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THE AMERICAN Bahá’í

Volume 27, Number 7 | ‘Izzat B.E. 153 / September 8, 1996

Letter elicits further guidance on Covenant

To the American Bahá’í community Dearly loved friends,

The following letter, dated July 2, 1996, is a reply addressed by the Universal House of Justice to one of the friends in our community on matters relating to the Covenant, Bahá’í belief, and Bahá’í administration which we have been asked to share with you. The Supreme Institution hopes that it will assist in clarifying a number of issues which have been troubling certain of the believers.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States July 6, 1996

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice has received your letter of May 19, 1996. It appreciates the clarity with which you have expressed your profoundly felt concern, and has asked us to send you the following reply.

The purpose of this letter is not to enter into a detailed examination of the activities and statements of the friends to whom you refer, or to discuss the responses they have received over the years from institutions of the Faith. Rather, the House of Justice wishes to relate this situation to certain aspects of Bahá’í belief, in the hope that thereby it may enable you to find answers to some of the questions which preoccupy your mind.

At the very core of the aims of the Faith are the establishment of justice and unity in the world, the removal of prejudice and enmity from among all people, the awakening of compassion and understanding in the hearts of all men and women, and the raising of all souls to a new level of spirituality and behavior through the vitalizing influence of divine Revelation. The course set forth by Bahá’u’lláh for the attainment of these aims is the double task of simultaneously building an ideal society and perfecting the behavior of individuals. For this dual and reciprocal transformation He has not only revealed laws, principles and truths attuned to the needs of this age, but has established the very nucleus and pattern of those institutions which are to evolve into the structure of the divinely purposed world society.

Central to your perception of the statements made by the believers

See COVENANT page 14

Response on editorial

The National Spiritual Assembly has received a number of inquiries from individual Bahá’ís and local Spiritual Assemblies about the editorial in the letter for the Feast of Kalimát and subsequent statement by the National Assembly on the recent wave of church arsons in this country. The friends wanted to know how the National Assembly had determined that the church burnings are racially motivated when the press has reported that there is little hard evidence that this is indeed the case. The National Assembly has responded to these inquiries as follows:

Dear Bahá’í friends,

The National Spiritual Assembly received your letter of July 17 regarding the evidence for racist motivation for the recent epidemic of church arsons in the United States.

The National Assembly does not know any more about the church burnings than has been made public by the authorities and published in the press. We are aware that in some instances the fires have been set by blacks as well as whites.

However, the arson of primarily black churches is widely perceived as an attack on the black community. In a racist society with a history of slavery and of the Ku Klux Klan, that perception itself can become a racist lash that whips up turbulent emotions.

The National Spiritual Assembly’s statement is a call for a transformation of these dark passions into a steadfast faith in the eventual emergence of complete concord among all members of the human race and the full realization of the oneness of mankind.

The National Spiritual Assembly deeply appreciates your thoughtful questions, and hopes you will have many occasions to share the statement as well as the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh.

With loving Bahá’í greetings, National Spiritual Assembly Office of the Secretary for External Affairs

The new classroom building at Bosch Bahá’í School was dedicated June 15—just in time for the Four Year Plan. A look at the role of the permanent schools and institutes during the Plan is on page 19. (Photo by Tom Mennillo)

Friends see growth for yourselves, Faith

This is the second in a series of articles by Associate Editor Tom Mennillo based on his recent 18-day, 8,000-mile cross-country fact-finding trip during which he asked Bahá’ís in communities from coast to coast to express their thoughts, feelings and plans at the outset of what could be the most important and challenging four-year period in their lives.

By TOM MENNILLO

Four years from now, what will we be like as Bahá’í individuals, communities and institutions?

How do we get from where we are to where we visualize things being?

I asked those two questions in gatherings along the

See GROWTH page 18

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
> Plans under way for Training Institutes	2
> Complete round-up of nationwide Race Unity Day activities	10
> Wilmette Institute’s residential session	22

Regional Committee appointments made

To local Spiritual Assemblies and registered Bahá’í Groups

Dearly loved Friends,

We are delighted to announce that the Bahá’í Regional Committees for the United States have been established. Please share the following information with the believers in your community.

The four Regional Committees, based on the geographic division of the country given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine Plan, are listed below identifying the states they will serve.

Regional Committee for the Western States Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Regional Committee for the Southern States Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

See REGIONAL page 15

Members

Central Region: Caswell Ellis, Paul Jacobi, Badi Mesbah, Marilyn Ray, Lisa Smits. Lynn Wieties, secretary, Rolla, MO 65401-8128. Home: 314-364-2740. Work: 314-364-3100. Fax: 573-341-9955. E-mail:

Northeastern Region: Nina Dini, John Joyce, Neal McBride, William Smith, Mark Towfigh. Mary Makoski, secretary, West Suffield, CT 06093-3219. Home: 860-668-1700. Home fax: 860-668-5204. E-mail:

Western Region: Shad Afsahi, Ralph Farrington, Stephanie Fielding-Troxel, Amy Purchase Reid, Farshid Sabet-Sharghi, Elahe Young. Charleen

See MEMBERS page 15

Mandate

Regional Committees are the arms of the National Spiritual Assembly designated to help with the growth and development of the Faith in specific areas of the country. Their primary purpose is to advance the teaching work by fostering the emergence and development of sustained patterns of proclamation, expansion and consolidation across their regions.

This is done through expert analysis and study of the areas in their charge; the provision of strategic advice to the National Spiritual Assembly through the National Teaching Committee; and the formulation, promotion and execution of regional teaching plans.

Regional teaching plans should include provisions

See MANDATE page 15 [Page 2]

National Assembly moves to establish training institutes

The Universal House of Justice, in its messages pertaining to the Four Year Plan, emphasized the need for creating national and regional training institutes that will provide an opportunity "for all Bahá’ís, new and veteran, to embark upon a systematic study of the fundamental verities of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh."

This major strategic element of the Plan is now being pursued by the National Spiritual Assembly. The National Teaching Committee and the National Assembly's Office of Education and Schools will share responsibility for establishing the training institutes under the National Assembly's over-all direction. They will work in collaboration with the newly established Regional Committees and local communities.

In addition, the process will include the active and intimate involvement of Auxiliary Board members wherever feasible.

The first phase of the process is to determine, through a process of consultation with the Auxiliary Board and local communities, where such institutes are needed. Once this is done, the National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies will establish them as quickly as possible.

At the same time, work is under way to establish training curricula on fundamental issues. The goal is for institutes to be established in every area of the country in the near future.

There are a number of existing training programs and facilities, all of which will be incorporated into the effort. These include the Core Curriculum program and such facilities as the permanent schools—Bosch, Louhelen and Green Acre—and institutes such as the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute and the Native American Bahá’í Institute.

Consideration will also be given to existing programs operating in local communities, especially those with an intercommunity focus.

The national and regional institutes will be agencies of the National Spiritual Assembly. The organization and administration of each will depend upon the requirements of expansion and consolidation in their respective areas of service. As the Universal House of Justice has noted:

"In some instances, the institute may consist of a group of dedicated believers with a well-defined program and some administrative arrangement that enables it to offer regular training courses. In many cases, in addition to a group of teachers associated with it, the institute will require part- and full-time staff, for whom assistance from the funds of the faith may be necessary."

The House of Justice added that each will require "access to physical facilities" and may also need "a board to direct its affairs." In addition, when "the region under the influence of an institute is large, it may have branches serving specific areas, each with its own administration."

The Supreme Institution stated that the purpose of training institutes is "to endow ever-growing contingents of believers with the spiritual insights, the knowledge and the skills needed to carry out the many tasks of accelerated expansion and consolidation, including the teaching and deepening of a large number of people—adults, youth and children. This purpose can best be achieved through well-organized, formal programs consisting of courses that follow appropriately designed curricula."

Training institutes will serve to develop the human resources necessary for advancing the work of the Cause. Specific educational programs will be developed in response to the varying needs of each region, and will be refined over the course of time.

All will have as their focus "the raising up of large numbers of believers who are trained to foster and facilitate the process of entry by troops with efficiency and love." This will include the essential deepening of new believers to gain the necessary skills to effectively teach the Faith.

"What the friends throughout the world are being asked to do," wrote the Universal House of Justice, "is to commit themselves, their material resources, their abilities and their time to the development of a network of training institutes on a scale never before attempted."

VA Bahá’ís take part in service to deplore church burnings

Bahá’ís in Mt. Vernon, Virginia, took part June 29 in an outdoor interfaith prayer service to express concern for the victims of recent church burnings throughout the country and especially in the South.

Bahá’ís from Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia and even North Carolina came to be a part of the event, which was organized by the Calvary Presbyterian Church.

About 70 people attended the service, of whom about 20 percent were Bahá’ís. Among the speakers was U.S. Rep. James Moran who represents Virginia's 8th District.

The Bahá’í speaker, William Collins, expressed the Faith's deep concern over the burnings and its unwavering commitment to racial and religious unity, quoting a number of relevant passages from the Writings including Bahá’u’lláh's unequivocal statement: "So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth."

Music for the occasion was presented by the Ghanaian Presbyterian Fellowship.

House of Justice calls on friends around the world to offer support for vitally needed training institutes

To the Bahá’ís of the World

Dearly loved Friends,

We are greatly heartened by the news reaching us of the enthusiastic response of the friends to the Four Year Plan. Particularly encouraging are the efforts of National Spiritual Assemblies everywhere to establish training institutes and to systematically address the development of human resources. The number of national and regional institutes is rapidly increasing, and indications are that there may be more than 100 operating in the world by the close of the first year of the Plan. We cherish the hope that from each of these centers of learning will issue forth ever-growing contingents of believers capable of carrying out a wide array of services to the Cause, creating thus in every country the capacity to sustain the process of entry by troops.

In some national communities, economic conditions are such that institutes can be financially self-supporting from the outset. But the majority of communities cannot meet the expenses associated with the operation of their training institutes. These expenses include materials for courses, teaching and office supplies, communications, maintenance of equipment, and sometimes transport of students and their food and lodging.

The most crucial item in the budgets of the institutes of many countries, however, is financial support for full- and part-time staff to coordinate training activities and to offer courses both at a central site and in the surrounding towns and villages. With this latter need in mind, we drew attention in the Ridván message to Bahá’u’lláh's call that the believers should center their energies on the propagation of the Faith of God and to His injunction that: "Whoso is worthy of so high a calling, let him arise and promote it. Whoso is unable, it is his duty to appoint him who will, in his stead, proclaim this Revelation...." We then stated that deputizing a teacher serving an institute would be one way of fulfilling this responsibility and indicated that the friends could contribute to the Continental Bahá’í Fund, as well as the local, National and International Funds, for this purpose.

In order to lend impetus to this vital development, we have now made a contribution of U.S. $300,000 to be divided among the five Continental Funds according to the circumstances in each continent. Although this contribution is but a fraction of the amount called for, it is our hope that the friends, especially those with means, will follow suit and will give adequate attention to this area of urgent need. Since financial requirements vary from country to country, the Continental Counselors will be the best source of information on the level of deputization required for various regions throughout the world. We are asking them to keep their Auxiliary Board members informed so that they can advise those who wish to contribute to this pressing worldwide enterprise.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Universal House of Justice August 6, 1996

Olympic Torch Bearers

Among the Bahá’ís chosen to carry the Olympic torch on its cross-country journey to the Centennial Games in Atlanta were Bahá’ís Julian MacQueen (left photo), who carried the torch for 10 minutes in Birmingham, Alabama, and Ken Jasnau (right photo), who did the same in Milledgeville, Georgia. Mr. MacQueen now lives in Israel with his wife, Kim (left) and daughter, Skye, with whom he is pictured. Mr. Jasnau, an assistant to Auxiliary Board member Josie Reynolds, as is his wife, Sandy, was nominated as a torch-bearer by the United Way of Central Georgia for his community involvement.

Publication Information

Published every 38 days (plus one special issue) for a total of 10 a year by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. Periodical postage paid at Evanston, IL and additional mailing offices.

ISSN Number: 1062-1113 Executive Editor: Jack Bowers Associate Editor: Tom Mennillo

The American Bahá’í welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Bahá’í Faith. Articles should be clear and concise; color or black-and-white glossy photographs should be included whenever possible. Please address all correspondence and other materials to The Editor, The American Bahá’í, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091-2886. Send address changes to Management Information Services, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611.

Copyright © 1996 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. [Page 3]

The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and entry by troops

By SEN MCGLINN

Following the call in the Universal House of Justice’s message at Riḍván 153 B.E. for Bahá’í communities to develop “the practice of collective worship of God” and to hold “regular devotional meetings,” I would like to express my understanding of the relationship between such devotional meetings, the process of building the institution of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in our communities, and achieving entry by troops.

That part of the Riḍván message that looks forward to, and thus foreshadows the contents of the Four Year Plan, has a single over-arching theme, “entry by troops,” and a number of subsidiary themes including strengthening the community and ways to achieve it:

“...the flourishing of the community, especially at the local level,...involves the practice of collective worship of God. Hence, it is essential to the spiritual life of the community that the friends hold regular devotional meetings. ...”

These devotional meetings, according to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, are the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár:

“It befitteth the friends to hold a gathering, a meeting, where they shall glorify God and fix their hearts upon Him, and read and recite the Holy Writings of the Blessed Beauty—may my soul be the ransom of His lovers! The lights of the All-Glorious Realm, the rays of the Supreme Horizon, will be cast upon such bright assemblages, for these are none other than the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the Dawning-Points of God’s Remembrance, which must, at the direction of the Most Exalted Pen, be established in every hamlet and city. ...” (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 93–94)

If we use “Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in this sense, to refer to a devotional meeting, the call in the Riḍván message to develop “the practice of collective worship of God” and to hold “regular devotional meetings” can be understood as the starting signal to build the institution of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.

The command to build Mashriqu’l-Adhkárs in every hamlet and city, to which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá refers, appears in paragraph 31 of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, immediately following the paragraph which commands us to form Houses of Justice. But for various reasons Bahá’í communities have developed the House of Justice as an institution before building its partner institution, the House of Worship.

One reason for this may be that we have thought of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár as a building alone, whereas the term is used in the Bahá’í writings to refer not only to the building, an institution within the community structure, but also as a meeting for worship (as in the above quotation), the mystic mainspring in our individual lives, the symbolic home of the Maid of Heaven, and the symbolic home in this world of the Manifestation of God. (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 163)

It refers, in short, to the idea of adoration, which may manifest itself in various forms—individual, institutional, communal and material.

The call for the development of devotional meetings at this time may be directly related to the theme of entry by troops which dominates the Riḍván message, since ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says:

“...a Mashrak-el-Azcar will soon be established in America. The cries of supplication and invocation will be raised to the Highest Kingdom therefrom and, verily, the people will enter into the religion of God by troops with great enthusiasm and attraction.” (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Abbás, p. 681)

As far as I know, this passage marks the first appearance in the Bahá’í writings of the phrase “entry by troops.”

The House of Justice and the House of Worship—the local Spiritual Assembly and the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár—are called by Shoghi Effendi the “two primary agencies providentially ordained for the enrichment of their spiritual life and for the conduct and regulation of their administrative affairs.” (Messages to America, p. 24)

This suggests that the local Bahá’í communities might be conceived of as having two interrelated central institutions, analogous perhaps to the relationship between the elected and appointed arms of the Administrative Order.

Indeed, the Universal House of Justice said in its letter about Social and Economic Development (October 20, 1993) that the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is “the spiritual center of every Bahá’í community.” (A Wider Horizon, p. 139)

This would seem to imply that taking up the task of building the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár institution “in every hamlet and city” will entail substantial changes in our community structure, and a substantial rethinking of what it means to be a Bahá’í.

It will then be worth our while, at the outset of the Four Year Plan, to form a clearer conception of what the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is as a spiritual reality and as an institution, and what its relationship is to the local Spiritual Assembly and other organs of the community, so that local and national communities can formulate concrete goals for the realization of this aspect of the Plan and begin immediately to implement them.

It would be a great pity to reach the year 2000 and still be wondering what the Universal House of Justice might have meant by “the practice of collective worship of God” and in what sense “entry by troops” could be a practical reality for our Bahá’í communities.

I would suggest that Bahá’í communities make this a topic for study, and incorporate their findings in the form of concrete plans to establish the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, in every sense of the word, at the heart of our communities.

It would be unwise to predict the course of this process of discovery, since a great deal must be found out through practical experience, by following the guidance of the Universal House of Justice and seeing what may develop. I would like, however, to highlight one more passage from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on this topic which may indicate where we can begin in building the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár:

“In reality, the radiant, pure hearts are the Mashrak-el-Azcar and from them the voice of supplication and invocation continually reacheth the Supreme Concourse.

“I ask God to make the heart of every one of you a temple of the Divine Temples and to let the lamp of the great guidance be lighted therein; and when the hearts find such an attainment, they will certainly exert the utmost endeavor and energy in the building of the Mashrak-el-Azcar; thus may the outward express the inward, and the form (or letter) indicate the meaning (or reality).” (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Abbás, p. 678)

This suggests a beginning at the individual level, which the Universal House of Justice has already called for in the Three Year Plan under the theme of enriching our individual spiritual lives.

It suggests also that we might begin by considering our hearts as the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and systematically performing there, in the morning, at noon, the evening and at night, the act of remembrance of God—and that when the inward reality has become the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in this sense, it will develop outwardly through the various levels of holding devotional meetings, establishing the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár as an institution, making it an active agency as Shoghi Effendi envisions, and integrating worship with service to humanity (Bahá’í Administration, p. 185) until it finally emerges in the form of a building of some sort:

“This is a matter of the utmost significance. If the erection of the House of Worship in a public place would arouse the hostility of evil-doers, then the meeting must, in every locality, be held in some hidden place. Even in every hamlet, a place must be set aside as the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, even though it be underground.” (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 95)

Bringing the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár forth as a distinct concept and exploring its place in the Bahá’í community may well release energy for the further development of the community as a continuation of what has already been achieved, and open up one more path by which entry by troops may be achieved.

Sen McGlinn studied English literature and Christian theology at the University of Otago in New Zealand and is presently pursuing a course in Islamic Studies at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. He co-edits Arts Dialogue, a quarterly magazine published by the Bahá’í Association for the Arts.

HUQÚQU’LLÁH

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

• Dr. Elsie Austin, 9039 Sligo Creek Parkway, Unit 612, Silver Spring, MD 20901 (phone 301-589-8481).
• Dr. Amin Banani, Santa Monica, CA 90402 (phone 310-394-5449).
• Dr. Daryush Haghighi, Rocky River, OH 44116 (phone 216-333-1506).

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

Volunteers from ‘Racism. Just Undo It’ take third annual Show of Solutions campaign to New York City schools

Volunteers from the non-profit group “Racism. Just Undo It” (RJUI) recently took their third annual Show of Solutions campaign into New York City schools.

This year, RJUI aims to empower children to conceive their own solutions for a world free from racial prejudice.

In early May, RJUI visited P.S. 121 elementary in Brooklyn, the first of several planned visits to city schools. P.S. 121 is a school with a diverse population.

RJUI showed the Calling All Colors video, a documentary about a race unity conference hosted by and for children, to fourth- through eighth-grade students. The video highlighted interactive games, interpretive dances and skits developed by the participants as their conception of race unity.

Geoff and Nancy Ewing, the husband and wife actors from The Guiding Light and Loving daytime television shows who served as special guest facilitators for the day, helped the children express their feelings about race, racism and race unity.

Several interpretive games, such as one in which a blindfolded student was asked to determine the race of others by feeling their hands, demonstrated that humanity is one race.

RJUI paid a return visit later the same month. Nearly 200 children presented their own, very successful Show of Solutions that several parents and teachers attended. RJUI awarded each participant a certificate of completion and a newly designed RJUI ball cap sporting an emblem of a half-black, half-white smiley face with the phrase “Racism. Just Undo It.”

RJUI, which began as a grassroots effort of the Bahá’ís of New York, is a task force of United Endeavors Inc. It has a diverse membership of several Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís from greater New York City. For more information, call 212-465-3150. [Page 4]

National Assembly approves unprecedented number of goals for international service

In response to the critical and urgent needs of the Faith in these last four years of the century, the National Spiritual Assembly has approved the adoption of a goal of 5,700 pioneers and traveling teachers for the Four Year Plan.

This total reflects the goals of 4,500 traveling teachers and 1,200 pioneers. With confidence born out of the successful response of the friends to the international needs of the Faith in the Three Year Plan, the National Spiritual Assembly set forth these extraordinary goals before our community in direct response to the call of the Ridván messages.

The Universal House of Justice reminded us that the believers of the North American continent, in response to the mandate of the Tablets of the Divine Plan, "have carried the Message of Bahá’u’lláh to all parts of your continent and throughout the breadth of the planet....These Tablets launched you on a worldwide enterprise which you, and the generations to succeed you, are called upon to continue during the vast period of time stretching throughout the Formative Age and into the Golden Age of the Bahá’í Dispensation."

For the community of the Greatest Name, the Universal House of Justice calls on "the indigenous believers...to make their own distinctive contribution to the pursuit of the goals of the Four Year Plan, both beyond the confines of North America and at home...in the circumpolar areas and in the Asian region of the Russian Federation."

And, "We direct the attention of the believers of African descent, so beloved by the Master, to the pressing need for pioneers, who will contribute to the further development of the Cause in distant areas, including the continent of Africa for which they were assigned a special responsibility by the Guardian...."

The Universal House of Justice further states: "We look to the members of the Bahá’í community in the United States to perform, during the Four Year Plan, heroic deeds of service to the Cause, which will astonish and inspire their fellow-believers throughout the world."

Youth can move the world!

The National Spiritual Assembly turns to each and every believer in our community to take to heart the call for 5,700 traveling teachers and pioneers in the Four Year Plan. Follow the footsteps of those who have gone before you. Plan to offer a few days, a week, a few months or a lifetime in service to the Cause of God internationally.

For more information or to begin making your plans, contact the Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-733-3508; fax 847-733-3509; email

Obtaining international travel information

The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs maintains information about current political situations, visa requirements and embassy contact information. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides up-to-date information about immunizations required for entry into, and recommended for, visits to most countries and regions of the world.

Information from both government agencies can be accessed for free in a variety of ways. For the Bureau of Consular Affairs, call 202-647-5225 for Travel Advisory recordings, 202-647-9225 for the electronic bulletin board via computer modem, or 202-647-1488 to talk to a representative.

To receive free information by fax, call 202-647-4000 from the telephone of a fax machine, or log in via electronic mail at http://travel.state.gov. This agency also offers several travel information publications at low cost.

For the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, call the information hotline at 404-332-4559 or the automated fax service at 404-332-4565, view the World Wide Web page at http://www.cdc.gov, or download information from the File Transfer (FTP) server via ftp.cdc.gov (for "user I.D." enter "anonymous"; for password, enter your own e-mail address).

Foreign Service exam set for November 16

The Foreign Service exam is the first step in the process used by the federal government to select candidates for the U.S. diplomatic corps. A career as a Foreign Service Officer is highly international, working overseas at U.S. embassies and consulates.

To receive information on the exam and registration materials, send a letter requesting the "1996 Application for the Foreign Service Officer Examination" to: Foreign Service Written Examination, U.S. Department of State, P.O. Box 12226, Arlington, VA 22219. For more information on the exam and on other job opportunities, you can explore the U.S. Department of State's Web site at www.state.gov.

An inspiring letter from a young Bahá’í

The following is an edited letter received from a young, dedicated Bahá’í youth who arose to teach her faith, with faith.

Dear National Spiritual Assembly of the United States,

I would like to request a fraction of your valuable time, and ask you to hear a story from my heart. My name is Mila. I'm 16 years old. I've lived in the same little house, in the same little neighborhood my whole life.

I was baptized Macedonian Orthodox. As far as that went, I only heard my mother supplicating God for help on occasion. Every time we got on an airplane the family was crossed three times for good luck.

My father, Protestant gone Quaker, adopted the Unitarian Universalist's beliefs around the time he married my mother and brought her to this country. We went to Sunday school but when I turned nine, what was then my mother's "belief system," music, took over in our lives.

I started the piano as soon as I could reach the keys, and then started the cello. Music at that time was more important than religious education. I took cello lessons until I was 13 and then quit because of lack of desire to make music. I was in that "awkward" stage of life where I looked funny, had changing moods, and low self-esteem. As a result, I had no friends I could relate to and bad grades from playing sick so often.

The only reason to stay in our town was for music, and since I had quit we started to sell our home and plan to move to a comfortable place for my father to retire in.

But something strange clicked in me. Instead of helping my parents to sell the house, I did everything possible to prevent it. I didn't know why, because we had a beautiful new area to go to and financial stability waiting for us, and there was nothing for me here. But I knew I had to stay.

I told my mother we had to stay for music education. At the time, I thought I was lying. After a year of trying unsuccessfully to sell our home, we decided to stay.

The summer of my 14th birthday I enrolled in an art class at the Cultural Center. One day I heard coming from the patio the most joyous cello music and singing I had ever heard. After class I went outside and saw a woman playing with the biggest smile on her face. I watched for a long time and when she stopped I went up to her and said, "Teach me how to do that"—to sing with your heart, that was.

She was a music teacher and improvisor. She taught me to love music again, but most importantly we started to love each other by loving the unknowable essence inside each of us. This guided the way we expressed our feelings in our music. It allowed us to trust each other, knowing that we could never spiritually control what was occurring in the songs or in life. Each song was so unique that I know I'll never be able to repeat it the same way again.

She declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh in October 1991 and immediately gave me a photocopy of a pamphlet. I didn't bother to read the introduction to the Bahá’í Faith. I just skipped to the part that read, "If you are Jewish, the Messiah has come and His name is Bahá’u’lláh. If your are a Christian, Christ has returned and his name is Bahá’u’lláh..", etc. That was all I needed to read.

I didn't actually declare until the Feast of Jalál because my Bahá’í teacher never told me that one had to sign a declaration card. A Bahá’í friend tutored me every week, and every Friday night I went to firesides given by a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh. A nearby local Spiritual Assembly then sponsored my enrollment at a Youth Institute at the Bosch Bahá’í School.

At the last Feast before leaving for Bosch, the local Assembly asked me to prepare a Unity Feast. I played the piano in between prayers. My parents attended, and during the social portion, my mother declared.

When time came to enroll for the World Congress, I told her it was not too late for her to enroll and go with me. She said she needed to sacrifice the Congress for my father's sake. She didn't want him to feel the Faith was separating the family. She told me to be her eyes for her.

My father took me to the airport and when he saw me get on the plane with all of my adult Bahá’í friends from the area, I saw him cry out of love, and I knew I would be his eyes in New York too. He declared a month later.

During the World Congress I met some Bahá’ís from Spain. In my broken Spanish I said that if they needed traveling teachers they could call me. They invited me on the spot, and we exchanged addresses.

I wrote them a letter, but it took some time to receive the response. My Bahá’í tutor told me to be detached and that Bahá’u’lláh would guide me in whatever direction I could give the most in. Finally I received a packet of Bahá’í literature in Spanish and a beautiful letter. Slowly but surely my trip was becoming a reality. I was teaching the Faith like crazy: to my Spanish teacher, to anyone who asked me where I was going and what I would be doing.

I figured this trip must have been destined for me because how on earth did my father, a 70-year-old man, decide to let me go to a foreign country, not knowing the language that well, not knowing exactly where I would be, 16 years old and female, and all

URGENT NEED for pioneers and traveling teachers

URGENT NEED for pioneers and traveling teachers for the countries of: Baltic States, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Macedonia and Serbia.

