The American Bahá’í/Volume 27/Issue 6/Text

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[Page 1]

Loving support pledged for torched churches

July 13, 1996

To the American Baha'i community for the Feast of Kalimat

Dear Baha'i friends,

We are alarmed by the recent burnings of black and multiracial churches across the country. Attached is an editorial of the National Spiritual Assembly that is to be shared at the Nineteen Day Feast and which will be published in The American Baha’t and World Order magazine. The National Spiritual Assembly is also preparing a statement (see page 2) condemning these assaults which will be sent to the

local Spiritual Assemblies for dissemination to the media and organizations in your respective locales. This is a time for Bahd’fs everywhere to arise and reach out to our brothers and sisters in black and multiracial houses of worship with loving support and encouragement to demonstrate the standard of the oneness of humanity we embrace and to show that we will not stand idly by while members of our family are under attack. With loving Baha’f greetings, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States

Ever since the days of slavery black churches have been more than houses of worship. An oppressed people made them centers of its community life; a refuge from the indignities, the horrors, and the humiliations faced daily in a hostile world dominated by brute force; a school of endurance and survival. More recently black churches served as centers of the civil ri hts movement, providing some of its most outstand ing leaders and endowing it with the spirit of nonviolence.

See SUPPORT page 10

Volume 27, Number 6

Kamal B.E. 153 / August 1, 1996

June 6, 1996 To local Spiritual Assemblies Dear Baha'i friends,

Tasks set for 1st year of new Plan

K

Fund shortfall forces dip into cash reserves

1996-2000 The American Baha’i community vering pur- made history last year. How much imme /4e Four Year Plac Mion twin aims

will “foster

Year-end figures (as of May 1) indi Eight members of the Continental Board of Counselors joined the National Spiritual Assembly in extensive consultation on the implementation of the Four Year Plan.

We face two main challenges: “one is to mount a campaign of teaching in which the broad membership of our community is enthusiastically, systematically and personally engaged” and trained to advance the pro cate total contributions for the Arc Fund collected at the Baha’{ National Center of $23.1 million, three and onehalf times more than was contributed during the previous year.

But if figures for the first two months

conditions toward the release of pent-up forces that will forge a change in the direction of human affairs throughout the planet.”

Our confidence in the community’s capacity to meet these twin challenges rests on the Supreme Institution’s assessment of the United States Bal

Cae

FL]

Associate Editor Tom Mennillo (seated at center) meets with area Baha'is in Reno, Nevada, where the friends have launched a number of institutes. (Photo by Kim Mennillo)

cess of entry by troops with “efficiency and love.” The other is to complete the Arc on Mount Carmel. Unwa See TASKS

Friends’ quiet determination spans the miles

In its Annual Report to the American Baha'i community, the National Spiritual Assembly shared with the friends its hopes, cares and plans on the eve of the momentous Four Year Plan. Realizing, however,

that effective communication is always a two-way proposition

tional Assembly asked The American Baha'i to undertake an unprecedented cross-country fact-finding trip on its behalf. On June 7, Associate Editor Tom Mennillo and his family embarked on an 18-day, 8,000mile od: automobile, gathering information and asking the friends to epi ly their thoughts and feelings at the outset of perhaps the ith this overview we begin a

most important four years of our lives.

series of articles about that journey and its findings.

‘{ community, as

of the current fiscal year are any indication, the community may make history ofa far different nature before the first year of the Four Year Plan has run its course.

Contributions to the National Baha’f Fund have slackened thus far to a point at which important programs and projects scheduled for the summer months are in jeopardy.

The accumulated cash shortage in May and June alone has obliged the National Spiritual Assembly to liquidate one-half of the $1 million reserve it had accumulated by the end of last year and to borrow another $300,000.

As a result, the treasurer of the National Assembly has written to each

page 10

n, the Na

By TOM MENNILLO

local Spiritual Assembly, advising them of the critical cash shortfall in the

Dear National Spiritual Assembly,

After being enveloped in the loving embrace of the friends

for 18 days, [have an inkling of how your batteries stay despite exhausting schedules in service to the Cause.

Everywhere, we were treated to the heavenly food and suc See TRIP

National Fund and asking for their prayers and support.

This disheartening situation stands in sharp contrast to last year’s remarkable outpouring of generosity and sacrifice, which represented 58 percent of the Arc Fund goal for the final year of

charged

page 10

Senate adds voice to resolution

On June 26 the U.S. Senate approved by unanimous consent a resolution condemning Iran’s continuing repression of the Baha’i community and urging its government to grant religious and civil rights to the more than 300,000 Baha’is in that country.

The Senate action followed a House vote of 408-0 approving a similar reso lution, the seventh congressional appeal in support of Iranian Baha’fs

the Three Year Plan, and, taken together with the totals for the first two

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

years of the Plan, added up to about 45 percent of the full $74 million Plan goal.

Most importantly, this amount met

adopted since 1982. > Listing of sites for annual lore than 200 Baha’fs have been ex- Unit Conventions ecuted since the Islamic regime took Ss 'Special'piill Ean, power in 1979, and three are currently “Bra ais Ran eccuea 23 under sentence of death for their reli- low of Divine Authority’ gious beliefs. Noting that the government of Iran | > Annual Report of the Na

See RESOLUTION page 2

tional Spiritual Assembly

the hopes of the Universal House of Justice, on whose behalf last February the Department of the Secretariat at the Baha’i World Center wrote, “It was

articularly pleasing to the House of Fatios to note that your national community’s projected contribution to the Arc Projects Fund may well total some

See SHORTFALL page 9

27

[Page 2]Tue American BAHA'I 2

COMMUNITY NEW:

Statement of the National Spiritual Assembly regarding the burning of black churches

The American Baha’i community, composed of members who belong to all races and ethnic groups, recoils in horror from the acts of arson pepetrated against black and multiracial churches in the United States. Whether committed by demented individuals or malevolent terrorist conspirators, these acts are directed at all humanity, for humanity is one.

We believe that attacks against black churches are not about religion. They are ugly manifestations of ingrained racism, and racism, as we have said elsewhere, “is an affront to human dignity, a cause of hatred and division,

lisease that devastates society.”

The Baha’i community has struggled for more than one hundred years to help eradicate racism and build an America where all are equal no matter

what their race. We express our deepest sympathy to the immediate victims of bigotry and hate. We feel their pain and share their sorrow. We also know that our brothers and sisters whose churches have been destroyed are not the only victims. This entire nation has been hurt and diminished by the malice of a few.

However, we do not want this occasion to pass without affirming our unshakable conviction that prsuaee separatism and division shall not win. Every attempt to turn back the clock of history shall fail, and humanity shall continue on its inevitable march toward unity and peace.

National Spiritual Assembly of The Baha’ is of the United States July 1996

Newport Beach coral tree thrives in soil from 60 National Assemblies

i

A four-year-old coral tree in Newort Beach, California, is doing just ine, thank you. How could it not grow

robustly in a mixture of soil donated by more than 60 National Spiritual Assemblies around the world?

The tree, donated by the city, was lanted April 26, 1991, Arbor Day.

layor Phil Sansone and other City Council members were joined b’ county officials in a ceremony that celebrated international cooperation.

It took four more years to get the wording, format and shape of a plaque approved by the City Council. On Earth

y 1995, in another ceremony attended

by dignitaries, the plaque was unveiled. It marked the first time a quote from the Blessed Beauty has been displayed ina public place in that county.

The soil was sent as the result of a request by the local Spiritual Assembly.

The community spent many evenings reading the heartwarming letters from fellow-believers all over the globe.

Each letter was special and contained

bray GW

Published every 38 days (plus one

ial issue) for a total of 10.a year by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. Periodical posiage paid at Evanston, IL and additional mailing offices.

ISSN Number: 1062-1113

Executive Editor: Jack Bowers Associate Editor: Tom Mennillo

The American Bahd'f welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Baha’f Faith. Articles should be clear and concise; color or blackand-white glossy photographs should be included whenever ible. Please address all correspondence and other materials to The Editor, The American Bahd'f, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091-2886. Send address changes to Management Information Services, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 602011611.

Copyright© 1996 by the National Spiriay Aeabie of "the Baha'fs of the

United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

Nee 82

a message of love and unity.

Soil came from the Houses of Worship in Germany, Panama and Uganda, from temple land in Iceland, from the Haziratu’l-Quds of some 40 countries, and from the bottom of the largest river in New Zealand.

One-third of the mixed soil was used in the tree planting. The remainder was sent with copies of the letters to the Universal House of Justice and the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. to be used at their discretion.

Geographical locations that donated soil were Alaska, Antigua, Austria, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bangui, Bel ium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bophu atswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde Islands, Caroline Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, ElSalvador, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Guam, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Honiara, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Lesotho, Lusaka, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Guinea, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Noumea, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Portu al, Sikkim, Solomon ipianae? South

frica, St. Vincent, Suriname, Switzerland, Tonga, Trinidad, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Vanuatu, West Indies, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Resolution

Continued from page 1

has spelled out in official documents a formal policy aimed at suppressing the Baha’i community, Sen. Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas, principal sponsor of the most recent resolution, expressed her concern that the very survival of the Baha’f community in Iran is threatened by the regime’s denial of legal recognition of the Faith and of its basic rights to organize, elect its leaders and educate its young people.

Forty Senators co-sponsored the current resolution. Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman of Con

necticut and John McCain of Arizona joined Sen. Kassebaum in spearheadng the movement toward approval.

‘iruz Kazemzadeh, the National Spiritual Assembly’s secretary for External Affairs, said there is good evidence that prior congressional resolutions, together with appeals by other nations and the United Nations, have helped persuade Iran to moderate its actions against the Baha'is.

June marked the 13th anniversary of the execution in Shiraz, Iran, of 17 Bahd’is including seven women and three teen-age girls.

Congressional remarks supporting resolution

The following remarks by Sens. Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut appeared in the Congressional Record of June 26.—Ed.

.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of House Concurrent Resolution 102.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.

The legislative clerk read as follows:

A concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 102) concerning the emancipation of the Iranian Baha’{ community.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate consideration of the concurrent resolution?

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the concurrent resolution.

Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, the Senate today will adopt legislation condemning Iran’s persecution of the Baha’f community. We have taken similar action in the past, and I regret that our continued vigilance on this matter is required.

We choose today to adopt this legislation in remembrance of a great tragedy for the Baha’{ community and for all who value human rights and religious freedom. Thirteen years ago this month, Iranian religious officials executed, by hanging, 10 Baha’i women—including three teen-age girls—in the city of Shiraz.

This killing of innocent women and children came amid a series of Baha’i executions during the first half of 1983. At the time, President Reagan had expressed America’s alarm at the religious persecution of the Bahd’is in Iran and had called upon the Iranian leadership to spare the lives of those Bahd’is condemned to death in Shiraz. The Iranian response to this plea was to carry out without hesitation the schedule of June executions.

We know that those men, women and children were executed not for any crimes but for their religious beliefs. We also know the persecution continues to this day in many forms, both great and small.

Thirty-nine other Senators have joined with me in sponsors this mid islation, and the Senate today will

unanimously adopt an identical resolution already passed by the House of Representatives: By today’s action, the U.S. Senate once again will make clear to all who will listen: “We have not forgotten.”

Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, at many times during the past 14 years the Congress has condemned the government of Iran for its repressive policies and actions toward its Baha’f community. Today, I am honored to be celebrating the passage of a resolution which calls on Iran to change its repressive anti-Baha’f policies and to protect the rights of all its peoples including religious minority groups such as the Bahd’is. The concurrent resolution we are adopting today is similar to the one which Sen. KASSEBAUM, Sen. McCAIN, Sen. DODD and I submitted in this body in February.

Congtess has adopted six previous resolutions on this important issue. The record of their success is certainly a mixed one, at best. Since their enactment, many Bahd’is have been penalized by the government, and some even sentenced to death, just because of their religious beliefs. On the contrary, previous resolutions have shown some success as well, particularly in the case of one man who had been sentenced to death for his religious convictions. This man’s life was saved as the apostasy case was later overturned by the courts in Iran. Although the relationship between the Baha’fs and the Iranian government has improved since the

irst resolution was passed, not enough action has been taken. This open policy of ga are is in clear violation of the obligation of sovereign states to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In the past, President Clinton and former Presidents Reagan and Bush have all shown support of the Baha’fs. The United Nations and many of its member states have also adopted numerous resolutions i pe religious freedom in Iran. Today, in adopting this concurrent resolution, we have succeeded in maintaining vigilance on the actions of the Iranian government. Only through continued support for change in the Iranian regime can over 300,000 Baha'is experience true religious freedom.

[Page 3]

Kamat B.E. 153 ¢ Aucust 1, 1996

3

TEXAS YOUTH ARE MAKIN’ MOVES - LET'S HEAR ABOUT YOU!!

University of Texas - Austin Bahét Chié

submitted by Shirien Oskoouee

The Baha’ Association at the University of Texas - Austin has been awarded the Most Outstanding Religious Organization for the 1995-96 school year. The Baha’{ youth at Austin achieved this amazing victory by arising to serve and proclaim the Faith through a host of unique and creative campus activities.

Over the past year the University of Texas Baha'i Association has sponsored biweekly “fireside chats” to promote the discussion of Baha’ principles such as unity in diversity, the oneness of religion, and the equality of men and women. The group also set up a booth on campus where they shared information about the Baha'i Association with their fellow students. (It is important to note that these youth make getting along and fostering unity with their fellow student organizations a priority). In addition, the Austin Baha’i youth have posted signs on campus that provide general information about the Faith, they’ve hosted deepenings, and have constructed a Web Page that explains

peirenrerts oo

wb WEE Ro Baha‘i Teachings and lists the dates of meetings for those interested in getting in touch with the Association. These tireless youth have also hosted a spring retreat to deepen on the principles of the Faith, they’ve participated in annual Martin Luther King Day celebration activities, joined an Interfaith Council so that they could interact with other religious groups and have hosted international dinners to promote Unity in Diversity!

If you think that all this activity is enough for the University of Texas Baha'i Association, guess again! Community service is also very important to these youth. Recently they have become involved in Literacy and in Litter Control programs and have volunteered at the city of Austin’s Native American Pow Wow and at a local nursing home. As their steadfast and devoted attitude demonstrates, the University of Texas - Austin Baha'i Association has definitely earned its title as Outstanding Religious Organization and we would like to congratulate them on a job superbly done!

wooo ---------4

1 Emily LaFramboise reports that at a recent | Tracy Chapman concert in Ann Arbor, MI I the singer asked concert goers to write I down sentiments they'd like to share with

the audience. Chapman read Emily’s card, I “Remember your own strengths, choose I your own battles, speak your own mind, I pave your own path, live your own life.” I Even better, the singer saved the followI ing card (submitted by Baha’i youth Jen| nifer Markey) for last, “One Planet, One I People, Please”. The crowd cheered. L

a ee ee oe oe oe oe oe oe oe el

University of Texas at Austin Baha'i Association - Texas Swing Out - 1996

bey Ge

Committee.

Members of the UT at Austin Bahd’i Association

-—> YOUTH COMMITTEE APPOINTED

The National Spiritual Assembly has recently appointed a National Youth Committee. The five members of the new committee are already hard at work. Over the next few months the Youth Committee will be taking over the administration of youth projects such as: the Army of Light, Baha’i Youth Workshop, and the TAB Youth Page. Stay tuned to TAB for news and information about YOUth, and your new Youth

Q—---—

[Page 4]Tue American BAHA'I 4

lO) asiN)

International Opportunities

Summer ‘96

ALBANIA

July 22-August 22: intensive teaching projects aimed at a significant increase in the number of believers in the areas of Corovode and Bajram Curri. BELGIUM

August 1-15: European Bahda’{ Youth Teaching Project with study course on “Entry by Troops,” participation of Counselors and the Panacea Bahd’{ Youth Workshop. CANADA

August 25-30: Youth Week including survival course, Sylvan Lake Baha’f Centre.

August 25-30: Festival of the Arts, Sylvan Lake Baha’i Centre.

August 25-31: Family Week, “Holy Family of Baha’u’ll4h,” Marion Jack Institute.

August 30-September 2: North Island Summer School. CHINA

August 13-16: Cummunication and Culture: China and the World Entering the 21st Century, Peking (Beijing). Contact D. Ray Heisey,

hone 216-672-2649, fax 216-672510, e-mail

HUNGARY

August 5-11: Summer school at Doboz-Szanazug “Natural Holiday Resort.”

October 18-20: Fourth European Baha‘i Health Conference, focusing on ethical issues in family medicine; age, race and gender prejudice in health care, and technical subjects. IRELAND

August 10-18: Summer school in Waterford with themes “entry by troops” and “let your vision be world-embracing.”

ITALY Summer schools and wide variety of conferences and deepening pro‘rams year-round at the Centre for jaha’i Studies in Acuto. Reasonable costs.

POLAND

teaching projects throughout the summer. ROMANIA

August 1—October 31: Teaching project, summer school, other events aimed at “a significant advance in the process of entry by troops.”

SLOVENIA AND CROATIA

Teaching project from August 19— 25, summer school from August 2225 in Koper, Slovenia. SWITZERLAND

“Youth and Global Governance” conference, September 11-15, Landegg Academy.

Traveling teachers and pioneers are urgently needed for the burgoon countries of the Baltic

tates—Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Macedonia and Serbia, per request of Continental Board of eeu for Europe.

For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha’{ National Center, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201-1611. Phone 847-733-3511, fax 847-733-3509, email Please let the Office of Pioneering know if you will be traveling overseas for any reason.

Variety of large and small-scale |

A young pioneer’s reflectio

Nazaneen Nicola Grant served as a Baha'i Youth Service Corps volunteer in Ecuador in 1993-1994. Now a junior at Cornell University, she shares her reflections on the impact of that period of her services to the Cause of God.

.

I found myself packed between a colorfully dressed indigenous woman with her chickens, booming merengue music, and a steamed window that softened the incredible landscape of the Andes mountains. Although | knew where the bus was going, | smiled to myself and wondered, “What on earth am I doing here?”

While that question frequently came up during my year of service in Ecuador, I felt the “company of chosen angels” from the day I arrived.

As I stepped out of the airport, I found myself surrounded by a mob of people yelling in Spanish, but no one was claiming me as theirs. Then I realized, “Whoa, I'm only 17 years old, all alone on this continent where I almost know about 3 people.” It was a definite “what-am-I-doing-here” moment.

I sifted through the ‘people, waiting for an “Allah’u’Abha”...but nothing. I felt like trapeze artists must feel when they let go of one rung and are waiting to catch the other. Finally I heard, “Baha'i! Baha'i!” Never before had that name sounded so welcome.

During my time of service, I found that the only motivation to do well became love, faith, obedience to the Teachings and Institutions, and the very admonition toward excellence in all things. Unlike in school and in professional jobs, the motivation to excel is not confounded with competition and financial success. It must become pure service, borne solely out of love.

Naturally, the result is wonderful. One undergoes a transformation, which in turn has a direct effect on the Faith. A power is granted to you to become, although minuscule, a component of a massive, historic undertaking.

Even with this “power,” it is sometimes easy to convince yourself that your work is too imperfect to be accepted and that the effort is not yielding results. In teaching children at a Baha’i elementary school at only 17 care of age, I naturally made count less mistakes and always knew that the kids deserved a well-trained teacher, which I was far from being. This was, and at times still is, hard to deal with.

A few particular events showed me the danger of allowing a lack of confidence to inhibit service. At the Ruhi Institute in Colombia where I went before going to Ecuador, we went out to communities to give children’s classes.

While our group took a break one afternoon, we went to a small neighborhood store for a snack, and the other youth I was with started to teach the owners of the store. They were soon engaged in an animated discussion, of which I did not understand a word of since I had just arrived and didn’t know Spanish.

I became a bit upset, thinking, “I can’t do anything because I don’t know Spanish!” I was busy feeling badly when one of the youth who had been talking stepped aside from the counter and opened up a prayer book to aid

A’ (

Nazaneen Nicola Grant (center tear), a Baha Youth Service Corps volunteer to Ecuador, on a camping trip with students at the Raul Pavén Bilingual School.

the effort. Then, Ah ha! I realized that I could be saying prayers! There is always something I can do, I just have to be creative enough to discover what it is.

We can never forget that although we may seem unprepared and underqualified to carry out historic undertakings, we are vested with a power that is surely not our own but that we are responsible for using and creatively directing.

One pioneer in Ecuador gave the analogy of a caterpillar. Often we feel as though we are like one of many legs of this caterpillar making tiny movements, and at the end of the day it has hardly gone anywhere. But after the caterpillar metamorphizes into a colorful butterfly that can ay around freely, what was once a tiny leg is now responsible for moving wings.

The point is that none of our efforts are in vain; we must never belittle our personal efforts to serve the Faith because we never will know their full impact. Baha’u’llah writes, “One righteous act is endowed with a potency that can so elevate the dust as to cause it to pass beyond the heaven of heavens. It can tear every bond asunder, and hath the power to restore the force that hath spent itself and vanished.”

After some quick cultural adjustments, living with a new language and culture became fun and interesting for me. This was particularly because of the people I came across in the small, mostly indigenous town of Otavalo.

I found much of Ecuador to be filled with awesome natural beauty which seemed to permeate many of the people living there. Living in such a place allowed me to better take in the deep spiritual nature of the people.

For the most part, the few louder voices, more easily heard by the media, have not captured the humble, happy serenity of these people that are the gems in remote areas. Traveling to the crevices of these mountains to meet my Bahd’i brothers and sisters there hada deep tte on me spiritually, and made me better understand the strong embrace that Baha’u’llah has around the world.

However easy it is to romanticize about the natural beauty of the people

ns on service

and environment of a country such as Ecuador, it is just as easy to see the extent of the social and economic change aching to happen. These societies and their youth are Sradtally being caught in a more complex world, and are increasingly being captured by the materialism that is so strong in our own society. The prejudice against the indi,

in that small town was as obvious as the mountains that surround it. But this is precisely the reason that the Baha’f community chose it as the site for an elementary school and radio station: to directly and Syor matey promote unifying forces and apply the Teachings through education and sustainable institutions. Working in this community exposed to me different ways in which Bahé’u’'llah’s message

can be applied.

While Remade may not be as economically and technologically advanced as other nations, their Baha’i community is moving full speed ahead. There are youth workshops and public speaking classes, radio programs and schools, conferences on topics like moral leadership and strategic planning, teaching institutes and summer schools; countless plans to expand the Faith throughout the all strata of society, just as there are in other countries.

They are doing as ‘Abdu’l-Baha has

See PIONEER page 47

SENSITIVE INTERNATIONAL TEACHING AREAS (SITA) Programs

Coordinated by the Office of Pioneering—now also available on a regional/local basis in many areas of the country.

What is a SITA? Why should you know about SITA programs and deepenings?

For answers to these questions, contact your local Spiritual Assembly or the Office of Pioneering, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette IL 60091 (phone 847-733-3506).

[Page 5]Healing Racism Education's Role edited by Nathan Rutstein and Michael Morgan SC $24.95 (HRER) Written by 16 Baha’fs who are experts in race relations and eyewitnesses to the ravages of racial prejudice, the articles in Healing Racism: Education's Role define this national disease. The authors tell how to diminish racism’s effects through classroom education emphasizing the oneness of humanity and the cousinship of all human beings. Baha’ fs will find it useful for introduction into any school system. This book serves as an inspirational guidebook for teachers and parents as it takes the reader through the educational system from early grades to the university campus. 9-1/4"x6", 361 pp. Whitcomb Publishing

Portraits of Some Baha’i Women

by O.Z. Whitehead SC $16.95 (PSBW) Western women have always been in the forefront of teaching the Baha’{ Faith. Here are short portraits of seven such women whose services to the Cause of Baha’u’llah have spanned the 20th century. Emogene Hoagg, Claudia Coles, Kate Dwyer, Ella Bailey, Ella Quant-some well-known, others less so-all devoted theit ‘s to the promotion and development of the Faith they loved. 5-1/2"x8-1/4", 184 pp.

George Ronald Publishers

Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred

Time Baha'i Studies, Volume 1

by John Walbridge SC $22.95 (SA)

This is the first book in a new series from George Ronald Publishers developed for students of the Bah4’{ Faith and those teaching courses on the

religion. In Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Time John Walbridge explores several areas of the sacred in the Baha’ Faith including Baha’{

law and its background, the rites of life and

death, teachings on wealth, pilgrimage, mystical writings, the Baha’{ calendar and festi vals. This first in the series will be especially

interesting to those with an academic interest in the

Bahd’ { Faith, those who wish to undertake a serious study of the

religion and those who want to study it at a level deeper than is

possible with introductory books.

5-12"x8-3/4", 322 pp., Index

George Ronald Publishers

The Four Year Plan

Messages of the Universal House of Justice

$1.00 SC (FYP)

This book contains eleven messages from the Universal House of Justice on the Four Year Plan, including the Ridvaén 1996 message to the Baha’ fs of the world, the eight messages to various regions, the letter dated Dec. 26, 1995, to the Counselors’ Conference at the Baha’f World Center, and the letter dated Dec. 31, 1995, to the Bah4’fs of the world. This collection of messages is being offered by Palabra Publications at the lowest possible price to facilitate widespread study of these messages to lay the groundwork for a proper understanding of the directives of the Universal House of Justice as we formulate our response to the Four Year Plan.

5-1/2"x8-1/2", 112 pp., Index, preface Palabra Publications

The Baha’i World, 1994-95

HC $23.95 (BW95H), SC $12.95 (BW95S)

This comprehensive annual survey of the activities of the Baha’{ International Community is an attractive and useful public information tool, ideal for presentation to dignitaries, journalists, and libraries.

In this year’s volume:

• coverage of the elections of the seven new National Spiritual Assemblies

• report on Baha’f involvement in the World Summit for Social Development
• Bahd’f contributions to the United Nations International Year of the Family
• survey of Baha’{ youth activities around the world

• “The Mission of the Bab: Retrospective 1844-1944”

• “The Language of the Heart: Arts in the Baha’ World Community”

• Baha’{ International Community statement “The Prosperity of Humankind”

• selections from the Baha’{ sacred

writings

• media survey

+ highlights of BIC activities

• “World Watch”

• update on the situation in Iran

• update on Mount Carmel projects

• index

• many color photographs

Regular features:

• Introduction to Baha’{ history,

teachings, and activities

• survey of the year’s events

• statistics

+ directory of Baha’{ agencies

• basic Bah4’f reading list

• glossary

• selected new publications

9-1/4"x6”, 346 pp.; World Centre Publications

SPECIAL PRE-PUBLICATION OFFER!

Messages from the Universal House of Justice

The Third Epoch, 1963-1986

$24.95 SC (MUHJ)

A compilation of the major communications from the Universal House of Justice covering the Third Epoch of Baha’ { history. Comprising more than 700 pages, over 450 letters and statements have been collected in this volume. This book is complete with bibliography, glossary, and an index by paragraph number for ease of reference and study. Long awaited, much anticipated, this edition will be available by the end of 1996.

Baha'i Publishing Trust

Order before the publication date and receive this long awaited edition at the special pre-publication price of $19.95.

This price represents a $5 savings over the regular post-publication price of $24.95. In addition no shipping charges will be assessed on pre-publication orders, which potentially saves you an additional $2.50 for a combined savings of $7.50!

This book is scheduled for release by the end of 1996 (November), so don’t wait. Order now!

[Page 6]

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[Page 7]Kamat B.E. 153 ¢ Aucust 1,1996 7

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Baha’f Distribution Service * 5397 Wilbanks Dr., Chattanooga, TN 37343 * 1-800-999-9019 * Fax: 1-423-843-0836 « Internet: [Page 8]The AMERICAN BAHA'I 8

hich acti from teres! DP rilliant Star.

workbooks Ala I Want to Help!

you: need?

Plan resources for your teaching

institute! Make your community The Universal House of Justice has told us that now is the time for every man, woman, youth

life fun and exciting! and child to work together to build the World Order of Baha’u’ll4h. There are many things children can do for their Baha’{ Community. Here is a list of just some of the things you can do.

Order from BDS for only $3.50 each. Have you ever done some of these things? Look through the list and check off each one you have

The magazine issues listed here are a collection done. Are there other ways you could help your community?

of activity workbooks available from your NSA on ° ° .

many of the topics you need for the Four Year Plan. Community Service Checklist

Host a Feast

Q greet people at the door

Q welcome people by saying “Alléh-u-Abha”

Q help people find seats

Q serve food during the social portion

Q during Feast, help a young child who has trouble being still by playing together in another room.

The Central Figures

Q Bahd‘u'llah: Bahd‘u'llah, Special Edition 1991 Q The Bab: Starship, Life of the Bab JA 94

Q ‘Abdu'l-Bahé: Celebrating the Life of N/D 92

Q_ Shoghi Effendi: Beloved Shoghi Effendi N/D 95

The Administrative Order

Q_ The Covenant, Special Edition 1992 Prepare the Devotional Portion of Feast Q The Kitab-i-Aqdas, Special Edition 1993 Q select prayers and passages from the Baha’s Writings Q_ From Gnats to Eagles, Special Edition 1994 Q select music or songs from the Baha'i Writings QQ My Part of the Plan N/D 93 Q make a program that lists your selections and call readers in ie - advance so they may prepare ahead to read a Fare ne Eee ae © find things other children can do to help make Feast special ress on to Meet the Dawn

Teaching the Faith

Prepare Refreshments for Feast Confidence in Action J/F 96 Balance M/A 96

Q plan and make the food

Q plan and prepare the beverages

Q decorate and set the food table Patterns of Hope J/A 95

One Destiny, Special Edition 1995 Host Firesides al Toe |Wed| Thar| Fin {Set [Sur From Gnats to Eagles, Special Edition 1994 Q plan a date and invite your friends

The Darkest Hour N/D 94 Q plan a topic to talk about

Putting the Vision Into Action S/O 94 Q prepare a short talk or choose a video to show Courage M/A 94 Q invite a guest speaker

d: e a FF Q prepare refreshments Celebrating the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Baha N/D 92 O have Baha’ booklets ready to give out

Choices, Choosing to Teach J/A 92

oooooooco000

nen f H i ‘ A The Fi coer z Start a Children’s Teaching Institute ¢ First Prejudice-Free Generation M/A 95 Q find some friends who want to work with you

World Embracing Vision S/O 95 QO learn about Teaching Institutes 1992 Baha’i World Congress S/O 92 Q make plans to start your institute

s 5 Bie Q find an adult who can help you get started One Destiny, Special Edition 1995 Q tell your Auxiliary Board Member about your institute From Racism to Unity M/A 93 (sold out)

Race Unity N/D 91 (sold out)

oooooo

Your Ideas SES vi mily Life mmunity Life BS Families J/F 94 Patterns of Hope J/A 95 Balance M/A 96 My Part of the Plan N/D 93 The Role of Women J/A 93 The Door to the Future M/J 95

A

My Baha’f Community J/F 93 (sold out) Write a letter to your Local Spiritual Assembly to say you are ready to serve your community. Copy this Press on to Meet the Dawn J/F 95

oooocoo0oond

letter’s beginning and add your own words to it. Ask an adult to help you mail it to your Assembly, or share it with your Assembly at Feast. Children are always welcome to write or talk to their Assemblies, especially at the Feast.

(the date) Dear Spiritual Assembly of the Bahd’fs of

My name is and Iam ________years old. I am a Bahd’f child in your community. I would like to find more ways to serve the community. Here is a list of things that I think I could do to help. If the Assembly would like my help, I would be happy to serve.

(add your list here) Prayerfully,

(your name)

by Pepper P. Oldziey

Mlustrated by Carla Marlene Reprinted from Brilliant Star, January-February 1993

[Page 9]KamAt B.E. 153 * Aucust 1, 1996 9

THE LIFE-BLOOD

0

) TOL. ~ENROLLMENTS

UNC EF steisee pei ieenece 229, Total for year. 347

\

THE FUND

(As of June 30, 1996)

YID Goal YTD Actual National Baha’i Fund —_—_$2,400,000 $1,617,887 All International Funds $1,500,000 $1,439,095

thru Jun 95 thru Jun 96 National Baha’i Fund $2,309,725 $1,617,887

International Baha’{ Fund $668,612 $86,363 Arc Projects Fund $8,210,657 $1,302,116 Continental Bah4’{ Fund $42,643 $50,616 Other Earmarked $65,752 $174,877 Subtotal/Int’| Funds $8,921,912 $1,439,095 Total/All Funds $11,297,389 $3,231,859 Debt Watch Jun 95 Jun 96 Loans Outstanding $0 $800,000

National Baha’i Fund: Goal & Actual $1,617,887

$2,400,000

All International Funds: Goal & Actual $1,439,095

$1,500,000

FWhere we are} $1,302,116 $8,210,657

z z

International Baha’i Fund

8 8

‘Where we were last year $668,612

Continental Baha’i Fund $50,616

Where we were last year $42,643

>

Shortfall

Continued from page 1

U.S. $21 to $23 million by Ridvan.”

Add to this stunning achievement the fact that contributions to the National Baha’i Fund rose 9 percent, to $11.3 million, and those to the International and Continental Funds increased by 141 percent and 29 percent, respectively, and a truly remarkable picture of this blessed community emerges.

In all, $36.4 million was offered by the friends in the U.S. to the senior Funds of the Faith, an

Contributions to the Baha’i National Fund: Goal and Actual

increase of 101 percent in only one year.

“This was not simply a demonstration of material generosity,” said a member of the National Spiritual Assembly at a recent gathering in Wilmette of representatives of local Spiritual Assemblies. “It is a referendum on the spiritual consecration of the American Baha’i community.”

Now, in the opening months of the historic Four Year Plan, that consecration is being put to the test again.

$1,600,000 $1,400,000 $1,200,000 AN $1,000,000 Wate eedierd V Se ee $600,000 $400,000 $200,000 $0 Eb 6 Tein 18: uaesOes Bla nul2t ale 2 Siti te 44 & 6 sc} as) bie} 95 9 9 9 % 96 9 9% 96 % 9% Needed Capital Expenditures Item Cost Reason LGI Copier $7,500 Existing machine worn out WLGI digital equipment $4,900 | Resume WLGI development Computer hardware and software $100,000 For all National Assembly offices Green Acre—Copier $7,000 Existing machine worn out Baha’i Home—Boiler, re-piping etc. $67,000 40-year-old equipment replacement Baha'i Home—Fire Sprinkler system $4,400 — State code requirement Publishing rust Computes upgrade $2,500 More in-house, low cost production Louhelen—Fire Alarm System $9,200 State code requirement National Center parking lot repairs $4,000 _ Potential safety code violation RPZ valve at the Hazfratu’l-Quds $3,000 Replace central component of heating system Baha’ Home—Replace Security Fence $2,600 Recent break-in makes imperative 693 Sheridan—Roof Repairs $10,524 House donated to Faith; 50-year-old roof Bosch—New Classrooms $143,000 Completed New Bahd’f ID cards $9,500 New system for new believers Wilhelm property $30,700 _ Repairs to “Souvenir” cabin visited by “‘Abdu’l-Baha Louhelen—Furniture and AC system $40,000 _ Key to self-sufficiency strategy—part of multi-year improvement plan Green Acre—Ole Bull property LYM UG epee Louhelen—Staff Housing, $79,900 Already privately funded by believers Temple Restoration $257,500 Steps, pylon caps, water system, etc. Other property maintenance $142,648 Total $1,000,872 Earmarked Contributions in Hand Deferred Revenue—Bosch $50,000 Temple Restoration $75,000 Louhelen $79,900 Total $204,900 Gap ($795,972)

oc shale eitimat tee adles

Young California Baha'is share Message in song at Baha'i Home

On June 23, a group of seven young Baha'is from Southern California visited the Bahd’i Home in Wilmette, Illinois, to share the Message of Baha’u‘ll4h through music.

The young friends, ranging in age from five to 15 years, brought their radiant Baha'i spirit to share with residents, families and guests at the annual reception honoring volunteers at the Home. Their a cappella presentation of songs about Baha'u'llah was a special delight to the audience.

Although they come from three separate Bahd’{ communities—Imperial Beach, La Mesa and Monrovia—these young people regularly get together to sing.

Paes Joannie Yuille, Angie Blackshere and Rona Schechter provided logistical ae for the group whose members were Brittani Gholar (age 10), Shannon Gholar (8), Ryann Blackshere (9), Laila Schechter (8), Alyssa Schechter (8), Katrina Schechter (5) and chorus direeior Lua Yuille (15).

[Page 10]10

THe AMERICAN BAHA'I

FOUR YEAR

Tasks

Continued from page 1

stated in the Ridvan 1996 letter, and of our prospects for large-scale growth. “Some four decades ago,” the Universal House of Justice writes, “Shoghi Effendi described the members of the United States Baha’f community as ‘the outstanding protagonists of the Cause of God; the stout-hearted defenders of its integrity...the champion-builders of its Administrative Order...the chief succorers of the down-trodden. ...’ Any survey of the distinguished accomplighments) of these dearly loved

iends during the past three years provides striking evidence of the continuing applicability of this description, and of the immense contribution they are making to the advancement of the Cause. We look to the members of the Baha’i community in the United States to perform, during the Four Year Plan, heroic deeds of service to the Cause,

Trip

Continued from page |

cor of our host communities—just what we needed after driving all day through the early-summer heat. If Bahd’is are indeed developing attributes needed in the next world, we can look forward to countless potlucks there!

Spiritual food, too, abounded. You need not fear that American Baha'is have not recognized and come to prips with the urgency of the challenges that lie ahead.

From the inner city to rural outposts of the Faith, a palpable can-do spirit came through again and again as we gathered with the friends in living rooms and Baha’f Centers. They shared their vision of where things might stand in four years and, just as Sate what steps they'll have to take as individuals, communities and institutions to turn that vision into reality.

As you well know, the key word is process. And as you can well imagine, Baha'is are at widely varying points along the continuum of getting their arms around the Four Year

which will astonish and inspire their fellow-believers throughout the world.” Moreover, they added, “In North America, there are opportunities for the advancement ai the process of entry by troops, the like of which presently exist in no other place on earth.”

The Universal House of Justice explains that “the individual, the institutions, and the community can foster such growth first by spiritual and mentally accepting the possibility of it, and then by working toward embracing masses of new believers, setting in motion the means (institutes) for effecting their spiritual and administrative training and development, thereby multiplying the number of Presi cassabien active teachers and administrators. ...”. The sustained initiative of devoted and lov Plan and devising actions to achieve its goals.

We saw, firsthand, communities struggling to work through issues that have held them back from moving forward with unity and confidence. It is heart-rending to hear the stories of alienation and conflict. But where once those feelings festered beneath the surface, they now are being brought into the light and addressed openly and honestly. Everyone will be stronger for it, as remote as that might seem to them at present.

We also saw exciting evidence that Baha‘is are starting to build on the foundations for large-scale growth that their joyous, if not immediately rewarding, labors over the years have established.

In fact, a noticeable impatience was in the air in some places. The friends were talked out after having deepened and consulted with their Spiritual Assemblies and, often, Auxiliary Board members. Now they were raring to go!

Lastly, through visits to the Native

ing Baha'is will ensure a constant influx of new believers, the maturation of Baha’ institutions, and the “steady consolidation of the community.” Dear Friends, our assignment is clear, and brooks no delay; First—Spiritual Assemblies, in concert with Auxiliary Board members wherever possible, should begin careful study of the Ridvan letters with the friends in their communities. Second—Assemblies and individual believers must make every possible effort to double the active core of the community within the first year of the Plan. A significantincrease in the number of knowledgeable and loving teachers and administrators is indispensable to advancing the process of entry by troops. Third—Institutes should be established, wherever feasible, under the

Ameri- \ can Baha’i In- \ stitute and the Bosch = > Baha’f School, we were assured that resources are in place to serve well Baha’i individuals, communities and institutions over the next four years. (Speaking of keeping your batteries charged, we had the blessing while at Bosch of an early-morning chat with the ever-radiant Olya Roohizadegan.)

Well, there’s so much more to tell about the places we visited and the people we met. But another day, in a depth that can do it justice. We'll be organizing our reports around the

sures of local Spiritual Assemblies, with the intimate involvement of Auxiliary Board members, to ensure that an “opportunity is provided for all Bahd‘is, new and veteran, to embark ona systematic study of the fundamental verities of the Revelation of Bahd’u'llah.”

In the coming months more specific direction about different aspects of the Four Year Plan will be conveyed to you. Until then, our prayers will surround every soul in his or her effort to arise and struggle with the challenges before us, “liberated from any doubts, uncertainties or hesitations which may have impeded you in the past.”

With loving Baha’f greetings, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States

overarching themes of the Four Year Plan such as teaching the Cause and preparing the way for entry by troops. Until then, suffice it to say we’ve returned safe and sound and filled with memories enough for a lifetime. They really are amazing people, our Baha’f family members. Thanks for giving us the chance to get to know

them better. Love, Tom

Support

Continued from page 1

The current epidemic of church burning in the South is not about religion. It is an ugly manifestation of ingrained racism, an attack on black communities by hate-filled individuals or groups. It is a desperate reaction against the progress American society, black and white, has made in the last half century and an effort to rekindle the worst forms of racial bigotry and prejudice.

Arson, a particularly heinous form of crime fully comparable to murder, is made even more revolting when committed as an act of warfare against a racial, ethnic or religious minority in whom it evokes memories of past injustices and a sense of continuing oppression.

Baha’is are well acquainted with prejudice and persecution. They have frequently been subjected to attacks by mobs and governments alike.

Although for the moment the forces of separatism, bigotry, and fanaticism seem to be on the ascendent, their successes are an illusion. The world is inexorably moving toward its destiny of unity and peace.

Fully committed by their Faith to the ideals of equality of races and the oneness of humanity, Bahd‘fs feel the pain of all those who suffer injustice. They unequivocally reaffirm their determination to work for the elimination of racism wherever

it poisons people's minds and hearts. Confident in the ultimate triumph of justice and love, Baha'is of all races and nations pray: “O Lord God! Make us as waves of the sea, as flowers of the garden, united, agreed through the bounties of Thy love. O Lord! Dilate the breasts through the signs of Thy oneness, and make all mankind as stars shining from the same height of glory, as perfect fruits growing upon Thy Tree of Life.”

Although for the moment the forces of separatism, bigotry and fanaticism seem to be on the ascendent, their successes are an illusion. The world is inexorably moving toward its destiny of unity and peace. The burning of black churches in the American South, like the executions of innocent Baha’fs in Iran and other acts of terrorism, is the ugly agony of a dying order.

[Page 11]KamAt B.E. 153 © Aucust 1, 1996

11

NEWS FRO SEAS

Mauritius surpasses all of its Three Year Plan goals

The Baha'is of Mauritius have informed the World Center that all of their teaching goals for the Three Year Plan were surpassed. One thousand thirty-four new believers were enrolled during the Plan and 141 local Spiritual Assemblies established, exceeding the goals of 1,000 new believers and 140 local Assemblies. In Rodrigues, an island east of Mauritius, 534 new believers declared their faith in Baha'u'llah during the past three years while six new local Spiritual Assemblies were formed.

°

Twenty-five new Baha'is were enrolled during a recent four-day deepening class for women at Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India, during which participants took part in city teaching each evening. The experience had such an impact on the friends that rey pledged to continue the teaching wor in that area.

°

The first local Spiritual Assembly of Wetzikon, in northeastern Switzerland, was formed March 8.

.

Many Baha'i artists took part in a recent exhibition on the theme of women organized by the local Spiritual Assembly of Aix-en-Provence, France. About 80 people attended the show each day, while about 40 people attended each of three public conferences. As a result, three persons from Marseille and one from Paris who were visiting the area declared their belief in Baha'u'llah.

° *

Seventy young Baha'is from Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Norway and Sweden gathered March 31—April 5 in Gothenburg for the Nordic Baha'f Youth Conference, which was organized by the National Youth Committees of Norway and Sweden. The conference theme was “The Priceless Pearl,” and topics studied included the character of Shoghi Effendi, the significance of the Ten Year Crusade, the sacrifices of the beloved Guardian, the martyrs of the Faith, and the new World Order. The spirit was high, and as a result, one friend of a Bahd'i was enrolled in the Cause.

