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[Page 1]THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í

FEBRUARY 7, 1999 MULK/DOMINION BAHÁ’Í ERA 155 VOLUME 30, NO. 1

It’s ‘Everybody’s Business’

Conference on development illuminates guidance with example

BY TOM MENNILLO

The contrast was telling. As bombs struck Baghdad—where Bahá’u’lláh declared His mission—half a world away in Florida about 1,250 believers and like-minded souls gathered to build: to examine achievements and challenges in social and economic development.

The third annual seminar and sixth annual conference sponsored by the Dr. Mahmoud and Mrs. Eshragieh Rabbani Charitable Trust drew participants from 39 nations, in the Americas and beyond, to balmy Orlando, Florida, where Christmas lights are strung on palm trees and poinsettias are planted, not potted.

The many Spanish-speaking participants were seamlessly integrated into the proceedings. They listened over headsets to simultaneous translation of plenary talks and, if needed, had translators at their side when they spoke in project or track sessions.

The theme this year was “Social and Economic Development Is Everybody’s Business.” That knowledge, of course, is already woven into the fabric of life for the approximately 250 grassroots practitioners who used the two-day seminar Dec. 15–17 to share experiences and resources. It had to be learned and internalized, though, by the 1,000 souls who joined them for the Dec. 17–20 conference.

SEE DEVELOPMENT, PAGE 22

Celebrating U.N. role in human rights

Bahá’í communities praised for ‘stepping up to the plate’

The American Bahá’í community was acknowledged as a national leader in mobilizing local communities to promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Human Rights Day, Dec. 10.

The National Spiritual Assembly joined the Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute based in New York to organize local “Town Hall Meetings” across America to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the U.N. General Assembly.

David Hinkley, one of the two national coordinators working for the Roosevelt Institute, has cited the National Spiritual Assembly as one of eight non-governmental organizations that “really stepped up to the plate” to achieve the goal of setting up 52 Town Hall Meetings nationwide.

Last September the National Assembly’s U.N. Office invited one Local Spiritual Assembly in each state to help organize such a local meeting to promote the understanding and practice of human rights. The Roosevelt Institute offered professional training and materials for the nationwide campaign.

In many cases, Hinkley said, Bahá’ís were the only people carrying forward the

SEE U.N. OBSERVANCE, PAGE 12

Galvanizing youth in the South

Everyone gets into the spirit at the evening talent show at a youth retreat near Covington, Georgia, organized as part of a “systematic process for nurturing the Bahá’í youth movement.” Story, page 15. Photo by Tom Mennillo

National Media Initiative • March 1998 to Now

Since the National Teaching Committee began initiating national broadcasts of The Power of Race Unity:

• Nearly 12,000 phone calls have requested information on the toll-free 800-22-UNITE line. The new phone system is operating, and still routes messages to local communities, but at far less cost.
• About 10,000 non-Bahá’í user sessions on the public Web site (www.us.bahai.org) have included 700 inquiries for information.
• Many thousands of seekers have attended local teaching activities.
• A new level of enthusiasm about teaching has arisen.
• The types of activities undertaken by local communities show attention to recent guidance from the Universal House of Justice.
• This wide array of actions demonstrates an increasing capacity to accommodate a variety of necessary and complementary initiatives.

Overview of the National Teaching Plan, page 27 Report, recommendations from our independent researcher, pages 28-29

I·N·S·I·D·E

NASHVILLE UNITY FEASTS

PAGE 3

GRAND CANYON CONFERENCE

PAGE 14

VINEYARD OF THE LORD

PAGES 30-31

• CARTA A LOS AMIGOS • 13
• KID’S CORNER • 19
• YOUTH • 20-21
• CLASSIFIED • 32-33
• IN MEMORIAM • 35
• PERSIAN PAGES • 36-38

THE NATIONAL FUND

Between May 1 and December 31, 1998

$18,000,000 Goal/All Funds

$12,301,266 Received/All Funds

See page 3 for details

E·X·C·E·R·P·T·S

“It has often happened that one blessed soul has become the cause of the guidance of a nation.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá [Page 2]

ALMANAC

Ayyám-i-Há

Days of giving

• Observed from sunset Feb. 25 through sunset March 1
• Work is not suspended

There are four Intercalary Days in most years, five in a leap year. They fall between the Bahá’í months of Mulk and ‘Alá and are designated for spiritual preparation for the Fast, hospitality, charity and gift-giving.

The name “Ayyám-i-Há” translates into “Days of [the letter] Há.” A note accompanying the Kitáb-i-Aqdas states that Arabic letter has “several spiritual meanings in the Holy Writings, among which is as a symbol of the Essence of God.”

“It behoveth the people of Bahá, throughout these days, to provide good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy, and with joy and exultation to hail and glorify their Lord, to sing His praise and magnify His Name. ...” —Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, para. 16

The Nineteen-Day Fast

Season of restraint

• Observed from sunset March 1 through sunset March 20
• Work is not suspended

In the Bahá’í month of ‘Alá, believers in sufficient health between the ages of 15 and 70 are to abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset.

“The traveller, the ailing, those who are with child or giving suck, are not bound by the Fast; they have been exempted by God as a token of His grace. He, verily, is the Almighty, the Most Generous.” —Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, para. 16

“It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation. ... Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires.” —Shoghi Effendi, quoted in Directives from the Guardian, p. 28

Naw-Rúz

A Bahá’í Holy Day

• Observed between sunset March 20 and sunset March 21
• Work is to be suspended

Rooted in an ancient Persian new year festival, Naw-Rúz was adopted by Bahá’u’lláh as a Holy Day. The Bahá’ís of the Western world observe Naw-Rúz on March 21, though eventually it will always be observed on the day of the spring equinox. The Guardian directed that the Feast of Naw-Rúz be celebrated separately from the administrative Feast for the month of Bahá.

“As it is a blessed day it should not be neglected, nor deprived of results by making it a day devoted to the pursuit of mere pleasure. During such days institutions should be founded that may be of permanent benefit and value to the people.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoted in Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, p. 182

Some significant dates in Bahá’í history

February

February 1894: Ibrahim Kheiralla settled in Chicago. His teaching work in the next few months led to the founding of the first Bahá’í community in the Americas.

February 1938: The Bahá’í House of Worship in ‘Ishqábád, Soviet Union, was confiscated during a wave of crackdowns on Bahá’ís. It was later turned into an art gallery, heavily damaged in a 1948 earthquake, and demolished in 1963.

Feb. 12–18, 1953: The Ten Year World Crusade was formally launched with the first Intercontinental Teaching Conference in Kampala, Uganda. Expansion of the Faith into an unprecedented number of countries came in the next decade, which culminated in the first election of the Universal House of Justice in 1963.

Feb. 19, 1968: His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II of Western Samoa, the first reigning monarch to become a Bahá’í, formally accepted the Faith.

Feb. 24–25, 1990: The Soviet Union’s first national Bahá’í conference in six decades was held in Moscow. Facts in this section compiled from A Basic Bahá’í Chronology

Significant upcoming dates

• Festival of Riḍván (anniversary of the Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh), April 21–May 2
• May 23: Anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb
• May 29: Anniversary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh ◆

EXCELLENCE IN ALL THINGS

MICHAELYN CHESS, an 11-year-old Bahá’í from Longview, Washington, was given the Most Active Learner award by the sixth-grade staff of Monticello Middle School in December. Among her activities was helping to collect food for a local battered women’s shelter through her social studies class.

ZENOBIA POWELL PERRY, a Bahá’í from Wilberforce, Ohio, was profiled as one of the “Ten Top Women” of 1998 chosen by the Dayton Daily News in its Nov. 15 editions. In the story, the professor of music and composition at Central State University was interviewed about the beginning of her life in Boley, Oklahoma—which she said was a cultural mecca for African-Americans—and her accomplishments, which include several compositions performed at Carnegie Hall.

RUTH A. RYDSTEDT, a Bahá’í from Grosse ‎Point Pointe‎ Woods, Michigan, and a physician, was recently elected president of the Macomb County Medical Society. ◆

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DEADLINES FOR THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í

1. How do we inform the Bahá’ís across the country about our deadlines for you to submit articles? They’re on page 2 of every issue, lower right corner.

2. Why does the deadline fall so many weeks before the date of publication? After we receive articles and photos, the paper goes through a number of processes: editing, which often involves contacting people for more information; review by the Editorial Board; layout and design on computer, which often involves finding more photos or illustrations to attract hearts and complement the written content; pre-press and printing; address labeling and mailing. Since our latest redesign was initiated a little over a year ago, we are finding out just how much time it takes to give all these processes the proper attention and respect.

3. Will submission by the deadline guarantee that an article or a photograph will be printed? We make our best effort to be fair, obedient and quality-minded in our decisions on what we print. The National Spiritual Assembly has set each year’s Riḍván message from the Universal House of Justice—and the Four Year Plan in general—as the primary agenda for what we choose to publish. Most of the reports we receive on teaching, consolidation, administration and promotion of the Bahá’í principles fit very well within that framework. However, sometimes a space limitation will force us to leave a story out; sometimes the editing process can’t be completed in time; sometimes a photo will be hard to reproduce or not highly relevant. In other cases, we have to send articles to other agencies—such as the National Youth Committee or the Office of Pioneering—and this takes extra time as well.

