout the country a booklet titled The Three Year Plan which included the Ridván 150 message of the Universal House of Justice, the Ridván message of the National Spiritual Assembly, and guidance from the National Teaching Committee about creating and implementing teaching plans.

Organized community town meetings, arranging for 106 such meetings during the summer of 1993 with half the meetings attended by representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly or the National Teaching Committee.

Originated a national "Heat Wave" fireside campaign to engage more individual believers in achieving the goals of the Three Year Plan, to stimulate the regular holding of firesides, and to further support various ongoing race unity activities.

Collaborated with the Office of the Treasurer in the "Vision in Action" campaign to incorporate aspects of the Fund in the teaching work. Over 750 pledges for individual action in teaching and in contributing to the funds have been received by the National Spiritual Assembly.

Dissolved the District Teaching Committee apparatus, with the exception of ten areas in the country where district committees remained due to the specific needs of the community, to pave the way for future regional structures and to stimulate local community initiative.

Identified 14 large-scale growth initiatives and over 30 significant teaching projects around the country. In further support of regional teaching efforts in the wake of the Atlanta Large-Scale Growth Conference, State Teaching Committees will be appointed for Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. Additionally, a State Teaching Committee will be appointed for Oregon to support its teaching and consolidation efforts.

Promoted race unity activities throughout the country and hosted a model "Calling All Colors" conference for children during the Atlanta Large-Scale Growth Conference. Such conferences continue to be encouraged throughout the national community.

Hosted a gathering of leaders in the field of Latin-American teaching to consult on the needs of that population, including systematic approaches to the translation and dissemination of literature and news in Spanish.

Hosted a gathering of youth teachers in the Chicago area in September 1993 to discuss a national youth strategy for the Three Year Plan; placed 11 youth in domestic Bahá’í Youth Service Corps posts; sent College Club packets to 150 local Spiritual Assemblies that sponsor college clubs; and established a national electronic mail network linking Bahá’í college clubs.

Monitored the activities of Bahá’í Youth Workshops, which have increased from 40 to about 60 since August 1993.

Appointed a National Youth Task Force charged with formulating a plan to mobilize youth as traveling teachers beginning in the summer of 1994; a National Arts Task Force charged with developing strategies to foster the use of the arts in teaching with a special emphasis on race unity and the participation of youth and children; and seven regional committees for teaching Native Americans.

Sent representatives to 21 events, including "Vision in Action" training sessions and conferences, regional schools sessions, Special Visitors programs and various other meetings and conferences.

Office of Pioneering

Goal: To fulfill the mandate as stated in a letter from the Universal House of Justice dated August 25, 1993, to the National Spiritual Assembly to "raise up and prepare an increasing number of long- and short-term pioneers and traveling teachers, aiming at the deployment of at least 2,000 of them in the international field ...."

Activities: Deployed, as of March 1, 1993, 1,460 pioneers and traveling teachers. Of these, 278 were pioneers, 44 were Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteers, and 1,143 were traveling teachers.

Established Pioneer Emphasis Days to recruit [Page 19]

Annual Report

individuals to assist in the fulfillment of the goals of the Three Year Plan. Four hundred thirty-six individuals attended 15 programs offered in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California; Seattle, Washington; Denver, Colorado; Rolla, Missouri; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Raleigh, North Carolina; Gainesville and Miami, Florida; Arlington, Virginia; and Boston, Massachusetts. In an effort to decentralize the initial administrative process for volunteer international service, Pioneer Emphasis Days included training for local Spiritual Assemblies in the process of encouraging, screening, and preparing prospective pioneers.

Developed a network of resource individuals to assist in recruiting and training prospective pioneers and traveling teachers for specific countries.

Held three Pioneer and Bahá’í Youth Service Corps Training Institutes, attended by 105 adults, youth and children.

Continued collaboration with the National Teaching Committee on the goals for homefront pioneering and traveling teaching by encouraging these activities during Pioneer Emphasis Days and in the course of conversations with believers who are not yet ready to leave the country.

Continued development of a concept of “International Pioneering on the Homefront,” whereby individuals are encouraged to homefront pioneer to communities where there are ethnic populations of the country to which they desire to settle. Such an approach enables the prospective international pioneer to become familiar with the language and culture of the population, to teach the Faith to individuals of that culture who can then return to their native land to teach, and enhances the probability that upon arrival at an international post the pioneer will have a list of “family” contacts.

Witnessed the greater involvement of the Faith in human society in the National Assembly’s extension goal of Providenciales, ‎Turk Turks‎ & Caicos Islands, where on November 4, 1993, a new medical clinic, owned and run by Bahá’ís, was established; followed the progress of U.S. pioneers and traveling teachers who continue to impact the fields of health and health education in Guyana, Albania and Honduras through social and economic development projects; and anticipated the installation of U.S. pioneers sought by the government of the Marshall Islands to assist in the development of a national school system, general curricula, and moral education and training; and congratulated the Bahá’ís of the Falkland Islands, another of the Assembly’s extension goals, on celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of the Faith in that country.

Task Force for the Bahá’í House of Worship

Goal: To serve and work with Bahá’í communities to spread the message of the Bahá’í Faith and to involve larger numbers of people from greater distances in the activities held in the Temple.

Activities: Welcomed 157,500 visitors from 75 countries over the course of the year, 11,050 of whom attended the 12:15 p.m. daily devotions, and conducted 157 tours for 4,796 people. Staff witnessed twelve declarations of Faith in Bahá’u’lláh at the Temple.

Responded to 902 interest cards in four languages, the majority of which were from the United States, and mailed 773 introductory books at the requests of seekers.

Provided free materials in 38 languages, including a comprehensive brochure about the Faith, prayer sheets in English and Spanish, the statement of the Universal House of Justice on peace, visit cards provided to hotels, airports, tourist shops and individuals, and a quarterly newsletter for volunteers.

Supervised the activities of volunteers who gave over 10,000 hours of service as guides, tour leaders, discussion leaders, choir members, readers, ushers/hosts, office aides, program and hospitality coordinators, flower arrangers and summer interns.

Held a twenty-four hour prayer vigil for the success of the Race Unity Day walk; arranged daily dawn devotions during the Fast; began monthly prayer breakfasts; commemorated all Holy Days and provided special programs for children; held open meetings to honor Race Unity Day, Universal Children’s Day, United Nations Day, United Nations Human Rights Day, International Day of Peace, and World Religion Day; and hosted two devotional programs in honor of the Parliament of the World’s Religions which were attended by 1,200 dignitaries, religious figures and local community members.

Presented the tenth annual David Kellum Awards which was attended by 275 people, most of whom were not Bahá’ís.

Conducted a Special Visit Program attended by 85 participants, the largest such program attendance ever.

Held two monthly firesides in English and Spanish; held two additional firesides, one in Russian conducted by a traveling teacher from Russia and another in Spanish coordinated in conjunction with the National Teaching Committee.

Sponsored a weekly introductory class on the Faith, a series called “Religion in Bahá’í and Comparative Perspectives” conducted by the Research Office, and continued “The Light Exchange,” a bimonthly discussion group focused on spiritual education.

Coordinated instructional and consultative meetings to train local Spiritual Assemblies to assist with hospitality and programming needs for Holy Days and special events at the House of Worship, to train volunteers to focus their teaching efforts on Bahá’u’lláh and His Station, and to convene the Wilmette Interfaith Association for the year and host one of its meetings.

Served on the Board of the North Shore Race Unity Task Force, assuming the major planning role for the annual Walk for Race Unity.

Provided facilities for National Convention, the District Convention for Illinois Northern #2B, the Office of the Treasurer’s training for the “Vision in Action” campaign, special meetings with speakers from the World Center and elsewhere, two memorial services, and 17 weddings.

National Education and Schools Office

Goal: To coordinate and oversee the efforts of the five permanent schools and institutes and the 36 regional schools committees, to provide support and supervision to the National Education Task Force, to oversee the development of educational programs in response to the goals of the National Assembly, and to temporarily supervise Brilliant Star magazine until a Publications Coordinator is hired.

Activities: Appointed new advisory boards for the five permanent schools and institutes to develop strategic plans and objectives in response to the goals of the Three Year Plan.

Supervised the activities of the 36 regional schools which held a total of 46 school sessions during the year, attended by approximately 5,000 people, on topics of study including The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the lives of the Central Figures of the Faith, the Universal House of Justice, the Three Year Plan, teaching, Huqúqu’lláh, marriage and family life. Several trainings for regional schools committees were held to improve the quality of the schools and their functioning.

Convened a group of program providers, school leaders and skilled professionals to develop an approach toward achieving the goal of teaching Bahá’í and other children and youth to become the first generation of Americans free of all prejudice and reported the findings to the National Spiritual Assembly for its consideration.

Disseminated curricula to all permanent schools, institutes, regional schools and schools which requested materials on the theme “The Destiny of America,” which was developed in collaboration with the National Teaching Committee, the National Education Task Force, the US/UN Representative, the Office of the Treasurer, and representatives from the schools and institutes.

Published a quarterly educational newsletter for all schools, teachers and educators with topical information, professional articles, and specific information about trainings, courses and other publications.

Developed and edited a new regional schools manual for publication.

National Education Task Force

Goal: To assist the American Bahá’í community in its efforts to fulfill the goals of the Three Year Plan of intensifying study of the Sacred Writings, striving to become leaders in the movement for race unity, making Bahá’í communities models of unity which inspire emulation and lead to growth, expanding programs of education for Bahá’í children, youth and adults, and strengthening Bahá’í family life through further development of the Core Curriculum and the National Teacher Training Center.

Activities: Developed a compilation and reference booklet of sacred writings on the spiritual education of children for publication in the spring of 1994.

Designed, delivered and supported the training for twenty-five race unity liaisons to community development as related to the Core Curriculum for the spiritual education of children.

Trained 125 Core Curriculum trainers and over 1,000 teachers in the Core Curriculum for the spiritual education of children and eighteen trainers in the Parent Facilitation Program.

Refined and utilized a set of materials including a training manual, strands of instructional content, and a reference section for the Core Curriculum, and began development of a Core Curriculum Activities Booklet.

Bosch Bahá’í School

Goal: To incorporate the triple theme of the Three Year Plan in programming designed to foster the spiritual and intellectual growth of individuals and the maturation of local Spiritual Assemblies.

Activities: Welcomed over 3,214 Bahá’ís to 44 sessions, including nine weeks of summer sessions, two winter sessions, a spring session on Women’s Issues, an Adult session, Marriage Retreat programs, one two-week Youth Institute, two Junior Youth Institutes, a day of deepening on service and a commemorative program for the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh.

Held five “Rendezvous of the Soul” weekends of intensive study, two youth research weekends, one college club weekend, a National Latino conference, a Chinese teaching weekend, a Southeast Asian Leadership conference, two Race Unity conferences, a Youth Service Corps/Pioneer Training Institute, and the third West Coast Urban Assemblies conference.

Held three Assembly “bonding” weekends where anywhere from five to eight Assemblies participated in a series of trust-building activities and were given an opportunity to consult as institutions and among combined institutions.

Incorporated service projects for the school during all nine weeks of the summer program and during every session at the school except during intensive study programs, securing 20,581 volunteer hours and the services of a full-time, non-paid volunteer coordinator to organize and train the volunteers.

Hosted three Elderhostel programs and rented facilities to several outside organizations and individuals for weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and a Passover celebration.

Continued quarterly publication of Bosch Calls and produced three session brochures and a promotional video about the school.

Raised over $12,000 which was used to renovate completely two cabins, including the addition of [Page 20]

Annual Report

additional bathrooms and new furnishings, and reorganized the Food Services Department, resulting in higher quality, healthier meals and a 19% reduction in cost to program fees. In addition, $4,107 was contributed to the Ronald S. Gilpatrick Memorial Fund for the Education of Children and Youth, $5,412 was donated to general scholarship funds, and approximately $120,000 has been secured in earmarked funds for building new classrooms. Additionally, Bosch received the Marzieh Gail book collection for the library.

Developed a Bookshop/Cafe concept which increased book sales and provided a new hospitality and teaching center.

Green Acre Bahá’í School

Goal: To provide an environment that assists participants to internalize and put into action the moral and spiritual principles of the Faith.

Activities: Welcomed over 1,200 adults and children to conferences and sessions focused on The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, community development, personal transformation, marriage and family life, the role of women, race unity and teaching.

Held two youth institutes, a Pioneer Training Institute and Youth Service Corps training, a weekend for assistants to the Auxiliary Board, a spiritual retreat weekend, a Core Curriculum Teacher Training, and Holy Day observations, Feasts, numerous local community events, and four weddings.

Hosted a "Picnic on the Piscataqua" and the "99th Anniversary of the Raising of the Peace Flag," attended by 300 people including members of the Vedantic Society who presented the school with a plaque in recognition of Swami Vivekananda’s historic visit to Green Acre in 1894.

Established the Green Acre Scholarship Fund, made possible by an individual donor, to provide assistance to friends of racial and cultural minorities.

Established the Green Acre Children’s Chorus as a social and economic development program in the local community for children aged 8 to 15 which offers public performances along the seacoast area promoting a message of the oneness of mankind and universal peace.

Completed installation of a new sewer system connecting all the buildings on the main campus to the municipal sewer. The reopening and dedication of Sarah Farmer Inn is scheduled for summer 1994.

Louhelen Bahá’í School

Goal: To support the education goals of the Three Year Plan, emphasizing intense study of the sacred writings, expanding the human resources of the Faith, promoting race unity and the advancement of women, and supporting the development of the National Teacher Training Center at Louhelen in collaboration with the National Education Task Force.

Activities: Sponsored and hosted conferences and intensive study sessions designed to spiritually strengthen and expand the vision of parents and families, youth, children, pioneers, race unity workers, writers and artists, women, married couples and those preparing for marriage, and teachers.

Provided training, service opportunities, and structured deepening on the meaning and station of service to participants in programs at Louhelen and to six Youth Service Corps volunteers.

Sponsored a national Models of Unity conference which featured program participation by important local leaders of thought, including the U.S. Congressman who serves the Louhelen district.

Participated as a cosponsor in the planning and implementation of a major Race Unity Day event carried out in collaboration with the mayor’s office in the city of Flint, Michigan, and other community groups.

Supported and facilitated the development of Core Curriculum programs through the National Teacher Training Center.

Recruited and organized volunteers who provided over 15,000 hours of service to the school at an estimated value of $200,000, replacing contract services.

Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute

Goal: To serve as a resource center for the training of Bahá’ís to enable them to become more actively involved in the promotion of the Faith and the development of strong communities in South Carolina and to bring the Faith to the attention of the local population.

Activities: Hosted the South Carolina Summer and Winter Schools; a Local Spiritual Assembly Development weekend sponsored by the Auxiliary Board; a women’s conference; and the seventh annual Bahá’í Black Men’s Gathering, attended by approximately 75 men who contributed $9,000 to the National Fund.

Held weekly morality classes for children, a nine-week summer Academy program and six weekend leadership programs for youth, junior youth and children; and weekly deepenings for the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Youth Workshop.