Macedonia, Serbia and the Faroe Islands were recently opened up to the Faith.

"...Let all believers consider the extent to which they can use familial and ethnic ties to other regions of the world for the fulfillment of the global mission conferred on the recipients of the Tablets of the Divine Plan..." (The Universal House of Justice, Ridván 153.) [Page 5]For your convenience our toll-free order lines are now open until 8 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday!*

The Bahá’í Faith and Its Literature

PACKAGE OF 20 $1.50 (SCAT20), PACKAGE OF 80 $4.00 (SCAT80)

Often in our efforts to introduce the Faith to seekers we are faced with situations where there is not enough time to properly assess what literature would be appropriate or would interest the person whom we are teaching. This pamphlet is a catalog for seekers who wish to investigate further the writings of the Bahá’í Faith. It allows seekers to choose from among selected texts in areas that are of interest to them. It includes a brief introduction to the Bahá’í Faith and an overview of the different types of Bahá’í literature. This teaching tool is perfect for situations where initial contact with individuals is minimal, such as public meetings, exhibition booths and mail campaigns.

5"x8", 16 pp. Bahá’í Publishing Trust, US

The Dawn-Breakers

Nabíl’s Narrative by Nabíl-i-Zarandí HC $29.95 (DB)

Available once again for a new generation of Bahá’ís! This is a copy of the original hardcover edition printed in 1932, complete with facsimiles of the Báb’s Tablets to the Letters of the Living, original photographs of the people and places associated with the early history of the Faith, genealogical charts, footnotes, glossary, index, and a guide to pronunciation. Translated by Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers is the most comprehensive and authoritative eyewitness account of the beginnings of the Bahá’í Era. This is a limited printing so don’t wait to take advantage of this opportunity to purchase this edition for yourself, a family member, or a friend.

6-1/2"x9-3/4", 685 pp. Bahá’í Publishing Trust, US

Bahá’ís Believe In...

Teaching Cards 10 PK. $3.25 (BBI10), 100 PK. $27.00 (BBI100) Poster $8.95 (BBIP)

These eye-catching four-color presentations of the basic tenets of the Bahá’í Faith are specifically designed to assist the individual Bahá’í in his or her teaching work. Available as business card-size handouts and poster-size displays.

cards, 2-1/4"x3-1/2" poster, 16-1/2"x23-1/2" Bahá’í Publications Australia

A Feast of ABCs

by Gail Radley illustrated by Malcolm Lee SC $9.50 (FABC)

A delightful ABC book for children about the Nineteen Day Feast by a well-known and popular writer for young people. Features children of many nationalities in its charming illustrations.

7"x10", 56 pp. George Ronald, Publisher

He Cometh with Clouds

A Bahá’í View of Christ’s Return by Gary Matthews SC $21.95 (HCWC)

No impending event has ever been hailed with keener anticipation than the Second Coming of Christ. Nearly a hundred generations of Christians have turned their faces to the skies, eager to greet the Lord as He descends in power and glory, seen by every eye. Millions have implored God to hasten the Day when—as the Scriptures foretell—the stars will fall from heaven, the dead will rise to stand before God and Christ in final judgment, and the saints will be “caught up... in the clouds” to reign with their Lord over “new heavens and a new earth.” Does God keep his promises? Will Christ return, or has He already come? Gary L. Matthews investigates the Bible’s teachings about the second Coming and explores the relationship between Christ and Bahá’u’lláh.

‎5'1/2" 5-1/2"‎x8-3/4", 416 pp. George Ronald, Publisher

Poems of the Passing

by Ruhiyyih Rabbani HC $29.95 (POPH)

The author of this moving anthology was for 20 years the wife, companion and confidential secretary of the Head of her Faith: Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, the great-grandson of Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith. Although she had been writing poems off and on all her life, the shock and grief of the sudden passing of him who was the head of her Faith, as well as her beloved husband, called forth from the depths of her heart this stream of deeply moving expressions of grief. It is the author’s ardent hope that in sharing them with others they may echo the grief of separation in this world from our loved ones and the confident hope of reunion with them in an eternal realm of spiritual progress and mercy.

5-3/4"x8-3/4", 136 pp. George Ronald, Publisher

• Due to limited staff, please call with questions about shipments, accounts receivable, and other special considerations during regular business hours 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday

[Page 6]

A Sacrifice to Thee

by Matthew Levine CD $15.00 (STTCD), CS $10.00 (STTCS)

This recording, while inspired by Bahá’í themes, has a universal appeal making it an excellent teaching tool. Close to 100 musicians were involved with this project including the Seattle Girls Choir Prima Voci and Barbra Streisand’s pianist, Randy Waldman. Also included is National Public Radio’s (March 1994) broadcast about the Bahá’ís killed in South Africa. Ten selections ranging from choral and pop to gospel styles comprise this recording, which constitutes the pinnacle of songwriter Matthew Levine’s career. One not-so-obvious testament to the recording’s universality is that production was made possible through the efforts of Bahá’ís, Christians and Jews.

36 minutes

Healing Racism

Education’s Role edited by Nathan Rutstein and Michael Morgan SC $24.95 (HRER)

Written by 16 Bahá’ís 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. Bahá’ís 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 Bahá’í Women

by O.Z. Whitehead SC $16.95 (PSBW)

Western women have always been in the forefront of teaching the Bahá’í Faith. Here are short portraits of seven such women whose services to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh have spanned the 20th century. Emogene Hoagg, Claudia Coles, Kate Dwyer, Ella Bailey, Ella Quant—some well-known, others less so—all devoted their lives to the promotion and development of the Faith they loved.

5-1/2"x8-1/4", 184 pp. George Ronald Publishers

Chipper and Friends

Lessons in Virtues: Honesty and Kindness $7.50 CS (CHK)

Join Chipper the ‎Racoon Raccoon‎ and his many furry friends in exciting adventures that also teach valuable lessons. Learning has never been more fun with this combination of songs and narrative that helps illustrate to children the value of virtues. Each story is designed to entertain and to teach virtues in a way that your child can understand.

30 minutes Tree House Productions

Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Time

Bahá’í 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 Bahá’í 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 Bahá’í Faith including Bahá’í law and its background, the rites of life and death, teachings on wealth, pilgrimage, mystical writings, the Bahá’í calendar and festivals. This first in the series will be especially interesting to those with an academic interest in the Bahá’í 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" 5-1/2"‎x8-3/4", 322 pp., Index George Ronald Publishers

Be Thou Assured

compiled by the Continental Board of Counselors in the Americas SC $1.25 (BTA)

A compilation of extracts from the Bahá’í writings on the ultimate triumph of the Cause through perseverance, determination and steadfastness of the individual believer.

5-1/2"x8-1/2", 24 pp. White Mountain Publications

Planning Calendar for Spiritual Assemblies and Committees

CA $5.45 (PCSA)

Bahá’í dates and names marked every day, Holy Days, Feasts and special commemorations all in one handy place. Civic calendar format, with calendar pages on the right hand side, and suggestions for your meeting agenda on your left. Includes months through March 1997. Designed to be used alone or fit into a 3-ring binder. Great for newsletter preparation as well.

9"x11-1/4", 36 pp. White Mountain Publications

Stories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

by Jacqueline Mehrabi illustrated by Hugh Sean O’Rourke $17.95 HC (SABH), $8.95 SC (SAB)

‘Abdu’l-Bahá was the eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh, Founder of the Bahá’í Faith. He was loved and respected by all who knew Him. Children would gather around Him wherever He went, instinctively recognizing His kindness and noble qualities. The love humor and wisdom of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are beautifully demonstrated in this delightful collection of short stories, which will appeal to children of all ages. This new edition of a longstanding favorite—completely redesigned and with brand new illustrations—launches a new series of books on the members of the holy family for children.

6-1/2"x8", 48 pp., illustrations Bahá’í Publishing Trust, United Kingdom

Sustainable Communities in an Integrating World

a statement by the Bahá’í International Community SC $1.00 (SCIW), 10 pk. $5.00 (SCIW10)

As civilization approaches the 21st century, great efforts are being made to develop communities that are “socially vibrant, united and prosperous.” For these efforts to have a lasting effect certain conditions must be met and the answers to fundamental questions of sustainability must be recognized. In this statement presented to the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) by the Bahá’í International Community, the question of “What are the prerequisites for establishing sustainable communities?” is answered. The arguments presented should be within the scope of every Bahá’í’s ability to reproduce so that we may further the understanding of those with whom we come in contact.

8-1/2"x11", 6 pp. Bahá’í International Community

The Purpose of Physical Reality

The Kingdom of Names by John S. Hatcher $9.95 SC (PPR)

A perennial favorite, now back in print with a revised full-color cover, The Purpose of Physical Reality has served as the foremost commentary on the Bahá’í views regarding the material existence in which we all begin our spiritual journey. This book explores why God deems the physical environment appropriate for the beginning of human spiritual evolution and presents a discussion of the physical world as a classroom for gaining spiritual insight and appreciation for God’s justice.

5-1/2"x8-1/2", 159+ pp., contents, acknowledgments, ‎blbliography bibliography‎ Bahá’í Publishing Trust

In His Remembrance

by Sombol CD $15.95 (IHRCD), CS $10.95 (IHRCS)

A collection of 12 songs in Persian from the best of New Zealand recording artist Sombol.

65 minutes Echo Music

Jules from the Heart

by Juli Redson-Smith CD $15.95 (JHCD), CS $10.95 (JHCS)

Created out of love for Bahá’u’lláh and for the purposes of encouraging the friends, teaching the Faith and promoting Bahá’í ideas, Jules from the Heart is the first musical release from Juli Redson-Smith. Juli is a professional singer and actress. On stage she has played the lead in many musical productions, and she has sung with the World Congress Choir as well as other professional music groups. This recording contains original, upbeat music that ranges in style from folk to light rock and inspirational. Includes sacred Bahá’í text set to music and songs based on Bahá’í principles. You will enjoy this inspiring music many times over.

44 minutes [Page 7]

The Bahá’í World, 1994-95

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

This comprehensive annual survey of the activities of the Bahá’í 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 Bahá’í involvement in the World Summit for Social Development
• Bahá’í contributions to the United Nations International Year of the Family
• survey of Bahá’í youth activities around the world
• “The Mission of the Báb: Retrospective 1844-1944”
• “The Language of the Heart: Arts in the Bahá’í World Community”
• Bahá’í International Community statement “The Prosperity of Humankind”

Regular features:

• Introduction to Bahá’í history, teachings, and activities
• survey of the year’s events
• statistics
• directory of Bahá’í agencies
• basic Bahá’í reading list
• glossary
• selected new publications
• selections from the Bahá’í 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

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 Bahá’í 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. Bahá’í ‎Publshing 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!

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 Ridván 1996 message to the Bahá’ís of the world, the eight messages to various regions, the letter dated Dec. 26, 1995, to the Counselors’ Conference at the Bahá’í World Center, and the letter dated Dec. 31, 1995, to the Bahá’ís 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

Ává

$16.95 CD (ACD), $10.95 CS (ACS)

Though a relative newcomer to the Bahá’í music scene, Ává is already a seasoned performer and musical artist. Making her formal debut at the World Congress, she has since crisscrossed the country and entertained at dozens of Bahá’í events to greatly enthusiastic crowds. She is back in this country just in time for the release of her first album, self-titled Ává, having recently completed tours of the South Pacific and Europe. The lyrics on the album are taken from a range of Persian poetry, both classical and modern, and the memorable arrangements of Tom Price lend a contemporary, sometimes plaintive, sometimes jazzy, feel to the album. This is the type of album you will play over and over again and walk away singing the melodies in your head. This collection of songs in Persian is dedicated to the recent martyrs in Iran. Global Music

Encore

Favourite Music of Jack Lenz various performers $18.00 CD (ECD)

A collection of songs by artists such as Doug Cameron, Nancy Ward, and John Rutledge, all of which were produced by Jack Lenz and chosen by him for inclusion on this album of his favorite projects. This album includes memorable songs like “Mona with the Children” and “Let It Be this Generation.” Live Unity Productions

Oratorio to Bahá’u’lláh

Songs from the Bahá’í World Congress $18.00 CD (OBCD)

For those of you who have waited to purchase the music of the Bahá’í World Congress, here is the chance to have as a separate album all of the music performed as the songs of the Oratorio to Bahá’u’lláh from the first day of the Congress. Live Unity Productions

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Bahá’í Distribution Service • 5397 Wilbanks Dr., Chattanooga, TN 37343 • 1-800-999-9019 • Fax: 1-423-843-0836 • Internet: [Page 8]

More information on Unit Conventions

‘Abdu’l-Bahá made a remarkable promise to the believers in America. He said, “This Convention in future shall acquire a great importance. It shall reach a point that all the Conventions of the world shall assume a lowly and submissive attitude toward this Convention, for its basis is the oneness of humanity, universal peace, love and harmony among all men, equality in rights among all people, benevolent deeds and the shining forth of the light of Truth. Undoubtedly it shall increase daily in power. Praise ye God, therefore, that He has assisted in the establishment of such a Convention. ...” (Star of the West, vol 12, no.1, p. 27)*

In October, 167 Unit Conventions will convene across the country.

Unit Conventions have a twofold purpose. The first is to elect the delegate(s) from their respective electoral Unit who will vote for the National Spiritual Assembly at the National Convention. The National Spiritual Assembly in turn elects the Universal House of Justice. This participation in the Unit Convention is a vital part of the worldwide Bahá’í electoral process.

The second purpose is for the believers to consult with their fellow Bahá’ís, to voice hopes and concerns, both as individuals and communities, for the advancement of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. It is also an important opportunity to make recommendations to the National Spiritual Assembly.

The consultation that takes place at a Unit Convention is invested with a special measure of Divine assistance. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stated “Do the believers in America realize that the friends of God are the only people on earth to whom He has promised to guide their deliberations and confirm their decisions?” (Quoted in a letter from Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly, November 26, 1923).

Unit Conventions also have an important social function in our Bahá’í life. It is a time to rejoice, to enjoy each other’s company and to meet old and new friends.

Shoghi Effendi stressed that these conventions are held “in order to stimulate a larger group consciousness which will greatly facilitate the process of believers becoming acquainted with each other.” (Written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly, November 16, 1943).

Most Unit Conventions also give attendees a chance to peruse and purchase books and materials offered by the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

The National Spiritual Assembly asks that as many friends as possible attend the Unit Conventions. The Unit Conventions this year bear special significance as Conventions present a unique opportunity to consult regionally about the Four Year Plan.

The National Spiritual Assembly has asked that this year’s consultation focus on its letter of June 6, 1996 to all local Spiritual Assemblies. Prior to the convention all adult believers will receive a copy of this letter with voting materials in the mail and will thus have a chance to come prepared to consult on this important message.

One of the goals specified by the National Spiritual Assembly is to double the core of active believers in the first year of the Four Year Plan. Doubling the number of persons voting and attending this year’s Unit Convention will be a step toward achieving that goal.

• While this quote makes reference to the National Convention, the spirit of it appears applicable to Unit Conventions.

1996 Electoral Unit Convention Update

Check for your Electoral Unit Convention changes

Please check the list below for your electoral unit. If your unit is listed, the information for your electoral unit has been updated or changed from the previous issue of The American Bahá’í. This information also includes some changes from the ballot mailing.

Please review the last issue of The American Bahá’í if your electoral unit is not listed below or your ballot mailing information which should ‎arriving arrive‎ in late August or early September. Your electoral unit number is printed on your mailing label in the upper right hand corner.

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

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

EU006: Bryant College, 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI; Sunday, Oct.13; 9:30a.m.-4:00p.m. (Registration: 8:30a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Barnstable, PO Box 1275, Hyannis, MA 02601-1275. Contact phone: 508-420-5025.

EU008: Location TBA*, Host LSA: Yonkers, NY, Saturday, Oct.5; Mail Ballots to LSA of Yonkers, Yonkers, NY. Contact phone: 914-949-8286.

EU010: Bahá’í Center, 53 E. 11th St, New York, NY; Sunday, Oct. 6; 1:00p.m.-5:00p.m. (Registration: 12:00p.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of New York City, Bahá’í Center, 53 E. 11th St, New York, NY 10003-4601. Contact phone: 212-674-8998.

EU012: Wilhelm Bahá’í Properties, 126 Evergreen Place, Teaneck, NJ; Sunday, Oct. 6; 9:30a.m.-4:00p.m. (Registration: 9:00a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Montclair Township, Montclair, NJ 070424124. Contact phone: 201-744-1748.

EU014: Bahá’í Center, 693 East Avenue, Rochester, NY; Sunday, Oct. 6; 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m. (Registration: 9:00a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14610-3011. Contact phone: 716-924-3345.

EU015: Camp Curtain Elementary School, 6th and Division Sts, Harrisburg, PA; Sunday, Oct. 6; 9:00a.m.-4:30p.m. (Registration: 8:00a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Harrisburg, PO Box 3108, Harrisburg, PA 17105. Contact phone: 717-232-9163.

EU018: Loch Raven High School, Cromwell Bridge and Cowpens Rds, Towson, MD; Sunday, Oct. 6; 10:00a.m.-3:00p.m. (Registration: 9:00a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Baltimore County Central, PO Box 9718, Baltimore, MD 21284-9718. Contact phone: 410-321-8054.

EU024: Camp Skimino, 448 Fenton Mill Road, Williamsburg, VA; Sunday, Oct. 6; 10:30a.m.-3:00p.m. (Registration: 9:30a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach, VA 23465-2143. Contact phone: 757-467-1400.

EU026: Inter-community Bahá’í Center, 5103 Revere Rd, Durham, NC; Saturday, Oct 5; 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m. (Registration: 9:00a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Durham, PO Box 51116, Durham, NC 27717-1116. Contact phone: 919-477-4520.

EU027: Conway Bahá’í Center, 2601 Fourth Ave, Conway, SC; Sunday, Oct. 6; 2:00p.m.-5:00p.m. (Registration: 1:00p.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Conway, PO Box 348, Conway, SC 29528. Contact phone: 803-248-8820.

EU030: Reeves’ residence, Summerville, SC; Sunday, Oct. 6; 10:00a.m.-‎3:00p.p. 3:00p.m.‎ (Registration: 10:00a.m.). Mail Ballots to Bahá’ís of Summerville, Summerville, SC 29485. Contact phone: 717-232-9163.

EU031: Arthur Horne Bldg., Clemson Extension Office, 100 Ribault Rd., Beaufort, SC; Sunday, Oct. 6; 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m. (Registration: 9:00a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of St Helena Island, PO Box 977, St Helena Island, SC 29920-0977. Contact phone: 803-838-9742.

EU032: Orangeburg Development Center, 1060 Pineland St, Orangeburg, SC; Sunday, Oct. 6; 10:30 a.m.-5:00p.m. (Registration: 10:00a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Greater North, PO Box 309, North, SC 29112. Contact phone: 803-536-2752.

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

EU034: William & Rethalin Pumphrey residence, Kingstree, SC; Sunday, Oct. 6; 12:00p.m.-5:00p.m. (Registration: 11:30a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Kingstree, Kingstree, SC 29556. Contact phone: 803-354-5339.

EU037: Bahá’í Center, 541 W Evans St, Florence, SC; Sunday, Oct. 6; 11:00a.m.-3:00p.m. (Registration: 10:30a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Florence, Florence, SC 29501-5523. Contact phone: 803-667-1540.

EU038: Bahá’í Center, 541 W Evans St, Florence, SC; Sunday, Oct. 6; 11:00a.m.-3:00p.m. (Registration: 10:30a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Florence, Florence, SC 29501-5523. Contact phone: 803-667-1540.

EU040: Location and Time TBA*, Host LSA: Dillon. Contact phone: 800/735-4445 (SC Coordinating Committee).

EU043: Yorkshire Apartment Club House, 865 Lucas St, Rock Hill, SC; Sunday, Oct. 6; 10:00a.m.-3:00p.m. (Registration: 9:00a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Rock Hill, Rock Hill, SC 29730-5311. Contact phone: 803-328-8395.

EU056: Roswell Park Community Center, 9000 Fouts Rd, Roswell, GA; Sunday, Oct. 6; 1:00p.m.-6:00p.m. (Registration: 12:00p.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Fulton County Central, Sandy Springs, GA 30342-2766. Contact phone: 770-409-8829.

EU059: Windsor Forrest Community

See UNITS page 21

Test your Convention knowledge

1. When are most Unit Conventions held?

a) on April 21

b) the first weekend of October

c) the third weekend of October

2. What is the purpose of Unit Convention?

a) to elect delegates to the National Convention

b) to elect Regional Assemblies

c) to consult regionally on issues and concerns

3. Is the Unit Convention _______?

a) an annual event

b) an opportunity to make recommendations to the National Spiritual Assembly

c) an election meeting

4. How many believers voted last October?

a) 49,513

b) 14,842

c) 25,369

5. How many delegates are elected to the National Convention?

a) 95

b) 361

c) 171

6. How many electoral unit boundaries did not change following the recent redistricting of electoral units?

a) 5

b) 32

c) 89

7. True/False—Breaking into workshops is an acceptable procedure for Unit Conventions.

8. True/False—Youth delegates may be elected to vote and participate at National Convention.

9. True/False—Auxiliary Board Members may serve as delegates to the National Convention.

ANSWERS

1. b

2. a and c

3. a, b and c

4. b (26 percent of all adults in good standing with known addresses)

5. c (this number, 9 x 19, was established by Shoghi Effendi in 1937)

6. a (Long Island, Chicago, Chicago North Shore, Los Angeles, Navajo-Hopi Reservation)

7. False

8. False. There is no provision in the Bahá’í Administration for the election of “youth delegates.” Youth are welcome to request seating for National Convention.

9. False. Auxiliary Board Members are eligible for election at the Unit Convention. If, however, an Auxiliary Board Member is elected as a delegate to the National Convention and chooses to accept his or her election, he/she must resign from membership on the Auxiliary Board. [Page 9]

TOTAL ENROLLMENTS

July ........................................ 193

Total for year ........................ 540

THE FUND

(As of July 31, 1996)

	YTD Goal	YTD Actual
National Bahá’í Fund	$3,600,000	$2,370,995
All International Funds	$2,250,000	$1,850,206

	thru July 95	thru July 96
National Bahá’í Fund	$3,156,379	$2,370,995
International Bahá’í Fund	$934,289	$139,933
Arc Projects Fund	$11,129,661	$1,644,364
Continental Bahá’í Fund	$64,184	$65,909
Other Earmarked	$99,699	$200,642
Subtotal/Int’l Funds	$12,128,134	$1,850,206
Total/All Funds	$15,384,212	$4,421,843

Debt Watch	July 95	July 96
Loans Outstanding	$0	$800,000

National Bahá’í Fund: Goal & Actual

• Where we are: $2,370,995
• Where we need to be: $3,600,000

All International Funds: Goal & Actual

• Where we are: $1,850,206
• Where we need to be: $2,250,000

Arc Projects Fund

• Where we are: $1,644,364
• Where we were last year: $11,129,661

International Bahá’í Fund

• Where we are: $139,933
• Where we were last year: $934,289

Continental Bahá’í Fund

• Where we are: $65,909
• Where we were last year: $64,184

Summer decline in National Fund continues

The lag in contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund continued in July with contributions for the month of only $741,000, compared with a monthly goal of $1.2 million. This brings the total for the first quarter of the year to $2.4 million, down 25 percent from last year’s first-quarter total.

In the chart above, the average contributions level for the National Fund for the years 1993–95 is shown in comparison with monthly results and goals for the last six months. The trend indicates that the level of giving reached the goal only once in the six-month period, in April ’96, and has declined in each of the following months. Contributions have lagged behind the three-year average in all but May ’96.

“This is one of the worst summer declines in years,” said a staff member in the Office of the Treasurer and Development, “and it comes just at the beginning of the new [Four Year] Plan. The National Assembly has kept the community informed of the situation via letters to every local Spiritual Assembly, but so far the response has been marginal.”

New short-term debt obligations, incurred since May, now stand at $300,000, and fully half, or $500,000, of last year’s accumulated reserves has been used up.

Where are today’s heroes? You could be one by following these shining examples

Haven’t you heard the pundits and social critics deplore the lack of real heroes in today’s America? Have you ever wondered whether they might be right?

Surely the sports figures, politicians and preachers who would like to be our heroes have shown a real talent for disillusionment in the last few years. Doesn’t it sometimes seem as though daily life has lost its sparkle? That the world seems to be sliding into a sea of mediocrity?

In sharp contrast to this gloomy outlook are these words from the Universal House of Justice, directed to the Bahá’ís of North America:

“We look to the members of the Bahá’í community in the United States to perform, during the Four Year Plan, heroic deeds of service to the Cause, which will astonish and inspire their fellow-believers throughout the world.”

“Heroic deeds...”

The word heroic applied to Martha Root, certainly. She was the believer who heard the Tablets of the Divine Plan read at a National Convention and left immediately to pack her bags. It was Martha who traveled all those miles, taught so many, and earned the designation “incomparable” from the beloved Guardian.

Heroic was a good word for Marion Jack, Jackie to some, General Jack to the Guardian.

She was an artist—but of course that didn’t really matter; her painting was simply a way of attracting the public, whom she would, at least on one memorable trip, turn over to Agnes Alexander, not then a Hand of the Cause herself, for teaching.

Marion was directed by Shoghi Effendi to leave Bulgaria, but she convinced him to allow her to remain at her pioneer post there. After World War II, she wrote to the Guardian and asked if she might have a pair of shoes, as hers were worn out from untiring service to others, and enclosed a drawing of her feet so the size would be right.

This from a woman who had spent much of the war sleeping in an open hallway in all weather, just so she could fulfill her pioneer service. “What wouldn’t you do for a woman like that?” Rúḥíyyih Khánum asked. What indeed?

And there was Leonora Armstrong, the Spiritual Mother of South America. As a young woman she heard Martha Root speak and went to see her the next morning.

Finding Martha bedridden, Leonora came into the room and sat on Martha’s bed. “Where might I go to teach?” she asked. Martha, it seemed, had just returned from a trip to South America. “You should go south, Leonora,” she said. “You’ll love the people there.”

And so Leonora went. Nearly 50 years later, in Valparaiso, Chile, the Hand of the Cause Dr. Muhájir urged the hundreds of believers, young and old, attending a conference in that city to consider the example of Mrs. Armstrong, now a Counselor—shy, frail, bent with age and years of labor.

“We are all here today because she came here so long ago,” he said, “and I thought you might like to come up and greet your spiritual mother.”

Too long ago, you say? Well, how about Lauretta Voelz, who served the National Spiritual Assembly and countless friends around the world for nearly half a century before retiring less than two years ago? Might not “heroic” be a good way to describe her Bahá’í service?

Or consider the man who, having given an ambitious sum for the Arc when he heard the message brought by Mr. Nakhjavání last year, and whose life...

See HEROES page 31

Martha Root

Leonora Armstrong [Page 10]

RACE UNITY DAY ’96

Jaine Toth (left) and Irma Camp sand a community service building as part of a Race Unity Day service project sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Santa Barbara, CA.

A band of bagpipers performs for more than 100 Bahá’ís and guests during Denver, Colorado’s, area-wide Race Unity Day picnic June 9 in Lakewood.

Unseemly act gives Bahá’ís chance to teach

One instance of racial and religious intolerance has brought more recognition to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh in Marquette, Michigan, than the friends themselves have been able to generate.

That’s how Willie and Linda Maxwell view what took place after the community’s wonderful Race Unity Day celebration at Presque Isle.