Thank you for your understanding and your continued efforts to help us ensure that The American Bahá’í is an ever-improving tool to inform, educate, inspire and unify. —The Editors ◆

THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í (Sidebar)

1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201 Tel/ 847.853.2352 Fax/ 847.256.1372 E-mail/ http://tab.usbnc.org

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES Bahá’í National Center 847.869.9039

Managing Editor / Editorial Content James Humphrey

Managing Editor / Art Director Amethel Parel-Sewell

Associate Editor Tom Mennillo

Associate Editor Ramzia Duszynski

Print Production Specialist Jemeul Johnson

Facilities Manager Artis Mebane

Contributors Susanne M. Alexander, Ted Amsden, Jim Cheek, Randolph Dobbs, Ken Duszynski, Dorothy Gilstrap, Bruce Koerber, David Schlesinger, Jason Schlesinger, Vladimir Shilov, Cynthia Thomas, Ruhi Vargha

PUBLISHED ONCE EVERY 38 DAYS (plus one special issue) for a total of 10 issues per 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.

SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO Office of Information Services, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611.

ISSN Number: 1062-1113

SUBMITTING ARTICLES AND PHOTOS The AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í welcomes news, letters or other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Bahá’í Faith.

• Articles should be clear and concise. Stories may be edited for length.
• PHOTOGRAPHS may be color or black-and-white prints or slides. Please submit photos that are well composed and in focus and identify people in photos when possible. If you wish photos returned, include a self-addressed envelope.
• Deadlines for upcoming issues:

Feb. 26 for the issue dated April 9 April 2 for the issue dated May 17

PLEASE ADDRESS ALL ITEMS for possible publication to Managing Editors, The American Bahá’í, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (e-mail ).

©1999 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. [Page 3]

Festivals of diversity in Nashville

Unity feasts, born of crisis, now embrace people from many nationalities

BY TOM MENNILLO

Where else but at the Bahá’í Center can you find Scottish bagpiping, Irish dancing, Turkish singing, African drumming and Spanish-language prayers on a Saturday night in Nashville, Tennessee?

The occasion is a monthly Bahá’í-sponsored “unity feast” that has been held for more than a year at the downtown Center and spawned a second such celebration of the human spirit at the public library in suburban Brentwood.

It brings together people of all ages, religions and cultures for an evening of fun, fellowship and food.

The idea was born, though, at a solemn occasion: the memorial service for a slain young man of Zairian descent. His accused killer was Ethiopian, and tensions between the two immigrant communities ran high.

In stepped the Bahá’ís to provide a “neutral” place where everyone would feel welcome.

“Those attending the service felt such a spirit of peace and unity, they didn’t want that to be the only gathering,” related Ziba Ferdowsi of Brentwood, a member of the committee that organizes the Nashville and Brentwood events.

Under sponsorship of the Nashville and Brentwood Assemblies, the monthly events have had sometimes standing-room-only crowds and been blessed with an incredible array of performers.

This night in December, the unity feast has drawn 70 people—much fewer than usual because of a driving rainstorm—to the beautiful nine-sided auditorium of the Nashville Center. They include reporter Ray Waddle and photographer Delores Johnson from The Tennessean newspaper.

Delores Johnson (left), a photographer for the Tennessean, confirms the name of Irish dancer Wendy Winter at a recent unity feast in Nashville. Photo by Tom Mennillo

SEE UNITY FEASTS, PAGE 4

A Call To Proclaim Equality

The National Spiritual Assembly’s message to the American Bahá’í community printed in the Dec. 31, 1998, issue of The American Bahá’í announced the launching of a national campaign focused on gender equality designed to complement the race unity campaign, “The Power of Race Unity.”

In that message, the National Spiritual Assembly also announced the commencement of a nationwide effort in which each Local Spiritual Assembly is asked to present the statement Two Wings of a Bird: The Equality of Women and Men to the mayor and city council in their respective communities.

In coordinating this nationwide effort, the National Committee for the Equality of Women and Men encourages you to:

• Make the presentations by April.
• Inform us of your preliminary plans by April 5.
• Send the committee a final report of your successful undertakings by May 7.

Contact: National Committee for the Equality of Women and Men (phone 202-833-8990, e-mail usnsa-ncewm@usbnc.org). ♦

See page 7 for important information on U.N. International Women’s Day and the One Voice Project.

90^TH Bahá’í National Convention

The National Spiritual Assembly looks forward to greeting the elected delegates at the 90th Bahá’í National Convention at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. The Convention will open Thursday evening, April 22, and close midday Sunday, April 25.

All seats have been reserved and we thank visitors who applied promptly for a seat at the Convention.

Selection of publications in Vietnamese available

Many new booklets in Vietnamese were recently made available to the U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office by the Bahá’í World Center. The Universal House of Justice has graciously advised the office that it may publish these booklets for the use of Vietnamese refugees in the United States.

A volunteer has printed a number of these publications, and they are available to you at $1.50 each. The titles include:

• Amatu’l-Bahá Replies
• Bahá’í Life
• Bahá’í Marriage
• Bahá’í World Community 1995
• Bishárát and Lawh-i-Hikmat
• Creating a Spiritual Home
• Du’á Bahá’u’lláh
• Election of Local Spiritual Assemblies
• Huqúqu’lláh
• The Importance of Prayer and Meditation
• Life of the Soul
• Living the Life
• A Prayerful Attitude
• Questions Answered by the National Assembly
• Shining Star
• Spiritual Tests
• What Is a Bahá’í?
• What Is the Bahá’í Faith?

Two more titles will be available in coming weeks.

Please send your order to: U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (fax 847-733-3545, e-mail ). ♦

Enrollments

December 1998	120
Since May 1, 1998	1,040

THE FUND

May 1–December 31, 1998

Contributions received by National Treasurer

Received since May 1, 1998:	$12,301,266
Goal for entire year:	$27,000,000

• 46% of year’s goal was met
• 67% of fiscal year has passed
• April 30, 1999

Allocations to other funds

Arc Projects Fund
$1,443,529

International Bahá’í Fund
$816,862

The two amounts above add up to 18% of contributions received by National Assembly (goal is 26%)

Continental Bahá’í Fund
$257,268

2.1% of contributions received by National Assembly (goal is 2%)

Other contributions: $374,963

Total revenues and expenses at Bahá’í National Center

May 1–Dec. 31, 1998

$14,005,880	Revenues
$13,678,257	Expenses

To avoid additional borrowing, some critical projects have been deferred, resulting in revenues temporarily exceeding expenses.

Mail contributions to: National Bahá’í Fund 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091-2800 Please write Bahá’í ID # on check [Page 4]

B·R·I·E·F·L·Y

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN

Bahá’ís in the Detroit, Michigan, area participated again this Thanksgiving in an interfaith worship service with a diverse group of congregations.

This year the service was held at the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights. Nearly 500 attended the service, on the theme “Sowing Seed, Harvesting Peace.”

Charlotte Easley, a Bahá’í from Detroit, read from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and was selected to read the service’s pivotal prayer.

Charlotte Easley reads Bahá’í writings at the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service in Dearborn Heights.

The printed program also included a description of the Faith.

Financial contributions and canned goods collected at the service were donated to the South Oakland Shelter in Royal Oak.

The Spiritual Assembly of Dearborn is a sponsor of the annual service. Mary Krzeczkowski of Taylor was the Bahá’í representative to planning committee meetings and assisted in production of the program. ♦

ALEXANDER CITY, ALABAMA

Bahá’ís from several Alabama communities presented a bronze eagle to Commander Floyd McCain of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 13 of Alexander City at the organization’s annual Christmas dinner Dec. 21.

The presentation was made by Ella Mae Conrad, who also offered a prayer for humanity and spoke on the meritorious services of Chapter 13 over the past year.

Commander McCain was moved by the presentation and stated that the Bahá’ís are the first group he knows to have recognized the local DAV for its service. Commander McCain also said the bronze eagle was “the nicest gift he had ever been presented.”

Bahá’ís attended from Camp Hill, Auburn, Tuskegee and Lineville. A Bahá’í, James Rhodes, is adjutant of DAV Chapter 13.

Rhodes noted that “a major factor in this presentation is that Chapter 13 is willfully integrated, with minorities holding many chapter offices. This is unusual for Alabama.” ♦

NORTH CAROLINA/WEST VIRGINIA

A Bahá’í perspective on nature was included in an article published in December by Appalachian Voice, the bimonthly publication of the regional environmental organization Appalachian Voices.

The article was written by Shireen Parsons, a Bahá’í in Boone, North Carolina. It quoted from the Bahá’í writings and highlighted environment protection activities by Byron Hoggatt, representing the Charleston, West Virginia, Assembly.

Also included in the article were Christian, Jewish, Muslim and American Indian perspectives on nature. ♦

LETTERS FROM READERS

The American Bahá’í welcomes letters from readers on topics relating to the furtherance of the goals of the Four Year Plan, the principles of the Writings, and response to content in this newspaper.

• The purpose of the Letters from Readers column is to encourage an exchange of ideas and opinions, never to denigrate another’s views or attack anyone—openly or subtly.
• Opinions expressed are those of the writers, not necessarily of the editors.
• A 250-word maximum length is suggested. Letters will be edited for style and possibly for length.