Supported three targeted communities (Conway, Florence and Kingstree) in their collaboration efforts by providing training for traveling teachers and new believers, publicity and technical support, and facilities and equipment for use in their work.

Cosponsored, with the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, the second annual "Enabling and Supporting the Development of Black Males" conference which featured a Bahá’í keynote speaker and several Bahá’í workshop leaders.

Organized and helped facilitate travel arrangements for approximately 100 area residents to attend the thirtieth anniversary of the March on Washington.

Adjusted work schedules to accommodate seven staff members who undertook various international traveling teaching trips to the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and the Marshall Islands.

Native American Bahá’í Institute

Goal: To develop local educational projects related to the indigenous culture as a means for teaching the Faith; to develop teaching materials for use on the Navajo Reservation; and to assist Local Assemblies with their teaching work and their participation in social programs with nearby Native American tribes.

Activities: Continued weekly overnight Nobility Classes for local school children and youth to study Bahá’í teachings, Navajo culture, and to receive help with their school studies. Continued emphasis on youth resulting in retreats, work days and service projects, and the sponsorship of a local basketball team.

Held Mobile Teaching Institute and Family Unity Weekends to reach out to Native believers in the district and deepening sessions and a week-long Native Youth Deepening in the Navajo language.

Established an audio/video editing suite and trained youth in its operation.

Hosted monthly work weekends assisted by Phoenix-area volunteers, completing construction of a new shower house, septic systems and camper parking.

Provided facilities for the local Spiritual Assembly of Houck to host various local events.

WLGI Radio

Goal: To increase Radio Bahá’í’s participation and involvement in community affairs.

Activities: Aired three times per day, every day, two mini-program series ("Blessed Beauty" and "Bahá’í Laws and Principles"); aired Bahá’í Community Calendar seven times per day which included news of activities planned and sponsored by area local Spiritual Assemblies; and began and ended each broadcast day with specially produced devotional programs that included prayers, readings and music. Daily programming also included recitations of passages from the sacred texts alone and in conjunction with pre-selected music by Bahá’í and other popular artists and announcements supporting the Institute’s and regional teaching activities.

Created special programs for broadcasts aired on Holy Days and gave priority air time to tape-delayed and live coverage of area communities’ special teaching events.

Supported race unity efforts by airing music, programs and spots highlighting African American culture and history, by combining the text from "The Vision of Race Unity" with music and airing it as a program bearing the statement’s name, and by airing talks given by Bahá’ís that promote the theme of race unity.

Broadcast a number of program series focused on African American women: "African American Women: Proud and Determined," "Black Women: A Portrait of Dignity," "Black Achievers," and "African Americans in Bahá’í History."

Maintained a toll-free telephone line for listeners to call in with questions about the Faith and announced the availability of the toll-free number following all Bahá’í programs.

Properties

House of Worship Restoration

Goal: To adopt, initiate and sustain a well-defined, phased plan for the restoration of the Mother Temple of the West and to establish a comprehensive program for the conservation of the House of Worship over the next millennium.

Activities: Completed the final phase of ten years of restoration of the Holiest House of Worship with repairs to the concrete cornice and gutter. Five seasons of construction concluded ahead of schedule and below budget. The work’s outstanding craftsmanship and technical achievement earned the "Project of the Year" Award from the International Concrete Repair Institute.

Established a conservation team for the Temple.

Continued documentation of the restoration project, carefully storing samples, molds and unique equipment, and conducting detailed inspections, research and testing for future preservation work.

Designed and initiated construction of an elevator in the House of Worship to improve access for disabled individuals.

Assisted with inspections and condition reports on the Shrine of the Báb, providing technical assistance for the molds and production of new ornamental urns for the terraces on Mount Carmel, and assisted with inspections and condition reports for the House of Worship in Kampala, Uganda.

Bahá’í Properties Office

Goal: To oversee the maintenance and development of all nationally owned Bahá’í properties in the United States, to consult with the National Spiritual Assembly on the acquisition and disposal of such properties, and to provide similar support to local assemblies on property acquisition and/or development.

Activities: Remodeled the Properties Office; installed conduit, electrical outlets and mounting panels in the House of Worship and in the Properties Office in preparation for the installation of a new telephone system; installed a new compressor in the air conditioner in the National Archives Office and additional lighting in the Activities and Archives offices; rewired the Personal Computer Center; constructed an acoustical box for Media Services; installed surge protectors at the National Center and Properties offices to protect computers from power ‎-uctuations fluctuations‎; and installed a drain in the grounds at the House of Worship that directs ground water to the canal instead of the parking lot.

Handled all the maintenance, custodial, grounds and public safety tasks relating to the National Center properties.

Made a model of the elevator to be installed in the House of Worship.

Acquired the services of an environmental firm and initiated work on asbestos abatement in the House of Worship. [Page 21]

Publishing

Bahá’í Distribution Service Goal: To promote the distribution and use of Bahá’í publications and materials at the lowest prices possible and to develop further a solid business structure.

Activities: Achieved, as of March 1, 1994, sales totaling $1,384,099, about 7% under the $1.95 million sales goal. A profit for the year was projected despite the shortfall in sales since adjustments were made in the operational budget.

Added 150 new titles to the Distribution Service inventory, resulting in sales of over $300,000. Best sellers for the year include: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (sales in all editions were over 16,500); Lasting Remembrances (1,000 tapes); The Bahá’í magazine; Call to Remembrance (1,400); and Healing Racism in America (1,900).

Established 2,865 new customer accounts, an increase of 31% over last year, and filled 23,295 orders for 270,451 items, an increase of 48% in orders and 10% in items over last year.

Achieved gains in inventory and accounts receivable control systems, reducing inventory value to $371,000 from over $450,000, a remarkable accomplishment in light of the inventory reduction occurring simultaneously as the Bahá’í Publishing Trust dramatically increased the size of the printings of Authoritative Text titles. Increased printings have insured low unit costs and retail prices.

Reduced total accounts receivable from over $400,000 at the beginning of the year to $193,262 as of March 1, 1994, which resulted in the Publishing Trust becoming a major source of revenue for the National Center and operationally self-supporting.

Produced advertising and promotional materials, including 52,000 price lists; 60,000 16-page fliers; 135,000 one-page fliers and order stuffers; 15,000 postcard promotional pieces; and 19 two-page ads for The American Bahá’í. In addition, complimentary copies of The Kitáb-i-Aqdas and Tablets of the Divine Plan were sent to every National Spiritual Assembly and Bahá’í Distribution Service in the world.

Compiled and edited promotional copy on over 1,500 books in anticipation of the publication of a comprehensive Bahá’í Distribution Service catalog.

Established relationships with 16 new vendors, signed 41 new letters of agreement with Bahá’í Distribution Service vendors, and negotiated more favorable terms with several other vendors, including the Visual Services Office of IBAVC, resulting in 175 new videotapes being added to the Bahá’í Distribution Service inventory.

Coordinated the sales efforts at several conferences such as the Green Lake Conference, the Atlanta Large-Scale Growth Conference, and the Tennessee Bahá’í School.

Bahá’í Encyclopedia Project Goal: To advance Bahá’í scholarship by publishing a two-volume Short Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith that defines Bahá’í belief and practice for the general public.

Activities: Decided in a meeting of the Editorial Board that the amount of material collected for the encyclopedia would be better produced in two volumes than in the originally planned one volume.

Secured and edited 90% of the articles for the first volume (A–J), and sent the materials to the copy editor for final editing. The work of the encyclopedia has been carried out over a number of years with country articles being edited in Canada and general articles being edited in the United States and then in England. The Canadian part of the operation has been closed down due to the resignation of the full-time assistant, and since May 1993 the files for country articles have been transferred to England, causing delays in the progress of the encyclopedia.

Bahá’í Publishing Trust Goal: To support the teaching and consolidating of the Faith by publishing the Bahá’í Writings, introductory and historical works, literature for children and youth, teaching literature, and audio-visual materials; to promote the use of Bahá’í literature; and to foster the translation, publication, and distribution of Bahá’í literature in the Kazakh and Ukrainian languages.

Activities: Published three new literature titles: new pocket-sized editions of The Kitáb-i-Aqdas and Tablets of the Divine Plan and a new U.S. hardcover edition of Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh. Also published the Bahá’í Wall and Pocket Calendars and Datebooks.

Reprinted, in cooperation with other Bahá’í publishers, Marriage: A Fortress for Well-Being and The Open Door.

Completed reprints of nine titles: The Kitáb-i-Íqán, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Refer: Bahá’u’lláh, Some Answered Questions, The Secret of Divine Civilization, The Advent of Divine Justice, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, Bahá’í Prayers, The Divine Art of Living, The Vision of Race Unity, Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, and The Bahá’í Faith Teaching Booklet.

Assisted other agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly in the publication of three titles in Persian: Introduction to the Bahá’í Faith, Essay on The Kitáb-i-Aqdas and Spiritual Integration; the teaching booklet in Vietnamese for the Refugee Office; visitor cards and postcards for the House of Worship; video sleeve and cassette cover designs for Media Services and the National Teaching Committee; a telephone directory for Management Information Systems; and a marketing brochure for the Bahá’í Home.

Continued to provide administrative support to the Short Encyclopedia of the Bahá’í Faith project, including hosting two Editorial Board meetings.

Sent a representative to Kiev, Ukraine, for consultation on the status of Bahá’í publishing and the needs of the Ukrainian community and donated two Bahá’í libraries for presentation to public libraries in the Ukraine.

Brilliant Star Editorial Board Goal: To produce six issues of Brilliant Star magazine per year, designed to serve the needs of children by confirming their Bahá’í identity and helping them to become Bahá’í teachers, and one special edition for summer schools.

Activities: Produced seven regular issues this year: Life’s Journey, The Role of Women, Being Leaders, My Part of the Plan, Families, and Courage and a special edition for 1994, The Spiritual Conquest of the Planet.

Produced an additional special edition for 1994, The 100th Anniversary of the Bahá’í Faith in America, prepared in collaboration with the 100th Anniversary Task Force for use at regional schools in the coming summer.

Completed production of the special edition for 1993 on The Kitáb-i-Aqdas for the Education and Schools Office for use at regional schools last summer.

Collaborated with the National Education Task Force to provide teacher packets for all those trained in the Core Curriculum and curriculum-referenced indices for teachers in every issue of Brilliant Star.

Increased subscribers and renewals through a new renewal notification program and doubled bulk sales and school standing orders by switching distribution of all non-subscription sales to the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

Periodicals Office Goal: To produce 19 issues of The American Bahá’í, presenting news of the progress of the Cause in the United States and abroad to the American Bahá’í community to inspire and guide its efforts to win the goals of the Three Year Plan.

Activities: Produced 19 issues of The American Bahá’í, on time and under budget; added a new staff member; relocated the Periodicals Office from the Bahá’í National Center to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust; and redesigned the newspaper.

Covered on-site events including: the “Fruit of the Holy Year” teaching campaign in Atlanta; the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago; Peace Fest ’93 at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute; the “Vision in Action” meeting in Wilmette; the first North American Bahá’í Conference on Economic Development in Orlando, Florida; the Atlanta Large-Scale Growth Conference; and numerous other significant items, among which were included: an eight-page pull-out section of a compilation from the Universal House of Justice on entry by troops; a letter released by the World Center on sexual abuse; news about progress on the construction of the Arc on Mount Carmel; “Mission 19”; the National Conference on Sustainable Development in Kentucky; reports on the continuing outcry in Congress and the UN against the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran; and the National Spiritual Assembly’s “Appeal to the Conscience of Humankind” concerning the persecutions in Iran, which was signed by 49 prominent Americans and published in a number of leading newspapers.

Subscriber Services Goal: To fulfill subscriptions, distribute, and promote The American Bahá’í (foreign subscribers), Brilliant Star, One Country, Tian Xia Yi Jia, Herald of the South, and World Order magazines.

Activities: Furnished Bahá’í periodicals to 3,854 subscribers, of which 1,213 are foreign subscribers.

World Order Editorial Board Goal: To publish World Order magazine, a direct teaching and deepening effort of the National Spiritual Assembly focusing on topics of broad social concern from a Bahá’í perspective.

Activities: Published the Fall 1993 issue commemorating the one hundredth anniversary of the passing of Bahá’u’lláh and the inauguration of His Covenant, including impressions of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by Thornton Chase and an account of meeting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by Juanita Storch.

Published the Winter 1993-94 issue devoted to the equality of women and men and including statements on the equality of the sexes by the Bahá’í International Community and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Australia, as well as examinations of women in the American Bahá’í community between 1900 and 1912 and African American women between 1898 and 1919.

Published the Spring 1994 issue devoted to the centenary of the establishment of the Bahá’í Faith in North America.

Began desktop publishing the magazine with the Fall 1993 issue, a step that cut typesetting costs, worked with the Bahá’í Distribution Service and The American Bahá’í for regular promotion of the magazine, and worked with Subscriber Service to resume regular mailing of renewal letters to rebuild the number of World Order subscribers.

Services

National Bahá’í Archives Goal: To assist and support the National Spiritual Assembly, its agencies, and the American Bahá’í community by maintaining archival records and materials, providing research assistance, and educating and assisting local Spiritual Assemblies in the proper care and management of local records and archives.

Activities: Assisted with the planning of the 1994 centenary observations of the establishment of the Bahá’í Faith in North America.

Acquired one original Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and 14 original letters written on behalf of the Guardian. Accounted for 1,687 dates in a list received from the Bahá’í World Center of approximately 7,200 dates of Guardian’s letters.

Organized a collection of extracts on various subjects from the Archives’ holding of Guardian’s letters which currently consists of 4,371 extracts in 885 categories.

Sent to 30 local communities a set of biographi- [Page 22]

Annual Report

cal sketches of noteworthy African American, Asian, Hispanic and Native American Bahá’ís for use in proclamation and teaching activities.

Answered 351 research requests including 131 from the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies, 44 from other Bahá’í institutions, and 176 from individuals. The Archives reading room was visited by 18 scholars and Bahá’í National Center staff from four offices.

Processed 891 historical photographs and provided publishers and scholars with 151 prints and 4,303 photocopies of historical documents.

Sent information on local records and archives to 16 local communities in 11 states.

Increased the National Reference Library collections by approximately 3,150 items, bringing the total volume up to nearly 50,000 items, and made donations of duplicate books to the World Center and Louhelen Bahá’í School libraries.

Developed two archival displays and conducted six tours of the Archives and an Archives open house and relics display for National Convention.

Received 190 boxes of Bahá’í National Center records; acquired seven new collections of personal papers and 12 additions to existing collections, arranged and opened for research ten collections of personal papers, and made 17 inquiries into collections of papers the Archives wishes to acquire.

Microfilmed the Office of the Secretary’s Shoghi Effendi Files (1922-1940) and The American Bahá’í (1986-1993) and photocopied on acid-free paper 2,400 pages of newspaper clippings for archival preservation.

Bahá’í Service for the Blind

Goal: To provide the literature of the Faith in mediums such as cassette tapes, Braille, and large-print formats, for purchase and/or loan, for those unable to use standard print due to physical or mental handicaps.