“We are only a couple of Bahá’ís who have been given the opportunity to teach the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh through media” because of the incident, says Willie Maxwell. “My wife and I would like to thank that person for their racial and religious persecution.”

The celebration, sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Marquette and the Northern Michigan University Bahá’í Club, featured a walk around the island, a commemorative tree planting near the grave of Chief Kawbawgam, and a picnic with music and games.

A photograph of the tree planting was published in the next day’s issue of The Mining Journal, the Upper Peninsula’s largest daily newspaper.

But when the Maxwells, an interracial couple, returned home from the celebration to find a Race Unity Day flier marked up with racial epithets, a swastika and a Ku Klux Klan symbol, the newspaper took much more serious notice.

A major news article extensively quoting the Maxwells and officials of the police and sheriff’s departments was published, and two days later the newspaper ran an editorial decrying the act of bigotry.

Central California coast

A four-day, 93-mile walk for race unity received prominent attention in the communities on the central coast of California.

The walk was sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Lompoc, Santa Maria, Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay and Cambria. It symbolized the four stages of Bahá’u’lláh’s exile.

About 20 Bahá’ís and friends participated, with ages ranging from six to 61 years. Bahá’ís provided support vehicles for the walk and hospitality at designated rest stops.

Each day there were between 11 and 17 walkers, except when 25 walked the final day. Six people walked all four days, and three of them were able to walk every inch.

The walk got newspaper coverage from the Lompoc Record, Santa Maria Times, the Telegram Tribune and the Cambrian. Local NBC affiliate KSBY-TV taped the walkers for more than an hour. Another station, KCOY-TV, presented a noontime news clip.

On the third day, San Luis Obispo Mayor Allen Settle proclaimed the second Sunday in June to be Race Unity Day. The city’s first-ever “open mike” race unity dialogue was held, and people in the audience spoke about the need for harmony.

All along the route, people who had read or heard about the walk waved, honked or gave other signs of approval. Four people even joined the walk.

New York City

The City of the Covenant kicked off its summer teaching campaign June 8 with the participation of about 40 Bahá’í adults, youth and children in the Bronx Unity Parade.

It was the fourth straight year Bahá’ís have taken part in the parade. This year’s theme was “We Speak the Language of the World.”

Bronx Bahá’ís were joined by Army of Light youth teachers from upstate New York and by Bahá’ís from other city boroughs, Connecticut and Bermuda.

Bahá’í marchers started the day at the home of a Bronx Bahá’í for breakfast and prayers to foster a spirit of unity among themselves. They proceeded from there to the parade, which began at noon.

The parade route took them down the Grand Concourse, a 10-lane boulevard lined with cheering people enjoying the cloudless day and the marching and performing groups.

The Bahá’ís carried three banners emblazoned with the name of the Faith and excerpts from the Writings. Along the route, they handed out pamphlets and chanted “One planet...one people.” At the reviewing stand, where Bronx borough president Fernando Ferrer stood, the crowd joined in the chant.

Throughout the parade, the eagerness and energy of the Bahá’í youth and children was evident as they tirelessly distributed Bahá’í literature to the crowd. Near the end of the parade route, the Bahá’ís were welcomed by Mr. Ferrer and a prewritten statement about the Faith was read over the loudspeakers.

In post-parade activities at Joyce Kilmer Park, a Bahá’í booth made information available in Spanish and English. The Bahá’ís continued to teach and socialize for the rest of the afternoon and, with smiling faces, promised to return next year.

Face-painting was ‎a just just‎ as much a hit as the shade as Clarkdale, Arizona, celebrated Race Unity Day in 105-degree heat.

Fort Wayne, Indiana

A diligent pre-event public information effort resulted in great publicity and large crowds for Fort Wayne’s Race Unity Day celebration.

Faxes sent to area media led to an interview and newspaper article two days before the program.

A second wave of faxes cast Race Unity Day in the context of breaking news events such as a Ku Klux Klan rally in Seymour, Indiana, and a strong statement from President Clinton that he was convinced the recent church burnings in the South were racially motivated.

That got the media’s attention. All three local television stations conducted interviews for broadcast that evening, and both newspapers sent a reporter/photographer team to the Bahá’í program.

A large audience, many of whom came because they saw the original newspaper article, enjoyed the program. Many firesides took place throughout the room.

The program featured a talk on “Striving to Make the Dream a Reality” by the superintendent of Fort Wayne Community Schools. The superintendent said he agreed to speak because he had “known members of the Bahá’í Faith in other places and know that they are devoted to family and unity.”

Clarkdale, Arizona

About 350 people braved 105-degree temperatures and a visit from the Ku Klux Klan to celebrate Race Unity Day with the nine-member Bahá’í community of Clarkdale.

The seventh annual picnic featured free hamburgers, hot dogs and chili for all. There was entertainment by a band and a group called the Dancing Grannies.

Members of a local karate club also performed. Their performance was accompanied by music and a poem about racial harmony and how the world will be unified under the Prince of Peace.

The Girl Scouts had craft tables for the children and face painting for all ages. The Bahá’ís had a popular table as well, with helium balloons and pamphlets.

The turnout was not surprising, given the effort by local Bahá’ís to personally invite every household on the Yavapai Reservation and other minority households in the area. The Clarkdale City Council also proclaimed June 9 as Race Unity Day. This year every race was represented, and there were more minorities than whites attending. [Page 11]

RACE UNITY DAY ’96

When the Bahá’ís arrived in the morning to set up, they had to remove Klan literature all over the park. During the afternoon, five members of the Klan came and put up more literature, but people at the picnic followed them around and took down the pieces just as fast. The Klansmen ended up staying to eat the Bahá’ís’ food, not realizing that in doing so they were taking part in the picnic just like everyone else.

A collage of three photographs from the event were published in the Verde Independent newspaper.

Woodbridge, Virginia

A rain storm only added to the closeness as 40 people huddled in a park shelter for a Race Unity Day celebration sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Prince William County East.

Attendees heard traditional African stories, performances by the Washington, D.C., Bahá’í Youth Workshop and a guitarist, and talks.

Sixth-grader Maghan Vanover read a poem she wrote called The Colors of Our Nation about people being the building blocks of a peaceful world.

“In spite of the rain, there was a great feeling of fellowship,” Rebecca Martinez of Quantico told the Potomac News, which published an article and photograph about the event.

Mrs. Martinez, who was attending with her husband and two children, said the celebration was “unifying and harmonious. It’s inspiring to go to something like this where there is a unity of souls.”

Inverness, Florida

The inaugural Color Me Human Youth Festival drew a small but enthusiastic crowd to Courthouse Square in Inverness to celebrate the oneness of humankind.

The Times newspaper reported in an article and photographs that attendees enjoyed a step dance and unity dance by the Bahá’í Youth Workshop from Tampa. Former Miss Citrus County Amy Fallon, recently the victim of a racially motivated attack, and two other pageant winners sang. And Girl Scouts staged the International Flame Ceremony with many-hued candles lighted to signify that the spirit is the same in all people.

As Jamie Cooper, a local Bahá’í, told the newspaper, “We’re all the same. We just come with different wrappers.”

Lansing, Michigan

With tremendous hard work and limited resources, the Spiritual Assembly of Lansing and Ebenezer Baptist Missionary Church brought together a wonderful two-day celebration of cultural diversity and race unity.

The first day’s celebration, attended by about 100 people, began with prayers and speakers.

Kemba Masloomian spoke about her travels throughout southern Africa and shared excerpts from her book, To Dine With the Blameless Ethiopians.

The Rev. Rodney Patterson noted the similarities between the Faith and Christianity and lauded the Bahá’ís for exemplifying a level of unity in diversity that other organizations only talk about. He expressed the hope that in the future every day will be Race Unity Day and there will be no need for special celebrations such as this.

Michael Rogel, chairman of the Lansing Assembly and a frequent speaker on gender and race issues, addressed challenges facing the white race and its opportunities to contribute to the growth of race unity.

Last on the program there was a performance by the Chicago Bahá’í Youth Workshop. Workshop members also presented a beautiful fireside that evening, with a lively exchange of ideas.

The next morning, the Bahá’ís took part in services at the Ebenezer Church. The Bahá’í visitors were welcomed, acknowledged and applauded by church members. Following was a potluck picnic with much sharing and fellowship.

Lexington, Kentucky

The Bahá’í community of Lexington has been observing Race Unity Day since 1978. This year the celebration of racial diversity was expanded from a day to a week with a wide range of sponsors and organizers.

An interracial, interfaith committee was formed with eager volunteers from a number of non-governmental organizations. They decided the theme was so important that all of Lexington should be included, necessitating the week-long celebration.

More than 75 businesses and organizations ended up participating in the week. There were art shows at the libraries, international menus offered at restaurants, culturally diverse movies shown at local theaters and on display at video stores, discussion groups held by various organizations, talks at the University of Kentucky and free concerts in the parks.

Race Unity Week received extensive media coverage, and the Bahá’í coordinator of the committee was interviewed at length by one of the newspapers.

A day-long celebration on June 8 culminated the week of activities. It started off with a 5K race and continued with a festival in the park featuring booths, vendors and six musical groups including the South Central Ohio Bahá’í Youth Workshop.

The Bahá’í youth were so popular they have been invited by the Unitarian Church to attend the summer Peace Camp.

Planning has already begun for 1997.

Chicago, Illinois

Downtown Chicago is the backdrop (above) as Bahá’ís and others from the area and beyond march for race unity.

The annual Walk for Race Unity returned to Chicago, its original site, June 9 after being held in Evanston and Wilmette on the North Shore the past six years.

Also, the Chicago Commission on Human Relations joined with the North Shore Race Unity Task Force, sponsoring agency for the event.

The results were wider geographic exposure and participation and greater cultural and ethnic diversity among those who walked—both results responding to the major objective of the task force to promote the unity and harmony of the human family.

Who knows, maybe the event will have to be lengthened to a month!

A constant mist showered the throng gathered near the Columbia Yacht Club on that cold and foggy day. But the more than 300 marchers from all over Chicagoland and even two busloads of people from Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin, were determined to demonstrate the oneness of mankind.

The two-mile walk ended with a program of celebration on the grounds near where it began.

Race Unity Day proclamations were read by the mayor of Evanston, the Wilmette village president, and the chairman of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.

Robert C. Henderson, secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly, offered words of praise and encouragement in support of the walk.

He expressed the need for racial harmony throughout the world and said it is one of the prerequisites for the realization of world peace.

A festival of music and dancing followed, representative of the rich diversity in Chicago and its environs.

All the entertainers performed as though the sun were shining, while the beaming faces of the audience shone back their appreciation as they remained to the end.

Kansas City, Kansas

The three-hour concert (right) on Race Unity Day in Kansas City, Kansas, featured a variety of performers.

Concerns over local violence and the church burnings in the South resulted in Kansas City’s 12th annual Race Unity concert June 9 being the lead story on KSHB television’s evening news.

For three minutes and 30 seconds, the station gave viewers a sampling of the program—a prayer vigil for the two issues in which the reporters participated and the diversity of the crowd and the music—and interviews with several Bahá’ís.

This coverage was a first for the area Bahá’í communities, but it wasn’t the only notice the program got. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the area’s public information representatives, several mentions of the concert appeared in three local newspapers before the event, and it was included in listings of weekend musical attractions.

Aberdeen/Raymond, Washington

Plans are already being made to continue the spirit of Race Unity Day throughout the year and to repeat the observance next year in the wake of a very successful event sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Aberdeen and Raymond.

The June 8 event was held at the South Shore Mall, where a large center stage was provided for the performers and a large reception room was made available for the display of pamphlets, posters and a hanging wall mural depicting the theme.

Billboards provided by the Parks and Recreation Department advertising Race Unity Day were seen by anyone entering or leaving the city. High schools and local businesses displayed posters for it.

Once there, attendees enjoyed performances by Tapestry and the Diversity Dance Workshop.

Tapestry, a group of 11 Bahá’ís, sang energetic and uplifting songs that included lyrics from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh.

Diversity Dance Workshop, a group of youth from various religious and cultural backgrounds, presented moving dance dramatizations on the topics of racism, drugs, abuse and poverty.

The members wore T-shirts bearing a photograph of the world and the quotation, “The earth is but one country.”

Many people passed through, and some stopped to listen or to take pamphlets. Seeds were planted.

A video was made of the performances for future teaching efforts. [Page 12]

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS ...

ALEXIS BROOKS DE VITA, a Bahá’í from Boulder, Colorado, has been awarded a 1996 Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship to support her study of the influence of women of African descent in English, French, Italian and Spanish contemporary literature. The Fellowship will pay the student and Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Colorado some $56,000 over a three-year period to support Mrs. De Vita’s research and writing.

DR. WILLIAM E. KRAUS, a Bahá’í from Durham County, North Carolina, who is a cardiologist at Duke University, has been named director of the university’s Center for Living effective April 1, 1996. As director, Dr. Kraus will oversee the Center’s staff of 60 medical and administrative personnel and work toward integrating its wellness programs with those of related diet and wellness centers at Duke.

AMY GANDOMI, a 17-year-old Bahá’í from Mesa, Arizona, was honored recently by KNXV-TV with its “Kids Who Care Award,” given each month to a young person in Arizona who has shown an intense commitment to service organizations. The “organization,” in Miss Gandomi’s case, is the Eternal Flame Bahá’í Youth Workshop which travels around the state delivering its message of peace and anti-racism. An article about her award appeared in the Mesa Tribune.

NADINE SABET-SHARGHI, a nine-year-old Bahá’í who is a fourth-grade student at Timmons Elementary School in Bainbridge, Ohio, was chosen as one of 10 students in her class to compete in the Language Arts Olympiad, a nationwide competition, and was the only student from her school, and one of the few nationwide, to earn a perfect score on the test.

Two young Bahá’ís from Colorado, a sister and brother, were honored recently for their achievements. ARGHAVAN RAHIMPOUR, a high school senior, won the Boettcher Scholarship, which covers tuition to any college in the state, the “Best and Brightest” scholarship from the Gazette Telegraph, and the EF Ambassadors scholarship, given to one student in each state, which underwrote a tour this summer of New York, France, Belgium, England and Italy. TOUFAN RAHIMPOUR, a junior high school student, won the Pikes Peak Sertoma National Heritage Essay Contest, presenting the winning essay to an audience of 500 at the U.S. Air Force Academy. His topic, “What Freedom Means to Me,” was written from the standpoint of the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran.

TANIKA LYNN CONNESERO, a young Bahá’í from Joseph City, Arizona, was a member of her high school’s 800-meter medley relay team that placed first in this year’s regional track meet and fourth in the state I-A meet.

CASSIE STEKLY, a Bahá’í youth from Fort Wayne, Indiana, was the youngest lead performer in the Civic Theatre’s recent production, “Mama’s Turn,” a musical tribute to mothers on Mothers’ Day. She has also appeared in “Brigadoon,” “Once Upon a Mattress,” “Rumors” and “The Apple Tree.”

FERESHTEH M. WALTERS, a Bahá’í who plans to teach Farsi at the University of Southern Maine and at the Green Acre Bahá’í School, has been given the Lisa Quatrano Memorial Book Award from USM “for outstanding accomplishments in the College of Arts and Sciences.”

BEN MARX, a Bahá’í who is finishing his senior year at the International School in Kuala ‎Lumper Lumpur‎, Malaysia, earned his Eagle Scout ranking while pioneering in that country. His Scout project involved building a playground for the Bahá’í National Center of Malaysia.

WILLIAM MCCANTS, a 21-year-old Bahá’í who is entering his senior year at Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina, was chosen to intern this summer at the Carter Center in Atlanta, which is devoted to helping disadvantaged people around the world through social and economic development projects. He was chosen for his strong academic record at Lander and his involvement in bringing about racial unity on campus.

In May, JIM HOEZEE, a 13-year-old Bahá’í who attends La Venture Middle School in Mt. Vernon, Washington, was chosen by his fellow students to receive an award of recognition for “exceptional kindness and respect” shown to classmates and teachers.

JERRY LIMBER, an 11-year-old Bahá’í from Rockville, Maryland, recently won Best in County in a poetry competition sponsored by the Montgomery County school system.

ABOLADE THOMAS, a 12-year-old Bahá’í from Oakland, California, was a member of the prize-winning team in the recent districtwide Math Olympics. In true Bahá’í fashion, the event in which her team won first place was the Collaborative Team event.

Two young Bahá’ís from Seattle, Washington, SUNNI TICESON and DEVIN RYCHETNIC, were recently graduated from 8th grade with perfect 4.0 grade-point averages. Sunni was recognized for her achievement by the Seattle chapter of Links Inc., a group that honors outstanding African-American students. Both young people are active in the Bahá’í community.

Five Bahá’ís from U.S. are members of Maxwell School’s fifth graduating class

Pictured are members of the fifth graduating class at the Maxwell International Bahá’í School in British Columbia, Canada. The graduation ceremony was held June 29.

On June 29 the Maxwell International Bahá’í School in Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia, held its fifth graduation ceremony.

Five young Bahá’ís from the U.S. were among this year’s graduates: Kevin Merrill of San Diego, California; Anisa Newman of Rock Hill, South Carolina; Nima Nour of Houston, Texas; Jennifer Phillips of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, and Lila Schultz of Bellingham, Washington.

Mr. Merrill was chosen Outstanding Male Student of the year, received an award for Outstanding Service, and was given the school’s highest honor, the Eagle Award for Moral Leadership.

He and Miss Newman also received awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Residential Program.

Distinguished guests at the graduation ceremony included Counselor ‘Abdu’l-Missagh Ghadirian; Canadian National Spiritual Assembly members Glen Eyford, Judy Filson and Reginald Newkirk; two former members of the National Assembly, Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Jameson Bond and David Hadden; and Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Gail Bond and Mrs. Nancy Hadden.

Mr. Hadden played a major role in the acquisition and early development of the school.

The graduation ceremony began, as have those in past years, with the graduates presenting a 30-minute production of drama, dance, song and prayer. It was entitled “The People of Change,” which the class had chosen as its motto three years ago.

After an intermission, the graduates returned to the hall in traditional caps and gowns to receive their diplomas.

Mr. Newkirk then introduced the two new senior administrators who will guide the school in future years, principal Arini Beaumaris, from Australia, and vice-principal June Barrows, a pioneer to Cameroon with her family for the past 14 years.

Mr. Newkirk paid tribute to interim principal Kurt Hein who, he said, “has guided, very successfully, [the] Maxwell [school] in this year of transition.” The audience of 750 students, families, staff and guests gave Dr. Hein a standing ovation.

Mr. Newkirk also warmly thanked Dr. Stephen Waite and Mrs. Anne Waite for their five years of service as vice-principal and director of the Human Development Program, respectively.

At an alumni brunch the day after the graduation ceremony, Dr. Hein announced plans for an alumni organization so that, as he said, “Maxwell can spread its limbs around the world.”

Those who would like to contact other Maxwellians may e-mail Tsutomu Kajiya, tsutomu@cs.mcgill.ca, or Sebastian Bos, sbos@odyssey.net. The Maxwell School also has a home page on the Internet: http://www.islandnet.com/student/maxwell.html

Navajo Blessing Way ceremony at Native American Institute is held to honor Orona family

At the request of the Navajo community, a traditional Blessing Way ceremony was held July 19–21 at the Native ‎Amerian American‎ Bahá’í Institute in Arizona to honor NABI’s administrators, the Orona family.

The Blessing Way includes three days of fasting, prayer and abstinence from work. Songs and prayers were offered in the NABI prayer hogan by a medicine man and his assistants.

It was a special privilege for the Oronas, as there are few occasions in which non-Navajos are honored at such a ceremony. The family wore the traditional white vesture symbolizing purity and traditional turquoise jewelry.

Guests included a member of the local Houck (Navajo) Chapter Council who paid his respects. Also, 30 people stayed for an all-night prayer vigil which began at 11 p.m.

The Oronas were able to use the ceremony to enhance their ongoing teaching/proclamation efforts at NABI. On July 31, for example, they invited people from the Navajo Reservation to the Feast of Kamál.

Navajo elders, men, women and children from the area came to NABI for a turkey dinner and spiritual Feast in the prayer hogan.

Bahá’í prayers were recited in Navajo, Japanese, Persian, English and Apache. The guests were drawn to the beauty of the occasion and shared traditional Navajo songs and prayers.

NABI plans to continue using the Nineteen Day Feast to help advance the Cause in its area. [Page 13]

Questions and answers about the Office of Assembly Development

What is the Office of Assembly Development? The Office of Assembly Development was established at Ridván 1995 to coordinate all major national initiatives in the area of local Spiritual Assembly development. It was placed under the Community Administration Office which was subsequently renamed the Office of Community Administration and Development. The staff currently consists of one full-time and one part-time employee.

What has already been accomplished by the new Office of Assembly Development? Following the appointment of a coordinator for the office in July 1995, an extensive assessment of efforts already under way in the area of Assembly development was undertaken to determine their scope and effectiveness. In addition, a survey was conducted among all local Spiritual Assemblies and Auxiliary Board members about the use and effectiveness of the Assembly development modules and the Assembly reference manual Developing Distinctive Bahá’í Communities. The results of the assessment and survey were conveyed to the National Spiritual Assembly in a report, and that information has become the basis for planning future Assembly development efforts. The office has also sent all new Assemblies and re-formed Assemblies that had previously lapsed for two or more years a special letter of recognition and a packet of information to help them with their functioning.

Since Ridván, the office has conducted a weekend training session on Assembly development at the Green Acre Bahá’í School and a week-long class at the Bosch Bahá’í School. Similar sessions and classes are being considered for the other permanent and regional Bahá’í schools. In addition, the office has already piloted a regional forum for training Assemblies within the vicinity of the Bahá’í House of Worship. It is anticipated that it will be duplicated in other areas of the country. The office will also begin publishing a series of articles in The American Bahá’í on Assembly development that will offer guidance and suggestions to both new and experienced Assemblies. It is important to stress that the development of local Spiritual Assemblies is everyone’s business and is not limited to the work of one office. Besides taking part in Assembly development-related efforts which originate from other offices, all believers can take part in the development of Assemblies by serving on them when elected, supporting and upholding their plans, being obedient to their decisions, and striving to deepen in their understanding of the spiritual and administrative principles under which they function.

What help is available now for Assemblies that need assistance with their development? At this time, Assemblies requiring assistance with development can turn to the Assembly development modules. The modules are presented by Auxiliary Board members and selected assistants to the Auxiliary Board and provide Assemblies with training in a variety of areas related to their responsibilities and functioning. In addition, Assemblies are encouraged to obtain and familiarize themselves with Developing Distinctive Bahá’í Communities and the statement and compilation prepared by the research department of the Universal House of Justice on promoting entry by troops. Assemblies may also obtain help and guidance on specific issues of concern by contacting the Office of Community Administration and Development.

What topics are currently covered by the Assembly Development modules? Ten topics are currently available: Teaching, Consultation, Application of Spiritual and Administrative Principles, the Spiritual Nature of the Local Assembly, Connecting Hearts to the Fund, Celebrating Diversity, Bahá’í Social and Economic Development, That the East and West May Embrace (The Integration of Persian-American Bahá’ís into the American Bahá’í Community), Stress Management and the Bahá’í Community, and Cultivating and Integrating the Arts in Our Bahá’í Community Life.

Will there be any additional modules developed during the Four Year Plan? Yes. The Office of Assembly Development is already working on modules pertaining to spiritual obligations, planning, and promoting entry by troops. It is also refining and updating the current modules. As specific training needs are identified during the Four Year Plan, undoubtedly there will be additional modules prepared to meet them.

How does an Assembly go about participating in a module? Presently, the best way to do this is to request the module through your Auxiliary Board member who will either give the module or convey the request to his or her designated assistant. The assistant will then contact your Assembly and arrange for a mutually agreeable meeting time for presenting the module. In the coming year, the Office of Assembly Development will be training a number of skilled and experienced believers who will also be available to present the modules.

Can an Assembly acquire and study the modules on its own? Yes, but the experience is much fuller if they are facilitated by an objective presenter who is not already a member of the Assembly or community. Assemblies wishing to obtain the modules may do so for a small photocopy fee by contacting the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

What useful information came out of the local Spiritual Assembly development surveys? The survey provided information to help the National Spiritual Assembly assess existing development efforts including awareness, interest levels, usage and effectiveness. Responses from Assemblies closely mirrored the responses from Auxiliary Board members and their assistants.

Of the 1,340 Assemblies surveyed, 544 returned the questionnaire for a response rate of 41 percent. This rate is good yet indicates that responses are not totally representative of the full community. Slightly more than half of those responding were aware of the modules which suggests the need to increase their promotion. Among those aware, interest seemed strong given that the average number of modules presented was 2.5 and the desire was expressed to take more. Comments provided insight into ways we might encourage even more extensive use of the modules. Another finding was that the modules received a fairly high average effectiveness rating—indicating their basic worth. Specific comments received on the content and methodologies of each module are being used to make revisions.

In addition, the results indicate that awareness and usage of the manual Developing Distinctive Bahá’í Communities is quite high. Of those using the manual, 99.5 percent found it useful in carrying out their duties. Besides this encouraging news, the office received specific input that it is already using in its plans to update and supplement the manual.

National Spiritual Assembly invites Bahá’ís in U.S. to join in annual United Nations Day observance in October

The National Spiritual Assembly, in collaboration with the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA), invites the Bahá’í community to join with others in the nationwide observance October 24 of United Nations Day.

The National Spiritual Assembly encourages local Assemblies, Groups and individual believers, as well as permanent Bahá’í schools and college clubs to link with other groups to plan events to which they can invite the public or support UN Day activities already scheduled in their local communities. It also encourages public information representatives to coordinate publicity related to these events.

UN Day is an opportunity for concerned citizens to advocate for responsible U.S. leadership in the United Nations and to urge the U.S. Congress to do the same, particularly as Americans prepare to elect their national leadership which will guide them into the next century.

The National Spiritual Assembly, together with other national organizations affiliated with UNA-USA, will deliver an open letter to Congress that will call for responsible U.S. leadership in the UN by urging prompt payment of $1.5 billion owed to the UN by the U.S.

The letter, with organizational endorsements, will be made available to the Bahá’í community through the US/UN Bahá’í Office for distribution on or before UN Day. The letter will be delivered to Congress and the executive branch after the elections.

UNA-USA has made available for $8 each a United Nations Day Program Kit which offers programming assistance, fact sheets, UN information and much more to help in organizing a UN Day event.

UNA-USA headquarters is also available to you for programming ideas, identifying speakers and resources, and especially serving as liaison with local UNA-USA chapters/divisions and college clubs.

Recent statements submitted to the United Nations by the Bahá’í International Community are available for purchase through the Bahá’í Distribution Service.

These statements include “Sustainable Communities in an Integrating World” released in June 1996 at the UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II); the “Turning Point For All Nations” released on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the UN; and “The Greatness Which Might Be Theirs” distributed at the UN’s fourth World Conference on Women last September in Beijing.

Other relevant publications include the Summer 1996, Spring 1996 and Winter 1995-96 issues of World Order magazine and a book of essays entitled Toward the Most Great Justice: Elements of Justice in the New World Order.

In addition, the UN table-top exhibit developed last year for observances of the UN’s 50th anniversary can be ordered for $120 through Reddy & Associates, Inc., Attn: Laura Lindberg, P.O. Box 639, Cedarburg, WI 53012 (phone 414-377-8448; fax: 414-377-9273).

For more information and materials on UN Day, please contact Jeffery Huffines at the US/UN Bahá’í Office, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York, NY 10017 (phone 212-803-2500; fax 212-803-2573; e-mail) or Liz Marmandies at UNA-USA headquarters, 485 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10017 (phone 212-907-1300; fax 212-682-9185).