Please address letters to: Managing Editors, The American Bahá’í, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 • e-mail

Newsreel moves the mountain to us

To the Editors:

I just received the latest Bahá’í Newsreel video from the National Assembly. It is a 35-minute Special Edition on the Eighth International Bahá’í Convention April 29–May 2, 1998, in Haifa. The Universal House of Justice reported to those gathered that it was the “defining moment for the Four Year Plan—as that turning point when there must begin to be realized the full range of its aim and possibilities.”

The video is a gift to be shown at our next Feast. I intended to preview it while I folded clothes. From almost the first frame I had my eyes glued to the video and didn’t get one garment folded.

It really was moving to see and hear the delegates from all over the world. I watched dear friends from Norway, praying, laughing, talking with others from around the world. I saw, for the first time, friends I had only heard about from the Cook Islands, Seychelles and Nigeria. I gazed on the remaining Hands of the Cause of God. I was introduced to each member of our beloved House of Justice. I marveled at how the mountain of God has been transformed. This video inspires me and helps me realize I have a duty and a privilege to teach the Faith.

Through some mysterious power, I am a tiny atom in this great process. —Jeanette Livesay Dallas, Texas ♦

Unsolicited phone calls can become opportunities

To the Editors:

How many times a day have you received a telephone call from a telemarketer wanting to sell you something, and you have been annoyed that they called you and wasted your time? Well, dear friends, Bahá’u’lláh, Who desires that we make mention of His Cause, has sent us the seeker in the form of the telemarketer.

My husband and I have our business at home and we have three telephone lines, so you can imagine how many times a day these telemarketers call. I am so happy now to hear from them since I decided I would gently turn down their offers and immediately ask them if they have ever heard of the Bahá’í Faith. I give them a short explanation about the history of the Faith and Bahá’u’lláh, ask them what city they are calling from, since they call from all over the United States, and let them know they can find the Bahá’í Faith listed in their phone books or refer them to the Encyclopedia Britannica at their public library, which gives a fairly accurate description of the Faith.

Very seldom do I get a caller who is not interested, and most of them have never heard of the Bahá’í Faith before.

So, dear friends, let us take advantage of this wonderful teaching opportunity that Bahá’u’lláh has given us and remember to “tell a marketer.” —Francesca Sawyer Dallas, Texas ♦

UNITY FEASTS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

All are welcomed by area resident Carol Mansour, in African dress, who explains the purpose is “to get God’s children together and let all see how wonderfully diverse we are and how well that works together, the gifts God has given all these children.”

The evening’s theme of “Our Relationship with God” is reflected in the prayers and readings selected from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, Hindu and Bahá’í writings.

And, of course, in the music. Everyone joins in “God Is One”—lyrics were distributed beforehand—as two 3-year-olds dance with Mansour up front. The other performers follow, some evoking a hand-clapping, foot-stomping response. The climax is a hearty rendition of “All Around the World We Pray for World Peace,” complete with hand motions.

After an announcement that the next unity feast will be themed “Tolerance,” the assemblage moves to the Center’s lobby/bookstore for refreshments and joyous conversation.

Those who have been here before renew acquaintances. First-timers express their appreciation for having been invited.

All, it seems, expect to return. After all, there’s nothing else like this in town. ♦

Mike Orrick’s bagpiping delights most attendees at a recent unity feast in Nashville. Photo by Tom Mennillo

ORIGIN OF THE EVENT

The origin of this unity feast is a touching one. It sprang more than a year ago out of the slaying of a young Zairian man who was stabbed to death while trying to bring peace between two individuals. Bahá’ís who attended the funeral of the man, Ganza Rwango, were deeply affected by the eulogies, all testifying to Ganza’s peace-loving nature and contagious happiness. Also noted were the diverse racial, ethnic, academic and religious backgrounds of the mourners. This young man had touched the lives of hundreds.

The Bahá’ís tearfully consulted and decided to hold a prayer memorial service in his honor in November 1997. Over 200 people from all walks of life attended. Black, brown, yellow and white gathered with Christian, Jew, Muslim and Bahá’í to offer prayers for this unique man.

Ganza was so pure that his memory was becoming a cause of unity among diverse peoples in Nashville. Not wanting his untimely death to be in vain, a decision was made to have monthly unity feasts to celebrate the diverse banquet of cultures in our town. We now have additional monthly unity feasts in the suburban town of Brentwood. —Submitted by Aram Ferdowsi [Page 5]

What do you think?

Office of Treasurer seeks input about Fund contribution level

Contributions received at the Bahá’í National Center from May 1–Dec. 31, 1998, totaled $12.3 million for all Funds.

The $12.3 million total is 10% lower than the figure for May–December 1997, and the lowest since December 1994, when $11.1 million was received.

Why do you think our contributions to the national and international work of the Faith have dropped this year, especially when every other indicator of activity in the community is higher?

The Office of the Treasurer would welcome the thoughts of the friends. You may contact the office at 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (e-mail ).

May 1–Dec. 31 contributions to:	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998
National Bahá’í Fund	$ 6,660,314	$ 7,903,465	$ 7,372,539	$ 8,613,015	$ 9,408,644
Arc Projects Fund	3,657,953	17,456,018	5,069,481	1,983,182	1,443,529
International Bahá’í Fund	333,386	1,162,770	395,562	2,383,151	816,862
Continental Fund	144,631	178,302	208,151	219,483	257,268
Other Earmarked	269,605	374,263	371,660	478,341	374,963
Total for period	$11,065,889	$27,074,818	$13,417,393	$13,677,172	$12,301,266

Local TREASURER’S Corner

The Local Treasurer’s Corner is devoted to helping local treasurers, and others who have special interest in development of the Funds, by offering suggestions and ideas that might be helpful in this work. If you would like to offer stories or ideas that have increased your community’s understanding of and participation in the Fund, you are invited to share them with other communities through this column. Contact the Office of the Treasurer (phone 847-733-3472, e-mail ).

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM NON-BAHÁ’ÍS

From time to time there are questions about how we should handle the desire of non-Bahá’ís to contribute to the Faith. Shoghi Effendi stated unequivocally in Citadel of Faith: “All gifts by non-Bahá’ís are to be used for charity only.” The Universal House of Justice, in its letter of February 1966, stated: “It is ... clear that far from contributions from non-Bahá’ís being encouraged they should actually be discouraged, and accepted only if the prospective donor insists on a monetary contribution, and with the express understanding that it would be used only for charitable or philanthropic purposes...” Further, in its December 1966 letter, the Universal House of Justice elaborated: “In returning a contribution to a donor, however, we feel it is not appropriate to suggest that the donor return it as a contribution for charitable purposes.”

WHAT HAPPENS TO CONTRIBUTIONS WITH NO ID NUMBER?

The Office of the Treasurer urges the friends to include their Bahá’í identification numbers with their contributions to the National Fund. Why? When a contribution arrives without an ID number, a search is launched to determine if the name on the check matches any name or location in the membership database. On some occasions, it is impossible to make a match due to name changes or use of names other than the name of record. In these cases, the contribution must be allocated for charitable purposes as it is impossible to determine if the giver is indeed a Bahá’í.

A simple way to include your ID number in every case is to complete and return the transmittal slips that appear at the bottom of every receipt from the Office of the Treasurer—and when using these slips, make sure to fill them in with the amount of your contribution and to which Funds you wish your contribution to be directed. Treasurers, please share this information with the friends in your community.

COMMITTEE BANK ACCOUNTS

Committees named by, and working under, the guidance of Local Spiritual Assemblies can have separate bank accounts for the funds required to execute their mandates if the Assembly finds this necessary. It is advisable, however, that expenditures from the account should require two signatures; the Assembly treasurer, while not required to sign every check, should be one of the signatories on the account. Also, committees maintaining these accounts should make regular financial reports to the Spiritual Assembly. ♦

“God, verily, enricheth whomsoever He willeth through both heavenly and earthly means, and He, in truth, hath power over all things.”

—Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, para. 66

Valuable planning instrument is at hand

At the beginning of the Four Year Plan the National Spiritual Assembly mailed a Self Assessment Tool to all Local Spiritual Assemblies to aid them in their planning and development.

Almost universally, Assemblies that have completed the Self Assessment Tool report that the experience was valuable to them in their further maturation.

The National Assembly encourages Assemblies that have already completed the process to revisit the document to assess their progress while those that have not yet completed the tool are asked to do so.

The Self Assessment Tool was based on a section in the Ridván 153 message to the Bahá’ís of the world, in which the House of Justice provided clear, specific guidance for the functioning of our local institutions, outlining:

• The responsibilities of Assemblies.
• The steps towards fulfilling these responsibilities.
• The ways to measure progress toward maturity.

Each of the responsibilities is listed in the Assessment Tool along with a rating scale, thought-provoking questions and relevant quotations. It asks Local Spiritual Assemblies to assess their progress in carrying out each responsibility, determine ways in which they could mature in that area and set goals for the levels of functioning in each area they would like to achieve.

As the name “tool” implies, this document is intended to be useful to Local Spiritual Assemblies in meeting many important challenges and advancing the process of entry by troops.