Activities: Maintained a lending library of materials for the blind and managed to remain financially independent of assistance from the National Fund.

Made The Kitáb-i-Aqdas available on cassette tape within two weeks of the release of the print edition.

Advertised the Faith in numerous world-wide publications for the blind.

Donated braille books to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Ethiopia to help establish a braille library for blind Bahá’ís in that country.

Bahá’í Service for the Hearing Impaired and Deaf

Goal: To facilitate understanding and acceptance of individuals with hearing loss in the American Bahá’í community and to provide services for deaf individuals and their Bahá’í communities.

Activities: Provided information on interpreter services and other services for the deaf to the House of Worship and met with various agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly to consult on potential areas of collaboration.

Submitted to the National Spiritual Assembly a request that it consider adopting a standard set of policies regarding services for the deaf and hard of hearing at the national, regional and local levels and developed a preliminary set of policies, procedures and guidelines with alternative rationales and cost analyses.

Human Resources

Goal: To attend to the human resource needs of the National Spiritual Assembly and its employees and to serve as a resource for the coordination of activities among the agencies, institutes and departments of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Activities: Assisted in completing the restructuring of the national Bahá’í administrative and teaching organizations begun in the previous fiscal year.

Assisted in the training delivery system and production of training materials used for the “Vision in Action” presentations and in the design of the Treasurer’s Seminar conducted for local treasurers and community members in the United States.

Facilitated the hiring of 48 employees and the termination of 178 employees (including summer temporary staff, World Congress staff, and employees impacted by the reduction in staff due to the status of the National Fund).

Implemented a new Long Term Disability plan effective February 1, 1994, with cost savings projected at $12,000 annually while increasing Employee Assistance benefits.

Revised the employee retirement plan to allow employees greater investment options at no additional expense to the National Fund.

Established an employee Credit Union which provides savings and loan privileges to employees and their families at not-for-profit rates.

Deferred $73,454 employee dollars through a Section 125 Plan (Flexible Benefits) with estimated tax savings to employees of $18,363 and to the National Spiritual Assembly of $5,553.

Developed and conducted training sessions for all managers on administering performance appraisals, developed a new policy manual for managers, and completed an employee policy manual.

Management Information Systems

Goal: To provide services in office automation, network services (E-Mail, Wide Area Network), document management (image processing and file room automation), and administrative systems support (membership, records, financial and accounting functions, and mail services) to support the operation of the Bahá’í National Center, its associated departments, and agencies.

Activities: Provided the Bahá’í National Center Bulletin Board System (BNCBBS) to 2,105 users in the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Canada, an increase of 17% within one year, at a current rate of 650 messages per month.

Installed a new digital telephone system for the Bahá’í National Center facilities, the House of Worship, and the Properties/Public Safety facilities complete with enhanced user features such as voice mail, speed dialing, customized call forwarding, automatic call distribution and advanced call conferencing.

Installed the initial component of the National Center Electronic Mail system in selected offices to provide for desk-to-desk global communications and connection to the worldwide Internet system.

Implemented a schools registration system at four permanent schools.

Redesigned and distributed the U.S. Bahá’í Directory.

Designed and developed an automated budgeting system to facilitate the budgeting process for all agencies through standardization and elimination of duplicate data entry.

Provided support to the “Vision in Action” campaign by generating computer reports, charts and graphs.

Created Electoral Unit boundaries for and mapped local Spiritual Assemblies on the Geographic Information System. Additionally provided mapping services in support of projects for Bahá’í National Center offices and agencies including the “Vision in Action” and “Heat Wave” campaigns.

Shortened by one month the time required to recognize local Spiritual Assembly formations following ‎Riován Ridván‎ elections by automating portions of the formation verification process.

Completed 65% of the automation of the file room through the implementation of a document retrieval system utilizing laser disk and imaging technology enabling on-line access to all membership files.

Completed approximately 1,100 service calls through PC Services which provides support for training, troubleshooting problems, maintenance, and upgrading hardware and software. PC Services also completed a hardware and software inventory and instituted an inventory control procedure.

Processed 26,808 address changes, 2,154 enrollments, 1,186 child registrations, 1,569 name changes and identification card replacements, 1,043 administrative changes, 925 transfers into the American Bahá’í community, and 753 transfers out of the community; verified and processed 1,386 local Spiritual Assembly formations, including the resolution of 430 ‎problems problem‎ formations; and recorded 633 deceased.

Sent out 889,291 pieces of mail through Mail Services, taking advantage of the following savings during the past year: $25,000 cost avoidance through the use of zip+4 and barcode for mailing The American Bahá’í and another $25,000 savings through in-house mail preparation and sorting.

Bahá’í Media Services

Goal: To expand media production capacities to serve the interests of the Faith both nationally and internationally; to increase greatly the availability and use of video materials in languages other than English; and to increase the capacity to generate broadcast-quality video productions.

Activities: Completed production on the following items: three new editions of The Bahá’í Newsreel with translations in Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Persian, Hindi and Russian; a 96-minute video program for the series of nationwide meetings held to launch the “Vision in Action” campaign and a 38-minute follow-up video program which was delivered to the community for the Feast of ‘Alá (March 2, 1994); 1993 National Convention Highlights (audio); and Mount Carmel Projects Report developed from the Arc presentation given at the second Bahá’í World Congress.

Completed post-production work on The Spiritual Revolution II and provided background video and editorial support for a video production in ‎progess progress‎ titled Shoghi Effendi: The Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith for the producers of those works.

Assisted in the production of The Parliament of the World’s Religions, a broadcast quality documentation of that event, in collaboration with the Parliament, the Chicago Sunday Evening Club and Chicago Broadcast Ministries. Bahá’í Media Services has become recognized as a leader in the production of religious programs, leading to requests for information and assistance from CBS, NBC, Vision TV (Canada), and VISN.

Provided technical support for video, audio, lighting, staging, documentation, short run audio and video duplication, archival recording, and providing stock footage and still photos to publishers, producers and Bahá’í communities.

Meeting Planning and Travel Services

Goal: To provide the National Spiritual Assembly and its committees and agencies meeting and travel planning services to insure cost-effective quality.

Activities: Interviewed travel agents and trial tested over 50 proposals before selecting vendors.

Developed and implemented travel policies and procedures.

Negotiated and contracted discounted rates with hotels and negotiated a contract with a local and nationwide car rental agency at 25% below market rate at a cost savings of over $50,000.

Provided over 1,000 travel tickets at a cost savings of over $200,000 by taking advantage of airfare “wars,” implementing 14-day advance purchase requests, and recapturing unused tickets.

Supported over 145 meetings and conferences, including National Convention, a meeting of the Continental Boards of Counselors for the Americas, National Spiritual Assembly meetings, committee and task force meetings, and the “Vision in Action” conferences. [Page 23]

Spring sees marked upsurge in teaching across U.S.

Taking its cue from June, which is right around the corner, teaching is “busting out all over,” as these news items and excerpts of letters from around the country illustrate:

• “HEAT Wave sweeps South Portland (Maine) and seeker declares! Intense teaching, especially by the youth of our community, has resulted in the declaration of a new believer. ...(She) has since invited more of her friends to learn about the Bahá’í Faith. Cars full of youth from South Portland are traveling to firesides—rumor has it 11 seekers headed to one on a recent Saturday night.”

• “The big news (in our area) is that an inactive believer was found. (She) has stated her intention to ‘become active as a Bahá’í’ and raise her 10-year-old daughter as a Bahá’í! Consequently, we are registering as a Bahá’í Group.”

• “The following log details the traveling-teaching trips I have taken in B.E. 150. There may have been more times I traveled...that I did not record. I did not send this information sooner, because I thought...to count as traveling teaching, one had to give a ‘talk,’ not just teach the Faith informally. Before each of these trips, I prepared to teach the Faith by praying and asking God for guidance. Total: 27 trips. P.S.: During each activity listed, the Faith was taught directly, sometimes with literature. I have firesides in my home which, of course, don’t appear on this list, but they are the other half of the picture. ...I am a single Bahá’í with a job, stable income who has the opportunity to travel frequently.”

• “Alláh’u’Abhá! I have been wanting to write this letter for some time, but you know how it is. I’ve been fighting procrastination all my life, but guess who’s winning lately? I am. I have a pile of The American Bahá’í on my desk reminding me every day that I have just a little note to write. Well, the most recent issue spurred me to turn the computer on and type. ...Now when the numbers are published I will know that at least the above three traveling teachers have been counted and that our community, with its adoption of Georgia’s only national extension goal (of cities of 50,000+), has also been counted.”

• “Greatest victory to date: my mother-in-law declared herself a Bahá’í. (A friend) asked her to join our (Bahá’í) family.”

• “I have formulated a plan for traveling teaching by plane with a Bahá’í friend. He has an airplane and will fly me to anywhere in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan to teach. ...We hope to be able fly somewhat to travel teach about once a month, with some possibilities in the summer.”

• “We the undersigned would like to officially notify you of our teaching efforts in Alexandria, Virginia. In an effort to save trees we have all signed our names and addresses here as participants in Out of This Darkness rather than each person notifying you individually (168 names were signed!).”

• “I found that when my mind was open to possibilities and I was expecting to find receptive souls they seemed to appear everywhere. ...There has been a definite rise in interest and receptivity this Bahá’í month, no doubt due to the HEAT Wave. I think it’s working. I just pray that we can sustain the effort and follow up on all the interest that has been generated.”

• “One way of teaching: turn any social event into a fireside. It’s easy since the problems of today’s world are usually the topic of any conversation. We can mention the remedies that Bahá’u’lláh has given us!”

• “I was moved spontaneously after the November 14 Vision in Action session to start getting acquainted with Bahá’ís and seekers. I’m finding this (firesides) another way to bring together older (over 40) and younger (under 30) people, communicating mutual desires and dreams and actions to actualize them.”

• “We had two firesides during the HEAT Wave period in Rhode Island. We were pleased how easy it seems to invite people to hear about Bahá’u’lláh these days! There were a total of six seekers during the firesides. We pledge not to stop here.”

• “Hosted three dinner parties in our home. Provided all the food, games, entertainment, and music to approximately 80 persons from about 18 different ethnic groups. About 65 percent of guests were non-Bahá’ís. Invited Bahá’ís were asked to serve as co-hosts, making sure that all felt welcome and comfortable. Many non-Bahá’í guests said afterward that it was the best party they had ever attended. Friendships were formed between Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís, resulting in follow-up activities. For example, when an Italian Bahá’í woman and a young Vietnamese couple realized they lived in the same apartment building, they later exchanged dinners and hospitality reflecting their ethnic origin.”

• “We recently took a trip north to New York City to attend a United Nations Association national convention. While in New York we had a fireside with three non-Bahá’ís attending. On our return we had a fireside with one non-Bahá’í attending.”

• “Nine youth and two adults traveled to Hammond, Indiana, to perform, teach, and participate in the first Calumet Area Race Unity Conference. This was not a Bahá’í conference. The over 400 attendees were treated to a luncheon performance which centered on the oneness of mankind. The performance was so well received that the workshop was asked to perform at the NAACP Youth Council Banquet in East Chicago in the spring. The youth were invited to attend the VIP reception for the Rev. Bernice King, end-note speaker at the conference. Hammond is a goal city in Indiana.”

• “These thoughts came to us as we were passing the many historic sites on our trip, over parts of the Lewis and Clark expedition trail, the famous Oregon Trail which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, and a portion of the old Santa Fe Trail. The thousands of immigrants who pressed forward over these trails succeeded...because of their courage, perseverance and their dedication to achieving their goals. Today we are called upon to exhibit a similar spirit, but we are different kinds of pioneers who are dedicated to winning spiritual goals. Our courage and perseverance in pursuing the plans we set for ourselves will produce victory in spite of seeming difficulties. We Bahá’ís won’t be charting any new physical trails, but our trails will be equally celebrated by future generations.”

• “These are two of the goal areas to establish local Spiritual Assemblies, but there are no Bahá’ís in either location. We drove through both cities saying prayers, picked up local newspapers, tried to get to know the community a little, etc. ...We stopped at the library and mentioned we were Bahá’ís and had a librarian help us find Bahá’í books in the computer catalog. We ate dinner and left a Bahá’í card with a note thanking the waitress for her service.”

• “I traveled looking up long-lost cousins in the South. There was a joint purpose: to gather and share what family history we each remembered, and to tell each as much as desired about the Bahá’í Faith. Twice I attended church services with my kin and filled out the guest card. Home church? Bahá’í Faith.”

• “I engaged two of my fellow travelers in discussion about Bahá’u’lláh. Once in Urbana (Illinois), I was asked by a stranger on the street, ‘How would the people of this town treat Jesus Christ if he returned today?’ I answered by asking him if he had ever heard of Bahá’u’lláh.”

• “Teaching efforts were up by 60 percent. Connecticut communities: (1) gave special firesides; (2) had more firesides; (3) established regular firesides during the HEAT Wave.”

• “The Connecticut Bahá’í Youth Workshop performed at an interfaith Sunday service in honor of Dr. King’s birthday, and received a standing ovation from the men’s chorus of the participating black church.”

• “The New London (Connecticut) Bahá’ís held a proclamation, begun with prayers in many different languages, commemorating World Religion Day, as well as the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Participating were the state’s two performing teaching institutes: the Connecticut Bahá’í Youth Workshop, and the Connecticut Bahá’í Chorale. Over three-fourths of the very diverse group who attended were seekers, and the Bahá’ís reported that there was a truly a new spirit of excitement and investigation present. Among the individuals who were attracted to the day’s events were the two janitors, who reluctantly closed the building at the end of the event and spoke with the Bahá’ís outside the facility for a long time afterward.”

• “One Connecticut Bahá’í resigned her job at a large corporation to work full-time serving the Faith, especially in the area of racial harmony. With a background in acting,

See TEACHING page 31

Pictured are the members of the first Spiritual Assembly of Stillwater, Minnesota, formed February 7 by joint declaration. Front row (left to right) are Joby Randrup, Steven Milston and Jeff Randrup. Back row (left to right) are Jack Malan, Dolly Britzman, Judy Milston, Bill Thompson, Louise Watson and Rita Bulger. [Page 24]

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 LOUHELEN Bahá’í School is seeking applicants to fill an anticipated vacancy for coordinator of property improvement. This is a regular, full-time permanent staff position, with salary and benefits appropriate to the core supervisory role it offers. The coordinator of property improvement oversees Louhelen’s maintenance and grounds department and is responsible for coordinating and assuring the maintenance, upkeep and over-all physical improvement of the school's equipment, facilities and grounds. It is anticipated that the position will be available beginning December 1, 1994. ‎Interest Interested‎ persons may ask for more information and application materials from Dr. Rick Johnson, administrator, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423, or phone 810-653-5033 (fax 810-653-7181).

THE BOSCH Bahá’í School is seeking summer staff to plan and direct recreational activities for all ages, manage equipment, teach children's classes, and be a creative part of its 11-week summer sessions with occasional duties in other departments as needed. Talent in the arts, especially music, is highly valued. Mid-June through September 1. Room and board and a small stipend are provided. Please communicate with the director, Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (phone 408-423-3387; fax 408-423-7564).