°

The sixth seminar for Baha'i radio

stations was held February 3-13 in

Vinto, Bolivia. Attending were radio personnel from the five Latin American stations—in Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile—as well as representatives of Radio Baha’f in the U.S. Consultation emphasized the process of entry by troops and developing a vision of where Baha’{ radio might be going by the year 2000. The seminar included workshops on oral and written scripts, translations to native languages, and the use of drama on the air. .

On April 8, representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Cook Islands paid a courtesy call on the country's Prime Minister, Sir Cootey lenry, in Rarotonga. Mr. Henry was

iven a copy of a statement on loyalty to government and a letter listing ways in which Baha'fs see social values affecting the life of the community. .

About 160 people from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Turkey gathered mPa S8 at DePoort, the Netherlands, for the fourth European Conference for Turkish-speaking Baha'is. Also attendin; were two members of the Continental Board of Counselors, Ilhan Sezgin and Hooshidar Balazadeh. A large number of non-Baha'fs took part in aspects of the conference, news of which was published in several Dutch newspapers.

.

The Northern Ireland Committee has announced the formation of the Association of Baha'i Women to promote an awareness of the Faith's teachings on the equality of the sexes and the role of women in promoting world peace. The Association intends to support or initiate Baha’i projects, workshops and/or seminars on the advancement of women and related themes.

. On April 16, ob People attended a dinner in Auckland, New Zealand, for members of the nonpartisan International Council of Women. The dinner

Conference on Peacemaking to be held in May ‘97

From time to time the National Spiritual Assembly receives notice of events of special interest to the Baha'i community. One such event is the National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution, to be held next May 23-27 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with an anticipated attendance of 1,500.

The submission deadline for workshops or papers is September 16, 1996. Send or fax proposals to NCPCR, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 (fax 703-934-5142).

Other formats such as dramatic and performing arts or storytelling are also encouraged.

The conference theme is “Peacemaking Journeys.” Organizers have

lanned a Youth Conference on May for which youth presentations are being sought. Also, a “Social Justice Day on Race Relations” is planned to

set forth “deep transformation and healing work around race relations.”

Past conferences, which have been remarkable for the interest shown in the Faith by attendees, have drawn mediators and peacemakers from the Middle East, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Central America, the Philippines and many other areas.

Assemblies in the Pittsburgh area have appointed a joint teaching committee io the conference, and the board of officers of the Baha'f Justice Society has voted to attend.

Those submitting proposals mentioning the Faith should inform the National Spiritual Assembly's Research Office at 847-733-3425.

For more information about the conference, NCPCR or the Baha'f Justice Society, write to Steven Gonzales,

Phoenix, AZ 85044, or phone 602-940-7594.

was planned on their behalf by the Baha’t Office for the Advancement of Women. Members of the Council came from many areas of the world to attend its regional meeting in Auckland.

°

The Area Teaching Committee of Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, India, planned a recent conference on “Entry by Troops and the Four Year Plan” in connection with a visit to the area by Hartmut Grossmann, a member of the International Teaching Center, and Counselor Payman Mohajer. Sixty Baha’is from 18 communities attended the conference, 35 of whom later volunteered their services for a teaching campaign.

The National Spiritual Assembly of South Africa recently received a letter from Bishop Desmond Tutu, written on behalf of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, asking the Assembly to piv, for its success and to ask the

aha’i community to keep the commission in its prayers as well. This is yet another sign of the growing recognition of the Faith by prominent individuals and institutions in South Africa.

. Every Sunday for a year, television rograms on various aspects of the ‘aith will be broadcast on CITV in the Cook Islands, the contract for which was recently signed. The National Spiritual Assembly hopes that the information reaching many homes in that country “will touch many hearts, giving people the desire, strength and courage to look deeper into the Faith.”

°

The Bahai women of Ikot Oko Ibon, Nigeria, have secured a tract of land to farm, with proceeds earmarked to support women’s activities in the state. The women have also conducted a recent institute on the Faith and family life.

.

“Artistic Unity in Diversity,” an exhibit of works by seven Baha’f artists— Lillian Bosch, Jan and Richard Coker, Gary Eyre, Wendy Jewell, Tushar Kanti-Paul and Ruth Park—was organized by the local Spiritual Assembly

In Austalia, Baha'is from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds support the Bahdé’i Information Center and Book Shop maintained in Kingsford, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney.

of Warwick, Australia, and shown recently at a local gallery. The mayor of Warwick, Bruce Green, formally opened the exhibit during a ceremony attended by about 70 guests, many of whom took copies of “The Baha’is” magazine. The show’s catalog also included a page about the Faith. Local television news covered the opening, and the newspaper printed articles it in three separate edi

The Baha’i Information Center in Monrovia, Liberia, receives an average of 200 visitors per month. Much of the interest has been created by a monthly radio program produced by the local Baha’is. Students and others have visited the Center to inquire further about the Faith.

.

During a teaching campaign held in aay the mayor of Velika Gorica, Slovenia and Croatia, was given a translation of “Turning Point for All Nations” and other Bahd’i literature. Inspired by the documents, he asked the friends for ideas about how to make Velika Gorica a “model city” to promote the ideals of world peace,

armony and justice. Furthermore, he suggested that a series of seminars might be held on world and local governance according to the Baha'i teachings. On April 9, a local Spiritual Assembly was formed in Velika Gorica— the fifth local Assembly in Croatia. Motivated by their success, the Baha'is in the area are planning a teaching campaign to achieve entry by troops.

°

The friends in Lillehammer, Norway, report an extraordinarily positive response from the public during “Baha'i Week” April 1220. An average of 35 people attended events each day, making a total of 220 for the week, during which two Auxiliary Board members, Berit Bergstrém of Sweden and Linda Kragh of Norway, took part as speakers. A nurse declared her belief in Baha‘u’'llah on the first Day of Ridvan, while local media covered the week with four radio interviews and three newspaper articles.

[Page 12]

LNs) CLASSIFIEDS

Classi Baha’

notices in The American ‘{ are published free of charge as a service to the Baha'i community. Because of this, notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no per— ee 5 cone eat be ac—

te r publication. rtuwikis referred to have not Bea approved by the National Spiritual Assembly; the friends should exer-cise their own judgment and care in responding to them.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

BAHA'l PUBLICATIONS is seeking applicants for the position of marketing, specialist. The position will be filled at the Baha'{ Publishing Trust in Wilmette, Illinois, or at the Baha'{ Distribution Service in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Applicants should have a minimum of two

ears marketing experience in the pubishing industry, including copy writing, and design, and five years experience in management or equivalent supervisory experience. Baha'i Publications is looking, for someone who has expertise in designing and implementing marketing programs, has a thorough knowledge of available Baha’‘f literature, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to handle ongoing multiple projects with shifting deadlines, and an understanding of Baha'f administration. Knowledge of PageMaker software and desktop publishing skills would be helpful..For information or an application, contact the Department of Human Resources, Baha'i National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611, or phone 847-733-3429.

EXCITING overseas opportunities: English teachers are needed in a number of areas including Beijing, Guangdong, Guang Xi, Huaibei, Huainan, Ningxia, etc. For information, contact Ms. Gwili Posey, 847-733-3512 (fax 847-733-3509; email E

MOTTAHEDEH Development Services (MDS), the social and economic development agency of the National Spiritual Assembly, offers excellent service opportunities for committed, enthusiastic youth interested in grassroots development. Service staff positions provide no salary but offer possible accommodations and some paid expenses. An internyouth year of service staff position offers an excellent training opportunity for youth interested in domestic and inter

GET YOUR NEWS ON THE AIR!

Radio Baha'i, NorthAmerica’s first Baha'i radio station, now has a weekly news broadcast. This unique news service covers U.S. and international Baha'i events and achievements.

Now we need your help to put the efforts of individual friends and your community “on the air.” Put Radio Baha'{on the mailing list for your local newsletter today.

Your community is working hard for this beloved Cause. Now, let the whole world know about it!

Post your local newsletter to: Radio Baha'i

Route 2, Box 69

Hemingway, SC 29554

national development. Summer positions and longer are available. In the U.S. and internationally, MDS encourages, develops and supports local community initiatives that strengthen children and youth and the status of women, families, and the community at large. In Atlanta, MDS works through the Family Unity Institute in South Bekalb County to implement community-owned social and economic development projects. Please contact, with letter of interest, available time, resumé or C.V.: Mottahedeh Development Services, 750 Hammond Drive, Building 12, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30328 (phone 404-843-1995; fax 404-843-8895; email ).

EMPLOYMENT opportunities at the Baha’‘f National Center: The National Education and Schools Office is seeking, an administrative assistant to support the office, the Education and Schools coordinator, the Education Task Force, the permanent Baha‘i schools, and the Institute for Baha'i Studies. Should have strong organizational, database management and desktop publishing skills as well as excellent skills in verbal and written communication. The National Teaching, Office is seeking an administrative assistant to help with clerical and support. Requires knowledge of and experience with personal computers including word processing and telecommunications. The Research and Materials Review Office will have a temporary position for a research assistant open from September 1 to January 30, 1997. Requires strong organizational skills and word processing ability. Please send resumés to Christine Stanwood, Baha’f National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611, phone 847-733-3429, fax 847-733-3430, or e-mail

SERVICE opportunities at the Baha’i House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. Needed are guides who are willing to

reet the many visitors to the Temple (167,536 last year). A desire to be of service is the only requirement. Half-hour training and orientation is provided. Also needed: teachers to let the public know about Bahd‘u’llah and His Revelation. Multilingual skills a plus; training is required. Tour guides who know the history of the Temple and are deepened in the teachings of the Faith; one-hour training required. Garden teachers to teach under the stars from 10 p.m. to midnight during the summer months; half-hour training and orientation required. And ushers who enjoy being of service to the House of Worship but are unable to make a regular commitment of time. Summer hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with garden teaching Fridays and Seturdays until midnight. If you can help, please contact Mary Lou McLaughlin, coordinator of volunteer services, Baha’i House of Worship (phone 847-853-2300).

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS,

EMPLOYMENT opportunities overseas. AFRICA—Tanzania: English teachers. Uganda: self-supporting couple to serve as caretakers at the House of Worship. Zambia: Baha'i teacher to develop and teach a kindergarten/primary school program. AMERICAS—Alaska: need for older woman to share home of long-time pioneer to Unalaska. Eleuthera, Bahamas: urgent need for selfsupporting pioneers. Brazil: volunteer needed to serve as an information systems manager. Grenada: manager of bed and breakfast hotel. Guatemala: self-supporting couple to serve as caretakers for National Institute Shiraz. Honduras: adults with skills in construction, small engine repair, electrical, plumbing and other related fields needed for short-term service at Hospital Bayan; caretaker couple for the Ahmadiyyeh Baha’ Institute; also would welcome volunteer Spanish-speaking primary health-care

rofessionals including X-ray technician, lab technician, nurses, doctors, counselors, psychiatrists, etc. Panama: self-supporting volunteer to form and direct a choir at the Baha’{ House of Worshipy Venezuela: couple to serve as caretakers of National Center in Caracas. ASIA— India: volunteers needed at Bahd’f-run proyinciat school in Lucknow. Korea:

nglish teachers. Laos: volunteer teachers in business management, accounting, secondary education, hotel management and other fields for a Bahd’i-run management and Englishlanguage school; artist to manage art gallery. Macau: teachers. Sakhalin: teachers. AUSTRALASIA—Guam, Marianas: criminal trial prosecutors, dean of university library. Rota, Mariana Islands: teachers. Tonga: teachers for soon-to-be-opened primary school. Vanuatu: volunteer primary school teachers. EUROPE—Czech Republic: Montessori teachers for a newly opened pre-school in Prague. Hungary: dire need for shortand long-term pioneers for “consolidation activities, community-building and strengthening local Spiritual Assemblies.” Lithuania: caretaker couple for the National Hazfratu’l-Quds. For more information about any of these positions,

lease contact the Office of Pioneering,

ha’{ National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-7333512; fax 847-733-3509; e-mail pioneer).

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

THE BAHA'SS of southeastern Texas invite you to join them in their quest to build a stronger community. There are two Assemblies in the area including one, Port Arthur, formed during the final days of the Three Year Plan. The other Assembly is in Beaumont. Both could use ‘one or more believers to add strength. Also in the area are pockets of isolated believers and groups, in Port Neches, Orange, Nederland and Lumberton, as well as one university, two community colleges and an institute of technology. Jobs are available in criminal justice (there are four prisons), construction, oil and petrochemicals, lumber, medicine, education, restaurants and the retail industry. For more information, contact Randy Landry, Nederland, TX 77627 (phone ae e-mail

THE SPIRITUAL Assembly of Kalamazoo, Michigan, has adopted as one of its goals Battle Creek, one of the cities of 50,000 or more targeted by the National Spiritual Assembly for local Assembly status during the Three Year Plan. Battle Creek, 25 miles from Kalamazoo and about 50 miles from Grand Rapids, is home of the Kellogg Company and Kellogg Foundation, has a Federal Center that houses government offices, and is host to the International Balloon Festival. A homefront pioneer who has made great sacrifices for and in the community will soon be leaving. Seeds have been sown, and the city is ripening for entry by troops. Ifyou are interested in moving to the area, please phone Virginia Lucatelli, corresponding secretary of the Spiritual Sserntty of Kalamazoo, at 616349-2167.

JOIN US in our dynamic community’s Four Year Plan goals leading to an ex ected entry by troops in Gallup, New

lexico. Hel Paced an interfaith council; work with the Character Counts Coalition in local schools; attend local NAACP meetings; start a UN chapter; help reactivate the College Club; help a local women’s advancement group and attend Race Unity Dialogue meetings. If any of these activities appeal to you, phone Bill Bright, 505-722-0039, for more information.

THE BAHA‘f community of Gary, Indiana, needs three homefront pioneers to

12

THe AmeriCAN BAHA’i

save its Assembly. Two Assembly members recently moved away and a third died. Gary, on the southern end of Lake Michigan with access to beaches and national parks, is an hour and a half from the Baha’f House of Worship in Wilmette. Indiana University N.W. is in Gary, and Purdue-Calumet is 20 minutes away. For information, phone 219-8842108.

OPPORTUNITIES for gentle teaching through service on Washington Island, Wisconsin, a community of about 650 in the Door County resort area that has a chronic need for geriatric care-givers from unskilled housekeeping to creative thinking about the establishment of a small nursing facility. Baha’{ Group of three would love to hear from you. Please write to Steve Eaton, P.O. Box 73, Washington Island, WI 54246, or phone 414-847-2237, preferably before 10 a.m. Central time.

ARCHIVES

THE NATIONAL Baha‘ Archives is seeking, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following individuals: Daniel Carrick, Edris Rice-Wray Carson, Lynn Carson, Charles Carter, Lillian Carter, May Burlingame Carter and Rouan Ella Carter (died Los Angeles, 1969). Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these letters from the Guardian is asked to contact the National Baha’i Archives, Baha‘ National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611, or to phone « 847-869-9039.

THE NATIONAL Bahd’‘f Archives has prepared a series of biographical sketches of prominent African-American, Native American, Hispanic and:AsianAmerican Bahd’fs for the use of local communities in observances of Black History Month, Race Unity Day and other special events. Any local community wishing a set of these sketches is asked to send a request with mailing address to the National Baha’{ Archives, Baha’{ National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-8699039).

PAL)

INTERNATIONAL Baha‘ Youth Service Corps opportunities The enthusiastic services of Baha'i youth are needed all over the U.S. and the world. The wide range of needs and opportunities include such arenas as reaching the masses with the message of Baha’u’ll4h, deepening new believers, conducting, children’s classes, youth classes and other educational activities, assisting the administrative work of Baha’{ Institutions, hands-on work with a variety of social and economic development projects, proclaiming the Faith through the arts, mobilizing the your of a region or even a country, teaching fellow students and teachers, and more. In descriptions of pioneer needs compiled at the Baha’ World Center during the Three Year Plan, 97 countries listed specific needs and opportunities for youth pioneers including many university study options. Since that time, many National Spiritual Assemblies have also written to our national community to advise of the following needs, which serve as further examples of their diversity. AFRICA— The Gambia (English): assist with the new urban pre-school, with a Rural Education Center, or with administrative work and the production of educational materials at the national center. Senegal (French): “Olinga Teaching Project” near Dakar needs French-speaking youth to help with teaching, children’s classes, activities for women and youth. Abilities in drama welcome. AMERICAS—Alas

[Page 13]ADS

Kamat B.E. 153 ¢ Aucust 1, 1996

13

ka (English and indigenous languages): Nome youth service project, working with Eskimos, and Norton Sound Project. Barbados: dynamic, energetic youth with maturity and practical experience in teaching through the arts, who can serve for six months to a year. Belize: literacy program for Mayan peoples, July-November 1996. Brazil: School of the Nations, an elementary school owned and operated by the Baha’{ community of Brazil, needs volunteers to serve at the school, work with the Baha’{ community attend workshops and conferences, an help with community development in the favelas that surround Brasilia. Canada: the Maxwell International Baha’i School is in urgent need of volunteers in the areas of administrative services, finance and personnel services, student services, academic services and facilities services. Colombia (Spanish): Tutori Schools Training Course at the Ruhi Institute from May 5-June 22, 1996. Costa Rica (Spanish): Self-supporting pioneers and “year of service” volunteers with genuine desire to serve the needs of the community and who can communicate in Spanish at least at a basic level Haiti (French): serve at the Anis Zunuzi school teaching English, oral French, and arts and crafts, among others. Honduras (Spanish): volunteers with experience in printing needed to help develop a social and economic development project focused on the production of Baha’f literature in La Ceiba. At Project Bayan youth are needed who have studied Spanish for at least two years and can stay for 6-12 months, or medical students who have completed their first two years of Medical ‘001 for 4-month periods (one at a time). Jamaica (English): serve for the summer or for a year helping youth workshops, teaching in marae eas’ helping with the radio show and/or a telepao conference, with institutes and other training programs, teaching children‘s ieee on administrative Sark at the National Center. Venezuela (Spanish): three “entry by troops projects” and an ongoing year of service am Su) ported by focal youth incorporating. proclamation, teaching, consolidation, theater, music and other aspects are in need of 6-10 youth at a time for at least six months service. Knowledge of Spanish a must. Low living costs. AS[A—urgent needs. Contact the Office of Pioneering as soon as possible. India (English): New Era Development Institute, “an exciting place to work [which] offers a unique opportunity to learn about social and economic development in a Bahd‘f context,” is looking for one or two deepened Baha’fs who enjoy working closely with other youth to come for anywhere from four months to a year, referably arriving in June. Thailand Chai and English): the Santitham School, a social and economic development proce of the National Spiritual Assembly of ailand and “a landmark of the Baha’{ Faith in the North-East of Thailand,” whose contributions to society have been appreciated by the provincial government, needs dedicated volunteers for tiods of at least six months. AUSLASIA—Australia (English): children’s classes, firesides and hospitality, House of Worship guiding, gardenin, and janitorial and National Baha’f Office work for several youth from anywhere in the world. Accommodation on House of Worship property provided. Eastern Caroline Islands (Carolinian, English and Japanese): two youth volunteers who have been helping to teach and deepen local youth will be leaving and need to be replaced. Accommodation is provided with Baha’{ families and the youth take part in an intensive study and teaching program. Kiribati (Gilbertese): the Ootan Marawa Baha’ School is looking for mature youth to work as teacher aides, helping the school’s 30 students to learn English, and to help with various school social and economic development

projects. Samoa (Samoan and English): guide at the Temple, work with children at the Montessori Bah4’{ School near the Temple, help organize displays and Baha‘ literature at book sales, teach and deepen new believers, teach children’s classes, learn new songs with youth and other friends, and more. EUROPE—AIbania (Albanian): “...one or more devoted and capable youths...{to be] accompanied by an Albanian Youth...who could be in charge of driving a van and directing the Mobile Institute. ...” Driving experience important. Belarus: youth to serve at the National Office, preferably with computer skills, to staff Baha’{ centers and carry out teaching work, with option to studying Russian simultaneously. France (French): The Office of Public Information of the Bahd’f International Community in Paris needs a bilingual (French/English) assistant for duties such as office administration and secretarial work, follow-up on publications, and part tions project ing or medicine in English at Kaunas Medical Academy for an annual tuition equivalent to U.S. $3,000! Russia (Russian): earn a college degree through a US. university while living in Russia! Contact the Office of Pioneering for details. Switzerland (English and French): two youth needed to work with the National Baha’{ Secretariat, caring for the Hazira, traveling teaching and possibly studying French or German. If you can arise to meet one of these needs, please contact your local Spiritual Assembly for initial consultation and information and to receive a copy of the Pioneer/Baha’t Youth Service Corps Volunteer Form. As

ou work toward your goal, the Office of

ioneering will hel Ip you to do as the Universal House of Justice advises: “Through prayer and consultation, and after considering his own experience, inclinations and possibilities, he can choose his goal area and, confidently reins on the confirming power of Bahd‘u’llah, set out to serve the Cause of his Lord. ...”

ATTENTION Baha‘f Youth Workshops: the South Central Baha’f Youth Workshop has develo; three booking, packets to facilitate effectivenes, organization and harmony for its performances and road trips. Input from several coordinators and other Midwestern workshops were used to create these helpful packets. One is for a Baha’f-sponsored day trip engagement with an option for one overnight; the second is for a Baha’isponsored engagement of 2-6 nights, while the third is for a non-Bahd’i-sponsored engagement of one day with option for one overnight. For all three, please send $6 (for postage and copying) to Linden Qualls, Yellow Springs, OH 45387-1400. For more information, phone 513-767-7079.

Wante

NEED concrete ideas for community or family celebrations of Holy Days and Ayyam-i-Ha and for building a strong Baha’{ community and a love for the Central Figures of our Faith in children? A 13-page compilation of ideas created by a Bahd’f mother and children’s class teacher is available. If you are interested in acquiring a copy, please send $3 (for postage and copying) to Linden Qualls,

Yellow Springs, OH 453871400. For information, phone 513-7677079.

DAWN-BREAKERS Productions is seeking copies of Nabil’s narrative, The Dawn-Breakers, from those who have an extra copy they would be willing to sell or donate to this effort to produce a major feature film. We need hardback or paperback editions to deepen media persons who are destined to be attracted to pi aperaee also needed are copies of Bahda’t World Faith. These books are now

out of print, and it is important that we have sufficient copies for the major participants. Also, extra copies of The DawnBreakers Study Guide, as well as the French and English footnotes, would be greatly valued. Please write to

Malibu, CA 90265-4182, or fax 310-457-9893.

POETS: devotional poems suitable for use at Feasts, Holy Day observances and other events are being sought for a collection. For themes and guidelines, please contact Duane L. Herrmann,

Topeka, KS 66619.

MUSICIANS, dancers, writers, artists, healers: I would like to network with you in the hope of establishing a project to express a love and spirit that will transform and heal hearts and lives. I am also interested in pioneering new forms and styles of music and art, especially new-age fusion. I play electric guitar and keyboards, and my musical influences are classical, rock, jazz, new age and avant-garde. Anyone who is interested in supporting such a project is asked to contact Bob Charnes,

Voorhees, NJ 08043 (phone 609772-2195; e-mail ).

BAHA‘f composer would like to establish contact with professional singers/instrumentalists experienced in classical art and music (including contemporary) to arrange musical performances using the Sacred Writings—in particular, ala ale oratorio (for soprano, tenor and baritone soloists, chorus and orchestra) entitled “The Mountain of God” and using the entire text of the Tablet of Carmel is being composed and will be completed this year. If you would like to take part in this endeavor, please write to M. Knopf,

Queensland 4868, Australia.

WANTED: traveling teachers who. may be in or near the Moines, lowa, area. The Des Moines Area Teaching Committee has established a program of public firesides called “Crossroads” with meetings held the second Thursday evening of each month; special programs can be arranged for anyone wishing to use the format. For details, please write to Napolun Birdsong or Pamela Knox,

Des Moines, IA 50317, or phone 515-263-2778 (daytime answering machine) or 515-961 (evening answering machine).

IT HAVE a 1970 hardbound edition of The Dawn-Breakers. The book is currently out of print but this copy can be yours for a contribution of $3,000 toward procuring a Bahd’f Center in Fargo, North Dakota. Contact Orviell Kadrie,

Fargo, ND 58103, or phone 701-235-3725.

MiscELLANEO

LOST and found: if you were at the Baha’f House of Worship in Wilmette immediately after the National Convention on Sunday, April 28, at 2 p.m. and are missing a gray plastic bag with the printed name “Bahda’f Distribution Service” and containing Bahd’{ brochures and booklets in English and Persian, the bag is in the Activities Office at the House of Worship. Please advise and it will be mailed to you. The telephone number is 847-853-2300.

ARE YOU looking for a unique way to contribute to the International Fund? Save your used stamps from incoming mail and send them to me for sale to collectors and dealers. All proceeds from the stamp sales are contributed to the International Fund in Haifa. Please send used stamps to Jon Atkinson, .

Derbyshire S40 2NX, United Kingdom.

Brandon Rhyne (pictured center), a 12-year-old Baha’, was the only child to speak during the annual celebration January 15 in Boone County, Missouri, of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday anniversary. He recited a lengthy prayer from memory before an audience of about 60 people including media representatives and dignitaries. Later, at the Second Baptist Church, another Baha'i, Greg Montour, presented a speech that contained analogies to the dates of the Bahd’i Revelation, the Civil War, and Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.

23rd Conference of Nur is held at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania

The 23rd annual Conference of Nur was held May 24-26 at Elizabethtown (Pennsylvania) College.

The theme of this year’s event, which was sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Harrisburg, was “To Assist Me Is to Teach My Cause.”

Speakers Janice Sadeghian, Shidon Lofti and George Mark gave thoughtprovoking presentations on “Excel lence in All Things,” “Sharing Our Love for Baha’u’llah” and “Our Noble Mission,” respectively.

Special presentations and classes were held for children and youth. Ten simultaneous workshops followed each talk for the adults, and everyone had time to meditate and reflect on his or her plans to teach the Faith.

More than $5,200 was contributed to the Arc Projects after a special presentation with rare slides from the World Center, recitation of the Tablet of Carmel, and the auction of a lovely hand-crocheted afghan by the late Lillian Leonard.

Baha’f musicians provided multicultural music for all, and at least two declarations were reported at the conference.

Have you recently returned from service at the Baha’{ World Center? If so, please send a copy of your Baha’{ID card from the World Center, both front and back, with your current U.S. address to the Baha’{ National Center, MIS Department—Transfers, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. Your current U.S. Bah4’f credentials will be sent within two weeks of receiving your copies. Remember, you cannot attend Feast without a current U.S. Baha’f ID card.

[Page 14]14

Tue American BAHA'I

Listinc OF 1996 Unit CONVENTION SITES

The beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, stressed “the importance of reminding the believers that they should make every possible effort to attend the meeting for the election of the State or Province delegates, in order to stimulate a larger group consciousness which will greatly facilitate the process of the believers becoming acquainted with each other, and provide an intermediary stage—which will become increasingly valuable and necessary— between the local organization, represented by the group or Assembly, and national collective action, represented by the activities of the Convention and the institution of the National Assembly.”

Attendees at this October’s Electoral Unit Conventions will have the exciting task of consulting with the believers about the community’s future in fulfilling the goals of the Four Year Plan. The friends will also elect a delegate who will, in turn, attend next April’s National Convention and vote for next year’s National Spiritual Assembly.

During the Unit Convention, attendees will be asked to consult on the June 6, 1996, letter from the National Spiritual Assembly that provides the vision for the American Baha’f community’s efforts in the Four Year Plan. Recommendations and suggestions from the Convention floor will be forwarded for consideration by the National Spiritual Assembly.

Baha’f youth are encouraged to attend Unit Conventions. They may also want to take part by serving as registrars, readers, children’s class facilitators and helpers to the tellers. Youth participation in the Convention will not only entails to the success of the consultation but will aid in preparing the youll for future service as administrators of the

aith. Baha’f youth may not vote in Baha’ elections or serve as delegates or Convention officers.

Remember that practically all electoral unit boundaries were redrawn and that all electoral unit numbers have changed. To find out which electoral unit you are in, look at the right-hand corner of your mailing label on The American Baha'i for your electoral unit number. For information on logistics of your Convention find the number on the list below. Some electoral units have partial information at this time. Please look in the next issue of The American Bahd’i for the complete information. You will receive further information with your ballot and voting instructions. It is important to check the Unit Convention listing that you will receive with your ballot, as changes sometimes take place. Most likely you will also receive a mailing from the Spiritual Assembly hosting your Convention closer to the time of the event giving updates on time and location. Contact your local Spiritual Assembly or the Conventions Office at the Baha’f National Center (847-733-3529) if you still have questions.

All adult believers in good standing should receive ballot information by mail in the middle of September. If you are unable to attend the Unit Convention, you may vote by absentee ballot by writing the name of one pers on the ballot whom you believe best exemplifies the qualities of a delegate.”The electors...must prayerfully and devotedly and after meditation and reflection elect fall sincere, experienced, capable and competent souls who are arti of membership. ...” (Written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi and

ublished in The Compilation of Compilations, p. 317)

ote for only one delegate (except New York City [two] and Los Angeles [four]).

Any Bahd’‘f in good standing who is at least 21 jeu of age and who is a resident of your Electoral

nit is eligible to be elected as a delegate. The only exceptions are the Hands of the Cause and members of the Continental Board of Counselors. Auxiliary Board members are eligible but, if elected, must choose between accepting this responsibility and remaining a member of the Auxiliary Board.

Insert your completed ballot into a small envelope (marked “ballot”) and seal it. Do not put your name or other identifying mark on it. Place the ballot envelope into a larger envelope, seal it, and write your name in the upper left-hand corner. Mail it to the mail ballot address listed below for your unit (do not mail to the Baha’{ National Center). Put it in the mail at least one week before the time of your Convention, or have a friend bring it to the Convention for you.

EU001: Bailey Hall, University of S Maine, Gorham, ME; Saturday, Oct.5; 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Portland, Box 674, Portland, ME 04104-0674. Contact phone: 207/773-3170.

EU002: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, One Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, NH; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30. a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Hartford, PO Box 14, Hartford, VT 05047-0014. Contact phone: 603/225-3440.

EU003: Northern Essex Community College, Conference Room, Haverhill, MA; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Exeter, PO Box 384, Exeter, NH 03833-0384. Contact phone: 603/772-4680.

EU004: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Cambridge, PO Box 376, Cambridge, MA 02138. Contact phone: 617/864-9552.

EU005: ith Vocational High School, 80 Locust St., Northampton, MA; Saturday, Oct. 5; 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Amherst, PO Box 2118, Amherst, MA 01004. Contact phone: 413/253-7913.

EU006: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Barnstable, MA. Contact phone: 617/775-6820.

EU007: Wheeler Regional YMCA, 149 Farmington Ave., Plainville, CT; Sunday, Oct. 6; 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Southington, Plantsville, CT 064791408. Contact phone: 860/232-8869.

EU008: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Yonkers, NY, Saturday, Oct.5. Mail Ballots to: LSA of Yonkers, Yonkers, NY. Contact phone: 914/779

3326.

EU009: Roslyn Community Center, Lincoln Ave, Roslyn, NY; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Hempstead Town, Inwood, NY 110962114. Contact phone: 516/338-0749.

EU010: Baha’i Center, 53 E 11th St, New York City, NY; Saturday, Oct.5; 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 12:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of New York City, Baha’i Center, 53 E. 11th St, New York City, NY 100034601. Contact phone: 212-674-8998.

EU011: Grice Middle School, 901 WhitehorseHamilton Sq Rd, Hamilton, NJ; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Registration: 9:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Hamilton Twp, PO Box 2529, Hamilton, NJ 08690. Contact phone: 609/259-3380.

EU012: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Montclair Township, NJ. Contact phone: 201/509-9695.

EU013: Rensselaer Polytechnic University, Room Cll, Troy, NY; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of New Paltz,

New Paltz, NY 12561-2917. Contact phone: 914/255-0949.

EU014: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Rochester, NY, Contact phone: 716/442-0292.

EU015: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Harrisburg, PA. Contact phone: 717/234-6552.

EU016: Philadelphia Regional Baha’{ Center, 2462 Bryn Mawr Ave., Philadelphia, PA; Sunday, Oct. 6 ; 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Lower Merion,

Rosemont, PA 19010. Contact phone: 610/664-0856.

EU017: JD’s Cafe, Concord Plaza, 3411 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE; Sunday, Oct-13; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of New Castle County North, New Castle, DE 19720-3332. Contact phone: 302/478-5425.

EU018: Location: TBA*, Host LSA: Baltimore County Central, Time: TBA*; Mail Ballots to: LSA of Baltimore County Central, Baltimore, MD 21286-7836 . Contact phone: 410/321-8054.

EU019: Upper coun Community Center, 8201 Emory Grove Rd., Gaithersburg, MD; Sunday, Oct. 6; 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). PreConvention: Saturday, Oct. 5, 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Mail Ballots to: LSA of Montgomery County West, PO Box Sei Gormaayn MD 20874. Contact phone: 301/5401775.

EU020: Greenbelt Community Center, 15 Crescent Rd., Greenbelt, MD; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Washington, 5713 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 200116811. Contact phone: 301/249-7243.

EU021: Colonies Club House, 7681 Provincial Dr., McLean, VA; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of McLean, PO Box 46, McLean, VA 22101-0046. Contact phone: 703/356-9543.

EU022: George Mason University, Student Union Bldg., #2, Ballroom, Fairfax, VA; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 10:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Reston, PO Box 2085, Reston, VA 22090. Contact phone: 703/391-0833.

EU023: Bon Air Community Center, 8725 Quaker Lane, Richmond, VA; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-5:00 Pat (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of

lenrico County, PO Box 4271, Glen Allen, VA 230584271. Contact phone: 804/321-7009.

EU024: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Virginia Beach, VA. Contact phone: 804/486-1712.

EU025: Cape Fear Museum, 814 Market St., Wilmington, NC; Sunday, Oct.6; 11:00 a.m.-4:00 pm. (Registration: 10:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA o! Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28401. Contact phone: 910/452-9914.

EU026: Inter-community Baha’f Center, 5103 Revere Rd, Durham, NC. Mail Ballots to: LSA of Durham, PO Box 51116, Durham, NC 27717-1116. Contact phone: 919/477-4520.

EU027: Location TBA*, Host Assembly: Conway, SC. Contact phone: 803/248-6224.

EU028: Louis Gregory Bahd’{ Institute, Rt. 2 Box 71, Hemingway, SC; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Williams Hill, Rt. 2 Box 71, Hemingway, SC 29554. Contact phone: 803/558-9180.

EU029: Trident Technical College, Bldg 100, Room 169, 7000 Rivers Ave, N Charleston, SC; Sunday, Oct.6; 10 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Mt Pleasant, PO Box 1389, Mt Pleasant, SC 29465-1389. Contact phone: 803/881-9599.

EU030: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Summerville, SC. Contact phone: 803/871-6375.

EU031: Arthur Horne Bldg., Clemson Extension Office, 100 Ribault Rd., Beaufort, SC; Sunday, Oct.6; Time: TBA* Mail Ballots to: LSA of St Helena Island, PO Box 977, St Helena Island, SC 29920-0977. Contact phone: 803/838-4754.

EU032: Location TBA*, Host LSA TBA*. Contact phone: 847/733-3529 (National Center).

EU033: Columbia Junior College, 3810 Main St, Columbia, SC; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Columbia, PO Box 5973, Columbia, SC 29250. Contact phone: 803/732-5630.

EU034: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Kingstree, SC. Contact phone: 803/354-5339.

EU035: John & Debbie Jackson Residence, Hemingway, SC; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Donnelly, PO Box 544, Hemingway, SC 29554-0544. Contact phone: 803/558-9289.

EU036: Kozlow Residence, Johnsonville, SC; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Johnsonville, Johnsonville, SC 29555. Contact phone: 803/386-3744.

EU037: Baha’{ Center, 541 W Evans St, Florence, SC; Sunday, Oct.6; 11:00 a.m. (Registration: 10:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Florence, Florence, ‘SC 29501-5523. Contact phone: 803/667-1540.

EU038: Baha’{ Center, 541 W Evans St, Florence, SC; Sunday, Oct.6; 11:00 a.m. (Registration: 10:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Florence, lorence, ‘SC 29501-5523. Contact phone: 803/667-1540.

EU039: Pee Dee Federal Savings Bank, 209 W. McIntyre St, Mullins, SC; Saturday, Oct.12; 10:30 a.m.5:00 p.m. (Registration: 10:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Mullins, Mullins, SC 29574-2224. Contact phone: 803/552-0025.

[Page 15]NIT CONVENTIONS

EU040: Location TBA*, Host LSA: TBA. Contact phone: 847/733-3529 (National Center).

EU041: Linda & Otis Johnson Residence, Mclver Rd., Darlington, SC; Sunday, Oct.6; 1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 1:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Lydia, PO Box 238, Lydia, SC 29079. Contact phone: 803/395 EU042: Days Inn, 1100 N Main St, Lancaster, SC; Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Winnsboro, PO Box 178, Winnsboro, SC 29180-0178. Contact phone: 803/635-9602.

EU043: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Rock Hill, SC. Contact phone: 803/328-8395.

EU044: RP Dawkins Resource Center, Lincoln School Rd., Fairforest, SC; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Spartanburg, PO Box 2893, Spartanburg, SC 29304.

‘ontact phone: 864/. 583-3123,

EU045: Inde pena ence High School, 1967 Patriot Dr, Charlotte, NC; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Charlotte, PO Box 221155, Charlotte, NC 28222-1155. Contact phone: 704/545-4295.

EU046: New Garden Friends Meeting, 801 New Garden Rd., Greensboro, NC; Saturday, Oct.5; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27455. Contact phone: 910/643-6932.

EU047: The Mountain Lair, W. Virginia University, Downtown Campus, University Ave, Morgantown, WV; Saturday, Oct.19; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Morgantown,

Morgantown, WV 26505. Contact phone: 304/292-5898.

EU048: Days Inn, 1045 Bennett Rd, Fredonia, NY; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Amherst,

Eggertsville, NY 14226. Contact phone: 716/631

EU049: Baker Hall, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. en 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Cleveland Heights, PO Box 48092, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118. Contact phone: 216/291-2512.

EU050: Central Ohio Special Education Regional Resource Center, 470 Glenmont Ave, Columbus, OH; Sunday, Oct.13; 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). fail Ballots to: LSA of ‘olumbus, PO Box 14894, columbes, OH 43214-0894. Contact phone: 614/777 EU051: Lohrey Center, 2366 Glenarm Ave., Dayton, OH; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:45 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Re ‘istration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Box 1881, Dayton, OH 45401. Contact phone: 31372 3/294-6869.

EU052: University of Kentucky, White Hall Building, Room 118 “B”, Lexington, KY; Sunday, Oct m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m. ). Mail Ballots xington, PO Box 22102, Lexington, KY 40522-2102. Contact phone: 606/263-1820.

EU053: Baha’{ Center, 5 Ravenscroft Dr, Asheville, NC; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Asheville, PO Box 882, Asheville, NC 28802. Contact phone: 704/254-7941.

EU054: Memorial Hall, University of Georgia, Sanford Dr, Athens, GA; Saturday, Oct.5; 10: 60 a.m.3:00 a.m. (Registration: 9:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Athens-Clarke County, PO Box 5304, Athens, GA 30604. Contact phone: 706/548-7209; 706/548-6495.

EU055: Bahd’f Unity Center, 2870 Noa Chapel Rd,

Decatur, GA; Sunday, Oct.6; 1:00 “6:00 p.m

(Registration: 12:00 p.m.). Mail Bal ots to: ilb County North,

GA 30340-4154. Contact phone: 770/939-3985.

EU056: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Fulton County Central. Contact phone: 404/255-8930.

EU057: North Atlanta High School, 2875 Northside Dr NW, Atlanta, GA; Sunday, Oct.6; 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 10:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Cobb County East, PO Box 71114, Marietta, GA 300071114. Contact phone: 770/640-6161.

EU058: The Hut, Marion and Lafayette Sts, , Eatonton, GA; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. ( tration: 9:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Inara Box 14301, Augusta, GA 30919-0031. Contact phone: 800/ 293-3958.

A of Doraville,

EU059: Windsor Forest Community Center, 414 Brier

Cliff Circle, Savannah, GA; Sunday, Oct.6. Time TBA*. Mail Ballots to: LSA of Savannah, Box 1093, Savannah, GA 31402-1093. Contact phone: 912/234-1016.

EU060: Residence of Jacqueline Konan,

Columbus, GA; Sunday, Oct.6; 2 p.m.-5 p.m. (Registration: 1:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Columbus, Columbus, GA 31907. Contact phone: 706/568-0108.

EU061: Bah4’{ Center of Gainesville, 4419 NW 19 St, Gainesville, ; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:15 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Gainesville, PO Box 149, Gainesville, FL 32602-0149. Contact phone: 352/377-1381.

EU062: University of Central Florida, Student Center Auditorium, 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Orlando, FL; Saturday, Oct.5; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Orange County East,

Orlando, FL 32825-7840. Contact phone: 407/277-2896.

EU063: Magdalene Carne ey Bah4’{ Institute, 100 SE Martin Luther King, Belle Glade, FL; Saturday, Oct.5; 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Belle Glade, Belle Glade, FL 33430-1971. Contact phone: 561/996-3373.

EU064: Baha’{ Center of the Palm Beaches, 1201 E Blue Heren Blvd, Riviera Beach, FL; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Jupiter, Jupiter, FL 334583730. Contact phone: 561/743-4312.

EU065: Gold Coast Shriner Club, 1250 S.E. 6th Ave, Deerfield Beach, FL; Sunday, September 29; 9:30 a.m.3:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Deerfield Beach, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442. Contact phone: 954/570-6359.

EU066: Baha’{ Center of Dade County, 9300 South Dixie Highway, Suite 209, Miami, FL; Saturday, Oct.5; 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Dade County Central, PO Box 560554, Miami, FL 33256-0554. Contact phone: 305/382-6834.

EU067: Newtown Community Center, 1845 34th

Street, Sarasota, FL; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:15-4:00 (Registration: 8:00). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Manatee Seu Palmetto, FL 34221

Contact phone: 941/755-4768.

EU068: Bahd’{ Center, 676 2nd Ave. S, St. Petersburg, FL; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.(Registration: 9:00 a.m.) Mail Ballots to: LSA of £t. Petersburg, PO Box 15343, St. Petersburg, FL 33733-5343. Contact phone: 813/522-0404.

EU069: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Tallahassee, FL. Contact phone: 904/575-4097.

EU070: Troy State University-Dothan, Highway 231 South, Dothan, AL; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Montgomery, PO Box 1131, Montgomery, AL 361011131. Contact phone: 334/281-2044.

EU071: Dawson Bldg., Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.-3: p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Huntsville, PO Box 1783, Huntsville, AL 35807. Contact phone: 205/430-0679.

EU072: Gallatin Civic Center, 210 Albert Gallatin Ave., Gallatin, TN; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Hendersonville, PO Box 842, Hendersonville, TN 370770842. Contact phone: 615/264-2044.

EU073: CK Newsome Community Center, 100 E. Walnut, Evansville, IN; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901-1203. Contact phone: 618/549-8533.

EU074: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Indianapolis, IN. Contact phone: 317/547-3691.

EU075: Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Technical Applications Center, 6767 West O Ave., Kalamazoo, MI; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a. ae Mail Ballots to: LSA of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, MI 490014329. Contact phone: 616/381-9657.

EU076: Tollgate Conference Center, 28115 Meadow Brook Rd, Novi, MI; Saturday, Oct.12; 9:30 a.m.-5:00

.m. (Registration: 8:45 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Southfield, Southfield, MI 48075 Contact phone: 810/353-2939.