When completing the Self Assessment Tool, Assemblies need to keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers. It is the process of thinking through the guidance and developing strategies for

SEE ASSESSMENTS, PAGE 33

How Assemblies Benefit from the Self Assessment Tool

Excerpts from Local Spiritual Assembly reports:

• We think it has laid the groundwork for our planning process for this upcoming year. ... It has led us on into new directions and helped the Assembly understand its roles and functions more completely.
• We hope to implement some changes both in our Local Spiritual Assembly and our community that have come to our attention by completing this Assessment. ...

The process allowed frank expression of feelings and discussion of obstacles standing in the way of the maturation of the Assembly. ... Only recently, the Assembly has reviewed the recommendations and implemented a number of strategies that have improved our functioning and efficiency.

• The quotes at the end of the survey (from Universal House of Justice messages) were excellent selections and gave rise to wonderful consultation. The assessment and consultations lead to many good concrete decisions.
• Reflecting and answering the questions has brought new insights and we are grateful for the experience.
• We found the materials very helpful. We addressed the questions and consulted over the quotations for five hours during three meetings. This resulted in significant deepening and decisions that modified our administration of community affairs. ♦

[Page 6]

HUQÚQU’LLÁH

THE RIGHT OF GOD

Payments to Huqúqu’lláh should be made to “The Bahá’í Huqúqu’lláh Trust” (please write your Bahá’í identification number on your check) and sent to one of the Trustees:

• Dr. Amin Banani, Santa Monica, CA 90402 (phone 310-394-5449)
• Mr. Stephen Birkland, Arden Hills, MN 55112 (phone 651-484-9518)
• Dr. Daryush Haghighi, Rocky River, OH 44116 (phone 440-333-1506)

Inquiries about 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.

Getting Ready for a Local Bahá’í Center

Office of the Treasurer provides checklist for consultation on an important issue

Reprinted by request from an earlier issue of The American Bahá’í

Local Spiritual Assemblies are using this checklist as part of their consultations on local Bahá’í centers:

• Is there unity of thought on the issue of acquiring a center?
• What is the main purpose you see for a local center?
• Is there universal agreement on this vision?
• Is there a community expansion and consolidation plan?
• Is your teaching plan based on the research findings and instructions from the National Teaching Committee and its published plans?
• What role does a local center play in that plan?
• Are the size and layout of the building consistent with the plan?
• How does the proposed building’s location fit with the plan?
• Has the guidance on Bahá’í social and economic development been consulted? Is Bahá’í development part of the consolidation plan for the community? Has Mottahedeh Development Services—the development arm of the National Spiritual Assembly—been consulted on the community’s development plan?
• What purposes and programs could be met via a local center?
• Have Bahá’í and other experts been consulted on the proposed building to be bought?
• What is the financial basis for support?
• How close to universal participation is the community in its giving to the local Fund?
• Are contributions regular and stable, or does a small number of large contributions account for most of the total? What happens if one or more of the largest donors moves away from the community?
• Can the Assembly afford to obtain the proposed site without reducing its financial support for the national, international, continental and regional funds?
• How much will the new facility require in remodeling costs?
• What will monthly and yearly maintenance costs be? Utilities?
• Might a rental facility be more advisable than buying or building until the community grows more?
• What are the legal issues surrounding the acquisition?
  • Title and ownership?
  • Is the Local Spiritual Assembly incorporated?
  • Title insurance?
  • Toxic waste liability?
  • Zoning and building codes?
• Insurance requirements?
  • Property?
  • Liability?
  • Umbrella?
  • Special events or activities?
• Costs of bringing the building into code?
• What technical or architectural factors need to be addressed?
  • General condition?
  • Building code violations?
  • OSHA code violations?
  • Access for people with disabilities?
• How will the building be managed?
  • Management committee?
  • Volunteers?
  • Paid staff?
  • Intercommunity committee?
  • A combination of the above?
• Has the Local Spiritual Assembly written a mandate for these helpers?
• Have you advised the National Spiritual Assembly that you are planning to get a center?
• If/when you complete your purchase you will also want to advise the National Assembly and include details about the building, its price, location and any other pertinent information.

Good for the community, inspiring for the individual

Looking for inspiration? Ready for a personal transformation? As you review the essential part that you, as an individual, play in the progress of the Four Year Plan, consider a unique path to spiritual development by attending a Stewardship and Development Seminar. You may wish to ask your Local Assembly to consider hosting a seminar in your area.

Look at what participants at recent Stewardship and Development seminars said about their experiences:

• “The Stewardship and Development seminar format was excellent for understanding the Sacred Writings and generating audience participation and consultation—great organization and wonderful presenters—thank you!”
• “After attending the Stewardship and Development Seminar, I am now much more well-equipped to approach this topic in teaching and consolidation.”
• “A wonderfully uplifting experience that I did not expect from a ‘seminar!’”
• “This inspiring dialogue promoted more understanding and greater participation than I have seen at a seminar in a long time!”

And from seminar facilitators:

• “The entire body of a new Local Spiritual Assembly attended! They came with a wonderful enthusiasm, but with some anxiety about their and the treasurer’s roles as they relate to the Bahá’í Funds. Once they attended the Stewardship and Development Seminar, they all had new and exciting questions, ideas and insights.”
• “I continue to be encouraged by these seminars and the friends who attend them. It seems (from the remarks on seminar evaluations) that this wonderful curriculum is changing hearts and perceptions about the spiritual nature of the Bahá’í Funds.”
• “(I am) so happy to be a part of this special program! Each time I share the Stewardship and Development materials with the friends (in a seminar) I am given such love and support. Thank you for this opportunity!”
• “We came away very exhilarated from our personal experience, eagerly anticipating our next training session, and deeply grateful to our dear friends in the National Treasurer’s Office who developed the program. . . .”

By the time this article is published, about 400 people will have participated in a Stewardship and Development seminar this Bahá’í year, many of them as members of Local Spiritual Assemblies. Since September 1998, more than 55 seminars have been held across the country. Additional seminars have been scheduled for future dates; with a total of more than 200 seminars expected to be offered by May.

The manual Stewardship and Development (available through BDS at 800-999-9019 for $10.95 each, including 1998 Additions) is an essential companion to the seminars. This must-have resource includes an extensive collection of Holy Writings and practical instruction in the spiritual principles and their applications.

Be a part of a growing cadre of friends who have been inspired, uplifted, and transformed as a result of their participation in the Stewardship and Development program. Ask your Local Spiritual Assembly to host a seminar, or attend one near you.

JOIN OR HOST A STEWARDSHIP SEMINAR NEAR YOU

Join your fellow community members at a scheduled Stewardship and Development Seminar near you, or consider hosting a seminar in your area.

Here is a partial list of scheduled Stewardship and Development Seminars as of mid-January, with phone numbers or e-mail addresses for information.

COLORADO: Englewood, Feb. 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 303-770-1190 or

CONNECTICUT: Farmington, Feb. 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 860-409-3644,

ILLINOIS: Evanston, Feb. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 847-733-3421 or

NEW YORK: Olean, Feb. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 716-372-5146 or

NORTH CAROLINA: Boone, April 24, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 828-264-2297 or

TEXAS: Arlington, Feb. 20, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Houston, March 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; either session 817-261-2222 or

More seminars are being planned. To receive an updated list of planned seminars, or to find out more about the Stewardship and Development program or materials, please contact Jennifer Torrence in the Office of the Treasurer, 1233 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3421, fax 847-733-3471, e-mail ). [Page 7]

Bahá’ís invited to play role in civil rights remembrance

On Thanksgiving eve the Bahá’ís of Grosse Pointe and Detroit, Michigan, presented the National Spiritual Assembly’s statement The Vision of Race Unity to Rosa Parks, the 85-year-old civil rights legend.

It was in 1955 that Mrs. Parks ignited the civil rights struggle in the United States with her courageous refusal in Montgomery, Alabama, to move to the “colored section” of a bus. Her arrest led to a bus boycott and helped bring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to national prominence.

The occasion for the presentation to Mrs. Parks was the arrival in Detroit of historian Anthony Cohen, who is re-enacting the travel by a fugitive slave through the underground railroad of pre-Civil War days.

The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development, which Rosa Parks founded, asked the Bahá’ís to host the opening event in four days of activities in the Detroit area for Mr. Cohen.

Forty-five people, about half of whom are not Bahá’ís, attended the welcoming dinner in a Bahá’í home. In accepting the race unity statement at the dinner, Mrs. Parks spoke highly of the Faith and noted that she has nieces who are Bahá’ís. The Perfect Blend, an ‎a capella a cappella‎ trio, performed songs used by slaves to pass secret messages about escape plans.

Mr. Cohen also graciously accepted the race unity statement from the Bahá’ís. During part of his stay in Detroit, he and his documentary film crew also were to stay in a Bahá’í home called a “safe house” as part of the re-creation of the life of an escaped slave. —Submitted by Ted Amsden ♦

Civil rights stalwart Rosa Parks (left) and Ruth Rydstedt, a member of the Grosse Point Shores, Michigan, Bahá’í community, enjoy a moment at a Bahá’í-hosted event where Mrs. Parks was presented with The Vision of Race Unity.

A Holy Day of sharing

Children from the Tarrant County Bahá’í Center kept their ties strong with The Women’s Shelter in Arlington, Texas, on the Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh.