THE GREEN ACRE Bahá’í School is seeking applicants for its 1994 summer staff. With the reopening of the Sarah Farmer Inn and expansion of programming and activities, many opportunities for service are available in a variety of areas. Those with little or no experience as well as skilled professionals are encouraged to apply. Positions include assistant cooks, dining room assistants, dishwashers, housekeepers, groundskeepers, general help, children's teachers, recreation leader, librarian, office assistant, gardener. Applicants should be available from June 20 through August 28; however, shorter terms of service can be considered in some cases. While full-time volunteer service in exchange for room and board is most desirable, provisions for additional compensation can be made. For information, please phone the school at 207-439-7200 (fax 207-439-7202), Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Eastern time), or send a letter of intent to Administrator, Green Acre Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903.

THE LOUHELEN Bahá’í School warmly invites applications from mature Bahá’í youth and adults to join its full-time volunteer staff. Louhelen is a leading Bahá’í educational and cultural center which welcomes several thousand persons each year who come for a variety of Bahá’í courses and conferences. Applications are sought from those who are able to serve during the summer season, June-August 1994. The school is also seeking persons who are able to offer full-time service for one or two years. Areas of possible service are diverse, and many interests and skills are sought. Volunteers live at the school while serving, with Louhelen providing full board and room. Individuals are responsible for their personal expenses and health insurance. Address inquiries to Penny Schmicker, volunteer services manager, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. Phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-7181.

SEARCHING for Youth Service Corps applicants: dedicated youth with a deep inner longing to serve the Cause and a desire to add skills through on-site training. Must be ready to learn new tasks and be flexible in areas of service. We will offer training in positions in several areas including maintenance, registration, cooking, library/bookshop. For ‎a more more‎ information or an application, please write to the Bosch Bahá’í School, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or phone 408-423-3387. Periods of service range from three months to one year.

CLAFLIN COLLEGE, a liberal arts college in Orangeburg, South Carolina, affiliated with the United Methodist Church and the United Negro College Fund, is seeking an assistant professor of reading. A masters degree is preferred. Duties include teaching basic and advanced reading. Responsibilities would also include advising students in elementary education. Tenure track position for nine months; salary negotiable. Interested persons should forward a letter of application and résumé (including names and telephone numbers of three references) to Dr. Roosevelt Ratliff Jr., chairman, Division of Education, Claflin College, 700 College Avenue, Orangeburg, SC 29115 (phone 803-535-5286). The position is to be filled by August 1.

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

EMPLOYMENT opportunities overseas. AFRICA: Congo—urgent need for elementary school teachers. Kenya—financial coordinator to oversee finances of nonprofit agency programs in Somalia, Kenya and Southern Sudan. Somalia—registered nurses, family practice/internal medicine physician, nurse practitioner. Zambia—urgent need for math, physics, chemistry, French and geography teachers. AMERICAS: Brazil—urgent need for teachers. Colombia—geological engineer/hydrogeologist to serve as consultant in area of subterranean water sources. Honduras—elementary and junior high school teachers. Turks & Caicos—elementary school teachers. ASIA: India—nutrition and health unit director. Korea—EFL teachers, academic supervisors. Macau—elementary school teachers, economics professor. AUSTRALASIA: Tonga—professional kayak guide. Western Caroline Islands—social studies, ESL, math, science, English, carpentry secondary school teachers; certified public accountant; public auditor. EUROPE: Lithuania—general director for investment promotion agency. Poland—EFL instructors. Russia—chief financial officer. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091 (telephone 708-733-3512; fax 708-733-3509).

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed in Apache Junction, Arizona (part of the Phoenix metro area, just east of Mesa), which formed its Assembly during this past Bahá’í year. The community presently has 11 adult members, but four will be leaving the area sometime this summer. The Phoenix metro area has about 10 active Bahá’í communities that offer a wide variety of activities in which to take part. There are two Bahá’í Centers, in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Employment opportunities are growing as the Phoenix/‎Me:sa Mesa‎ economy is on the upswing. The area boasts one of the country's best community college systems, and Arizona State University is only 30 minutes away via the freeway. For more information, please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Apache Junction, P.O. Box 3011, Apache Junction, AZ 85217, or phone 602-982-9370, 602-671-1003 or 602-982-1562.

SUNNY BELEN, New Mexico, needs homefront pioneers to help save its jeopardized Assembly. Belen (pop. 10,000) is an historic railroad center with a rich Hispanic history, in the high desert (at 5,000 feet) with a mild climate, only 30 minutes from Albuquerque and Kirkland Air Force Base. Ideal for military retirees, teachers, and those interested in teaching the Faith at nearby Indian pueblos. Low housing and living costs. Write to Bahá’ís, P.O. Box 663, Belen, NM 87002, or phone 505-864-7363.

THE BAHÁ’Í community of Orangeburg, South Carolina, has an immediate need for one or two youth for a year of service. Orangeburg, 40 miles east of Columbia, boasts two major colleges and one university. Bahá’í youth and young adults who are interested in pursuing their education while on a year of service are encouraged to consider Orangeburg. We presently have three Bahá’í faculty members and several students at South Carolina State University, and need more young people to solidify the campus club and help us with community teaching events. Youth who are interested in conducting children's classes are also needed. For information, please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Orangeburg, c/o Pamela Laursen, secretary, P.O. Box 2463, Orangeburg, SC 29116 (phone 803-536-2752).

HELP WANTED in the NATIONAL TEACHING OFFICE

The office of the National Teaching Committee has undergone a recent restructuring in light of the present needs of the Faith. As a result, applications are being accepted for the following full-time positions:

National Projects Administrator

Responsible for executing projects sponsored by the National Teaching Committee. Some duties include:

• Manages national support of teaching throughout the U.S.
• Monitors nationally appointed task forces and national initiatives.
• Coordinates special activities and events.

Experience: Proven project management skills; excellent verbal ability; strong analytical and management capacity; superior interpersonal skills; experience in teaching and familiarity with the principles of Bahá’í administration.

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: Daisy Smyth (died Boston, MA, 1959), Antoinette Snodgrass, Julia Sobel, Ronald Soderberg, El Fleda Spaulding (died Chicago, 1930), Robert Speller, Raymond Spencer, F. St. G. Spendlove, and Hannah C. Sprague. 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, or to phone 708-869-9039.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives has a large collection of historical photographs, from which it can furnish copies of pictures at cost to individuals and institutions. As the selection and copying of photographs can take time, please contact the Archives a month or more before any deadlines. Requests for photographs should be directed to the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 708-853-2359/708-869-9039).

WANTED

WANTED by Bahá’í artist: good quality close-up photographs of Bahá’í families and children of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds depicting daily Bahá’í life (specifically morning, noon and evening prayers, work, gardening, cleanliness, sibling love, giving to the Fund, teaching, kindness to animals, Bahá’í Holy Days, etc.). Please mail to Barbara Curry, Denton, TX 76207, or telephone 817-383-3324.

I AM SEARCHING for Bahá’ís who have had experience with “Fourth Way” spiritual groups or who have read works by writers such as G.I. Gurdjieff, Maurice Nicole, John G. Bennett; also, people who have studied Taoism. I am hoping to write articles explaining the Faith to people in these and other New Age movements, and could use your help. Please contact John Dale, Falls Church, VA 22041 (phone 703-845-1919).

WAS YOUR MOTHER an early American Bahá’í (enrolled before 1970)? Did your non-Bahá’í mother have a positive influence on your decision to recognize Bahá’u’lláh? We plan to edit a compilation about “Mothers of the American Bahá’í Community.” If you would like us to include memories of [Page 25]your mother, please send information such as her date of birth, education, number of Bahá’í children and grandchildren, religious and ethnic background, who taught her the Faith, community and civic activities in which she was involved, her Bahá’í travels and areas of service, “words of wisdom” she passed on to you, attitudes she expected you to internalize, and vignettes that illustrate her character. Names may or may not be used in the publication; your/her preference for anonymity will be honored. Send a 2,000-2,500 word transcript or 3.5-inch WordPerfect diskette by September 1 to G. Clayborne, Glencoe, IL 60022.

WANTED to borrow for a deepening series: “The Light of Bahá’u’lláh,” nine video cassettes. Please contact Paul and Ellie Jacobi, Madison, WI 53703 (phone 608-257-6396).

WANTED: poems by Bahá’ís for a Hindi-English anthology of selected Bahá’í poets. To assure accuracy of translation into Hindi, poems should be accompanied by a detailed summary and background of the work. Please send to Surendra Prakash, La Crosse, WI 54601 (phone 608-782-5793).

PUBLICATIONS

YOUTH! Here’s an exciting opportunity to communicate with young people around the world. Be Magazine (an international magazine for Bahá’í youth) is seeking written and visual materials. Be is currently available on computer networks as “Be On-Line.” Please send in your articles about youth year of service or pioneering, creative writing, poetry, photography (camera-ready halftones, if possible), or art work. Send to Be Magazine, Albuquerque, NM 87106. For information, phone 505-256-7734.

A GOAL of the Association for Bahá’í Studies Agriculture Seminar is to print directories of Bahá’ís who have interest/experience in agriculture and sustainable development. The process of finding those who wish to be included in a directory has begun not only in Canada and the U.S. but also in Ireland, Scotland and the southern countries of Africa. If you would like to be included in such a directory, or would like more information, please contact one of the following individuals: Billy Rogers, 212 Sylvan School Road, Snow Camp, NC 27349 (phone 919-376-6749); Donald Grenier, N. Delta, BC V4C 4B5 (phone 604-590-5585); Nancy McIntyre, Floyd, VA 24091 (phone 703-745-2918).

MISCELLANEOUS

THE BAHÁ’Í HOME in Wilmette (near the Bahá’í House of Worship) has vacancies for elderly persons who are ambulatory (walkers/canes are accepted) and who can administer their own medications. Private living quarters (furnished or unfurnished), home-cooked meals (and two snacks daily), nursing assistants on duty 24 hours, personal laundry, all necessary personal care, a full schedule of activities, single-floor design and lovely residential area are some of the many amenities provided in the low rent of $1,400 a month. For details, contact the administrator, 708-251-7000. Open to all.

BECAUSE of unforeseen circumstances, the Spiritual Assembly of South Bend, Indiana, has postponed the celebration of its 60th anniversary from April to October 9. Those who would like to contribute their memories or memorabilia, or who wish to attend are asked to contact the Spiritual Assembly c/o Dr. Mana Derakhshani, secretary, South Bend, IN 46616 (phone 219-289-4467; fax 219-289-4673).

Bolivia campaign embraces 300 new believers; Kenyans ‘show love to Bahá’u’lláh,’ enroll 159

A national teaching campaign was held January 29-February 5 in the area around Radio Bahá’í in Bolivia. More than 40 of the friends, the majority of whom were youth, took part in the campaign. As a result, about 300 new believers were enrolled in the Faith and 15 communities were opened. A group of volunteers stayed at the Radio Bahá’í complex to help consolidate the new communities.

In an effort to meet the goals of the Three Year Plan for the Regional and Administrative Committee of Kisumu and Siaya, Kenya, the first phase of a teaching campaign entitled “Show Your Love to Bahá’u’lláh” was held from late December to early January. In a period of about three weeks, the participants were able to enroll 159 new believers and form 10 new local Spiritual Assemblies. More than 600 people heard about the Faith for the first time, and it was proclaimed at four gatherings of chiefs, who are the local administrators. Immediate follow-up was planned, with deepenings for the new believers and the local Assemblies.

A weekend Bahá’í women’s conference was held last August 20-22 at the Bahá’í Center in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. About 18 women from Rabaul, Vunabang, Balanataman, Wonga Wonga and Raim took part in workshops and heard talks on women’s issues by Daisy Baitman, Kim Rajah and Dorrie Hancock. The women felt that a special conference for men should be held so that the men could be educated to understand more fully the role of women.

A teaching campaign organized by the National Teaching Committee of Swaziland in the names of Brian and Jennifer Baylis, pioneers who were killed in a recent plane crash, was held last December 19-24. After completing a teacher training and spiritualization course, the 20 youth who took part in the campaign were sent to two villages in the south of the country where they lived in homesteads, made friends with the local people and taught them the Faith. In places where Bahá’ís already lived, they helped organize deepenings and children’s classes. By the end of the campaign, 23 people had declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

About 35 young people from all over Portugal attended a Youth Encounter last December 18-23 in Alferce-Monchique whose focus was on teaching the Faith. The special guest was Counselor Louis Hénuzet. The meeting, described in a report as “this encounter of unity and love,” resulted in the enrollment of three new believers.

On January 27, the State Bahá’í Council of Jammu and Kashmir, India, held a public meeting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Faith in Jammu. The Honored Guest, Justice K.K. Gupta of Jammu and Kashmir’s High Court, stated his appreciation for the teachings of the Faith. Among those in the audience of 150 were doctors, university professors and engineers. The entire program was broadcast by AIR Jammu Radio, and the main speaker, Dr. Anil Sarwal, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of India, was interviewed on radio.

About 250 people, most of whom were not Bahá’ís, attended a celebration last November 12 at the Regional Bahá’í Center in Bamenda, Cameroon, of the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh. The program, which began with readings of the Tablet of Visitation and Tablet of Carmel, included a talk by Bahá’í David Gillett and a performance by the Bahá’í youth choir, the “Nightingales of Bamenda.”

On January 19, the Prime Minister of Lesotho, the Hon. Dr. Ntsu Mokhehle, was given a copy of the Statement on Bahá’u’lláh by the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, Mapheko Mofolo. Also present were the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, the senior private secretary to the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister’s press secretary. Mr. Mofolo took the opportunity to thank the Prime Minister for his government’s cooperation and helpfulness, noting that for 20 years the application for recognition of Bahá’í marriage had been rejected, but that within days of its submission to the new government the legal adviser to the Ministry of the Interior said she had been assigned to prepare an amendment to the law which would accommodate Bahá’í marriages. In his response, it was reported, “the Prime Minister said his government is committed to do justice to all sectors of the population and to bring about national reconciliation.”

Twenty-five representatives from five National Spiritual Assemblies took part February 17-20 in the historic first Bahá’í ASEAN Forum in Bangkok, Thailand. The National Assembly members were brought together from Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand to deliberate on the development of the Faith in the region with special emphasis on reaching people of capacity, pooling professional resources to advance the Cause, and develop the youth movement aimed ‎a at‎ realizing the long-awaited initiation of “entry by troops.” Others taking part in the conference were Counselor Kimiko Schwerin of the International Teaching Center, 17 Counselors from Asia and one from Australasia.

Last October, a teaching group of six young Bahá’ís was divided into teams to teach in the goal community of El Pilón, district of Montijo, Panama. About 30 homes were visited, and the Message of Bahá’u’lláh was shared with more than 100 people.