On April 14, the Bahá’ís of McMinnville, Oregon, presented their fourth annual World Citizen Award to Courtney Wilson (right) for her leadership in establishing cross-cultural, bilingual education in the workplace as a model for the nursery industry. Ms. Wilson is also a volunteer with Northwest Medical Teams in rural Mexico. The award was presented on behalf of the Bahá’ís of McMinnville by Beth Cooprider. Articles about the award appeared both before and after the ceremony in the local newspaper, the McMinnville News-Register. [Page 14]

Covenant

about whom you are concerned are their assertions that they are entirely obedient to the spirit of the Covenant and the institutions of the Faith; that they are merely voicing their disagreement with certain decisions and policies made by these institutions; are protesting against what they perceive to be unjust or improper actions by some people who occupy prominent administrative positions; and are suggesting modifications to Bahá’í procedures to prevent such perceived abuses of authority. These assertions, however, overlook certain important Bahá’í principles which provide the methods and channels for the voicing of such grievances or disagreements, and which are designed to lead to resolution of problems while preserving the unity of the community.

Over many years, a few believers in the United States, instead of confining their protests against what they saw as abuses of authority by Bahá’í bodies to the channels and agencies which are plentifully provided for such a purpose, have been publicly and privily assailing the institutions of the Cause and generalizing specific accusations of injustice to such an extent as to accuse the entire system of corruption, not only in practice but also in form and theory. One outcome of this continuing stream of negative criticism has been the gradual conversion of unverified accusations into accepted "facts" in the minds of some of their hearers.

Through such activities, and the mutual support that they give to one another, these friends have increasingly assumed the appearance of a dissident group of Bahá’ís who are attempting to arouse widespread disaffection in the community and thereby to bring about changes in the structure and principles of Bahá’í administration, making it accord more closely with their personal notions. Such an activity is closely analogous to the pursuit of a partisan political program, an activity which is accepted and even admired in most societies, but is entirely antithetical to the spirit of the Bahá’í Faith. It promotes an atmosphere of contention, and Bahá’u’lláh has expressly stated: "Conflict and contention are categorically forbidden in His Book."

The laws, commandments, injunctions and exhortations we have all agreed to obey and follow as Bahá’ís include a clearly defined approach to decision-making and to the implementation of decisions. You are, undoubtedly, well familiar with the various aspects of this approach, which is built on the conviction that the path of unity is the only path that can lead to the civilization envisioned by Bahá’u’lláh. So strong is the emphasis on unity that, for example, once a decision has been made by an Assembly, everyone is expected to support that decision wholeheartedly, relying confidently on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s assurance that, even if the decision is wrong, "as it is in unity the truth will be revealed and the wrong made right." This principle of unity is supplemented by other, related guidelines covering such issues as how criticism can be expressed, how the wrongdoing of members of the community is to be corrected, how the principle of justice is to be applied and appeals admitted, and how the integrity of individuals, the institutions and the Cause is to be upheld.

In adhering to such teachings Bahá’ís recognize that individuals do not become wholly virtuous on accepting the Faith. It takes time for them to grow spiritually out of their personal imperfections and out of the structural and behavioral assumptions of the societies in which they have been raised, which color their view of the world. The institutions of the Cause, which the believers have been raising in obedience to the law of Bahá’u’lláh, in accordance with the pattern set forth by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the expositions of Shoghi Effendi, and under the guidance of the Universal House of Justice, are still in their embryonic stage and not infrequently fall short of the ideal for which they are striving. There is also the possibility of certain individuals’ misusing the positions of authority to which they are elected or appointed within the structure of the Administrative Order. Again and again Shoghi Effendi, in his letters, called upon the Bahá’ís to be patient and forbearing, both with one another and with their Assemblies, but in serious cases of malfunctioning by either institutions or individuals, neither the Guardian nor the Universal House of Justice has hesitated to take remedial action. Bahá’í administration has provisions to cope with such human frailties and is designed to enable the believers to build Bahá’u’lláh’s new World Order in the midst of their imperfections, but without conflicts which would destroy the entire edifice.

One of the tasks of the Universal House of Justice, in addition to enacting legislation, resolving difficult problems, elucidating obscure matters, settling differences, administering the worldwide affairs of the Cause and directing the course of the implementation of the Divine Plan is to protect the individual believers and the body of the Cause from the deleterious effects of malfunctioning institutions and unwise or malicious individuals. Most of the time these defects, whether in the behavior of individuals or institutions, are of a relatively minor nature and can be dealt with by the local and National Assemblies or by the Counselors with the members of the Auxiliary Boards and their assistants. However, at times the situation becomes far more grave and the World Center is compelled to intervene.

You are most directly concerned with the situation in the United States. The letter of May 19, 1994 does, indeed, address certain aspects of the functioning of your National Spiritual Assembly it was, after all, written in response to the National Assembly’s request for guidance but that is merely one of the issues before the American Bahá’í community. If you study that letter carefully you will see that it calls for a range of improvements in the actions of the individual believers and the entire community. Indeed it develops points touched on in the letter of December 29, 1988, which urges the believers to rethink accepted theories of the functioning of society.

Sadly, efforts made by the institutions and some of their fellow believers to explain these issues seem to have been dismissed by the friends previously referred to. A few politely acknowledged the communications of the House of Justice, but then continued on their way, ignoring the fundamental points which had been made. A few have openly opposed the House of Justice’s guidance. The rhetoric has become far removed from a pure concern to uphold justice and the rights of individuals within the community; it has developed into the fomentation of contention about some of the most fundamental beliefs of the Faith and an attack on the basis of the Covenant which, alone, is the ultimate guarantee that the Faith will remain true to its divine origin throughout the centuries.

The point at issue has thus become that of whether believers should be permitted to continue indefinitely to undermine the faith of their fellow Bahá’ís, stir up agitation within the community, and publicly assail the theory as well as the practice of Bahá’u’lláh’s Administrative Order.

In the Kitab-i-Aqdas Bahá’u’lláh states: "We approve of liberty in certain circumstances, and refuse to sanction it in others." One area in which liberty is limited in the Bahá’í community is that governing methods and channels for the expression of criticism. In this connection, we enclose a brief compilation of excerpts from letters written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to individual believers. From this guidance, the following principles can be clearly derived:

• The importance of unity as both the goal of Bahá’u’lláh’s Message and the means for its establishment. Bahá’u’lláh "has not only advocated certain principles, but has also provided a mechanism whereby that ideal can be established and perpetuated," adherence to both of which by the friends is essential for "the realization of His goal of world unity."
• Bahá’ís are "fully entitled to address criticisms to their Assemblies" and offer their recommendations. When Bahá’ís have addressed their criticisms, suggestions and advice to their Assemblies, including their views "about policies or individual members of elected bodies," they must "wholeheartedly accept the advice or decision of the Assembly."
• There is a clear distinction between, on the one hand, the prohibition of backbiting, which would include adverse comments about individuals or institutions made to other individuals privately or publicly, and, on the other hand, the encouragement to unburden oneself of one’s concerns to a Spiritual Assembly, local or National (or now, also, to confide in a Counselor or Auxiliary Board member). Thus, although one of the principal functions of the Nineteen Day Feast is to provide a forum for "open and constructive criticism and deliberation regarding the state of affairs within the local Bahá’í community," complaints about the actions of an individual member of an Assembly should be made directly and confidentially to the Assembly itself, not made to other individuals or even raised at a Nineteen Day Feast.
• While constructive criticism is encouraged, destructive criticism, such as the pattern of "continually challenging and criticizing the decisions" of the Assemblies, prevents the rapid growth of the Faith and repels those who are yet outside the community. Indeed "all criticisms and discussions of a negative character which may result in undermining the authority of the Assembly as a body should be strictly avoided. For otherwise the order of the Cause itself will be endangered, and confusion and discord will reign in the community." "Vicious criticism is indeed a calamity," the root of which is "lack of faith in the system of Bahá’u’lláh" and failure to follow the "Bahá’í laws in voting, in electing, in serving, and in abiding by Assembly decisions."

The questions of how criticism is expressed and acted upon in the Bahá’í community, and how the Spiritual Assemblies administer justice in regard to individual believers are but elements of far greater concepts and should become second nature in the social discourse of Bahá’ís. The Bahá’í community is an association of individuals who have voluntarily come together, on recognizing Bahá’u’lláh’s claim to be the Manifestation of God for this age, to establish certain patterns of personal and social behavior and to build the institutions that are to promote these patterns. There are numerous individuals who share the ideals of the Faith and draw inspiration from its Teachings, while disagreeing with certain of its features, but those who actually enter the Bahá’í community have accepted, by their own free will, to follow the Teachings in their entirety, understanding that, if doubts and disagreements arise in the process of translating the Teachings into practice, the final arbiter is, by the explicit authority of the Revealed Text, the Universal House of Justice.

It is the ardent prayer of the Universal House of Justice that any friends who find themselves at odds in this endeavor will have confidence in the guidance it provides for them, will renew their study of the Teachings and, for the sake of Bahá’u’lláh, strengthen their love for one another. As the beloved Guardian’s secretary wrote on his behalf to an individual believer on October 25, 1949: "Without the spirit of real love for Bahá’u’lláh, for His Faith and its Institutions, and the believers for each other, the Cause can never really bring in large numbers of people. For it is not preaching and rules the world wants, but love and action." The worldwide undertakings on which the Cause of God is embarked are far too significant, the need of the peoples of the world for the Message of Bahá’u’lláh far too urgent, the perils facing mankind far too grave, the progress of events far too swift, to permit His followers to squander their time and efforts in fruitless contention. Now, if ever, is the time for love among the friends, for unity of understanding and endeavor, for self-sacrifice and service by Bahá’ís in every part of the world.

The House of Justice understands and appreciates your concern for the proper functioning of the Bahá’í community. It urges you to contemplate the issues you [Page 15]have raised in the light of the Teachings themselves, and not to weigh them with the standards of other philosophies or of any civil system, the fundamental assumptions of which differ in many respects from those of Bahá’u’lláh’s divinely conceived Order.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Universal House of Justice Department of the Secretariat July 2, 1996

A BRIEF COMPILATION ON CRITICISM

Extracts from letters written on behalf of the Guardian to individual believers

"At such a time when the political world is chaotic and society seems to be on the verge of death, as a result of the activities of societies that contain only half-truths, the friends of God should be united and act as one single organism. The greater their unity the surer they can be of winning the day. And this unity cannot be achieved save through obedience to the Assemblies. It is true these are still immature and may at times act unwisely. But supporting them will help more their advance toward an administration that is truly representative of the Cause, than by criticizing them and ignoring their advice. Bahá’u’lláh has not only advocated certain principles, but has also provided a mechanism whereby that ideal can be established and perpetuated. Both of these phases are essential for the realization of His goal of world unity." (February 27, 1933)

"The Bahá’ís are fully entitled to address criticisms to their Assemblies; they can freely air their views about policies or individual members of elected bodies to the Assembly, local or National, but then they must wholeheartedly accept the advice or decision of the Assembly, according to the principles already laid down for such matters in Bahá’í administration." (May 13, 1945)

"The Guardian...noted with keen interest the various suggestions you had offered the National Spiritual Assembly in its last meeting.

"The spirit of frank and constructive criticism behind your suggestions must have surely impressed them, and awakened them to a fresh and deeper realization of the unique responsibilities which they have to shoulder in this day." (August 19, 1938)

...you had asked whether the believers have the right to openly express their criticism of any Assembly action or policy: it is not only the right, but the vital responsibility of every loyal and intelligent member of the community to offer fully and frankly, but with due respect and consideration to the authority of the Assembly, any suggestion, recommendation or criticism he conscientiously feels he should in order to improve and remedy certain existing conditions or trends in his local community, and it is the duty of the Assembly also to give careful consideration to any such views submitted to them by any one of the believers. The best occasion chosen for this purpose is the Nineteen Day Feast, which, besides its social and spiritual aspects, fulfils various administrative needs and requirements of the community, chief among them being the need for open and constructive criticism and deliberation regarding the state of affairs within the local Bahá’í community.

"But again it should be stressed that all criticisms and discussions of a negative character which may result in undermining the authority of the Assembly as a body should be strictly avoided. For otherwise the order of the Cause itself will be endangered, and confusion and discord will reign in the community." (December 13, 1939)

"The Guardian believes that a great deal of the difficulties from which the believers in..... feel themselves to be suffering are caused by their neither correctly understanding nor putting into practice the administration. They seem—many of them—to be prone to continually challenging and criticizing the decisions of their Assemblies. If the Bahá’ís undermine the very bodies which are, however immaturely, seeking to coordinate Bahá’í activities and administer Bahá’í affairs, if they continually criticize their acts and challenge or belittle their decisions, they not only prevent any real rapid progress in the Faith's development from taking place, but they repel outsiders who quite rightly may ask how we ever expect to unite the whole world when we are so disunited among ourselves!

"There is only one remedy for this: to study the administration, to obey the Assemblies, and each believer seek to perfect his own character as a Bahá’í. We can never exert the influence over others which we can exert over ourselves. If we are better, if we show love, patience, and understanding of the weaknesses of others; if we seek to never criticize but rather encourage, others will do likewise, and we can really help the Cause through our example and spiritual strength. The Bahá’ís everywhere, when the administration is first established, find it very difficult to adjust themselves. They have to learn to obey, even when the Assembly may be wrong, for the sake of unity. They have to sacrifice their personalities, to a certain extent, in order that the community life may grow and develop as a whole. These things are difficult but we must realize that they will lead us to a very much greater, more perfect way of life when the Faith is properly established according to the administration." (October 26, 1943)

"Vicious criticism is indeed a calamity. But its root is lack of faith in the system of Bahá’u’lláh (i.e. the administrative order), and lack of obedience to Him for He has forbidden it! If the Bahá’ís would follow the Bahá’í laws in voting, in electing, in serving, and in abiding by Assembly decisions, all this waste of strength through criticizing others could be diverted into cooperation and achieving the Plan." (December 18, 1949)

Pictured are members of the National Teaching Committee and Regional Committees who met recently in Wilmette.

Regional Committees

Regional Committee for the Northeastern States Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Regional Committee for the Central States Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The Regional Committees met jointly at the Bahá’í National Center with the National Teaching Committee from whom they received their orientation on their mandate and the national teaching plan.

The formation of the Regional Committees is a major element in the National Spiritual Assembly's plan for decentralizing the work of the Cause of God in the United States. The goal is to harmonize the activities of the institutions to help ensure that the process of entry by troops makes dramatic advances during the next four years.

The immediate responsibility of each Regional Committee is to support the coordination of the teaching work through expert study of teaching issues and opportunities in their respective regions; to provide information and strategic advice to the National Teaching Committee; and to formulate and implement regional teaching plans. Initially, they will be consulting with selected local Spiritual Assemblies and members of the Auxiliary Board. Over time they will establish a connection with all local communities.

As we beseech the Almighty to assure you of the assistance of the Most High, we invite you to share your plans with the Regional Committee that serves your area, as well as with the National Teaching Committee and the Auxiliary Board.

With loving Bahá’í greetings, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States July 31, 1996

Maghzi, secretary, San Francisco, CA 94127-1604. Home: 415-681-9666. Work: 415-681-9666. Fax: 415-681-9667.

Robert James, Mahyar Mofidi, Ahmad Mahboubi. Lupita Ahangarzadeh, secretary, Colleyville, TX 76034-4618. Home: 817-267-7383. Work: 817-265-3533. Southern Region: Covey Cantville, Work #2 and fax: 817-277-5522.

Mandate

Strategies addressing each of the following categories of activity:

• Establishing regional Centers of Learning as needed
• Promoting individual teaching
• Launching campaigns of various kinds
• Holding conferences
• Establishing local and regional projects, including fostering intercommunity collaboration
• Strengthening local communities (including the establishment and development of LSAs)
• The movement of traveling teachers and homefront pioneers
• Widespread distribution of literature and audio-visual materials, particularly in areas of large-scale expansion
• Developing human resources

Strategies addressing each of the above categories should be formulated in the light of the conditions and opportunities existing in each region.

Collaboration

Successful prosecution of the teaching work will depend upon the establishment of communication and collaboration with local institutions and with isolated believers and groups.

It will also be necessary to establish harmonious working relationships with permanent schools and institutes and other centers of Bahá’í learning. the Auxiliary Boards and their assistants; and others in the region who share responsibility for the growth and development of the Faith.

Reporting

The Regional Committees are appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly and operate under the guidance of the National Teaching Committee. Regional Committees will be in close and constant interaction with the NTC and will receive regular reports from the National Center conveying strategic priorities and other information.

In return, the Regional Committees will submit monthly reports to the NTC which should include the following information: a concise report on teaching activity with analysis of progress; an update and assessment of Regional Committee activities; and future activities to be undertaken.

In addition, quarterly reports to the NTC will offer closer analysis of trends, emerging opportunities and regional needs, with recommendations for action.

Relationship with LSAS

As committees of the National Spiritual Assembly, the Regional Committees are expected to work with local Assemblies and all other institutions and agencies in a spirit of loving cooperation. Regional Committees have the authority to set regional teaching goals, communicate regional priorities and needs, offer support and advice to local teaching projects, and appoint entities to carry out specific tasks in areas without LSAS or to coordinate activities between LSAs (for example, State Teaching Committees, minority teaching task forces, or inter-Assembly task forces).

However, Regional Committees and other appointed entities have no administrative jurisdiction over local Assemblies. [Page 16]

Vineyard of the Lord, part 16

Center for the Study of the Texts

One of the most thrilling aspects of exterior finishing work has recently been completed. Eight Ionic-style marble columns have been erected in a semi-circle in the entrance portico of the Center for the Study of the Texts. Each column, weighing at least 15 tons, has a base composed of two pieces, on which stands the column itself in three sections, crowned by a capital. The columns were lifted into place piece by piece with the help of a crane and pinned together by French artisans adept at this kind of work.

A view of the roof over the entrance portico of the Center for the Study of the Texts.

The precise nature of the work demanded that the bases of the columns be aligned with the grid lines of the portico and that a perfect balance be attained in the levels of the main columns and their capitals. A stainless steel pin, 6.5 centimeters (1.4 inches) in diameter and 35 centimeters (14 inches) in height connects one piece to the other; a lead separation provides a 3-millimeter (.12-inch) gap between the two pieces. This is filled with white cement and sealed with silicon. The capitals are linked to the concrete beam of the rotunda with another series of stainless steel pins.

The installation of these columns, with their classic appearance, is beginning to define the main facade of the Center for the Study of the Texts.

Ionic marble columns will grace the portico of the Center for the Study of the Texts.

Interior finishing work

More than 60 percent of the work on drywall partitions on two levels of the building of the Center for the Study of the Texts has been completed. Tender packages are being prepared for internal stone and marble. Ninety-five percent of electrical light fittings and fixtures have been delivered, and work has already begun on the ‎intallation installation‎ of electrical cables. The completion of this work will enable the construction of the false ceilings. Air handling units have also been delivered and will soon be put into place. The contract for fire and security and a low-voltage control system for all the buildings of the Arc and Terraces is in the final stages of negotiation.

International Teaching Center

With the structure of level 3 practically complete, construction of the Teaching Center is progressing intensively at level 4, which is more than halfway through. The circular walls and structures to support the seats and stage of the 400-seat Auditorium at level 4 are taking shape. Other facilities, such as a large dining hall, a fully equipped kitchen, a book center, etc. are also housed at this level. Meanwhile, construction of level 5 has begun.

A major obstacle due to the difficult excavation for the sloping foundations along the areas close to the road leading to the Seat of the Universal House of Justice has been resolved in the past few months. The excavation had to be carried out carefully under difficult site constraints and rock conditions, which necessitated additional strengthening solutions to be implemented at several locations. With this formidable obstacle now removed, a large work front has opened up and the pace of construction is poised to proceed even more rapidly in the coming months.

The International Teaching Center is a large and complex building. Part of its complexity is tied to the need to cater to its future connection to the International Bahá’í Library. One example of this involves the external walls along the east and southeast perimeter of the building. These walls form the boundary between the Teaching Center and International Library, and must allow for cutting many large openings in the walls to connect the two buildings in the future. However, before the International Bahá’í Library is built, these walls have to support large building loads, retain about 10–20 meters (11–22 yards) of soil for the gardens and resist lateral forces from backfill and earthquake loads. These stringent requirements, along with the need to achieve optimum flexibility, entail special structural design for these walls, which incorporates a strong diagonal steel band rising all the way from the foundations to their full height. At present, these special walls have been built up to level 4. They will later be raised to level 5 where they will terminate.

Landscaping the Terraces

The Terraces below the Shrine of the Báb are being embellished with extensive plantings in the outer areas on the west side to complement the plantings completed on the east side of these same Terraces. Much work was accomplished in and around Terrace 9, standing in the shadow of the Shrine, and the inner areas centered around the Kings’ Pathway, for the opening of the lower Terraces to visits by pilgrims and Bahá’í visitors starting at Riḍván. Since this is the high season for landscaping, the outer areas on Terraces 8 to 5 were cleared soon afterward and prepared to take plants, some of which have been nurtured in the Bahá’í nurseries. Rockeries and wildflower plantings, emulating the natural land-

See VINEYARD page 17 [Page 17]

Vineyard

Continued from page 16

scape of the mountain, have been completed on the west side.

The upper Terraces

Plant installations on the steep inner slopes of the upper Terraces are being carried out simultaneously with the structural work. On Terrace 18 the first pair of palm trees has been installed, inaugurating inner landscaping. On Terraces 15 and 17, English ivy Needlepoint and Natal Plum are being planted.

On the other Terraces above the Shrine of the Báb, concrete work on the Terrace pools is in various stages of completion.

Terrace 19 and promenade

The structure of the uppermost Terrace 19 is complete, enabling commencement of stone work on the building. Arches are one of its main architectural features. There are a total of 17 arches of varying height and width. These will be clad with local stone, providing aesthetic visual impact. Most of the stone for these arches has been cut. Both levels of balconies as well as the roof of the underground storage building are ready for waterproofing.

The promenade adjacent to Terrace 19 has also been built, and erection of stone pedestals along the promenade is under way. There are 53 pedestals, each at a distance of five meters (16.5 feet), with ornamental iron railings connecting them. More than half of these pedestals are in place. Paving of the promenade with stone has begun. The grading of the mountain below, which will allow the restoration of the area with wildflower plantings on the east side, is under way. With the completion of excavations for the set of stairs that will connect the pedestrian tunnel on Panorama Street with the Louis Promenade, the formation of the stairs has begun.

Hatzionut Avenue

In pursuance of the schedule planned for lowering Hatzionut Avenue in its second stage of development, excavation of the southern half has been completed. With the commencement of this stage, excavation on the road began in earnest. The work was started in the area previously excavated for the building under Terrace 11, the deepest area of excavation, and then headed east and west to meet the existing grades. This strategy has significantly reduced the time needed to complete the excavation.

In the excavated area, which now stands up to 5 meters (16.5 feet) below the original street level, the first foundations for the columns of the bridge have been cast, commencing structural work in this area. At the same time, work on the structure of the pedestrian tunnel and retaining walls has begun.

The bridge will rest on nine massive columns that are part of the building under Terrace 11 on the south side of the avenue. The retaining walls on this side of the street will overhang the sidewalk, creating a shelter from sun and rain for pedestrians. The overhang will be built using stone-clad precast concrete panels which will act as a permanent formwork for the structural concrete behind them. These panels will be stepped, almost like an upside-down staircase, and will be faced with local stone to match the Terraces. Fabrication of 100 of these panels has begun after initial samples were approved.

On the north side, the bridge will be supported by the walls of two service rooms in the space created by the drop in the street level. Foundations for the building to be erected under Terrace 11, where the offices of Security and Public Information and the Visitors’ Center are to be located, have also been cast.

With excavations completed on the south side, preparations are under way to install the new service lines. This will be a major thrust of the work on Hatzionut Avenue during the next few months. It is noteworthy that as excavations have taken place, it can be seen that the quality of the rock along this street has been better than anticipated. This is especially important, as it reduces the need for shoring in the excavations, which results in economy for the project.

Extensive construction (left) is in progress on Level Four of the International Teaching Center.

Construction of the 300-meter promenade on Panorama Street has reached its finishing stage (below).

Committee agrees Templar Colony should harmonize with Terraces

In the coordination meeting of the Steering Committee, design submission for the boulevard of the Colony was taken up for discussion.

Several aspects of the design were discussed, significantly the lighting of Ben Gurion Avenue which, it was felt, should harmonize with the design of the Bahá’í Terraces.

Grinshtein Har-Gil Architects, who have been chosen to develop the main axis of the Colony, reiterated that the design of the project was done taking into consideration the Bahá’í project.

A quarter-billion dollar gift will transform the city:

Mount Carmel Projects continues to attract media attention. The Jerusalem Report, a well-respected Israeli magazine, carried in one of its recent issues a column on the Terraces project. Following is an excerpt from that article:

“Thanks to a $250 million donation from members of the Bahá’í Faith, Haifa is in the process of being transformed into a garden city.

“A one-kilometer stretch of fountains, sloped lawns and 19 terraced gardens—extending from the Bahá’í Shrine on Mount Carmel down the face of the mountain—are now being laid, dramatically augmenting the already lush gardens that surround the Shrine. ‘It will be one of the...wonders of the modern world,’ says Mayor Amram Mitznah. ...”

Minister from the Prime Minister of Israel’s office visits Bahá’í World Center:

Yossi Beilin, a close aide to [former] Prime Minister Shimon Peres, visited the Bahá’í World Center last May. The visit was arranged at his request. He was accompanied by the director-general of the National Economic Planning Authority and several Labor Party officials from Haifa. Also in his entourage was a film crew from Israeli Channel 1 television.

The minister recalled his visit to the Shrine of the Báb in the 1950s and expressed surprise and admiration at the World Center’s undertaking on Mount Carmel. Toward the end of his visit, the television crew filmed a brief interview with the minister on the stairs below the Shrine.

Arc and the Terraces Slides - Part IV, a set of 20 slides, is available for $15, which includes surface mail charges, from Images International, 5010 Austin Road, Chattanooga, TN 37343; 423-870-4525 (phone), 423-870-4774 (fax). [Page 18]

TAB Across America

• Salt Lake City, UT
• Denver, CO
• Lincoln, NE
• Rolla, MO
• Reno, NV
• Columbus, OH
• Bosch Bahá’í School
• Boston, MA
• Los Angeles, CA
• Washington, DC
• Flagstaff, AZ
• Florence, SC
• Native American Bahá’í Institute
• Birmingham, AL
• Albuquerque, NM
• Oklahoma City, OK
• Memphis, TN

Growth

Continued from page 1

route of a recent 18-day, 8,000-mile auto trip across the United States. And the friends’ answers poured out, thoughtful and heartfelt.

After all, this was no mere intellectual exercise for them. They had been wrestling with these issues and how to reorder their lives around them for months—ever since the letters of December 26 and 31, 1995, and the Ridván 153 messages of the Universal House of Justice arrived to focus their efforts on achieving a significant advance in the process of entry by troops.

In this issue of The American Bahá’í, I’ll be aligning the friends’ answers with the five factors contributing to growth that the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice outlined in Promoting Entry by Troops.

They’re the ingredients for a vision of things to come: commitment to spiritual transformation; love and unity; universal participation; balance between expansion and consolidation; and the Bahá’í community as a model.

In the next issue, I’ll look at the friends’ answers in terms of the six factors identified as essential to promoting entry by troops.