At a Feast some time before, the kids consulted on their own and decided they wanted to do some special service on the Holy Day, because that’s what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asks us to do.

When the Bahá’ís phoned the shelter, the woman in the office was excited. She said, “Oh, the Bahá’ís! You do a lot for us!” That’s because for three years in a row, the Bahá’í kids have taken the children living at the shelter out for an Ayyám-i-Há skating party.

But this time the Bahá’í children made Exit Boxes for the children living at the shelter.

Leaving the shelter can be frightening because children and their mothers might be going back to a home that has been violent, or they might be moving to someplace unfamiliar. Exit Boxes, filled with surprises—in this case, new and used toys—are designed to make that trip easier.

The Bahá’í kids decorated the boxes beautifully for the children at the shelter, then trooped through the rain to deliver them on Nov. 12. It was a great day! —Submitted by Dorothy Gilstrap, Arlington, TX

On the Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh, children show the gifts they put together for children at a women’s shelter in Arlington, Texas.

Time to plan for Women’s Day

International Women’s Day, a United Nations celebration March 8, is observed each year by women and men around the world. Local Bahá’í communities and college clubs are encouraged by the National Spiritual Assembly to join in the commemoration.

Bahá’ís may wish to use the occasion to host a talk, a workshop, a field trip or service project to promote the advancement of women. The occasion may also provide opportunities to explore themes presented in the National Assembly’s statement Two Wings of a Bird: The Equality of Women and Men.

Bahá’ís are encouraged also to join people and groups throughout the country who are working:

• To urge U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
• To advance at the local level the “Platform of Action” agreed upon by participating countries at ‎the the the‎ 1995 fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. It seeks to improve the lot of women with respect to poverty, education and training, health, violence, armed conflict, the economy, power and decision-making, human rights, the media, the environment, and other areas.

A list of Web sites for information accompanies this article. For further assistance, please contact the National Assembly’s U.N. Office at 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120, New York, NY 10017 (phone 212-803-2500, e-mail ).

WEB SITES FOR MORE INFORMATION

• International Women’s Day: www.un.org/events/women/
• Global Campaign to end Violence against Women, sponsored by the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (this page contains a link): www.unhchr.ch/
• CEDAW and Beijing Platform for Action, suggesting followup activities (this page contains links): www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/
• Statements by the Bahá’í International Community on the advancement of women: www.bic-un.bahai.org/i-e-wom.htm
• Sample press release and letter to the editor available on the NSA Administrative Web site (click on the “NSA Departments” icon then link to the Office of Public Information): www.usbnc.org/ ♦

One Voice Project beckons college clubs again

The National Committee for the Equality of Women and Men (NCEWM) invites all Bahá’í college clubs to participate in the second annual One Voice Project. This is a nationwide effort to promote the equality of women and men and raise awareness among campus populations about the Bahá’í Faith’s commitment to gender equality.

As college students, you are in a unique position to influence your peers, and greatly impact the ideas and actions of future leaders. The combination of your talents and your environment can serve as a powerful tool in advancing the cause of the equality of the sexes.

This second annual One Voice Project, set to take place during the first week of the Fast, March 1–7, will be a key activity in launching the next phase of the National Teaching Plan, which carries the twin foci of race unity and gender equality. To get a One Voice Packet please contact the NCEWM (phone 202-833-8990, e-mail ). ♦ [Page 8]

THE FACES OF PROGRESS IN CHINA

WIPA members see results of outreach around the globe to advance girls’ education

Fifty fourth-grade girls lined the unpaved road to their school on both sides, waving red handmade pompons and shouting “Welcome American Aunties!” in Chinese as a bus rumbled into view in their remote village.

This was the heartwarming reception that greeted eight members of a delegation from Women for International Peace and Arbitration (WIPA) on their visit to Kangbao County, Hebei Province, China, on Oct. 21–22 after a seminar in Beijing.

The visit provided the first glimpse of foreigners the village of Yan You Fang had ever seen.

It also allowed WIPA to assess the results of its sponsoring the 50 girls, ages 9–11, in support of the Spring Bud Project of the All China Women’s Federation (ACWF).

In 1995, the Chinese organization created the nationwide Spring Bud Project to help provide education for young girls, primarily in rural areas, who drop out of school after third grade or who lack access to education.

Kangbao, in northeastern China, is one of the country’s poorest counties. Girls cut their hair short because there is no running water, and a constant wind blows sand everywhere.

The girls sponsored by WIPA had dropped out of school after an earthquake in 1997 devastated the area’s farms. With families facing hard times, only the boys were sent to school.

As mothers are the trainers of the next generation, WIPA felt it was important to sponsor the girls’ education.

On the first day of the trip from Beijing, it took all day to drive to Zhangjiakou, a city that was opened to foreigners only two years before. After a welcoming banquet, the WIPA group spent the night in Zhangjiakou.

The next day brought several hours’ travel into the mountains—almost to the border of Inner Mongolia—to the primary school called Wan Long Dian Xiao Xue in Yan You Fang. Accompanying the WIPA delegation was the director of the China Children and Teenagers Fund, Cheng Shuqin, in a separate car with the national and county heads of the Women’s Federation.

The vehicles passed carts pulled by oxen carrying large loads of hay. The carts’ wheels were grinding corn that was spread out on the road.

As the buses drove into the wilderness beyond paved roads, and villages were hours apart, several times the entourage stopped to consult on the right direction. At least twice the decision was to change course.

After several hours of driving, the delegation was met by the delighted girls at the rudimentary schoolhouse. The members were taken into the small schoolroom and sat on children’s stools facing the girls, who welcomed them with a song and dance.

Then one of the girls read a prepared speech, asking, “Do you know how it feels to watch the boys walk to school with their schoolbooks and know that you cannot go?”

She said the girls in the class promised to study hard to make WIPA members proud of them, they promised to obey their parents, serve their community and never forget their foreign Aunties who had given them the opportunity for education.

Even the translator broke down crying while relaying the words of this little girl.

Afterward the president of WIPA was interviewed by the local TV station and newspaper.

The Spring Bud class in Kangbao County was opened Sept. 19, 1998, and was established with the help of WIPA, China Children and Teenagers Fund and the county and local governments.

The Provincial Federation arranged for used desks and chairs and the Beijing Federation gave the class a piano. The town government paid for coal for the winter. The Municipal and County Federations raised money for transportation, telephone costs, books etc.

As service is a component for the success of the school, the teachers and students spend Saturdays and Sundays cleaning, in and around the school.

As final pictures of the visit were being taken, one girl grabbed the hand of the president of WIPA and asked for a picture of just the two to be taken. Everyone said, “For this girl to be so bold, she must be the leader of the next generation.”

During the bus ride back to Beijing, WIPA members were silent, thinking about “their girls.”

—Submitted by Women for International Peace and Arbitration

Some of the 50 WIPA-sponsored fourth-grade students in Yan You Fang village, China, perform a welcoming dance (left) for a delegation of their “American Aunties.” One of the girls (right) reads a speech promising to study hard and make their “Aunties” proud. Photos courtesy of Women for International Peace and Arbitration

Beijing seminar allows sharing of ideas on women and family

The All China Women’s Federation (ACWF) in Beijing hosted a delegation of 20 members of Women For International Peace and Arbitration (WIPA) from Canada, Hong Kong and the United States for a seminar Oct. 18–20 on the subjects of Women and Violence, Family Education and Teenage Girls.

It was the second seminar co-sponsored by ACWF and WIPA following up on the fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, in 1995.

A not-for-profit educational corporation based on Bahá’í principles, WIPA is also a United Nations-affiliated non-governmental organization.

Each day of the seminar, two papers were presented by members of the ACWF and two by WIPA during the morning session. The afternoon was reserved for consultation and a question-and-answer session.

The ACWF requested the paper presented by Dr. Charlotte Gallagher, “American Adolescent Girls: Victims and Survivors of Violence,” for publication in its magazine Women’s Studies.

Other papers presented during the seminar included treatises on parenting skills, family life improvement, elimination of family violence, issues facing teenage girls including self-image, and building the capacities of women.

On the first evening of the seminar Liu Hai Rong, vice president of the women’s federation, hosted participants at a banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square. At the banquet, WIPA members presented a gift of American Indian pottery from the Jemez Tribe in New Mexico.

During the seminar, WIPA members visited schools, homes, factories and other sites pertaining to the subjects in the seminar.

For more information on the seminar and the Spring Bud Project (see accompanying article), contact WIPA, P.O. Box 186, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Panelists from the All China Women’s Federation sit alongside their WIPA counterparts at a seminar organized as a followup to the 1995 fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, the capital of China. [Page 9]The Power of Race Unity Video

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U.N. OBSERVANCE, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

planning of a Town Hall Meeting up until mid-November, when other groups finally joined in the effort. He said the Bahá’ís have a unique ability to get groups to work well together that normally don’t get along. Without Bahá’í leadership throughout the country, the effort would not have been as successful.

As an example, Hinkley highlighted the effort of Lee Ratcliff, a Bahá’í who organized the Town Hall Meeting in Oakland, California. Because of Ratcliff’s leadership, he said, the city’s diverse population was well-represented. He added that Ratcliff brought a unifying vision to the event.

Also at the meeting, a Bahá’í Youth Workshop did a performance that dramatized efforts to fight against discrimination and for the right to work, bringing tears to the 200 people who attended.