In March, the members of the Pittwater High School Band from Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia, visited the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, during a sister-city visit to the U.S. Wilmette and Mona Vale, site of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Australia, were chosen as sister cities a number of years ago by their local councils. Before leaving for the U.S., more than 50 band members, tour leaders, teachers and parents spent several hours at the Temple near Sydney. The band played a short selection of tunes, and official photos for the tour were taken on the lawns of the House of Worship with the Temple in the background. At the House of Worship in Wilmette, the band members and their tour leaders were surprised and delighted by a taped greeting from their Bahá’í friends in Australia which was flown to the U.S. especially for the occasion. [Page 26]

M & R: keeping the record(s) straight (with your help)

By Tom Mennillo

You’re only as good as the information you receive.

That, in a nutshell, is the story of the Membership & Records (M&R) section in Management Information Services at the Bahá’í National Center.

M&R has instituted procedures to speed the processing of enrollments, transfers, child registration, address and name changes, and local Spiritual Assembly and Group formations.

But for American Bahá’ís to truly benefit from these procedures, M&R relies on individuals and communities to submit information promptly.

Thankfully, that is happening. M&R team members proudly report that no backlog exists in any area, and they intend to keep it that way.

Moving? Remember to change to new address

The National Spiritual Assembly would like to remind ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ who move to notify both their local Spiritual Assembly and the Office of Management Information Services at the Bahá’í National Center (1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611; telephone 708-733-3441) of their new address and phone number.

This will allow the National Assembly to keep accurate statistics, maintain contact with all the ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎, ensure that ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ who move continue to receive their mail, and avoid wasting the resources of the Fund on returned mail.

Please remember to include the names of all members of the household (spouse, children, etc.) affected by the move.

If you have any questions or wish to report a change of address, please call 708-733-3441.

Many forms are recorded within 24 hours, they report. Bahá’í identification cards are sent out every Monday. In addition, Assembly/Group formations this Ridván are expected to be processed in two, not three, months. One indicator will be the number of “problem formations.”

Last year, 430 submitted forms were either incomplete or faulty.

Prompt reporting of changes also saves the National Fund much postage cost on returned mail. A program begun a year ago with the cooperation of local communities has resulted in 18 percent more “good” addresses, and M&R will continue to send out community membership lists quarterly.

Besides the cost factor, it’s important to keep up with where Bahá’ís live so they can receive The American Bahá’í and other communications from the National Spiritual Assembly.

Similarly, prompt verification of credentials enables newly enrolled or transferred ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ to take part in the life of their community.

National Assembly reminds Bahá’í parents that they can register children as members of community

The National Spiritual Assembly would like to remind Bahá’í parents that they may register their children as members of the Bahá’í community.

For the purpose of our record-keeping, ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ are considered children from birth to age 15, youth from ages 15 to 21, and adults from age 21 on.

Child registration not only allows the National Assembly to keep accurate demographic statistics on the Bahá’í community, but also allows it to correspond with Bahá’í children about their life goals and their beliefs.

As they approach their 15th birthday, registered Bahá’í children ‎authomatically automatically‎ receive a letter and Bahá’í membership card from the National Assembly explaining the privileges and responsibilities of being a Bahá’í and inviting the new youth to make a commitment to follow the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.

Parents and/or local communities are also encouraged to mark this milestone in the life of Bahá’í youth in whatever way is appropriate for the individual youth.

Parents of youth (ages 15 to 21) who have not previously registered but who wish to declare their ‎believe belief‎ in Bahá’u’lláh should help the youth complete a declaration card, which must be countersigned by a local Spiritual Assembly and returned to the Office of Management Information Services at the Bahá’í National Center for processing.

MIS will see that a Bahá’í identification card is issued for new declarants within two business days of receipt in most cases.

If you are a Bahá’í youth, or know of one, who has not received his or her Bahá’í membership card, please call the Office of Management Information Services at 708-733-3437.

Guidance for those moving to another country

‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ who plan to move from the continental United States to another country (or to Alaska or Hawaii) should keep in mind the following:

1. As you make plans to move out of the United States, please contact the Office of Pioneering at the Bahá’í National Center for guidance and specific instructions.

2. Notify both your local Spiritual Assembly and the Office of Management Information Services (MIS) at the Bahá’í National Center (1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611; telephone 708-733-3436) of your move.

If possible, please include the date you are leaving the country, the country you are moving to, and an address where you will be residing or can be reached in that country. MIS will transfer your membership to the country of your destination.

‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ who move into the continental United States from another country or from Alaska or Hawaii should send current Bahá’í credentials from the country where they last resided to MIS at the Bahá’í National Center (see address above).

They should also provide a copy of their Bahá’í credentials to their local Spiritual Assembly.

Individuals who do not have any Bahá’í credentials should ask the National Spiritual Assembly in the country of their former residence to provide a letter of credential to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, so that their membership can be transferred.

They must also provide MIS with their correct address and telephone number in the States.

3. Be sure to provide the names of, and documentation for, all the people in the household (e.g., spouse and children) affected by the transfer. Only those individuals specifically named will be transferred.

For more information, or if you need assistance, please call the Office of Management Information Services at 708-733-3436 or 708-733-3437.

Awards

Continued from page I

visitors,” Mr. Jacoby commented, “How fortunate the residents of this village are that our most famous and prominent landmark—one with which this village has become inextricably identified—is among the most beautiful buildings in the world.”

Mr. Jacoby noted, though, that the temple is “more than a beautiful building.”

“The Bahá’í community has spoken with a strong and clear voice in our community for the principle that all men and women are equal in the eyes of God,” he wrote. “The unity of mankind is one of the principal tenets of the Bahá’í Faith, and by conducting its annual march for race unity and numerous other community activities promoting this tenet, the Bahá’í has been effectively promoting a principle which has been recognized in law but which has yet to be fully accepted in the daily life of all citizens.”

He called the restoration “of critical importance to the village. The beauty of the House of Worship and the beliefs which it represents have greatly enhanced Wilmette; its physical deterioration would have greatly detracted from Wilmette.”

Mr. Armbruster said preservation awards from LPCI, the foremost historic preservation organization in Illinois, are highly esteemed. LPCI uses the awards in its advocacy, publication and education activities throughout the state.

The LPCI award will be presented June 3 at the Illinois Preservation Conference in DeKalb, Illinois.

The second new award, from SEAOI, also will be presented in June.

The specific award will not be known until then, but Mr. Armbruster noted that the association’s awards program recognizes excellence in structural engineering and execution.

He said Chicago has long been a center for structural innovations in concrete and steel, and SEAOI members are looked to as leaders in the field.

The third honor is a Historic Preservation Award from the Village of Wilmette.

The award is from the village Trustees and includes a presentation of information about the project on the local cable television channel. Materials also will be displayed in the Village Hall.

Traveling

Continued from page 4

Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, East Leeward Islands, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, West Leeward Islands.

ASIA: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

AUSTRALASIA: Cook Islands, Eastern Caroline Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

EASTERN EUROPE: Albania, Estonia, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Yugoslavia.

WESTERN EUROPE: Canary Islands, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland.

For more information, contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Telephone 708-733-3508; fax 708-733-3509. [Page 27]

National Assembly to mark Centenary of Faith in N. America with gala banquet at Chicago’s Navy Pier

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States cordially invites you to celebrate the Centenary of the Establishment of the Bahá’í Faith in North America Sunday, June 26, 1994 Navy Pier in Chicago

Ethnic and evening attire

6 p.m.: Reception 7 p.m.: Dinner 8:30 p.m.: Program

1994 marks the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb and the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Faith in the Western Hemisphere. In 1943, Shoghi Effendi referred to the “marvelous coincidence” of the anniversaries of these two events and encouraged the American Bahá’ís to celebrate them with various events and programs in 1944. As a part of this year’s celebration, the National Spiritual Assembly is planning a gala banquet to be held June 26 at Navy Pier in Chicago, and invites Bahá’ís from around the country and indeed around the world to attend. To reserve your place, please complete and return the registration form at the right.

1994 Centenary Banquet

Sunday, June 26, 1994 — Navy Pier Chicago

___ Please reserve ___ table(s) for 10 at $500 per table ___ Please reserve ___ places at $50 per plate $_________ Total enclosed

We regret that we cannot accommodate children under twelve

Name __________________________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________________

City ____________________________ State __________ Zip Code ____________

Daytime phone number ___________________________________________________

See below for list of guests for my table ___ yes ___ no

Make checks payable to: 1994 Centenary Banquet Please send to: 1994 Centenary Banquet, Bahá’í National Center 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (telephone 708-869-9039)

Guests

1. ____________________________	6. ____________________________
2. ____________________________	7. ____________________________
3. ____________________________	8. ____________________________
4. ____________________________	9. ____________________________
5. ____________________________	10. ____________________________

You will receive vouchers for you and your guests. Please present them at the door. Tables and places will be reserved in the order in which they are received.

Bahá’í Media Conference planned July 1-4 in Nashville

The Spiritual Assembly of Nashville, Tennessee, and Pavon Media International are sponsoring a Bahá’í Media Conference to be held July 1-4 at Loews Hotel—Vanderbilt Plaza in Nashville.

The collaboration came about through studying directives from the Universal House of Justice encouraging individual Bahá’ís to arise in whatever way possible to help win the goals of the Three Year Plan.

“Our appeal for immediate, redoubled and sustained action on all aspects of the Plan,” the House of Justice stated in its Ridván 1993 message to the Bahá’ís of the world, “is addressed primarily to the individual believer of every locality, who possesses within himself or herself the measures of initiative that ensure the success of any global Bahá’í enterprise, and ‘on whom, in the last resort,’ as our beloved Guardian plainly stated, ‘depends the fate of the entire community.’”

The media conference will demonstrate how we can put these directives into action, and what results can be accomplished when Bahá’ís with expertise in a particular field come together under the guidance of a Spiritual Assembly to pray, to consult, and to dedicate themselves to achieving the goals of the Three Year Plan.

Bahá’í professionals from many areas of the media will give presentations on topics ranging from how to produce a program; how to research and approach media outlets such as television, radio, newspapers, etc.; how to market and advertise products and materials; how to use electronic media including INTERNET and on-line services; how to distribute Bahá’í materials via satellite; and, most important, how to network with one another to create an abundance of media materials for teaching, proclamation and consolidation.

Also included will be a three-hour introductory course on how to approach and use public-access cable television, and how to create programs suitable for cable TV.

If time and resources allow, some TV and radio shows will be produced during the conference. Pre-production materials will be available, with taping done on-site and post-production completed afterward.

Bahá’ís involved in radio and/or television production are asked to bring with them cameras, sound equipment and other hardware to facilitate this project. If you are especially interested in this aspect of the conference, please contact Marcia Day at Pavon Media International via fax, 310-652-3983.

The conference registration fee is $75 (in advance). It should be sent no later than June 1 and made payable to the Spiritual Assembly of Nashville. The address is _________________ Nashville, TN 37217 (phone 615-399-9478).

Special rates are available at Loews Hotel. To make reservations, please phone 615-320-1700 and mention that you are attending the Bahá’í Media Conference. It is possible that some hospitality can be provided by the friends in Nashville.

San Jose Bahá’ís present 13th community service awards

“Family” was the theme of the 13th annual community service awards sponsored by the Bahá’ís of San Jose, California.

The awards were presented January 29 at a banquet attended by 170 people, about one-third of whom were not Bahá’ís.

Honorees were James and Ann McEntee; Parents Helping Parents Inc. and its director, Florene M. Steward Poyadue; and the Ronald McDonald House Stanford Family Center.

The McEntees are parents of eight natural and adopted children of multi-racial backgrounds. Parents Helping Parents helps children with special needs receive services to help them achieve their full potential. The Ronald McDonald House in Palo Alto accommodates families with children receiving medical attention for critical illnesses.

Each award winner was presented with a glass sculpture created by a local Bahá’í, Verne Allie.

Keynote speaker for the evening was Hossain Danesh, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada. Dr. Danesh is a clinician, academic, researcher and author in the field of psychiatry.

Auxiliary Board member Marsha Gilpatrick served as emcee. Entertainment was provided by professional violinist Alan Lornie.

THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í
Subscription rates Outside continental U.S. only
!! 1 Year !! 2 Years
First class/ Surface	$24	$45
Air Mail	$32	$60
Please make check payable to: Bahá’í Subscriber Service, c/o Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.
All orders must be pre-paid in U.S. currency. VISA/MasterCard accepted; please include full account number and expiration date.

[Page 28]

اہداء جایزه به مشرق الاذکار

HOUSE OF WORSHIP RECEIVES AWARDS

چنانکه دوستان عزیز آگاهی دارند، یک نقشه ده ساله جهت تعمیر مشرق الاذکار امریکا در ویلمت در دست اجرا است. برنامه مذکور به خوبی به پیش می‌رود و این خود سبب شده است که "شورای حفاظت بناهای تاریخی ایلینوی" The Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois و "سازمان مهندسان سازه ایلینوی" The Structural Engineers Association of Illinois و شهرداری ویلمت سه جایزه جداگانه به آن تقدیم نمایند.

پیش از تقدیم این سه جایزه به برنامه مرمت مشرق الاذکار "سازمان بین‌المللی تعمیرات بتونی" The International Concrete Repair Institute امور تعمیراتی ام‌المعابد غرب را بعنوان "پروژه سال" انتخاب کرده بود.

روز ۲۲ مارچ سال جاری "شورای حفاظت بناهای تاریخی ایلینوی" به آگاهی آقای رابرت آرم‌بروستر Robert Armbruster مدیر برنامه تعمیرات مشرق الاذکار رساند که گروه مسؤول مرمت ساختمان برنده جایزه سال شورای مذکور بوده است.

"شورای حفاظت بناهای تاریخی ایلینوی" از "عظمت" طرح مرمت مشرق الاذکار یاد کرد و گفته بود که داوران جایزه تحت تأثیر همکاری نزدیک مدیران طرح و مقاطعه‌کاران قرار گرفته بودند.

داوران مذکور همچنان طرح تعمیرات مشرق الاذکار را "کوششی درجه یک" خواندند و از آن بعنوان "نمونه‌ای برای دیگر سازمان‌های دینی" یاد کردند.

یکی از مهندسان "شورای حفاظت بناهای تاریخی ایلینوی" طرح تعمیر مشرق الاذکار را نامزد دریافت جایزه مذکور کرده بود و توصیه نامه‌ای از شهردار ویلمت به همراه انتخاب طرح مذکور به هیئت داوران فرستاده بود.

در توصیه‌نامه شهردار ویلمت از ساختمان مشرق الاذکار بعنوان "مغناطیسی برای دیدارکنندگان" یاد شده است. شهردار ویلمت همچنین در نامه خود اظهار داشته بود که برای ساکنان ویلمت باعث خوشوقتی است که معروف‌ترین ساختمان تاریخی شهر یکی از زیباترین بناهای جهان است، هر چند که آن ساختمان تنها یک بنای زیبا نیست.

شهردار ویلمت در ادامه نامه خود نوشته است که جامعه بهائی با صدائی رسا در جامعه ما این اصل را که در پیشگاه الهی همه مردان و زنان مساویند، اعلان کرده است. وحدت عالم انسانی یکی از اصول امر بهائی است و الهی نخستین بار از طریق همین ضیافت‌ها حاصل می‌شود و به همین دلیل هم اثر مطلوبی در آن‌ها می‌گذارد.