These are the activities in which we as individuals, communities, and institutions need to engage to bring about our vision: strengthening Spiritual Assemblies; efficient administration; strategic, flexible teaching plans; reaching people of capacity; relating the Faith to contemporary social and humanitarian issues; and goal-directed behavior.

Spiritual transformation

If for no other reason than necessity, the friends say, commitment to spiritual transformation will become a hallmark of Bahá’í individuals, communities and institutions in the next four years.

As proof, they point to the accelerated pace of what will be done by, through, for and to the Bahá’ís before this Plan is completed. And they ask: How can we remain firm and focused in the midst of all that unless we rely on God and the Supreme Concourse in our lives and teaching?

If we do, we’ll have faith that entry by troops will happen and will bring with it an infusion of energy and resources.

We’ll be so in love with Bahá’u’lláh and so attuned to any situation that we can teach without any hesitancy or lack of confidence, and we can touch hearts with our message.

We’ll give of ourselves—time, energy, love, experience, talents, material resources—at an ever-higher level. That’s because we’ll have brought ourselves more completely into the Faith as the new reality. We’ll have found a balance with the day-to-day needs in our lives and realized the blessings that flow to us when we arise and serve with purity of intention.

Of course, as the old order crumbles, the friends note, we’ll be faced with ever greater challenges. Opposition will multiply with our successes. But our capacity to meet those tests will grow apace, and we, especially the youth, will be better equipped to resist being absorbed into the old order.

Love and unity

Love and unity among the believers will be our armor and a magnet to which others will be drawn, say the friends.

They see the Bahá’ís getting to know one another intimately, coming together in a joyful community life, and propelling their institutions toward maturity—connections cemented through an unprecedented level of communication.

Collaboration among institutions, they believe, will allow the Rulers, including multiple Assemblies in a metropolitan area, to provide direction for the initiative of believers. And it will enable the Learned to foster that process and unleash the energies of the friends.

Within institutions, blending various leadership styles, viewpoints and experiences will build consultative muscle for the needs of the present Bahá’í community and the wider society as well.

A steady flow of information between institutions and all believers will foster a love for those institutions and a sense of belonging on the part of every individual. Technology will make this easier, but electronic mail and other new channels of communication will not replace the caring embrace of one-on-one contact.

Within the community, the friends of all ages and backgrounds will make all gatherings love feasts of sharing. We’ll immerse ourselves in ‎each others’ each other’s‎ cultural expressions and perspectives, and these, in turn, will enrich our celebrations and observances.

More communities, the believers say, will have a Bahá’í Center as the focal point of its activity and its outreach, as the friends unify behind and commit themselves to its support and operation.

Intercommunity activity will extend to the unit level, where the friends will get to know each other better and work together on projects year-round.

Universal participation

The prospect of universal participation animated our discussions across the country.

Again and again, the friends used the Campaign of Glorious Privilege as a model for empowering the community and for balancing local and national/international needs.

They are confident that during the next four years we’ll see Bahá’ís “jumping out of the woodwork” to initiate projects that the outside world will notice and to which people will be attracted in large numbers.

New believers will play a critical role, they say, adding: Don’t be surprised when recent declarants take the lead in meeting opposition head-on.

Institutions will channel and nurture these individual efforts, all the while looking to see where new skills need to be developed. Tasks will be delegated to community members more effectively, with institutions overseeing and promoting activity instead of initiating it.

Over-all, the friends see their fellow believers:

• Arising to take the pressure off other, overburdened community members
• Getting out of their individual and collective comfort zones
• Exploring gifts they don’t know they have
• Mentoring each other in skills and

See GROWTH page 19 [Page 19]

Centers of learning envisioned

By TOM MENNILLO

We are enjoined in the Four Year Plan to help the friends both gain an understanding of the fundamental verities of the Faith and arise to serve it.

Fortunately, there are embryonic patterns for the centers of learning that will be required to do this: the permanent Bahá’í schools and institutes.

I had the bounty of visiting the Native American Bahá’í Institute (NABI) and the Bosch Bahá’í School during my recent cross-country fact-finding trip.

Native American Bahá’í Institute

NABI is located on the eastern edge of Arizona midway between Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Flagstaff. The Navajo and Hopi Reservations are neighbors; nearby is the popular Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park.

For an easterner accustomed to lush greenery, the sand and sage of high plains Arizona holds a surreal beauty.

It’s one thing to behold the landscape while whizzing along Interstate 40 in air-conditioned comfort, and quite another to leave the ribbon of blacktop and immediately shift gears—physically and mentally—for the bouncing ride along dirt roads.

But that’s the world NABI inhabits, in harmony with the surroundings rather than aloof from them. And it is reflected in the Institute’s programs, which use relevant traditions from the region—dance, ceremonies, prayers and fasting—to teach the Faith and to develop the spirit and minds of indigenous peoples.

Most programs on the campus take place in spring and summer. These include social events, spiritual ceremonies, a young women’s conference, parenting skills classes and children’s classes. In August is the annual NABI “unity gathering” featuring a pow-wow, health and education workshops and a 5K Indian trail run.

Program facilities include the administrative building and the big hogan. Also on the grounds are a beautiful prayer hogan, the administrators’ residence, a new workshop, a 12-bed women’s dormitory and newly renovated 16-bed men’s dormitory.

In the fall and winter, NABI staff and volunteers continue with social and economic development projects in the area. But more and more frequently they are venturing out to present workshops, talks, poetry readings, storytelling, native flute and group dance presentations to colleges, schools and organizations.

Joel Orona, NABI co-administrator, leads the presentations, often helped by his wife and co-administrator, Esther, and son Roman. Roman, one of the many youth serving at NABI, has started a youth drum group that recently took part in the Native American Men’s Gathering in Colorado along with others from the Institute.

NABI volunteers—adults and youth—serve in community outreach projects, coordinate programs and events, and perform maintenance, housekeeping and kitchen duties.

When we visited the campus, youth Aliyana Isom from South Carolina and Amberly Simonis from Oklahoma were preparing a mailing for the August unity gathering. Soon to join them on campus were three youth participating in the annual exchange between NABI and the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, and several other youth.

Not all who serve at NABI are Bahá’ís.

This year students from Southern Methodist University, the University of Rochester and University of San Diego spent an “alternative spring break” at NABI. Staff guided the students in work projects within the surrounding community and exposed them to the Navajo language and indigenous cultures.

Meals at the Native American Bahá’í Institute are prepared and eaten in this hogan. (Photo by Kim Mennillo)

Bradley University sends students to the Institute for credit. Nine students accompanied by Susan Brill, a Bahá’í, arrived May 19 for a two-week course emphasizing American Indian literary works and culture. The students could earn three semester hours in literature through several experiential methods as well as classroom work on the NABI campus.

Among the experiential learning activities for these students were presentations from the NABI artists-in-residence program and two trips to Navajo, New Mexico, on the Reservation to assist at a child care center serving 150 Navajo children.

The trip to Navajo is an important social and economic development project that NABI has undertaken in collaboration with David and Kathleen Horton, Bahá’ís who own the child care center. This service/learning project was also undertaken at the request of Bill Hildgartner, a Navajo police district captain, who is establishing housing specifically for NABI volunteers to serve an additional 600 children in his district.

Bosch Bahá’í School

They say you can see the ocean from Inspiration Point, but it was left to the imagination on the hazy day we visited the Bosch Bahá’í School.

That’s the Pacific Ocean. A few miles north of Santa Cruz, California, with its boardwalk and amusement park, you turn away from the crashing surf and climb winding, tree-lined roads to Bosch.

Bosch shares with NABI the fundamental task of serving a population’s needs, but in the school’s case that population is everyone in the western states. Bosch has not just a four-year vision but one that attempts to see the educational needs of Bahá’ís and the larger community years into the future.

Atmosphere plays a large part in the Bosch experience. It is a restful, rejuvenating place. Program attendees stay in cabins, eat in the lodge, and attend sessions in Martha Root Hall or the newly dedicated classroom building. Also on hand for the visitor are an outdoor pool and a bookstore/cafe.

The more attendees can let go of everyday cares and tensions, the more receptive they’ll be to learning new ideas and skills they can take home and put to use.

So, the idea is to get a core of the community there who then can educate the rest.

Members of local Spiritual Assemblies can retreat to Bosch to explore ways of evolving the sense of community. Auxiliary Board members can train their assistants to unleash the energies of the individual believers. The two institutional arms can learn how to better collaborate.

At the individual level, the friends can experiment with incorporating the arts into their teaching and community life. Parenting and family unity-building skills can be imparted. Children and youth can begin to orient their lives to service.

Bosch also looks to become a magnet for those who are seeking to learn more about the Faith. It supports teaching efforts in the area. Appreciation dinners are held for educators. The pool is open to neighbors. Firesides—scheduled and unscheduled—are held. The facilities are available for rent to businesses and other organizations.

In short, Bosch sees a critical need to model the unity for which all Bahá’ís are striving. And its volunteers, especially the younger ones, are indispensable to that role.

Bahá’í youth serve at Bosch from three months to a year. Co-administrators Mark and Linda Bedford see it as an experience, not a job. These youth gain a greater sense of being part of the Bahá’í family, are continually deepened, and get to know the many presenters and special guests who come to the school.

This can be a testing time for them, too. To the younger youth and children they have to be mentors; to the other visitors, they must exemplify high Bahá’í standards.

But in the end, if they serve with purity of motive and love for Bahá’u’lláh, their experience establishes a pattern of service for the rest of their lives. Many of the youth, in fact, have discovered or been strengthened in their career paths during their Bosch stay.

Growth

Continued from page 18

talents

• Developing the skills to teach certain populations
• Drawing on the experiences and spirit of former pioneers in the community
• Tapping the energy and growing expertise of youth and children
• Focusing on individual initiative and creativity
• Seeing goal achievement in identifiable, quantifiable steps

Balance between expansion and consolidation

The friends are painfully aware that recent teaching efforts have been long on proclamation, modest on expansion, and downright skimpy on consolidation.

They are turning their emphasis to fostering believers’ personal relationship with Bahá’u’lláh and to inculcating within them a spirit of service.

In four years, they say, members of the community of the Most Great Name will be equipped to sustain their commitment after the initial enthusiasm levels off. The light will remain “even when the match is taken away,” as one friend put it.

This will be especially important as tests are thrown in people’s way. And it will be necessary for all believers—new and veteran alike.

That’s where the centers of learning, or training institutes, identified as indispensable by the Universal House of Justice, come in. The friends see a fully operational network of centers—near and far—instructing them in the fundamental verities of the Faith and aiding them to serve as their capacities allow.

Bahá’í community as a model

That brings us to the final factor contributing to growth: the Bahá’í community as a model.

A model for what? The friends envision a community demonstrating that it is:

• Focused on Bahá’u’lláh as the Author of our teachings
• Truly united in its diversity
• Supportive of one another in our spiritual transformation and in meeting tests
• Much more visible through campaigns that show the Faith’s scope and make it more comfortable to people
• Able to express itself better and more fully through the arts
• The only foundation in society for change
• Providing an opportunity for all to engage in communication around social crises
• The answer to people’s need for belonging and reconciliation
• Able to deal with complex personal problems
• Taking responsibility for aspects of community life that churches and government agencies are responsible for now
• Something people want to join and add their talents to
• A place for children and youth to turn to—it’s cool to be virtuous.

In short, a force to be reckoned with. [Page 20]

CLASSIFIEDS

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

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

BAHÁ’Í PUBLICATIONS is seeking applicants for the position of marketing specialist. The position will be filled at the Bahá’í Publishing Trust in Wilmette, Illinois, or at the Bahá’í Distribution Service in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Applicants should have a minimum of two years marketing experience in the publishing industry, including copy writing and design, and five years experience in management or equivalent supervisory experience. Bahá’í Publications is looking for someone who has expertise in designing and implementing marketing programs, has a thorough knowledge of available Bahá’í literature, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to handle ongoing multiple projects with shifting deadlines, and an understanding of Bahá’í administration. Knowledge of PageMaker software and desktop publishing skills would be helpful. For information or an application, contact the Department of Human Resources, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611, or phone 847-733-3429.

EXCITING overseas opportunities. Teachers of English are needed in a number of areas, including Beijing, Guangdong, GuangXi, Huaibei, Huainan, Ningxia, etc. For more information contact Ms. Gwili Posey. 847-733-3512 (fax 847-733-3509); e-mail

EMPLOYMENT opportunities at the Bahá’í 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 Bahá’í schools, and the Institute for Bahá’í Studies. Should have strong organizational, database management and desktop publishing skills as well as excellent skills in verbal and written communication. The Research and Materials Review Office has 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, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611, phone 847-733-3429, fax 847-733-3430, or e-mail

SERVICE opportunities at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. Needed are guides who are willing to greet 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 Bahá’u’lláh 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 Saturdays until midnight. If you can help, please contact Mary Lou McLaughlin, coordinator of volunteer services, Bahá’í House of Worship (phone 847-853-2300).

A VOLUNTEER, either youth, elderly or in-between, is needed to help maintain organic produce gardens as part of an agricultural project at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute in Hemingway, South Carolina. Short-term (weeks) to long-term (seasonal) help is needed—two to six hours a day in the gardens, which supply much of the food for the Institute, especially for the Summer Youth Academy. Bio-intensive, raised-bed, Machobane row-crop and traditional local methods of cultivation are used and taught. No experience is necessary, only the right attitude and work ethic. Get in touch with the fundamental basis of the community, “sustainable agriculture.” If interested, phone the Louis Gregory Institute, 803-558-9874.

PIONEERING (OVERSEAS)

EMPLOYMENT opportunities overseas. AFRICA: Mozambique—training specialist needed by CARE to design and implement a training program in technical skills, communications skills and participatory rapid appraisal technique. Tanzania—urgent need for English teachers. TOGO—director needed by the International Fertilizer Development Center to provide leadership to technical and administrative staff within the West Africa region. Zambia—principal for the William Mmutle Bahá’í Institute; teachers. AMERICAS: El Salvador—rural enterprise business adviser to manage team of 8 locally hired professionals. Honduras—teachers. Mexico—math, liberal arts instructors. ASIA: Cambodia—English teacher. Laos—English teacher. Korea—teachers. Macau—teachers. Sakhalin—teachers. AUSTRALASIA: Solomon Islands—volunteer to train National Office staff. EUROPE: Bosnia—field coordinator needed by International Rescue Committee to manage all administrative functions of the Mostar office; finance coordinator to oversee finance and accounting functions for Bosnia-Herzegovina headquarters. Kosovo—country director needed by Doctors of the World. Russia—tax lawyers, economists and administrators needed by the Office of Technical Assistance of the U.S. Department of the Treasury to serve as resident advisers to the ministries of finance in Russia, Armenia and Georgia. Switzerland—statisticians. MULTI-REGIONAL: the International Rescue Committee needs mechanics, finance managers, administrators, logisticians, water/sanitation engineers, physicians, nurses, paramedics and emergency response personnel. For more information, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091 (phone 708-733-3512; fax 708-733-3509; e-mail

PIONEERING (HOMEFRONT)

RIDGEWOOD, an upscale community in northern New Jersey, only 15 minutes from Manhattan, has had a Spiritual Assembly intermittently since 1947. Now the Assembly is in jeopardy due to death and relocations. The community of 24,000 has nine schools, a 421-bed hospital, 150,000-volume public library, a regional YMCA/YWCA, and a lively downtown that includes 300-plus shops and restaurants in a 10-block area. The average assessment for a home in Ridgewood is $300,000 with prices ranging from $175,000 to more than $1 million and a few apartments available. 93 percent of Ridgewood’s high school graduates go to college with 15 National Merit Scholarship finalists in 1991 and SAT scores 150 points higher than the state average. Recreation abounds with swimming programs, summer day camps, athletic leagues, programs for senior citizens, outdoor concerts, continuing adult education, etc. There are more than 50 service organizations, 20 houses of worship, 10 performing arts groups including a symphony orchestra and Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company. A high level of volunteerism exists with much interest in local activities. Residents include many prominent people, and there is a growing Japanese and Korean population with many opportunities for teaching. For more information, phone Dr. Joel S. Nizin, 201-652-6385.

NORTHWEST Cochise County, in southeastern Arizona, needs three Bahá’ís to form an Assembly. We are asking for believers, especially from the cities, to perform “heroic deeds of service to the Cause...” In our community, we wish to establish “a vibrant model of unity in diversity.” The area is only a 30- to 40-minute drive to metropolitan Tucson. Many people in the area commute there to work or study at the University of Arizona, enjoying the rural atmosphere in the land of Cochise while reaping the cultural and economic benefits of the Tucson area. Please join us in service to the Cause during the Four Year Plan. Phone John Cook, 520-720-4555, and leave a message.

FAMILY NEEDED to live on 120-acre farm in rural Oklahoma (‎Maude Maud‎) to strengthen existing community (in center of Seminole Indian Reservation), teach American Indians and help create a social and economic development project—eventually building a Bahá’í school. Bahá’í owners will work with pioneer family on finances. Help create an exciting Bahá’í project while enjoying country living in a fertile teaching area. For more information, please phone or fax Bill Mahoney, 970-945-0999.

RETIRED COUPLES wanted as “winter Texans.” South Texas is an attractive place for retirees to spend the winter; about 50,000 people from northern states and Canada migrate each November as “winter Texans” to enjoy the mild winters, the Mexican border, and the Gulf of Mexico. The Texas State Teaching Committee would like to find retired Bahá’í couples looking for warmer winters who would consider coming to south Texas to help with ongoing teaching, deepening and proclamation efforts. There are many RV parks and mobile home locations set up for winter Texans in places such as Edinburg, Harlingen, Brownsville, South Padre Island and Weslaco. Interested? Contact the Texas State Teaching Committee, c/o Chris Cholas, Edinburg, TX 78539 (phone 210-383-6143; e-mail or Jeanette Hedayati, P.O. Box 417, Graham, TX 76450.

HELP ADD to our Bahá’í community and speed the building of an Assembly in rural ‎Suwanee Suwannee‎ County, Florida, about an hour from Gainesville via I-75 and 30 minutes from Lake City. Area towns are looking for Florida-certified elementary and secondary school teachers for fall 1996; Registered Nurses and certified nursing assistants are always in demand in area hospitals and nursing homes. For more information, write to Phill and Dorothy Mockridge or Lee Cooper, McAlpin, FL 32062, or phone 800-592-2424 or 904-776-2193.

HARTSVILLE, South Carolina, one of 10 locales designated 1996 All-America Cities by the National Civic League—the first city in the state to receive the honor—needs homefront pioneers to help prepare the way for entry by troops. Hartsville, with a diversified population of 9,000, is surrounded by lakes and recreational facilities, is home to Coker College and the Governor’s School for Mathematics and Science. The seven-member city council has three minority members and three women. Schools are excellent, and the town offers all the enrichment activities children need. Hartsville is within commuting distance of Florence, a major city for employment. P.S.—Hartsville lacks restaurants (fill a need?). If you are interested in learning more about lovely Hartsville, please phone Ursula and Moses Richardson, 803-332-2411.

HOMEFRONT pioneer to the Texas riviera! The Spiritual Assembly of Portland, a bedroom community of Corpus Christi, is in jeopardy. Universities, community colleges and technical training programs offer many educational opportunities; oil, chemical and health care industries are among the prominent employers. The cost of living is relatively low, and many choose to retire to our cities by the sea. Relocate to an area where you can make a difference! Please contact Chris Wonders, Jessica Kasiri, 512-643-1705, or write to the Spiritual Assembly of Portland, P.O. Box 562, Portland, TX 73837.

NEEDED: nurse practitioner, doctor or physician’s assistant in Holly Hill, South Carolina. This is a great opportunity for a Bahá’í to homefront pioneer near a lovely lake. For more information, please contact Ada James at the National Teaching Committee office, Bahá’í National Center, Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-733-3493).

WELCOME homefront pioneers, traveling teachers, seniors and others. How would you like to live in an earthly paradise on the oldest lake in the U.S., surrounded by wooded mountains, orchards and vineyards, free of smog and air pollution, with a temperate climate, 100 miles from San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean? You’ll be welcomed with love and gratitude as you help us achieve our goals. Local area needs OB/GYN doctors, nurses, social workers. Write to the Bahá’ís of Lake County, P.O. Box 1212, Lakeport, CA 95453, or phone Rick at 707-263-1005.

THE JULY issue of Money magazine rated Lakeland, Florida, and surrounding Polk County as one of the best places in the country to live. The area has a diverse population, yet the Bahá’í community is almost all white. Of the three Bahá’í communities in the county, Lakeland has a jeopardized Assembly, Winter Haven has four adults, and Polk County has 23 adults. There are a dozen Bahá’í youth and 15 children under age 12 in the county. The Polk County Bahá’í Center is lovingly shared with Lakeland and Winter Haven. Activities include children’s classes, deepenings, firesides and an Institute for the Healing of Racism. For more information, contact Curt Johnson, Bartow, FL 33830 (phone 941-533-1602 or e-mail

WANTED

I AM WRITING a book about the Faith and would be grateful if former Christians would offer insights as to how and why they became Bahá’ís. With permission, I would like to use these accounts in my book, either over your signature or anonymously. Your answers to any of these questions would be greatly appreciated: what was your denomination? Did you consider yourself a “good” Christian? What does the term mean to you? What first attracted you to the Faith? What, in your Christianity, did you have to “overcome” before you could become a Bahá’í? How did you do that? Now that you are a Bahá’í, what do you still believe about Christianity? What do you not believe? Why? Are there any other issues you would like to talk about? Please contact James Walker, [Page 21]

ADS/COMMUNITY NEWS

C.P. 9881, 70.001-970 Brasília DF, Brazil, South America (phone 55 61 981-3739; fax 55 61 500 0903).

DAWN-BREAKERS Productions seeks help from those who may know of the heirs of Clara Edge, author of the book Táhirih, published by Edgeway Publishers of Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is no longer in business. Please reply to Ruth Rosenwald, Malibu, CA 90265-4182 (phone 310-457-5336; fax 310-457-9893).

WANTED: complete 19-volume set of The Bahá’í World. Please write to John Burnes, Austin, TX 78745, or phone 512-442-2558.

WANTED: stories about how you found the Faith and became a Bahá’í. I've heard so many humorous, inspirational and touching stories of how the friends entered the Cause that I plan to compile them into a book. Also sought are stories from those who were born into the Faith, or were quite young when their parents became Bahá’ís and were raised in the Faith. When sending your story, please be sure to type or print clearly and legibly and include your name and address (whether or not you want your name included in the book). Send to Judith Auslander, Springfield, OR 97477.

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 609-772-2195; e-mail).

NEED concrete ideas for community or family celebrations of Holy Days and Ayyam-i-Há and for building a strong Bahá’í community and a love for the Central Figures of our Faith in children? A 13-page compilation of ideas created by a Bahá’í 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 45387-1400. For information, phone 513-767-7079.

Units

Center, 414 Briar Cliff Circle, Savannah, GA; Sunday, Oct. 6; 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Savannah, PO Box 1093, Savannah, GA 31402-1093. Contact phone: 912-234-1016.

EU065: Sawgrass Springs Middle School, 12500 W Sample Rd, Coral Springs, FL; Sunday, Oct. 6; 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Deerfield Beach, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442. Contact phone: 954-570-6359.

EU069: Florida State University, Oglesby Student Union, Rooms 314-315, Woodward Ave & Tennessee St West, Tallahassee, FL; Sunday, Oct. 6; 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Tallahassee, Tallahassee, FL 32310. Contact phone: 904-668-0915.

EU074: Purdue University, "Class of 50" Lecture Hall, W Lafayette, IN; Sunday, Oct. 6; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46218. Contact phone: 317-273-8522.

EU084: Radisson Hotel, 4500 W Touhy Ave, Lincolnwood, IL; Sunday, Oct. 6; 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:15 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Evanston, PO Box 338, Evanston, IL 60204. Contact phone: 847-869-3895.

EU089: University of Missouri-Rolla, McNutt Hall, Room 204, Hwy 63 & 14th St., Rolla, MO; Sunday, Oct. 6; 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Registration: 10:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of St. Charles, PO Box 801, St. Charles, MO 63302. Contact phone: 314-925-3503.

EU091: Rhodes College, Orgill Room Clough Hall, 2000 North Parkway, Memphis, TN; Saturday, Oct. 12; 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38112. Contact phone: 901-274-6494.

EU097: Austin Bahá’í Center, 4317 Airport Rd, Austin, TX; Sunday, Oct. 6; 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Austin, 4317 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78722-1039. Contact phone: 512-345-8587.

EU100: Dallas Bahá’í Center, 4325 W Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX; Sunday, Oct. 6; 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Irving, PO Box 154636, Irving, TX 75015-4636. Contact phone: 214-313-2552.

EU107: Reardon Civic Center, 500 Minnesota Ave, Kansas City, KS; Sunday, Oct. 13; 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Kansas City, Kansas City, KS 66102-1542. Contact phone: 913-831-3239.

EU119: Northwest Neighborhood Center, 2160 N 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ; Saturday, Oct. 13; 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Pima County East, PO Box 40368, Tucson, AZ 85717-0368. Contact phone: 520-749-5956 or 520-795-9484.

EU125: Chinle Jr High School, Route 191, Chinle, AZ; Sunday, Oct. 6; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Chinle Chapter, PO Box 2351, Chinle, AZ 86503-2351. Contact phone: 520-674-5495.

EU126: Westminister College Gore School of Business, 1840 S 1300E, Salt Lake City, UT; Oct. 5: Pre-Convention 2:00 p.m.; Convention 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Oct. 6: 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Registration: Oct. 5: 7:00 p.m.; Oct. 6: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Salt Lake City, PO Box 58305, Salt Lake City, UT 84158-0305. Contact phone: 801-582-3135.

EU130: Carson City Convention Center, 851 E. William St, Carson City, NV; Saturday, Oct. 12; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Carson City, PO Box 3295, Carson City, NV 89702-3295. Contact phone: 702-884-1543.

EU140: Culver City Veteran's Memorial Bldg, 4117 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA; Sunday, Oct. 6; 2:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 2:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Torrance, PO Box 6788, Torrance, CA 90504. Contact phone: 310-515-6709.

EU141: Arcadia Community Center, 365 Campus Dr, Arcadia, CA; Sunday, Oct. 6; 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Registration: 8:30 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Pasadena, PO Box 91668, Pasadena, CA 91109-1668. Contact phone: 818-584-7100.

EU142: Los Angeles Bahá’í Center, 5755 Rodeo Rd, Los Angeles, CA; Sunday, Oct. 6; 1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 12:00 p.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Los Angeles, 5755 Rodeo Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90016-5013. Contact phone: 213-933-8291.

EU148: San Jose State University, Duncan Hall, Room 135, Fifth and San Salvador Sts, 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.

EU151: San Leandro Public Library, 300 Estudillo, San Leandro, CA; Saturday, Oct. 5; 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Registration: 9:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of San Leandro, PO Box 515, San Leandro, CA 94577. Contact phone: 510-702-1640.

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: 916-373-0109.

EU157: Ashland Community Center, 59 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR; Saturday, Oct. 5 AND Sunday, Oct. 6 (note new times and dates); Saturday: 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sunday: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (Registration: Saturday: 12:00 noon). Mail Ballots to LSA of Ashland, PO Box 508, Ashland, OR 97520. Contact phone: 541-772-5502.

EU159: Hollinshead Barn, Bend, OR; Saturday, Oct. 5; 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (Registration: 12:00 a.m.). Mail Ballots to LSA of Bend, PO Box 5666, Bend, OR 97708. Contact phone: 541-385-8988.