National Assembly representatives attended commemorative events at the White House and the United Nations. Jeffery Huffines, the National Assembly’s U.N. representative, spoke on Dec. 6 at the 8th Annual Human Rights Awards Luncheon sponsored by the Bahá’í communities of Ventura County, Agoura Hills, Calabasas and Westlake Village, California. Over 380 guests, including five mayors, attended to honor three local citizens who were recognized for their outstanding humanitarian work.

Other areas in which Bahá’ís sponsored or contributed greatly to events commemorating the anniversary of the Declaration include:

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

The only observance of the anniversary at the University of California, Los Angeles, was organized by the Bahá’í Club. Amin Banani spoke to a crowd of 80 students and faculty regarding the Bahá’í view on human rights.

Dr. Banani, professor emeritus of the university’s Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, focused his talk on the history of the Universal Declaration and on one of the most recent violations—the closure of the Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education in Iran.

Beginning with the executions of Bahá’ís in the 1980s and continuing through to the latest persecutions, Dr. Banani poignantly depicted the Iranian government’s efforts to annihilate the Bahá’í community of Iran.

Ending his talk with a call to action, he invited the audience to express disapproval of the action by writing letters to the director-general of the U.N. Educational, Social and Cultural Organization and the minister of Culture and Higher Education in Iran.

After the talk, at the request of the Bahá’í Club, campus organizations including the Conflict Mediation Center, Peer Educators, MEChA and the Jewish Student Union presented short statements on the organizations’ commitment to human rights.

A highly positive article on the event appeared on the front page of the university newspaper, the Daily Bruin, with the headline “Bahá’ís Plead Respect for Human Rights.”

The article quoted Dr. Banani as saying all people have the ability to help improve the human rights situation: “It is the inherent dignity of the members of the human family that is the foundation of freedom.” The article also quoted students in the Bahá’í Club.

Amin Banani, professor emeritus, speaks to Andy Shah, a student reporter for the UCLA newspaper, at the university’s Bahá’í-sponsored observance. Photo by Cynthia Thomas, Los Angeles

ASHEVILLE/BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

The Asheville and Buncombe County Bahá’í communities’ 18th annual Human Rights Award was presented to Professor Elmoiz Abunura of the University of North Carolina-Asheville by Navid Mirheli, a 15-year-old Bahá’í from Asheville whose family fled from Iran so that he and his two brothers could have full educational opportunities.

Pamela Zivari, a Bahá’í from Montclair, New Jersey, and former director of the National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of Public Information, was the keynote speaker at the Dec. 13 awards program held at the Western North Carolina Bahá’í Center in Asheville.

Zivari traced the history of human rights developments at the United Nations and outlined recent attacks on the Bahá’í “Open University” in Iran.

In accepting the award, Abunura suggested that American universities support the Bahá’í Institute of Higher Education by creating a “sister universities” relationship with Bahá’í educators in Iran.

Abunura, a political science instructor and coordinator of the university’s African Studies Program, is a native of Sudan. He was imprisoned both in his own country and while studying in Iraq before immigrating to the United States. He credits Amnesty International with freeing him from prison and saving his life on both occasions.

He is working for creation of an umbrella human rights center in Asheville, and has indicated he considers Bahá’ís his allies in working for human rights.

Members of the United Nations ‎Assocation Association‎, faculty from the University of North Carolina-Asheville and Warren Wilson College as well as students joined members of the Bahá’í communities in honoring Abunara for his contributions in support of human rights.

Navid Mirheli (left), age 15, presents the Human Rights Award to Elmoiz Abunara, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, on behalf of the Bahá’í community.

SLIDELL, LOUISIANA

Advance publicity in two local newspapers drew a handful of seekers interested in Bahá’í activities to the Declaration observance sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Southeast St. Tammany Parish in Slidell.

The public meeting Dec. 14 featured a talk by Michael Mathein of Fairhope, Alabama, and was well attended by area Bahá’ís.

PORTLAND, MAINE

The Bahá’ís of Portland organized a Town Hall Meeting and found that the process has opened many more doors of service to the Faith.

“Right now I am working with a group of people that includes the director of the YWCA, the director of Peace Action Maine, and the director of the committee that has been assigned to restore the Abyssinian church, one of the oldest black churches in this part of the country,” said Luc Nya, one of the organizers.

The group has been convened by the YWCA to plan a “Race to end Racism” on May 1. The race will take runners past Portland sites that have been identified as having played a role in the Underground Railway.

“I find this particularly relevant and of great importance to our national teaching goals of opening neighborhood dialogues on race and gender,” Nya said. “I have found in most of the stories that are being discussed that women played very determining roles in the movement and that gender issues were quite a clashing point.”

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

On Dec. 7, the Bahá’í Student Association of Harvard hosted an interfaith service titled “Undying Fire: An Interfaith Celebration of Religious Freedom” held in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration.

The program included the chanting of the Muslim call to prayer and of verses from the Holy Qur’án; a selection from the Tao Te Ching; poetry and liturgical readings from the Jewish tradition; reading of the Nicean Creed and the Lord’s Prayer; poetry from the Hindu tradition; a Buddhist prayer and meditative silence; and a Bahá’í prayer.

Participants lighted candles to share concerns, hopes, or reasons for celebration. The program concluded with a performance by Voices of Glory, the Greater Boston Bahá’í Gospel Choir.

In the keynote sermon, Professor Harvey Cox of the Harvard Divinity School expressed appreciation for the great variety of religious expressions in the service. But he stressed the responsibility of members of diverse religious communities to recognize the dignity of members of all religions and work to uphold and protect their rights as human beings.

Phillipe Copeland of the Harvard Bahá’í Student Association, in welcoming remarks, mentioned the recent closing of the Bahá’í “Open University” by the government of Iran and called attention to the situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran as an example of the denial of freedom of religious practice.

MONTEREY BAY, CALIFORNIA

Matthew Friday was honored as winner of the 19th annual Monterey Bay Bahá’í Human Rights Award at a Dec. 5 luncheon event that also celebrated the Universal Declaration.

The luncheon was co-sponsored by the Monterey Bay Bahá’ís, the United Nations Association of Monterey Bay, and Amnesty International and was attended by 150 people, including U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, California State Assembly members Fred Keeley and Bruce McPherson, and Mayor James Perrine of Marina. Dozens of would-be attendees were turned away from the sold-out event.

Friday was honored among his peers for his years of service to community organizations that aim to protect human rights on the Monterey Peninsula, including the Coalition of Minority Organizations and the Mental Health and Police Practices Community Task Force.

Matthew Friday (center left), recipient of the Monterey Bay, California, Human Rights Award, poses with (from left) Gwen McEwen, Bahá’í and UNA member; Larry Levine, local UNA president; U.S. Rep. Sam Farr; state Assemblyman Fred Keeley; and Bahá’í and UNA local past president John Von Berg. [Page 13]

ENGLISH

ESPAÑOL

Letter to the friends from the Latin-American Task Force Dear and Esteemed Friends in the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh: We speak of our beloved Faith as a world religion, as are also Judaism, Christianity, Islam, the Buddhist, Hindu and Zoroastrian religions. What, then, distinguishes the Bahá’í Faith from all the others, beyond its being God’s most recent Revelation? One outstanding characteristic is its world view, its universal outlook. Bahá’u’lláh tells us: “Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth.” In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Most Holy Book, when referring to the members of the local Houses of Justice (presently Local Spiritual Assemblies) He states: “It behooveth them to be the trusted ones of the Merciful among men and to regard themselves as the guardians appointed of God for all that dwell on earth.” Has any of us ever known the officials of a local government to consider the well-being even of their state or country, let alone all of humanity, when making their decisions? Yet this is precisely what Local Spiritual Assemblies are called upon to do. And the name that Bahá’u’lláh gives to the supreme governing body of His Faith is the Universal House of Justice. In the prayer for Spiritual Assemblies revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, we ask God: “...that our thoughts, our views, our feelings may become as one reality, manifesting the spirit of union throughout the world.” In Bahá’u’lláh’s uplifting, inspiring call to us to pray, He states: “Whoso reciteth, in the privacy of his chamber, the verses revealed by God, the scattering angels of the Almighty shall scatter abroad the fragrance of the words uttered by his mouth, and shall cause the heart of every righteous man to throb.” Not too long ago some of the beloved believers in Iran were arrested solely because they were educating young Bahá’í students prohibited from attending Iranian universities. Was their purpose solely to ensure that these young people could have a proper education—or is there more? The answer, as always, is in the words of Bahá’u’lláh: “Consider man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.” So here again we see the universality of Bahá’u’lláh’s teaching: that the treasures our Creator has placed within each of us are to be brought forth through education for the benefit of all mankind. The beloved friends in Iran know, too, that only God’s healing medicine, prescribed by His Supreme Manifestation, can save the life of humanity. So they accept whatever they suffer in God’s path in order that this medicine may continue to be applied to the sick body of mankind. They are prevented from doing it directly, but their courage, perseverance and unwavering faith give to us, who are free to teach, even greater opportunities to do so. Let us, inspired by their example, and in their stead, go forth, in the absolute assurance that the efforts we make, though they may appear limited or localized, will in reality reach and benefit all mankind. And let us never waver for, in the words of Bahá’u’lláh: “The source of courage and power is the promotion of the Word of God and steadfastness in His love.” With loving Bahá’í greetings, The Latin-American Task Force ♦