EU077: Louhelen Bahd’{ School, 3208 S. State Rd, Davison, MI; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Ann Arbor,

KamAt B.E. 153 * Aucust 1,1996 15

PO Box 6021, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-6021. Contact phone: 313/475-2718.

EU078: College of Pharmacy Bldg., Ferris State University, State St., Big Rapids, MI; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m. YM, Mail Ballots to: LSA of East Lansing, PO Box 703, East Lansing, MI 48826-0703. Contact phone: 517/351-9049.

EU079: Ecumenical Center-UWGB, 2420 Nicolet Dr, Green Bay, WI; Saturday, Oct.5; 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registrations 10:45 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Green

Bay, Green Bay, WI 54304-3206. Contact phone: 414/499-8422.

EU080: Cedarburg High School, W68 N611 Evergreen taal Cedarburg, I; Sunday, Oct.6; 1:00 Ra .-5:00 p.m. ‘egistration: 12:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of ee Cedarburg, WI sod 2125. Contact phone: 414/377-5430.

EU081: University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Cartwright Center-3rd floor, 1725 State St, LaCrosse, WI; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.(Registration: 9:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Sun Prairie, Sun Prairie, WI 53590-1819. Contact phone: 608-837-8609.

EU082: Clock Tower Inn, 7801 E. State St, Rockford, IL; Sunday, Oct.6;10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Rockford,

Rockford, IL 61107. Contact phone: 815/

229-7457.

EU083: ae College, Bldg.A Room 238, 1200 West Algonquin Rd, Palatine, IL; Sunday, Oct.13; 9:00 a.m.5:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Hoffman Estates, _ Hoffman Estates, IL 60195-3039. Contact phone: 847/885-4580.

EU084: Location TBA*, Host Assembly: Evanston, IL. Mail Ballots to: LSA of Evanston, PO Box 338, Evanston, IL 60204. Contact phone: 847/864-7775.

EU085: Bahd’{ Center, 3321 S. Calumet Ave, Chicago, IL; Sunday, Oct.6; 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 1:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Chicago, 3321 S Calumet Ave, Chicago, IL 60616-3933. Contact phone: 312/2331982.

EU086: Georgetown Clubhouse, 301 Prospect St, Wood Dale, IL 60191; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:30 a.m.-4:00 Pa (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of

ik Park, Oak Park, IL 603041606. Contact phone: 708/848-7119.

EU087: Illinois Central College, 1 College Dr, East Peoria, IL; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Peoria,

Peoria, IL 61614-4718. Contact phone: 309/674-1810.

EU088: First Presbyterian , 2701 Rochester, lowa City, IA; Saturday, Oct.12; 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Iowa City, PO Box 2012, lowa City, IA 52244-2012. Contact phone: 319/ 354-2892.

EU089: University of Missouri-Rolla, McNutt Hall, Room 204, Hwy 63&14th St, Rolla, MO; Sunday, Oct.6; 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. (Registration: 12:30 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of St. Charles, PO Box 801, St. Charles, MO 63302. Contact phone: 314/925-3503.

EU090: St Louis University, Tegeler Hall, 3550 Lindell Blvd, St Louis, MO; Saturday, Oct.5; 9:45 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of University City, PO Box 3121, St Louis, MO 63130-0521. Contact phone: 314/343-3817.

EU091: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Memphis, TN. Contact phone: 901/274-6494.

EU092: Park Inn Motel, eee 1-20 Frontage Rd,

ety MS; Sunday, :00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. istration: 8:00 a.m. if Mail Ballots to: LSA of

vi burg, Vicksburg, MS 39180 5249. Contact phone: 601/636-8628.

EU093: Baton Rouge Baha’{ Center, 4270 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00). Mail Ballots to: LSA of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 701254844. Contact phone: 504/272-6238.

EU094: Bishop Drury Retreat House, 1200 Lantana, Corpus Christi, TX ; Sunday, Oct. 6; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to:LSA of Corpus Christi, PO Box 81301, Corpus Christi, TX 78468-1301. Contact phone: 512/854-6088.

EU095: Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way, Sugar Land, TX; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 B .m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of

ae Land, PO Box 2103, Sugar Land, TX 77487-2103. Contact phone: 713/491-1844.

[Page 16]CONVENTIO

EU096: Houston Baha’f Center, 2121 Oakdale, Houston, TX; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Houston, PO Box 301190, Houston, TX 77230-1190. Contact phone: 713/465-7006.

EU097: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Austin, TX. Mail Ballots to: LSA of Austin, 4317 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78722-1039. Contact phone: 512/345-8587.

EU098: Jane Long School, 449 S FM2818, Bryan, TX; Sunday, Oct.6; 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (Registration: 10:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of College Station, PO Box 9028, College Station, TX 77842-9028. Contact phone: 409/764-3160.

EU099: Holiday Inn, 1515 N. Beckley, Desoto, TX; Sunday, Oct. 00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 12:00 pa fail ts to: LSA of Grand Prairie, PO Box

1324, Grand Prairie, TX 75053-1324. Contact phone: 214/623-1659.

EU100: Dallas Baha’{ Center, 4325 W Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Irving, PO Box 154636, Irving, TX 75015-4636. Contact phone: 214/313-2552.

EU101: Collin County Community College, Conference Center, 2800 East Seeing Creek, Plano, TX; Sunday, Oct-13; 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 1:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Plano, Box 260031, Plano, TX 75026-0031. Contact phone: 214/527-0280.

EU102: Tarrant County Baha’f Center, 723 E. Border, Arlington, TX; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Bedford, PO Box 211482, Bedford, TX. Contact phone: 214/630-1399.

EU103: El Paso Baha’{ Center, 9931 McCombs St, El Paso, TX; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Registration: 9:15 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of El Paso, 9931 McCombs St, El Paso, TX 79924. Contact phone: 915/ 591-2647.

EU104: Harvey & Bernice Jones Center for F a.m.ilies, No. 1 JTL, 922 E. Emma, Springdale, AR; Saturday, Oct.12; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Fayetteville,

Fayetteville, AR 72703-2235. Contact phone: 501/521-3939.

EU105: Metro Oklahoma City Baha’f Center, Oklahoma City, OK; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, OK 73108-7034. Contact phone: 405/ 728-0315.

EU106: Wichita State University Campus Activity Center, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Wichita, PO Box 1979, Wichita, KS 672011979. Contact phone: 316/262-3332.

EU107: Reardon Civic Center, 500 Minnesota Ave, Kansas City, KS; Sunday, Oct.13. Time: TBA* Mail Ballots to: LSA of Kansas City, Kansas City, KS 66102-1542. Contact phone: 913/831-3239.

EU108: Nebraska Center for Continuing Education, 33rd & Holdrege, Lincoln, NE; Sunday, Oct.13; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Lincoln, PO Box 80601, Lincoln, NE 68501-0601. Contact phone: 402/464-0452.

EU109: Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Minneapolis, PO Box 580415, Minneapolis, MN 55458-0415. Contact phone: 612-935-8180.

EU110: Bemidji State University, Hobson Student Union, Crying Wolf Room, Bemidji, MN; Sunday, Oct.6; 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. (Registration: 12:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of St. Paul, PO Box 4222, St. Paul, MN 55104-0222. Contact phone: 612/690-4709.

EU111: Royal Ford Buffet Restaurant, 1065 E Interstate Ave, Bismarck, ND; Saturday, Oct.5; 10:30 a.m.3:30 p.m. (Registration: 10:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Bismarck, Bismarck, ND. Contact phone: 701/222-8158.

EU112: Chamber of Commerce, Custer, 447 Crook St, Custer, SD; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Custer,

Custer, SD 57730. Contact phone: 605/673

3348.

EU113: Lory Student Center, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ee ation: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Fort Collins, PO Box 1118, Fort Collins, CO 80522-1118.

Contact phone: 970/484-0446.

EU114: Metro Denver Bah’ Center, 225 E. Bayaud Ave, Denver, CO; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Lakewood, PO Box 15254, Lakewood, CO 80215. Contact phone: 303/462-0549.

EU115: Fountain-Fort Carson High School, 515 N Santa Fe Ave, Fountain, CO; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.3:00 p.m. Deepen 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Colorado Springs, PO Box 16913, Colorado Springs, CO 80935-6913. Contact phone: 719/598-4806.

EU116: College of Santa Fe, Annex, 1600 St Michaels Drive, Santa Fe, NM; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Regierauons 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Santa Fe County, Santa Fe, NM 87505-2809. Contact phone: 505/473-5758.

EU117: Albuquerque Baha’{ Center, 202 Harvard Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Albuquerque, PO Box 21517, Albuquerque, NM 871541517. Contact phone: 505/343-9676.

EU118: New Mexico School for the Visually Handicapped Ditzler Hall, White Sands and Indian Wells, Alamogordo, NM; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Alamogordo, PO Box 1461, Alamogordo, NM 883111461. Contact phone: 505/434-5079.

EU119: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Pima County East, Contact phone: 520/749-5956.

EU120: Mesa Women’s Club, 200 N MacDonald, Mesa, AZ; Sunday, Oct.13; 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Registration: 9:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Mesa, PO Box 5487, Mesa, AZ 85211-5487. Contact phone: 602/9816172.

EU121: Phoenix Bahd’{ Center, 944 East Mountainview, Phoenix, AZ; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.1:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Phoenix, PO Box 9961, Phoenix, AZ 85068-9961. Contact phone: 602/943-3837.

EU122: Agua Fria High School District Office, 530 E Riley Dr, Avondale, AZ; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-3:00 .m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of eoria, PO Box 1021, Peoria, AZ 85380-1021. Contact

phone: 602/486-1384.

EU123: Holiday Inn-SunSpree, 7601 E Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale, AZ; Sunday, Oct.6; 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 12:30 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Paradise Valley, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253-2627. Contact phone: 602/922-1117.

EU124: Du Bois Conference Center, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ; Sunday, Oct.13; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Flagstaff, PO Box 2533, Flagstaff, AZ 86003-2533. Contact phone: 520/774-4555.

EU125: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Chinle Chapter, AZ. Contact phone: 520/674-5904.

EU126: Westminister College Gore School of Business, 1840 S 1300E, Salt Lake City, UT; Oct.5: PreConvention 2:00 p.m.; Convention 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.; Oct.6 until 3:00 p.m.; (Registration: 1:00 p.m. Oct.5). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Salt Lake City, PO Box 58305, Salt Lake City, UT84158-0305. Contact phone: 801/5823135.

EU127: Grand Street Theatre, 325 North Park, Helena, MT; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Helena,

Helena, MT 59601-3202. Contact phone: 406/449-2457.

EU128: Lake City High School, 6101 Ramsey Rd, Coeur d’Alene, ID; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Coeur d’Alene, PO Box 601, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83816-0607. Contact phone: 208/667-8831.

EU129: Walla Walla High School, Abbott Rd, Walla Walla, WA; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Walla Walla, PO Box 2016, Walla Walla, WA 99362-0948. Contact phone: 509/525-7177.

EU130: Carson City Convention Center, 851 East William St, Carson City, NV; Saturday, Oct.12; 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Carson City, PO Box 3295, Carson City, NV 89702-3295. Contact phone: 702/883-5747.

EU131: Henderson Convention Center, 200 S Water St, Henderson, NV; Sunday, Oct.27; 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Henderson, PO Box 91214, Henderson, NV 89009-1214. Contact phone: 702/454-8849.

Tue AmeriCAN BAHA'I 16

EU132: San Diego Bah4’{ Center, 6545 Alcala Knolls Dr, San Diego, CA; Saturday, Oct.5; 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 12:00 noon). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Chula Vista, PO Box 287, Chula Vista, CA 91912-0287. Contact phone: 619/420-7457.

EU133: San Diego Baha’{ Center, 6545 Alcala Knolls Dr, San Diego, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. (Registration: 12:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Diego, 6545 Alcala Knolls Dr, San Diego, CA 92111 . Contact phone: 619/268-3999.

EU134: Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave, Carlsbad, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:00 eR (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Oceanside, PO Box 2035, Oceanside, CA 92051-2035. Contact phone: 619/433-4447.

EU135: Redlands High School, Citrus St, Redlands, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 1:00 p.m.-5:00 pa (Registration: 12:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Redlands, PO Box A ‘edlands, CA 92373. Contact phone: 909/792 EU136: San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, CA; Sunday, Oct.27; 1:30 .m.-5:30 p.m. (Registration: 1:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: “A. of Mission Viejo, PO Box 2696, Mission Viejo, CA 92690. Contact phone: 714/661-0501.

EU137: University of California-Irvine, Crystal Cove Room, Irvine, CA; Sunday, Oct.13; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Huntington Beach, PO Box 749, Huntington Beach, CA 92648-0749. Contact phone: 714/963-8502.

EU138: Fullerton Senior Center, 340 W. Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.3:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA. of Anaheim, PO Box 17671, Anaheim, CA 92817. Contact phone: 714/974-5426.

EU139: Parnell Park Recreation Room, 10711 Scott Ave, Whittier, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 1:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Whittier, Whittier, CA 90605. Contact phone: 310/943-4640.

EU140: Location TBA*, Host LSA: TBA* Contact phone: 847/733-3529 (National Center).

EU141: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Pasadena, CA. Contact phone: 818/797-4354.

EU142: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Los Angeles, CA, Time; TBA* Mail Ballots to: LSA of Los Angeles, 5755 Rodeo Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90016-5013. Contact phone: 213/933-8291.

EU143: Valencia Summit Club House, 24600 W Del Monte, Valencia, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Registration: 9:15 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Santa Clarita, PO Box 3141, Canyon Country, CA 91386-3141. Contact phone: 805/250-1099.

EU144: Borchard Community Center, 190 Reina Rd, Newbury Park, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Thousand Oaks, PO Box 1137, Thousand Oaks, CA 91358-0137. Contact phone: 805/492-6719.

EU145: Nine Oaks Baha’f Institute, 1201 Old Oak Park Rd, Arroyo Grande, CA; Saturday, Oct.5; 9:30 a.m.-3:00 .m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of nta Barbara, PO Box 1327, Santa Barbara, CA 931021327. Contact phone: 805/969-6985.

EU146: York School, 9501 York Rd, monterey, CA; Sunday, Oct 6; 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Registration: 9:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Monterey-Carmel JD,

Carmel Valley, CA 93924. Contact phone: 408/659-2843.

EU147: Fresno Bahd’{ Center, 2240 N Angus St, Fresno, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Fresno, 2240 N Angus St, Fresno, CA 93703-2331. Contact phone: 209/447-1633.

EU148: Strawberry Park School, 730 Camina Escuela, San Jose, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Registration: 8:45 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of San Jose, PO Box 6381, San Jose, CA 95150-6381. Contact phone: 408/265-4128.

EU149: Bosch Bahd’f School, 500 Comstock Lane, Bonny Doon, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. (Registration: 12:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Santa Cruz, PO Box 8264, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-8264. Contact phone: 408/429-4052.

EU150: San Francisco Bahai Center, 170 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:45 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of San Mateo, PO Box 409, San Mateo, CA 94401-0409. Contact

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NIT CONVENTIO

phone: 415/341-2545.

EU151: Location TBA*, Host LSA: San Leandro, CA. Contact phone: 510/352-0509.

EU152: Walnut Creek Marriot, 2355 N Main St, Walnut Creek, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Danville, PO Box 1124, Danville, CA 94526-8124. Contact phone: 510/736-2399.

EU153: Morris Hall, 800 E. Morris Ave, Modesto, CA; Saturday, Oct.5; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Modesto, Box 1893, Modesto, CA 95353-1893. Contact phone: 209/529-1936.

EU154: Ramada Inn-Sacramento, 2600 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento, CA; Saturday, Oct.5; 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Carmichael, Sacramento, CA 95821. Contact phone: 916/481-7906.

EU155: Alicia Intermediate School, 1208 Pasado Rd, Marysville, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Sacramento, PO Box 160966, Sacramento, CA 95816-0966. Contact phone: 916/373-0103.

Way, Ashland, OR; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Ashiand, PO Box 508, Ashland, OR 97520. Contact phone: 541/772-5502.

EU158: Umpqua Community College, 1140 College Rd, Roseburg, OR; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of

las County, Oakland, OR 97462. Contact phone: 541/459-9763.

EU159: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Bend, OR. Contact phone: 503/389-1381.

EU160: Water Resources Education Center, 4600 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA ; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Vancouver, PO Box 5074, Vancouver, WA 98668. Contact phone: 360/695-8988.

EU161: Baha’i Center, 8720 N. Ivanhoe, Portland, OR; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Portland, Box 4245, Portland, OR 97208-4245. Contact phone: 503/978-1530.

EU162: Washington County Fairgrounds, 872 NE 28th, Hillsboro, OR; Sunday, Oct.13; 10:30 a.m.-4:30

Contact phone: 206/472-8439.

igh School, 29000 NE 150th St, Duvall, WA; Saturday, Oct.5; 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of

mond, PO Box 256, Redmond, WA 98073-0256. Contact phone: 206/556-9887.

EU165: Seattle Center, Conference Center, Center House, 305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). to: LSA of Seattle, PO Box 396, Seattle, WA 98111-0396. Contact phone: 206/632-3431.

EU166: Camp Kirby, Samish Island, Bow, WA; Sunday, September 29; 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Anacortes, PO Box 623, Anacortes, WA 98221-0623. Contact phone: 360/ 293-8543.

EU167: Panhandle Lake Camp, W 370 Panhandle Lake Rd, Shelton, WA; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p-m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Olympia, PO Box 1471, Olympia, WA 98507-1471. Contact phone: 360/352-3605.

“TBA: “Location/Time To Be Announced.” Some

EU156: Miller Creek Middle School, 2255 Las Galinas Ave, San Rafael, CA; Sunday, Oct.6; 9:15 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of San Rafael, PO Box 2266, San Rafael, CA 94912-2266.

Contact phone: 415/472-4616.

EU157: Ashland Community Center, 59 Winburn

Center for Baha’i Studies meeting many needs in

Italy's Baha'i community

During the 1985 National Convention, the Baha'fs of Italy expressed their need for a site to use as a Center for Bahd'f Studies, which could host summer schools, the National Convention and various other conferences and meetings.

The request was submitted by the National Spiritual Assembly of Italy to the Universal House of Justice, which expressed its favorable opinion, and the gathering of funds and search for a suitable place began immediately afterward.

In 1990, the National Assembly purchased the Panoramica Hotel in Acuto, about 36 miles southeast of Rome, thus establishing a seat for the Center for Baha'f Studies.

Thanks to the efforts of the friends, the Center for Baha'i Studies is making constant pi toward becoming the kind of conference site best suited to the community's many needs including those of fellowship, humanistic and scientific inquiry, and principles of conduct set forth in the Sacred Writings.

The Panoramica Hotel has 36 rooms, each with private bath and other amenities including a terrace that overlooks the forests and hills of the Sacco Valley with its cities full of history and art.

The hotel includes a large conference center that can hold 150 people and boasts state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment as well as four smaller conference rooms for seminars or private meetings.

The Center has begun operations with a full complement of programs including the National Convention, conferences on behalf of the European Women's Task Force, the Badi Educational Project, and Persian and English Baha'f Studies, and schools and symposia in English and Italian for children, youth and adults.

For information about the Center for Baha'i Studies or its programs, please write to the Assemblea Spirituale Nazionale dei Baha'f d'Italia, 00187 Roma, Via della Fontanella 4, Italy. Phone 06-3225037; fax 06-3611536; email

p.m. (Registration: 9:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA of Hillsboro, OR 97123. Contact phone: 503/648-7094.

EU163: Brighton Creek Conference Grounds, 4516 State Highway 702, Roy, WA; Sunday, Oct.6; 10:00 a.m.3:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to: LSA

Box 11242, Tacoma, WA 98411-0242.

Hillsboro,

of Tacoma,

electoral units had not completed their site or time arrangements for their Unit Conventions by the publication deadline for tl these sites and/or times The American Baha’ f. Thi printed in the site listing information which will accompany the ballot mailing.

issue. Information about pear in the next issue of formation will also be

Baha’is in St. Petersburg, Florida, reach out warmly to community for successful Color Me Human event

Commitment from a variety of organizations was the building block for success as St. Petersburg, Florida, celebrated its first Color Me Human Week in April.

The series of eight events, modeled after a similar celebration in Salt Lake City, Utah, provided a vehicle for conversation in St. Petersburg about raising the first generation of prejudicefree children.

Eighteen organizations—governmental, educational, reli pios and civic—were brought together by the Baha’is for Color Me Human Week. The focus was simple: to promote the inherent nobility of humanity while celebrating, not just tolerating, our beautiful diversity.

Word of the impending celebration was spread in organizational newsletters and through monthly mailings. Many other groups posted notices and announced the events from their podiums and pulpits. Two television stations, three radio stations and three newspapers also provided coverage.

The week was preceded by a proclamation event in City Hall attended by members of City Council and the Color Me Human Committee.

Opening the week was an interfaith dialogue heavily supported by the pastes Bay abet of The National Conference, headed by Roy Kaplan.

Dr. Kaplan, a member of the Jewish faith, had attended the Association of Bahd’{ Studies Conference in San Francisco last October. He was sent by the St. Petersburg Baha'is in response to a letter from the National Spiritual Assembly asking that local Assemblies send receptive community leaders. On his return, meetings were held that resulted in a dialogue on community needs and the launching of Color Me Human Week.

The interfaith event included a panel preeentabion with Jewish, Christian,

uslim and Bahd’f speakers, followed by dinner and small-group discussions. When many more people showed up than expected, the caterer

was sent scurrying for more food. What a delightful problem to have!

Each of the week’s events unfolded in beauty, with a few glitches but no real problems. Attendance was great and a spirit of community and caring was felt by all.

For instance, a large number of people took part ina

ark cleanup designed to

old the city accountable for its promise to a crimeridden area. They filled 12 city dump trucks with years of accumulated leaves, broken glass and assorted junk.

Activities ended the following day with a picnic at the cleaned-up park. There were many people, great food, music and fun, as those from many organizations and backgrounds sim ly got to know each other

tter.

Interestingly, many people had expressed concern about how the committee could plan so far ahead for an outdoor event in April in Florida, when it could just as easily rain as not. But there was no cause for concern. God smiled on this effort with soft breezes and plenty of sunshine. A day later the skies opened up.

Since Color Me Human Week, interest has been expressed in continuing

The Bahd’i Youth Workshop performs in a program focused on ways to overcome racism. This was one of eight events planned during Color Me Human Week in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Ben Salvage)

the spirit that launched it. A wrap-up meeting produced a list of ideas and possibilities for the coming year.

Many indirect opportunities for teaching also were provided by the celebration. Many people asked about the Faith, and the Baha’is’ sense of humble service without a hidden agenda was repeatedly commented on by others.

Greenville Baha’is host 8th Interfaith Peace Concert

On March 2, the Baha'i community of Greenville, South Carolina, hosted its eight annual Interfaith Peace Concert.

More than 450 people, most of whom were not Baha'is, attended this year's event in which a record number of groups (10) took part.

The annual concert is dedicated to bringing together those of diverse faiths with the aim of helping them to

appreciate one another. The program consists of music and dance from church groups, synagogues, UNICEF, fine arts schools, etc., interspersed with readings from the scriptures of each religion.

Copies of the readings are given to audience members to be taken home if desired.

Atthe end of the evening, awards are presented to each participant.

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THE ARC

It is with a sense of elation that we report that the Universal House of Justice has ore eS visits by Baha'i pilgrims and visitors to five of the seven completed Terraces below the Shrine of the Bab. The first groups of pilgrims were escorted to these Terraces on April 22, 1996.

The general public will not be able to visit them until Terraces 1 and 2 are built and connected to Ben Gurion Avenue at the foot of Mount Carmel.

To open the lower Terraces to visitors, albeit limited in time and days of the week, a major part of landscaping of the inner areas of Terraces 9 through 2 was accomplished and other finishing details completed. Plumbing and electrical connections were made to reveal the splendor of these Terraces all illuminated, with water playing in the fountains and running down the runnels.

In the area of the entrance plaza and Terraces 1 and 2, application for the modification of the Town Planning Scheme, to cancel that part of Ben Gurion Avenue that extends into the Baha'i property, has already received the approval of the Local Committee in Haifa and is now under consideration by the District Committee of Galilee. Meanwhile, details of water cascade and fountains are being finalized.

Lowering Hatzionut Avenue

Major excavations have begun for the lowering of Hatzionut Avenue with four excavators on site. Of the three principal stages of work on this street, sequentially this is the second

With the approval of the Universal House of Justice, five of the seven completed Terraces below the Shrine of the Bab have been opened to pilgrims and BahG@’i visitors from this Ridvan. The first group of pilgrims visited these Terraces

on April 22.

Vineyard of the Lord, part 15

stage during which bulk excavations of the southern one-third of the road have begun.

A massive 50-ton drilling machine has finished drilling 12-meter (40-foot) deep micropiles for the pedestrian tunnel on this side of the road.

AS paratary to this stage a temporary sewage line was constructed on the north side of the street adjoining the Terrace of the Shrine of the Bab; the north pedestrian sidewalk was reduced to 1.5 meters (5 feet); street lamp posts, traffic lights and bus stops were relocated; and temporary piling for the pedestrian tunnel carried out. When this was completed, the traffic was restored to the north side to enable work on the south side to begin.

The second stage will see, besides the excavations going down 5 meters (16.5 feet) where the new road will be located, excavations for the foundations of the building under Terrace 11, which will house the Information Center, Office of Public Information and Office of Security, and foundations for the bridge and the south retaining wall.

Most of the service lines—telephone, cable television, water, sewage, etc.— will be relocated during this period, and a temporary road will allow traffic to run at the lower south level. This stage of work will be carried out during a period of 12 months.

he third and final stage will involve excavation of the remaining two-thirds of the road and construction of the north retaining walls. When this is completed, the traffic will be shifted and allowed to move at the final road elevation in several sub-stages to enable the construction

~ i Commencement of work on lowering Hatzionut Avenue has initiated one of the most challenging phases of the Mount Carmel projects. A billboard has been put up to inform the general public of the nature of work being undertaken.

of the bridge and the pedestrian tunnel.

International Teaching Center

The structure of level 2 of the building housing the Teaching Center is practically complete, and 66 percent of the work on level 3 has been accomplished, enabling work to begin on the 4th level. We have now attained a concrete pour rate of 700 cubic meters per month, significantly speedin, ue the progress of work on this building; this means that about 35 percent oft e total concrete for the building has been poured.

The site of the International Teaching Center has a sloping rock face close to the road leading to the Seat of the Universal House of Justice. To further accelerate the work, in areas where concrete slabs have to be constructed above these slopes, precast slabs are being used where feasible to reduce construction time in these areas.

Precast concrete panels are cast onsite and stored away well before they are needed. When the site is ready, the slabs are lifted by special lifting beams to their final positions. The

recast slabs then serve as formwork

‘or the casting of concrete on top of them.

Once the concrete topping hardens, the precast slabs and the concrete topping form an integral structure by composite action. This system helps to gain time by enabling the construction of the precast slabs to be completed well before the site is ready, and reduces the formwork and shoring to a minimum.

Center for Study of the Texts

With the completion of the entire structure, areas within the Center for the Study of the Texts are taking on tangible forms as drywall partitions me bene lined with gypsum boards. A number of steel doors have been installed and floor screed is being cast throughout the building to pre are the floors for the installation of

oor coverings.

See VINEYARD page 19

[Page 19]Kamat B.E. 153 ¢ Aucust 1, 1996

19

Mere reel

Continued from page 18

Three elevator cabins, fabricated in Canada, have been lowered into the elevator shafts. Their interiors have been elegantly appointed with mahogany and brass trims, and bronze skins have been applied to their doors.

As part of the ongoing efforts to push ahead with finishing works, tender packages for millwork and windows have been sent out, and finishing woodwork will soon be out for pricing. A contract for the fabrication of metal hand rails has been awarded, while the large marble fountain, to be piacd in the entrance portico of the

uilding, is being D luced at Henraux’s factory in Italy.

All 15 containers of marble for the columns, each averaging 16 tons, have arrived on-site. The expert under whose supervision the columns will be installed has arrived from France, and installation will begin in a matter of days, as soon as the survey for the work is completed. In fact, this is the same expert who supervised the installation of the columns for the Seat of the Universal House of Justice. Working under him will be French

masons with a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the installation of marble in classic buildings.

Local stone work, undertaken by Turkish masons, has started on five levels in the areas between the patio of the Center for the Study of the Texts and the parking building/ Archives extension. This area will bring fresh air and natural light into the parking building and the offices of the Archives extension.

On the Archives extension, work is now complete on applying concrete screed and polystyrene panels to the roof to protect the waterproofing and drainage gravel. This will be followed by addition of topsoil to enable landsap ne, at a later stage.

e 60-meter-long (198-foot) tunnel on Crusader Road which leads into the parking building is also complete, and external waterproofing is being carried out.

Spurred by the exhortation of the Universal House of Justice that “there are divine deadlines to be met,” no effort is being spared to complete the Mount Carmel Projects on schedule.

Another story of Almighty’'s bounty

The bounty of contributing toward building the Arc in the Lord's Vineyard, an inestimable privilege, comes to each one of us in a different way.

That the Almighty works in mysterious ways is a truism.

If there were any need for further corroboration, here is an amazing story that reinforces this truth.

“Dad escaped from Austria when he was 18, shortly after Hitler invaded. In the course of the next few years he was denied entrance into the U.S., ended up in Cuba for two years where...he became a Baha’, lost contact with his mother, who was probably killed in a concentration camp, and eventually made his way to this country (the U.S.) where he has carved out his life.

“Last summer he returned to Austria, in part because he had been told by a fellow traveler that Austria was providing social security for its waraffected Jewish citizens. He was able to obtain a copy of his birth certificate...and applied for this social security with the intention of contributing all of the income to the Arc.

“Yesterday he received a check for $20,000 in back payments. ...His joy and victory in being able to contribute these funds, earned on the back and agony of his early years, and coming, as he says, ‘from heaven to be returned to heaven,’ is boundless.

(From a communication received at the World Center)

of the external patios designed to provide natural lighting and beautiful landscaping for the building.

Israeli officials delighted with Arc projects

Recently, the Baha’f World Center received the senior deputy directorgeneral of marketing at the ioraeli Ministry of Tourism and the director of the Marketing Segments Department together with four Ministry executives.

On arrival the delegation visited the Shrine of the Bab and enya a brief walk through the gardens. The deputy director-general commented that he had visited the Shrine and gardens many years ago and was quite sur prised to see the changes, and the magnitude of the undertaking on Mount Carmel.

When viewing the models of the Terraces, he said that he had read comments by the mayor of Haifa referring to the Baha’ project as being “the eighth wonder of the world,” and added that now he had seen them for himself, he fully agreed.

The executives accompanying him expressed similar sentiments.

[Page 20]COMMUNITY NE

New record label devoted to ‘spiritually uplifting’ music

There’s a growing public demand for

spiritually upliseng music, and Steve fischer wants Baha’{ artists to be out

front in filling the need.

So the Nashville, Tennessee, Baha'i has launched a label (Millennia Records), a music publishing company (Millennia Music) and a talent management firm (Fischer Management) to help do just that.

Of course, any recording that hopes to be commercially viable must contain top-flight songs, recording values, production and cover design. Mr. Fischer believes he has that covered.

His initial project showcases popular Baha’ nger Narges. The album, titled Desire of the Heart, marries traditional Persian singing with western harmonies in a way that Mr. Fischer believes will ring up crossover sales and make radio playlists in world music, New Age and other markets.

He also has on board professional musicians and sound engineers. One is John Mattick, a writer, arranger and keyboardist who has worked with Ala

Rights are removed

The National Spiritual Assembly has removed the administrative rights of of Washington state for his abuse of hospitality and conduct unbecoming a Baha’f. The friends are advised not to offer hospitality to Mr.

bama and other popular groups. Another is Chris Hinson, whose writing, engineering and guitar licks have graced recordings by the likes of Clarence Clemons.

Mr. Fischer’s own experience positions him to develop projects in any genre from classical to gospel, jazz, blues, country and rock. He recently worked with Grammy-winning singer/fiddler Alison Krauss.

The bottom line for Mr. Fischer is the Four Year Plan aim of significantly advancing the process of entry by troops.

He wants to give Baha'i artists a chance to reach Baha’is and nonBahd’is alike with the message of Baha’u’llah. Each album’s liner notes will include information on the Baha’f Faith and a way for people to contact the Baha’ National Center.

Mr. her can be contacted by Bahd’‘{ artists looking for recording/ representation at 615-824-5239. That's also the number for communities to call to book Narges for concerts.

Tue American BAHA'I 20

Steve Fischer (right), producer and president of Millennia Records, poses with (from left) Chris Hinson, John Mattick, and Narges.

Baha’i singers impress at Indianapolis Gospel Fest

The National Baha’i Gospel Ensemble and the Bahda’is in attendance made quite an impression February 24 at the 11th annual Gospel Fest in downtown

is, indiana.

The fest normally consists entirely of Christian choirs and is attended by a majority of African-American funda

20th Annual

ASSOCIATION FOR BAHA'I STUDIES

Crafting Better Governance September 26-29, 1996 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Conference

Tre CONFERENCE

Throughout the world people and governments are experimenting with new ways to order human affairs. This conference entitled "Crafting Better Governance’, the third in a series on the theme of Anarchy Into Order, will address awide range of issues facing humankind as it explores models and strategies towards a better civil society.

A review of the Baha'i Administrative Order as a model of governance, will begin the plenary sessions. Workshops will provide the opportunity to share case study material and learn from the successful and varied applications of this model in diverse fields worldwide, both within and beyond the Baha'i community.

CHILDREN AND YouTH CONFERENCE

Children from 5-15 years are treated to an extraordinary parallel conference of their own, on the theme "Moral Leadership". Their sessions will utilize a variety of techniques based on the Core Curriculum. Babysitting will be available for chidren under 5.

Douc Raynor

Alberta T6A 1N4 or check the web site:

For AppitioNAL CONFERENCE INFORMATION CONTACT?

hittp://www.tnc.com/tncn/abs/index.html

Hosr Crry

Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta, a province of unparalleled beauty and scenic variety; Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper. Plan to attend the conference and leave time for an extended visit to some of the rare attractions in the province.

‘TRAVEL ASSISTANCE

The conference Travel Agent recently informed us of an extraordinary seat sale that affects travel between Canada and the US. - up to 40% off most fares. To book your flights, car rentals or to make reservations at the Conference Hotel, please do so directly with Marisa Slavic at American Express Travel, 1-800-4614578. Outside North America call collect at 403-990-0702.

This conference promises to be engaging and challenging as it will encourage us to expand our understanding and applications of governance - personal, social and spiritual.

phone (403)462-9747 fax (403)429-0224 E-mail:

mentalist Christians.

But this year the sold-out crowd of 900 included 140 Baha’fs. Many comments were made about the diversity of the audience, which was greatly aided by Baha’fs from Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky.

Then there was the Ensemble itself, the only racially mixed group among the performers. Although all the groups were wonderful and highly spirited, there was a different response

luring the Bahd’f performance: a sense of excitement mixed with peace upon listening to the Words arellTesch tres of Baha’u’llah. The performance received a standing ovation.

At the concert, many of the group’s tapes and CDs wer sold to non-Bahd'fs, and invitations to a musical fireside the next day were distributed.

The fireside was held on the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus as a cooperative effort of the Baha’f Club, the Bahé’fs of Indianapolis and surrounding communities, and the IUPUI Multicultural Student Affairs Office.

It began with an all-you-can-eat source brunch prepared by the

iends and funded by tickets sold to Baha‘is. Many of the friends brought seekers, and several of those who had heard the Ensemble in concert also came to the fireside.

The first half of the fireside consisted of songs that introduced the principles of the Faith. The second half focused on the Person of Baha’u’ll4h.

There was such a feeling of love and unity that the audience, including nonBaha'is, formed a circle and joined hands during the last song, “In This Day,” which also closed the second Baha'i World Congress in New York City in1992.

Many of the seekers took literature including a listing of upcoming Baha’{ events such as a musical fireside on

“The Baha‘f Faith and Christianity” with Eric Dozier, an interfaith panel discussion on “Women of Faith and the Beijing Conference,” and a Naw-Riz celebration featuring a performance by El Viento Canta.

Of all who heard the Ensemble over the weekend, perhaps the most strongly inspired was Robert Bedford, a non-Baha’f who had played a critical role in allowing the Ensemble to take part in the Gospel Fest.

As he was presented a gift by the Baha’{ Club as an expression of gratitude, Mr. Bedford responded, “A new and exciting relationship which crossed cultural and religious lines has been established, and next year’s Gos 1 Fest is too long to wait before having the Gospel Ensemble return.”

Baha’is in southern NJ launch summer teaching campaign at Festival

On April 27, the Baha'is of southern New Jersey launched a summer teaching campaign at Cumberland County College's annual Spring Festival where the Baha'is were the only religion represented.

The Baha'f display included a large banner proclaiming “Baha'i Faith” and a brightly painted nine-pointed star that drew many curious onlookers, more than 100 of whom stopped to read the information about the Central Figures and principles of the Faith or look at Baha'i newsreels and video presentations from the World Congress in New York City and the World Center in Haifa.

The proclamation event will be followed by teaching activities throughout the summer during the South Jersey community's “Target Vineland” campaign including seeking out and renewing association with inactive believers, making presentations to community leaders, and placing articles in newspapers.

[Page 21]

v

TION / SCHOOLS

Kamat B.E. 153 © Aucust 1, 1996

21

Bosch Baha’i School Celebrates Grand Opening of New Classroom Building

Youth in Service

This year, Bosch Baha’{School has been able to secure several additional Youth Service Corp workers from different countries for their summer sessions; a young man from China, one from Mexico, one from Sweden and a young woman from Japan! They also have a young man from Tennessee and four young ladies (one from Illinois, one from Minnesota and two from the University of California, Santa Cruz). And, a professional teacher will be there at least six more months as a children’s class teacher.

Before embarking on the summer program, all staff went through a trust building activity in order to understand how all humans depend on each other to fulfill our service commitment to the Faith. The different departments all developed one-act plays, depicting incorrect and correct ways to do things.

Service at the permanent schools and institutes clearly provides a wonderful opportunity to help both Baha'is and the guests who come from outside rentals to experience the stimulation of the programs and environment!

Bosch Baha'i School hosted an extraordinary Grand Opening Celebration Weekend for the new Classroom Building complex June 14-16th. The session was filled with music, inspiration, devotions and fellowship in the Redwoods at Bosch, with some very special guests joining in, creating an atmosphere of joy and celebration. The souls of all who attended soared as they were treated to the musical entertainment offered throughout the weekend, including the beautiful voice of Paul Seaforth, the exquisite guitar of Jamie Findlay, the wondrous vocal melodies from the musical group Tapestry (seen in photo to the left), and the dramatic poetry of Tahirih offered by Muhtadia Rice.

The weekend began Friday evening with a musical fireside concert offered by Paul Seaforth and Jamie Findlay. After musical devotions from several people Saturday, we had the pleasure and inspiration of our guest presenter Olya Roohizadegan, author of Olya’s Story. Terry Kneisler, former National Education and Schools Coordinator, offered a glimpse of future Baha’i education.

Over 125 people were on hand for the formal Grand Opening Ceremony Saturday afternoon. The ceremony began with Mark Bedford, Bosch Co-Administrator, explaining the significance of the beautiful Tongan “tapa” cloth laid out at the entrance to the classrooms. This ceremonial cloth represented many months of devoted labor in the making, and is typically used for royalty, weddings, and other special occasions. The cloth was provided by one of the over 25 Tongan Baha’fs attending, all of whom had been instrumental in the major landscaping work in the previous weeks. Saeid Samadi, the architect who donated all of his time on the project, invited Marsha Gilpatrick, Bosch Program Director, to join him for the cutting of the red ribbon, formally opening the new classrooms. Saeid noted the vision and commitment of Marsha’s husband and former Bosch Administrator, the late Ronald Gilpatrick, who initiated the

project shortly before his passing. With many tearful eyes, the guests walked through and admired the three new 1000 sq. ft. classrooms.

Everyone gathered in Martha Root Hall to hear keynote speaker William Davis, National Spiritual Assembly member. He described the crucial role of the Baha'i Schools and Institutes in the development of distinctive Baha'i communities as he reminisced about his experiences at Bosch School since its inception and dedication in 1974. Mark Bedford concluded by thanking the many Baha‘i contributors who made the project possible, as well as the many hard-working and dedicated Baha’i volunteers involved in the construction. The guests then enjoyed a delicious selection of hors d’oeuvres on the patio outside.

The afternoon was capped off with an exciting and inspiring fundraising auction which raised over $28,000! The majority of the funds required for the

project had already been contributed by the friends, starting with the fundraising that began over 7 years ago. The actual groundbreaking and construction commenced August 1994 with over half of the $330,000 needed for the project already in hand. Fundraising continued in parallel with the construction, and in order to complete the classrooms in time for the 1996 summer sessions, Bosch borrowed approximately $50,000 from the National Fund. As the intent was always to build the classrooms without placing a drain on the National Fund, fundraising will continue until the National Fund is paid back!

These beautiful classrooms will not only provide an excellent venue for future Baha'i sessions, they will be instrumental in the Bosch School's plan for achieving complete financial selfsufficiency.

Camp Louhelen Unites and Strengthens Children Through Prayer, Service, and Fun

The Louhelen Baha’i School was filled with the laughter and lively excitement of children ages 8-12 for one memorable week in June. Over 60 children participated in the annual Camp Louhelen program which included classroom learning, devotions, service, music, art, games and sports. The children formed “villages” at the start of the week headed by an older youth who served as their counselor. Each village chose a name, such as “True Seekers,” “Pearls of Wisdom,” and “Soft Flowing Waters.” They then created an artistic visual display of their name as the centerpiece for their table in the dining hall. These unique and colorful arrangements were wonderful expressions of the diversity of each village.

Classes on Prayer and Meditation, the Ridvan Message, A Life of Service, and activities such as archery, drama, camping and nature skills, and a trip to the local swim and racquet club filled the

week for the children.

One of the sweetest images of the week was hearing the children and counselors singing “God is Sufficient Unto to Me” as they walked to and from class. A loving tribute and letter of appreciation was received from one of the parents which praises the transformative effects of this wonderful program: “[Our son] was so full of the joy of being a Baha’, of having built knowledge he wanted ...asense of self-confidence and increased independence. Thank you all for great nurturing of a sweet spirit in a small but growing person. What a vivid example of the benefits of a broad base of mentors for our children.”

The program closed with each village presenting dramatic, humorous, and educational vignettes for their fellow campers and the parents.

[Page 22]THe AMERICAN BAHA'I Ze

EDUCATION / SCHOO)

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS...

Mona Mansousi, a young Baha'i from Radnor, Pennsylvania, has won the Hotchkiss (Connecticut) School's 1996 Benjamin H. Read ‘43 Scholarship whose proceeds will be used to underwrite a five-week visit to The Gambia to carry out public service projects on behalf of that country's National Spiritual Assembly. The scholarship was presented by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, a 1964 Hotchkiss graduate.

The Speech Council of Florida Community College in Jacksonville has established the Samuet C. Jackson Scholarship in honor of Mr. Jackson, a Baha'f who retired in August after 20 years as a professor of speech at FCC, and proclaimed May 7 “Samuel C. Jackson Day” at the college. The proclamation said that Mr. Jackson “has touched and changed the lives of hundreds of students” at FCC. The scholarship will be awarded to a deserving student pursuing a career in speech communication.

Juve Oemine Bapice, a Baha'i who is a professor of art history at Western Maryland College in Westminster, is the first recipient of the school's Ira G. Zepp Distinguished Teaching Award. Dr. Badiee, a Baha'f since 1970, is the author of An Earthly Paradise: Baha'i Houses of Worship Around the World, published in 1992 by George Ronald.

Students of Peter Murpuy, a Baha'f from Ventnor, New Jersey, who teaches at Atlantic City High School, won two first prizes in this year's statewide Rutgers high-school poetry competition. Since the contest bepan six years ago, Mr. Murphy's students have won 17 prizes, far more than those of any other teacher. An article about Mr. Murphy, which mentions the Faith, appeared in the May 19 issue of The New York Times.