معمولاً میهمانان از این جلسات با گرمی استقبال می‌کنند و از محبت و گرمی آن اظهار خوشنودی می‌نمایند و گاهی به حیرت می‌افتند که چگونه می‌شود مردمی از کشورهای مختلف و ادیان گوناگون با چنین اتحادی دور هم جمع بشوند و ساعاتی را به خوشی و محبت بگذرانند.

شکی نیست که اثر این جلسات در دل آن‌ها خواهد ماند و چه بسا که باعث شود با دیگران نیز راجع به آن و در نتیجه راجع به امر مبارک سخنی به میان آورند و آن‌ها را با آئین الهی آشنا سازند.

بهائیان با راهپیمائی سالانه خود برای وحدت نژادی و نیز با فعالیت‌های گوناگون دیگر به گسترش اصلی توفیق یافته‌اند که در قوانین به رسمیت شناخته شده است اما هنوز در زندگی روزمره همه شهروندان به آن عمل نمی‌شود.

آقای آرم‌بروستر اظهار داشت که جایزه "شورای حفاظت بناهای تاریخی ایلینوی" اهمیت بسیاری دارد زیرا شورای مذکور شورای مقدم و ممتاز حفاظت بناهای تاریخی در ایالت ایلینوی است.

مراسم رسمی اهداء جایزه شورای مذکور روز ۳ جون سال جاری در محل کنفرانس حفاظت ایلینوی برگزار خواهد شد.

جایزه "سازمان مهندسان سازه ایلینوی" نیز در ماه جون اهداء خواهد شد. معلوم نیست که جایزه سازمان مذکور چیست اما آقای آرم‌بروستر اظهار داشت که آن سازمان معمولاً اموری چون کیفیت ساختمانی و اجرا را در نظر می‌گیرد.

بنا به گفته آقای آرم‌بروستر شهر شیکاگو سال‌هاست که برای نوآوری ساختمانی با بتون و فولاد شهرت داشته است، و اعضای "سازمان مهندسان سازه ایلینوی" از رهبران رشته خود به شمار می‌روند.

جایزه سوم از جانب امنای شهر ویلمت اهداء می‌شود و شامل ارائه اطلاعات درباره طرح تعمیر مشرق الاذکار در یکی از تلویزیون‌های محلی خواهد بود.

از نامه‌های یاران

TRAVEL TEACHING IN UKRAINE

در شماره پیش بخشی از نامه جناب سعادت استوار و همسرشان قدسیه خانم را درباره سفرشان به اوکرائین درج کردیم. اینک بقیه نامه مذکور درج می‌گردد.

تقریباً ۹۵ درصد مردم اوکرائین سرگرمی‌شان گوش کردن به رادیو می‌باشد و این یکی از بهترین وسائل تبلیغ برای ما است. اگر چنین تبلیغاتی در کشوری مثل امریکا می‌خواستیم انجام دهیم باید هزینه بسیار زیادی برای آن می‌پرداختیم، در صورتی که آنجا برای ما رایگان بود.

سال قبل در یکی از شهرها از طرف روزنامه‌ای با ما مصاحبه کردند و قرار بود که در روزنامه درج نمایند. در همان موقع ما می‌بایست به شهر دیگری می‌رفتیم و نفهمیدیم که آیا در روزنامه درج شده بود یا نه. امسال که به همان شهر رفتیم روزنامه مزبور را که مصاحبه ما در آن درج شده بود نگاه داشته و به ما دادند. تقریباً یک چهارم صفحه روزنامه درباره دیانت بهائی نوشته شده بود.

در هر کجا که ما می‌رفتیم با آغوش باز ما را می‌پذیرفتند. در ادارات، در مدرسه‌ها و یا مجامع عمومی که تقاضای صحبت درباره دیانت بهائی می‌کردیم با گرمی استقبال نموده و خوش آمد می‌گفتند.

اتفاقات جالبی برای ما رخ می‌داد و موفقیت‌های زیادی نصیب ما می‌شد که هیچ‌یک را انتظار نداشتیم و برنامه قبلی برای آن طرح نکرده بودیم. می‌دانستیم که این‌ها از ما نیست فقط و فقط فضل و موهبت جمال مبارک است که این زمینه‌ها را پیش می‌آورد. همانطور که فرموده اند "قدم اول بردار و قدم دیگر در عالم قدم گذار" ما شاهد و ناظر آن بودیم. راه‌ها را برای ما یکی پس از دیگری باز می‌فرمود. افرادی را که ما اصلاً ندیده و نمی‌شناختیم چنان با ما دوست و مهربان شده بودند که نمی‌خواستند از ما جدا شوند و موقع جدا شدن هم اشک‌ها از چشم‌های هر دو طرف جاری می‌شد.

هیچ عامل دیگر جز تأییدات حضرت Bahá’u’lláh نمی‌تواند چنین صحنه‌هایی را به وجود بیاورد. قیافه‌های مهربان آن‌ها هنوز در جلوی چشم ما است. لذایذ و شادی‌هایی که در این مدت به دست آوردیم قابل توصیف نیست. این لذتی است که ما تا مدت‌های مدید و برای همیشه با خود خواهیم داشت.

همانطور که عرض شد صیادان زیادی برای شکار این بندگان ساده‌دل مترصد ایستاده‌اند و اگر ما جنبش و حرکتی نشان ندهیم طعمه دام آن‌ها خواهند شد. شاید مسافرت به این نقاط برای دوستان عزیز مسأله مشکلی به نظر آید. ما هم در وهله اول دچار چنین اشکالی بودیم، اما وقتی تصمیم گرفتیم و اقدام کردیم، تأییدات ‎لاریبیه لاریبی‎ الهی پی در پی می‌رسید و این پشه‌های ضعیف و ناتوان را قدرت عقاب عنایت می‌فرمود.

به هر صورت راه‌ها باز و موفقیت‌ها در انتظار ما است. به فرموده حضرت ‘Abdu’l-Bahá، "چوگان عنایت در دست و گوی سعادت در پیش. حال وقت جولان است و ربودن گوی از میدان". "اگر در این بزم کف نزنی، دف نزنی، آواز نخوانی و شهناز بلند نکنی، دیگر در چه زمان مخمور و مست گردی؟"

در آنجا مهاجرانی را ملاقات کردیم که خودشان قادر به تأمین معاش در محل مهاجرتی نبودند، اما در اثر کمک افراد خیرخواه که خودشان به عللی نمی‌توانسته بودند به مهاجرت بروند، این افراد را به نیابت خود به مهاجرت فرستاده بودند و با کمک مالی به آنان، آن مهاجرین در آن نقاط مشغول خدمت بودند.

مسأله دیگر، مسأله کتاب‌های امری است که یک عامل مهم برای اطلاع مردم غیربهائی درباره دیانت بهائی و وسیله تزئید معلومات برای احباء می‌باشد. با اینکه تقریباً اکثر کتب امری به زبان روسی ترجمه شد و در دسترس تشکیلات هست، اما متأسفانه به علت بدی وضع اقتصادی کشور مردم قادر به خرید کتاب نمی‌باشند و این مسأله بی‌اندازه در پیشرفت امر تبلیغ رکود ایجاد می‌نماید. لذا کمک‌های مالی ماها به خصوص خرید و توزیع کتب امری بین مردم اوکرائین کمک بی‌نهایت بزرگی است در امر تبلیغ. لذا با ارسال اعانات خود به لجنه مربوطه با ذکر هدف دلخواه شما گام بزرگی در امر مهم تبلیغ خواهد بود.

حقوق الله

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

Dr. Amin Banani Santa Monica, CA. 90402

Dr. Daryush Haghighi Rocky River, OH. 44116

Dr. Elsie Austin 9039 Sligo Creek Parkway, #612 Silver Spring, MD. 20901 [Page 29]اولین بار منعقد می‌گردد. نمایندگان بیت‌العدل اعظم در این انجمنهای تاریخی عبارتند از حضرت ایادی امرالله امة‌البهاء روحیه خانم برای انتخاب محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان کامبوج در پنوم‌پن و برای انتخاب محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان مغولستان در اولان باتور. حضرت ایادی امرالله جناب علی‌محمد ورقا برای انتخاب محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان اسلوونی و کرواسی در لیوبلیانا. امة‌البهاء لورتا کینگ عضو هیئت دارالتبلیغ بین‌المللی برای انتخاب محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان قزاقستان در آلماآتا و برای انتخاب محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان قرقیزستان در بیشکک. جناب شاپور منور عضو هیئت دارالتبلیغ بین‌المللی برای انتخاب محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان تاجیکستان در دوشنبه و برای انتخاب محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان ازبکستان در تاشکند. محفل روحانی منطقه‌ای فعلی در آسیای مرکزی که مرکز آن در عشق آباد است از این پس محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان ترکمنستان خواهد بود.

پایان این قرن به شتاب نزدیک می‌شود. وقت بسیار کوتاه و کار بسیار زیاد است. از هر یک از پیروان امر حضرت بهاءالله دعوت می‌شود که حداکثر انرژی مساعی خود را در اجرای دو وظیفه اصلی متمرکز سازند: ابلاغ امرالله به نفوسی که تشنه آنند، و تأمین منابع مالی برای اتمام مشروعات فخیمه‌ای که در جبل کرمل در دست ساختمان است. شرایط خارجی جامعه بشری در سال جاری هر چه باشد جامعه بهائی باید قوای خود را متمرکز نماید و به کمال وضوح زندگی خود را با خصوصیات متمایزه تبلیغ جماعات مردم فدا کند و سبب نزول و شمول بیشتر تأییدات متتابعه ملأ اعلی گردد. در جمیع جوانب این اقدامات، فرد بهائی است که حامل کلید فتح و پیروزی است.

کنفرانس حاج مهدی ارجمند

HAJ MEHDI ARJMAND CONFERENCE ON SCRIPTURE

دومین کنفرانس از برنامه مطالعاتی به یادبود جناب حاج مهدی ارجمند درباره آثار مبارکه از ۲۵ تا ۲۷ مارچ سال جاری در دفتر محفل روحانی ملی در ویلمت انعقاد یافت.

در این کنفرانس افرادی از کانادا و ژاپن و ۴ کشور اروپائی و ۱۱ ایالت از ایالات متحده شرکت داشتند. هدف از تشکیل کنفرانس مذکور این بود که آثار مقدسه امر بهائی و دیگر ادیان از دیدگاه بهائی و نیز تحقیقات دانشگاهی در این باب مورد بررسی قرار گیرد. موضوعات متنوعی که در این کنفرانس مطرح شد عبارت بود از:

• نقش الوهیت و انسان
• ظهور الهی و پاسخ بشریت
• افسانه و اسطوره در آثار مقدسه
• بررسی برخی از آثار حضرت بهاءالله
• ظهور جدید و قدیم

برنامه با سخنرانی مختصری درباره جناب حاج مهدی ارجمند آغاز شد. این سخنرانی توسط خانم نیکو محبوبیان، یکی از نوادگان جناب حاج مهدی ارجمند، ایراد گردید. خانم محبوبیان اظهار داشت که جناب ارجمند در تفسیر کتاب مقدس مهارت داشته و به مدت دو سال با یکی از مبلغان مسیحی امریکائی مباحث استدلالی راجع به بشارات کتاب مقدس ترتیب می‌داده و سرانجام این مباحث به صورت کتابی به زبان فارسی درآمده و چاپ شده و انتشار یافته است.

قرار است متن آن در آینده به چاپ برسد. خلاصه مطالب این سخنرانی‌ها را می‌توان از طریق دفتر تحقیق (Research Office) واقع در دفتر محفل ملی خریداری کرد، تلفن: ۸۱۹-۹۰۳۹ (۷۰۸).

برنامه مطالعاتی حاج مهدی ارجمند

مجتمع مطالعه در آثار مقدسه

با همکاری دفتر امور احیای ایرانی/امریکائی

نخستین مجتمع مطالعه سالانه آثار مقدسه از ۱۴ تا ۱۶ اکتبر ۱۹۹۴ در مدرسه بهائی گرین ایکر منعقد می‌گردد. هدف از این مجتمع فراهم آوردن فرصتی است تا تحقیقات پژوهشگران مطرح سایر ادیان در ارتباط با امر بهائی، و به کتاب مقدسه سایر ادیان در ارتباط با امر بهائی، در جمع پژوهشگران مطرح شده و از آن به مطالعاتی برای نشر نفحات‌الله و مقابله با مسائل و مشکلات کنونی عالم استفاده شود.

بدین وسیله از دوستانی که مایلند در این مجمع شرکت نمایند دعوت می‌شود تا خلاصه تحقیق و مطالعه مورد نظر خود را حداکثر تا اول سپتامبر ۱۹۹۴ به دفتر امور احیای ایرانی/امریکائی در حظیرة‌القدس ملی امریکا ارسال دارند و برای کسب اطلاع بیشتر با دفتر مزبور تماس حاصل نمایند. تلفن: ۸۱۹-۹۰۳۹ (۷۰۸).

هیئت ملی هنر

NATIONAL ARTS TASK FORCE

حضرت ولی امرالله در یکی از توقیعات مبارک بیانی به این مضمون فرموده‌اند که هنگامی که روح امر مبارک و تعالیم آن در صحنه نمایش (تئاتر) ظاهر شود یا از طریق ادبیات و به طور کلی هنرها ارائه شود، امر بهائی گسترش چشمگیر خواهد داشت چه که هنر بهتر از استدلال‌های خشک می‌تواند آن لطیفه‌های روحانی و شریف را در روان مردم بیدار سازد.

بیت‌العدل اعظم همواره مؤمنان را تشویق می‌نمایند که از هنر در تبلیغ و خدمات مربوط به تزیید معلومات و برنامه‌های عمران اجتماعی و اقتصادی از هنرها استفاده کنند.

اخیراً لجنه ملی هنر شش نفرات هیئتی با عنوان «هیئت ملی هنر» (National Arts Task Force) تشکیل داده و از اعضای آن خواسته است که با همکاری هنرمندان بهائی در سراسر ایالات متحده برنامه‌هایی تهیه نمایند که از طریق آن سهم مهمی در مساعی تبلیغی ایفا کنند.

هدف هیئت مذکور این است که استفاده از هنرهای گوناگون را در تمامی فعالیت‌های امری یاران گسترش بخشد.

توسط هیئت ملی هنر با همکاری هنرمندان بهائی نشریه‌ای با عنوان «هنر معنوی» (Art Matters) منتشر خواهد شد. با وصول هر سه شماره از این نشریه خواهید دید که اطلاعات مربوط به کاربرد هنرها و منابع هنری جامعه در آن مندرج خواهد گشت.