Carta a los amigos de la Comisión de Trabajo Latinoamericana Queridos y Estimados Amigos en la Causa de Bahá’u’lláh: Decimos que nuestra amada fe es religión mundial, igual que el judaísmo, la cristiandad, el islam, las religiones budista, hindú y zoroástrica. ¿Qué es, entonces, lo que distingue la Fe Bahá’í de las demás, aparte de ser la más reciente revelación de Dios? Una característica sobresaliente es su punto de vista mundial, su mira universal. Bahá’u’lláh nos dice: “Bienaventurado y feliz es aquel que se levanta para promover los mejores intereses de los pueblos y razas de la tierra.” En el Kitáb-i-Aqdas, el Libro Más Sagrado, al referirse a los miembros de las Casas de Justicia locales (actualmente Asambleas Espirituales Locales), dice: “Incumbe que ellos sean los fideicomisarios del Misericordioso entre los hombres y se consideren a sí mismos como los guardianes designados por Dios para todos los que moran en la tierra.” ¿Alguno de nosotros acaso ha sabido de oficiales de un gobierno local que, al tomar sus decisiones, toman en cuenta el bienestar de su propio estado o país, mucho menos de toda la humanidad? Sin embargo, es precisamente la responsabilidad impuesta a las Asambleas Espirituales Locales. Y el nombre que Bahá’u’lláh ha dado a nuestra institución suprema es la Casa Universal de Justicia. En la oración revelada por ‘Abdu’l-Bahá para las Asambleas Espirituales, encontramos estas palabras: “...para que nuestros pensamientos, nuestras miras y nuestros sentimientos se conviertan en una sola realidad, que manifieste el espíritu de unión por todo el mundo.” En las palabras inspiradoras y elevadoras de Bahá’u’lláh, llamándonos a rezar, Él dice: “Quienquiera recite retirado en su cámara los versos revelados por Dios, los ángeles mensajeros del Todopoderoso esparcirán por doquier la fragancia de las palabras pronunciadas por su boca, y harán que palpite el corazón de todo hombre recto.” Hace no mucho tiempo algunos de los amados creyentes en Irán fueron arrestados únicamente porque estaban educando a jóvenes alumnos bahá’ís prohibidos de estudiar en las universidades iraníes. ¿Su propósito fue solamente el de asegurar que estos jóvenes pudieran tener la debida educación, o hay algo más? Como siempre, la contestación se encuentra en las palabras de Bahá’u’lláh: “Considerad al hombre como una mina, rica en gemas de valor inestimable. Solamente la educación puede hacerle revelar sus tesoros y permitir a la humanidad aprovechar de esto.” Así vemos nuevamente la universalidad de la enseñanza de Bahá’u’lláh: que los tesoros que nuestro Creador ha puesto dentro de cada uno de nosotros han de ser revelados mediante la educación para el beneficio de toda la humanidad. Los amados amigos en Irán también saben que solamente la medicina de Dios, recetada por Bahá’u’lláh, podrá salvar la vida de la raza humana. Así aceptan todo lo que sufren en el camino de Dios para que esta medicina siga siendo aplicada al cuerpo enfermo de la humanidad. Ellos se encuentran vedados de hacerlo directamente, pero su valor, su perseverancia y su fe inmutable nos dan a nosotros, que estamos libres para enseñar, oportunidades aún mayores de hacerlo. Inspirados por su ejemplo, y en su lugar, levantémonos, con la seguridad absoluta de que los esfuerzos que hacemos, aunque parezcan limitados o localizados, en realidad alcanzarán y beneficiarán a la raza humana entera. Y que nunca vacilemos, puesto que (de las palabras de Bahá’u’lláh): “La fuente del valor y del poder es la promoción de la Palabra de Dios, y la constancia en su Amor.” Con cariñosos saludos bahá’ís, La Comisión de Trabajo Latinoamericana ♦

POR LA OFICINA DE CORRESPONDENCIA: CENTRO BAHÁ’Í MUNDIAL: “Se nos ha pedido avisarles acerca de un error ‎tipografico tipográfico‎ que aparece en la ‎traduccion traducción‎ al español del mensaje de Ridván 155. En el ‎parrafo párrafo‎ antepenúltimo del mensaje, la palabra correcta debe ser ‘‎afliccion aflicción‎’ en vez de ‘‎ficcion ficción‎’; es decir, la ‎oracion oración‎ debe rezar como aparece a ‎continuacion continuación‎: ‘Con cada hora que pasa, una nueva ‎afficcion aflicción‎ se abate sobre una humanidad desencaminada.’”

PARA EL CENSO DE LOS BAHÁ’ÍS HISPANOS EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS (FOR THE CENSUS OF HISPANIC BAHÁ’ÍS IN THE UNITED STATES)

Srta. / Sra. / Sr. Miss / Mrs. / Ms. / Mr. _____________________________________________________ Dirección/ Address ___________________________________________________________ Ciudad/                    Estado/                   Código postal/ City                        State                     ZIP code _________________________ Número telefónico/                     Número de fax/ Telephone (      ) ___________ Fax (      ) _________________________ Dirección de correo electrónico/ E-mail address ______________________________________________________ País de origen/ Country of origin _____________________________________________________ ¿En donde Ud. se hizo bahá’í?/ Where did you become a Bahá’í? ______________________________________

¿Ud. es o ha sido miembro de ... ? / Are you or have you been a member of ... ? Cuerpo de Consejeros Continentales/Continental Board of Counselors __________ Cuerpo Auxiliar/Auxiliary Board __________ Asamblea Espiritual Local/Local Spiritual Assembly __________ Asistente a un miembro del Cuerpo Auxiliar/Assistant to Auxiliary Board member __________ ¿A quién?/To whom? ____________________________________________ Comité nacional/National committee __________ Comité local/Local committee __________ ¿Cuántos miembros de su comunidad bahá’í son latinos?/ How many members of your Bahá’í community are Latinos? _________ ¿Cuántos en su Asamblea Espiritual?/How many on your Spiritual Assembly? _________

Enviar a la Comisión de Trabajo Latinoamericana/Send to Latin-American Task Force por correo a/by mail to: Vera Breton Vienna, Virginia 22181 por fax a/by fax to: Larry Kramer (773) 509-0466 por e-mail a/by e-mail to: LATFORCE

[Page 14]

Unity challenge rings at Grand Canyon

BY TRISH SWANSON

The challenge to those attending the 1998 Grand Canyon Bahá’í Conference was straight from the Writings: If we believe in racial unity, it must show in our personal lives and in our communities.

An answer came immediately, with dozens sacrificing their attendance at the conference’s closing session so they could worship God alongside people of many backgrounds in Phoenix, Arizona.

The latest edition of the conference, as well as its companion Grand Canyon Bahá’í Youth Conference, took a different path than in past years. Rather than a general teaching conference, organizers adopted race unity as the theme for the 14th annual event, held Dec. 24–27.

The roots of this decision grew from a meeting a year earlier involving members of the Continental Board of Counselors and the Auxiliary Boards. Race unity was emerging as a primary focus of the U.S. Bahá’í community, and after consultation with Auxiliary Board members Enayat Rohani and Aleda Nelson, the Phoenix Spiritual Assembly decided to mold the Grand Canyon Conference toward the following objectives:

• Take the race unity issue to the Bahá’í communities of the entire Phoenix area and beyond.
• Reach out with our message beyond the Bahá’í communities, and put a structure in place to do that immediately.

With that in mind, the conference culminated in a Sunday morning visit by busloads of participants to two churches that had extended invitations to the Bahá’ís: Tanner Chapel, a predominantly African-American congregation where a talk was given by Counselor Wilma Ellis, and St. Charles Borromeo Church, a very diverse congregation that was addressed by Fernando Huerta of the Los Angeles Bahá’í community.

From the start of the conference Thursday night, Bahá’ís of varied ethnic backgrounds socialized, consulted, laughed and generally showed joy over being with one another.

Richard Thomas, an author, Michigan State University professor and prominent worker for race unity, set the stage for the conference theme in his keynote talk on “Bahá’ís and the Greater Community,” urging the friends to look honestly at their own patterns of life.

“Most Bahá’ís of a certain socioeconomic background live in the suburbs, with other groups living in the central cities,” Dr. Thomas said. But if we are only following the larger society in widening the gap between social classes, he asked, “what is that doing to our sense of community as Bahá’ís?”

To members of the audience who were contemplating marriage, he said, “If you believe in race unity as a Bahá’í and you decide that your only criteria for moving into a neighborhood are a big house and, quote, good schools, and that the neighbors seem to be all right because they are not ... Latino and blacks ... we have to be honest about this. We have to make decisions in terms of how do we build multiracial residential communities as a reflection of our belief in race unity.”

Speaking on “Race Issues in Individual Relationships,” Huerta offered this exhortation: “If we want the solution—this race issue to leave us—we must consider having a community so united that when people of different races want to intermarry it is not a problem. I know it’s a problem today but it cannot continue to remain a problem in our communities.”