Amin Mansur, a Baha'f from Seattle who is a Dean's List student in computer science at the University of Washington, has been awarded the university's 1995-96 Microsoft gcholarship. e 24-year-old Mr. Mansuri, whose parents are pioneers to Ecuador, is treasurer of the UW Baha'i Club.

NatHan Miter, a 15-year-old Baha'{ from Brandon, Florida, won the third annual poster So cneored by Champs Sports on behalf of his school, which received $10,000 in sporting goods equipment. His winning poster oe a black man and white man holding a peace sign beneath the words “Eliminate drugs, eliminate hate, turn to peace and integrate.” A newspaper article about the contest says the theme came from Nathan's religion, the Baha'i Faith, which “teaches that racism is the most challenging issue facing America.” Nathan has since moved to Jerusalem with his parents, Rick and Daun Miller, who are serving as representatives for the Baha'f International Community to the government of Israel.

Awir Java, a Baha'i who is a third-year student at the University of Missouri Medical School, has been inducted into the prestigious Rollins Society, which recognizes those students who have demonstrated their dedication to improving the quality of life for others. Mr. Jalali, who traveled to the Czech Republic to teach science to junior high-age children, is a co-founder of the Georgia Relief Program, which provides medical aid to the former Soviet Republic.

Apvam Smitx, a 17-year-old Baha'i from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, was graduated from high school this year as a Wisconsin all-state scholar and Presidential scholar after earning many area, state and national honors for representing his school on the Math, Quiz Bowl, Science Olympiad and Academic Decathlon teams. He will pursue studies in computer science at Washington University in St. Louis as a Compton Fellow and National Merit Scholar.

Marie Tomaretut, a 17-year-old Baha'{ from Uniontown, Maryland, is the first member of her USS Swim Team to compete in the Junior National Championships, qualifying in the 200-yard butterfly at a March 3 meet at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. The Junior and Senior nationals are scheduled for August in Alabama.

Arash Rarice, a Baha'i from Taylors, South Carolina, was graduated summa cum laude this year from Eastside High School, receiving the Dan Stofen Award for excellence in leadership, citizenship and academics (a 4.4 grade-point average), the Biology Award and Honors Scholar scholarship. The National Honor Society student also won three athletic letters in cross-country and track.

Luxe Luzicka, a 13-year-old Baha'i from Gladstone, Missouri, has won a full scholarship to Pacific Northwest Ballet's summer program, to which hundreds of teen-agers across the country apply each year. Luke, an honor student who plans to pursue a career in classical ballet, is one of only a handful of applicants given scholarships to the Pacific Northwest program.

Amin Mansuri

Marie Tomarelli

Pictured are many of the participants in the fifth annual Southeast Asian (SEA)

ta Cruz, California.

Helpers Roundtable Discussion held in June at the Bosch Bahai School in San

Bosch School hosts 5th annual S.E. Asian Helpers Roundtable Discussion

By YVONNE DAWSON

“Our hearts turn with expectation to those gathered at Bosch Baha’f School to pave the way for a new level of dedication to the Cause of Baha’u’lléh, a Cause filled with infinite hope and promise for the Southeast Asian peoples in the United States and throughout the world.”

So began the heartwarming letter from the National Spiritual Assembly to the fifth annual Southeast Asian (SEA) Helpers Roundtable Discussion, an event destined to be filled with preciousness, spirit and hope.

But what was it about this Eaeane that made every moment precious an every memory a driving force spurring us on to build a gloriously unified community with our Southeast Asian friends?

Was it the the prayers offered by the National Assembly at the Mother Temple of the West for the success of our deliberations?

Perhaps it was the opening night devotions augmented by the soft candle light of Martha Root Hall.

Or maybe it was the endearing amusement of two Hmong girls who asked for a five-minute crash course in Jamaican patois on that hot, sweltering Saturday.

Or could it be that the preciousness of the Southeast Asian helpers’ gathering lay in the glaring colors and spontaneous movements of the laughing Tahitian dancers as they swayed in mirthful unity and brought people of diverse backgrounds to the dance floor to practice with their Tahitian “ee ees.”

There was spirit at this meeting too. Did the real spirit of the event lie in the triumphant shouts of the Southeast Asian youth as they scored during their basketball game?

Or did it lie in Mrs. Nour’s “heart ready for teaching” as she hugged her Southeast Asian friends?

Perhaps the true spirit of the gathering could be found in Bee Yang’s musical presentation—a testament to the resilient souls of the Hmong who learned to convert ordinary tropical leaves into musical instruments to cheer their weary hearts.

Or could it be that Session II, conducted in honor of the departed Xiong Leng Xiong, lent to us his own unique spirit of “unwavering support and

edication to the Teachings of Baha‘u'llah.”

And wasn’t there also spirit in the hearty participation in the roundtable

discussion so carefully rpienged by the U.S. Baha’i Refugee Office; in the blazing Saturday evening bonfire; and in the ear-splitting round of applause recognizing Yer Lor’s declaration of faith in this Cause?

Besides preciousness and spirit, there was such hope at this gathering. Hope that despite the classic differences between East and West, we will continue to build a firmly united community Serpe in true knowledge of , the Sacred Writings and determined to spread the teachings of the Faith to all, regardless of barriers real or imagined.

Every detail we learned about the diverse cultures of Southeast Asia served to increase the hope for unity.

We learned, for instance, that many members of the Hmong community consider it an honor for an elderly relative to die in their homes. The Writings teach us that if one is to choose between service to God and to one’s parents, one should serve one’s parents and regard that service as service to God.

This and other striking similarities gave participants great hope for forging an everlasting bond between the American and Southeast Asian friends.

Hope also inspired us to make plans in keeping with the Universal House of Justice’s Four Year Plan. Roundtable topics included “The Equality of Men and Women,” “Baha'i Family Life,” “Baha’i Laws” and “Baha’i Administration.” Each brought forth wholehearted, hope-filled consultation on how to apply Baha’f Erne in encouraging the growth of the Faith in Southeast Asian communities.

And out of all its preciousness, spirit and hope came a special desire, as expressed by Mang Indira, a Baha’t of Laotian descent: “From today on, let everyone have a good life!”

The importance of writing one's Will and Testament

“Unto everyone hath been enjoined the writing of a will. The testator should head this document with the adornment of the Most Great Name, bear witness therein unto the oneness of God in the Dayspring of His Revelation, and make mention, as he may wish, of that which is praiseworthy, so that it may be a testimony for him in the kingdoms of Revelation and Creation and a treasure with his Lord, the Supreme Protector, the Faithful.”—Baha'u'll4h, The Kitdbi-Aqdas

[Page 23]Kamat B.E. 153 © Aucust 1, 1996

Tue Frow oF Divine Autuoriry

Scriptural authority for the Universal House of Justice to function infallibly without the presence of a Guardian

By BRENT POIRIER

Reprinted from Deepen Magazine, No. 9, Winter 1996. Copyright © 1996 Tsavo West Baha'i Institute (Revised May 1996).

Introduction

In His Will, the Master provided for the Guardian of the Cause to serve as the “sacred head and distin uished member for life” of the Universal House of Justice. The Universal House of Justice has written that Shoghi Effendi “obviously envisaged” the institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice functioning together.? However, these institutions never functioned together. Shoghi Effendi did not, and could not, pppoint a successor Guardian.’ The Universal House of Justice “stepped forth from the realm of hope into that of visible fulfillment”‘ in 1963, six years after the passing of Shoghi Effendi, and there is no successor Guardian to Shoghi Effendi. This fact, that the Universal House of Justice functions without the participation in its deliberations of its sacred head, the infallible interpreter of the Word of God, brings to mind the question: What is the scriptural authority for the Universal House of Justice to function without the presence of the Guardian of the Cause?

In order for us to accomplish our goals, we Baha'is must possess a profound and indomitable® conviction in the flow of divine authority through the Covenant of Bahd’u’llah to His Successors. The goal of this paper is to enhance our conviction in the scriptural authority for that sacred Body to function as the Head of the Faith infallibly without the presence of a living Guardian, that we may, calling to mind the words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha in His Will, believe, rest assured, and stand steadfast in the Covenant.® Implicit authority

It is important to understand that not all of the important Teachings of Bahd’u’llah were explicitly revealed by Him. Some of the most important aspee of the Faith are left implicit in His Writings.

‘or example, nowhere does Baha‘u’llah provide expressly for the institution of the Guardianship; He accomplished this through ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Shoghi Effendi wrote that the institution of Guardianship was clearl anticipated in the implications of the Writings of Baha’u’lléh.’ He imj fied this in His Most Holy Book and it was expressly brought into being through the instrumentality of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. The mighty institution of the Guardianship, described in the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha as the “Centre of the Cause”* and described by Shoghi Effendi as the “head cornerstone of the Administrative Order”? is not explicit in the Writings of Baha’u’ll4h. This interplay among the Writings of the Central Figures, in which momentous teachings of Bahé'w'llah are left implicit for ‘Abdu’l-Baha or the passage of time to make manifest, deserves our examination, and illuminates the authority in the Sacred Texts for the Universal House of Justice to function without the presence of a Guardian.

Shoghi Effendi has selenated the Kitab-i-Agqdas the “brightest emanation of the mind of Baha’u’llah.”"° He applies this same term to the Master’s Will and Testament, describing it as the “brightest emanation” of the mind of ‘Abdu’l-Bahé." In his masterpiece The Dispensation of Baha’ u'lléh, Shoghi Effendi shows the inseparability of these two sacred Books:

“The creative energies released by the Law of Bahd’u’llah, permeating and evolving within the mind of “Abdu’L-Baha, ave, by their very impact and close interaction, given birth to an Instrument which may be viewer as the Charter of the New World Order which is at once the glory and the promise of this most reat Dispensation. The Will may thus be acclaimed as the inevitable offspring resulting from that mystic intercourse between Him Who communicated the generating influence of His di vine Purpose and the One Who was its vehicle and chosen recipient. Being the Child of the Covenant— the Heir of both the Originator and the Interpreter of the Law of God—the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahé can no more be divorced from Him Who supplied the original and motivating impulse than from the One Who ultimately conceived it. Baha‘u'llah’s inscrutable purpose, we must ever bear in mind, has been so thoroughly infused into the conduct of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, and their motives have been so closely wedded topether that the mere attempt to dissociate the teachings of the former from any system which the ideal Exemplar of those same teachings has established would amount to a repudiation of one of the most sacred and basic truths of the Faith.” [Throughout this paper, this will be referred to as Quotation A.]

Please observe how Shoghi Effendi states that the Master's Will cannot be “divorced” or “dissociated” from the design of Baha’u’llah: to “divorce” the Master’s Will from the Kitdb-i-Aqdas, to “dissociate” the teachings of Bahd’u’ll4h from the system of the Master, would amount to a repudiation of one of the verities of the Faith. In this paragraph of The Dispensation, the Guardian shows that the institutions created in the Master’s Will are inseparable from the purpose of Baha’u’ll4h. As we shall see, the way in which Shoghi Effendi uses the term “divorced” in connection with the institutions of the Faith is extremely important to the purpose of this paper, and is an example of what the Universal House of Justice terms “the principle of inseparability.”

Since the institution of the Guardianship is implicit—not explicit—in the Kitdb-i-Aqdas, it is not surprising that the possibility that the line of Guardians might end is also implicit and not explici the Text. Let us examine one of these instances in which the Kitdb-i-Aqdas implicitly anticipates the Universal House of Justice functioning without a Guardian and provides for the authority of the Universal House cr yustice to lead the Faith in that event; and how the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha makes that authority explicit.

In its letter, “Comments on the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice,’ the Universal House of Justice clarifies how Bahd’u’ll4h Himself, in the Most Holy Book, foresaw the possibility that the House of Justice might not be formed until after the line of Guardians ended—and thus, would have to function without the presence of a Guardian. Baha’u’llah wrote:

“Endowments dedicated to charity revert to God, the Revealer of Signs. None hath the right to dispose of them without leave from Him Who is the Dawning-place of Revelation. After Him, this authority shall pass to the Aghsén," and after them to the House of Justice—should it be established in the world by then—that they may use these endowments for the benefit of the Places which have been exalted in this Cause, and for whatsoever hath been enjoined upon them by Him Who is the God of might and power. Otherwise, the endowments shall revert to the people of Bahd who speak not except by His leave and Judge not save in accordance with what God hath decreed in this Tablet—lo, they are the champions of victory betwixt heaven and earth—that they may use them in the manner that hath been laid down in the Book by God, the Mighty, the Bountiful.'> [Throughout this paper, this quotation will be referred to as Quotation B.]

In the explanatory notes to the Kitdb-i-Aqdas prepared under the supervision of the Universal House of Justice it is pointed out that this passage “has particular implications...for the succession of authori following the passing of Baha‘u’ll4h...and of ‘Abdu’lBaha.”"* The iaise of Justice has also written that “The passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957 precipitated the very situation provided for in this passage [Quotation B], in that the line of Aghsan ended before the House of Justice had been elected.”””

The crucial phrase for our purposes in Quotation B is “after them,” i.e., after the Aghsan. The House of Justice has written that this “striking passage”

envisages the spossbbility of “a break in the line of Guardians.”'* How can we be assured that by use of the term “after” the Aghsan, Baha’u’llah means after the line of chosen Aghsan, implying a time when there would be no living Guardian? Could not this verse mean, “After the passing of all of My sons?” If this phrase means His “sons” and not the line of hereditary successors, it would merely foreshadow the possibility that the House of Justice might not be elected until after the passing, of the first generation of the Aghsin—Bahd’u’ll4h’s sons." In that case, this phrase would not anticipate the House of Justice functioning without the presence of a Guardlan.

Quotation B refers to the “authority” to administer certain assets of the Faith—its international endowments. However, Baha’u’lléh never dispersed authority among several individuals; He, and ‘Abdu'l-Baha after Him, always concentrated all authority in the Cause in one Center.” The history of the Faith shows no instance where the Aghsdn (neither the sons as a group, nor the entire male lineage of Baha’u’llah”' as a group at one time) acted as a corporate body or had any authority whatever in the Faith. In fact, the Master directed all of the other Aghsan to “show their obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto the guardian of the Cause of God, to turn unto him and be lowly before him.” ”

The fact that the “endowments” raeerarh refers to administrative responsibility in the Cause implies that in this instance Bahd’u’llah’s use of the term “Aghsan’ is limited to the line of “chosen” Aghsan: The Master, and the line of Guardians after Him. Since Bahd’u’'llah states that “after” the Aghsdn the Universal House of Justice will exercise this authority, Quotation B foreshadows the possibility of the ending of the line of chosen Aghsan, and thus the ending of the line of Guardians.

In this same paragraph, Quotation B, Baha‘u’llh even provides for the exercise of authority in the Faith during the interregnum between the passing of Shoghi Effendi and the first election of the Universal House of Justice:

“...[T ]he endowments shall revert to the people of Baha who speak not except by His leave and judge not save in accordance with what God hath decreed in this Tablet-— lo, they are the champions of victory betwixt heaven and earth...”

Who are the “people of Baha” in this paragraph of the Kitdb-i-Aqdas? They are described as those “who speak not except by His leave,” and as “the champions of victory.” The notes to the Kitdb-i-Aqdas confirm that in this instance, “the people of Baha” are the Hands of the Cause of God.* We can compare this Quotation B to other Tablets of Bahé’u'llah in which He has used this same terminology of speaking not before God speaks, and of accomplishing the victory of the Cause, to refer to the Hands of the Cause of God:

“May My praise, salutations, and greetings rest upon the stars of the heaven of Thy knowledge—the Hands of Thy Cause—they who circled round Thy Will, spoke not save after Thy leave, and clung not save unto Thy hem. They are servants whose mention and praise are recorded in the Holy Writ, Thy Books and Tablets, wherein are extolled their services, victories, and high resolve. Through them the standards of Thy oneness were raised in Thy cities and realms, and the banners of Thy sanctity were uplifted in Thy Kingdom. ...Praise be to Thee, O my God, that Thou hast aided me to make mention of them and to praise them in their stations in Thy Cause and in Thy days.”

Thus we see that in the implications of the Most Holy Book (in Quotation B), Baha’u’llah provided for the transfer of authority from the chosen Branches, to the Hands of the Cause, to the Universal House of Justice functioning without a chosen Branch—without a Guardian.

My purpose is not to minimize the loss of the Guardian’s presence in the deliberations of the House. As the House of Justice has cautioned:

“Although, as is seen, the ending of the line of

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Aghsdn at some stage was provided for, we must never underestimate the grievous loss that the Faith has suffered.”**

And again, the Universal House of Justice has written:

“We must guard against two extremes: one is to argue that because there is no Guardian all that was written about the Guardianship and its position in the Baha’f World Order is a dead letter and was unimportant; the other is to be so overwhelmed by the significance of the Guardianship as to underestimate the strength of the Covenant. ...””

My purpose is to follow th dance of the Universal House of Justice to not be overwhelmed by that loss. It is also to help us counter those who attempt to use the absence of a living Guardian today asa pretext in their claim to leadership of the Baha’{ community.”

Crisis during Shoghi Effendi’s boyhood

As we saw in Quotation A, important implications in the laws of Bahd’u’llah are sometimes made explicit in the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd. We have seen that in the implications of the Kitdb-i-Aqdas, Baha’u’lldh provided the authority for the Universal House of Justice to function with only its elected membership. Now we will see that in His Will and Testament, ‘Abdu’l-Baha expressly provided this authority.

‘Abdu’l-Baha revealed Part One of His Will and Testament, in which He appointed Shoghi Effendi as the Guardian of the Cause of God, when Shoghi Effendi was a little boy. Shoghi Effendi may have been as young as seven, and was surely no older than ten.* Other Tablets revealed by ‘Abdu’‘l-Baha at that time show that His life was in peril.”

The Master likewise revealed the second His Will during a time Shoghi Effendi descri “an hour of grave suspense.”*! In Part Two of His Will, the Master described the crisis that compelled Him to write it: “Iam now in very great danger and the hope of even an hour's life is lost to me.”® This was likely when the Second Commission of Inquiry threatened the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd. Had these threats materialized during either of the Commissions of Inquiry—in 1904 or in 1907—Shoghi Effendi, still in his boyhood, would have been too young to perform the duties of the fouardianship, including appointing a representative to act in his place in the deliberations of the Universal House of Justice. ‘Abdu’lBaha was, of course, well aware of this.

The Universal House of Justice has directed us to study the second part of the Master’s Will, specifically in connection with the establishment of that sacred body through the convening of only its elected membership.*

Let us examine what the Master provided in His Will for the leadership of the Faith, in the event that He was martyred while Shoghi Effendi was still a child. In the second part of His Will the Master makes no mention of Shog! i Effendi or of the institution of the Guardianship.

As both Shoghi Effendi® and the Universal House of Justice* have pointed out, during that same crisis the Master wrote a Tablet to the Bab’s cousin, Haji Mirza Taqi Afnan. In that Tablet, the Master directed the Afnan to arrange immediately for the election of the Universal House of Justice if He was put to death. This House of Justice would have been composed of only its elected members for several years, until Shoghi Effendi reached the age when he could assume his responsibilities as Guardian. The language ‘Abdu’l-Baha uses in the second part of His Will refers only to the elected members of that Body. Therefore, in the following words the Master provided the authority for the Universal House of Justice which would act infallibly without the presence of the Guardian of the Cause of God, or the Guardian’s representative, during the minority of Shoghi Effendi:

“Unto the Most Holy Book every one must turn and all that is not expressly recorded therein must be referred to the Universal House of Justice. That which this body, whether unanimously or by a majority doth carry, that ts verily the Truth and the Purpose of God Himself. Whoso doth deviate therefrom is verily of them that love discord, hath shown forth malice and turned away from the Lord of the Covenant. By this House is meant that Universal House of Justice which is to be elected from all countries,

art of

that is from those parts in the East and West where the loved ones are to be found, after the manner of the customary elections in Western countries such as those of England. ...It is incumbent upon these members [of the Universal House of Justice] to gather in a certain place and deliberate upon all problems which have caused difference, questions that are obscure and matters that are not expressly recorded in the Book. Whatsoever they decide has the same effect as the Text itself.”” [Identified throughout this paper as Quotation C.]

The Master here provided that it was incumbent upon “these members” to deliberate, and He identifies “these members” as those who were to be “elected from all countries, that is from those parts in the East and West where the loved ones are to be found, after the manner of the customary elections in Western countries. ...” Again, He makes no reference to the Universal House of Justice functioning with Shoghi Effendi, nor does He refer to the institution of the Guardianship, or to the mepreentative of the Guardian acting as chairman of the House of Justice.

As we see from Quotation C, nowhere does He indicate that in such circumstances, without the presence of the Guardian to chair that Body, to define the sphere of its legislative action, or to interpret the Word of God, the House of Justice would not be infallible. Rather, He wrote of the House functionin; without its hereditary Head, and with only its elecied members, “That which this body, whether unanimously or by a majority doth carry, that is verily the Truth and the uipese of God Himself,” and that its decisions will have “the same effect as the Text itself.”

Since the Master provided that the House of Justice would function infallibly before the beloved Guardian wrote a single authoritative word, surely we may conclude that it does so now, when it has the benefit of the multitude of Shoghi Effendi’s writings. Nowhere in the Master’s Will does He imply that the authority or the guarantee of divine guidance to the House of Justice operating without the presence of the Guardian would be more limited than they would be with the Guardian as its sacred Head.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit

Another passage from the Pen of ‘Abdu’l-Baha which play) provides that the infallibility of the Universal House of Justice is not dependent upon the participation of the Guardian in its deliberations is quoted by the Universal House of Justice in one of its letters addressing this very subject. The Master writes:

“Let it not be imagined that the House of Justice will take any decision according to its own concepts and opinions. God forbid! The Supreme House of Justice will take decisions and establish laws through the inspiration and confirmation of the Holy pe because it is in the a keeping and under the shelter and eee of the Ancient Beauty, and obedience to its decisions is a bounden and essential duty and an absolute obligation, and there is no escape for anyone.

“Say, O People: Verily the Supreme House of Justice is under the wings of your Lord, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful, that is under His protection, His care, and His shelter; for He has commanded ihe fos believers to obey that blessed, sanctified, and all-subduing body, whose sovereignty is divinely ordained and of the Kingdom of Heaven and whose laws are inspired and spiritual.

“Briefly, this is the wisdom of referring the laws of society to the House of Justice. In the religion of Islam, similarly, not every ordinance was explicitly revealed; nay not a tenth part of a tenth part was included in the Text; although all matters of major importance were specifically referred to, there were undoubtedly thousands of laws which were unspecified. These were devised by the divines of a later age according to the laws of Islamic jurispru lence, and individual divines made conflicting deductions from the original revealed ordinances. All these were enforced. Today this process of deduction is the right of the body of the House of Justice, and the deductions and conclusions of individual learned men have no authority, unless they are endorsed by the House of Justice. The difference is peceaely ithe that from the conclusions and endorsements of the body of the House of Justice whose members are elected by and known to the worldwide Baha'i community, no differences will arise; whereas the conclusions of individual divines and scholars would definitely lead to differences, and result in schism, division, and dispersion. The oneness of the Word would be destroyed,

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the unity of the Faith would disappear, and the edifice of the Faith Foe would be shaken.” a

The Master’s use of the phrase “whose members are elected by and known to the worldwide Baha'i community” is an explicit reference to the elected membership of the Universal House of Justice. This passage shows that when He states that the decisions and laws of that “blessed, sanctified and all-subduing body” are inspired by the Holy Spirit, He refers to the infallibility bestowed upon that Body through its elected membership. This Tablet confirms and illuminates a brief reference in one of the Laws of Bahé’u’'llah contained in His “Leaves of Paradise,” and again shows the important interplay between the writings of Bahd’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha.

The ultimate safeguard of the Baha’i Revelation

One of Baha’u'llah’s express promises of infallible divine guidance to the Universal House of Justice is found in the Eighth Leaf of the Kalimét-i-Firdawsiyyih:

“It is incumbent upon the Trustees of the House of Justice to take counsel together regarding those things which have not outwardly been revealed in the Book, and to enforce that which is agreeable to them. God will verily inspire them with whatsoever He willeth, and He, verily, is the Provider, the Omniscient.”

How do we know that this promise that “God will inspire them” is a promise of infallible divine guidance to the elected membership of the Universal House of Justice acting as a body, and does not promise this guidance only if the “sacred head” of that Body, the Guardian of the Cause, is present in its delibera- _ tions? Shoghi Effendi provides the answer in his exposition of this pronouncement of Baha’u’llah, in The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah:

“In the conduct of the administrative affairs of the Faith, in the enactment of the legislation necessary to supplement the laws of the Kitdb-i-Aqdas, the members of the Universal House of Justice, it should be borne in mind, are not, as Baha’u’llah’s utterances clearly imply, responsible to those whom sew resent, nor are they allowed to be governed by the feelings, the general opinion, and even the convictions of the mass of the faithful, or of those who directly elect them. They are to follow, in a Preven attitude, the dictates and promptings of their conscience. They may, indeed they must, acquaint themselves with the conditions prevailing among the community, must weigh Sey the merits of any case presented for their consideration, but must reserve for themselves the right of an unfettered decision. ‘God will verily inspire them with whatsoever He willeth,’ is Baha’u’llah’s incontrovertible assurance. They, and not the body of those who either directly or indirectly elect them, have thus been made the recipients of the divine guidance which is at once the life-blood and ultimate safeguard of this Revelation.”"'

The words chosen by the Guardian—the members of the Universal House of Justice and not those who elect them—show that Bahd’u’lléh’s promise that “God will, verily, inspire them” means that infallible divine guidance flows to the elected membership of the Universal House of Justice acting as a ry. This, again, is scriptural authority for the Universal House of Justice to function infallibly without the presence of a Guardian, not only in the enactment of legislation, but also in the conduct of the administrative affairs of the Faith.

‘Divorced from . . . the Guardianship’

Any discussion of the authority for the Universal House of Justice to function infallibly without the presence of the Guardian must address the following passage from Shoghi Effendi’s The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah:

“Divorced from the institution of the Guardianship the World Order of Baha’u’ll4h would be mutilated and permanently deprived of that hereditary pandple which, as ‘Abdu’l-Baha has written, has

n invariably upheld by the Law of God. ‘In all the Divine Dispensations,’ He states, in a Tablet addressed to a follower of the Faith in Persia, ‘the eldest son hath been given oxcanreinaty distinctions. Even the station of prophethood hath his birthright.’ Without such an institution the integrity of the Faith would be imperiled, and the stability of

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the entire fabric would be gravely endangered. Its prestige would suffer, the means required to enable it to take a long, an uninterrupted view over a series of generations would be completely lacking, and the necessary guidance to define the sphere of the legislative action of its elected representatives would be totally withdrawn.” [Quotation D]

“Severed from the no less essential institution of the Universal House of Justice this same System of the Will of ‘Abdu’l-Bahé would be paralyzed in its action and would be powerless to fill in those gaps which the Author of the Kitdéb-i-Aqdas has deliberately left in the body of His legislative and administrative ordinances.”* [Quotation E]

Some of the friends have experienced particular difficulty in accepting the ability of the Universal House of Justice to function infallibly without the presence of the Guardian, because they believe that those words from the Guardian in Quotation D were a direct warning about that very circumstance. A reader of this passage might naturally ask whether Shoghi Effendi, when he wrote those words in 1934, confident that there would be future Guardians,“ was elaborating the horrible consequences to the Cause of God if the line of Guardians were to end.

From the Guardian’s phrase “divorced from the institution of the Guardianship,” should we understand his intention to have been a description of the mutilation of the Cause that would occur if the Universal House of Justice were to function without a living Guardian?

The House of Justice has provided the key to understanding this subject when it elucidates “the principle of inseparability” and gives several examples of the application of that principle to the institutions of the Clardianship and the Universal House of Justice.®

To understand the meaning of “divorced from the institution of the Guardianship” in Quotation D, we have the benefit of other passages in Shoghi Effendi’s writings where he uses similar, sometimes identical, language to illustrate this principle. We have seen in Quotation A how Shoghi Effendi warned that to “divorce” or “dissociate” the institutions established by ‘Abdu’l-Baha from the underlying laws of Baha‘u'll4h would “amount to a repudiation of one of the most sacred and basic truths of the Faith.” In yet another passage, he uses strikingly similar language to elaborate the scriptural authority for the

inctioning of the Baha’{ institutions:

“It should be remembered by every follower of the Cause that the system of Baha’f administration is not an innovation imposed arbitrarily upon the Baha’fs of the world since the Master’s passing, but derives its authority from the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’lBah, is specifically prescribed in unnumbered Tablets, and rests in some of its essential features upon the explicit provisions of the Kitdb-i-Aqdas. It thus unifies and correlates the principles separately laid down by Bahé’u’'ll4h and ‘Abdu’l-Bahé, and is indissolubly bound with the essential verities of the Faith. To dissociate the administrative principles of the Cause from the pay spiritual and. humanitarian teachings would be tantamount to a mutilation of the body of the Cause, a separation that can only result in the disintegration of its component parts, and the extinction of the Faith itself.”” [Quotation F

Please note that the Guardian described such a “dissociation” as a “mutilation of the Cause.” This is another illustration of what the Universal House of Justice terms “the principle of inseparability.” A careful reading of Quotation F will show that the Guardian's purpose is to elaborate on the unity of the components of the Baha'i Faith, not to issue a warning about possible future events. The “mutilation” would be to knowingly misunderstand this important verity of the Faith.

The Guardian again illustrates the principle of inseparebillty when he explains that the distinct peri is of Baha’f history must be understood as one whole; to see them in isolation from one another and thereby divorce them from one another, he avers, would be to “mutilate” the Cause and pervert the truth:

“The century under our review [1844-1944] may therefore be considered as falling into four distinct periods, of unequal duration, each of specific im port and of tremendous and indeed unappraisable significance. These four periods are closely interrelated, and constitute successive acts of one, indivisible, stupendous and sublime drama, whose mystery no intellect can fathom, whose climax no eye can even dimly perceive, whose conclusion no mind can adequately foreshadow. Each of these acts revolves around its own theme, boasts of its own heroes, registers its own tragedies, records its own triumphs, and contributes its own share to the execution of one common, immutable Purpose. To isolate any one of them from the others, to dissociate the later manifestations of one universal, all-embracing Revelation from the pristine purpose that animated it in its earliest days, would be tantamount to a mutilation of the structure on which it rests, and to a lamentable perversion of its truth and of its history. ...

“These four periods are to be regarded not only as the component, the inseparable parts of one stupendous whole, but as progressive stages in a single evolutionary process, vast, steady and irresistible.”*

In yet another instance, the Guardian uses the same terminology to apply the principle of inseparabilit to the Bahot institutions Pr the ashriqul-Adhkér and its Dependencies.” I would suggest that it is clear from all of these instances that it is the design of Baha’u’ll4h that the Guardian is speaking of.

In all of these cases, whether he uses the term “divorced,” “dissociated” or “isolated,” the purpose of Shoghi Effendi is to communicate to his reader the inseparability of the components of the Faith. This is his way of imparting a spiritual truth to us—the “principle of inseparability” in its various applications.

In all of these instances, the Guardian is using this language to communicate to us something our minds have never preouely rasped: the wonder of this “vast and unique” Order, of this “colossal,” this “mighty Administrative structure.” He is not warning us of the consequences of the loss of any Baha’t institution, nor speaking of such a loss as a “mutilation” of the Cause of God. Rather, through use of this powerful language he infuses our understanding with his vision of the World Order of Baha’u’llh.

The vibrant body of the Cause

The purpose of the Guardian in the Dispensation [Quotation D] was not to foreshadow unthinkable consequences if the Universal House of Justice must function without the presence of a Guardian. The most convincing demonstration of this is in the para raph that immediately follows the “divorced from the institution of the Guardianship” paragraph:

“Severed from the no less essential institution of the Universal House of Justice this same System of the Will of ‘Abdu’l-Baha would be paralyzed in its action and would be powerless to fill in those gaps which the Author of the Kitdb-i-Aqdas has deliberately left in the body of His legislative and administrative ordinances.”*' [Quotation E]

Like the other instances where he used the terms “divorced,” “dissociated” or “isolated,” here, by his use of the synonym “severed,” he explains yet again the prineip le of the inseparability of the component aspects of the World Order. Quotation E is clearly a parallel to Quotation D, and enables us to better understand the intent of Quotation D.

If one reads “divorced from the institution of the Guardianship” as a foreshadowing of the consequences of the ending of the line of Guardians, then one must also read “severed from the no less essential institution of the Universal House of Justice” as a portent of the consequences of the World Order functioning without the Universal House of Justice.

We must ask ourselves, where was the Universal House of Justice at the time Shoghi Effendi wrote Quotations D and E? The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah was written in 1934, and the House of Justice would not be brought into existence for another 29 years. At the time the Guardian wrote the words “severed from...the Universal House of Justice,” the World Order was functioning without the benefit of a single word from that “no less essential institution.” Furthermore, if “essential” meant that the World Order could not function without the presence of the House of Justice, then the Guardian would not have delayed its election.” In Quotation E the Guardian could not be stating that these institutions cannot function independently, because he was himself functioning in KamAt B.E. 153 © Aucust 1, 1996 25

dependently of the “no less essential” House of Justice when he wrote those very words.

The Guardian wrote in Quotation E that the sign of the World Order being “severed” from the Universal House of Justice would be that the World Order would be “paralyzed in its action.” How can we be certain that he did not intend to convey that because the House of Justice was not yet fulfilling its legislative role the World Order was, in some measure, “paralyzed in its action” at that time? We may determine as a certainty that Shoghi Effendi did not intend to convey that the World Order was “paralyzed” in 1934 due to the absence of a functioning Universal House of Justice. The proof is found a few pages later in the same letter, where the Guardian contrasts the “vitality” of the institutions of the Faith with the paralysis afflicting the old world order at that time:

“The vitality which the organic institutions of this great, this ever-expanding Order so strongly exhibit; the obstacles which the high courage, the undaunted resolution of its administrators have already surmounted; the fire of an unquenchable enthusiasm that glows with undiminished fervor in the hearts of its itinerant teachers; the heights of self-sacrifice which its champion-builders are now attaining; the breadth of vision, the confident hope, the creative joy, the inward peace, the uncompromising integrity, the exemplary discipline, the unyielding unity and solidarity which its stalwart defenders manifest; the degree to which its moving Spirit has shown itself capable of assimilating the diversified elements within its pale, of cleansing them of all forms of prejudice and of fusing them with its own structure—these are evidences of a power which a disillusioned and sadly shaken society can ill afford to ignore.

“Compare these splendid manifestations of the spirit animating this vibrant body of the Faith of Baha‘u’lldh with the cries and agony, the follies and vanities, the bitterness and prejudices, the wickedness and divisions of an ailing and chaotic world. Witness the fear that torments its leaders and paralyzes the action of its blind and bewildered statesmen.”*

Particularly in that last sentence, the Guardian explicitl contrasts the “vibrant body of the Faith of Bahd‘u'llah” with the leaders and statesmen of the world whom he describes as “paralyzed in their action.” The Guardian’s own dangue e shows that he did not intend to convey that the World Order was ipialvzed in its action” due to the absence of the

niversal House of Justice. Rather, it was “vibrant,” in contrast to the paralysis afflicting the old order. We may therefore deduce that the Cause was not then “severed” from the Universal House of Justice, even though the World Order of Bahd’u’llah was functioning entirely without its influence.

We may confidently deduce that in Quotation D— “Divorced from the institution of the Guardianship”— Shoghi Effendi was not foreshadowing appalling consequences if there were no living Guardian. Rather, he was disclosing the perfection and completion of Baha’u’llah’s design.

So the explanations in Quotation D regarding the hereditary function of the Guardian in relation to the House, that he protects the integrity and stability of the Faith, enhances its prestige, provides for its continuity, and defines the legislative sphere of the Universal House of Justice, are presented as demonstrations of the “principle of inseparability” in the preceding paragraph of The Dispensation.

These twin institutions “supplement each other’s authority and functions, and are permanently and fundamentally united in their aims.” That is what quotation D is about. Without question, it emphatically states the importance of the Guardianship. What it does not do is state that the World Order has been “mutilated” or that the “necessary guidance” has been “totally withdrawn” from the Universal House of Justice because there is no Guardian present to make definitions. What it does not do is state that the Cause of God is today “divorced from the institution of the Guardianship.”

Conclusion Shoghi Effendi referred to the Baha’fs as the “stew ards” of the Faith,* and designated the Hands of the Cause of God as its “Chief Stewards.” ‘Abdu’l

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Baha gave the Hands the specific protective function of expelling Covenant-breakers.* They were not endowed with infallibility; their capacity to lead the Bahé’f Faith was explicit in only one word: “Chief.” The senesality of the Baha’ community was, as yet, unaware of the provisions in the Kitdb-i-Aqdas for the transmission of authority to the Hands of the Cause, and would not learn of this verse [Quotation B] for more than a decade.”

Despite these limitations on their office, despite the fact that they possessed, in the mind of the generality of the friends, only one word of authority, it is worth reflecting on the power of that one word and the steadfastness of the Hands of the Cause to keep the Cause of God united until the Universal House of Justice was brought into being. One of the first acts of the Universal House of Justice was to express its heartfelt love and gratitude to the Hands.”

In contrast, the authority of the Universal House of Justice to function infallibly with only its elected members is explicitly provided in a number of passages in the Writings of both Bahd’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Bahi. If the integrity of the Faith can be protected by only one word, one can only wonder at the power of such emphatic language, the power of the Covenants of Bahd’u’ll4h and of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, to keep the Cause of Baha’u’llah united behind “[T]he divine and Universal House of Justice...that central pivot of the people of Bahd. ...”% ‘

Shoghi Effendi wrote, “Only those who come after us will be in a position to realize the value of the surprisingly strong emphasis that has been placed on the institution of the House of Justice and of the Guardianship.” Among the “surprisingly emphatic language”® to which he refers, are surely these words from the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’I-Baha:

“The sacred and youthful branch, the guardian of the Cause of God, as well as the Universal ‘House of Justice, to be universally elected and established, are both under the care and protection of the Abhé Beauty, under the shelter and unerring guidance of His Holiness, the Exalted One (may my life be oj up for them both). Whatsoever they decide is of God. Whoso eth him not, neither obeyeth them, hath not obeyed God; whoso rebelleth against him and against them hath rebelled against God; whoso opposeth him hath opposed God; whoso contendeth with them hath contended with God; whoso disputeth with him hath disputed with God; whoso denieth him hath denied God; whoso disbelieveth in him hath disbelieved in God; whoso deviateth, separateth himself and turneth aside from him hath in truth deviated, separated himself and turned aside from God. May the wrath, the fierce indignation, the vengeance of God rest upon him!”

We may derive confidence in the flow of divine authority to the Universal House of Justice from these words with which ‘Abdu'l-Baha closes His Will and Testament, words which will ring down through the centuries:

“All must seek guidance and turn unto the Center o the Cause and the House of Justice. And he that turneth unto whatsoever else is indeed in grievous error. The Glory of Glories rest upon you!” ®

NOTES:

1. The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 14.

2. Wellspring of Guidance, p. 86.

3. “Proclamation by the Hands of the Cause to the Baha’fs of East and West,” November 25, 1957, The Bahd’i World, Vol. XIII, p. 342; The Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963, pp. 36, 211; “The Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice,” The Universal House of Justice, Wellspring of Guidance, p. 82.

4. Shoghi Effendi, Compilation on the Universal House of Justice, p. 17.

5. The World Order of Baha'u'llah, pp. 24, 34; The Light of Divine Guidance, p. 84; Unfolding Destiny, p. 57.

6. Will and Testament of ‘Abdu'l-Bahd, p. 3.

7. God Passes By, p. 214; The World Order of Baha‘u'llah, p. 147.

8. Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 26.

9. Messages to America, p. 8.

10. God Passes By, p. 213.

11. Ibid, p. 325.

12. The World Order of Bahd'u'lléh, p. 144; compare God Passes By, p. 325, where Shoghi Effendi makes clear that he is referring to the Kitdb-i-Aqdas.

13. Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, pp. 37-44.

14. Literally, “Branches.”

15. Kitdb-i-Aqdas, pp. 34-35, { 42.

16. Ibid, pp. 196-197, Note 66.

17. “Comments on the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice,” Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 41.

18. Ibid., p. 41.

19. For example, Shoghi Effendi has sometimes translated Aghsan as “Sons.” (Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, pp. 93 and 94; Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 244) In each of these instances Bahd’u’llah speaks of “My” Aghsan; perhaps this is why the Guardian translated “Aghsdn” as “sons” in those instances.

20. See The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pss 386, and the Compilation “The Continental rds of Counselors,” pp. 4445.

21. Shoghi Effendi has explained the general meaning of the term: “As to ‘Aghsan,’ it also means branch. But it is a bigger branch than ‘Afnan.’ It refers to Bahd’u’llah’s descendants.” From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, Sept. 25, 1934, in Lightsof Guidance, 2nd. Edition, pp. 470-471, No. 1548.

22. Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’‘l-Bahd, p. 11 (three times).

23. Kitdb-i-Aqdas, pp. 34-35, J 42.

24. Ibid, pp. 196-197, Note 67.

25. Baha’u‘ll4h, quoted in the frontispiece to Dr Muhdjir, Hand of the Cause of God, Knight of Baha'u'llah. Baha‘u'llah employs similar terminology in speaking of the Hands of the Cause in the Surat-al Haykal; see Paul Haney, “The Institution of the Hands of the Cause of God,” The Baha'i World, Vol. XII, p. 333. Also compare Baha‘u'llah’s reference to the Fiands of the Cause in a passage translated by Shoghi Effendi in The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 85.

26. Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 41.

27. Wellspring of Guidance, p. 87.

28. See, for example, the case of Charles Mason Remey, discussed in The Ministry of the Custodians 1957-1963, pp. 206-226.

29. The Master wrote in His Will that the “Committee of Investigation” had come to the Holy Land from Constantinople “a few months ago.” (The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu'l-Bahd, p. 7) The first Committee of Investigation arrived in the Holy Land in 1904 (Balyuzi, ‘Abdu'l-Bahd, p. 111), when Shoghi Effendi was seven years old. It appears from the above-quoted language that the first part of His Will was written at that time. In that first part of His Will, ‘Abdu’l-Bahé appointed Shoghi Effendi as the Guardian, and provided that the Guardian would serve as the chairman of the Universal House of Justice. The second Commission came to the Holy Land in 1907 (Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahé, P 118; God Passes By, p. 269). At that time, Shoghi Effendi was still a boy of ten.

30. Selection No. 188 in Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd appease to have been written at that time. ‘Abdu’l-Baha also refers to that time in Memo rials of the Faithful, p. 56.

31. God Passes By, p. 268.

32. The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu'l-Bahd, p. 19.

33. “The second part of the Master’s Will is also relevant to such a situation and should be studied by the friends.” “Unassailable Foundation of the Cause of God,” Wellspring of Guidance, p. 49; also quoted in the Compilation on the Establishment of the Universal House of Justice, p. 37, and in The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. I, p. 347.

34. Ibid, pp. 17-22.

35. God Passes By, p. 268; The World Order of Bahé'u’lléh, p. 17.

36. “Unassailable Foundation of the Cause of God,” Wellspring of Guidance, p. 49; also quoted in the Compilation on the Establishment of the Universal House of Justice, p. 37.

37. The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu'l-Bahd (Part Two), pp. 19-20.

38. The Universal House of Justice has explained the importance of the innumerable definitions provided Be Shoghi Effendi, in its letter, “The Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice,” Wellspring of Guidance, pp. 83-84. As early as 1929, Shoghi

Effendi had described the sphere of authority of the Universal House of Justice as “clearly defined” (The World Order of Baha'u'llah, pp. 8, 148),

39. ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, quoted in “The Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice,” Wellspring of Guidance, pp. 84-86.

40. Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 68. Please compare this Tablet of Bahé’u’llah with the Eighth Ishraq of the Tablet of Ishréqat, accounted by Baha’u’llah as part of the Most Holy Book; see the Kitdb-i-Aqdas, p. 91.

41. The World Order of Baha’u'lléh, p. 153.

42. The Universal House of Justice has deemed this passage so significant that it has included it in its Constitution. The Constitution of the Universal House of Justice, p. 6. See also the Compilation on the Establishment of the Universal House of Justice, pp. 25 and 53.

43. The World Order of Baha’u'lléh, p. 148.

44. Ibid, p. 151.

45. “The Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice,” Wellspring of Guidance, p. 87.

46. The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 144, quoted and discussed above.

47. Ibid, p. 5.

48. God Passes By, pp. xiv-xv.

49. Baha’t Administration, pp. 185-186.

50. The World Order of Baha’ u'lléh, pp. 146 and 147.

51. Ibid, p. 148.

52. The Guardian states his reasons for delaying the election of the Universal House of Justice in The World Order of Baha'u'llah, Pi 7, and Baha’i Administration, p. 41, and they are further commented upon by Ruhiyyih Rabbani in The Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, pp. 106-107.

53. The World Order of Bahd’u'Iléh, p. 148.

54. Ibid, p. 155.

55. Ibid, p. 148.

56. Ibid, pp. 54, 79, 98; God Passes By, pp. 26, 340.

57. Shoghi Effendi announced “...yet another step in the progressive unfoldment of one of the cardinal and pivotal institutions ordained by Bahd‘u’lléh, and confirmed in the Will and Testament eh ‘Abdu'l-Bahd, involving the designation of yet another contingent of the Hands of the Cause of God, raising thereby to thrice nine the total number of the Chief Stewards of Baha’u’llah’s embryonic World Commonwealth, who have been invested by the unerring Center of His Covenant with the dual function of guarding over the security, and of insuring the propagation, of His Father’s Faith.” Messages to the Baha'i World, p. 127.

58. The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 12.

59. The Baha’i world became aware of this verse in 1969, when the Universal House of Justice issued its letter “Comments on the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice,” published in Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973, p. 41.

60. Wellspring of Guidance, pp. 2-3.

61. The Baha'i World, Vol. XIV, p. 436.

62. The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 8.

63. Ibid, p. 22.

64. The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 11.

65. Ibid, p. 26.

[Page 27]PAN IN]

REPORT

KamAt B.E. 153 © Aucust 1, 1996 27

THE ANNUAL REPORT

Of the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies

Ridvan 1996

MEMBERS—Juana C. Conrad, Assistant Secretary; William E. Davis, Treasurer; Alberta Deas; Robert C. Henderson, Secretary-General; Firuz Kazemzadeh, Secretary for External Affairs; Patricia Locke; Jack McCants; Dorothy W. Nelson, Vice-Chairman; James F. Nelson, Chairman.

Introduction

The Divine Plan, ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s “grand design for the spiritual conquest of the planet,” is “impelled by forces beyond our power to predict or appraise” and holds within it “the seeds of the world’s spiritual revival and ultimate redemption.” Its implementation will lead to the global expansion of the Faith and the acceleration of the construction of the administrative framework of Bahd’u’lléh’s World Order. It will continue to unfold through the beginnings of the Golden Age. The Three Year Plan was its latest chapter; the Four Year Plan is its next.

We invite you to review the achievements and shortcomings of the Three Year Plan in the light of the extent to which they prepare us for the successful pursuit of the next phase of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd’s “grand design.”

Summary

The principal goals of the Three Year Plan were: (1) to develop greatly the human resources of the Cause; (2) to enhance the vitality of the faith of individual believers; and (3) to foster the maturation and proper functioning of local and national institutions. These broad themes were organized into a more specific plan of objectives in consultation with the Continental Board of Counselors and the National Teaching Committee. With hearts full of gratitude and appreciation to the Counselors for their invaluable advice and heroic services, to their Auxiliary Boards, to the friends who serve the agencies of the National Assembly, and to our brothers and sisters in the American Baha’f community, we submit this report of the efforts to accomplish the goals of the current plan.

Developing human resources

We did not achieve a breakthrough in the pattern of enrollments during the Three Year Plan. Nevertheless, teaching activities gained significant momentum, achieving a scale, variety and intensity exceeding pet efforts. The Universal House of Justice, in its letter of May 19, 1994, asks us to understand that our primary 1 is to teach and that the Author of the Faith will enable the seeds we have planted to germinate “as He sees fit.” Moreover, it adds that we “may rest assured” that our “particularly blessed community will not be denied a triumphant expansion if its members remain constant and confident in their teaching activities.” The analysis of our teaching activities reinforces our confidence that we are moving toward a breakthrough.

More than 5,100 pioneers and traveling teachers left American shores for international service. Domestic traveling teachin; ripe numbered more than 10,000. Army of Light Teaching Projects for Baha’{

outh increased from 25 to 250, while the number of

ha’f Youth onshore expanded from 23 to 78. In several areas Spiritual Assemblies combined their efforts in intercommunity teaching projects to achieve large-scale growth. Although inevitable problems arose that slowed their progress, these initiatives are critically important to our learning how to advance the process of entry by troops. Intercommunity collaboration presents serious challenges to local and national institutions that must be better understood and managed: Race unity activities involving all segments of the greater community were increasingly recognized by leaders of thought as setting the pace for the entire nation. In addition to grass roots activities involving local governments, schools, communities and social institutions, round-breaking race unity work was done by h4’fs with several state court systems, major corporations and the Federal government. Although a statement on women was not completed during the

Three Year Plan, work on the statement remains an urgent priority and will be completed early in the next Plan. Baha’is participated prominently in the organization and activities of the Fourth United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing. A National Teacher Training Center was established at the Louhelen Baha’f School and produced 198 teacher trainers and more than 2,000 trained teachers of the Core Curriculum for the Baha‘i education of children. Forty-eight Parent Facilitators and 70 Race Unity Liaisons were also trained to deliver programs in the community. Volunteer services, valued at more than $10 million, were used extensively in the national administration, schools, properties and the House of Worship. Social and economic development initiatives made dramatic gains during the Plan. Health for Humanity, Mottahedeh Development Services, the Rabbani Trust, the Okeechobee Institute, the Woodburn Institute and the Atlanta Family Unity Center are outstanding examples of the growing, efforts of Baha'is to app ly the healing, medicine of Baha’u’llah to the ills of humanity. The Baha‘f Chair for World Peace has received deserved recognition for its important contributions to the advancement of the University of Maryland as witnessed this past year during the Fourth International Dialogue on the Transition to Global Society (“Divisive Barbarity or GlobalCivilization: The Ethical Dimension of Science, Art, Religion and Politics”). The keynote address was given by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahé Ruhiyyih Khanum. Enhancing the vitality of faith The consistent expansion of activity in teaching, involvement in the life of society, social service and development are important measures of the enhancement of the vitality of faith among the believers. However, the dramatic resurgence of youth activity stands out as the highlight of the community’s growing vitality. Everywhere one looks Baha’f youth are teaching and serving. They are in inner-cities and suburbs teaching the Faith as members of Baha’i Youth Workshops, and on Reservations, at Baha’{ Institutes and in the cities completing their years of service. The spiritual discipline, vigor and commitment of the youth demonstrated at the national youth conference in Dallas in December 1995 was an important signal of their “coming of age.” The conference presentations and workshops, all conducted by youth, were uniformly outstanding, showing their knowledge of the Teachings, the refinement of their character and their commitment to action. Moreover, hotel personnel were astonished by their exemplary conduct and eager for their return. Many efforts were aimed at stimulating the vitality of the Faith among the friends. The range and content of Baha’f publications and audio and video productions expanded Cy during the Plan, as did Persian- and Spanish-language publications. Locally initiated television and radio programs also increased, along with periodical publications such as El Ruisefior and Deepen magazine. The variety and quality of Baha’i education programs continued to grow at the five permanent schools and institutes, the 37 regional schools, and the approximately 450 weekend schools. The newly established Institute for Baha’{ Studies and the Wilmette Institute provide new OP reas for systematic study of the Teachings and the raising up of armies of mature, aecpeiad and consecrated teachers. Fostering maturation of the institutions Collaboration between the Continental Board of Counselors and the National Spiritual Assembly began with the formulation of the Three Year Plan itself and expanded during the next three years. The coordinated efforts of the two senior institutions and their agencies bore fruit during the Plan, as did the resulting collaboration between the National Spiritual Assembly and local Spiritual Assemblies. Aplan to encourage organized teaching initiatives resulted in the submission of more than 870 teaching plans by local Spiritual Assemblies, a significant increase from the 162 submitted during the Six Year

Plan. The Spiritual Assembly goals program helped 1,077 assemblies contribute to the Funds, increasing contributions by approximatly 150 percent during the Plan. The Arc Fund increased 350 percent while the National Fund was able to meet minimal goals in two of the three years after sharp reductions of planned activities, programs and personnel. Notwithstanding the limitations of the National Fund, an office of Spiritual Assembly Development was established to design and implement a national training program for local Spiritual Assemblies. Many conferences and workshops were held throughout the country to foster proper functioning in teaching, the fund, consultation, the application of Baha’f principles and other topics.

The National Assembly’s Office of External Affairs increased the range of activities in the areas of human rights, the status of women, global prosperity and moral development. The defense of the Iranian Baha ’fs remains the paramount concern of this work. In conjunction with developing two Congressional Resolutions on the Iranian ’{ situation, the National Assembly mounted an outstanding exhibit entitled “Defending Religious Liberty” at the Cannon Rotunda of the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., which was admired so highly that members of Congress acted to extend the duration of the exhibit.

Annual property maintenance and repair costs continued to impose a staggering burden on the National Fund. Several overdue capital repair projects remain incomplete because of insufficient

nds. The House of Worship and Green Acre Baha’f School restoration projects were completed with borrowed funds. The multiple award-winning restoration of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkér deserves special mention; to Robert Armbruster, Restoration Project Director, we express our deep gratitude for his historic contribution. At the Green Acre Baha’i School, after almost 10 years of starting and stopping work, a breathtaking restoration of Sarah Farmer Inn was completed. At the Louis G. Gregory Bahd’{ Institute, astudio facility was purchased with borrowed funds to replace the collapsing trailer in which WLGI Radio Bahs’t has operated since its founding.

The May 19, 1994, letter

One of the most significant events of the Three Year Plan was the historic meeting of the Universal House of Justice with the National Spiritual Assembly at the mid-point of the Three Year Plan to discuss concerns about several aspects of the growth, development and functioning of the American Baha’{ community. The Supreme Body’s response to that meeting, its letter dated May 19, 1994, immediately became the guiding light for all aspects of the National Assembly’s work and functions. The National Spiritual Assembly was deeply grateful for having been able to share its concerns and cares with the House of Justice and for the infallible guidance contained in its letter—guidance from which the National Assembly will benefit for decades to come.

The guidance and instructions conveyed in the May 19, 1994, letter have had a deep affect on the thinking of the National Spiritual Assembly, its understanding of its role, its methods of operation and its institutional priorities. Since receiving the letter, the National Assembly has taken action in several areas including restructuring the Assembly's internal organization; continuing to refine its collaboration with the Counselors; further developing the methods of operation of the national administration and the education of the National Center staff; advancing plans for decentralization; reorganizing the Assembly’s annual report and its report to the del ates at the National Convention; and initiating efforts to refine and strengthen the Assembly’s relationship to the community of believers.

The day the National Assembly recelved the May 19 letter, it pulled The American Baha'i off the press, Retocmattedl the paper, and published the letter for the benefit of members of local Spiritual Assemblies and the general Baha’{ community in the United States. Soon thereafter, the National Assembly initi

[Page 28]ANNUAL REPORT

ated courses for studying the letter at the Baha’f schools and institutes, encouraged local Spiritual Assemblies and individual believers to do likewise, and, as did the Counselors, discussed the letter at conferences and community gatherings across the country. Baha’i youth discussed the letter at the national youth conferences in Phoenix (1994) and Dallas (1995) and were asked to make continuous study of its contents.

Over the past 18 months the National Assembly has held a series of meetings with the Counselors to discuss this historic letter and its implications. The eel wrote a series of letters highlighting the letter’s themes to the Nineteen Day Feasts and articles for The American Bahd’fand other publications. This practice will continue.

The National Assembly has changed its internal organization by dissolving its executive committee, acommittee of the Assembly’s six officers authorized to decide and execute secondary items on the National Assembly’s agenda. The committee had been created to expedite the burdensome workload; yet the effect was divisive, and it was abolished. The National Assembly has restructured its meeting agenda so that it focuses greater attention on issues of national policy and strategy.

A task force of Baha’f National Center staff was appointed to coordinate study of the letter among the friends there. Counselors and members of the National Assembly have led a series of nine daylong deepening and discussion sessions.

Plans for the further decentralization of the national administration, which is encouraged in the letter, proceeded apace.

At the end of this year, the National Spiritual Assembly met in a special session to review its actions on every instruction and admonition contained in the letter. Detailed review of this guidance will remain a focus of the National Assembly’s work for years to come.

The formats of the Annual Report of the National Assembly and of the National Convention were among areas marked for change. In its May 19, 1994, letter the Universal House Justice gave instructions on the Assembly’s reports to the delegates to the National Convention: “Do as Shoghi Effendi advised you: ‘Banishing every vestige of secrecy, of undue reticence, of dictatorial aloofness, from their midst, they should radiantly and abundantly unfold to the eyes of the delegates, by whom they are elected, their plans, their hopes, and their cares. They should familiarize the delegates with the various matters that will have to be considered in the current year, and calmly and conscientiously study and weigh the opinions and judgment of the eleva The report that follows summarizes the plans, hopes and cares of the National Assembly and presents comments on other topics including the external affairs work and the National Fund. Also included are a summary of the Three Year Plan goals and reports from all of the Assembly's offices and agencies.

Plans

Plan (plan) n. 1. A scheme, program, or method worked out beforehand for the accomplishment of an objective: a plan of attack.

The Universal House of Justice announced that the Four Year Plan will aim at one major accomplishment: a significant advance in the process of entry by troops. This is to be achieved through “marked progress in the activity and development of the individual believer, of the institutions, and of the local community.” Moreover, the Supreme Body expained that “an auspicious beginning for the new

lan will largely depend on the results of the current one.”

The Four Year Plan goals for our community are to be determined after Ridvan by the newly elected National Assembly in consultation with the Continental Board of Counselors. Therefore, we will comment only on one of the National Assembly’s current plans, the further decentralization of the national administration.

Decentralization

The National Spiritual Assembly began the process of decentralization during the Holy Year to expand and strengthen the administrative foundation of the Faith in the United States. In doing so the Assembly was keenly mindful of Shoghi Effendi’s guid ance that it “must never mistake the Baha’f administration for an end in itself.” The primary purpose of the administration, he says, is to serve as an “instrument of the spirit of the Faith.” The Faith is intended for humanity as a whole. “It is designed,” says the Guardian, “to benefit the entire human race, and the only way it can do this is to reform the community life of mankind, as well as seeking to regenerate the individual. The Baha’{ Administration is only the first shaping of what in the future will come to be the social life and laws of community living.”

The Universal House of Justice explains that the expansion and development of the Faith, as vital as they are, are only part of what we must accomplish. “Transformation is the essential purpose of the Cause of Baha’u'llah,” it states. “Souls must be transformed, communities thereby consolidated, new models of life thus attained.” The further decentralization of our administrative institutions is aimed at serving these purposes. The promotion of individual initiative, the preeminent power for accomplishing the goals of the Cause, fostering the maturation of Baha’ institutions, and promoting the flourishing of Baha’i communities are the primary goals of this endeavor. The Supreme Body’s assurances, stated in its letter of May 19, 1994, that decentralization is a sure means of advancing the expansion and development of the community reinforces our confidence in the timeliness of this plan.

The National Spiritual Assembly's vision of decentralization is to foster a unified understanding of strategy and policy throughout a system of agencies working in harmony to carry out the teaching and development plans. The goal of decentralization is to promote a unity in diversity of action among individual believers, institutions and their agencies. The decentralization plan aims at inspiring individual initiative, coordinating the efforts of local and national institutions, and supporting the day-to-day teaching and administrative work through a system of regional committees. The committees, both national and regional, are to serve the needs of local Assemblies and to help unify the work of the Cause.

The National Assembly proposes to establish four Regional Baha’i Committees based on the geographic divisions of the Divine Plan. Initially, these regional committees will support the coordination of the teaching work through Sipe study of teaching issues and opportunities in their regions, advice to the National Teaching Committee, and assistance in the execution of plans. As their work evolves, the regional committees will gradually take on administrative support duties required by the growing complexity of the administrative work in the region.

To strengthen and expedite channels of communication among all Baha'i institutions and agencies, the National Assembly plans to establish a national electronic network that, in the near future, will link the entire community. Pilot testing of this network will begin soon in five localities: Los Angeles, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego and San Francisco.

The decentralization plans will require new levels of spiritual discipline and administrative competence among all individual believers and Baha'i institutions. To foster the understandings and skills necessary, the National Assembly has established an Office of Spiritual Assembly Development, charged with providing systematic training for and development of local Spiritual Assemblies.

Far from adding unnecessary layers of bureaucratic control that may distance the institutions from the friends, the decentralization plan seeks to harmonize and coordinate the work of the community to strengthen mutual assistance and support among the institutions and the friends.

The National Assembly’s hope is, through furthering decentralization, to advance the process of entry by troops by fostering a fuller expression of individual initiative, institutional maturity, and a flourishing of Baha’i community life.

Hopes Hope (ho-p) v. 1. To wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment.

The Four Year Plan goal of significantly advancing the process of entry by troops through a “marked increase in the activity and development” of the individual, the institutions and the community is the

THe AMERICAN BAHA'I 28

motivating force of our hopes. Individual spiritual discipline

The essential requirements of the success of the Four Year Plan Bebe ind up in our own individual and inner lives. The spiritual transformation of each one of us will determine the extent to which we can prepare our nation to lay the foundation for its future role of ushering in the Golden Age. Our hens is that every individual believer will rededicate herself or himself to taking on this staggering responsibility that requires the spiritual discipline of a “valiant warrior.” Our Eballenges Shoghi Effendi explains, is to launch a “double crusade” to “weed out” those faults and habits inherited from our own nation and to “cultivate, patiently and prayerfully, those distinctive qualities and characteristics that are so indispensable to their effective participation in the redemptive work of [our] Faith.” The Guardian specifies that a high standard of moral conduct, absolute holiness and chastity, and genuine love and interracial fellowship are the “weapons” that every “would-be warrior” and “homefront crusader” must employ to regenerate the spiritual life of our community and then to assail the same evils in the nation itself. These requirements constitute the “bedrock” on which the security of every teaching project, financial plan and community depends.

Maturation of the institutions

A crucial part of the process of entry by troops is the swift maturation of Baha’{ institutions. Our hopes for growth cannot be achieved without local and national institutions that function properly and are loving and wise. The House of Justice explains that “the importance of Baha'i administration is its value in serving asa facilitator of the emergence and maintenance of community life in a wholly new mode, and in catering to the requirements of the spiritual relationships which flow from love and unity among the friends.” The attainment of new models of life and the consolidation of Baha’i communities will be among the products of the transformation of individual souls. The local, regional and national custodians serving on Baha’{ institutions must make every effort to foster cooperative relationships with the friends, based on “mutual confidence and trust” and characterized De fellowship.” Moreover, great care must be given to individual conduct that reflects the bright light of Baha’i teachings. Attention must also be given to the ceaseless struggle to master the wise application of the spiritual principles of our Faith to the increasingly complex problems of modern life.

Fostering happiness and love

Our hopes for attracting large numbers of waiting souls depend on fostering happiness and love in the Baha’i community. Shoghi fendi repeatedly em hasized that fostering love and happiness in the h’{ community will strengthen our unity and lead to the rapid growth of the Faith. He explained that people crave love and that they seek “not compromise but the embodiment of a high and shining ideal.” The purpose of Bahd’u’llah’s message is to “produce a new kind of people, people who are upright, kind, intelligent, truthful and honest and who live according to His great laws.” The Guardian promises that “if the friends will forget all personal differences and open their hearts to a great love for each other for the sake of Bahd’u’Ilah, they will find that their powers are vastly increased; they will attract the heart of the public and will witness a rapid growth of the Holy Faith.”

Strengthening marriage and family life

Our hopes for winning the goals of the Four Year Plan also depend on our ability to foster united and loving marriages and families, because they are the building blocks of flourishing communities and the training ground for consecrated individual believers. The degeneration of marriage and family life is a primary cause of social decay and the decline of individual life. The Baha’f writings promise that spiritually vibrant families will prosper and give rise to social change. The atmosphere within a Baha'i family, as within the community as a whole should express “the keynote of the Cause of God,” which, Shoghi Effendi has stated, “is not dictatorial author

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ity, but humble fellowship, not arbitrary power, but the spirit of frank and loving consultation.” Programs of education in marriage and family life, parenting and Baha’{ education of children are available with trained teachers to help the friends pursue these cornerstone ideals.

Cares

Care (kar) n. 1. A burdened state of mind, as that arising from heavy responsibilities; worry. Firmness in the Covenant

The House of Justice emphasizes that upholding the authority of the administrative institutions is a key element in the process of entry by troops. Believers can reinforce their spiritual discipline in this regard by striving to gain a deeper understanding of the role and purpose of the administration and By strengthening their firmness in the Covenant. This effort is essential to success in the Four Year Plan and constitutes one of our greatest cares. Attacks on the Covenant increased during the Three Year Plan. A few members of the community launched coordinated campaigns of ridicule of the Baha’{ judicial process, accusations of abuse of power among Baha’{ institutions, attempts to influence the Bahé’f electoral process, and allegations of financial misconduct in the management of the World Congress. The questions they raised and the complaints they made did not, in and of themselves, pose a problem. Our concerns are based on the partisan marshaling of various groups to bring pressure on the institutions and the intemperate criticism they employed.

Ina letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, he states: “Vicious criticism is indeed a calamity. But its root is lack of faith in the system of Baha’u’ll4h, i.e., the Administrative Order—and lack of obedience to Him—for He has forbidden it!” Shoghi Effendi warned that the American Bahd’{ community is “unavoidably approaching a testing period, crucial, prolonged, potent, purifying, clearly envisaged by ‘Abdu’l-Bahé, different from but recalling in its severity the ordeals which afflicted the dawnbreakers in a former Age.” He promised that the “anticipated trials will enable its members to plumb greater depths of consecration, soar to nobler heights of collective endeavor, and disclose in fuller measure the future glory of their destiny.”

Spiritual transformation, the acquisition of a deeply spiritual and moral character, which is the essential purpose of the Baha’{ Faith, “lies in the will and effort of the individual to achieve it in obedience to the Covenant.” Its requirements are dail\ prayer, regular reading and study of the Holy Word, and humble submission to the laws of Baha’u’llah. Consistent attention to the rigorous disciplines of inner transformation will expand greatly the capacity of the community, its institutions and its members to resolve successfully the inevitable conflicts that will arise in the course of our development.

The Funds

Contributions to the Funds grew by approximately 150 percent during the Three Year Plan in an admirable demonstration of devotion and sacrifice, the friends contributed more than $21 million to the Arc, a response to the epperl of the Universal House of Justice presented during the visit of Mr. ‘Alf Nakhjavanj, a member and its representative for that historic tour.

A sharply reduced national budget enabled the National Fund to achieve its minimal requirements and reduce its debt by $1.6 million. Over the past several years chronic deficits in the National Baha'i Fund severely constrained the national administration. The result was a growing debt and annual work force reductions that translated into insufficient staff to keep pace with the scope of work. Moreover, funds had not been available to provide regular cost-ofliving adjustments for many years. This year the National Assembly granted staff a 3 percent cost-ofliving increase, the fist in eight years. The National peembly is concerned that we cannot achieve entry by troops without the funds necessary to manage the increasing workload of the national commuay The House of Justice has said that “the magnitude of the tasks the Bahd’f community is being summoned to perform during the Four Year Plan will call for a considerable outlay of funds.” Moreover, the basic requirements of maarniseine the affairs

of the Baha’f community and maintaining its properties must be met. Although a better balance of centralization and decentralization of the national administration will greatly assist our efforts, this too will require funds to carry out.

During the Three Year Plan, the number of individual believers and Spiritual Assemblies contributing to the National Fund rose. Contributions from the friends increased by 22 percent, and 1,077 of 1,363 Spiritual Assemblies supported the Fund. These important indications of the devotion and maturity of the local institutions and of the believers encourage our confidence in the resolve of the community to meet the expanding needs of its own operations

The pattern of increasing support for the Funds is important not only because it meets the financial requirements of the Faith but also because it strengthens the sense of belonging and advances the spiritual transformation of the Pigads The House of Justice explains that “it is important for the National Spiritual Assemblies to work out ways and means of creating a sense of belonging in the hearts of the believers. One of the ways this can be done is to bring to their attention the needs of the Fund. The National Assembly should neither feel embarrassed nor ashamed in turning to the friends, continuously appealing to them to exemplify their faith and devotion to the Cause by sacrificing for it, and pointing out to them that they will grow spiritually through their acts of self-abnegation.”

Equality and oneness

The Guardian emphatically stated that the future growth and prestige of the Faith are dependent on the manner in which we Baha’fs carry out, among ourselves and in the larger community, the high standards of interracial unity and genuine love so fearlessly demonstrated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahd. Freedom from racial prejudice is the “supreme injunction of Baha’u'llah” and the “hallmark of a true Baha’f character.” “If we relax in our purpose,” states Shoghi Effendi, “if we falter in our faith, if we neglect the varied opportunities given us from time to time by an all-wise and gracious Master, we are not merely failing in what is our most vital and conspicuous obligation, but are thereby insensibly retarding the flow of those quickening energies which can alone insure the vigorous and speedy development of God’s struggling Faith.”

The eradication of all prejudices, the fostering of race unity, and the eiicnne of true equality between women and men are, according to Shoghi Effendi, among the most essential spiritual prerequisites to the success of any plan. Race unity worl became a routine part of Baha't community life during the Three Year Plan. Our community is increasingly recognized as a national leader in promating race unity. Such recognition brings with it the n to redouble those efforts because the Faith of Bah@‘u’llah is the only means for unifying our nation. Likewise, it is critical that our work on the status of women and equality be reinforced, lest we lose pivotal opportunities for the development of the

jahé’i community and the transformation of our society.

Work on the Statement on Women continues. At the outset of the Plan, the National Assembly issued through The American Baha'i a national call for papers on women and equality. Submissions were evaluated by the Research Office, the best of which were reviewed by the National Assembly. A list of key.elements was drawn up and sent to dozens of

‘is with expertise in the field who were asked to draft pay r the National Assembly’s consideration. A conference was convened entitled “Women in Baha’i Perspective,” and two retreats were held to examine the issues. A task force was appointed to compose a draft of the statement, which is not yet ready for publication. This goal, although not completed during the Three Year Plan, will Be carried over to the next Plan.

OTHER MATTERS

World Congress

At the request of the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly assumed responsibility for the Gene and financial aspects of the second Baha’f World Con ;, held in 1992, to meet the needs of the 30,000 believers from more than 200

KamAt B.E. 153 © Aucust 1,1996 29

countries who attended. sperodmnalsly, 17,000 participants used the arranged hotel Package and 6,000 the transportation. After careful reconciliation of the hotel charges, the National Assembly won a $340,000 reduction of the final payment.

After the Congress a few thousand of the friends had not paid their bills, resulting in a debt to the International Fund of $1,700,000. Several efforts were made to contact the friends, advise them of their debt, and encourage them to remit the balance due or begin installment payments. The fourth and final invoice was sent in February 1995. We are happy to report that funds have been collected from abut a few hundred people.

Following the ‘ongress the National Assembly received 586 telephone and written requests for hel from participants who experienced problems witl their air or hotel arrangements. Each complaint was painstakingly reviewed and resolved.

All funds received from airlines and participants and any savings realized from settlements with hotels and the travel agency were routinely forwarded to the World Center. Audited reports of World Congress financial results have been submitted regularly to the Universal House of Justice. ee the final report was submitted to the Supreme Body, and the books were closed.

Conclusion

Dear friends, the Universal House of Justice has described the few short years that separate us from the close of the century as a “period of both spiritual potency and immense opperrunits No doubt it will be a period of unprecedented challenge and sacrifice. In light of the difficult task we face, we reiterate these encouraging words of the Supreme Body’s letter of May 19, 1994:

“Your capacity to respond will match any challenge that may confront you in these troubled times; you have only to act on principle. Your community’s past has been glorious; its future is great beyond calculation. The divine promises to your community are certain; the blessings of Baha’u’ll4h are assured as you strive to fulfill His purpose. The wings of the beloved Master remain spread over you that you may succeed in discharging the tasks He has especially entrusted to your care. And our love surrounds you and your cherished community, growing stronger every minute. Step forward then to meet the requirements of the hour with undiminished hope and confidence.”

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Highlights of the Three Year Plan

The National Spiritual Aeanbly external affairs activities during the Three Year Plan were characterized primarily by the interaction of two major elements, one internal to the Baha’{ community and one external to the Baha’i community. First, in 1994, the Universal House of Justice gave further direction to the external affairs work of the Faith by presenting a global strategy that encouraged National Spiritual Assemblies in collaboration with the Baha’i International Community “to increase the intensity and range of the activities” in the areas of human tights, the status of women, global prosperity and moral development. Second, the influence of civil society upon the policies of national governments and the United Nations was enhanced significantly by the active participation of non-governmental organizations in a series of international conferences called by the United Nations. The National Spiritual Assembly and its staff engaged in the external affairs issues enumerated by the House of Justice through participation in UN conferences and in networks of like-minded organizations. In addition, the staff worked on issues such as the strengthening of the United Nations, developing international human rights law, UN reform, and United States obligations and participation in the United Nations.

A paramount concern and activity of the National Spiritual Assembly remains the defense of the Iranian Baha’fs and Bahd’fs in other Muslim countries. Regular meetings with government officials, contin assistance to Baha’i refugees, and work on two more Congressional Resolutions on the Iranian Baha’i situation took place during the Three Year Plan. The celebration of Ridvan 1995 was followed closely by the success of the exhibit “Defending Re

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ligious Liberty” featured at the Cannon Rotunda of the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. The exhibit and related events Sepesenics nearly 15 years of continuous work to inform the political and human rights leadership in the U.S. about the persecution of the Iranian Baha’f community and of the Baha’f community's activities and fundamental beliefs.

The National Spiritual Assembly also made major strides in its development of a national public information network; distributed the Baha’f statements on race unity and global prosperity; and asked selected local Spiritual Assemblies to present “The Promise of World Peace” and “The Vision of Race Unity” to selected members of Congress.

During the Three Year Plan the National Spiritual Assembly sent representatives to the UN World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, the UN Social Summit in Copenhagen, and the UN Fourth World Conference for Women in Beijing. It participated in activities commemorating the International Year of the Family and the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. It also assumed a leadership role in the effort for U.S. ratification of the UN Convention on Racial Di: ination and the UN Convention on Discrimination Against Women.

The Baha’ International Community released a significant document entitled “Turning Point for All Nations” for the 50th anniversary commemorations of the UN in October 1995. In view of the approach of the political peace among nations and ofthe role the United States is destined to play in establishin, world peace, as promised by Baha’u’llah an “‘Abdu'l-Bah, the National Spiritual Assembly asked selected local Spiritual Assemblies to present in person or by mail the “Turning Point” to all menhen of Congress.

The National Spiritual Assembly’s offices in Washington, D.C., and New York also continued to educate the Baha’i community in the external affairs work of the Faith. They encouraged Baha’is in local communities to become involved in external affairs activities within their communities and provided Ren on collaborating with other groups. Local

jaha’is were encouraged to contact organizations of civil society and to participate in activities of social transformation. Baha’fs also were encouraged to use their talents and interests to serve the external affairs work of the Faith.

Reflecting the confusion of the American public regarding the role of the United States in the international arena, several Bahd’is expressed anxiety to the National Spiritual Assembly about the Baha’i commitment to world order and international treaties. In response, the National Assembly decided to develop a range of materials on the subjects of world order, world citizenship and world government to Buement the specific guidance requested by individuals and local Spiritual Assemblies.

Messages from the House of Justice

In its Ridvan 1993 letter the Universal House of Justice stated that during the course of the Three Year Plan “the World Center will attend to coordinating widely diverse activities throughout the Planet, giving further direction to the external affairs of the Faith as the Bahd’{ International Community is drawn more deeply into dealing with world issues.” In October 1994 the House of Justice sent to all National Spiritual Assemblies an external affairs strategy paper “to guide the global activities of the community for the immediate future.” The paper, pre ared by a committee at the request of the House of Renee states that the purpose of worldwide external affairs efforts will be “to influence the processes toward world peace...[to] concentrate on human tights, the status of women, Blobel prospenty and moral development...[and] to defend the Faith, as in the case of the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran.” The National Spiritual Assembly's external affairs efforts to date have concentrated on human rights, the status of women, sustainable development and UN reform.

The Universal House of Justice also wrote a letter to the National Spiritual Assembly in July 1994 responding to questions about external affairs that the Assembly had raised during its visit to Haifa in March of that year. The letter stated in part that the House of Justice places great importance on the ex ternal affairs work in Washington because “the relations you have built up over the years with the various branches of your national government and with important organizations are of inestimable value to the Baha’f world and are of particular relevance to efforts to defend and protect the Faith in different lands.”

In its Ridvan 1995 letter the Universal House of Justice wrote that “We feel both concern and hope in the face of the despair besetting leaders of nations and peoples in their search for solutions to pressing social problems. Indeed, such desperation is tantamount to a worldwide cry for the Teachings of Baha‘u’lldh, truly a challenge and a promise no conscientious Baha’f institution or individual can ignore.

“No occasion has more sharply conveyed this melancholy outlook than the recent World Summit for Social Development, the latest in a series of international gatherings of world leaders called by the United Nations. But however little may be the immediate influence of such events...their successive occurrence indicates to any Baha’{ observer a gradual movement toward the ultimate fulfillment of the will of Baha’u’lléh that the rulers of nations meet to consult and decide on the outstanding issues confronting an nereeeinely global society.

”...As such world events take place with greater frequency and the Baha’f community pursues its goals with increased intensity, we can see more clearly the drawing closer together of the parallel processes about which Shoghi Effendi wrote several decades ago: the one leading to the political union of nations, the other to the ultimate union of hearts in one common faith.”

Highlights of 1995-96 Activities

Defense of the Baha’is in Iran

Under the direction of the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly has continu the task of defending the human rights of the Baha’i communities in Iran and other Muslim countries. While the situation of the individual Baha'is in Iran has improved over the last three years, the Baha’{ community as a whole is still repressed and will continue to be endangered as long as it is not accorded legitimacy by the government of Iran.

he National Spiritual Assembly’s secretary for external affairs, Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, visited Washington, D.C., peeuel to keep officials informed of the latest news from Iran. The National Assembly’s public relations consultant, Marjorie Sonnenfeldt, entered her 15th year of assisting the National Spiritual Assembly in the defense of the Iranian Baha’{ community.

In February 1996 the National Spiritual Assemb! learned that a Baha’f in Yazd, Iran, Mr. Zabihullal Mahrami, had been sentenced to death for apostasy by the Islamic Revolutionary Court in that city. Under the direction of the Baha’f International Community several National Assemblies, including the United States, informed the media of the death sentence and urged their respective governments to

rotest vigorously the death sentence. Within days uters, Agence France Presse, and PRNewswire carried stories about the Mahrami case.

The secretary for external affairs visited officials in the State Department and the White House to ask that the U.S. government publicly condemn the verdict. The visits to the government officials coincided with an appointment with Sen. Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas who was the principal Senate sponsor of the most recent congressional resolution condemning the persecution of the Bah4’is in Iran. The Voice of America broadcast into Iran an interview with Sen. Kassebaum and Dr. Kazemzadeh about the Baha’i resolution in the Senate and the Mahrami case. On February 15 the U.S. Department of State released a statement that strongly condemned the death sentence and called upon the Government of Iran to release Mr. Mahrami and to “cease its persecution of the Baha’{ and other religious minorities.”

Ina remarkable turn of events the National Spiritual Assembly learned on February 23 that the Supreme Court of Iran had set aside the verdict of death

ronounced against Mr. Mahrami. Significantly, the

iranian Supreme Court referred the case to a lower civil court instead of a revolutionary court.

The Office of Public Information sent out news releases to the public information representative

THe American BAHA’| 30

network about Mr. Mahrami’s conviction and of the action taken by the Iranian Supreme Court. At the time of this annual report, Mr. Mahrami remained in prison in Yazd, and his fate was uncertain.

In May 1995 the National Spiritual Assembly hosted a reception that opened an exhibit entitled “Defending Religious Liberty” for more than 200 guests at the Cannon Rotunda in Washington, D.C. The exhibit featured eight large panels set between 18 Corinthian marble columns that frame the circular rotunda. The exhibit documented America’s and other nations’ responses to Iran’s repression of the Bahai community. It was sponsored by Reps. John Edward Porter of Illinois and Tom Lantos of California, who are co-chairmen of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. At the reception the National Assembly presented the Baha‘f humanitarian award to Reps. Ben Gilman of New York and Lee Hamilton of Indiana. The award recipients and Rep. Porter addressed the gathering. In addition to the members of Congress, guests included officials from the State Department and Voice of America as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations. Reps. Fortney “Pete” Stark of California and Christopher Smith of New Jersey submitted remarks into the Congressional Record in support of the exhibit and the Washington Post published a brief article and picture about the exhibit in its weekly religion section.

On June 6, 1995, the Universal House of Justice wrote to the National Assembly, “We have been asked to express the immense pleasure of the House of Justice at the wonderful success you have achieved and to congratulate you warmly for having pulled off the bold feat of simultaneously putting on an exhibit at such a preedbious address as the Cannon Congressional Office Building, holding a reception and offering the Baha’ Humanitarian Award to prominent congressmen in the presence of a distinpulstied audience and in the gaze of the media. The

fact that Congressman John Porter requested that the time of the exhibit be extended by one week was a mark of its outstanding appeal. Once again, through your courageous effort, the rights of our beleaguered friends in Iran were effectively defended and the Cause of God appropriately proclaimed at high levels of American society. ...”

The National Spiritual Assembly also hosted a reception at the House of Worship in Wilmette in November featuring the exhibit, which the Assembly intends to display in Foundation Hall for several years. More than 120 people attended including a representative of Congressman Porter and State Sen. Kathy Parker. The Chicago Tribune covered the reception and exhibit along with the Evanston and Wilmette papers.

In September 1995 Rep. Porter invited members of the House of Representatives to co-sponsor House Congressional Resolution 102, “a resolution condemning Iran’s ongoing repression of its Baha’f community, Iran‘s largest religious minority group.” In November 1995 Sen. Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas invited members of the Senate to co-sponsor Senate Concurrent Resolution 42, which was identical to the House resolution. The resolutions were the seventh congressional resolutions since 1982 in defense of the rights of the Iranian Bahd’i community. Both Houses of Congress were expected to vote on the resolutions in early 1996.

In Wilmette the Baha'i Refugee Office, under the coordination of its director, Puran Stevens, continued to assist U.S.-bound refugees and to obtain humanitarian parole for urgent medical cases. The director of the Refugee Office worked with officials at the U.S. State and Justice Departments as well as with the UN ae Commission on Refugees office in Washington, D.C., to help shape national and incecfaliorl policy toward U.S.-bound Iranian refugees and asylum seekers. The office was instrumental in helping to promote new regulatory language adopted by the U.S. Congress that modified U.S. immigration law.

In December 1995 the National Spiritual Assembly was one of more than 100 organizations and individuals that sent a letter to the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee about pending legislation on asylum.

In 1995 the status of U.S.-bound Iranian Baha’{ refugees in Pakistan and Turkey was placed in greater jeopardy due to agreements reached in 1994

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PN REPORT

between the governments of Pakistan and Turke' with Iran. The Office communicated regularly wit liaisons appointed by the National Spiritual Assemblies of Pakistan and Turkey to assist in the processing of Baha’ refugees.

e Refugee Office responded to daily inquiries from the relatives of Baha’f refugees, as well as from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and immigration attorneys, regarding Iranian and other Baha’i refugee policies, procedures and cases. In addition, the Office worked with asylum and humanitarian parole cases from Iran and other Muslim countries. The Baha’f Refugee Office received several awards for its service to refugee communities including two from the Illinois State Coordinator for Refugees.

United Nations Activities

Background

Support for selected UN activities and collaboration with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that take part in UN fora has proven to be the greatest avenue for Bahd’{ entree into external affairs activities at the national level. Since its initial support in 1985 for the U.S. ratification of the UN Convention on Genocide, the National Assembly has expanded its activities by working on the preparation for the UN conferences on the environment and development, human rights, social development, and women. In recent years its staff has held positions of responsibility within networks and committees that promote international issues and UN activities. The U.S. National Assembly, one of the strongest pillars of the Bahd’{ International Community, reinforces its activities in the international arena. In fact, the BIC and the National Assembly collaborate with many of the same organizations.

Support for international issues such as the status of women, the environment, and the ratification of international treaties allows the National Assembly not only to promote principles that are fundamental Baha’{ teachings but also to exemplify by word and action Bahd’{ concepts such as unity, consultation and partnership between women and men. As the Universal House of Justice stated in its Ridvan 1990 message, “increasing calls will be made upon our community to assist, sroueh advice and practical measures, in solving critical social problems. It is a service we will gladly render, but this means that our local and National Spiritual Assemblies must adhere more scrupulously to principle.” Such adherence also protects the institutions in the increasingly divisive and partisan atmosphere in which the external affairs work is conducted.

During the Three Year Plan, the U.S. UN office encouraged selected local Spiritual Assemblies to plan activities to support the UN International Year of the Family, the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, and the Fourth World Conference on Women. Baha'is were also encouraged to participate in UN-related activities through articles published in The American Baha'i and at the permanent Baha’i schools. During 1995, 80 Baha’fs from 20 states participated in 10 regional meetings sponsored by the U.S. Labor Department in preparation for the Beijing Conference on Women. One hundred-thirty U.S. Bahd’fs attended the Fourth World Conference on Women, many of whom have since participated in follow up activities to implement the decisions made at the Conference at the grassroots level.

Fourth World Conference on Women

After nearly two years of preparation more than 17,000 people took part in the Fourth World Conference on Women (September 4-15) in Beljing, China, and more than 30,000 participants, including 600 Bahd’is from more than 60 countries, gathered at the

arallel NGO Forum (August 30-September 8) in luairou.

The National Assembly’s Washington and New York offices had prepared extensively for the Women’s Conference. The New York offices collaborated with the BIC Office to produce public information materials, including a survey that measured the participation of women in the Baha’f community, and assisted with the publication The Greatness Which The Might Be Theirs. The U.S. UN representative, Rebequa Murphy, helped organize Baha’f volunteers and develop the Baha’f program at the Fo rum. The U.S. UN office also provided guidance to the 130 American Baha’is who attended the Conference and to local Baha’{ communities who found opportunities to take part in local Beijing-related activities.

In Washington, D.C., the deputy director for external affairs, Kit Cosby, was one of three co-chairs of the Working Group on Human Rights of Women (WGHRW), whieh consisted of a variety of NGOs and university professors from around the United States. The WGHRW analyzed the Platform for Action, provided U.S. government officials with recommended danguage on human rights for that document, and worked with relevant State Department officials to prepare for the Conference. In addition, Ms. Cosby met monthly with the U.S. Network for the United Nations Fourth World Conference On Women And Beyond, a group of several NGOs with different interests that worked on the UN Conference and subsequent follow-up activities.

The National Assembly also contributed $500 to Women Empowering Women of Indian Nations (WEWIN) to help finance the trips of three American Indian women to the Women’s Conference.