ARCHIVES

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following individuals: Rosemary Sehmer Aupperle, Cleland Austin, George J. Austin, O.P. Austin, Gail Avery, J. Newell Ayres, Pauline Ayres, Alice Bacon, Julia Adas Bahu, Clarence Baker and Emilie Baker. Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these letters from the Guardian is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611, or to phone 847-869-9039.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking photographs of local Spiritual Assemblies, local communities and local activities, especially early pictures. Please identify the photograph(s) if possible with the name of locality and date. Anyone with photographs they could donate is asked to send them to the National Bahá’í Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611.

Health for Humanity dinner salutes volunteer groups, seeks closer ties

On June 19, 30 people from a variety of groups that promote literacy in the greater Chicago area gathered for a dinner meeting under the auspices of Health for Humanity.

HH called the meeting to express its appreciation for their efforts and to discuss the feasibility of working with them on a literacy project.

Among the groups represented were the Chicago Department of Health, the Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood Program, the Evanston Picture Book Project (which provides books and mentors to encourage pregnant teens to read to and nurture their children), Hug-a-Book (which promotes literacy in Head Start centers), the literacy programs at LaRabida and Evanston Hospitals, Reading Is Fundamental (which distributes 250,000 books each year to Chicago school children), and Chicago-area universities working on early childhood literacy.

Inspired by the Reach Out and Read program at Boston City Hospital, Health for Humanity wishes to establish a similar program at the Chicago Department of Health's Neighborhood Health Centers.

The event was a great occasion for networking among organizations and a promising kick-off for Health for Humanity's literacy promotion efforts in Chicago.

Also in June, Dr. Beth Bowen, a Bahá’í who is associated with Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, was Health for Humanity's representative at the United Nations Habitat Conference in Istanbul, Turkey.

Dr. Bowen took part in the NGO (non-governmental organization) Forum at which 4,000 concerned individuals from hundreds of civic groups exchanged ideas on sustainable development to enhance the physical, psychological, social and economic well-being of people all over the world.

Health for Humanity sponsored five workshops at the conference, two on reducing health risks to women from environmental hazards, and three on service-oriented leadership to increase the involvement of women and minorities in community development.

Bahá’í’s guest editorial carried in Gannett papers

A guest article on progressive revelation headlined "Surprise! We all worship the same God after all," and written by Don Plunkett, a Bahá’í from Bronxville, New York, was carried last January in all of the Westchester and Putnam County editions of Gannett's suburban newspaper group as a part of the series "Forum on Faith."

The article includes quotations from the scriptures of various religions—including the Bahá’í Faith—illustrating God's love for all His creatures no matter in what form or by what name they may worship Him.

U Texas Bahá’í Club chosen ‘most outstanding’ on campus

The University of Texas Bahá’í Club was recently awarded the prestigious designation of Most Outstanding Religious Organization on the campus.

That may surprise some people, when you compare the 40-odd souls in the Bahá’í Club to the thousands in some other religious organizations at the Austin school.

But this is a group whose hallmark is unity and fellowship: the members teach together, go on retreats together, and genuinely cherish the time shared with each other.

Just a sampling of the club's activities will bear this out.

Biweekly, the club holds a fireside attended by five to 20 seekers. Each day at least two members of the club staff a table with pamphlets on the Faith. Club members hold weekly youth meetings. And they are involved in a rape prevention project and highway litter cleanup.

In addition, the club has shone in its participation in special events on campus. At the 40-Acres Fest, hundreds of people learned about the Faith and played games promoting its principles. Bahá’ís also were involved in the One Night, One World, One Celebration event promoting cultural diversity and co-hosted an interfaith forum and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.

On the teaching front, the club adopted Killeen as a goal city. Members undertook many teaching trips there, some with National Spiritual Assembly member Jack McCants. [Page 22]WILMETTE INSTITUTE

Wilmette Institute completes first residential session

A gala dinner was held August 2 at National-Louis University in Wilmette to say farewell to the 39 students and their faculty who took part in the first residential session of the Wilmette Institute’s “Spiritual Foundations for a Global Civilization” program.

Keynote speaker Dr. David S. Ruhe, a former member of the Universal House of Justice, spoke on “The Greatest Life: An Epic,” delineating the importance of Bahá’u’lláh’s life and its profound impact on humankind.

Also attending the dinner were three members of the Continental Board of Counselors for the Americas—Stephen Birkland, ‘Abdu’l-Missagh Ghadirian and Jacqueline Left-Hand Bull; a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly, Juana Conrad; and three Auxiliary Board members—Javidukht Khadem, Pierre-Yves Mocquais and Enayat Rohani.

Among the highlights were a humorous presentation by six members of the Institute’s seven-member student council (who were chosen for the post by their fellow students), and the presentation to every student of the gift of an illuminated quotation from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá describing the attributes of a “true believer.”

The residential session, which began on July 7, exceeded the expectations of faculty, students and planners, drawing 39 students from the U.S. and Canada and a distinguished faculty from North America, Europe and the Middle East.

The students, who ranged in age from 17 to 70, included veteran believers and new declarants from European, Persian, African, Native American and Hispanic backgrounds. In addition, the “Spiritual Foundations” class of 1999 includes 46 students who completed the home study part of the program but were unable to attend the first residential session.

The main goal of the program is to prepare a cadre of trained and effective teachers and administrators for the Faith. It operates as a distance-learning activity and is open to qualified candidates from all over the world.

This year’s theme was “World Religions, Philosophy and Theology.” Faculty lectured on a wide variety of topics including:

Dr. Behruz Sabet, modern philosophy and its application to Bahá’í principles; Dr. Iraj Ayman, the life of the Báb, the Bábí community, and techniques for establishing a personal plan of action; Dr. Robert Stockman, primal religions and Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism; Dr. Anne Pearson, Hinduism and women in religion; Dann May, Christian teachings, Buddhism, and Chinese religions and philosophies; Dr. Frank Lewis, Islam; Habib Riazati, the Qur’án, the writings of the Báb, and the early writings of Bahá’u’lláh; and Dr. Julio Savi, Bahá’í theology and the fundamentals of Bahá’í belief.

Dr. Ruhe offered a series of insightful talks about the life and Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, supplemented by inspiring comments by his wife, Margaret.

Also included were workshops on developing essential skills. For example, Dr. Roya Ayman presented a series of sessions on communication skills, especially oral presentation, which included video taping student performances so they could critically appraise their own presentations, while Ramsey Zeine gave an extensive series of workshops on teaching the Faith.

Mr. Zeine also resided in the student dormitory for the entire month, enriching the students’ lives with his loving presence, personal example and sage advice.

In addition to classes, the students took field trips to Hindu and Buddhist temples to see those religions in practice.

Altogether, the summer program included 90 hours of classroom study designed to meet the standards of university courses. Those who wished to include the program in their studies designed to help them understand and integrate the course materials they have covered.

They will then begin a new home-study phase focusing on Bahá’í individual and family life including relevant knowledge from the fields of psychology, sociology and education.

The 1997 residential program will be held next July and should be available for undergraduate and graduate credit.

The third annual home and residential study module will focus on Bahá’í community life and the question of “governance” from a Bahá’í perspective, examining such topics as the nature and purpose of Bahá’í administration; the institutions of the Feast, Holy Days and the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár; and academic subjects such as sociology and political science.

The fourth and last annual module centers on general aspects of a global civilization including racism, sexism, human rights, nationalism, environmental degradation, economic disparities and the establishment of world peace.

New students will be enrolled in the “Spiritual Foundations” program each year and take the four years of classes in any order they choose.

Message to students from Universal House of Justice

The Universal House of Justice read with keen interest your fax letter of July 24, 1996, together with the status report on the Wilmette Institute with particular regard to the “Spiritual Foundations for a Global Civilization: A Four-Year Program.” We have been asked to convey the following.

The House of Justice was greatly pleased to hear from the members of the inaugural class of this program and to sense their enthusiasm for deepening their knowledge of the Bahá’í Teachings. But it was even more impressed with their express determination to use the benefits to be derived from systematic study of the Faith in renewed service to the community. May unceasing success attend their continuing efforts to uphold the standards that will ensure the emergence of a global civilization.

We are to assure each and all members of the inaugural class of the ardent prayers of the House of Justice in the Holy Shrines that they may be surrounded by divine confirmations.

Universal House of Justice Department of the Secretariat August 1, 1996

Pictured at National-Louis University in Wilmette are most of the students who took part July 7-August 3 in the first residential session of the Wilmette Institute’s program, ‘Spiritual Foundations for a Global Civilization.’

They enjoyed a performance of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and traveled to a museum of modern art for a lecture on “Negotiating Rapture: The Power of Art to Transform Lives.” Besides electing the seven-member student council, they also chose a yearbook committee to document the sessions.

The spirit of the Institute was captured by an incident that happened early in the month. When the students learned that the National Spiritual Assembly was meeting in two weeks, they asked its members to have breakfast with them.

The National Assembly decided instead to hold a breakfast for the Students and National Center staff, suggested that the students host it, and offered them money to cover the expenses.

After consulting about this, the students agreed to host the breakfast but decided not to accept the National Assembly’s money. Instead, they established a budget and raised the money themselves.

For the rest of 1996 those in the “Spiritual Foundations” program will be completing home-study courses leading to a bachelor’s degree ‎obtained obtain‎ credit for two semester courses from National-Louis University.

Other students plan to apply to their own universities for credit or to use the course toward earning a master’s degree from the Graduate School of America, which has offered to give Wilmette Institute students graduate credit. This is the first time that classes sponsored by Bahá’í institutions in North America have received university accreditation.

Another component of the Wilmette Institute experience was service to the Faith. Students completed four hours of weekly service at the Bahá’í National Center, the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, the House of Worship and the Bahá’í Home.

In one case a student, assigned to contact local Spiritual Assemblies that hadn’t yet submitted their Ridván formation reports, found that one of those she had to call was her mother!

The program also included spiritual and social activities. Many of the students went to the House of Worship—a five-minute walk from National-Louis University—for a daily worship service at 7:30 a.m. Students also planned their own commemoration of the Martyrdom of the Báb and three weekly “feasts.”

Are there two or more adult Bahá’ís in your community?

Are there two or more adult Bahá’ís in your community? Are they at least 21 years old? If you answered yes, you can be a registered Group. Even if both adults are members of the same family and live at the same address, you can be a registered Group and receive mailings from the National Spiritual Assembly such as those for Feasts, etc. To register your Bahá’í community, phone 847-733-3437 or write to the Bahá’í National Center, MIS Department, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 and ask for a Group Registration Form. When the friends ask for the names of other friends in communities, MIS can only give out the names of secretaries. If there is no registered Group or Local Assembly, no information can be given. Please register your community! [Page 23]

To Bahá’í College Students and College Clubs

If you’re planning on going to college this fall the National Youth Committee would like to hear from you. We are in the process of revising our College Club lists and we are developing stronger programs for teaching on college campuses. We will be continuing to sponsor College Club Weekends at the permanent Bahá’í Schools and will be working with you to develop teaching/action plans for your individual college. We would be happy to hear any comments or suggestions that you may have so that we can all work together to achieve the goals of the Four Year Plan. We would like to be in touch with as many of you as possible so please let us know who and where you are. Just write to us at: National Youth Committee, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL.

College Club Weekends

The National Youth Committee will be sponsoring a series of College Club Weekends at the permanent Bahá’í Schools. Some of our most fruitful Bahá’í teaching efforts are at college and these weekends will be designed to help tap into the potential of Bahá’í college clubs. The programs will include deepening on the Ridvan messages, developing action plans for college clubs, working with the Auxiliary Board, and raising money for the Arc Projects. We will also be spending serious time addressing the most vital and challenging issue of race and how this issue plays out on college campuses. The dates and locations are listed below.

LGI	October 4-6	803-558-5093
Louhelen	October 25-27	810-653-5033
Bosch	January 3-5	408-423-3387
Green Acre	January 10-12	207-439-7200

Please register with the school in your region. Our goal is to have representation from every college club in the country. We hope to see you there!

Move aside shadowy veils to behold the paradise of all that is worthy. Rise with nightingale wings aflame to burn away this earthly dust. Search for that breath of Freedom... have no fear of this Harmony that unites mind and soul. Alone seize this chance for true Liberation as you reach toward life everlasting.

- Liz Dwyer

Who says you’re too young to support the Cause?

You don’t have to be old or rich to show your love for the Faith and for the Funds. Sacrifice comes in all shapes and sizes. It can be made by anyone. Here are just two examples of young children who want to prove their love for God. If they can do it, so should we all.

I LOVE ‎BAHA’U’LLAH. Bahá’u’lláh.‎ I have $1.72. Ian Olson

Dear ‎Baha’i Bahá’í‎ Funds, ‎IM I’m‎ ‎Sanding sending‎ You This ‎Mone money‎ ‎becos because‎ I ‎Wantyo want you‎ to ‎bild build‎ The ‎arc. Arc.‎ From Shana to The ‎arc. Arc.‎ [Page 24]

Summer at Green Acre

We have come to sing praises! The Green Acre Gospel Singers assembled July 7 under the direction of Van Gilmer to share songs of praise in a concert that launched the school’s summer series, ‘Picnics on the Piscataqua.’

Green Acre’s summer season was launched with the first of three Sunday Picnics on the Piscataqua, which featured a concert with special guests Van and Cookie Gilmer. About 300 people gathered to see the annual raising of the Peace Flag and to hear a lively gospel concert. Van Gilmer, who had assembled Green Acre’s very own gospel singers in only two short days, was joined for this interfaith concert by gospel singer Evelyn McDonald of Massachusetts.

Near the midpoint of an exciting summer, a birthday celebration in honor of Green Acre’s founder, Sarah Jane Farmer, was an inspiring reminder of the vision of peace and unity that has guided the school throughout its colorful history. The Sarah Farmer Women’s Center hosted the event, fashioned after the 19th-century International Midsummer Fetes Miss Farmer held to benefit the Eliot Library Association. Participants were invited to wear period costume or ethnic dress. In lieu of “presents,” contributions to Eliot’s William Fogg Library and Children’s Wing were welcomed, with library representatives attending to offer an informational display.

The evening ended, appropriately enough, with a birthday cake and fellowship among the 200 or so who attended including 60 non-Bahá’í guests.

Fall programs

Coming up this fall at Green Acre, Dr. Dwight Allen will be guest presenter the weekend of September 20–22, exploring two themes—how to bring souls into the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, and spiritual and material education as seen from a cross-cultural perspective. Dr. Allen will draw on his extensive experience with national educational systems and Bahá’í communities in Africa, North America, Asia and Latin America. Graduates of the University of Massachusetts School of Education are especially invited to attend the weekend program, which will include a free public meeting, “Education from a Global Perspective,” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 21.

On the weekend of October 11–14, Dr. Amin and Mrs. Sheila Banani will present “Remembrances of Shoghi Effendi and an Overview of His Writings.” The course will draw on the couple’s visits to the beloved Guardian as well as his messages to the American Bahá’ís, and those on obedience to Bahá’í laws including Huqúqu’lláh.

The school’s fall/winter school program brochure, which lists these and many other programs, may be obtained by phoning 207-439-7200, faxing 207-439-7202, or e-mailing.

Summer activities at Bosch

A variety of exciting activities took place this summer at the Bosch Bahá’í School. The second annual seven-day Choral Camp was held ‎June 22–31 June 22–30‎. Instructors Tom Price, Victor Wong and Jamie Findlay taught participants techniques for improving their ability to sing solo. The many hours of practice culminated in a concert for about 100 people. Next year, Bosch would like to offer a music camp for children in addition to the choral school. More information about this will be included in the school’s spring/summer catalog.

A July 4 appreciation luncheon was held for the many friends who have volunteered at Bosch over the past year. More than 40 volunteers attended the lovely barbecue luncheon, then stayed for an afternoon of fellowship and swimming.

Garden project

Volunteer Gena Balawanilotu ‘points the way’ to Bosch’s garden project.

The Garden Project, spearheaded by Sima Cockshut, is providing 40–50 percent of the lettuce and some vegetables that Bosch uses in its kitchen. Bosch makes its own mulch and uses no pesticides. Young volunteers have kept the garden weed-free, and used raised beds with wire mesh to keep gophers out. The garden has been funded exclusively by donations, enabling guests at the school to enjoy fresh produce during the summer.

Youth on the march

Guitarist Jamie Findlay at Bosch.

A new youth program designed to follow the format of the Youth Institutes was held July 6–11 at Bosch. The program was conducted by Auxiliary Board member Gary Bulkin and by Ed Diliberto.

At the last moment, the session was opened to adults as well as youth, creating an intergenerational learning experience. Those who attended left with real skills to teach the Faith in their cities and towns. Because of the diversity of age groups, next year this program will be called “Teachers on the March,” and people of all ages will be invited.

Artist in residence program

Mitchell Silas teaches the Indian art of sand-painting at Bosch’s artist in residence program.

The Artist in Residence program at Bosch was a tremendous addition to the school’s summer session. A Beadwork and Tapestry presentation was made to adults, youth and children by Vicki Hu Poirier during the July 13–18 session. From July 20–25, artist Mitchell Silas taught everyone the art of Indian sand-painting. Children especially enjoyed this and loved the stories of Native American prophecy that helped explain the sand-painting. Having an artist in residence proved an invaluable experience that Bosch plans to continue and expand upon in the future. [Page 25]

1996 Black Men’s Gathering

The 10th Annual Black Men’s Gathering was held recently at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute with more than 100 males of African descent in attendance. The four days were surrounded with prayers and songs as the study of the Four Year Plan opened new horizons, put aside feelings of inadequacies or limitations, and stimulated courage and determination to arise to answer the call of the Universal House of Justice—whatever the sacrifice.

The presence of Counselor Tod Ewing provided spiritual insight into the role of the individual, institutions and community. Commitments to travel teach/pioneer to Africa were made. Although the separation on the last day to return to Canada, Africa, the Caribbean and many parts of the United States was heartrending, these words of the Beloved Guardian express the work that lies ahead:

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

WLGI Radio Bahá’í takes active part in ‘Island Nights’ event

On Monday, August 12, WLGI Radio Bahá’í took part in an “Island Nights” celebration at the Litchfield Golf Resort. More than 60 guests enjoyed an evening of African drumming, limbo dancing and games for the children.

Many of the guests enjoyed talking on the radio with Dan “The Real” McCoy. On Tuesday, Ernest Hilton, and “CJ the DJ” from Radio Bahá’í did a live remote broadcast at Lake City’s “Going Away Party for Drug Dealers and Criminals” as a part of their “National Night Out on Crime” program. More than 300 people attended and made a positive statement about their commitment to make their neighborhood drug and crime free. Local police officers, dignitaries and youth were interviewed on Radio Bahá’í.

Gregory Institute’s Summer Academies witness transformation of young warriors

The summer academies at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute once again witnessed the transformation of young warriors ready to rise to the call of the Four Year Plan. A total of six academies were conducted involving 86 children, junior youth, youth, and young adults.

The purpose of the Academies is to train and empower these young people to fulfill their destined roles as servants and teachers of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.

Family sessions at Louhelen

Throughout the year hundreds of Bahá’í families from across the U.S. and Canada gather at the Louhelen Bahá’í School to deepen, pray and serve. Mothers, fathers and children return to their communities with hearts full of love for Bahá’u’lláh. They also carry with them precious memories and plans for teaching and service to offer to their communities.

While Louhelen’s family sessions offer excellent learning opportunities for those of all ages, a special spirit of excellence animates the children’s classes. This summer saw a record number of children attending each Louhelen family session. These children took part in classes taught by several Core Curriculum-trained teachers, studied prayer and meditation, deepened on the essential verities of the Faith, and learned how to share the basic principles with their teachers and friends. Their parents had an opportunity to see model classrooms, the structure and functioning of which can be shared with and adapted to the particular needs of children’s classes in local communities.

The active learning offered in the children’s classes is perhaps best exemplified by the recent experience of adults who received special invitations to come to a fireside the children were giving in their class. On arriving, the adult guests were showered with love and service by each child—including loving greetings and hosting, tasty refreshments, a presentation about the Faith, and a gift for each guest. The spirit of joy expressed by each child in his/her service provided a deeply inspiring and wonderfully effective fireside.

The teachers and the classrooms at Louhelen can serve as an inspiration to the friends, giving them the encouragement they need to follow the guidance of the Universal House of Justice: “The regular holding of Bahá’í children’s classes should be given high priority. Indeed in many parts of the world this is the first activity in a process of community building, which, if pursued vigorously, gives rise to the other developments.”

Young Bahá’ís express the spirit of love and fellowship at Camp Louhelen.

Fall programs at Louhelen

October 11–14: Irfan Colloquium.

October 18–20: The Power of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives; Eagle Institute for Youth.

October 25–27: College Club Session.

November 15–16: Fire and Gold: Benefiting from Life’s Tests.

National Teacher Training Center programs:

Teacher Training—October 25–28, continued January 17–20, February 7–9, May 30–June 1, 1997.

Race Unity Training—September 20–23, continued December 6–8, 1996, February 14–17, May 9–11, 1997.

Parent Facilitator Training—October 25–28, continued January 17–20, February 7–9, May 30–June 1, 1997. [Page 26]

Bellows demonstrate traveling teaching has no 'age limit'

Don’t tell Jene and Bob Bellows that pioneering and traveling teaching are for younger folks. In fact, their recent visit to Russia had the impact it did precisely because they are older than most Bahá’ís who have visited the area.

"Most people who had heard of the Faith thought it was a youth thing, and the fact that we were Bahá’ís for nearly 30 years was a shocker to some," says Jene. "After years of suppression under the Communist regime, they’ve only been free to hear about the Faith openly in Russia since 1990."

Everywhere they went, Jene gave presentations on education to schools and universities. Bob, a jazz pianist, performed in venues large and small. And in every instance, they proclaimed the Faith through firesides that attracted all ages.

The Bellows' trips began in August with their participation in the NGO Women's Forum of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.

In their minds, the event was quite successful, but there was still much work to be done.

Says Jene, "When I was interviewed on TV in Russia—in every city!—I was always asked, 'Was the conference a success?' My answer? Something like, 'Can you say, when your child reaches the age of 5 or 7, that he or she is a success?

"The consciousness of the fact that men and women are equal, and that women have a definite role in the ongoing march of civilization, is still not recognized by many," she says. "The NGO Forum and the Conference brought this understanding to a new level at least among those who attended."

From Beijing, the Bellows went to Ulaanbator, Mongolia, where they spent several days catching up on the

1996 BAHÁ’Í CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE AMERICAS

THEME: BAHÁ’Í DEVELOPMENT AT THE DAWN OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS, INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITIES

Participants will: consult on triple aspects of the Four Year Plan: human resources, institutions and communities; be illumined by the people-centered view of Bahá’í development; learn about non-material wealth of human experience offered by Bahá’ís from southern countries; and focus on the primary humble participant at work in the development field.

This hemispheric Conference will gather together many outstanding believers from Alaska to Chile representing the rank and file of Bahá’í servants who labor at the grassroots as facilitators of Bahá’í development.

DECEMBER 19-22, 1996 CLARION PLAZA HOTEL ORLANDO, FLORIDA

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: David Hofman (U.K.) and David S. Ruhe (U.S.) Retired Members of The Universal House of Justice

FEATURED SPEAKERS: Eloy Anello (Bolivia) William E. Davis (U.S.) Jaime R. Duhart (Chile) Todd Ewing (U.S.) Glen A. Eyford (Canada) Linda S. Gershuny (Haiti) Daryush D. Haghighi (U.S.) Holly E. Hanson (U.S.) Mas'ud Khamsi (Peru) Florence V. Mayberry (U.S.) Jack E. McCants (U.S.) Guitty M. Milani (Brazil) Mary S. Power (U.S.) Margaret K. Ruhe (U.S.) Donald R. Witzel (Venezuela) ...and many more

Hassan Abdel Fattah Sabri (Office of Social and Economic Development, Bahá’í World Center, 1983-1996) will share with participants his vast experience with Bahá’í development projects worldwide.

ENTERTAINERS: David L. Closson (U.S.) Narges Fani (U.S.) Jeff Jones (Canada) Jack Lenz (Canada) Thelma Thomas Khelghati (U.S.) Mary K. Makoski (U.S.) Joel V. Orona (U.S.) Dan Seals (U.S.) Nancy Ward (Canada) Andean Musical Group El Viento Canta (The Wind Sings) (U.S.)

The Rabbani Charitable Trust's 1996 Annual Award of Excellence directs the gaze of the Bahá’í world upon our eminent, revered and greatly loved Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum, who continues to shed luster upon the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh as the Twentieth Century rapidly draws to a close.

Accepting the Award of Excellence on her behalf will be Mas'ud Khamsi (Member, International Teaching Center: 1983-1993).

Counsellor Eloy Anello will receive recognition as Bahá’í Development Pioneer for his dedicated service in grassroots application of Bahá’í spiritual and social principles, pioneering new concepts, and for significantly impacting upon Bahá’í development work throughout the Americas and beyond.

COUNTRIES REPRESENTED Bolivia Brazil Canada Chile Columbia Ecuador El Salvador Guyana Haiti Honduras Israel Peru Siberia Suriname Turks & Caicos Islands United Kingdom United States Venezuela

"The Bahá’í world community will expand its endeavors in both social and economic development and external affairs, and thus continue to collaborate directly with the forces leading towards the establishment of order in the world." The Universal House of Justice (Message to the Bahá’ís of the World, Ridván 153)

PLEASE PRINT NAME ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP PHONE CHILDREN NAMES AND AGES INDICATE ANY SPECIAL NEEDS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION Adult Fee Before November 20: $99 After November 20: $119 Children & Jr. Youth Fee (3-14 years; 8 am to Noon) Before November 20: $39 After November 20: $59 Youth Fee (15-20 years; attending morning adult sessions) Before November 20: $59 After November 20: $79 Add $19, if possible, to assist with Scholarships. GENERAL INFORMATION: 407-740-5415

List projects that you are involved with locally:

Please circle the one workshop subject which interests you the most: Agriculture, Economics, Education, Environment, Health, Social (American Indian/Amerind/First Nations People), Social (General)

HOTEL/AIRLINE INFORMATION Special Bahá’í group discount rates for: Hotel rooms at the Clarion Plaza Hotel in Orlando: $42 per night (up to 4 persons) Limited Availability Call Promptly Hotel Reservations: 1-800-627-8258 or 407-354-1703 Airfare Discounts from American Travel Consultants 1-800-393-5050 (outside North America 407-679-6655).

Make Check Payable and Mail To: RABBANI CHARITABLE TRUST 1477 W. FAIRBANKS AVE., STE. 200 WINTER PARK, FL 32789

experiences of David and Lois Lambert. Lois is an Auxiliary Board member there, which requires her to travel long distances several days—by Jeep to visit the local communities.

After Bob's performance at the music college, he was asked to return for a couple of months next fall to teach jazz and improvisation. "We are working on this now as a possibility," says Jene.

Next stop was Siberia: first Ulan Ude, then Chita. Onward to what is known as the Russian Far East, Blagoveschensk (on the border of China), then Vladivostok (the San Francisco of Russia), Khabarovsk (gateway to China).

"Bob lectured and performed in 36 concerts at halls, music schools and 'Philharmonia,'" says Jene. "Everywhere concert grand pianos were immaculately tuned, and both of us were interviewed on TV in each city.

"I spoke on education at universities, pedagogical institutes, middle schools in every city, always sharing relevant principles and teachings," she says. "Every day at least one presentation, sometimes two and three.