به طور کلی این نشریه مرجع راهنمائی برای چگونگی استفاده از هنرها جهت توسعه جامعه بهائی خواهد بود و مطالبی که در آن به چاپ خواهد رسید عبارت است از: راه‌های جدید برای تبلیغ امر؛ راهنمایی در مورد جلسات دعا؛ اموری راجع به استفاده از هنر در برنامه‌های ایام متبرکه و ضیافت‌های نوزده روزه و جلسات عمومی؛ تقویم کنسرت‌های امری و نمایش‌ها و کارگاه‌ها (workshops)؛ فهرستی حاوی دسترسی به برنامه‌های امری و سرودهای بهائی و کتاب و پوسترهای هنری و غیره که توسط هنرمندان بهائی تهیه شده است؛ فهرستی حاوی اطلاعات مربوط به هنرمندان بهائی که مایلند از آثارشان در فعالیت‌های تبلیغی استفاده شود. ناگفته پیداست که جائی نیز برای مقالات، اشعار و قصه و طنز و نقاشی و غیره اختصاص داده خواهد شد.

علاقه‌مندان می‌توانند برگه اشتراک نشریه مذکور را در صفحات انگلیسی شماره کنونی «آمریکن بهائی» بیابند.

خدمات یاران

SOCIAL DINNER

دو خانواده بهائی در یکی از نقاط شرق ایالت پنسیلوانیا به خدماتی موفق شده‌اند که نقل آن مایه دلگرمی دوستان خواهد شد.

در یکی از این خانواده‌ها خانم کدبانوی خوش‌دست و پختی هست که می‌تواند غذاهای خوشمزه‌ای برای میهمانان بسیاری تهیه کند. خانواده دیگر نیز خانه وسیعی دارد که آن را برای میهمانی‌های شام در اختیار جامعه امری قرار می‌دهد.

حدود شش سال است که این دو خانواده نیرو و استطاعت خود را جهت تقدیم خدمات امری توأم کرده و به ابلاغ کلمة‌الله پرداخته‌اند و از آنجا که شواهد چشمگیر اتحاد و حمایت جامعه بهائی برخوردار است، شواهد چشمگیر اتحاد نیز در میان اعضاء جامعه به چشم می‌خورد.

این دو خانواده عزیز هر ماه ضیافت شامی که آن را social dinner می‌نامند، ترتیب می‌دهند. حدود ۶۰ تا ۱۰۰ نفر در این ضیافت که فضایی سرشار از گرمی و محبت دارد شرکت می‌کنند و در ضمن ‎غداهای غذاهای‎ لذیذ ایرانی فرصتی می‌یابند که درباره امر بهائی اطلاعاتی حاصل کنند.

معمولاً در این ضیافت‌ها برنامه خاصی دنبال نمی‌شود و تعداد مبتدیان همواره بیشتر از احباء است و دوستان نیز می‌دانند که هدف اصلی آنان تبلیغ امر مبارک است.

چارچوب این مجالس به نحوی است که مردم را از مناطق گوناگون گرد هم می‌آورد و حتی کسانی از آفریقا و روسیه و آمریکای جنوبی نیز در آن حضور داشته‌اند.

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پیام بیت‌العدل اعظم خطاب به بهائیان عالم

رضوان ۱۵۱

یاران عزیز الهی اکنون یک سال از نقشه سه ساله را پشت سر نهاده‌ایم. سالی که در آن دگرگونی‌های جهان هم مورث بیم و هم مایه امید بود و هم سبب خوش‌بینی و هم موجب یأس می‌گردید. هم جرأت و شهامت مردمان تحسین‌آمیز بود و هم سقوط بشریت به حضیض شقاوت بر شرمساری می‌افزود. در گیرودار این امتحانات و افتتانات پیروان جمال قدم جلّ اسمه الأعظم با بصیرت و اطمینان در تقدم و حرکتند تا ملکوت الهی را تأسیس نمایند، جامعه را از روحی جدید سرشار سازند و تأثیر حیات‌بخش تعالیم الهی را بر عامه ناس جلوه‌گر نمایند.

در مرکز جهانی بهائی، روز بیست و سوم ماه می شاهد آغاز دوره پنج‌ساله جدیدی برای دارالتبلیغ بین‌المللی بود. در اولین جلسه مشترک این هیئت با دارالتبلیغ بین‌المللی اقدامات جدیدی که مؤسسه مزبور در دوره قبل آغاز کرده بود مورد تحسین واقع شد و ادامه و توسعه مجهودات مذکور مورد تأکید قرار گرفت. از بارزترین اقدامات دوره قبل یکی راهنمائی مشاورین قاره‌ای برای ترویج امر مشورت بین مؤسسات امری و وجود یاران در سطوح محلی و ملّی بود که منجر به آغاز و ادامه رشد و پیشرفت در جامعه بهائی گردید. دیگر تشریح تدریجی و تکاملی طرق مختلف تبلیغ و اشاعه امرالله بود. در طی سال گذشته این اقدامات تحرک و تشویق لازم برای توسعه و پیشرفت امر و مؤسسات امریه را که به وسیله مشاورین قاره‌ای و اعضای هیئتهای معاونت و مساعدینشان معمول می‌شود وسعت بخشید و بصیرت و تشجیع و تشویقی را که هیئتهای مزبور نصیب محافل ملّی و محلّی و افراد یاران می‌سازند تقویت نمود.

افزایش شهرت امر در انظار جهانیان و در نتیجه حسن توجهی که نسبت به مرکز جهانی بهائی حاصل می‌گردد اهمیت اتمام ساختمان طبقات مقام اعلی و ابنیه مرکز جهانی اداری امر حضرت بهاءالله را تأکید می‌نماید. از زمان ارسال درخواست مخصوص به عالم بهائی برای تبرع هفتاد و چهار میلیون دلار در طی نقشه سه ساله جهت اجرای این مشروع تا کنون اقدام احبا سبب دلگرمی بوده و امید وطید آنست که ادامه روح فداکاری و انفاق موجب تسریع در تحقق این هدف و تأمین پیشرفت بدون وقفه عملیات ساختمانی شده سبب جلب توجه تحسین‌آمیز بازدیدکنندگان خارجی و اهالی این سامان به کوه مقدس خداوند گردد.

مطالعه کتاب مستطاب اقدس زندگانی افراد مؤمنین و مؤمنات را نورانیت می‌بخشد. آگاهی از اهمیت رعایت اصول امر الهی و اطاعت از احکام شریعت‌الله رو به افزایش است. تعمیم حکم حقوق‌الله با شور و اشتیاق استقبال شده است. آگاهی وجدانی احبا بر این نکته که تبلیغ امرالله فریضه فردی آنان است روز به روز بیشتر می‌شود. در اثر ایفای مسئولیتهای روحانی و فرا گرفتن نحوه اتکاء بیشتر به تأییدات حضرت بهاءالله احبا درمی‌یابند که ایمانشان نیروئی تازه و قلوبشان اطمینانی جدید حاصل می‌کند. اینها زمینه‌هائی است که اقدامات فردی احباء نیازی به تشویق و تأیید دیگران ندارد. هر یک از افراد احبا با این وظیفه و مسئولیت مواجه است که به تنهائی و بنفسه و با اتکاء صرف به قدرت ربّ قدیر به اکتساب این فضائل روحانی که در تکامل جامعه بی‌اندازه مؤثر است پردازد.

منابع انسانی امر به دو طریق در حال افزایش است. نفوس برجسته و مستعد مشتاق می‌شوند که به امرالله اقبال نمایند و با پیوستن به صفوف نفوسی که از قبل به خدمت امر الهی قائمند سبب تقویت شمل یاران گردند. یارانی که در جامعه به خدمت مشغولند به سهم خود با مطالعه عمیق‌تر تعالیم الهی و عمل به آنها به غنی ساختن تجارب شخصی و اکتساب توانائی و لیاقت بیشتر مألوف بوده‌اند و با تشخیص نیاز به تزئید منظم‌تر معلومات امری درباره تعالیم مبارکه و بکار بستن آنها در جامعه، استفاده از محافل درس تبلیغ و مؤسسات تبلیغی را با موفقیت قابل توجهی افزایش داده‌اند. در سالی که در پیش است این دو جریان که مکمل یکدیگرند یعنی جلب و جذب اشخاص برجسته و مستعد به امرالله و ازدیاد توانائی‌های جامعه باید بیش از پیش پیشرفت نماید و مشوق و محرک اقدامات فردی و توسعه متوازن مجهودات متنوع و وسیع برای ترویج امرالله گردد.

همچنانکه استعدادات و امکانات افراد احبا شکوفا می‌شود، مؤسسات محلّی و ملّی بهائی نیز قدرت آن را می‌یابند تا کیفیت حیات جوامع خود را بهتر سازند و برنامه‌های ابتکاری طرح و اجرا نمایند. در بسیاری از نواحی محافل روحانی محلی برای نشر نفحات الله در یک منطقه با یکدیگر همکاری و مساعدت نموده‌اند. محافل ملی نیز مشروعات بدیعی برای اغتنام فرصتهائی که در خارج از امر پیش آمده طرح کرده‌اند. نمونه‌هائی از بعضی از این مجهودات در زمینه‌هائی کاملاً متفاوت عبارتند از: طرح توزیع نامه سرگشاده در آلبانی، استقبال از حالت موافقی که به نحوی فوق‌العاده از طرف مقامات دولتی و عامه مردم در جمهوری‌های ساخا (Sakha) و بوریات (Buryat) در سیبری نسبت به امر ابراز شده است. در قبال تقاضای مقامات دولتی دائر بر آنکه مسئولیت اداره پنج مدرسه ابتدائی دولتی را در جزیره مارشال در مجمع‌الجزایر ماجورو (Majuro) عهده‌دار شوند موافقت‌نامه‌ای بین محفل روحانی ملّی جزائر مارشال و حکومت محلّی ماجورو به امضاء رسیده است.

سیر تکاملی مؤسسات محلّی و ملّی بهائی میزان بیشتری از عدم تمرکز در اداره امور را میسر ساخته است. لیکن در اغلب ممالک شرط ضروری و حیاتی برای توسعه این جریان مفید بهبود سریع طرز کار محافل روحانی محلّی است. این امر به بذل توجه دقیق هر یک از افراد احبا نیازمند است. این مؤسسات محلّی بهائی که منصوص کتاب مستطاب اقدسند منبع قدرت و هدایتی را تشکیل می‌دهند که در اثر حصول بلوغ و تکامل بیشتر سبب تقویت و توسعه اقدامات و خدمات امری می‌گردند.

ما در بین جماعاتی زندگانی می‌کنیم که احتیاجی شدید به پیام حضرت بهاءالله دارند. وظیفه ما اینست که این پیام را به نحوی واضح و قانع کننده تا آنجا که ممکن است به تعداد بیشتری از نفوس انسانی عرضه داریم. ظلمت و رنج و عذابی که در اطراف خود مشاهده می‌کنیم نه تنها نشانه‌های چنین نیازی است بلکه در عین حال فرصتی را برای ما فراهم می‌آورد که نباید آن را از دست دهیم. ابلاغ پیام تنها قدم اول محسوب می‌شود. بعد از آن باید اطمینان حاصل کنیم که پیام امر مبارک درست فهمیده شده و به کار گرفته شده است، چنانچه در توقیعی که از طرف حضرت ولی امرالله صادر شده چنین مذکور است: «تا مردم در جامعه بهائی نمونه واقعی و عملی بهتری از آنچه خود دارند مشاهده نکنند به تعداد زیاد به امر اقبال نخواهند نمود.» (ترجمه) وقتی نفوس به امر اقبال می‌نمایند باید از طریق تعالیم بهائی روابط خود را با یکدیگر و با هموطنانشان به نحوی توسعه بخشند که به تدریج یک جامعه واقعی بهائی یعنی مصباح هدایت و مأمن سلامت برای سرگشتگان به وجود آید.

بعد از وقایع پرشکوه عصر رسولی امر الهی، دخول افواج مقبلین به شریعة رب العالمین ابتدا در دوران ولایت حضرت ولی امرالله در افریقا اتفاق افتاد و بعد به مناطق دیگر سرایت نمود. جوامع بهائی در مناطق مزبور در اثر تجربه به تدریج روشها و برنامه‌هائی را به وجود می‌آورند که هدف از آنها گردهم آوردن تعداد زیادی از احبا در جوامع فعال و بنیان‌گزاری پایه‌ای اساسی مستحکم برای رشد و پیشرفت مداوم است. به منظور کمک به این مجهودات و نیز برای مساعدت به احبای سایر ممالک که چنین فعالیتهائی را آغاز و ادامه دهند و نیز برای رفع تصورات نادرستی که به ناچار در اطراف چنین مفهوم بدیع و مهمی پیش می‌آید مجموعه‌ای از نصوص مبارکه درباره «ترویج یدخلون فی دین الله افواجاً» منتشر شده است. مطالعه و عمل به اصول و روشهای مندرج در این مجموعه بدون تردید هر مبلغ و هر جامعه بهائی را مساعدت خواهد کرد، اعم از اینکه در مناطقی باشد که دخول افواج مقبلین سالیان درازی است تحقق یافته یا در مناطقی باشد که آثار چنین تحولی هنوز ظاهر نشده است. در مورد مناطق اخیر اگر بتوان افراد احبا را نسبت به واقعیت و صحت و اعتبار این جریان اقناع نمود کمک مؤثری خواهد شد و جوامع بهائی را قادر خواهد ساخت تا خود را از لحاظ روحانی و مادّی برای چنین تحرک و تقدمی آماده سازند و مشتاقانه مترصد وقوع آن باشند و به اقداماتی پردازند که سبب شروع چنین جریانی گردد و شرائطی را تأمین کنند که سبب تداوم رشد و پیشرفت آن خواهد شد.

پیشرفت قابل ملاحظه در همکاری بین‌المللی در سال گذشته، استقرار مهاجرین و حرکت مبلغین سیار بافت جامعه بهائی را بیش از پیش منسجم ساخته است. هادی طریق در این مجهودات حضرت امة‌البهاء روحیه خانم بودند که به منظور تشویق و ترغیب احبا و اعلان امرالله در صفحات روسیه و کشورهای دیگری که سابقاً جزو اتحاد جماهیر شوروی محسوب می‌شدند، از کشورهای بالتیک در غرب تا سیبری در شرق و از جمهوری‌های آسیای مرکزی در جنوب تا سن پطرزبورگ و یاکوتسک در شمال، به سفری دشوار اقدام فرمودند.

در این رضوان هفت انجمن شور روحانی ملّی برای [Page 31]

Educators to gather in July at Louhelen School to develop skills, help infuse Faith’s spirit in curricula

In July, professional educators will be brought together at the Louhelen Bahá’í School for their own professional development, so that they are better able to infuse the spirit of the Faith into the schools where they work, introduce Bahá’í principles into academic curricula, and take leading roles in teaching the Faith to their peers.

Through seminars, workshops, consultation and networking, educators will be asked to share their ideas and experiences of incorporating Bahá’í principles into their work. The group will study recent letters from the Bahá’í World Center Office of Social and Economic Development that contain guidance for schools, educators and curricula. Through consultation, the group will generate strategies for a unified teaching initiative in academic settings.

Workshop topics will include strategic planning for schools, racial unity in schools and colleges, and moral education. More information about the conference will appear in the next issue of The American Bahá’í.