Bahd’‘f participation in the Conference and the NGO Forum was coordinated by the Baha’f International Community Office for the Advancement of Women. National Spiritual Assembly member Judge Dorothy Nelson was one of five representatives of the Baha'i International Community delegation. The U.S. National Spiritual Assembly was represented at the UN Conference by National aecerby member Patricia Locke and by Ms. Cosby. Ms. Cosby and Ms. MuenY, were the representatives of the National Assembly to the NGO Forum.

While in Beijing, the National Assembly representatives worked with U.S. government officials and NGO representatives on sections of the Platform for Action, the UN document from the Conference. Ms. Locke was elected chairman of the Indigenous Women’s Caucus, which met each day to discuss aspects of the Platform for Action reflecting points made in the “Beijing Declaration on Indigenous Women.” Ms. Cosby collaborated with other organizations and met daily with U.S. government officials on several human rights concerns with the document. She also participated in a panel at the NGO Forum sponsored by the National Council of Negro Women. U.S. Baha'i representatives attended a reception hosted by the Baha’{ International Community at the Great Wall Sheraton Hotel. More than 300 guests from over 30 countries attended.

Since the Conference Ms. Murphy and Ms. Cosby have taken part in several events that highlighted the issues of the Conference and implementation of the Platform for Action. In addition, the U.S. UN representative continued to encourage local Baha’i communities to work with other organizations in implementing the UN document at the grassroots level.

United Nations anniversary (UN 50)

The Baha’{ International Community and the National Spiritual Assembly collaborated on activities for UN 50, which took place in San Francisco in June 1995 and in New York City in October 1995.

In June the Baha’i International Community, the National Spiritual Assembly, and the Baha'is of the San Francisco Bay area hosted and attended several commemorative events. Techeste Ahderom, the main representative of the Baha’{ International Community, and Dr. Kazemzadeh attended an interfaith service at Grace Cathedral as official Baha’ representatives. Mildred Mottahedeh and National Assembly member Judge James Nelson were among the invited guests who also included President Clinton and UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. The Baha'i Choir of Northern California sang at the service and a Baha’{ chanted in Persian a iprayes by ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Judge Nelson represented the National Spiritual Assembly at a meeting addressed by President Clinton at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera, where the UN Charter had been signed 50 years earlier. Ms. Cosby attended the same event as a member of the United Nations Association’s National Council representing the National Assem bly. The Baha'is of the San Francisco Bay area prepared music, lectures and discussions at the San Francisco

Bahd’f Center. Local Baha’{ representatives served on the planning committee for the interfaith service held at Grace Cathedral. Trish Swanson, director of the Office of Public Information, and Ms. Murphy collaborated with the Baha’i International Community on the design and production of a UN50 exhibit, which was installed at the San Francisco Baha’f center. The U.S. UN Office also encouraged Baha’f schools, college clubs and local communities to use asmaller, table-top version of the UN50 exhibit. The director of the Office of Public Information assisted the San Francisco Baha’fs with the final preparations for the Baha’i UNS5O0 events and did the final work on getting the press materials to the San Francisco press. While in San Francisco, three members of the National Spiritual Assembly’s staff also attended the conference “We the People,” which discussed the Ron and future role of NGOs in the UN system. is. Cosby was on a panel on human rights. Ms. Murphy also attended a meeting held by the Action Coalition for Global Change to discuss the establishment of a “people’s assembly” at the UN.

In October 1995 the Baha’f International Community released “Turning Point For All Nations” and hosted a symposium on Global Governance, which coincided with the opening of the 50th session of the UN General Assembly. The U.S. UN representative and her assistant, Carl Murrell, assisted the Baha‘f International Community in preparing the “Turning Point” and the symposium and also served on an interfaith committee that held a series of activities in New York around United Nations Day. Second World Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat Il)

The Baha’f International Community has encouraged National Assemblies to participate in the UN Conference on Human Settlements, also called Habitat II, to be held in June 1996 in Istanbul. The conference will focus on the problems and concerns of cities and on human settlements in general.

The National Spiritual Assembly is one of several members of the U.S. Network for Habitat II, which is preparing for U.S. participation in Habitat II. Peter Adriance, the National Assembly’s NGO liaison, and Ms. Cosby served on the Network’s Administrative Committee. The NGO liaison was also cochair of the Working Group on Documents, which is eepoevle for facilitating U.S. NGO input into the official conference documents and NGO statements. In addition, the U.S. UN representative worked with the New York Host Committee for Habitat II.

In October 1995 Baha’f representatives at the Washington and New York offices met with the project coordinator of the Baha’i Office for Habitat II in Istanbul and the director of the Baha’i International Community Office of the Environment to discuss Bahd’{ participation in Habitat II, the experience of the U.S. National Assembly in the formation of the U.S. Network for Habitat Il, and the role of NGOs in the UN conference process.

Ms. Murphy, Mr. Adriance, and Ms. Cosby attended the Third Preparatory Committee for Habitat II in New York in February 1995. The U.S. UN Office worked extensively with the organizers of the Women’s Caucus and made arrangements with the Baha’‘f International Community to offer the U.S. Network for Habitat II the use of Baha’f office facilities during the entire two-week Conference. The documents group of the U.S. Network had compiled a set of NGO amendments for the Habitat Agenda, the official UN conference document that was used extensively by the U.S. delegation appointed by the President to attend Habitat II. A specific recommendation offered by the National Spiritual Assembly about responsible citizenship, exeloped under the guidance of the Baha’f International Community, went through the UN negotiation process and re peared among the U.S. proposals. The deputy director for external affairs hosted a meeting at the Baha’{ office in New York at which the top U.S. government delegation officials attended to discuss housing and human rights with interested NGOs.

The U.S. UN Office also collaborated with the Washington Office to encourage Baha’f participation in 10 U.S. regional town meetings that were organized by the Network for Habitat II.

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U.S. ratification and implementation of UN human rights treaties

The deputy director for external affairs chaired, and with her assistant, Jeffery Huffines, attended meetings of the General Human Rights Working Group, which has supported ratification of the UN human rights treaties since the Genocide Convention in the mid-1980s. Current treaties under consideration include the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights. The commitments made by the U.S. Government at the Women’s Conference in Beijing included ratification of the Women’s Convention and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women

In July 1995 Ms. Cosby, on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Patricia Rengel, chief counsel of Amnesty International U.S.A., assumed coordination of national organizational support to ratify the Women’s Convention, as requested by the representative of B’nai B’rith Women who had done so for over a decade until her retirement.

The Baha’ office coordinated an NGO sign-on letter to all U.S. Senators urging prompt ratification of the Convention. The letter was endorsed by more than 100 organizations.

Ms. Cosby spoke at numerous conferences about ratification of the Women’s Convention, including a Stanley Foundation post-Beijing conference in Davenport, Iowa; the Feminist Expo in Washington, D.C.; and the Beijing Network follow-up conference in December 1995. She also spoke to graduate classes from the University of Washington and The American University.

The Washington office also gave guidance to local Spiritual Assemblies interested in working with local organizations and citizens to stimulate community interest in the application of the provisions and goals of the Women’s Convention.

Working group on implementation of the Race and Torture Conventions

The National Spiritual Assembly’s and the Lawyers Committee on Human Rights’ Washington offices coordinated NGO efforts to assist the U.S. government to prepare its first reports to the relevant UN committees under the UN Conventions on Race and Torture. The reports examined race discrimination and “cruel and unusual punishment” in the United States. The Working Group encouraged more than 150 organizations, including civil rights groups and other nongovernmental organizations, to send their information to the governmental officials who prepared the reports. The U.S. reports for the UN Conventions on Race and Torture are expected in mid-1996.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

InJune 1995 Ms. Cosby, at the request of the Carter Center, met with regional NGOs in Atlanta as a follow-up to the first U.S. government report on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Federal officials spoke to the NGOs about how to work with the U.S. government to help it prepare its next report under the Covenant due in 1998. Ms. Cosby led a workshop on ratification of the UN Women’s Convention. Pat Steele, the representative of the National Assembly in Atlanta, also attended the meeting.

Convention on Rights of the Child

The deputy director and her assistant attended meetings of the NGO working group in Washington that supported U.S. ratification of the Children’s Convention. This Convention had the most organized opposition in the U.S. against its ratification because it is perceived as being “anti-family” and a threat to parental authority. The National Assembly's external affairs intern in Washington prepared a legal analysis of an article published by a parent's association that opposed support of the Convention. In February 1996 Mr. Huffines attended a meeting in New York hosted by the International League for Human Rights at the UNICEF office to discuss the intersection between the ratification and implemen tation of the UN Conventions on women and children.

United Nations Association of U.S.A.

In June 1995 the United Nations Association (UNA) held its national convention in San Francisco in honor of the 50th anniversary of the UN. Jud James and Dorothy Nelson attended an official din. ner in honor of presidents of organizations affiliated with the UNA. Members of the external affairs staff from the New York and Washington offices also attended the Convention. Ms. Cosby participated ina panel on human rights. During the past year Mr. Adriance served on the advisory committee that helped to plan the convention.

Also in June 1995 Mr. Adriance began his second er of a two-year term as chairman of the UNA ISA’s Council of Organizations in Washington, a group of more than 130 Weskiing fon based organizations with membership in the UNA. Regular monthly meetings of the Council’s executive committee were held in the Baha’{ Washington office. As chairman of the Council, Mr. Adriance was also on the UNA-U.S.A. Board of Governors. He attended monthly meetings at the United Nations Information Center where Washington-based representatives of United Nations agencies discussed UN-related concerns. In June Mr. Adriance was chairman of the Council’s annual meeting which highlighted UNrelated legislation pending in Congress.

In other areas of service to the UNA-U.S.A., staff from the New York and Washington offices continued to serve on the executive committee of the Council of Organizations in New York and on UNA’s National Council.

In August 1995 a conference on “The National Assembly on the U.S. and the UN” took place in Washington that was co-sponsored by 100 organizations including the National Spiritual Assembly. Mr. Adriance represented the UNA-U.S.A. Council of Organizations on the conference's planning committee. The Metropolitan Washington Baha’i Chorale performed at a reception, and two Baha'is took pet in panel discussions on “Moral, Ethical and

piritual Values and the UN” and “Religious NGOs and the UN.”

In October 1995 Mr. Adriance organized and hosted a meeting of NGO representatives sponsored by the UNA-U.S.A. Council of Organizations that discussed the need for NGO initiatives designed to strengthen U.S. leadership in the UN. The National Assembly was one of 65 organizations that signed a letter delivered to all members of Congress urging the United States to pay its UN dues in full and on time.

In December 1995 Mr. Adriance attended a retreat of the UNA-U.S.A. Board of Governors where he was appointed to committees to develop a strategic longterm plan for UNA and to search for their new CEO.

In March 1996 members of the UNA-U.S.A. Board of Governors, including the National Assembly’s NGO liaison, and other UNA members met with more than 150 members of Congress to urge that the United States pay its UN dues on time and to support legislative initiatives that will strengthen America’s leadership in the United Nations.

Links with other Baha'i agencies

During the year the office continued its collaboration with the Louhelen and Green Acre Baha’i Schools for the systematic education of the Baha’is on international issues and UN-related activities. The office sent copies of the Baha’f International Community’s “Turning Point for All Nations” to the schools. Contact continued with World Order magazine, Brilliant Star, the House of Worship, and WLGI Radio in South Carolina.

In January 1996 the U.S. UN representative took

art in a conference on “The New World Order in

jaha’{ Perspective” organized by the Institute for Baha’f Studies in Wilmette. Ms. Murphy gave a report on the “Global Teach-In” organized by the International Forum on Globalization that took place in New York in November 1995 and participated in discussions on how to support the external affairs work through the research efforts of Baha’f scholars and students.

Other U.S. UN activities

The U.S. UN Office followed several issues and the work of a number of committees and working

groups at the UN and in the NGO community, such as the NGO Committee on the Department of Public Information, the NGO Committee on Youth, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, the NGO. Committee on Partnership, the U.S. Committee on UNICEE, the U.S. Committee on UNIFEM, and the planning Committee for the UN Environment Program Environmental Sabbath.

Mr. Murrell was asked to serve on the planning committee for the 1996 annual NGO/DPI conference in September.

Other Human Rights Activities

Working Group on Human Rights of Women (WGHRW)

Following its extensive preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Working Group on Human Rights of Women (WGHRW), co-chaired by Ms. Cosby, hosted a meeting in October 1995 with relevant government officials to discuss U.S. implementation of the Platform for Action adopted at Beijing. The WGHRW worked closely with the President's Interagency Council on Women, created to coordinate the implementation of the Platform for Action including the U.S. commitments announced at the Conference.

In December 1995 the National Spiritual Assembly, together with 19 other organizations that participate in the WGHRW, sent to U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Madeleine Albright, a letter that set forth a number of concerns about the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The concerns addressed atrocities and human rights abuses against women committed during the war. In February 1996 the National Spiritual Assembly and other participants in the WGHRW also signed a letter sent to a U.S. official at the UN Office in Sarajevo responsible for implementing the Dayton Peace Accords addressing the same concerns.

Participating organizations of the WGHRW, including the National Assembly, also wrote a letter to President Clinton in February 1996 that invited the U.S. representative to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and other relevant officials to a meeting to prepare for the CSW session in March. Ms. Cosby and Ms. Murphy attended the CSW session in New York, which focused on laying the groundwork for ensuring the implementation of the Platform for Action.

Ms. Cosby continued to participate in the Washington Coalition on Human Rights, in monthly meetings of directors of Washington-based human rights organizations, and in briefings held at the State Department by the Assistant Secretary for Human Rights on subjects such as religious intolerance, Bosnia, and the UN Commission on Human Rights.

Other status of women activities

Because of the National Spiritual Assembly’s involvement in the advancement of the ris! ts of women, the deputy director for external affairs attended two events at the White House hosted by the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton. At the April 1995 briefing Mrs. Clinton recounted her travel experiences learning about the lives of women in South Asia. In January 1996 the First Lady addressed an audience involved in the restoration of civil society in Bosnia. During a conversation in the receiving line after the January event, Mrs. Clinton expressed to Ms. Cosby her concern for the Baha’fs in Iran and their continued persecution.

Public Information

The Office of Public Information (OPI) assisted the communications media in a variety of projects throughout the year. Media requesiz for assistance came eam such sources as CNN for a television special on religion in America; Oxford Films of the U.K. to set up interviews and filming of the House of Worship; the Lynchburg, Virginia, public school system for materials to use on its education cable television station; Gannett Papers; and authors of books such as The Joy of Sects, as well as journalists from Tower Air and Hinduism Today. In September 1995, at the request of the Israeli consulate in Chicago, the director of OPI prepared and issued press materials on the occasion of the visit of the mayor of Haifa to the House of Worship.

Ms. Swanson was re-elected chairman of the New

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York City chapter of the Religious Public Relations Council.

Pl Representative network

There are currently 1,240 local public information representatives. The director of OPI held 10 regional meetings for public information representatives throughout the country and conducted training sessions at Bosch Baha'i School and the Louis Gregory Bahd’{ Institute. Similar meetings were scheduled at the other permanent Baha’f schools. The office, in collaboration with Media Services and other Baha’{ media professionals, produced a training video for public information representatives that will be available in the summer of 1996. In addition, the office informed the public information network about the re-establishment of the public information section of the Baha’f Bulletin Board System where messages and public information materials can be sent and received.

Other public information activities

In collaboration with the Washington and U.S. UN Offices, the office coordinated the regular distribution of 300 copies of each issue of World Order magazine to government, NGO and media contacts. As a result, black-owned newspapers in Memphis, Chicago and Detroit reprint e article published in the Summer 1995 issue of World Order, “Robert S. Abbott and the Chicago Defender: A Door to the Masses.” In addition, Dr. Michael Penn’s “Violence Against Women and Girls,” published in the Sprin, 1995 issue, was reprinted in a large compilation u: in the program on “Public Right, Private Injustice: International Sanctioned Violence Against Women” at the annual meeting of the American Bar Association in Chicago in August 1995. The office also worked with public information representatives in selected cities throughout the U.S. to present World Order to prominent people in their communities.

The office arranged for Baha’f radio interviews in Chicago, Detroit and other locations and prepared and sent the obituary for Tony Pelle, former public information officer for the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha’fs of the United States and the Hawaiian Islands, to wire services and national media outlets.

In September 1995 Ms. Swanson attended a media colloquium at Bosch Bahd’‘f school organized b a number of individuals to explore ways in whic! visual media can be used to bring the Faith to the attention of the public. An international association was formed as an outcome of the colloquium. A number of individuals with varied skills were identified who may be of assistance to the work of the office.

The office collaborated with the organizers of the 19th annual Conference of the Association for Baha’t Studies in San Francisco and of the National Youth Conference in Dallas to handle media issues and worked with area public information representatives to ensure media coverage of the conferences. The office also worked with Baha’fs in Denver and Phoenix to prepare a story on Baha’i youth workshops to be presented to the media in a number of cities.

In November 1995 Ms. Swanson was invited b) the Baha’is of Laguna Niguel, California, to speal ata religious diversity fair sponsored by the National Conference (of Christians and Jews) at the University of California.

Race unity activities

In July 1995 the National Spiritual Assembly asked 84 local Spiritual Assemblies to present the race unit and peace statements to the new members of 104t! Congress.

Dr. Carole Miller and Pat Steele continued their work as representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly to the Martin Luther King Center and the King Federal Holiday Commission. The Bahd’f representatives were involved with local and national institutions such as the Georgia Human Relations Commission and Interfaith Advisory Council, the Committee of Religion for the Atlanta Project of the Carter Presidential Center, and the Martin Luther ne Jr. Youth Assembly.

Although plans are under way to phase out the duties of the King Holiday Commission, Dr. Robert Henderson and Dr. Miller were reappointed as commissioners for one more year. Dr. Miller was on the

awards committee for the Martin Luther King Holiday and helped organize a recognition luncheon in Washington, D.C., in March 1996.

Ms. Steele and Dr. Miller helped the King Center

repare for the King Holiday activities in Atlanta in ace 1996 which included coordination of the program “Prayers Around the World,” coordination of the multicultural committee for the “Celebrate Difference” program for 3,000 school children, and preparations for the Martin Luther King March. Mrs. Coretta Scott ee | PuBlcly acknowledged her appreciation for Baha’{ service during the “Prayers Around the World” program. The King Center did not organize a parade this year. Dr. Jack McCants was the featured speaker at the Martin Luther King March and the “Prayers Around the World” pro ram. g Ms. Steele has solicited collaboration from various officials of the Atlanta Project and the Carter Center in the public presentation of the National Assembly’s “Models of Unity” survey undertaken in Atlanta.

The two National Assembly representatives took

art in the Gandhi Day observance sponsored by the

dian Cultural Center in Atlanta.

In June 1995 the U.S. UN representative delivered a keynote address on “Human Rights and Race Unity,” which was co-sponsored by the city of Huntsville, Alabama, and the Huntsville Baha’f community.

Sustainable development

Since 1993 the deputy director for external affairs has been a member of the board of directors of the Global Tomorrow Coalition (GTC) as a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly. Ms. Cosby served asa national co-chair of the GT' é annual dinner in June 1995 and took part in an event in October 1995 that celebrated the organization’s 14-year effort to advance a broad understanding of sustainable development by establishing a unique partnership between government, NGOs and corporations. The Global Tomorrow Coalition closed at the end of 1995.

Throughout the year the National Assembly’s NGO liaison continued his involvement with the U.S. Citizens Network for Sustainable Development through periodic conference calls that discussed progress on the report of the President’s Council on

sustainable Development and activities related to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.

In June 1995 the NGO liaison spoke at a World Bank “Values in Development” breakfast where he gave a Bahd’f perspective on development and shared his personal reflections as a Baha’i. Also in June the U.S. UN representative gave a keynote address at the International Conference on Youth and the Environment in Denver, Colorado, attended by about 600 youth from around the world. In August 1995 the National Spiritual pecan was one of 14 co-sponsors of a luncheon hosted by the International Center for Research on Women to publicize the release of the UN Human Development Report 1995.

Southeast Asian Baha’i refugees

In addition to its work with Iranian Baha’f refugees, the Baha’f Refugee Office in Wilmette continued to locate Southeast Asian Baha'i refugees living in the U.S, and to assist their cultural integration and spiritual development through a nationwide network of Baha’{ “helpers.” The office hosted the fourth annual Southeast Asian community builders roundtable discussion conference in California that brought together Southeast Asian community leaders and Baha'i “helpers” for consultation on teaching and consolidation efforts. The Refugee Office continued to publish quarterly the Southeast Asian Helpers Bulletin to help Baha’is who are working with the Southeast Asian community. In addition, the Office produced 48 new Bahd’i materials in Southeast Asian languages including two new video tapes in Southeast Asian and English languages.

perodinale 119 Southeast Asian Baha'is were enrolled in the U.S. Baha’i community this year. The office arranged for a Malaysian Baha’{ to provide a year of service to a large Southeast Asian Baha’f community. Ms. Stevens visited four sites where large numbers of Southeast Asian Baha’fs reside and assisted in the formation of a local Spiritual Assembly

KamAt B.E. 153 © Aucust 1,1996 33

in Fall River, Massachusetts, which includes eight Cambodian members. Olympic Interfaith Advisory Committee The two representatives in Atlanta continued their work on the Olympic Interfaith Advisory Committee that discussed the role of religion in support of the Olympic Games. The committee prepared reliious activities and support services for the 1996 lympics. Ms. Steele served on the Interfaith Steering Committee and worked with the Religious Service Coordinator to review and select pastoral associates who will serve the athletes inside the Olympic Village. Ms. Steele was appointed as a pastoral associate. Ms. Steele was also instrumental in designing a logo for the Olympic Religious Center.

TREASURY

Financial review of Year Three: Triumph and test

The third and last year of the Three Year Plan saw historic progress in the relationship of the American Baha’f community and the Funds of the Faith. Individual acts of great, even heroic generosity, together with effective budget procedures and a multiyear financial management plan, combined to strengthen the Baha’f National Fund. The National Spiritual Assembly reduced its debt for the first time in years. The community, responding to the call for the Arc raised by the member and representative of the Universal House of Justice ‘Alf Nakhjavani and by a legion of volunteers across the land, acted with firmness and urgency, and poured out its material means as never before.

At the same time, vital capital improvements at the schools and institutes and in the precincts of the holiest House of Worship were postponed or cut owing to lack of funds. Hiring was held to a minimum, expansion and decentralization of the national administration were delayed, and opportunities were missed.

As the Three Year Plan closes, then, we are confronted by a record of great achievement, from which every participant may take abiding satisfaction. We also face great challenges to our maturity as a community. It is a time of celebration; it is also a time for careful reflection on the needs of the Cause of God in the closing years of the millennium.

Contributions

Offerings for the major Funds of the Faith totaled $34.6 million in fiscal 1996, up 91 percent from the previous year’s total of $18.1 million. The Baha'i National Fund received $29 million of this amount, including $11.1 million in unrestricted contributions to the National Spiritual Assembly, which compares favorably with the $10.4 million in unrestricted gifts received last year. The unrestricted total included one large gift of $550,000, received during the critical early summer months.

The Baha’i International Fund, also the recipient of a single large gift, closed the year at $1.4 million, some 142 percent ighet than inApril 1995. The Continental Baha’{ Fund saw only a minor increase, from $228,000 in 1995 to $252,000 this year. Other international earmarked contributions went from $360,000 to $462,000.

The largest increase, of course, took place in the Arc Projects Fund. From just $6.5 million last year, donations for this first priority of the Baha’f community soared to $21.4 million, or nearly four times the 1995 total. In the month of June 1995 alone, $6.6 million was contributed by the friends, more than all of last year’s total.

Estate bequests

In the Fall of 1995, the National Spiritual Assembly received one of the largest bequests in its history,a ingle gift of $1.3 million. Other planned gifts brought the total of estate bequests to just under $2 million, compared with $495,000 last year. The bulk of these estate funds remain invested and constitute an important reserve for the National Assembly as we embark on the first year of the new Four Year Plan.

Earned revenues Earned revenues of $3.2 million were well below

the $4.1 million budget projection and 11 percent lower than last year. The main factor causing this

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THe AMERICAN BAHA'I

ANNUAL REPORT

shortfall was lower than expected sales at the Baha’{ Publishing Trust, which had projected revenues of $2.4 million but realized actual sales of $1.6 million. Tuition revenues at the schools were also down because of lower than average attendance. Important progress was made, however, in obtaining highermargin rentals from non-Baha’f customers, particularly at the Louhelen Baha’f School.

Summary The total of the contributions, estate bequests and earned revenues, as well as smaller contributions in properties, brought National Fund income to $34.8 million, a 74 percent increase from last year’s total out was driven by the higher amounts allocated to Are.

Expenses

The single largest outlay of the National Spiritual Assembly went to the International Funds of the Faith: $18.2 million, up 264 percent, or more than three times last year’s total.

The general operations of the national administration cost $13.6 million in fiscal 1996, reflecting no change from the total last year and only a 2 percent increase during the whole of the Plan. With inflation averaging about twice that pace over the threeyear period, operational outlays by the National Spiritual Assembly have declined steadily.

The creation and implementation of the Core Curriculum and the National Teacher Training Center, as well as a new believers’ course, are shown in the large increase for the Education and Schools Coordinator. The schools themselves have been strengthened to the degree possible under an austerity plan: staff capacity has a increased, and jong: Poet

ned maintenance and redecoration has been done.

ianagement Information Services, at nearly $500,000, represents a major investment, as the national wide-area network is being created to facilitate institutional development, and anticipate large scale growth, but the yearly amount spent in this area has declined since fiscal 1994; the first, foundational phase is well under way, and these numbers will increase as local Assemblies are integrated into the national system.

The investments in the National Teaching Committee and External Affairs have been steadily increased; $1.4 million and $2.4 million, respectively, have been allocated to these critical areas qa the last three years. Projects, Services (including Fund Development), and the Baha’i Home are among the areas where a firm line has been held as resources have been rationed by the National Assembly.

Debt retirement

An important step was taken this year when, according to a three-year financial management plan, the goal of reducing $1.5 million of the national debt was set. In fact, $1.6 million was paid down, bringing the debt balance down to $7.8 million, the lowest level since 1993. Additional reserves of $200,000 for debt have been set aside, and $3.75 million is in the process of being restructured over a four-year period, thereby providing for a continued, orderly reduction in the debt burden of the Baha’i National Fund.

Capital improvements

In addition to the heavy maintenance needs of the various buildings owned by the community, capital improvements totaling $1.1 million were carried out last year. This amount is down 51 percent from the

revious year and 41 percent during the Three Year

lan. Both the House of Worship and Green Acre saw major restoration work during the Plan; a total of $5.3 million has been spent during the last three years, bringing these restoration projects to a successful conclusion for the present.

Last year’s budget, distributed at the National Convention, contemplated capital outlays of more than $2.5 million—all items needed to maintain and develop our national trusts in the manner they require and the friends deserve. Knowing that income would be limited, however, the National Spiritual Assembly instructed the Office of the Treasurer to manage toward quarterly targets: projects would only be commissioned if the money needed was ac lly in the bank. This discipline ensured that critical items were done, while keepin; roughly half the initial projections.

the cost to e other $1.4

million, originally budgeted for necessary improvements or repairs, has not gone away, however; it has been postponed. The new budget projects $2.9 million for fiscal 1997.

This is a clock that is ticking away: the longer these projects wait, the more they will cost. The community appears to have made a choice: avoid the cost now, even if it means twice the expense later.

Conclusions on the year

For two of the three years, the Baha’f National Fund has had operating surpluses—the excess of revenues over operating ex} has gone from just $63,500 in 1994 to $1.2 million in 1996. This victory is a testimony both to the generosity of many of the friends and the care with which these precious resources are managed by the National Spiritual Assembly. To accomplish this, however, the National Assembly has hadl to operate in a constant atmosphere of austerity, postponing the important and necessary in favor of the critical.

One more word: over-all contributions and expenses for the Three Year Plan.

The upward trend in total giving for all the Funds is dramatic. As already mentioned, over-all contributions increased 91 percent from last year and 114 percent from the first year of the Plan.

Total contributions went from $16.1 million in April 1994 to $18.1 million in April 1995 and more than $34.6 million this year—a total of $68.8 million during the course of the Three Year Plan.

Not surprisingly, most of this increase is the result of increased support for the Arc Projects. The three ear total for the Arc Projects Fund was $31.9 milion, or nearly half of all contributions received.

Total operating income for the Baha’i National Fund was $45.7 million during the Three Year Plan; Seen expenses were $45.5 million, with a surplus of just $1,250,000.

The object of this analysis is to raise the question of the adequacy of the resources available to the National Spiritual Assembly in order to accomplish its work. Over the last three years, when inflation has averaged between 3 and 4 percent, we have actually lost ground. The question for the community is whether it will remain satisfied with a condition that cannot accommodate large-scale growth.

Development and volunteer action

No review of the year would be complete without mentioning two pivotal moments in our community’s history: the Campaign of Glorious Privilege, which began in April 1994, and the visit of Mr. Nakhjavanf in the spring of 1995.

The Campaign would not have happened without the sacrificial efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Melville Thomason, whose sense of urgency helped to open anew chapter in our community life. With support from the Treasury, for two years Mel met with and trained scores of Baha'is, who in their turn recruited and trained more than 1,100 volunteers nationwide. Our community was encouraged, through collaboration with hundreds of local Spiritual Assemblies, to learn about the Arc in new ways and, incidentally, to experience our power to accomplish great endeavors in unity. The initiatives to raise funds have now, in many places, branched out into new, creative teaching and development efforts, giving vivid evidence oh the epiriledlink between giving and community maturation. We owe these friends an enormous debt of gratitude.

What preparation could have been more fitting for the visit of the member and representative of the Universal House of Justice in the summer of 1995? From the announcement of his impending visit in March 1995 the Office of the Treasurer worked to realize the National Assembly's desire to convene the entire community to receive its dear co-worker. The local Spiritual Assemblies of New York,Washington, D.C., Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco were involved immediately in the planning and responded magnificently. Pledges, never before used on such a scale, were to be taken from those who wished to make them, and follow-up contacts were to be made; in only three weeks a new accounting system was created at the Baha’i National Center to fulfill this expressed wish of our visitor. Mailings, special articles in The American Baha'i, word of mouth—every resource was used to try to ensure a worthy reception for the emissary

of the Head of the Faith. There was room for individual initiative here, too. Auxiliary Board Member Charles Cornwell, with the approval of the National Splnttual Assembly and the Counselors, launched an effort to create telephone hookups to two of the main sites. By the time this effort was concluded, 3,027 friends in 140 places, in 38 states, eight Canadian provinces and 4 countries listened live to the pre sentations from Washington and Chicago. This brought the total of participants to more than 10,000, whose response was immediate and effective.

Office of the Treasurer

There are, today, 13 staff members in the Office of the Treasurer. Among them they have processed nearly 300,000 contributions during the Three Year Plan; held scores of meetings, summer school sessions and workshops in nearly every one of the 48 states; revamped the budgeting and financial management procedures of the Baha’{ National Center; supported the work of the Continental Board of Counselors for the Americas, sister National Spiritual Assemblies and thousands of Vision in Action and Glorious Privilege volunteers; answered 20 to 30 letters daily and twice that number of phone calls; paid the bills; and played a role in nearly all of the above events.

Baha'i development:

Two development agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly have a link to the National Spiritual Assembly via the Office of the Treasurer: Health for Humanity and Mottahedeh Development Services. Both agencies have had a productive year.

Health for Humanity continued its efforts to coordinate health care training and offer supplies and service in such widely separated places as Albania, Azerbaijan, Honduras, Kenya, Belize, Dominica, China and North Korea. In collaboration with Rotary International and Operation USA, the Southern California Regional Health for Humanity Network located and shipped a packaged disaster hospital to a remote region of Guyana. The agency expanded to five the number of its regional networks in the U.S., submitted registration requests to USAID, and brought its membership to 800 individuals and organizations in 34 countries.

Mottahedeh Development Services (MDS) centered much of its attention on collaborating with the local Spiritual Assembly of South DeKalb County, Georgia, in creating and obtaining grant funding for the Family Unity Institute near Atlanta. As recently reported in The American Bahd’i, the Institute has had a major impact on proclamation, expansion and consolidation in the Greater Atlanta area. MDS also secured funding for programs in Zambia (sanitation) and Western como (education) and managed disbursement of funds for a UNIFEM project working to elevate the status of women in Bolivia, Cameroon and Malaysia. MDS personnel consulted with the Office of Social and Economic Development of the Universal House of Justice on the application of microenterprise methods in the Baha’i context.

Spiritualization of the community

We have been on a voyage of spiritual self-discovery for the last two aaa a half decades. In 1970 the Universal House of Justice told us that our difficult in meeting the Faith’s financial needs was spiritual, not material. In 1990 the National Spiritual Assembly inaugurated a program of local Spiritual Assembly contribution goals for the Baha'i National Fund and began holding town meetings around the country; contributions increased by 38 percent that year, compared with increases in charitable giving in the United States of only 3 to 5 percent. As already mentioned, in 1995-96 contributions to all the Funds were up 91 percent, or nearly double last year’s total, and giving to the National Fund rose 6 percent.

Aside from the illustration these statistics give of the efficacy of the divine guidance received from the Universal House of Justice, what do numbers like these mean? Could they indicate that we have taken astep toward the discovery of our real spiritual destiny? Next year’s results will be highly instructive in answering this vital question.

Capacity to influence human affairs

Bahd’u’llah wrote: “He who is the Eternal Truth—

exalted be His glory—hath made the fulfillment of every undertaking on earth dependent on material

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ANNUAL REPO

means.” A natural corollary of this statement is this: What happens to the work of the Faith if the material means are insufficient to the task? Without means, we cannot hope to influence the course of human affairs.

Our mission as a community is the greatest ever undertaken by any group of people. What is the level of material means required to achieve it? It certainly is not the $19-$20 million projected in recent national budgets. As large as those numbers may seem, they are wholly inadequate even to the basic tasks that we, the “envied custodians of a Divine Plan, the principal builders and defenders of a mighty Order and the recognized champions of an unspeakably glorious and precious Faith,” must accomplish.

To date, we have been held back by two things: low growth and limited participation in giving Es the body of believers. There are thousands of individual Baha’is, already on our membership rolls, who do not give. By withholding their support they are foregoing an opportunity that would bring them closer to the heart of their Faith; as the Universal House of Justice phrased it, “No believer should be unaware of the privilege of contributing to the advancement of the Cause of God, irrespective of his material circumstances. The practice a giving to the Fund strengthens the connection between the believer and the Cause and enhances his sense of identification with it.”

Individual believers and local Spiritual Assemblies hold the keys to solving our perennial dilemma; let us get over our shyness about money. First, by bringing the needs of the Fund to the friends’ attention, we are extending a great privilege to them. Second, as new believers come into the community, they must be told of the privilege that awaits them. The House of Justice advised that “The National Assembly should neither feel embarrassed nor ashamed in turning to the friends, continuously appealing to them to exemplify their faith and devotion to the Cause by sacrificing for it. ...” The same principle applies at the local and national levels within our own community.

Reaching the masses

The National Spiritual Assembly recognizes the need to reach the largest possible audience using the mass media. Indeed, consultation at National Convention in recent years has regularly produced this suggestion from the delegates. When the National Assembly is forced to send employees home, though, because there is no money to fund their posts, where is it to get the millions necessary for the kind of media exposure the Faith deserves? What is the community willing to do to make these suggestions a realit

Building for the future

In 1964 the Universal House of Justice urged our National Spiritual Assembly to set aside a part of its income each year to provide for the orderly maintenance and development of its buildings and schools. This year was the first year in all that time when the offerings of the believers, together with rigorous attention to expenses, made it possible to act on that guidance. Our Mother Temple, our schools and institutes, the Bah4’f Home—all have been vulnerable because there is no financial foundation that can provide for their needs when contributions drop. The minimal work that has been done has been accomplished by borrowing; that is why there is nearly $8 million in debt on the national balance sheet.

The future must, and will, see a different pattern, if the friends make it possible: stenaly rowing reserves that, at some hinire point, will Beconie endowments for these sacred trusts of our national community.

There has been remarkable progress this year in identifying what the Cause needs, in relating those needs to the individual's capacity for action, and in providing the means. No generation of believers has accomplished what we have done this year, and during the Three Year Plan, in such a vital field of service.Will we retreat from this pinned of achievement or, moving from “strength to strength,” will we advance?

Huqdqu’llah

Huqtgu’ll4h (Right of God) is a law revealed by Bahd4’u’lléh in the Kitdb-i-Aqdas. Obeying the law of

Hugtiqu'llah purifies the material wealth we acquire throughout our lifetime by giving back to the Cause of God a portion of that which came from our Creator.

Payments of Huqtiqu’lléh are deductible for federal income and estate tax purposes. Checks for Huqtiqu’lléh should be made payable to “Baha’{ Huqtiqu’llah Trust” and sent directly to one of the following Trustees:

Dr. Elsie Austin, Parkside Plaza #612, 9039 Sligo Creek Parkway, Silver Spring, MD 20901

Dr. Amin Banani, Santa Monica, CA 90402

Dr. Daryush Haghighi, River, OH 44116

Note: The Trustees of the Baha’f Huqtiqu’Iléh Trust have directed the Office of the Treasurer to return to the sender any checks if received for Huqtiqu’ll4h.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF THE BAHA’| FUND

Sacred obligation

Contributing to the Baha’i Fund ona regular basis is the sacred obligation and an integral part of the devotional life of every sincere believer.

Voluntary nature

The amount given is voluntary and rests entirely with the individual—yet the amount is important. Every contribution is valued by the degree of sacrifice involved. Privilege

Support of the Fund is a privilege reserved only

for those who have declared their belief in Baha‘u’llah.

Regular and sacrificial

Regular and sacrificial giving is a measure of a believer’s devotion to Bahé’u’llah and a cause of spiritual growth.

Notes to financial statements April 30, 1996, and 1995

Operations and accounting policies

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’fs of the United States (the Assembly) was established in 1927 as a voluntary trust and subsequently incorporated in October 1994 as an Illinois not-for-profit corporation to administer, teach and further the Bahd’{ Faith in the United States.

The accounts of the Assembly are maintained on the accrual basis. The financial statements of the Assembly include the assets, liabilities, fund balances and financial activities of the Baha’i National Fund, the Baha’i Publishing Trust and the Baha’i Home.

The principal accounting policies used by the Assembly are as follows:

Contributions

Contributions from members of the Faith, unless specifically restricted by the donor, are considered to be available for unrestricted use and are recorded as received. Contributions in kind are recorded at an amount representing the estimated fair market value of goods and services received during the year. Items received of artistic or religious significance for which no value can be readily determined and which are not anticipated to be sold are recorded at nominal value.

Contributions from non-members may not be used to support the Faith and, accordingly, such amounts received are distributed for other humanitarian causes. Contributions restricted by the donor for particular programs and projects, or for upropetty and equipment acquisitions, are earned and reported as revenues when the Assembly has incurred expenses for the pu specified by the donor. Such amounts received, but not yet earned, are reported as restricted deferred amounts. Estate bequests are recorded when the funds are received.

Tax-exempt status

The U.S. Treasury Department has held that the National Spiritual Assembly and all subordinate local Spiritual Assemblies are exempt from Federal income tax as organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) of 1986. Accordingly, contributions made to the National

Rocky

Spiritual Assembly and all of its subordinate local Spiritual Assemblies are deductible by the donors for Federal income tax purposes as provided by IRC Section 170.

Bequests, legacies, devises, transfers or gifts to the National Spiritual Assembly or its subordinate local Assemblies are deductible for Federal estate and gift tax purposes as provided by IRC Sections 2055,

106 and 2522.

Inventories

Inventories of books and special materials are valued at average cost.

Investments Investments are recorded at market value.

Properties and equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost. The Assembly computes depreciation of fixed assets over their estimated useful lives using the straight line method. The estimated lives used in computing de reciation are as follows: furniture and equipment, 5-10 years; buildings and improvements, 20-40 years; Baha’f House of Worship, 75 years.

Annual report of the agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha‘is of the United States

SECRETARIAT

Community Administration and Development

To provide administrative support to the National Spite ey, by monitoring the development of Bahé’i communities; providing training for the development of local Spiritual Assemblies; offering guidance to local Spiritual Assemblies in their formations, dealing with violations of Baha’{ law, problems of disunity and disputes, personal status issues, withdrawals and reinstatements of Baha’ membership; assisting believers with issues of immigration and naturalization; assisting Management Information Services with enrollments and membership transfers of individuals from the Middle East; and maintaining files of correspondence received from the Universal House of Justice.

Activities

Incorporated into the Office of Community Administration a development component, following the National Spiritual Assembly’s announcement at Ridvan 1995 of its decision to establish an Office of Assembly Development at the Baha’i National Center, renaming the agency the Office of Community Administration and Development.

Received and processed approximately 3,500 letters and approximately 8,000 telephone calls.

Prepared 70 personal status cases for the consideration of the National Spiritual Assembly. A total of 343 requests for satcieaval were granted, and 33 people were reinstated after having withdrawn from Bahda’i membership.

Sent special recognition letters and copies of “Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities” and the compilation “The Local Spiritual Assembly” to 22 newly-formed Assemblies.

Sent recognition letters and the compilation “The Local Spiritual Assembly” to 68 Assemblies that had re-formed after being lapsed.

Conducted an extensive survey among all Auxiliary Board members and local Spiritual Assemblies concerning the use and effectiveness of the Assembly Development modules and Developing Distinctive Baha’ Communities. Of the 1, Assemblies surveyed 544 responded, providing. a solid base of data from which to plan and refine future Assembly Development efforts.

Office of the Secretary Conventions

Goal

To plan, coordinate and direct implementation of National and District Conventions; to educate the American Bahd’{ community on the principles of Bahd‘f district and national elections; to plan and coordinate the redistricting of electoral units; and to educate the American Bahai community on the purpose and principles of redistricting.

[Page 36]THe AMERICAN BAHA'I

ANNU te) *4)

Activities

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

Planned and coordinated the 1996 Baha’f National Convention, an open convention held away from the Baha’i House of Worship for the second year in a row, in anticipation of serving 171 delegates and approximately 2,000 visitors.

coordinated the work of the Redistricting Task Force that compiled data and guidance about redistricting, developed new boundary lines, Pe written and oral proposals to the National Spiritual Assembly and National Center staff, and developed and implemented a plan for the education of the American believers.

Improved Conventions statistical analysis by developing a new delegate survey and preparing more specific statistical reports on District Convention voting patterns.

Redesigned the District Convention Plannin; Guide for host Assemblies and planning teams an prepared articles for The American Baha'i to educate the American Baha'i community about the purpose and history of National Convention, to inform believers about National Convention, and to present information regarding District Conventions.

Persian/American Affairs Office

Goal

To further the integration of Persian-speaking Baha’fs in collaboration with local Spiritual Assemblies, groups and individuals; to further the development and distribution of integration programs and materials that can be used also by other agencies; and to act as liaison to regional Persian media task forces appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly to monitor and respond to misrepresentations of the Faith in Persian media.

Activiti

Translated into Persian letters and messages from the World Center and the National Spiritual Assembly, Feast letters, and Dr. Peter Khan’s talk for The American Baha'i; repared Persian subtitles for the Persian video of Universal House of Justice member ‘Alf Nakhjavan{’s fund-raising talks; assisted in the translation of the statement “The Prosperity of Humankind” and prepared it for publication; assisted in translating the brochures of the Pilgrimage Office at the World Center; and prepared an average of three camera-ready Persian pages per issue for The American Baha'i.

Coordinated the work of the national and regional Persian Media Task Forces, and coordinated the work of the Persian Reviewing Panel that completed 20 reviews.

Held the fifth annual conference of Friends of Persian Culture in Skokie, Illinois, welcoming more than 500 people including non-Baha’f friends of the Faith; co-sponsored the third Persian session of Irfan Colloquium and helped prepare the texts of presentations at the first two colloquia for publication; and co-sponsored a conference of original Persian music, poetry and dance by four Bahd’{ artists in Chicago, Illinois.