"Every night a fireside, attended by at least four of the people we met in our presentations. With firesides, institutes and deepenings, even a few youth activities, we were busy every minute impossible to do without the wonderful, enthusiastic assistance of the Russian friends," she says.

The couple slept in sleeping bags in Bahá’í centers, dormitories, and in the homes of the friends.

"We traveled by train, enjoyed wonderful dark Russian chocolate, and the weather was great—like fall season in the Adirondack mountains of New York where I grew up," says Jene. "Our only luxury: we booked first-class trains with two-bed compartments."

In fact, the long train trips between cities gave Jene and Bob their only time to be alone, and to figure out where they were on the face of the earth.

The timetables, all in Russian, are computed on Moscow time. Fortunately, Jene's Casio Data Bank wrist watch gave her Moscow time.

"Otherwise, we might have had difficulty knowing when to get off the trains," she says.

Jene and Bob were deeply impressed by the Russian friends.

"They have a hard life, but their spirit is amazing," says Jene. "Joyful, happy, they travel—third or fourth class, not comfy by train long, long distances to get together to celebrate a wedding, commemorate a funeral, joyfully welcome the birth of a new baby, or attend Bahá’í institutes and summer schools."

She says the National Spiritual Assembly of Russia meets in Moscow, six or seven time zones away from where they traveled. One of the members, also a national committee member, lives in Khabarovsk and must travel every month to the meetings in Moscow. It is little wonder that the Assembly is decentralizing by setting up regional bodies in the four corners of Russia.

The Russian friends are mostly youth, say Jene and Bob.

"Bob and I were the first senior citizens to visit for any length of time in that part of the country, we were told. This was important, for we met many [Page 27]

796 enrolled in Africa’s ‘Light of Unity’ campaign

Young Bahá’ís from Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ghana, the Benin Republic, Nigeria and Cameroon sparked the Light of Unity teaching campaign which began in June 1995 with a planning seminar and six-week training institute in October for Africa’s Western Zone. At the end of training, which consisted in equal parts of music, dance and theatre and deepening on the laws, principles and administration of the Faith, the youth were divided into two groups, a 10-member French-speaking contingent (with one director and two non-Bahá’í professionals) and a 17-member English-speaking group (with director and assistant). Local support teams were always present to help teach and enroll new believers. The young Bahá’ís gave 75 performances in 48 localities from December 1995 to April 1996, drawing a combined audience of more than 32,000. As a result of their efforts, 796 new believers were enrolled in the Faith.

Two Bahá’ís from ‎Chandigar Chandigarh‎, India, recently visited four secondary schools in three towns in the State of Punjab. In ‎Partiala Patiala‎ they taught the Faith ‎in to to‎ 170 students in two secondary schools, 48 of whom declared their faith in Bahá’u’lláh. At a secondary school in Ropar, 80 of 100 students accepted the Faith, while in Kharar the two friends enrolled 54 students and one teacher.

Thirty-one people embraced the Faith during a recent two-week teaching trip to the Limbang River area of Sarawak State, Malaysia, by two Bahá’ís from Rumah Senggat.

About 55 people attended a recent meeting on the theme “Human Prosperity” in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. The chief guest was a member of Parliament who spoke highly of the Bahá’í House of Worship, which he has visited many times. Also present was a well-known Hindi poet who composed a poem dedicated to the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. At the end of the meeting, 19 members of the audience were enrolled under the banner of the Blessed Beauty.

The National Permanent Deepening Institute of Kazakhstan held a course on Bahá’í administration and elections April 5-10 in Karaganda. Forty-five Bahá’ís joined seekers from 22 localities to study various aspects of the Faith such as the purity and sanctity of Bahá’í elections, spiritual transformation, the Funds, the Arc, Huqúqu’lláh, and laws in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. There were 19 enrollments during the course, and 37 friends volunteered to help spread the Message of Bahá’u’lláh in various parts of the country.

Much to the joy of the national community, 15 members of two families from San Ramon, El Salvador, an indigenous community in the western part of the country, recently embraced the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. The heads of both families are community leaders.

A successful traditional regional teaching campaign was held March 30 at the Bahá’í Center in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. More than 400 people attended including 44 traditional chiefs, each of whom was given a Bahá’í book by the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly. Two of the chiefs, one a high school teacher and the other a businessman, declared their faith in Bahá’u’lláh.

On March 14, the first local Spiritual Assembly of Gomel, Belarus, was formed, thus winning another goal of the Three Year Plan. Many traveling teachers have visited the city, and three pioneers have settled there.

Two new National Spiritual Assemblies, those of São Tomé and Principe and Moldova, were formed at Ridván. Fred Schechter, a Counselor member of the International Teaching Center, represented the Universal House of Justice at the National Convention of São Tomé and Principe, while Dr. Ilhan Sezgin, a member of the Continental Board of Counselors in Europe, was its representative at the National Convention of Moldova.

At the end of the Three Year Plan, through the persistent efforts of Bahá’í youth, pioneers and others, four new local Spiritual Assemblies were elected at Ridván in Tajikistan: in Qafúráf, Tabáshahr, Gul khánih and Chárúr Dárrán.

A Bahá’í, Lasse Thoresen, was named Festival Composer for the prestigious Bergen, Norway, Music Festival that began May 22. The Festival consisted of 130 concerts, eight of which were the responsibility of Mr. Thoresen. The opening ceremony took place before an audience of 1,500 including King Harald V. Included were two prayers by Bahá’u’lláh set to music by Mr. Thoresen. At the main Festival concert, held May 25 at the Håkon-shallen in a 13th-century monastery, all of the pieces were Bahá’í prayers set to music by Mr. Thoresen and sung by a choir or performed by soloists. About 500 people attended.

In the Netherlands, Bahá’ís took part recently in a national debate on religion, one of eight themes addressed by the National Commission on Sustainable Development during its annual national debates on sustainability. As a part of the program, Prof. Bert Kersten, a Bahá’í, took part in a panel discussion with a Buddhist, Christian and Muslim. They were questioned by two members of Parliament and some of the audience of 120.

Lois Hainsworth, a member of the Bahá’í community of Great Britain, has been named president of the Chartered Institute of Journalists, only the second woman—and first Bahá’í—to hold the position.

A new Bahá’í kindergarten has been opened in Matale, Sri Lanka, with about 25 students. Next to the teacher, who is pointing, are Auxiliary Board member P. G. Chandraratna and Bahá’í Florence Avis.

Bellows

Continued from Page 26

older Russians who had thought that we were strictly a youth club,” says Jene.

The Russian Bahá’ís also are well educated for the most part.

A good example is Ivan, a 27-year-old orthopedic surgeon and psychiatrist who also has learned Chinese medicine and practices acupuncture. In a city (Vladivostok) where the Russian “mafia” is strong, he nevertheless has been able to live, work and survive without compromising Bahá’í principles.

“This is not easy because he is well-known,” says Jene. “When we left he was deeply involved in launching what we would call a social and economic development project.

“Bringing psychiatrists, sociologists, psychologists together, he has formed a counseling circle to help the people deal with the real problems they face daily, as they try to live in the new world of ‘democracy’ when they were brought up to live in a Communist environment.

“When I asked this educated, optimistic and graceful mover (he was trained from childhood as a ballet dancer), this deepened, wise young man with a healthy sense of humor, how long it took him to accept the teachings when first he heard them, he answered, ‘Two hours.’”

He told Jene, “What was the point of taking time with this decision? Growing up in Vladivostok, where even the Russians had to have a visa to come here, I had nothing to do but study and read. I studied everything, including Taoism and ‎Confucious Confucius‎.”

“I saw right away that the teachings were obviously the truth! We are one family. Harmony between science and religion. Spiritual, yet logical and reasonable, without superstition, dogmas. It is the way to bring people together.”

Memories of Russian Bahá’ís such as Ivan impel Jene and Bob to return to Russia as soon as they can.

“We left too many friends behind when our Aeroflot flight—after lots of prayers—took off from Khabarovsk last November 8,” says Jene. “We have so many stories to tell and unfinished business in Russia.”

Some of those friends are the pioneers.

“Their life isn’t easy,” Jene says of friends such as Volker and Anke Grossman and their children, who “for three months had an elevator that didn’t work. When it worked, there was no light. They lived on the 11th floor! Yet, the Russian friends came to visit every night during the time we were there.

“The friends deserve every prayer and kudos we can send their way,” she says. “They struggle to live without water (or only cold water, sometimes only hot water). Lights go out at odd times, and sometimes for days. And maybe, if lucky, they’ll find eggs in the marketplace today.

“Their hardships have made them strong. The children of the foreign friends speak fluent Russian, and excel in the Russian schools. Fourteen years old now, you will be hearing of Stephanie Weiss and Yulani Grossman in the future. They are true examples of the children there. We’ll be learning from them, I do believe.”

The Bellows’ desire for a second visit to Russia also is fueled by news of developments since their departure.

In May they received an e-mail message that reads: “We are still reaping great harvests from your visit! In Vladivostok, 14 declarations since you and Bob came. We need you to spread the word across the U.S. Bahá’í community—now urgent the need for American Bahá’ís to come to Russia.”

Kingfisher’s Wing performed for 120 in Santa Clara, CA

Last February 1, “The Kingfisher’s Wing,” a play about the early years of the Faith in Iran created by Bill George and performed by Mr. George and Styve Homnick, was performed for an audience of 120 including more than 30 non-Bahá’ís at De Anza College in Santa Clara, California.

The event was sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Santa Clara and the De Anza College Bahá’í Club. De Anza is one of the highest-rated community colleges in the country. [Page 28]گوناگونی توسط احباء اداره می‌شد و موضوع‌هائی از این قبیل در آنها مورد بررسی قرار می‌گرفت: وحدت، نقشه چهارساله، مشکلات نژادی، زنان و مردان قهرمان، مسائل مسیحی، سال خدمت، دخول دسته جمعی مردم در ظل امرالله.

پس از پایان کنفرانس کارگاه جوانان بهائی شارلت به اجرای یک برنامه تبلیغی پرداخت و کارگاه مذکور با همکاری دیگر کارگاه‌های جوانان بهائی از ایالات ایندیانا و اوهایو و فلوریدا در نقاط مختلف شهر به اجرای برنامه‌های گوناگون پرداختند. به نظر می‌رسید که جوانان بهائی همه جا بودند و به تبلیغ و خدمت مشغول بودند.

هفته تبلیغی با یک جلسه بزرگ اعلان عمومی امر الهی پایان گرفت. اعضای محفل روحانی شارلت از شرکت کنندگان در برنامه تبلیغی سپاسگزاری کردند و به هر یک گواهی‌نامه‌ای تقدیم کردند.

۲۴ نفر از تازه تصدیقان از ساکنان شارلت بودند. یکی از این افراد در یک مغازه خواربار فروشی برنامه کارگاه بهائی را دید و تصدیق کرد و گفت از سال ۱۹۷۴ منتظر این بوده است که دوباره بهائیان را ببیند.

محفل روحانی شارلت در جلسه روز ۲۴ جولای تازه تصدیقان را تسجیل کرد.

از ماه دسامبر سال گذشته تقریباً ۳۰ نفر به امر مبارک اقبال کرده‌اند. بیشتر این افراد ساکنان اسپانیائی زبان آن نواحی هستند.

روز ۲۳ جولای هم سه نفر دیگر که دو نفرشان اصلاً از کشور زئیر هستند تصدیق امر مبارک کردند.

معرفی کتاب

«طایر قدسی که در پرواز همتانی نداشت»

تازه‌ترین مجموعه اشعار جناب هوشنگ روحانی (سرکش) است که اخیراً توسط مؤسسه انتشارات مرآت چاپ و منتشر گردیده است. این کتاب ۲۶۵ صفحه دارد و محتوی اشعار نو و کلاسیک جناب روحانی است که پس از انتشار نخستین مجموعه اشعارش "خورشید در سیاه چال" سروده شده است.

خوشنویسی کتاب توسط خطاط هنرمند جناب سعادت الله منجذب به عمل آمده است. جلد کتاب ضخیم و کاغذش مرغوب و چاپ و صحافیش با حسن سلیقه انجام شده است. علاقه مندان می‌توانند این مجموعه را به قیمت ۲۰ دلار از مؤسسه Images International خریداری فرمایند.

تلفن رایگان ۴۵۲۵-۴۷۰ (۸۰۰)

دیدار از جوامع امری

TOUR OF BAHA’I COMMUNITIES

آقای تام منیلّو Tom Mennillo از دست اندرکاران تهیه نشریه "امریکن بهائی" است. ایشان اخیراً در طی ۱۸ روز از چندین جامعه بهائی در سراسر کشور دیدار کرده و از این رهگذر تجربیات خود را به صورت پیشنهاد ارائه نموده است که خلاصه آن در زیر درج خواهد شد.

محفل روحانی ملی از یاران خواسته است که فعالیت‌های خود را به ویژه در مورد تبلیغ امر مبارک افزایش دهند.

البته وظیفه اولیه هر بهائی این است که هر روز با تمسک به حیات بهائی و عمل به تعالیم امری به تبلیغ امر مبارک بپردازد. اما در ۱۸ روزی که به دیدار از جوامع بهائی توفیق یافتم دانستم که علاوه بر تبلیغ به اعمال، ابلاغ کلام الهی به مردم این دیار در حال حاضر بسیار آسان است.

سر زدن به جوامع بهائی را می‌توان با لذت بردن از تماشای مناظر طبیعی این سرزمین توأم کرد و بدون صرف مخارج بسیار صورت داد و از این سو به آن سوی کشور رفت.

یک یا دو هفته مرخصی از کار کافی است و می‌توان دو روز آخر هفته را هم به آن افزود. راحتی جاده‌ها و شاهراه‌های امروز و استفاده از اتوموبیل‌های کم مصرف کار را آسان می‌کند. حتی استفاده از اتوموبیل هم لازم نیست. می‌شود با تخفیف‌های مخصوص تابستان با قطار یا اتوبوس هم به سفرهای تشویقی و تبلیغی مبادرت کرد و رانندگی را به کس دیگری سپرد.

در سراسر راه جوامع بزرگ و کوچک بهائی با فرهنگ‌های خاص خود قرار دارند: جوامع کوچک و بزرگ روستائی و شهری، یا جوامع حومه شهری یا مناطق سرخپوست‌نشین.

تنها باید از پیش برنامه‌ای طرح کرد. می‌توان با جوامع بهائی از پیش تماس گرفت و پس از کسب اجازه و موافقت محفل روحانی محل برنامه سفر را تنظیم کرد و جوامع بهائی را از سفر خود باخبر کرد. از جلسات و فعالیت‌های امری می‌شود سراغ گرفت و در آنها شرکت کرد. واقعاً احساس خوبی است که انسان بداند هر جا که برود خانواده‌ای روحانی دارد، خانواده‌هائی با فرهنگ‌ها و پیشینه‌های گوناگون اما همه پرمهر. و بوی خوش غذاهای مختلف از آشپزخانه‌ها به مشام می‌رسد، بوی خوش آشنائی و ناشتائی!

من خود همه اینها را تجربه کردم و هر لحظه از لحظاتی را که در این سفر گذراندم غنیمت می‌دانم: دوست و دوستی‌های جدید و تجدید آشنائی‌های قدیم و دیدن مناظر زیبای این سرزمین پربرکت.

باید پیام الهی را به همه برسانیم، کار سختی نیست.

اطلاعیه مؤسسه معارف بهائی

مژده به اهل بهاء

با کمال مسرت به اطلاع احبای جمال ابهی می‌رساند که مؤسسه معارف بهائی با کسب اجازه از معهد اعلی به تجدید چاپ و نشر مجلدات آثار قلم اعلی که نسخ آن در حال حاضر به کلی نایاب است در کمال شایستگی و آراستگی و در نهایت صحت و نفاست اقدام نموده و نخستین مجموعه این آثار مهیمن کتاب مبین که با حروف کامپیوتری صفحه بندی شده همراه سه فهرست به شرح زیر به زودی در دسترس آن عزیزان قرار خواهد گرفت.

۱- فهرست الفبائی مطالع الواح و نام مخاطبان الواحی که در آن آثار ذکر شده است،

۲- فهرست مطالع مناجات‌ها و ادعیه وارده در ضمن الواح مبارکه،

۳- فهرست الفبائی اسامی و اعلام.

مؤسسه معارف بهائی امیدوار است که بتواند در آتیه نزدیک مجلدات دوم و سوم این آثار (مجموع الواح مندرج در جلد دوم تا هفتم آثار قلم اعلی که قبلاً در مهد امرالله طبع شده بود) و به تدریج سایر آثار مبارکه حضرت بهاءالله را که بی‌گمان به صد مجلد بالغ است به همین نهج چاپ و منتشر نماید و از این راه به انجام خدمتی در آستان حضرتش توفیق حاصل نماید.

تلفن: ۳۰۴۰-۶۲۸ (۹۰۵)

فکس: ۳۲۷۶-۶۲۸ (۹۰۵)

کنفرانس مشترک در مدرسه لوهلن

JOINT CONFERENCE AT LOUHELEN BAHA’I SCHOOL

کنفرانس مشترک مجمع مطالعه معارف بهائی و مجمع عرفان از ۱۱ تا ۱۴ اکتبر سال جاری در مدرسه بهائی لوهلن برگزار خواهد شد.

این کنفرانس با همکاری مؤسسه معارف بهائی (کانادا) و صندوق یادبود حاج مهدی ارجمند و دفتر امور احبای ایرانی/آمریکائی و مدرسه بهائی لوهلن تشکیل خواهد شد.

جلسات کنفرانس از غروب روز جمعه ۱۱ اکتبر تا بعد از ناهار روز دوشنبه ۱۴ اکتبر ادامه خواهد داشت.

در برنامه کنفرانس که به زبان فارسی اجرا خواهد شد موضوع‌های زیر مطرح خواهد شد:

• سه سخنرانی با عنوان‌های "تحول جامعه بهائی در نیم قرن اخیر" و "مسائل مهمی که در جامعه معاصر مطرح است" و "کتاب اقدس سرچشمه مؤسسات عمده بهائی" توسط دکتر شاپور راسخ،
• "معرفی آثار قلم اعلی در کتاب قرن بدیع" توسط خانم پریوش خوشبین،
• "مروری بر لوح مدینة التوحید از آثار قلم اعلی" توسط مهندس حبیب الله ریاضی،
• "مضامینی از کتاب مستطاب پنج شأن" توسط دکتر آهنگ ربانی،
• "حاج کریم خان کرمانی در آثار بهائی با توجه به لوح مبارک قناع" توسط دکتر هوشنگ مهرآسا،
• "سوابق تاریخی و مضامین لوح مبارک شکرشکن" توسط مهندس محبت الله سبحانی،
• "‎استنتا جاتی استنتاجاتی‎ درباره تربیت معنوی از آثار مبارکه" توسط دکتر ایرج ایمن.

وجه نام‌نویسی و مخارج اتاق و غذا در دوره کنفرانس برای هر نفر ۱۶۵ دلار است.

نظر به محدود بودن امکانات مدرسه بهائی لوهلن از علاقه مندان درخواست می‌شود در اولین فرصت برای ثبت‌نام و ذخیره اتاق اقدام فرمایند.

تلفن: ۵۰۳۳-۶۵۳ (۸۱۰)، فکس: ۷۱۸۱-۶۵۳ (۸۱۰) [Page 29]پیشرفت آنها، گزارشی از فعالیت‌هائی که لجنه در دست اجرا دارد، اطلاعات لازم دربارۀ اقدامات آیندۀ لجنه. علاوه بر این، هر سه ماه گزارش‌های جامع‌تری برای تحلیل دقیق‌تر اوضاع و بررسی امکانات تازه و نیازهای ناحیه همراه با پیشنهادهای لازم به لجنه ملی نشر نفحات فرستاده خواهد شد.

روابط تشکیلاتی با محافل محلی

لجنات ناحیه‌ای بعنوان لجنات تحت اشراف محفل روحانی ملی با محافل محلی و دیگر تشکیلات و دوائر همکاری خواهند کرد. این لجنات مختارند اهداف ناحیه‌ای تبلیغی تعیین نمایند و اولویت و نیازهای ناحیه را اعلام کنند و در اجرای برنامه‌های تبلیغی محلی مشورت و همکاری نمایند و برای اجرای وظائف خاص در نقاطی که محفل محلی ندارد یا برای هماهنگ ساختن فعالیت‌های بین محافل محلی، هیئت‌های ویژه‌ای انتخاب کنند. با این حال لجنات ناحیه‌ای و دیگر هیئت‌های انتصابی نسبت به محافل محلی اختیاراتی ندارند.

مهاجرت و مبلغان سیار

PIONEERS AND TRAVELING TEACHERS

محفل روحانی ملی در پاسخ به نیازهای مبرم امر مبارک در چهار سال آخر قرن کنونی ارسال ۵۷۰۰ مهاجر و مبلغ سیار را به نقاط مختلف جهان از جمله اهداف نقشه چهارساله معین نموده است.

از این تعداد ۴۵۰۰ نفر مبلغ سیار و ۱۲۰۰ نفر مهاجر خواهند بود. در پاسخ به صلای معهد اعلی در پیام رضوان اخیر و از آنجا که احیاء اهداف مهاجرتی نقشه سه‌ساله را به نحو احسن به اتمام رسانده بودند محفل روحانی ملی هدف مذکور را برگزیده است.

بیت‌العدل اعظم در پیام خود یادآوری فرموده‌اند که اعضاء جامعه بهائی در امریکای شمالی در طی هشتاد سالی که از زمان صدور فرامین تبلیغی گذشته در اثر مساعی شگفت‌انگیز خود پیام حضرت بهاء‌الله را به جمیع مناطق آن قاره و دیگر اطراف جهان رسانده‌اند. ”آن الواح مبارکه سبب شد که یاران الهی مشروعی جهانی را آغاز نمایند که ادامهٔ آن در سراسر عصر تکوین و عصر ذهبی از وظائف نسل شما و نسل‌های بعد از شما خواهد بود.“

معهد اعلی همچنین فرموده‌اند: ”باید همواره به کمک‌های مؤثر و مهمی که می‌توانند در سراسر قاره امریکا و در نواحی قطب شمال و در منطقه آسیائی اتحادیه روسیه معمول دارند، توجهی مخصوص مبذول نمایند.“

”توجه بهائیانی را که نیاکانشان افریقائی بوده‌اند و خود مورد محبت خاص حضرت عبدالبهاء قرار گرفته‌اند به احتیاج شدید به قیام مهاجرین برای پیشرفت امری الهی در نواحی بعیدۀ عالم از جمله قاره افریقا جلب می‌نماییم. حضرت ولی امرالله در آغاز اولین اقدامات برای سطوع انوار امر الهی در تنویر قاره افریقا مسؤولیت خاصی برای مهاجرت به آن قاره بر عهدۀ یاران مزبور نهاده‌اند.“

انتظار داریم که اعضاء جامعۀ بهائی در ایالات متحده در طی نقشه چهارساله اقداماتی قهرمانانه در خدمت به امر بهائی معمول دارند که سبب اعجاب و تحسین یاران الهی در سراسر جهان گردد.“

بدین ترتیب محفل روحانی ملی از فرد فرد یاران الهی دعوت می‌نماید که کمک برای تحقق اهداف مهاجرتی و مسافرت‌های تبلیغی را چنانکه در نقشۀ چهارساله معین شده است در نظر داشته باشند.

دوستان می‌توانند برای دریافت اطلاعات بیشتر دربارۀ مهاجرت و سفرهای تبلیغی با دفتر امور مهاجرت تماس حاصل نمایند. تلفن: ۳۵۰۸-۷۳۳ (۸۴۷)، فکس: ۳۵۰۹-۷۳۳ (۸۴۷)

کاهش تبرعات به صندوق ملی

SUMMER DECLINE IN NATIONAL FUND

امسال نیز طبق معمول میزان تبرعات به صندوق ملی در ماه‌های تابستان کاهش یافت و دفتر امین صندوق در ماه جولای فقط ۷۴۱ هزار دلار دریافت داشت. هدف ماهانه ۱/۲ میلیون دلار است. بدین ترتیب در سه ماهه اول سال ۲/۴ میلیون دلار واصل شده که ۲۵ درصد کمتر از سال گذشته است.

یکی از کارکنان دفتر امین صندوق می‌گفت: ”امسال تابستان از لحاظ کاهش مبلغ تبرعات یکی از بدترین سال‌ها بوده و این کاهش درست در آغاز نقشۀ جدید رخ داده است. محفل روحانی ملی از طریق مراسلات خود محافل محلی را در جریان گذاشته اما تا کنون پاسخ جوامع ناچیز بوده است.“

از ماه‌های تعهدات مالی کوتاه مدت ۳۰۰ هزار دلار بوده و نیمی از ذخیرۀ سال گذشته که بالغ بر ۵۰۰ هزار دلار است خرج شده است.

کنفرانس دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی در تکزاس

FRIENDS OF PERSIAN CULTURE CONFERENCE

انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی در ناحیۀ تکزاس اولین کنفرانس عمومی خود را در روزهای شنبه و یکشنبه ۱۰-۱۱ آگست سال جاری در مرکز اجتماعات پلینو Plano Center برگزار کرد.

حدود ۴۰۰ نفر از احباء و دیگر دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی از تکزاس و ایالت‌های مجاور در این کنفرانس شرکت کردند.

در آغاز کنفرانس نمایندۀ انجمن ملی دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی خط مشی کلی کنفرانس و غرض از تشکیل چنین جلساتی را به آگاهی شرکت‌کنندگان رساندند.

موضوع سخنرانی‌های اصلی کنفرانس عبارت بود از: ”زنان شاعره ایرانی“ دکتر طلعت بصاری؛ ”ایران و عظمت آیندۀ آن“ دکتر سهی رستگار؛ ”منطق الطیر و هفت وادی“ مهندس موژان خادم؛ ”تاریخ نویسان ایران در قرن نوزدهم“ خانم ماه مهر گلستانه؛ ”شعر نو فارسی“ دکتر سیروس مشکی.

مهندس حسام‌الدین احمدی برنامه‌ای طنزآمیز اجرا نمود و آقای بیژن بیضائی به مناسبت دهمین سال صعود جناب نعمت‌الله ذکائی بیضائی دربارۀ تاریخچۀ تهیهٔ ۶ جلد کتاب ”تذکرۀ شعرای قرن اول بهائی“ مطالبی به آگاهی حاضران رساند.

برنامۀ غروب شنبه با نظامت دکتر سیروس مشکی و شرکت هنرمندان عزیزی چون خانم ماهمهر گلستانه و خانم شکوه رضائی و مهندس منوچهر وهمن و مهندس عنایت ضیائی و آقای وفا مستقیم و آقای وحید کرمی و آقای مجید کهن‌دل و آقای سورن منظوری در حضور نزدیک به ۷۰۰ نفر از حاضران که حدود ۱۰۰ نفر آنها غیربهائی بودند با رونق خاصی برگزار گردید. خانم گلستانه با نمایش اسلایدی با عنوان ”ایران دیروز، امروز و فردا“ که در خلال آن آثار منظومشان را می‌خواندند، جلسۀ غروب را آغاز کردند که مورد استقبال خاص قرار گرفت.

دیگر هنرمندانی که در کنفرانس برنامه اجرا کردند عبارت بودند از: خانم لیلی سبحانی و جناب میثاقی و خانم جولی افصحی و جناب آهنگرزاده. خانم آن پری Anne Perry شعر ”سلیمان خان می‌سوزد“ اثر یکی از احبای استرالیا را به نمایش درآورد که با استقبال گرم دوستان روبرو شد.