S. African exile, expert on apartheid speaks to Bahá’ís, guests at Center in Los Angeles

By Alan Eyerly

Both the excitement about South Africa’s historic transition from apartheid to democracy and fears about a continuing undercurrent of violence were discussed by Tandi Luthuli Gcabashe at the Los Angeles Bahá’í Center on March 18.

Ms. Gcabashe, a South African exile for 23 years, is a prominent authority on apartheid and its damaging effects. She is also the daughter of Chief Albert Luthuli, the first African Nobel laureate.

Her appearance at the Bahá’í Center came just five days after three Bahá’ís were gunned down during an integrated prayer service in a black township of South Africa. The assassins were believed to be members of a black fringe group opposed to the country’s electoral process.

“My heart and my sympathy goes to the families of the three Bahá’ís executed in South Africa,” Ms. Gcabashe said. “They were there for a noble cause.”

She attributed the killings to a legacy of more than 40 years of forced racial separation in South Africa.

“We can see the outcome now of a policy that encouraged hatred,” Ms. Gcabashe said, adding that since 1985 about 15,000 people have lost their lives “due to senseless violence” in her country.

Ms. Gcabashe said she expects more deaths as South Africa goes through an “enormous struggle” during the post-apartheid healing process.

“The soul of South Africa is gone,” she said. “There is no value to life anymore.”

In addition to dealing with widespread violence, South Africa is facing the challenge of providing improved living conditions and a quality education for all South Africans, and also elevating the rights of women, regardless of color or class.

Apartheid’s devastating effects are felt “eight times over” by black women, according to Ms. Gcabashe, who says they are regarded as “the lowest rung of the ladder.” Black women in South Africa have virtually “no rights whatsoever,” she said, and are legally designated as “perpetual minors.”

“But now we have the vote,” noted Ms. Gcabashe, who is helping to develop a women’s charter that she hopes will be incorporated into South Africa’s constitution or bill of rights.

“We have come this far,” she said. “We cannot fail.”

Ms. Gcabashe’s talk at the Bahá’í Center represented a milestone in that it was the first meeting between a prominent South African in exile and an official representative of the South African government.

The Honorable Frik Schoombee, consul-general of the South African Consulate in Los Angeles, took part in a panel discussion with Ms. Gcabashe about South Africa’s future and its relationship with the United States.

Also on the panel was Los Angeles television and radio personality Truman Jacques.

Ms. Gcabashe’s appearance was presented by the Los Angeles chapter of Women for International Peace and Arbitration.

WIPA spokesperson Muhtadia Rice said that bringing Ms. Gcabashe and Mr. Schoombee together helped to “create a bridge of unity between diverse peoples who have been so long separated by apartheid.”

Teaching

Continued from page 23

she has already booked three performances for Black History Month and is in the process of lining up numerous speaking engagements in communities requesting help on the issue of race unity.” [Her husband has deputized her efforts.]

• “Two members of the Greece, New York, community have, during the past two months, each given a fireside in a neighboring town. The Hilton and Parma Bahá’ís did a wonderful job of advertising for the firesides with nicely done fliers, etc. So add two notches for traveling teaching!”

• “Over-all, our community seemed disappointed by the turnout (at our teaching events). We had expected troops to come marching in, but in reality we found out that teaching takes lots of effort, prayers, sacrifice. This seemed like a practice run at teaching to get us back into that mode. Thanks for bringing it back into the forefront of our thoughts.”

• The Bahá’ís of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, sent the National Teaching Committee a package that included a letter with the following quotation: “We have not kept you informed of our activities in the past, but we wish to make every effort count as we work toward the goals of the Three Year Plan.” The package contained five pages of traveling teaching activities, proclamation events, fireside stories, and additional activities. The friends also included a flier they use to advertise their firesides.

• Among the many other communities that sent in recent reports of teaching activities were Batavia, Illinois; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Marion and Gary, Indiana; Tallahassee and Winter Haven, Florida; Weller Township, Ohio; Palmdale, Fallbrook/San Diego County and Milpitas, California; Summerville and North Charleston, South Carolina; Aurora, North Carolina; Memphis, Tennessee; Lufkin, Texas; St. Joseph County, Kalamazoo and White River Township, Michigan; Kenosha and Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Those seeking asylum must give documentation

The U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office reports that, according to the U.S. government’s new instructions, anyone who seeks refugee status overseas or who seeks asylum in the U.S. must provide documentation of proof of persecution (the burden of proof is not on the judge, but on the one seeking asylum).

Documentation includes official statistics or the booklet, “The Bahá’í Question,” which can be obtained free of charge by calling the Bahá’í National Center, 708-869-9039.

It is also important to note that no appeal will be granted after the immigration judge makes his/her decision.

For Bahá’í youth

Summer teaching opportunities in countries around the world

JUNE 14-AUGUST 31: International teaching project in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, to include an International Youth Unity Festival in Latvia.

JULY 9-AUGUST 7: Dr. Muhájir Teaching Project, Grenada. Four weeks teaching in villages around the island. Cost of $410 U.S. per person covers housing, food and transportation in Grenada.

JULY 10-AUGUST 26: the European Bahá’í Youth Council’s “Shaping Europe: The Mission of this Generation” summer teaching project and teaching conferences in Russia, Romania, United Kingdom, Spain and Germany.

JULY 24-27, JULY 27-AUGUST 2: Latin American Bahá’í Youth Conference and Global Youth Forum, Brasilia, Brazil. The Government of Brazil as well as several United Nations agencies will invite a select group of youth to the main forum. A parallel forum focusing on a wide range of topics relating to the issue of sustainable development, and including an Ecological Fair, will be held during the same dates.

Begin planning to go now! Many youth from several countries including the U.S. are already signed up. Contact your local Spiritual Assembly for forms and initial information, and then the Office of Pioneering at 708-733-3508 (fax 708-733-3509) for specific details of above projects.

IN MEMORIAM

Jane Caldwell Gainesville, FL March 15, 1994	James Hacke III Pescadero, CA October 21, 1990	Henry Nuckles Roswell, GA March 20, 1994	Ernest Stevens Pocomoke City, MD February 17, 1994
Victor Coralin-Nadal Salinas, CA March 17, 1994	Paul Hendricks Mahomet, IL February 10, 1994	Frank Sanders Florence, SC March 1993	Eleanor Thomas Oklahoma City, OK January 12, 1994
Chedan Djalali-Gomez Columbia, SC December 20, 1993	Florence Kibby Ellenton, FL February 20, 1994	Prohn Sao Stockton, CA December 23, 1993	Derek Valdez Dulce, NM March 12, 1994
Lorraine Fenn Maitland, FL April 1, 1994	Beulah Miller Urbana, OH April 1, 1994	Willie Span Jr. Gainesville, FL December 11, 1993	Irmah C. Zampty Detroit, MI March 19, 1994
Jesus Giron Anthony, NM October 25, 1993

[Page 32]

14 students from University of Rochester spend week at Native American Institute

Fourteen students from the University of Rochester visited the Native American Bahá’í Institute for a week in March as an alternative to the “spring break madness” common among college students.

These young men and women—all non-Bahá’ís—chose to learn about another culture in exchange for hard work during their break time.

The Bahá’ís of the area welcomed small groups into their homes and provided the students with varied work experiences such as cleanup, repair and building.

At NABI, the students dug trenches around the bath house, spread gravel for the driveways and helped with the nobility classes.

At the Pinesprings Trading Post, they made many trips to the dump to help clear away fallen building materials.

Chester Kahn, Lorraine C. Kahn and Barbara Tong gave cultural information talks to the students. Eva Kahn taught everyone how to make fry bread. A neighbor, Albert Yazzie, held a sweat for the men.

On the last day of their visit, all went to Hopiland. Under the guidance of Elizabeth Dahe, they visited First and Second Mesa, chopped firewood for several elders, and had a memorable visit to a home in Old Oraibi, with piki bread for all.

The visit was such a good experience for the Bahá’ís, NABI staff and the students that the Institute plans to encourage similar cultural exchanges in the future.

Although the students were not Bahá’ís, their varied backgrounds and good character exemplified Bahá’í principles. Among the group were a Guyanan, a Puerto Rican, and several of Asian descent.

MOVING? TELL US YOUR NEW ADDRESS.

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your copy of The American Bahá’í, send your new address and your mailing label to MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, as soon as you know what your new address will be.		This form may be used for one person or your entire family. Please be sure to list FULL NAMES and I.D. NUMBERS for all individuals, ages 15 years or older, who will be affected by this change.
A. NAME(S): 1. ____________________________________________________________________________________     I.D. # ____________________ Title ____________________ 2. ____________________________________________________________________________________     I.D. # ____________________ Title ____________________ 3. ____________________________________________________________________________________     I.D. # ____________________ Title ____________________ 4. ____________________________________________________________________________________     I.D. # ____________________ Title ____________________
B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________ Street address ____________________________________________________ Apartment # (If applicable) ____________________________________________________ City ________________________  ________________________ State                              Zip code		C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________ P.O. Box or Other mailing address ____________________________________________________ Apartment # (If applicable) ____________________________________________________ City ________________________  ________________________ State                              Zip code
D. NEW COMMUNITY: ________________________  ________________________ Name of new Bahá’í Community    Moving date		E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER: ________________  ________________  ________________ Area code      Phone number        Name
F. WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S): ________________  ________________  ________________      ________________  ________________  ________________ Area code      Phone number        Name                    Area code      Phone number        Name
G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE: [ ] we do not have the same last name. [ ] we do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) and I.D. number(s) listed above. [ ] the last names and addresses on our address labels do not match. We have listed above the full names of all family members as they should appear on the national records, their I.D. numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.		H. I WOULD LIKE A COPY: [ ] Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahá’í. I wish to receive my own copy. I have listed my name, I.D. number and address above.

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

’AZAMAT B.E. 151 /MAY 17, 1994

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

MAY

26-30: Fourth Conference of the “Friends of Persian Culture,” North Shore Hilton Hotel, Skokie, Illinois. For information, phone 708-733-3531.

27-29: 21st annual Conference of Nur, Elizabethtown (PA) College. Theme: “Arise: Become an Apostle of Bahá’u’lláh.” Speakers to include Dr. Wilma Ellis, Dr. David Ruhe, Vaughn Loudenback. Registration deadline: May 11. For information, phone 717-390-1988 or write to the Spiritual Assembly of Lancaster, P.O. Box 2453, Lancaster, PA 17608.

27-29: First annual Poets’ Workshop, Dallas, Texas, sponsored by Purple Rose Press. Michael Fitzgerald, a Bahá’í who is an award-winning poet, will lead workshops and offer critiques. Cost (including room and board): $150. Contact Rhonda Palmer, Allen, TX 75002 (phone 214-727-4310).

27-30: Bosch Bahá’í School’s eighth annual Marriage Retreat, “Together Forever,” conducted by Khalil Khavari and Sue Williston Khavari, authors of Creating a Successful Family and Together Forever: A Handbook for Creating a Successful Marriage. For information or to register, phone 408-423-3387 (fax 408-423-7564).

27-30: A “How-To” Conference, “Teaching: The Dominating Passion—Creating, Sustaining and Extending ‎Larg-Scale Large-Scale‎ Projects,” Woodburn, Oregon. For information, write to Jan House, director, Woodburn Bahá’í Center, 237 N. Front St., Woodburn, OR 97071, or phone 503-981-3516.

27-30: Core Curriculum Teacher Training, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 810-653-5033.

27-30: Bahá’í Pacific West Coast Youth Conference 1994, Bellevue, Washington. Theme: “The Three Year Plan: Press on to Meet the Dawn.” Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Bellevue. For information, contact Ala Moshiri, Bellevue, WA 98004, phone 206-453-9779, or fax 206-453-6398.

29: Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the enrollment of Ruby Bentley, Old Medical College, Augusta, Georgia. For information, phone 404-509-9686.

JUNE

3-5: Session on Women, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 810-653-5033.

3-5: Newsletter editor training/The American Bahá’í Community: Becoming an Economic Force, Bosch Bahá’í School. Adults only For information, phone 408-423-3387; fax 408-423-7564.

3-5: Victory Teaching Conference followed by a teaching project to win the goals of the Three Year Plan, sponsored by the Bahá’í community of Farmers Branch, Texas (Dallas County). For registration and information, phone Bahman Moghaddas, 214-620-9242.

9-12: “Vision in Action,” Regional Bahá’í Youth Conference, YMCA Camp of the Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Golden, Colorado. For information, write to Regional Bahá’í Youth Conference, P.O. Box 795, Golden, CO 80402, phone 303-399-4715, or fax 303-270-3326.

10-12: LSA Team Building Weekend—Sacramento/Northern California, Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, phone 408-423-3387; fax 408-423-7564.

10-12: Mississippi Bahá’í School, Gulfport. Registrar: Simin Rohani, Vicksburg, MS 39180; phone 601-636-9439.

10-18: Youth Institute, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 810-653-5033.

11-15: Idaho (Southern) summer school, near Ketchum. Registrar: Dawn Bowman, Pocatello, ID 83201; phone 208-233-9849.

12: International Bahá’í Picnic, noon-5 p.m., Queenston Heights Park, Queenston, Ontario, Canada.

18: Fourth annual Los Angeles Bahá’í Conference. Theme: “The ’90s: A Bahá’í Perspective.” Speakers, workshops, entertainment. For information, phone Yoss Missaghian, 805-493-1426.

18-23: Core Curriculum training (with Linda Bedford and Susan Miller), Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, phone 408-423-3387; fax 408-423-7564.

19-25: Camp Louhelen, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 810-653-5033.

23-26: Nebraska Bahá’í School, near Cozad. Registrar: Colin Taylor, North Platte, NE 69101; phone 308-534-4939.

30-July 3: Colorado East Summer School, Trinity Ranch. Contact Sandra Bolz, 34 London Avenue, Lafayette, CO 80026 (phone 303-666-9275).

30-July 4: Florida summer school, Melbourne. Registrar: Yan Gan Yang, Plantation, FL 33324; phone 305-424-1547.

JULY

1-4: Persian-American Conference, Louhelen Bahá’í School. For information, phone 810-653-5033.

1-4: Media/Communications Conference, “Everything You Want to Know About Media,” Loews Hotel/Vanderbilt Plaza, Nashville, Tennessee. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Nashville and Pavon Media International. For information, phone 310-652-3983.

1-5: North Carolina Summer School. Registrar: Maria Hillis, Wilson, NC 27893; phone 910-291-1187.

2: Memorial “Potlatch” in the Tlingit-Tagish tradition for Mark Shoghi Anderson, Sylvan Lake Bahá’í Center, Alberta, Canada. For information, contact Ted Anderson, 403-347-4230.

2-7: Core Curriculum training (with Sharon Jensen and Robin Evans), Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, phone 408-423-3387; fax 408-423-7564.

2-8: Washington (East)/Idaho (North) School. Registrar: Shannon McConnell, Richland, WA 99352; phone 509-943-1236.

3: 25th anniversary Roundup/Reunion celebrating the formation of the Spiritual Assembly of Idaho Falls, Idaho. For information, write to the Assembly at Idaho Falls, ID 83404, or phone 208-522-0333.