‘ublished Peik 1, the proceedings of the first two Friends of Persian Culture conferences; published Tabernacle of Unity, a bi-lingual quarterly devoted to promoting integration of Iranian Baha'is, for distri ution to over 400 individuals, including members of the Continental Board of Counselors and their Auxiliary Boards; and mailed “Eliminating Racial Prejudice: The Baha’f Perspective,” a study guide in Persian published last year, to over 250 local Spiritual Assemblies for use in organizing deepenings.

Assisted with the promotion of Payam-i-Bahd'i magazine by sending materials to all Persian Baha’{ households in the U.S., by helping to appoint 20 representatives throughout the country, and by collecting subscription fees for deposit into the National Fund for later transmission to the magazine's business manager in France.

Arranged with Images International to handle sales of Baha’{ literature in Persian and Arabic not carried by the Baha’f Distribution Service.

Coordinated an Arc fund-raising tour of five U.S.

cities by Mrs. Ahdieh Badiee Pakravan and the sale of her musical videos and helped the local Spiritual Assembly of Bellevue, Washington, with its annual service in memory of the martyrs. Also assisted a Persian Baha’{ artist in Dallas, Texas, in preparing an art exhibit about the recent martyrs in Iran.

Helped establish and promote the Wilmette Institute program “Spiritual Foundations for Global Civilization.”

Office of Research and Review

Goal

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

Activities

Handled an increased volume of written communications (15 percent over last year), issuing 3,500 pieces of correspondence relevant to research, literature review, special materials review, and letters written on behalf of the Institute for Baha’{ Studies, the Wilmette Institute, the Association for Baha’f Studies and the Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund.

Completed 171 literature reviews. The completion of review of the ee translation of Mahmitid’s Diary was a major effort of the office, involving over 20 people and more than two years of effort. The review of special materials was reduced by half, from 113 reviews last year to 67 this year, following the National Spiritual Assembly’s abolishing the need for review of certain types of materials.

Researched and wrote three major projects assigned by the National Spiritual Assembly during the year: the Annual Report of the Agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly, a compilation of statistical information for the Universal House of Justice, and a report on the history and process of decentralization in the United States; wrote letters on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly at the request of its Secretariat; and located writers to complete In Memoriam articles for The Baha’i World.

Carried out a considerable amount of collaborative work with or for other agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly including serving on the World Order editorial board and contributing an article to the magazine; serving on the newly revitalized editorial board of the Baha’i Encyclopedia; serving on the International Committee of the Association for Baha’f Studies and attending meetings of the same in November 1995 and February 1996; helping to

lan the annual meeting of the Association for Baha’i

tudies held in San Francisco in October 1995; and serving on the editorial board of the Association for Baha’f Studies periodical, The Journal of Baha'i Studies.

Devoted considerable resources to the development of the Wilmette Institute and its four-year “Spiritual Foundations for a Global Civilization” program, including directing the first-year course on world religion, philosophy and theology; grading most of the homework and conducting most of the conference calls for the 65 students; drafting an outline for the entire four-year curriculum; and serving on the team negotiating with National-Louis University and other educational institutions to rent classroom space and obtain university credit for the program.

Attended the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion. The Research Office is becoming recognized by university researchers as a reliable source of information on the Faith. As a result, the staff was asked to assemble the text of the Baha'i Faith portion of a CD-ROM project, write three articles about the Faith for university and academic Pree and talk about the Faith at the University of

llinois/Chicago campus, the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Harvard University.

Association for Baha’i Studies

Goal

To encourage the practice of Baha’{ scholarship and foster the further development of the Association for Baha’‘f Studies. Activities

Provided financial support toward the continued operations of the Association. Welcomed more than 800 Baha‘fs and guests to San Francisco in October

1995 for the Association’s 19th annual Conference titled “Anarchy into Order: Uniting the Nations.”

Institute for Baha'i Studies

Goal

To support inter-agency collaboration among the National Archives Office, the Education and Schools Office, the Baha’f Encyclopedia Project, the PersianAmerican Affairs Office, the Research Office and World Order magazine, developing Baha’{ scholarship and pooling resources on a wide range of common interests.

Provided a week-long program for a delegation of wisitingiecholary from the People’s Republic of China in May 1995.

Sponsored a Baha’f scholarly program and an exhibition at the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) annual meeting, a gathering of 8,000 scholars of religious studies and the Bible throughout North America.

Supervised establishment of the Wilmette Institute.

Hosted in conjunction with the Haj Mehdi Arjmand Fellowship two conferences on study of the Baha’i writings in Persian, one at Acuto Bahd’i School in Italy in June 1995 and one at Louhelen Baha’f School in September 1995; two in English on “AntiBaha’ Polemic,” one in Newcastle, U.K., in December 1995 and one in Wilmette in March 1996. The Institute also hosted “The New World Order in Bahd’f Perspective” conference in January 1996.

Corrected errors about the Baha’f Faith in encyclopedias (Groliers Encyclopedia; Kurdish Encyclo jia) and other scholarly publications (The World’s

‘eligions: Understanding the Living Faiths). One publication required collaboration with the National Seleitual Assembly of the Baha’ fs of the United King lom.

Produced several articles on aspects of the Baha’{ Faith for publication in encyclopedias, scholarly books and a CD-ROM on religions in the United States.

Continued work on assembling a glossary of Baha‘{ terms, their definitions, spellings and phonetic pronunciation for distribution to dictionaries throughout the United States.

Expanded and improved the circulating portion of the National Baha’f Library.

Initiated a relationship with the Association for Baha’f Studies involving consultation on areas of mutual interest.

TEACHING

National Teaching Committee

Goal

To conduct expert study and provide strategic advice to the National Spiritual Assembly in all matters pertaining to teaching; to promote and execute the national teaching plan; to structure and guide administrative aspects of the teaching work, including support of task forces and state teaching committees; and to assist with teaching efforts across the country.

Activities

Called for all local Spiritual Assemblies to implement teaching strategies for the third year of the Plan either by revising existing plans as necessary or formulating new ones. Local Assemblies that had submitted plans to the National Teaching Committee during the first two years of the Three Year Plan were asked to send progress reports. More than 600 communities responded this year; during the entire Plan teaching plans were received from 872 local communities, with about half submitting a plan at least two years in a row and one-third submitting in each of the Plan’s three years.

Continued to distribute the booklet “Vision in Action” to support local plan-making processes. The booklet included: the November 9, 1993, letter from the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies about entry by troops; the October, 1993, statement and compilation “Promoting Entry by Troops,” prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice; an excerpt from the National Spiritual Assembly’s 1994 annual report on “Fundamental Issues Facing the American

[Page 37]KamAt B.E. 153 © Aucust 1, 1996 37

ANNUAL REPORT

Bahai Community”; and “A Strategy for Large-Scale Expansion and Consolidation,” prepared by the National Teaching Committee. In addition, a planning guide entitled “Evaluating and Revising Local Teaching Plans” was revised and distributed to all local Assemblies and published in The American Bahd’t.

Renewed the call to the American Baha’{ community to achieve the only remaining numerical goal of the Plan: the establishment of local Spiritual Assemblies in all cities with populations of at least 50,000. The original list of 147 was augmented this

ear to 178 to account for jeopardized local Assem lies and localities where assemblies had been lost dai the Plan’s first two years. Of these, 36 had been formed as of March 1 and an additional 43 communities had at least seven adult believers as of that date. To help achieve the goal, the National Teaching Committee asked local Assemblies to adopt these localities as extension teaching Prec mobilized State Teaching Committees to he! pecominate teaching efforts; requested all regional Army of Light coordinators to organize youth teaching trips to these areas; published repeated appenis for homefront pioneers and traveling teachers in The American Baha'i and in letters to local Spiritual Assemblies; sent individual traveling teachers, including members of the National Spiritual Assembly, to selected localities; held a series of regional homefront pioneering training institutes; and stayed in close consultation with the Auxiliary Board.

Continued the national “Army of Light” youth teaching campaign, which called for local Spiritual Assemblies to organize youth teaching projects and for youth to arise as teachers. During the summer of 1995, some 250 youth projects of various lengths and descriptions were reported, involving at least 2,500

oung participants. In preparation for the Four Year

lan, the National Teaching Committee augmented its support ayer of regional Army of Light coordinators and revised its training materials in consultation with the National Teacher Training Center at Louhelen Baha’ School.

Held a second national youth conference entitled “Army of Light: Excellence in All Things” in December 1995 in Dallas, Texas, designed to further stimulate youth initiative in teaching and service to the Cause. About 3,000 youth attended.

Placed 17 youth in Baha’ Youth Service Corps posts; guided and supported teaching activities of about 150 Baha'i college clubs and instituted a series of regional college club symposia; provided guidance to youth traveling teachers and homefront pioneers; and continued the development of Baha’f youth workshops, which nearly doubled in number during the Three Year Plan, from 40 to 78. In December the National Baha’i Youth Workshop office was dissolved and its duties taken up tem orally by, the National Teaching Office. A new National Youth Committee will be appointed at Ridvan 1996 at which time it will take up responsibility for youth workshop development and other youth activities.

Reappointed State Teaching Committees for North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Northern California and Southern California to foster intercommunity collaboration, establish statewide goals, and promote systematic patterns of teaching activity that include a balance of proclamation, expansion and consolidation efforts.

Continued national task forces for teaching Latin American and Chinese populations and continued to guide the efforts of the regional American Indian Teaching Committees. These entities are responsible for stimulating and supporting activities aimed at these respective ethnic groups, for developing specialized teaching materials, and for fostering intercommunity collaboration. The National Arts Task Force, responsible for encouraging teaching through use of the arts, continued its publication of Art Matters, a mages, dedicated to sharing information and stimulating discussion on the issue.

Collaborated with the Baha'i Publishing Trust and the Louis G. Gregory Baha’i Institute to develop a pamphlet on the life and achievements of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Greeny entitled “Louis G. Gregory, Champion of Racial Harmony,” to introduce Baha’f solutions for fostering interracial unity and understanding while also demonstrating

the American Baha’ community’s long-standin; commitment to the issue. Also collaborated wit! Bah4’‘{ Publications to reprint the pamphlet “Bahd’u'llah: God’s Messenger to Humanity,” distributing about 360,000 copies throughout the U.S. And Canada.

Worked with Media Services to produce a video about youth in service to the Cause, titled” Youth: Coming of Age,” that premiered at the Dallas Baha’{ Youth conference and was made available through the Baha’i Distribution Service.

Collaborated with the Education and Schools Office and Baha'i Publications in developing the New Believers’ training curriculum, a revised mail-out

acket for new Beeres and an introductory book

for new believers titled So Great an Honor.

Published articles and news items regularly in The American Baha'i, including a series of letters from the National Teaching Committee to the American Baha'i community about various aspects of teach

ing.

Srreried well over 1,000 community teaching projects Emouehont the U.S. by providing one or more of the following: homefront pioneers or traveling teachers; teaching and deepening materials; guidance and advice through correspondence; deputization or financial contribution; coordination of intercommunity support; and visits by members of the National Teaching Committee or its representatives. The activities of hundreds of individuals were supported in similar ways.

Enrollments recorded from May 1, 1995, through March 1, 1996, show a total of 1,351 adults and 369 youth. The number of local Spiritual Assemblies formed during the year, as of March 1, 1996, was 1,363.

Office of Pioneering

Goal

To fulfill the mandate as stated in a letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly, dated August 23, 1993, to “raise up and prepare an increasing number of long- and shortterm pioneers and traveling teachers, aiming at the deployment of at least 2,000 of them in the international field. ...”

Deployed 347 pioneers internationally as well as 877 traveling teachers who undertook 1,457 trips between std 1, 1995, and March 1, 1996. During the last year of the Three Year Plan, 51 youth comprised the largest annual total toward the 123 youth who took part in the international Baha’i Service Corps. The American Baha’{ community’s response to the pioneer call of the Three Year Plan abundantly exceeded the goal of 1,368 set by the National Spiritual Assembly at the beginning of the Plan with a total of 5,109 pioneers and traveling teachers having been deployed.

xpanded the veteran resource network from 45 to 60 individuals, including youth, serving on teams in almost all areas of the country to help recruit and train prospective pioneers to areas with specific needs. Training programs and direct, person-to-person information are available to most prospective pioneers within their own region.

Laid the groundwork for the development of a network of Baha’f Youth Service Corps Resource Persons to assist youth preparing to serve both internationally and on the jomefront through the BYSC program.

Revised the content of all Pioneer/BYSC/SITA trainings during the Three Year Plan, according to guidance received from the Universal House of Justice in a letter dated June 30, 1993, that calls for the pebarauon of believers for international service to

spiritual in nature, focusing directly on the Baha’f writings and the means by which study of the writings can be achieved successfully. Since the beginning of the Plan, more than 450 prospective pioneers benefited from such training prior to their leaving for their posts. During the last year of the Plan, six trainings conducted in Wilmette and at the schools and institutes around the country prepared a total of 182 pioneers. An additional 50-100 individuals were trained through the resource network.

Worked during the Three Year Plan to decentralize the initial administrative steps toward interna tional service to the local Spiritual Assemblies with

roductive results. An ever-increasing number of local Spiritual Assemblies took active roles in helping the friends prepare for international service through consultation, guidance, education and financial assistance.

Baha’i House of Worship

To Proclaim the name and healing message of Baha‘u'llah far and wide; to serve and work with Baha’{ communities to meet the needs of the House of Worship and to teach the Faith; to involve larger numbers of people from greater distances in the activities held in the Temple.

Activities

Welcomed 163,623 visitors from 93 countries; conducted 116 scheduled tours for more than 6,947 people; drew an additional 810 visitors with garden teaching; and conducted interviews with students preparing class papers on religion for many area colleges, universities and high schools.

Supervised the activities of 235 volunteers (35 of whom are regularly scheduled guides) who gave more than 10,000 hours of service as guides, tour leaders, discussion leaders, choir members, readers, ushers/hosts, office aides, program or hospitality coordinators and flower arrangers.

Oversaw the activities of committees and task forces including the Ascension Task Force, the Devotions Committee, the Children’s Program Committee, the Committee for the Celebration of Humanity, the Garden Teaching Committee and the Hospitality Committee.

Held daily devotions at 12:15 p.m. which were attended by 6,250 individuals, representing a 16 percent increase over last year. In addition to holding devotions on Holy Days, monthly prayer breakfasts were held and a list of prayer requests was maintained.

Commemorated all Holy Days and provided special programs for children; held open meetings to honor Universal Children’s Day, United Nations Day, United Nations Human Rights Day, International Day of Peace, World Religion Day; held a 24-hour prayer vigil for the success of the Race Unity Day walk; and conducted a Special Visit Program attended by 18 participants.

Held the 12th annual David Kellum Awards, presenting to recipients Daniel Bassill, the president of Cabrini Connections, and James Kelly, the founder of Young Peoples Network.

Supervised the operation of the House of Worship Book Shop, which realized sales of $240,000. Improved service by sending out new titles announcements via electronic and quarterly mailings and by occasionally opening the shop after Holy Day events.

Held two monthly firesides, one in English and one in Spanish, sponsored a weekly introductory class on the Faith, responded to 691 interest cards, and witnessed 23 declarations at the House of Worship.

Coordinated instructional and consultative meetings as follows: one planning tea to train local Spiritual Assemblies in assisting with hospitality and programming needs for Holy Days and special events; an annual tea for National Center Staff; trainings for volunteers to guide visitors through a new exhibit, “Defending Religious Liberty”; an annual volunteer appreciation program; North Shore Race Unity Task Force meetings; and an area community meeting to improve activities and strengthen community involvement at the House of Worship.

Provided free materials in 38 languages including a comprehensive brochure about the Faith; two prayer sheets in English, one for adults and one for children; a prayer sheet in Spanish; a copy of the statement by the Universal House of Justice on peace; and a visit card (sent to hotels, airports, tourist stops and individuals).

Published a bi-annual newsletter for volunteers and sent quarterly mailings about House of Worship activities to local Baha’i Communities.

Held membership in the American Booksellers Association, Association of Volunteer Administrators, Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, North Shore Race Unity Task Force, Wilmette Clergy Association (taking part in its Interfaith Thanksgiving,

[Page 38]PAN IN} REPORT

Service), and attended several conferences as a way of building relationships.

Provided facilities for District Convention, Office of the Treasurer’s Special Visit programs, a special address by Dr. Peter Khan, Chicago Baha’f community meeting, three memorial services and 22 wed dings. EDUCATION

Education and Schools Office and Education Task Force

Goal

To oversee the five permanent schools and institutes and the 36 regional schools committees; to supene and provide support for the Education Task

‘orce; and to create various curricula as designated by the National Spiritual Assembly including emPeas on the goals of the Three Year Plan. Activities

Provided 41 regional school sessions through the 37 regional school committees, serving more than 8,500 individuals and resulting in 19 declarations.

Developed a course for new believers to be delivered though local Spiritual Assemblies, featuring a facilitator’s guide and an audio tape with a participant's workbook, for release in the concluding weeks of the Three Year Plan.

Assisted in the development and establishment of a toll-free phone line, 1-800-DWN-BRKR, which provides information about the Faith and about school and institute programs.

Refined and delivered trainings to facilitate race unity among children and trainings related to parent facilitation.

Assisted researching Baha’ writings relevant to education for the publication Foundations for a Spiritual Education.

Created the outline for So Great an Honor, a book that serves as a companion piece to the course for new believers.

Produced an activity booklet on the life and teachings of Baha‘u’lléh to be used in conjunction with the Core Curriculum.

Assisted the Institution of the Learned in the development of programs designed to foster maturation and skill building of local Spiritual Assemblies and members of the Auxiliary Boards and their assistants.

Enriched programs at regional schools throughout the year focusing on intergenerational, interracial and intercultural harmony.

Supported the installation of the “Defending Reli ious mes exhibit in the House of Worship’s

‘oundation Hall, devising and delivering supplementary trainings on the exhibit.

Further refined the materials and training process associated with the Core Curriculum for Spiritual Education, including developmental work for new topical strands on the oneness of mankind, the Covenant, and Bahd’{ administration; conceptual and strategic growth in the parent facilitator program; significant refinement in the race unity program; and the drafting of anew summary statement of the content and process of the Core Curriculum.

Developed the Preparation of Youth for Marriage Course, which was piloted throughout the year in various schools.

Assisted in the establishment of the Wilmette Institute, in conjunction with the Institute for Baha’{ Studies, a four-year program of intensive study of the Faith, providing oversight to the project and executing tasks associated with registration and program development.

Provided support for Brilliant Star magazine, particularly for the special edition for schools, on magazine content and development.

Provided educational materials to the Baha’f community through the newsletter “Forum on Baha’{ Education” (published three times a year) and the production oft two pages in each edition of The American Bahd'i focusing on education and schools issues.

Trained 45 individuals as Teacher Trainers in the Core Curriculum for Children’s Spiritual Education, raising the number of trainers to 198; trained 38 Facilitators in the Race Unity Program of the Core Curriculum, raising the number to 70; trained 16 Parent Facilitators of the Core Curriculum program,

raising the number to 48; and raised the number of teachers trained in the Core Curriculum to more than 2,000.

Bosch Baha’i School

Goal

To provide for the spiritual and intellectual growth of the Baha’f community by incorporating the triple theme of the Three Year Plan, as well as the goals of the National Spiritual Assembly, in programs and an environment that encourages participants’ transformation through internalizing and acting upon the moral and spiritual principles of the Faith and to

rovide programs for local Spiritual Assemblies to

‘lp with group transformation and the institutions’ maturation process.

Activiti

Welcomed approximately 2,825 people at programs during the year, generating revenues of more than $250,000 in program fees and erproxinately $125,000 through sales in the Bookshop/Café. In addition, more than 30,000 volunteer hours were contributed to Bosch during the year.

Offered a five-day winter session on the Kitdb-iAgqdas; an intensive six-day choral training session focused on using Bahd’f scripture and prayer in choral music writing and performance; several sessions on prayer and meditation; a weekend session on Islam and the Baha'i Faith; a new 10-day Intensive Institute, with exploration of Baha’{ economic principles and a study of Islam; a Marriage Enrichment Weekend and three weekend counseling series for marriages in difficulty; a new session for elders, fathers and sons with a focus on the mentoring role of men; a Women’s Retreat; and four Seekers Weekend sessions aimed at teaching and deepening seekers and others close to the Faith.

Hosted a Baha’i Mysticism Conference; a second annual Arts and Teaching session; a Baha’i Public Information Officer Training in collaboration with the Office of External Affairs; a Latino Teaching Conference; a Health and Healing Symposium; a conference focused on exploring the contributions of Women in the Arts; and two “Baha’fs and Computers” sessions aimed at assisting the implementation and utilization of computer resources and the Internet for teaching and use in Baha’f communities in general.

Held three four-day Children’s Academy sessions; two Junior Youth Institutes; a Youth Institute; a College Institute; three Youth Deepening Weekends; a College Club Symposium; children’s classes at every general and intensive session whose curriculum Perle the adult program; and expanded the

fouth Service Sore program at Bosch to include

weekly intensive deepening. Presented a Core Curriculum Parent Training session, using new materials from the National Educa tion Task Force and the National Teacher Training Center at Louhelen.

Hosted a gathering of eight women who participated in the Zimaria Walker Sister to Sister South Africa teaching tour in conjunction with a Black History celebration weekend.

Offered four Local Spiritual Assembly Team Development Weekends, intensive sessions held with between four and eight Assemblies taking part ina series of trust-building activities, with time provided for consultation across LSA groupings and within individual Assemblies.

Hosted a successful Celebration of our Glorious Privilege: Arc Fundraiser Weekend, raising almost three units for the Arc Projects.

Provided facilities for several nearby communities as a venue for large Baha’f meetings and Holy Day celebrations including the Declaration of the Bab, the Birth of Baha’u’ll4h, and the District Convention.

Green Acre Baha’i School Goal

To provide an environment and educative process that fosters intellectual growth, social development and spiritual transformation in accordance with the goals of the Three Year Plan and ‘Abdu'l-Baha’s vision for the future of Green Acre.

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THe AMERICAN BAHA'I

Activities

Held 34 thematic sessions on the “Destiny of America,” drawing an approximate attendance of more than 3,300 adults, youth and children. Topics included intensified study of the Writings; personal transformation; spiritual enrichment of the Baha’{ community; education of children and youth; strengthening of family life; building models of race unity; promoting equality; accelerating the maturation of the institutions; and the pursuit of social and economic development.

Launched the 13-session summer season with a “World Unity Festival of the Arts” weekend in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations.

Held several special-focus sessions including a Latino Teaching Canterences Race Unity Conference, Pioneering Institute, Marriage Retreat, Local Spiritual Assembly Development Weekend and a Spiritual Enrichment Weekend for Seekers. During the course of the year, six souls embraced the Faith of Bahd’u’llah at Green Acre.

Collaborated with the Sarah Farmer Women’s Center on three weekend conferences promoting the equality and the advancement of women and including the themes of true partnership, a follow-up to the UN Women’s Conference in Beijing, and violence-free relationships.

Hosted programs for youth including two summer Youth Institutes, a Northeast Regional Youth Conference, and a “Baha'i Youth and Sexuality” weekend program. Youth Institute participants were deployed to offer service to regional Army of Light projects. Other youth activities included a Baha’i cole Club Symposium and a five-day Youth Service Corps Training.

Offered two teacher trainings of the Core Curriculum and sought to integrate children’s programming with the Core Curriculum for Spiritual Education.

Initiated the pecey Fellowship Café coffee house with performances, fellowship and a bookstore. Average attendance of 50-60 included seekers and new believers of all ages.

Hosted conference weekends for the public with theme presentations designed to link the principles of the Faith with issues of the day. Advertisements appearing in press releases in six regional newspapers generated three feature stories about Green Acre and its activities and attendance by non-Baha’is at each event.

Interacted with the greater community including an open house and public dinner at Sarah Farmer Inn as part of a local festival, as well as presentations by staff members for the local hospice, Unitarian church, and a Diversity Days event ata local high school.

Helped extend the range of the National Spiritual Assembly’s collaborative projects with Brazil through having two Baha’i youth from Brazil offer service at Green Acre and submitting a proposal to the two National Spiritual Assemblies on the exchange of Baha’i educators and educational material. Explored the possibility of collaborating with the Baha’i Chair for Peace at the University of Maryland in this project.

Served as a designated site for the hosting of ena persons i hosting a special visit by the

lon. Federal Deputy Luis Gushiken and Mrs. Gushiken of Brazil during the week-long Winter School program.

Provided training that led to more than 15,000 hours of volunteer service.

Louhelen Baha'i School

Goal

To support the education goals of the Three Year Plan, emphasizing the study of the Sacred Writings, expanding the human resources of the Faith, promoting race unity and the advancement of women, and supports the development of the National Teacher Training Center at Louhelen in collaboration with the National Education Task Force. Activities

Held 10 family-oriented Baha’{ education programs, two marriage enrichment sessions and seven programs for children and youth, increasing the use of the Core Curriculum in all programs, and offered

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PIN) REPORT

anew youth program focused on preparing for mareee and child-rearing. ‘

ffered three intensive study sessions on topics such as the Tablets of the Divine Plan, The Destiny of America, The Life and Teachings of the Bab, and the Baha’ understanding of Islam.

Sponeored the National Teaching Training Center in the provision of Core Curriculum training programs to the national Baha’f community.

Provided facilities for the Auxiliary Board for programs promoting area community development and teaching, and collaborated with the Auxiliary Board i nsoring two weekend institutes for local Spiritual Assembly development.

Sponsored conferences and symposia with other Baha’{ agencies intended to foster and coordinate development projects and activities in the areas of HIV/AIDS, health-related SED projects, agriculture, and three conferences with direct focus on social and economic development.

Provided systematic training and deepening to develop the capacities of all staff including five Youth Year of Service volunteers.

Provided for balanced and prominent faculty roles for persons from non-dominant ethnic backgrounds and provided key involvement to foster race unity activities in the city of Flint, Michigan, establishing a “word of mouth” reputation that has led to Louhelen’s extensive use by area non-Bahé’{ African-American groups as a rental facility.

Sponsored an annual Partnership of Women and Men conference and provided for balanced and prominent faculty roles for women.

Collaborated with governmental units and schools in the cities of Flint and Davison, Michigan, and in Genesee County to promote racial unity and effective approaches to violence prevention.

Developed significant additional sources of nonFund revenues to Support school operations, including the Bookstore Café, greatly expanded rental usage, significant project-related donations of money and equipment, and the extensive use of volunteers in all areas of operation.

Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute and WLGI Radio

Goal To serve as a resource center for training Baha’fs to enable them to become more actively involved in promoting the Faith and developing strong communities in South Carolina; to serve as a center for socioeconomic development; and to provide radio proramming to help deepen Baha'is, provide support for teaching efforts, and assist in uplifting local communities.

Activiti

Hosted the South Carolina Department of Mental Health’s fourth annual “Enabling and Supporting the Development of Black Males” conference, the 10th annual Peace Fest, and the Black Men’s Gathering; held the South Carolina Summer and Winter schools, the Louis G. Gregory /Magdalene Carney Teaching Initiative, the Youth Summit, and the New Believers Deepening; co-sponsored monthly Prayer for Peace programs by local Spiritual Assemblies; and provided support and resources for the Race Unity Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.

eponied a gospel workshop and choir, the Army of Light summer teaching initiative, and intensive teaching and consolidation in Lake City, a goal community.

Held weekly children’s classes; a six-week Summer Academy (advanced, junior youth, youth, and children); a leadership weekend for children, junior youth and youth; weekly firesides and deepenings; and unity worship services.

Served as host and offered resources for community development workshops; District Convention; Pioneer Training Institute and Youth Service Corps trainings; media training; a ually revival; agriculture workshops; advisory board meetings; a Girl Scout workshop; a wedding and a funeral.

Aired daily devotions every morning and evening, including a “Daily Pearl” quote and the short obligatory prayer; spots highlighting race unity and music Promoting racial hasmiany; special programs celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr.; several

program series focusing on the experience and contributions of African-Americans to the nation and to the Baha’f Faith; a series of programs about the election and functioning of the institution of the local Spiritual Assembly; a daily calendar of Baha’i and general events; spots on teaching the Faith; and various Baha’f talks, Holy Day programs, and special programs for the Fast.

Began developing a new deepening series based on So Great an Honor and a series on the relationship between Christ and Baha'u'llah.

Uperaded the telecommunications system and made major progress on the renovation of a new facility for Radio Baha’t offices and control rooms.

Sent two staff to the annual Radio Baha’{ Seminar in Bolivia; trained 15 volunteers for on-air and production services; trained the new manager for Radio Baha’{ Taiwan; and organized the activities of approximately 30 volunteers who provided about 4,000 hours of service.

Provided community outreach to many local organizations and media outlets including the Palmetto Project, Hemingway BBQ and Shag Festival, and a national women’s conference.

Native American Baha'i Institute

To develop local educational projects related to the indigenous culture as a means for teaching the Faith. Activities

Hosted more than 200 at a welcoming picnic for the new administrators as part of two days of festivity, friendship and reflection that included prayers, proclamation, deepening and teaching, to herald a new era of development for NABI. Administrators began visits to local Baha’is and area schools and functions as a means to introduce the Institute’s role in the community and region.

Began eight new programs: Artist in Residence, Work/Study Program, SED Research Program, Circles of Wellness, Outreach Program, Parenting Skills, Pow-Wow Club and Unity Gathering.

Initiated collaboration and exchange with the Louis G. Gregory Bahd’{ Institute in July 1995 when youth from the Louis Gregory Institute visited NABI for two weeks. NABI’s youth, primarily Native American, and LGI’s youth, primarily AfricanAmerican, hosted several programs, traveled to area functions in the Navajo and Hopi Reservation, and met with visitors to NABI. All their activities were efforts to teach and proclaim the Faith and show unity between Baha’is of two disparate cultures.

Invited the Louis G. Gregory Baha'i Institute administrators and ensemble to NABI for a week-long teaching and proclamation event, making presentations at a Navajo Catholic Church and a high school, and hosting nearly 100 people at NABI at a fireside of song, dance and storytelling. More than 500 people were introduced to the Faith over the week through the Institutes’ collaborative initiative.

Offered summer programs for the Navajo and Hopi people in the area: the Navajo Department of Social Services sent clients and social workers to participate in the Parenting Skills Program; a Children’s Pow-Wow Club and Circles of Wellness Program also highlighted NABI’s involvement with the local community life through Baha'i foundations.

Hosted the first annual “Unity Gathering and 5K Run,” attracting nearly 400 people to the two-day teaching and proclamation event. Native American traditions—storytelling, dance, songs and talking circles—were the eehiicg for presenting the Faith.

Began teaching, proclamation and community service work outreach to schools and universities by presenting artistic and educational programs of Native American song, dance, storytelling, talks and workshops to thousands of students throughout the Southwest and Western United States whose content integrated the principles and sacred writings of the Faith. An adjunct to this activity was the hostin in Baha’f homes of school officials, parents and volunteers to hear introductory firesides about the Faith and about NABI's role as a center of learning. Outreach to non-Baha’f schools, universities and organizations included 16 visits at which approximately 7,500 persons heard about the Baha’f Feith.

Hosted a two-day conference on Assembly maturation for six area local Spiritual Assemblies, at tended by more than 70 Assembly members.

Began dialogue with the University of the United Nations in Japan in hopes of placing the Institute in an internationally collaborative position to share models and research on indigenous social and economic development.

Continued active recruitment of youth in service to NABI; extended the Institute’s Dista-learning of over 7,500 courses and programs at the college and vocational levels as a work/study program for its

outh and staff in service on the Nabi campus; and involved seven youth from as far away as South Carolina in the work/study program.

Provided a master of ceremonies and volunteers and assisted with the area’s Youth Pow-Wow event. Also provided a keynote speaker to nearby Northland Pioneer College, addressing more than 200 attendees in a talk on “Unity in Diversity,” introducing the Faith to many, and discussed the possibility of future talks for collaborative work with college staff and people from some other schools in attendance. NABI administrators met with Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, in the fall of 1995, arranging for a two-week visit to the Institute by Bradley students for a three-semester-hour credit seminar. The seminar, expected to start in May 1996, represents the first NABI collaboration with a major university for credit for their students.

Wilmette Institute Goal

To create and run educational programs for the American Baha’{ community.

Activities

Established the “Spiritual Foundations of a Global Civilization” program, a four-year systematic training program. to produce better teachers of the Faith; assembled an outline of the entire four-year curriculum of the “Spiritual Foundations” program revolving around study of clebt modules: religion, Puloeee y and theology; individual development;

aha’f administration and community; world order; Bahd’{ history; Baha’{ scripture; acquisition of researching, writing and speaking skills, and development of skills to teach the Faith; retained an excellent faculty to teach both the home study and summer residential aspects of the program; enrolled 50 students from the U.S., Canada, Israel and South Africa in the first semester of the home study and another 15 during the program’s second semester; sent students some 1,000 pages of reading, requiring weekly written assignments to be graded by faculty; and divided the students into small study groups of five or six to take part in monthly conference calls with an instructor.

Began to produce curricular materials designed to teach students how to teach the Faith.

Set up “GLOBAL,” an electronic mail list for all Wilmette Institute students, faculty and staff, and began to produce The Lamp, a quarterly Wilmette Institute newsletter.

Developed an ongoing relationship with NationalLouis University, negotiating use of their dormitory, cafeteria and classrooms for the summer residential program and either undergraduate or graduate credit for Wilmette Institute course work for a small fee.

Initiated discussions with a correspondence university about setting up a Master’s degree program.

Initiated a relationship with the Yerinbool Baha’i School's three-year certificate program in Baha’i Studies, and with the Faizi Institute’s four-year program to train Baha teachers, both of which want to use curricular materials prepared by the Wilmette

Institute. PROPERTIES

House of Worship Conservation Goal

To adopt, initiate and sustain a well-defined, pieced program for the physical conservation of the

lother Temple of the West throughout the next millennium ana to provide consultation on development and repair of other Baha'i properties.

Activiti Concluded the Temple Restoration project and es

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tablished the Conservation Program’s initial plans, knowledge base and support facilities. Toward this end, the conservation materials lab was equipped with basic components and the construction shops and equipment were reorganized by storing large hoists and molds, inventorying tools and materials, and disposing of items no longer required.

Defined the terms of reference for the Temple Conservation Program and selected initial objectives for the next four years. Four hundred unique construction drawings for the Temple were organized witha computerized catalog, condition and needs assessment, and a compar wort between originals and reproductions in the National Baha’ Archives and properties files.

Developed the staff through extensive training and research on such topics as concrete materials science; concrete molds, casting and repair techniques; conservation of photographs and large documents; safety for personal protection, equipment, high access and hazardous materials; project management, contract management and supervisory skills; database and computer-aided design software.

Expanded concrete repair capabilities by developing additional materials for ornamental concrete with reduced permeability. Also created refined methods for color matching, surface grouting, precise chiseling, finish grinding and sealing. Some of these achievements represent a new “state of the art” for the industry.

Performed seasonal inspections and preventive maintenance for the Temple’s roof, gutters and waterproofing systems; employed 11 youth during the summer for cleaning, concrete repairs, documentation and bird protection tasks; vacuumed shafts,

ipes and crawl spaces in the pemple; completed the

long-awaited elevator for the disabled; and reupholstered the 1,200 chairs in the House of Worship Auditorium.

Continued to provide technical assistance for development and maintenance of the Baha’f schools, institutes and other national properties.

Baha’i Properties Office

Goal

To oversee the maintenance and development of all nationally owned Baha'i properties in the United States, to advise and 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.

Activiti

Contracted for the replacement of air-conditioning equipment at the Baha’{ National Center; contracted for the rebuilding of the retaining wall along Sheridan Road and replacement of one-third of the perimeter walkway at the House of Worship; consulted with a professional landscaping service about improving the selection ohplanty in the gardens at the Temple, and contracted for additional staff to maintain the House of Worship grounds.

Modified the fire alarm monitoring system at the National Center and Baha’i Publishing Trust buildings and completed 617 work orders for electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, locksmith, maintenance and repair services in addition to regular custodial maintenance of the National Center, Publishing Trust, Baha’ Home and House of Worship facilities and grounds.

Installed the “Defending Religious Liberty” exhibit in Foundation Hall and prepared the House of Worship for the reception in connection with the display.

Consulted with administrators of the Bosch, Green Acre and Louhelen Baha’i Schools and the Louis G. Gregory Baha‘{ Institute about routine maintenance and repairs of their properties, progress of capital projects underway, and future capital projects necessary to insure maximum use of those institutions in the future.

Consulted with caretakers of the Wilhelm and Mottahedeh PRR ERE about maintenance, repair and custodial services.

Listed 12 gift and estate properties for sale, arranging for the sale of 11 properties which resulted in $189,000 for the Fund.

PUBLISHING

Baha‘ Publications Goal

To support the teaching and consolidation work of the Baha’f Faith. Under the newly created banner of Baha’i Publications, this group is responsible for publishing and distributing sacred writings, authoritative texts, ieaching literature, introductory works, historical accounts, literature for children and youth, audio and video materials, pamphlets, magazines and a newspaper. It also provides production services for audio, video and print communications as needed by the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies.

Activities

Reprinted Bahd’i Administration; Citadel of Faith; Messages to the Baha’t World; Release the Sun; Tablets of Baha'u'llah; The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys; Epistle to the Son of the Wolf; Baha’ Prayers; The Promulgation of Universal Peace; God Passes By; The Promise of World Peace; Individual Rights and Freedoms in the World Order of Baha'u'llah; “The Vision of Race Unity”; “Baha’f Faith” (teaching booklet); “Baha’{ Faith” (teaching pamphlet);To Move the World; and Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold.

Released 10 new titles or new editions: Bahda’f Prayers; Foundations for a Spiritual Education; Consultation: A Compilation; The Prosperity of Humankind; So Great an Honor: Becoming a Baha'i; Louis Gregory: Champion of Racial Harmony; Peik 1: Friends of Persian Culture; Models of Unity II; the Baha'i Wall Calendar; and the Baha'i Datebook.

Published, in cooperation with the National Education and Schools Office, “Foundations for a Spiritual Education,” a compilation intended to aid Core Curriculum educators and teachers in understanding the nature, purpose and process of spiritual education.

Hosted the Baha’{ Publications Kick-Off Conference in October 1995 calling for nominations for editorial boards and support resources. Prepared editorial board mandates and began the process of screening nominees. The editorial boards will be appointed to use the strengths associated with management by consultative groups, to broaden the number of people involved in making key decisions in the publishing process, and to open up the publishing process to allow for the participation of a larger, more diverse group of people. The first three boards to be appointed will develop a range of publications for authoritative texts, teaching and education, and children and youth.

Distribution

Realized, as of March 1, 1996, year-to-date net sales for the Baha’{ Distribution Service of $1,318,202— approximately 3 percent higher than last year at the same time. Sales for the fiscal year ending April 30, 1996, are projected to be approximately $1,590,000 compared to $1,533,270 at the end of fiscal year 1995.

Established 1,924 new customer accounts during the year, contributing to an active customer base of more than 10,500 accounts. The number of new customers declined by 13 percent and the customer base (defined as anyone placing an order in the past two years) declined by 16 percent.

Filled 11,392 orders through the Baha’f Distribution Service this year compared to 13,499 orders filled during the previous fiscal year; however, sales per order and items per order increased. A total of 339,405 items were shipped versus last year’s 325,787. New title sales totaled $262,167, or 20 percent of total sales, compared to $277,680 for last year. Inventory value was $461,842, compared to $450,845 for the same period last year. Sales of titles published by the Baha’i Publishing Trust accounted for 26 percent of total sales, or $343,966.

Adopted a policy of charging for shipping and handling and implemented a 10 percent discount for local Spiritual Assemblies on items that were previously sold net. The Baha’f Distribution Service also upgraded its computer network and customer service software to improve over-all productivity and customer satisfaction.

Provided book sales for the Florida Flame Summer School, the Green Lake Baha’i Conference, the

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THe AMERICAN BAHA’i

Monteagle Tennessee Institute, the Dallas Youth Conference and the Baha’f National Convention.

Subscriber Services

Furnished Bahd’f periodicals to 3,162 subscribers, an increase of 50 subscribers over last year. Promotional efforts for One Country and Brilliant Star resulted ina marked increase in subscriptions for those magazines. Subscriber Services is currently work ing with other National Spiritual Assemblies to provide them with U.S.-published Baha’f periodicals.

Media Services

Integrated Media Services into the framework of Baha’i Publications which includes the Baha’{ Publishing Trust, Baha’f Distribution Services, Subscriber Services and Periodicals.

Collected hundreds of hours of material documenting Bahd’{ activities worldwide, maintained a library of archival material and production resources, and fulfilled numerous requests for footage, slides, audio cassettes and video programs for the worldwide Baha’i community.

Hired a Facilities and Services Manager, an Audio-Visual Supper Specialist, and an Administrative Assistant; drew regularly upon on the talents of part-time and volunteer workers, and established an office time management system to increase the effectiveness of internal communication, resource sharing, budgeting and production project tracking.

Installed video capability in the Baha’f House of Worship Visitors’ Center; produced programs and maintained the audio/visual equipment used in the Visitors’ Center; produced slide presentations for memorials and oly Days; and implemented an ongoing maintenance program for existing multi-image slide programs.

Recorded and duplicated the Feast messages, National Convention highlights, a Local Baha’f Centers slide presentation, member of the Universal House of Justice Peter Khan’s talk in Foundation Hall, Counselor Stephen Birkland’s talk on “Consultation” to NSA staff, and produced presentations ‘for conferences and events such as the Office of the Treasurer's “Arc Projects: Tablet of Carmel” shown at the Green Lake Baha’f Conference.

Remodeled the Media Services Library including installing computer and library database software, installing new multi-media storage units designed for 5,000 mixed tapes, and formulating policies and procedures for library access.

Filled a number of requests from Baha’is (domestic and international) regarding video and/or audio materials for use in firesides, broadcasting or multimedia CD-ROM, and began compiling copyright release materials to respond to requests for video and/or audio materials for cable or broadcasting.

Completed the sixth year of production of The Bahd’i Newsreel, featuring coverage of significant Bahd’f events, providing complimentary newsreels to the 3,500 local Spiritual Assemblies, groups and individuals within the U.S. and subscriptions and single copies for purchase through the Baha’{ Distribution Service. Three editions of the Newsreel were produced and distributed during the year, and Spanish and French translations were made available.

Produced English and Persian editions of the video “For the Love of His Beauty,” documenting the fundraising visit to the United States of Universal House of Justice member ‘Alf Nakhjavani.

Produced three “Vision in Action” videos; video programming for the House of Worship Visitors’ Center; a 30-minute video for the National Army of Light Youth Conference in Dallas titled “Coming of Age”; and a video tape titled “Amatu’l-Baha Ruhfyyih Khénum” made during the Hand of the Cause’s visit to Washington, D.C.

Completed location shooting for “First Class Publicity,” an Office of Public Information training tape; transferred video of teaching stories by former Continental Counselors Carmen de Burafato and Raul Pavon to tape for the Latin Teaching Committee; and translated “The Jewel in the Lotus” into Chinese for use by Chinese Baha’fs on China educational TV.

The American Bahai Carried regular reports from the World Center on

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EIN) REPORT

the progress of the Arc and Terraces building project; published a four-part series on social and economic development; reprinted the National Spiritual Assembly’s annual reports and its statement, “The Vision of Race Unity”; and published details of the National Spiritual Assembly’s plan for decentralization of the American Baha’f community, advice on teaching the Cause from the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahé Ran Khénum, and a transcript of a talk on mental tests by Universal House of Justice member Dr. Peter Khan.

Reported on national conferences held throughout the American Baha’f community including the 86th Bahd’{ National Convention; the Chattanooga, Tennessee, Baha’ community's fund-raising activities that led to $245,000 being contributed to the Arc; the National Bahd’{f Youth Conference in Dallas, Texas; the Louis G. Gregory Baha’{ Institute’s 10th annual Peace Fest; the American Baha’f Conference on Social and Economic Development in Orlando, Florida; and the Conference on Phaqtiqu’llh held at the Green Acre Baha’f School.