بعد از ظهر یکشنبه برنامۀ جلسات کنفرانس به زبان انگلیسی برگزار شد و جمعی از یاران آمریکائی در آن جلسات شرکت کردند. در این بخش که با نوای پیانوی خانم یاسمین ‎پظهری مظهری‎ آغاز شد، نمایندۀ انجمن ملی دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی مطالبی دربارۀ اهداف انجمن را به زبان انگلیسی به آگاهی حاضران رساندند.

گروه همسرایان دالاس نیز برنامه‌ای اجرا کرد و پس از آن خانم آن پری شرح حال سه نفر از زنان بهائی امریکا را که در جامعۀ بهائی ایران خدمت کرده بودند نمایش گونه بیان کرد. این سه عزیز عبارت بودند از خانم کیت رنسم کلر Keith Ransom Kehler و دکتر سوزان مودی Susan Moody و خانم آدلیـد شارپ Miss Adelaide Sharp.

در آخر برنامه میز گردی تشکیل شد و شرح مختصری از برنامه‌های فارسی کنفرانس داده شد و به پرسش‌های حاضران پاسخ گفته شد.

این کنفرانس با همت انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی ناحیه تکزاس تشکیل شد که اعضای آن عبارتند از خانم فرح رأفت و خانم ماهمهر گلستانه و آقای کامبیز رئوف. همچنین خدمات بی دریغ و صمیمانۀ داوطلبان از جمله آقای نورالدین روحی پور (ایاب و ذهاب) و جوانان بهائی امریکائی (نگهداری از کودکان) در برگزاری کنفرانس سهم بسزائی داشت. رستوران علاءالدین نیز با پذیرائی گرم خود موجبات راحتی شرکت کنندگان را فراهم ساخت.

کنفرانس جوانان در شارلت

‎CHRLOTTE CHARLOTTE‎ BAHA’I YOUTH CONFERENCE

در جولای سال جاری یک کنفرانس جوانان به مدت سه روز در شارلت در ایالت کرولاینای شمالی تشکیل شد و به دنبال آن از ۱۲ تا ۱۹ جولای یک سلسله فعالیت‌های تبلیغی صورت گرفت.

در مجموع ۲۷ نفر تصدیق امر مبارک کردند و صدها نفر نیز از برنامه‌های متنوع کنفرانس که به همت محفل روحانی شارلت تشکیل شده بود استفاده بردند.

در این کنفرانس سه روزه کارگاه‌های (workshop) [Page 30]

آتش سوزی در کلیساها

CHURCH ARSONS IN U.S.

محفل روحانی ملی در نامهٔ ضیافت شهرالکمال و به دنبال آن در بیانیۀ ویژه‌ای مطالبی دربارۀ آتش سوزی در کلیساها به آگاهی یاران رسانده بود. چندین محفل محلی و نیز عده‌ای از افراد احباء با محفل روحانی ملی تماس گرفتند و مایل بودند بدانند محفل مذکور چگونه تشخیص داده بود که آتش‌سوزی‌ها انگیزۀ نژادی داشته، در صورتی که مطبوعات درج کرده بودند که شواهد قاطعی برای اثبات این مدعا به دست نیامده است. محفل روحانی ملی مرقومۀ زیر را در پاسخ محافل محلی و افراد احباء صادر فرموده است.

دوستان عزیز بهائی، محفل روحانی ملی نامۀ مورخ ۱۷ جولای آن عزیزان را دربارۀ شواهد مربوط به انگیزۀ نژادی برای شیوع به آتش کشیدن کلیساها در ایالات متحده دریافت داشت.

محفل ملی دربارۀ آتش‌سوزی کلیساها اطلاعی بیش از آنچه اولیای امور اظهار داشته‌اند و خبرنگاران در مطبوعات منتشر کرده‌اند ندارد. محفل ملی واقف است که در برخی موارد سیاهپوستان هم مانند سفیدپوستان دست به ارتکاب آتش‌سوزی زده‌اند.

با این حال سوزاندن کلیساهای سیاهپوستان به طور کلی حمله‌ای علیه جامعۀ سیاهان تلقی شده است. این طرز تلقی در یک جامعۀ مبتنی بر تعصبات نژادی با سابقۀ برده‌داری و وجود گروه‌هایی چون کوکلاکس کلان (Ku Klux Klan) ممکن است خود به صورت حمله‌ای مبتنی بر تعصب نژادی درآید و احساسات آشفته‌ای را برانگیزد.

بیانیۀ محفل روحانی ملی دعوتی است برای تبدیل این احساسات منفی به ایمانی استوار به ظهور غائی هماهنگی تام در میان افراد نژاد بشر و تحقق کامل وحدت نوع انسان.

محفل روحانی ملی از پرسش‌های سنجیدۀ آن عزیزان عمیقاً قدردانی می‌نماید و امیدوار است یاران عزیز فرصت‌های بسیاری داشته باشند که بیانیۀ مذکور و نیز پیام درمان بخش حضرت بهاء‌الله را با دیگران در میان نهند.

با تحیات ابدع ابهی محفل روحانی ملی از دفتر منشی امور خارجی

ایجاد مراکز آموزشی

NSA TO ESTABLISH TRAINING INSTITUTES

بیت العدل اعظم الهی در دست‌خط‌های مربوط به نقشۀ چهارساله دربارۀ ایجاد مراکز آموزشی تأکید فرموده و اظهار داشته‌اند که مؤسسات مذکور فرصتی به دست می‌دهد که "یاران قدیم و جدید به نحوی منظم به فراگرفتن اصول تعالیم و حقایق امر حضرت بهاء‌الله پردازند."

محفل ملی در حال حاضر در صدد اجرای این ماده از نقشۀ چهارساله است. لجنة ملی نشر نفحات و دفتر مدارس و تربیت امری تحت اشراف محفل روحانی ملی مسؤولیت ایجاد مراکز آموزشی را بر عهده خواهند داشت و در این راه با هیئت معاونت و لجنات تازه‌تأسیس ناحیه‌ای و جوامع محلی همکاری خواهند کرد.

مرحلۀ نخستین این جریان تعیین محل مراکز مذکور است. سپس محفل روحانی ملی و دوائر آن بدون وقفه به تأسیس این مراکز آموزشی مبادرت خواهند کرد. در عین حال تعیین مواد اصلی و برنامۀ آموزشی لازم برای استفاده در مراکز مذکور در شُرُف تهیه است. در نظر است که در آیندهٔ نزدیک در هر یک از نواحی کشور یک مرکز آموزشی تشکیل شود.

معهد اعلی اشاره فرموده‌اند که "هدف اصلی نقشه، پیشرفت جریان دخول افواج مقبلین به ظل شریعة مقدسة الهیه است... مؤسسات آموزشی و سایر مراکز تعلیماتی از عناصر ضروری کوشش‌های مستمر برای پیشرفت این جریان محسوب می‌گردد" و "توسعه و عمق عرفان مصدقین جدید را تضمین می‌نماید."

برای تأسیس مراکز آموزشی لازم است که محافل روحانی محلی و افراد احباء در سراسر کشور به حمایت از آنها به پا خیزند.

تشکیل لجنات ناحیه‌ای بهائی

BAHÁ’Í REGIONAL COMMITTEES

محفل روحانی ملی در نامۀ مورخ ۳۱ جولای سال جاری خطاب به محافل روحانی محلی و جمعیت‌های بهائی تشکیل لجنات ناحیه‌ای بهائی را به آگاهی یاران الهی رسانده‌اند.

چهار لجنة ناحیه‌ای بر اساس تقسیمات جغرافیائی کشور چنانکه در فرامین تبلیغی حضرت عبدالبهاء معین شده، تشکیل گردیده است. این لجنات و ایالات تحت اشراف آنها عبارتند از:

لجنة ناحیه‌ای ایالات غربی شامل: آریزونا، کالیفرنیا، کلورادو، آیداهو، مانتانا، نوادا، نیومکزیکو، اورگان، یوتا، واشنگتن، وایومینگ.

لجنة ناحیه‌ای ایالات جنوبی شامل: آلاباما، آرکانزا، دِلوِیر، فلوریدا، جورجیا، کنتاکی، لوئیزیانا، مریلند، میسی‌سیپی، کرولاینای شمالی، اوکلاهما، کرولاینای جنوبی، تنسی، تکزاس، ویرجینیا، ویرجینیای غربی.

لجنة ناحیه‌ای ایالات شمال شرقی شامل: کنیتکت، مِین، ماساچوست، نیوهمپشر، نیوجرزی، نیویورک، پنسیلوانیا، رُدآیلند، ورمانت.

لجنة ناحیه‌ای ایالات مرکزی شامل: ایلینوی، ایندیانا، آیووا، کانزاس، میشیگان، مینه‌سوتا، میزوری، نبراسکا، داکوتای شمالی، اوهایو، داکوتای جنوبی، ویسکانسین.

این لجنات ناحیه‌ای در دفتر محفل ملی با لجنة ملی نشر نفحات ملاقات کردند و دستور کار خود را دریافت داشتند.

تأسیس لجنات ناحیه‌ای یکی از راه‌های کاهش تمرکز است که محفل روحانی ملی در صدد اجرای آن است. غرض این است که اقدامات و فعالیت‌های تشکیلات از هماهنگی بیشتری برخوردار شود و تحقق وعدۀ "یدخلون فی دین الله افواجاً" را در چهار سال آینده ممکن سازد.

در حال حاضر وظائف اصلی لجنات ناحیه‌ای عبارت است از: هماهنگ نمودن فعالیت‌های تبلیغی از طریق بررسی مسائل مربوط به تبلیغ و امکانات تبلیغی در نواحی تحت اشراف آنها؛ جمع‌آوری و تهیۀ اطلاعات برای لجنة ملی نشر نفحات و طرح پیشنهادهای اجرائی به آن لجنة؛ طرح و اجرای نقشه‌های تبلیغی ناحیه‌ای.

لجنات ناحیه‌ای در ابتدا با گزیده‌ای از محافل روحانی و اعضای هیئت معاونت همکاری و مشورت خواهند کرد و مآلاً با همۀ جوامع محلی ارتباط خواهند یافت.

وظائف

خلاصه‌ای از دستور کار لجنات ناحیه‌ای در زیر درج می‌شود:

لجنات ناحیه‌ای به منزلهٔ ایادی محفل روحانی ملی هستند و برای کمک به گسترش دامنهٔ امر مبارک در نواحی ویژۀ کشور تعیین شده‌اند. هدف اصلی این لجنات پیشبرد امور تبلیغی از طریق ترویج فعالیت‌های مستمر اعلان عمومی امر مبارک و توسعهٔ نطاق جوامع و تحکیم اساس آنها در ناحیۀ ویژۀ خود است.

تحقق این هدف از طریق تحلیل دقیق و بررسی نواحی تحت اشراف آنها و تهیۀ اطلاعات برای محفل روحانی ملی از طریق لجنة ملی نشر نفحات و طرح و اجرای نقشه‌های تبلیغی ناحیه‌ای صورت خواهد گرفت.

نقشه‌های تبلیغی ناحیه‌ای باید تأمین اجرای فعالیت‌های زیر را در بر داشته باشد:

• ایجاد مراکز ناحیه‌ای آموزشی مورد نیاز
• اشاعة تبلیغ فردی
• طرح برنامه‌های گوناگون
• تشکیل کنفرانس‌ها
• طرح برنامه‌های محلی و ناحیه‌ای
• تقویت جوامع محلی از جمله تأسیس و توسعهٔ محافل
• تأمین امور مربوط به مبلغان سیار و مهاجران داخلی
• توزیع جزوات امری و مواد سمعی بصری
• توسعهٔ منابع انسانی

همکاری با دیگر تشکیلات و دوائر امری

اجرای نقشه‌های تبلیغی بسته به ایجاد ارتباط و همکاری با تشکیلات محلی و جمعیت‌های بهائی و احبای ساکن نقاط دورافتاده است. همچنین لازم است با مدارس بهائی و مراکز آموزشی و هیئت معاونت و مساعدان آن و دیگر کسانی که مسؤولیت ترویج امرالله را بر عهده دارند، ارتباط موزون ایجاد شود.

گزارش به لجنة ملی نشر نفحات

محفل روحانی ملی اعضای لجنات ناحیه‌ای را انتخاب می‌کند و لجنات مذکور تحت اشراف لجنة ملی نشر نفحات خدمت می‌کنند. این لجنات ارتباط نزدیک و مستمر با لجنة ملی نشر نفحات خواهند داشت و از دفتر محفل ملی گزارش و اطلاعات لازم را دریافت خواهند کرد. لجنات ناحیه‌ای نیز ماهانه گزارشی به لجنة ملی نشر نفحات ارسال خواهند داشت. گزارش لجنات باید حاوی اطلاعاتی از این دست باشد: گزارش مختصری دربارۀ فعالیت‌های تبلیغی و تحلیل [Page 31]

Youth

Continued from Page 4

through new friends I had made in a few minutes in New York?

I left California all alone, reading The Tablet of Ahmad on the plane. At the airport, I was greeted by six Bahá’ís. I was in Spain as a guest of a local Bahá’í community for six weeks. In that time I underwent a spiritual transformation. I experienced so much in that wonderful country that I know I’ll never be able to tell the whole story to anyone. My purpose in going there was to teach the Faith and to give what knowledge I could offer. Through that I have gained so much that I seriously doubt it was a fair trade.

Toward the end of the trip a group of us were in a city with no ‎Bahá’í is Bahá’ís‎ but with a youth homefront pioneering goal. My friend Javier had a habit of going into cathedrals and “opening” them to the Faith by saying “‎Ya’ Bahá’ul-Abhá Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá‎” under the highest point in the building. We went into the city’s cathedral and started to say some prayers while the other youth were speaking to some people.

I had an idea. I went to the priest and said, “...excuse me, I...love your cathedral so much, I was wondering if I could sing some prayers in English?” He looked at me with a sense of flattered authority and asked me to show him the prayer book I was holding. “Which one?” I asked. “This one here.”

I began to try to translate for him, “Blessed is the spot, and the house, and the place ...” He got the idea and stopped me before I could say who wrote it. “If you’re not too loud and don’t distract the visitors, yes,” he said.

I introduced Javier and the other friends to the priest. “We have permission,” I said to Javier with another smile. I walked up to the altar, closed my eyes, and started to sing “Blessed is the Spot.” Everything went silent when I began and I opened my eyes right about where the prayer says “where mention of God hath been made,” and I saw the priest putting money in a machine which made the whole altar light up.

I began to sing “‎Ya’ Bahá’ul-Abhá Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá‎” and the passage “Love me that I may love Thee” from The Hidden Words. While I sang, I had my eyes focused on the highest point of the ceiling and I couldn’t stop looking there or I would have fallen down.

When I was done everyone watched us in wonder. I felt lightheaded from singing the loudest in my life, and the other friends were in tears. It turns out that the seeker that the other youth had been talking to the same afternoon declared his faith and became the first Bahá’í in that city.

I learned about love on my trip—love between people, what they hold close to them, love I had neglected at home, love without condition, sacrificing for love, and complete love for God.

I fell in love with the people, the individual believers. They could have been anywhere else in the world and I would still love them. I realized that I love them because of their love for God and Bahá’u’lláh’s mission. Anything and everything can happen in my life now.

Patti Thomas Beane, pioneer to Peru during Ten Year Crusade, dies at age 94

Patti Thomas Beane, who pioneered with her husband, James, to Peru during the Ten Year Crusade in 1956, died June 28 in Red Bank, New Jersey. She was 94.

Until a recent illness Mrs. Beane remained active with the Red Bank Senior Center, the American Red Cross, the Office on Aging, Red Bank Social Services and other groups.

She was also an active member of the Spiritual Assembly of Middletown Township for the past 15 years, working with children’s classes at the Bahá’í School. In 1988 she made a pilgrimage to the Bahá’í World Center in Haifa, Israel.

In 1989 the local branch of the National Council of Negro Women honored Mrs. Beane with the Mahalia Field Atchison Award for her dedication to serving others through education and spiritual enlightenment.

In 1995 she received the Tenant of the Year Award from Luftman Towers Senior Center where she lived before moving to Red Bank.

On learning of her death, the Universal House of Justice sent the following cable:

“Deeply saddened news passing Patti Beane, devoted maidservant Bahá’u’lláh.

“Her highly active Bahá’í life distinguished by many years pioneering along with her husband to Peru in response beloved Guardian’s Ten Year World Crusade.

“Her high sense service, radiant personality, generous spirit warmly and gratefully remembered.

“Praying ardently Holy Shrines progress her soul throughout Divine worlds.”

Dr. Monib Collestan, traveling teacher, pioneer, dies in Lakewood, Florida

Dr. Monib Collestan, an international pioneer and traveling teacher, died August 7 in Lakewood, Florida.

Dr. Collestan, who was born in Egypt in 1922, specialized in general and geriatric surgery, completing his medical studies in 1948. He then taught and practiced medicine as a pioneer in the Sudan, Libya, Tunisia and England.

Dr. Collestan and his wife, Rezvanieh, also served the Cause in Iran for several years before immigrating to the U.S. in 1967.

Since moving to this community, Dr. Collestan had continued to serve the international needs of the Cause through his travels to and services in several African countries, the Bahamas, Martinique, Mexico, Guyana, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Belize, Hawaii, Albania, Germany and the Netherlands.

His extensive services for the Faith, as well as through his profession, around the world reflected his deep devotion and spirit of service to humankind.

Barbara Inahara, former pioneer to four countries, dies in mishap

Barbara Anne Inahara, a former pioneer to France, Italy, Switzerland and Cameroon, died July 21 in New Mexico as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident. She was 40 years old.

Ms. Inahara, a Bahá’í for 29 years, used her skills in French and English to serve the Faith while employed by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations International Labor Office in Switzerland.

More than 10 years ago she moved to Texas, where she served on three local Spiritual Assemblies and a variety of committees.

She also worked with other community groups, especially supporting and mentoring youth at risk, and served on committees for the Intertribal Native American Council.

More than 200 people from diverse social and cultural backgrounds attended her memorial service.

Frances G. Fletcher, pioneer for past 14 years, dies at her post in Swaziland

Frances G. Fletcher, a pioneer for the past 14 years, died July 21 at her post in Swaziland.

Since 1986 she had been training preschool teachers, serving on three national committees and supervising the Bahá’í school at Hlatikulu.

Mrs. Fletcher declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh in 1953, at the beginning of the Ten Year Crusade. Trained in nursing, education and psychology, she served the U.S. Bahá’í community in many teaching and administrative capacities for 25 years.

From 1978–82 Mrs. Fletcher pioneered to Lesotho, serving as secretary of that country’s National Spiritual Assembly and working on the National Women’s and Children’s Committee, the National Teaching Committee and National Publications Committee before moving to Swaziland in 1982.

“...we urge you, with all earnestness from the utter depths of our conviction as to the ripeness of the time, to lay aside your every minor concern and direct your energies to teaching His Cause—to proclaiming, expanding and consolidating it.”—The Universal House of Justice, Ridván 1988

The National Spiritual Assembly would like to remind the Bahá’ís that it is necessary to obtain permission from the Universal House of Justice before traveling to Israel, whether for personal reasons or to visit the Bahá’í Holy Places.

Heroes

Continued from Page 9

had suddenly become full of tests, said, “I was expecting them and welcome them...this is the way I can earn Bahá’u’lláh’s acceptance for my contribution.”

What will be your own story? What will you do to earn Bahá’u’lláh’s acceptance?

“May each inscribe his or her own mark on a brief span of time so charged with potentialities and hope for all mankind.”—the Universal House of Justice, Ridván B.E. 153 message to the ‎Bahá’í Bahá’ís‎ of the world

IN MEMORIAM

Charles Beachner Santa Rosa, CA April 15, 1996	Gloria Daigle Bristol, CT July 2, 1996	Barbara Inahara ‎Bellaire, NM Bellaire, TX?‎ July 16, 1996	Mary M. Trotman Waterbury, CT June 24, 1996
Grace Bellamie Aynor, SC April 14, 1996	Alice S. Dent Sacramento, CA June 20, 1996	Helen J. Lemke Corpus Christi, TX June 12, 1996	Walter Wigfall Pawleys Island, SC May 2, 1996
Patty Boisclair Pala, CA June 23, 1996	Dixie Gimmestad Phoenix, AZ July 1, 1996	Ron Martinez Seattle, WA July 4, 1996	Glenn Williams ‎Sawtee, SC Sautee, GA?‎ April 1996
Eva Bradford Newman, IL June 24, 1996	Robert Harvey Roberta, GA May 1, 1996	Ronald Mathis Tucson, AZ June 6, 1996	Dudley Woodard Caracas, Venezuela May 13, 1996
Phil Breitenbucher Atlanta, GA May 28, 1996	Monireh Hakim Santa Fe, NM March 26, 1996	Helen McMillan Corvallis, OR May 18, 1996
Margaret Chance Winfield, KS June 26, 1996	Margaret Hawbaker Houston, TX March 17, 1996	Genevieve Morat Hemet, CA June 29, 1996
Moluk Dadkhah San Diego, CA July 1996	Elizabeth Holley Flint, MI June 10, 1996	Don Murphy San Diego, CA April 5, 1996

In our “In Memoriam” listing (May 17) the date of death of Gloria Desotell of Springfield, MA, was given incorrectly. The correct date is February 22, 1996. We regret the error. [Page 32]

CALENDAR

On June 2, a new Peace Garden was planted at the Green Acre Bahá’í School by the ‘Greenland Bahá’í Gang,’ a group of four believers who live near the school in Eliot, Maine. The garden consists of some 400 plants in the form of a rainbow with nine star points at the top surrounding the flag pole to the right of Bahá’í Hall. The plants include red, lavender, burgundy and purple petunias and orange marigolds. The Greenland Gang returned to Green Acre on July 2 to help beautify the newly renovated Ole Bull Cottage, planting more than 250 impatiens, carmine and rose accent and moving vinca from nearby to plant alongside the impatiens.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

For information about events sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly or its agencies at the Bahá’í National Center, please phone 847-869-9039 and ask for the relevant department. The numbers for the permanent Bahá’í schools and institutes are as follows: Bosch Bahá’í School, phone 408-423-3387; fax 408-423-7564; e-mail Green Acre Bahá’í School, phone 207-439-7200; fax 207-439-7202; e-mail Louhelen Bahá’í School, phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-7181; e-mail Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute, phone 803-558-5093; fax 803-558-9114; e-mail Native American Bahá’í Institute, phone/fax 520-521-1063; e-mail

SEPTEMBER

13-15: “Creating Community,” the annual commemoration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Guest speaker: Robert C. Henderson, secretary-general of the National Spiritual Assembly. 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 Bahá’í School. Facilitators: Farzad Mogharabi, Randa Wilbur.

19-22: Marriage Development Training, Landegg Academy, Wienacht, Switzerland.

20-22: Dr. Dwight Allen explores two themes, “How to Bring Souls Into the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh” and “Spiritual and Material Education from a Cross-Cultural Perspective,” Green Acre Bahá’í School.

20-22: Seminar on the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, sponsored by the Corridor of Light and Spiritual Assembly of Astoria, Oregon, in Otter Rock. Presenter: Habib Riazati. Special guests: Counselor Arturo Serrano, National Spiritual Assembly member William Davis. 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 Bahá’í School. Conference is in Spanish.

20-22: Oklahoma Regional Bahá’í School, Stillwater. Theme: “Quest for Spiritual and Social Progress—The Critical Hour.” Registrar: David Gainey, Sulphur, OK 73086 (phone 405-622-2655).

20-23: Core Curriculum Race Unity Facilitator Training Session, Louhelen Bahá’í School, conducted by the National Bahá’í Education Task Force.

27-28: “Meditation: Or, How to Change Your Batteries,” presented by Derek Cockshut, Bosch Bahá’í School.

27-29: Meditation Weekend, Bosch Bahá’í School. Facilitator: Derek Cockshut.

29: Celebration of the 102nd anniversary of the declaration of Thornton Chase, the first American Bahá’í, Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California. For information, phone 310-519-1811 or 310-419-0643.

OCTOBER

4-6: Western Regional Youth Workshop Directors and Parent Coordinators, Bosch Bahá’í School. Facilitator: David Gilpatrick.

6: EU 149 Convention, Bosch Bahá’í School. For information, contact the Spiritual Assembly of Sun City, Arizona.

11-13: College Club Weekend, Bosch Bahá’í School, sponsored by UC-Davis and UC-Berkeley College Clubs. Also, Teacher Training Workshop, facilitated by Sue and Khalil Khavari.

11-14: Irfan Colloquium (Scripture Conference in Persian), Louhelen Bahá’í School. Dr. Shapur Rassekh, a member of the Continental Board of Counselors in Europe, will be among the presenters.

11-14: Dr. Amin and Mrs. Sheila Banani present “Remembrances of Shoghi Effendi and an Overview of His Writings,” Green Acre Bahá’í School.

17-20: Study course, “Consultation and Conflict Resolution,” Landegg Academy, Wienacht, Switzerland.

18-20: General session, “The Power of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives,” and Eagle Institute for Youth, Louhelen Bahá’í School.

18-20: Fourth European Bahá’í Health Conference, Hungary, focusing on ethical issues in family medicine; age, race and gender prejudice in health care, and technical subjects.

25-27: College Club session, Louhelen Bahá’í School.

25-27: Third annual Star Trek Teaching Weekend, Bosch Bahá’í School.

25-27: Alabama Bahá’í School, at a hotel on the beach in Pensacola, Florida. Guest speakers: David and Margaret Ruhe. For room reservations at $50/night with two double beds, phone 1-800-BEACH-16. For more information, write to the registrar, Carol Payne, P.O. Box 289, Skipperville, AL 36374, or phone 334-774-0020.

25-27: Fourth International Conference on Moral and Ethical Principles in a Social Market Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria. For information, phone Payam Nashery, 206-277-3492.

25-28: Core Curriculum Teacher Trainer and Parent Facilitator Training Sessions, Louhelen Bahá’í School, conducted by the National Education Task Force.

25-28: Fifth International Dialogue on Transition to a Global Society, Landegg Academy, Wienacht, Switzerland.

NOVEMBER

1-3: Youth Deepening Weekend, Bosch Bahá’í School.

8-10: South Bay Study Group Retreat, Bosch Bahá’í School.

14-18: “Women’s Forum ’96: Women and Leadership,” Landegg Academy, Wienacht, Switzerland.

15-16: General session, “Fire and Gold: Benefiting from Life’s Tests,” Louhelen Bahá’í School.

MOVING? TELL US YOUR NEW ADDRESS.

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

A. NAME(S): 1. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ I.D. # \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Title \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 2. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ I.D. # \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Title \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 3. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ I.D. # \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Title \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 4. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ I.D. # \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Title \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS: Street address \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Apartment # (If applicable) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ City \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ State \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Zip code \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box or Other mailing address \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Apartment # (If applicable) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ City \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ State \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Zip code \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

D. NEW COMMUNITY: Name of new Bahá’í Community \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Moving date \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER: Area code \_\_\_\_\_\_ Phone number \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Name \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

F. WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S): Area code \_\_\_\_\_\_ Phone number \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Name \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Area code \_\_\_\_\_\_ Phone number \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Name \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE: [ ] we do not have the same last name. We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) and I.D. number(s) listed above. [ ] the last names and addresses on our address labels do not match. We have listed above the full names of all family members as they should appear on the national records, their I.D. numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.

H. I WOULD LIKE A COPY: [ ] Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahá’í. I wish to receive my own copy. I have listed my name, I.D. number and address above.

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

‘Izzat B.E. 153 / September 8, 1996