Reported other significant events, such as the exhibition and reception hosted by the National Spiritual Assembly for more than 200 invited guests at the U.S. House of Representatives Cannon Office Building in Washington, D.C., to inform them of the situation of the persecuted Baha’i community in Iran; the fourth International Dialogue on the Transition to a Global Society co-sponsored by the Baha’f Chair at the University of Maryland whose keynote speaker was the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l ha Ruhfyyih Khdnum; the speech at the United Nations by Anisa Kintz, a 12-year-old Bahd’f from South Carolina; and the actions of Baha’fs in service to their community following the deadly bombing that destroyed the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Baha'i Encyclopedia Project

Goal

To advance Baha’f scholarship by publishing a Short Encyclopedia of the Bahd’t Faith that defines Baha’f belief and practice for the general public.

Activiti

Consulted about the July 20, 1995, letter written on behalf of the Univertal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’fs of the United States about the future of the encyclopedia project and wrote to the National ese about restructuring to bring the project to completion. Received approval for implementing the Board's recommendations, including expanding the Board through the appointment of two new members and orang a editing team based in Wilmette to complete the project.

Began implementing decisions related to restructuring including relocating one editor to Wilmette to work full-time on the encyclopedia and establishing a functioning office.

gan to reassess the vast store of material in various stages of completion that will become the basis of a one- or two-volume encyclopedic work.

Brilliant Star Goal

To produce six issues of Brilliant Star magazine per year, designed to serve the needs of English-speaking Baha’ children of all ages by confirming their

‘fidentity and helping them to develop as Baha’t teachers, and one special edition for summer schools. Activities

Published six regular issues this year (Patterns of Hope, World Embracing Vision, Beloved Shoghi Effendi, Confidence in Action, Balance, and A Life of Service) and one spedal edition (One Destiny) for the Education and Schools Office to use at permanent and regional schools last summer.

Developed three activity reprint books as support materials for the Core Curriculum strand about Baha‘u'll4h for Spring ublication: “Baha’u’llah-His Life,” “Bahdé’u’llah-His Teachings,” and “Baha‘u'llah—Oneness of Humanity.”

Produced Brilliant Star Index 92-95, a four-year thematic index for parents and teachers based on themes in the Core Curriculum strands, as well as curriculum-referenced indices for teachers in every

issue of Brilliant Star.

Produced the Activities page for The American Bahdé’i using reprints from the magazine and the first

ublication in a reprint series, Brilliant Star Game

it.

Developed all materials in collaboration with the Education and Schools Office, the Education Task Force, the National Teaching Committee, and other agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Continued distribution of all non-subscription sales through the Baha’f Distribution Service and collaborated with Subscriber Services to increase the quality of subscription service and to develop new subscriber software for implementation next year.

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 Baha’f perspective.

Activities

Published the Spring 1995 issue on the equality of women and men plus “The Prosperity of Humankind”; the Summer 1995 issue on race unity and the status of Bahd’fs in Iran; the Fall 1995 issue on the equality of women and men and an editorial about the United Nations 50th anniversary; the Winter 1995-96 issue on the topic of world order including “A Turning Point for All Nations”; and the Spring 1996 issue with articles on population and develo) ment, the wonder of life on earth, and the early Bahd’‘f history of England and Germany. An article in the Spring 1995 issue—Dr. Michael Penn’s “Violence Against Women and Girls”—was reprinted in a large compilation used in the program on “Public Right, Private Injustice: International Sanctioned Violence Against Women” at the annual meeting of the American Bar Association in Chicago in August 1995. In addition, the Spring 1995 issue, containing two articles on the equality of women and men, is required reading in a course in the Peace Education Program at the Teachers College at Columbia University. An article in the Summer 1995 issue, Dr. Mark Perry’s “Robert S. Abbott and the Chicago Defender: A Door of Hope to the Masses,” was reprinted in the Michigan Chronicle, regarded as the best AfricanAmerican newspaper and one owned by Robert Abbott's nephew, John Sengstacke, who is chairman of the Chicago Defender.

SERVICES

National Baha’i Archives

Goal

To intensify study of the Sacred Writings as a means of fostering spiritual strength and transformation.

Activities

Continued work on preparing for transfer to the Baha'i World Center 42 recently acquired original volumes and notebooks containing drafts and transcripts of Tablets and talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bah4, and acquired five original letters written on behalf of the

juardian.

Answered 328 research requests (110 from the National Assembly and its agencies, 23 from other Bahd’{ institutions, and 195 from individuals); provided 5,446 photocopies of documents and 134 copies of photographs upon request; prepared computer indexes for 184 manuscript collections with 12,541 total entries; and sent information on local records and archives to nine local communities in seven states.

Received a total of 183 accessions including 122 boxes of Baha’f National Center records, 14 new collections of personal papers and 16 additions to existing collections. Significant collections received included the papers of Marzieh Gail, Ali Kuli and Florence Khan, Soo Fouts, Mildred Mottahedeh, Vedad Jurney and Olive McDonald. Made 29 inquiries concerning possible archival acquisitions and arranged and opened for research four collections of personal papers including the Corinne True Family Papers and Doris McKay Papers.

Processed 44 boxes of Baha’{ National Center records including files from the Office of the Secre tary, Office of Pioneering, District Teaching Committees and World Order magazine; microfilmed Office of the Treasurer ledgers dated from 1983-1985 as part of the Archives preservation program; processed 122 historical photographs; and photocopied 4,150 pages of newspaper ¢ ippings on acid-free paper.

Increased the library collections by 3,597 items, including 1,527 book titles, to a total of 58,827 items and sent six volumes of Association for Baha’f Studies journals for binding.

Supplied 21 local communities with sets of biographical sketches of noteworthy African-American, Asian, Hispanic and Native American Baha‘fs for use in proclamation and teaching activities.

‘onducted six group tours of the Archives including an Archives open house and relics display for the National Convention.

Hel; plan the development and launching of the Wilmette Institute’s program to develop more effective teachers of the ane i Faith, and took part in planning events held by the Institute for Baha’{ Studies and the Wilmette Institute.

Baha‘i 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.

Activiti

Provided The American Bahd’t on cassette tapes to blind believers and provided free-of-charge to seekers around the world information about the Faith in Braille and on cassette tape.

Used computer-generated Braille technology to create materials; advertised the Faith in many worldwide publications for the blind; and maintained a lending iibrasy of materials for the blind, remaining, financially independent of assistance from the National Fund.

Human Resources

Goal

To attend to the human resource needs of the National Spiritual Assembly and its employees including maintaining current staff and attracting new staff who bring a spirit of service as well as the necessary skills to carry out the hopes, plans and decisions of the National Assembly.

Activiti

Exerted a conscious effort to increase diversity among the staff; of approximately 33 new full-time permanent staff recruited and hired, more than 50 percent (17) identified themselves as minorities. Attempts were made to recruit as many capable applicants as possible from the local area to reduce staff relocation costs to the National Fund.

Assisted with the recruitment efforts of World Center staff through conferences, advertisements in The American Baha'i, and a Feast mailing.

Encouraged greater collaboration among managers and members of the Planning and Coordinating Committee, resulting in the holding of quarterly meetings between these two groups. In addition, arranged for the Secretary-General to meet with a number of individual departments to address questions or concerns specific to those areas.

Initiated a job-sharing program in the Secretariat; a cross-training program between two members of the Human Resources staff and that of Media Services and the Secretariat; and an internship program for young adults wishing to acquire skills in the Media Services area to enable them better to serve the Faith.

Initiated a new Performance Review process recommending that managers use it as a tool of encouragement, motivation and empowerment as well as for performance evaluation.

Arranged for a number of seminars for staff to assist with personal and professional development.

Management Information Services Goal

To provide services in office automation (personal computers and laser printers), network services

[Page 42]ANNUAL REPO

(electronic mail, word processing, group scheduling, membership database querying and reporting, and printer sharing), 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 Baha’{ National Center and its departments and agencies, as well as to assist in the improved productivity of offices and individuals through computers and information technologies by streamlining and automating work and providing faster access to information.

Activiti

Processed 23,901 address changes, 1,529 name changes and identification card replacements, 2,293 administrative corrections, 1,003 transfers into the American Baha’ community and 776 transfers out of the community, verified and processed 1,363 local Spiritual acemply, formations, and recorded 479 deaths.

Sent out 927,640 pieces of mail through Mail Services; use of ZIP+4 and bar-coding resulted in a savings of $79,081 to the National Fund.

Provided the Baha’{ National Center Bulletin Board System (BNCBBS) to 1,000 users following streamlining during which inactive users were removed from the database; made available selected Baha‘{ sacred writings for downloading; and arranged for messages from the Universal House of Justice and the National Spiritual Assembly to be accessed by the community.

Implemented a new registration system for the National Youth Conference that reduced significantly the time required to process pre-registrations and facilitated the process of on-site registration.

Completed automating information for the Office of Pioneering for faster access and better reporting capabilities; designed a new Subscriber Services system to increase productivity and improve customer service and a new membership and records system to increase staff productivity, handle an increased work load in the membership office and check the validity of on-line data input for more accurate information; and input of 92 percent of membership files using laser disk and imaging technology, allowing on-line access to all Peers files already in the system.

Acquired more than 100 new Pentium-class computers throughout the National Assembly’s agencies to replace aging ones and make it possible to concentrate human resources on training rather than on maintenance. Standardized LAN-based installable and upgradable software and began bi-weekly inhouse software training for staff. Classes were held in Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, Windows 95, Lotus cc:Mail, Lotus Organizer, BNC Information Services, and introduction to computers.

Installed a new campus telecommunications system and fiber optic computer network for the Louis G. Gregory Baha'i Institute.

Established a modern PC Support Services inhouse maintenance office to install, maintain, troubleshoot and upgrade personal computers and departmental laser printers. Approximately 5,000 service calls were completed through the Support Services team.

Convened a joint meeting of members from five local Spiritual Assemblies, along with members of their respective communities who have technical computer expertise, to identify the information

is of the local communities, to identify what tasks of local Assemblies can be automated, and to identify what Assemblies need to link with and accomplish tasks with other communities as a step toward integrating local Spiritual Assemblies into the decentralization process.

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 Changed travel agencies to take advantage of lower-cost services, provided on-site ticket reserva tion and printing at no cost to the National Fund, and achieved $500,000 in savings and refunds to the

Fund.

Provided regularly full support (air and land transportation, hotel accommodations,and meals) for meetings of the National Spiritual Assembly, the National Teaching Committee, the Office of the Treasurer’s Special Visit programs, the Latin Task Force, the Chinese Task Force, the Education Task Force, the World Order Editorial Board, the Short Encyclopedia Board, the school administrators meetings, the Haj Mehdi Arjmand and Institute for Baha’{ Studies conferences, and other meetings held at the Baha’ National Center and the Baha’{ House of Worship.

Arranged site contracts for the 87th Bahai National Convention, the Dallas Youth Conference and the Persian Arts Festival.

Public Safety Office

Goal

To provide for the safety and security of staff and all properties including the Baha’i House of Worship, the Baha’{ National Center offices, the Baha’f Publishing Trust, the Baha’{ Home, the Haziratu’lQuds and other local properties owned by the National Spiritual AY,

Activities

Sent two security officers to receive basic securit training and conducted in-service training with all officers to assure all were informed and up-to-date on security procedures, policies and objectives: The chief of security attended a seminar in Washington, D.C., on “Domestic Terrorism: Awareness, Planning and Prevention,” gaining excellent contacts for intelligence information and practical skills for implementation at the Baha’i National Center.

Performed maintenance and repairs on security equipment; purchased five new hand-held radios, completing replacement of old units, and obtained pagers; and updated security alarm systems and video monitoring equipment.

Provided security for the 1995 Baha’i National Convention in Chicago, the Race Unity Walk in Evanston/Wilmette, Illinois, the youth conference in Dallas, Texas, and arranged or provided security for ‘Ali Nakhjavan{’s tour of cities in the U.S.

Assigned officers to assist for nearly the full year with traffic control for vehicles and pedestrians because of bridge construction on Sheridan Road that caused unusual hazards entering and leaving the House of Worship parking lot.

Committees and Task Forces 1995-1996

National Teaching Committee

Kenneth Bowers, Dawn Haghighi, Sylvester Scott, Patricia Steele

Regional American Indian eaching Committees

Central States, East—Ilya Brecque, Ernest D. Hockings, Michael Orona, Kathy Racki, Janice Rosado, Julia Brown Wolf

Central States, West—Tim Crawford, Brad Defender, Denise Gilbert, Vernon Longie, Leslie Randall, LouiseCamille Watson

Mid-Central States—Linda Covey, Mahin O. Etzenhouser-Stanley, Marda Rodrigues, Shahrokh Roohi, Charles Schiefelbein, Phyllis Sheridan

Northeastern States—Francis (Gal Frey) Dodge, Ina McNeil, John D. Smith, Luis Torres

Northwestern States—Kizzenkeea Davis, Ferris Paisano, Samuel W. Smith, Lorintha Warwick, Dwight Williams

Southern States, East—Jullius B. Fuller, Michael Hughey, Bruce Jones, Peggy Oceola, Carlos Mario Velazquez

Southern States, West—Fuad Akhtar-Khavari, Mike Bigler, Sara Gustavus, Allison Vaccaro

outhwestern States—Layla Garrigues, Kimimila Locke, Carolena North, Robert E. Turner, Stefany Tyler

State Teaching Committees

Arizona State Teaching Committee—Charlotte Babcock, Beatrice Brown, Larry Bucknell, Gwendolyn Calhoun, Steven Calrow, Richardo Jaramillo, Sina Mowzoon, Susan Sloan, Sue White

Florida State Teachin, Contant ee Ore Cantville,

William Massey, Rick Miller, Harriet Stafford, Nahid Venus, Hannah Mill Hessler Georgia State Teaching Committee—Marco Brotto,

Patsy Gailey, Nasif Habeeb-ullah, Ida Morris, Natasha Naderi, Naysan Naderi, Floyd Searcy Ill

THe AMERICAN BAHA'I

Northern California State Teaching Committee— Ramiro Carranza, Tru Chang, Robert Clune, Karen RutanSabetan, Farshid Sabet-Sharghi, Nancy Turner, Catherine Cardell Yavrom

North Carolina State Teachin, Briber, Scott Koehler, Sandra Miles, Nightingale, Robert Tansik

regon State Teaching Committee—Rachel Greco, Bobette Heern, Claudia McDermott, Lydia McCarter, Linda Spiering, Jack Stone, David jour

Southern California State Teaching Committee—Richard Andre, Alicia Diaz, Leon Ferguson, Muhtadia Rice, Barbara Scott, James Schechter

South Carolina Coordinating Committee—William Davis, Dorothy Ellis, Debbie Jackson, Richard Morris, Moses Richericont Ursula Richardson, Nancy Songer

Texas State Teachin, Committee—Lupita Ahangarzadeh, Chris Cholas, Ajit Giani, Jeanette Hedayati, Steve King, Gwendolyn Pendleton, Shelly Pittman

Washington State Teaching Committee—Mahnaz Javid, Aaron Lewis, Joye Lucas, Kenneth Morphet-Brown, Robert Parrish

School and Institute Advisory Boards

Bosch Baha‘{ School—James Cardell, Carl Fravel, Traci Gholar, Albert Huerta, Sharon Jensen, Constance King, Kambiz Petri

Green Acre Baha‘{ School—Nina Dini, Tom Hasegawa, Mara Khavari, Wendy Suhm Kvalheim, Chester Makoski, Vickie Nizin, Farhad Rassekh, William Roberts, Robert Rosenfeld

Louhelen Baha'i School—Azar Alizadeh, Elizabeth Herth, John Meru Jr., Susan Modarai, Rene Steiner, Obioma Thomas, Heidi Unterschuetz

Louis G. Gregory Baha’i Institute—Adalia Ellis, Fereydoun Jalali, Linda Lyerly, Josephine McFadden, Deborah Deas Nesmith, Charles Thomas, Lenzy Woodard

Native American Baha’ Institute—Alice Bathke, Jacqueline Bohner, Robert Bohner, Fereshte Foroughi Faustini, Jeff Kiely, Hannah Rishel, Linda Wilson, Jol Yazzie Jr., Monte Yellowhorse

Army of Light Coordinators

National Coordinator—Dorita Krapf

Volunteer Coordinator—Amelia Allmart

Northeastern States—Rambod Hashemi, Norene Robinson, Christopher Ruhe

Southeastern States—Sue Blythe, Walter Canady, Saghi Nabily, Robert Tansik, Annette Young

Southern States—Andrea‘nea King, Alison McGee, ee Mofidi, Rocky Moncho, Andrea Seals, Michelle

ix

Central States—Susan Calimeri, Jason Chirko, Melissa Cleaver, Sandra Fair, Chryselda Glaser, Marcelle LaVine, Beth Yazhari, Ramine Yazhari, Farzad Ziai, Shiva Ziai

Southwestern States—Kee Bathke, Tammy Bathke, Bob Clune, Marva Davis, Diedre Merrill, Jennifer North Morris, May Movafagh, Joy Wieczorek

Northwestern States—-Llewellyn Drong, Rachel Greco, Mehnaz Javid, Chris Ragland

Arts Task Force—Tom Kubala, Sandra Pauer, Robert Reddy Bah4’{ Encyclopedia Editorial Board—Larry Bucknell, Betty J. Fisher, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Todd Lawson, Heshmat Moayyad, Gayle Morrison, Robert Stockman, Will van den Hoonaard

Bah4’i Service for the Blind—Mary Baral, Dean Martineau, Jane Mclver, Lynne ney, William Peay,

Brilliant Star—Meg Anderson, Keith Boehme, Susan Engle, Pepper Oldziey, Cindy Savage

hinese Task Force—Chieh-Cheng Chen, De-Yin Jeng, Iraj Kamalabadi, Pamela Solon, Lynn Wieties

Matteation Task Force—Angelina Allen, Saba AymanNolley, Beatriz Reyne Curry, Barbara Johnson, ers Kneisler, Katherine Penn, Michael Rogell, Lola Schappell, Joannie Yuille

Latin American Task Force—Vera Berrio Breton, Alexis Garcia, Luis Jimenez, Alejandro Melendez, Jorge Nossa

Parent Facilitation Task Force—Lily Ayman, Anne Breneman, A. Jack Guillebeaux, William Joyner, Marie Scheffer

National Persian Media Task Force—Guitty Ejtemaee, Mehrdad Haghighi, Ghodratollah Naderi

Persian Media Task Forces

Atlanta—Parviz Izadi, Riaz Khadem, Faezeh Kharazmi, Jamshid Monajjem, Nader Naderi, Shamseddin Sabetazm, Rouhanieh Sobhani

Washington, D.C.—Farzin Afsahi, Mahin Afsahi, Khalil Akhavan, Guitty Ejtemaee, Nosratollah Ighani, Kambiz Majidi, Ghodratollah Mostaghim, Behruz Rahimi, Melahat Zebarjadi, Soheil Zebarjadi

Persian Re nening Panel—Abolghassem Afnan (UK), Mohammad Afnan (BWC), Cyrus Agahi (UK), Iraj Ayman (US), Amin Banani (US), Kiatucnere Derakhshani (US), AH. Bashir Elahi (US), Khaze Fananapazir (UK), Riaz Ghadimi (Canada), Houshang Mehrassa (Canada), Heshmat Moayyad (US), Moojan Momen (UK), Mashallah Moshrefzadeh (US), Shapur Rassekh (Switzerland), Ali Tavangar (US)

Special Materials Reviewing Committee—Eunice Braun, Mahvash Doering, Charles Nolley, Dixie Rouleau, Robert Stockman, Lynnea Yan

World Order Editorial Board—Betty J. Fisher, Howard Garey, Firuz Kazemzadeh, Herbert W. Martin, Robert H. Stockman, James D. Stokes

Committee—Alex hr Mostael, Trevor

[Page 43]

1H Or

KamAt B.E. 153 © Aucust 1, 1996 43

Instructions about pilgrimage to the Holy Land

April 14, 1995 (Revised October 17, 1995)

The new pilgrimage scheduling system, which was announ by the Universal House of Justice on March 1, 1994, is now fully operational. The system has been designed to simplify procedures and speed up responses through the use of computers, and to overcome anomalies which had arisen in the past.

Guidelines on how to apply for pilgrimage were announced in March 1994 and were widely published, but they may not be easily at hand for all the friends now. As an assistance, therefore, the House of Justice has authorized us to provide this set of instructions for those who wish to apply for a nineda plerimage:

riends who wish to visit the Holy Land for any other purpose, such as a three-day visit, should write to the Universal House of Justice requesting permission, either directly or through their National Spiritual Assembly.

The main policies regarding pilgrimage are set forth in the attached document, and the House of Justice encourages you to study each point carefully before submitting your request for pilgrimage.

The process for requesting a nine-day pilgrimage is as follows:

1. If you wish to make a nine-day pilgrimage to the Baha’f World Center, you should send a request in writing to the Office of Pilgrimage, in Haifa, being sure to include the following information:

a. Your complete mailing address.

b. The full name of each family member who is included in your request—first (or given) name; middle name (or names, if any); and last (or family) name.

c. The family relationships of all those included (see guideline No. 6, attached).

d. date of birth of each individual on the request (e.g., 01-JAN-1990).

e. The Baha’f identification number for each individual (if he or she has one) and the name of the country where the number was issued.

2. Anacknowledgment of your request for pilgrimage will be sent to you promptly. Currently, we estimate the waiting period to be about five years from the time you submit your request until you are invited fora pierimage: Bear in mind that during this time you should promptly inform the Office of Pilgrimage of any change of address.

3. When your name comes to the top of the waiting list, you will be sent a letter stating that you are being considered for pilgrimage. Included with the letter will be an application form requesting further information. You will also be presented with a range of pilgrimage dates extending over a six-month petiod from which you will be able to indicate your preferences. If none of these dates is suitable for you, Ss may refuse the entire list, in which case you will

sent a further list within a year or so.

4. You should then complete the application form and return it within three months to our Office, indicating your preferred pilgrimage dates. If any believers wish to come on pilgrimage together, it will

be important for them to coordinate with each other to ensure that they indicate common preferences (refer to guideline No. 10). The acti lechedtilige of dates will be done on a first-come, first-served basis; thus, it is recommended that you return your application form as soon as possible after you receive it.

5. On receipt of your completed application form, our Office will issue an invitation to you.

6. You may then either accept or decline the pilgrimage date offered to you.

7. The first time you either refuse the complete list of dates offered (see point 3 above) or decline an invitation (see point 5 above), your name will be returned to the er of the waiting list and you will receive a further list of choices in due course. If you make such a refusal twice in succession, your name will be returned to the bottom of the waiting list.

As you can well appreciate, the advancement of the Cause has brought with it a rapid increase in the number of believers requesting pilgrimage to the Holy Land, making the scheduling of pilgrims a highly complex issue. While the House of Justice sympathizes with those who, for personal reasons, wish to be given special consideration in the scheduling of pilgrimages, it feels that it would not be proper to make exceptions to the normal ordering of requests. To delay the dates of some individuals’ pilgrimages by permitting others to take precedence, no matter how deserving their cases, would not be

alr.

Pilgrimage to the Baha’f World Center is a sacred experience in a believer's life, an experience which many friends must plan for years in advance. We are confident that the new system, as it is fully applied, will safeguard such arrangements, preserve the sanctity of your pilgrimage, and facilitate the scheduling process.

Universal House of Justice Office of Pilgrimage April 14, 1995 ° Policies and Guidelines for the Pilgrimage Scheduling System of the Baha’f World Center as from March 1, 1994 (Revised October 17, 1995)

1. The pilgrimage season is from the end of October through the following July of every year; there are no pilgrimages in August or September. Each

ilgrimage group consists of approximately 100 be ievers.

2. Pilgrimage assignments are based on the date of receipt of a believer’s request for pilgrimage.

3. All correspondence concerning requests for pilgrimage is directly between the individual pilgrim and the Baha’f World Center. Applicants are asked to communicate with the World Center in writing only; telephoned requests for pilgrimge cannot be accepted. Correspondence to the Office of Pilgrimage may be by st (P.O. Box 155, 31 001 Haifa, Israel); by fax (972-4-8358507); or by electronic mail (Internet address:

4. There is to be a lapse of five years from the date of the completion of a believer’s pilgrimage before

a subsequent request for pilgrimage is submitted. Thus, a believer who has been on pilgrimage within the previous five years should not write to request a new pilgrimage until five years have pai from the date of his or her previous one.

5. Believers may not exchange their places in the pilgrimage queue, give up their places for friends or relatives, or transfer their pilgrimage invitation to another person.

6. For the purpose of pilgrimage requests, families have been defined as a married couple, or a parent or parents with their children and/or step-children who are under the age of 18. Only individuals falling within this description are included in the same request and can be guaranteed an invitation together. Children 18 years or older must request pilgrimge for themselves. Thus, if they wish to come on pilgrimage with the other members of their family, it is imperative that their application be submitted at the same time as their parents’ so that they may be considered for pilgrimage at the same time (see item No. 10 below).

7. Parents are discouraged from bringing children under 10 years of age. In the event they do, the: should know that children are not permitted to visit the International Archives Building unless they have passed their ninth birthday. Parents may. not call upon Baha’i World Center staff for babyoitting services; it will be necessary for them to make their own arrangements for child care.

8. Individual applicants under the age of 18 are not accepted; however, they may ask to be placed on their parents’ request or they may wait until they have reached their 18th birthday and make a separate request for themselves.

9. Believers who are without their administrative rights as a result of administrative sanctions are not permitted to take part in a nine-day pilgrimage.

10. Individual believers who wish to come together to the Holy Land should submit their requests for pilgrimage at the same time. They will not be recognized as a group but, as their request dates will be the same, it is likely that they will be considered for a pilgrimage in close proximity to one another, and that there will be common pilgrimage dates among the range of dates presented to each of them.

11. Policies of the new pilgrimage scheduling system which abolish certain practices of the past:

a. Believers who are on a brief visit to the Holy Land aay, not join a nine-day pilgrimage group, no matter what vacancies may occur.

b. The practice of filling last-minute vacancies by issuing invitations to applicants who had indicated that they could come at short notice is no longer followed.

c. Requests to be invited for specific pileninace dates can no longer be accommodated. It is envisaged that the new policy of offering each prospective pilgrim a range of dates from which to choose will make it easier for believers to come during a period which is convenient for them. Believers are also welcome to request permission for a three-day visit at any time.

Baha'is in Washington area take part in ‘Stand Up for Children’ event

On June 1, about 15 members of the Metro Washington, D.C., Volunteer Task Force, a group of Baha'is with a passion to serve, were up at dawn to man their posts as Stand for Children volunteer guides.

They were assigned to cover the Smithsonian Institutions subway station, and for the next five hours welcomed thousands of marchers to the largest demonstration for children ever held in the nation’s capital.

Organized by the Children’s Defense Fund and endorsed by thousands of national organizations including the National Spiritual Assembly, the gathering reportedly drew close to a quar ter-million marchers to the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial.

The event resembled an enormous full-day family ipicnic, and Bahd’is from as far afield as North Carolina and upstate New York joined in the festivities.

Near the Reflecting Pool, a group of Bahd’is set up a booth on Bahai education at the Family Forum, an area of thematic tents arranged around a stage where hundreds of national groups offered information about their programs for children.

The Baha’{ volunteers manned the booth until late in the afternoon, handing out hundreds of complimentary

copies of Brilliant Star magazine and other teaching materials.

The formal program pevan at1 p.m. with a half-hour interfaith service on the main stage below the Lincoln Memorial.

Representatives of each religious community gathered onstage in traditional dress. One of the Baha’f representatives was a youth who read a prayer for children by ‘Abdu’l-Bahé at the close of the service. The entire program received wide media coverage.

The Children’s Defense Fund is encouraging all the endorsing organizations to build on the momentum generated by the march, and has set up an

800 number (800-663-4032) and web site (http://www.stand.org) to share information about follow-up activities.

Individuals and communities can request updates and a calendar of events. A Citizen Action Guide and curriculum guide are also available for those interested in starting afterschool, summer or weekend programs for children and youth.

Remember the National Center's new area code:

[Page 44]THe AMERICAN BAHA'I 44

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urged us to do: “We must now highly resolve to arise and lay hold of all those instrumentalities that promote the peace and well-being and happiness, the knowledge, said to do: “We must now highly resolve to arise and lay hold ofall those instrumentalities that promote the peace and wellbeing and happiness, the knowledge, culture and industry, the dignity, value and station, of the entire human race.”

The tireless efforts of the pioneers from North America on every continent bring countless blessings to their home countries. So many have given up comfortable lives to pioneer, dedicating every waking hour to building the Bahd’f institutions and communities alongside the native Baha’is. They demonstrate that we are all working for and loving the same Essence, and in a sense offer physical proof that Bahd’u'llahs Faith has embraced the entire planet.

The endurance of such pioneers, some of whom triple my age, and the remarkable achievements brought on by their work, was encouraging to me.

e Universal House of Justice told us in 1993, that “There are countries where believers are laboring day and night to foster the growth of the tree of the Cause, and are in urgent need of reinforcements. ~-"" By going pioneering I was able to see this urgent need firsthand.

Pioneering, and specifically the Baha’{ Youth Service Corps, clearly develops the human resources of the Faith at the individual level. The initiative to serve taken by the individual, and the accompanying tests and blessings during that time, can produce marked spiritual changes.

It can also enhance skills helpful to Promonng, and consolidating the Faith.

e youth are then able to help make far-reaching changes in our communities toward promoting unity and the well-being of humankind.

The Four Year Plan aims at entry by

Patricia Boisclair, devoted pioneer to Chile, Botswana, Slovak Republic, dies at 58

Patricia Boisclair, a devoted pioneer, died June 23 in California. She was 58 years old.

After learning of the Faith in 1968, Mrs. Boisclair committed herself to a life of service, pioneering with her husband, Jerry, to Santiago, Antofagasta and Victoria, Chile; Gabarone, Francistown and Mahalapi, Botswana; and, most recently, to Kosice and Medzev in the Slovak Republic where their teaching work became a development project under the Regional Spiritual Assembly of the C: and Slovak Republics.

Despite living with few physical amenities, their love and perseverance led to the formation of the first Spiritual Assent )of Medzev, a unique institution in that country as it saw the consolidation under the Banner of Bahé'u'lléh of a community of Romany (gypsy) believers.

line months ago, while still serving, at her pioneering post, Mrs. Boisclair was diagnosed with leukemia, and returned with her husband to the U.S. for medical treatment.

troops “to be achieved through marked progress in the activity and development of the individual believer, of the institutions, and of the local community.” Giving a period of pioneer service is one way to promote all three areas.

My personal experience has affected me in ways I still am finding out. It has given me an amazing new perspective and understanding of the world and enhances my university education tremendously. The experience of living in a completely different environment cultivated a new outlook that has allowed me to think more critically, and to understand and befriend those who are different more easily.

Learning Spanish during my time in Ecuador has given me study and job opportunities, scholarships, and countless chances to teach Latinos in the U.S.

Ialso better understand how important it is for Baha’{ youth to receive the best education possible to nobly acquire skills to serve the Faith and to grow spiritually. If I can serve as a 17year-old school teacher with just a high school diploma, I wonder, how could I serve the Faith with more skills?

Of course, every year should be a 1a of service, but it is a special

ounty to be able to set aside a longer period of time to dedicate 100 percent of one’s time and talents to teaching and developing our Faith.

Giving this service is much like fasting for an entire year, only you get to eat! Like fasting, it is a series of tests of detachment and steadfastness and a wave of opportunities where you can witness and work for the progress of the Faith.

At the same time, it can be fun, itcan be difficult, but it is what is needed for the Faith and for one’s spiritual growth. But at the end of the day, when

ou can finally eat, you may not be that ungry anymore.

Similarly, when you’ve come home to hot showers, clean water and your own language, you realize you can live without these things, that what is really vital are your prayers and detachment, your family that supports you, your Baha’i community, and trustfully putting yourself in God’s Hands.

The true benefits to giving a period of service are the ones we may not realize at first and are not easy to explain in words; they are the promised spiritual blessings that unexpectedly descend upon us. It is the confirmation, a sip from the “chalice of pure light” that one experiences sooner or later when dedicating oneself to raising the banner of the Cause.

We must always ask ourselves, “What am I doing here? How does the Faith need me to serve now? What is the best pathway for me in my lifetime of service?”

For many, the answer will be serving for a period of time in these short,

Dr. and Mrs. Amin Banani replace Counselor Ellis, Dr. Kazemzadeh for August 24-29 session at Bosch

Although Counselor Wilma Ellis and Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, the National Spiritual Assembly’s secretary for External Affairs, were forced to cancel their presentations August 24-29 at the Bosch Baha'i School owing to a conference on external affairs in Europe that week, the school has managed to secure able replacements in the persons of Dr. Amin and Mrs. Sheila Banani.

Dr. Banani, professor emeritus at UCLA, will present “An Overview of the Writings of Shoghi Effendi,” while Mrs. Banani will offer a course on the text of Shoghi Effendi’s work, The World Order of Bahd’u’Iléh.

Together, the Bananis will present a two-hour session on “Pilgrimage in the Days of the Guardian.”

Also, Derek Cockshut will repeat his thorough course on “Documents of the Covenant”; Mrs. Banani will offer an evening presentation of her poetry and that of others as published in When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple, and Dr. Banani will preside over a question-and-answer session on Huqtqu’ll4h.

For reservations, phone the school at 408-423-3387 or e-mail

precious years before the next millennium. Each must “arise to seize the tasks of this crucial moment. ...Now as never before should you strive mightily to free yourselves from the obstacles, attachment to woudly pursuits, and lethargy, which stand in the way of so glorious a realization.”

Iam grateful and happy to have taken the Sprortunity when it came to me, and will always remember in my prayers those pioneers who have set out for distant lands.

Sara Frye, who pioneered to Falkland Islands, Denmark, dies at 82

Sara Frye, an “indefatigable” pioneer, died May 8 in Florida. She was 82 years old.

As she was planning to re-enter the pioneering field at age 80, her local Assembly wrote, “The Assembly feels that Sara’s most significant strength is her willingness to serve. Her long history of service is a lesson to us all.

“The Assembly hesitates to call Sara’s age and her legal blindness weakness; her indomitable spirit has turned these into something different. ...”

Miss Frye was a professional nurse from 1936-66, when she was forced to retire because of her failing eyesight. In 1980 she pioneered to the Falkland Islands, remaining there for two and one-half years.

Her next post was in Denmark, where there had been difficulty in settling a sufficient number of American pioneers. In January 1985, following a teaching trip to India and Western Samoa, she served on Tinian and Saipan in the Mariana Islands, and later in Hawaii before returning to the States.

In its message of condolence, the Universal House of Justice wrote:

“Indefatigable heroic maidservant Sara Frye will always be lovingly remembered. Her devotion to her lord was exemplified by her services as a pioneer to the Falkland Islands, Denmark, the Mariana Islands, and the Hawaiian Islands despite failed sight. Sara Frye’s dedication and commitment to the Faith of Baha’u’ll4h are her legacy to present and future generations and inspire each of us to greater service.”

IN MEMORIAM

Elizabeth Adelmann Boise, ID June 12, 1996

Russell Ampey

Baton Rouge, LA

May 1, 1996

Tahereh Bahrampour-Shabrokh Indianapolis, IN

June 9, 1996

Patricia Boisclair

California

June 23, 1996

Carl Christensen Lakeport, CA June 8, 1996 Emmett Coleman Ypsilanti, MI January 6, 1996 Linda Conner San Jose, CA May 19, 1996 Sampson Davis Marion,

March 3, 1996

Glennis Erickson Ann Reid Rose C. Stone Billings, MT The Bahamas Novato, CA April 11, 1996 April 26, 1996 April 25, 1996 Betjatan giz Farzam William Rhodes II Tahirih Stanger Jackson, MI New Castle, DE Madison, WI April 1996 May 17, 1996 May 17, 1996 Odile Georgesco Geraldine Rivera William V. Tift Palm Springs, CA Atlantic Mine, MI Prescott, AZ May 13, 1996 May 11, 1996 May 12, 1996 John Halterman Sharon Semple Patricia Tomarelli Chesterfield, MO Evanston, IL Stamford, CT June 1, 1996 June 16, 1996 June 19, 1996 Charles Leyva Velma L. Sherrill Marjorie Tyson San Francisco, CA Webster Groves, MO Opa-Locka, FL June 1, 1996 May 18, 1996 June 1, 1996 Majid Mirheli Jack Singer Nancy Williams Asheville, NC Santa Maria, CA Peterborough, NH June 13, 1996 May 22, 1996 May 7, 1996 Pearl Pritchard Ruby Songhurst Michelle Yoder Tuolumne, CA Idaho Falls, ID St. Louis, MO January 11, 1996 April 29, 1996 April 28, 1996 Hilda Pulley Don SoRelle Ray Zarmer Temple City, CA Charlottesville, VA Etowah, NC May 10, 1996 May 18, 1996 June 2, 1996

[Page 48]Tue American BAHA'I 48

CALENDAR

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tended a conference entitled ‘Unleashing the Potentials of BahG’i Women’ that was held last January 26-28 at the Louis Gregory Bah@’i Institute in Hemingway, South Carolina. After immersing themselves in the Writings, praying, deepening and sharing, the women set goals, personal and practical, which they have put into effect in their daily lives—for example, supporting other women in rising to their full potential through positive reinforcement.

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving The American Bahd', MOVING? send all family members names new address and mailing label to Management Information Services, Baht National Center, 1233 TELL UsYouR | CoePS"pramat eorilt teeecy ston othe Bs tox, your residence address (c) must be filled in. Please allow 3 weeks for processing. (This also updates Nation's data base) A. NAME(S): i Dw Title py iD Title 35 1D Title 4 1D Tile

B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS: C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS:

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City City

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D. NEW COMMUNITY: E, HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER:

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| G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE:

| [11 We deo not have the same last name. [7 the last names and addresses on our | [—] Ourhouseholdreceives only onecopy | Wedonatwanertacopensopiase C—) eaesise doonmert Woke | —l atthe Americar Sant wants | Gal anceps peoeech cel LD, duuaaberstommpeenta ten etyrmne:Ureceoy cvs enpy Trost ios cet) hed above feseany anus iopes' txttauenl | LD. seater ond edb an | records, ther LD, umber, ad the correc I ona ae

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BAHA'f NATIONAL CENTER 112 Linden Avenue

Wilmette, IL

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

For information about events sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly or its agencies at the Bah4’f National Center, please phone 847869-9039 and ask for the relevant department. The numbers for the permanent Bahd’f schools and institutes are as follows: Bosch Baha’{ School, phone 408-423-3387; fax 408-423-7564; e-mail Green Acre Bahd’f School, phone 207-439-7200; fax 207-439-7202; e-mail Louhelen Bahd’f School, phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-7181; e-mail Louis Gregory Bahd’{ Institute, phone 803-558-5093; fax 803-558-9114; e-mail Native American Baha’f Institute, phone/fax 520-521-1063; e-mail

AUGUST

9-14: Youth Eagle Institute (ages 15 and older), Louhelen Baha’f School.

10-15: Junior Youth Institute, Bosch Baha’f School.

12-18: Persian Arts & Letters Conference, Landegg Academy, Wienacht, Switzerland.

16-18: Multicultural Family Camp, Louhelen Bahd’{ School.

16-18: Second annual NABI Pow-wow and 5K Indian Trail Run, Native American Bah4’{ Institute, Houck, Arizona. Plus, Health Forum and Indian Education Workshops. All are welcome.

17-22: General Session, Bosch Bah’{ School. “Building Relationships, Friendships and Opportunities to Teach” with Michael Winger-Bearskin, “Teaching Through Story-Telling” with Charlene Winger-Bearskin, and “The Covenant” with Derek Cockshut.

18-22: Annual conference, “30 Plus,” Landegg Academy, Wienacht, Switzerland. ‘ 22-25: Study course, “’Abdu’I-Baha: The Mainspring of the Oneness of Hu manity,” Landegg Academy, Wienacht, Switzerland.

23-25: Workshop on Teaching, sponsored by the Spiritual Assemblies of Rapid City and Custer, South Dakota, Oyate Center, Rapid City. For information, phone Delores Allen, 605-348-6237.

24-29: General Session, Bosch Baha’{ School. “The Writings of Shoghi Effendi: An Overview” with Dr. Amin Banani; “The World Order of Baha’u’lléh,” text and discussion, with Sheila Banani, and “The Covenant” with Derek Cockshut.

26-September 11: Study course, “Foundations of Racial Unity,” Landegg Acad-emy, Wienacht, Switzerland.

August 30-September 2: Pioneer/SITA Institute, Louis G. Gregory Baha’ Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina. Everyone who is preparing to serve internationally is encouraged to contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahé’i National Center, 847-733-3512. Fax 847-733-3509; e-mail

30-September 2: Annual Homecoming session, Louhelen Baha’{ School.

30-September 2: Special weekend program with Counselor A-M Ghadirian and Auxiliary Board members Eugene Andrews and Barbara Markert, “Releasing the Power: The Covenant in Action and Growth of the Baha’f Community,” Green Acre Bahd’f School. Includes panel discussion on “Scholarship, Authority and the Covenant.”

30-September 2: Labor Day Weekend: “Teaching Through the Arts” with Jack Lenz, Muhtadia Rice and others, Bosch Baha’{ School.

30-September 3: Baha'i Youth Service Corps session, Louis G. Gregory Baha’ Institute, Hemingway, South Carolina.

30-September 2: Conference, “What Should I Know, What Can I Do...for the Four Year Plan,” Baha’{ Center, Dallas, Texas. Speakers: Jack McCants, Enayat Rowhani. For information, phone 214-727-4310 or (evenings) 214-390-7551.

SEPTEMBER

1: Concert/picnic on the Piscataqua, Green Acre Baha’ School, with a keynote address by special guest Counselor A.-M. Gha

5-8: Psychology forum, “Psychology for Everyone,” Landegg Academy, Wienacht, Switzerland.

13-15: “Creating Community,” the annual commemoration of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Guest speaker: Robert C. Henderson. Workshops, arts proclamation, coffee house, youth program, pre-youth /children’s classes, nursery. For information, phone 970-464-5196.

13-15: National Spiritual Assembly Decentralization Project for the Western Region, Bosch Baha’f School. Facilitators: Farzad Mogharabi, Randa Wilbur.

19-22: Marriage Development Training, Landegg Academy, Wienacht, Switzerland.

20-22: Seminar on the Kitdb-i-Aqdas, sponsored by the Corridor of Light and Spiritual Assembly of Astoria, Oregon, in Otter Rock. Presenter: Habib Riazati. Registrar: Jerry Bartoldus, P.O. Box 887, Astoria, OR 97103-0887; information, Jill Dale, 503-867-3176 or 503-265-6905.

20-22: National Latino Conference, “Building Bridges for Teaching Within the Americas,” Bosch Baha’ School. Fully bi-lingual (Spanish/English). For information, contact Julia Carranza, 408-554-6513, or the Bosch School.

20-22: Oklahoma Regional Bah4’t School, Stillwater. Theme: “Quest for Spiritual and Social Progress—The Critical Hour.” Registrar: David Gainey,

ulphur, OK 73086 (phone 405-622-2655).

27-29: Assembly Team Development Weekend and Meditation Weekend, Bosch Baha’f School.

29: Celebration of the 102nd anniversary of the declaration of Thornton Chase, the first American Bah4’{, Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California. For information, phone 310-519-1811 or 310-419-0643.

OCTOBER

11-13: College Club Weekend, Bosch Baha’f School, sponsored by UC-Davis and UC-Berkeley College Clubs.

17-20: Study course, “Consultation and Conflict Resolution,” Landegg Academy, Wienacht, Switzerland.