Filmmaker and entertainer Phil Lucas, speaking on “The Individual’s Relationship with the Bahá’í Community,” suggested that to encourage entry by troops, Bahá’ís need to begin to enlarge our mental picture of the Faith to embrace “that whole concept of bringing everyone in. And that’s all of humanity—from the homeless to the richest—every strata of society, every type of person.”

SEE GRAND CANYON, PAGE 33

The Mona Workshop, after braving difficulties in travel from the performers’ home city of Monterrey, Mexico, gives a performance that dazzles and energizes the conference.

Photos by Jason and David Schlesinger

Top: Phil Lucas advises Bahá’ís to be ready to welcome the full spectrum of humanity.

Above: Children, always a vital presence at the Grand Canyon Conference, here work on crafts during a class.

Madison Bahá’ís pay tribute to Yamamotos

Shinji Yamamoto rose from the World War II internment camps for Japanese-Americans to become an acclaimed architect. His wife, Hifumi, worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

They raised three children; all earned doctorates in organic chemistry. And they have served the Bahá’í Faith admirably for decades.

For these accomplishments, the Yamamotos were honored last fall at a gathering attended by Bahá’ís from all around Dane County, Wisconsin.

Dr. Linda Leetch, who studied the Faith at the Yamamotos’ home before declaring her belief in Bahá’u’lláh, served as master of ceremonies. Dr. Manucher Javid, who met Shinji at a celebration of the Faith’s centenary in Wilmette, Illinois, spoke of the Yamamotos’ extraordinary lives.

The honored couple’s son Steve and grandson Michael shared slides, and the evening was rounded out by prayers, music, messages of appreciation, a presentation of flowers, and comments by the Yamamotos.

A son of the first Japanese Bahá’í, Kanichi Yamamoto, Shinji had the bounty at age 1 1/2 to sit on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s lap and receive from Him the honorary name Hossein when the Master visited America in 1912.

Shinji and Hifumi knew each other growing up in San Francisco’s tight-knit Japanese-American community. They were married on Dec. 8, 1941—the day after Pearl Harbor. Hifumi declared her belief a few months later.

Their faith sustained them through the ordeal of internment by the U.S. government. While Shinji, Hifumi and their infant son were confined to a Utah camp, an old school friend encouraged Shinji to apply to be an architect with the state of Wisconsin.

SEE YAMAMOTO, PAGE 34

Shinji (seated front, from left), Hifumi, Michael and Steve Yamamoto pose for a group picture with many friends at a tribute to the longtime Bahá’í couple in Madison, Wisconsin. [Page 15]

THROUGH DISCIPLINE, YOUTH MOVEMENT ADVANCES

BY TOM MENNILLO

What could have plunged a recent Bahá’í youth weekend retreat into disunity became instead its defining moment.

During a discussion on personal safety at the FFA-FHA Camp outside Covington, Georgia, an attendee demanded the freedom to attend sessions or not as she pleased. After all, in her experience, that’s how it works at conferences and other Bahá’í events.

But this December retreat was no mere get-together. The more than 100 youth from Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee were there to develop, through “spiritual discipline and discourse,” the identity and teaching skills they’d need to be revolutionaries for Bahá’u’lláh.

Not a precious moment could be wasted, and the cadre of youth recognized that. In the consultation that followed, they voiced strong and emotional support for the process that Auxiliary Board members Josie Reynolds and Riaz Khadem had initiated.

Mrs. Reynolds herself lovingly but firmly underscored the message: We want you to be part of this movement, but if you’re not willing to sacrifice for it, a ride home can be arranged.

The young woman stayed for the rest of the activities.

Glorious activities they were:

• Unfurling of the Black Standard, under which the youth would march, by youth co-chairs Anthony Outler and Tahirih Schear.
• Bonding exercises and “energizers” led by Cordia Smith.
• A stirring talk on “The Blessed Beauty and His Mission” by Nasif Habeeb’ullah.
• A roaring bonfire, complete with hot dogs and marshmallows, to cap Friday evening.
• A full Saturday focused on teaching and consecration with Counselor Stephen Birkland.
• Spirited games of soccer, volleyball, basketball, pingpong—even checkers and miniature golf.
• A dramatic presentation in support of the Bahá’í Open University in Iran that left few eyes dry.
• Slides and stories of youth service at the Bahá’í World Center.
• An uproariously funny youth talent show.
• Depiction of “Heroes and Heroines of the Bahá’í Era.”

As the Auxiliary Board members and numerous helpers worked hard behind the scenes, Counselor Tod Ewing met in the building next door with other assistants to the Auxiliary Board members.

Mr. Birkland’s sessions, the core of the youth retreat, helped the teen revolutionaries explore in-depth how to “attract souls to Bahá’u’lláh.”

He outlined a step-by-step model for teaching:

• Pray for divine assistance.
• Gauge receptivity.
• Use wisdom in deciding how to proceed.
• Lastly, provide information.

The Counselor then took the youth through a mock encounter. He had them fire away questions a seeker—or opponent of the Faith—might ask and sought their input in answering the questions.

Interspersed throughout, Mr. Birkland’s presentation were stories of how heroic Bahá’í youth have taught and defended the Faith, some with their lives. And he drew from his own life experiences to illustrate the transformative powers of this Revelation.

That led perfectly into the weekend’s final activity: breaking the gathering up into 19 small groups—16 of them middle school or high school age—to devise teaching and social activities, so the momentum from the retreat can be kept up. ◆

Youth assistants and retreat attendees talk about past and potential teaching situations during small-group consultation at December’s youth retreat near Covington, Georgia. Photo by Tom Mennillo

BUILDING MOMENTUM SYSTEMATICALLY

The December retreat for Alabama and Georgia youth was designed to further what Auxiliary Board members Riaz Khadem and Josie Reynolds call a “systematic process for nurturing the Bahá’í youth movement.”

Mr. Khadem, Mrs. Reynolds and a core committee launched the process in April under the sponsorship of the Spiritual Assembly of Fulton County Central. Components include:

• Engagement—defining the discourse. The key event is a retreat every six months, each one building on the one before it. The first retreat had been in June.
• Training—acquiring discipline and style. Courses facilitated by the Atlanta Area Training Institute will provide spiritual insights, knowledge and skills.
• Change—applying discourse and spiritual discipline. Teaching initiatives and service will be carried out, with the goals of youth enrollments and redirection of the lives of youth and adults alike.
• Encouragement—youth support system. Youth assistants and coaches will give each youth personal attention and upliftment to prepare him or her for service, career and life.
• Review—assessing progress. In regular forums, the youth will be able to share their successes and challenges.

CORE CURRICULUM Parenting and Discipline

This is part 2 of a 3-part series on a vital parenting issue—disciplining. Many of the ideas expressed here are drawn from the Core Curriculum Parenting program.

BY THE EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS OFFICE

As mentioned in part 1, learning is always the outcome of discipline. Sometimes, however, because of our parenting style, we may accomplish the opposite of our intention. In trying to protect our children, we may, for example, invite rebellion or passive conformity rather than teaching our children how to make wise choices.

Social science studies have described three models or styles of parenting and the effect each has on children and their parents. In brief these are:

• Permissive: These parents feel the child needs to be free and uninhibited to grow. Anything the child wants is OK, and the parents give in to almost every demand. The parents are usually angry inside because they realize they have no control. Their expectations of the child are usually far beyond the child’s abilities. Children of these parents tend to be creative, but often are selfish and lack the skills to get along with others.
• Authoritarian: These parents feel the child needs to be controlled at all times and must obey without discussion. Their expectations of the child are far below the child’s abilities. Children of these parents tend to be conformist, passive, pleasant to be around, but fearful and angry.
• Authoritative: These parents understand that a child needs control in some situations and freedom to decide in others. The parents know when and how to set limits and when to give the child responsibility. They treat the child according to his or her abilities. Children of these parents are usually independent, motivated, supportive, and a pleasure to be with.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá explained how to achieve the balance between control and freedom: “Wheresoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise and applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest undesirable trait should manifest itself, let her counsel the child and punish him, and use means based on reason, even a slight verbal chastisement should this be necessary.” (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 124–125)

We need to carefully consider what outcomes we would like to see from our children and remember that disciplining, or training, a child is not accomplished with a few encounters; it takes place over many years. Again ‘Abdu’l-Bahá advises:

“It is incumbent upon every father and mother to counsel their children over a long period, and guide them unto those things which lead to everlasting honour.” (ibid, p. 134)

If you would like more information on the Core Curriculum Parenting program, or to find Parent Facilitators in your area, please contact Loubelen Bahá’í School (phone 810-653-5033.) ◆ [Page 16]

Bosch sessions focus on unity, equality, women’s role

Bosch Bahá’í School 500 Comstock Lane Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-423-3387

Winter/spring programs at Bosch Bahá’í School offer a variety of programs to help participants develop both spiritual and practical approaches in dealing with the world around us.

Feb. 12–15: “Racism/Race Unity: Two Sides of the Same Coin” will provide an opportunity for people of all ethnic backgrounds to come together with joyful music, stimulating discussions and loving fellowship. Presenters, including Counselor Wilma Ellis, LeNise Jackson Gaertner, Auxiliary Board members Angelica Huerta and Dr. Farhad Sabetan, and Fernando Huerta, member of the National Latin-American Task Force, will provide us with insights from the Writings and their personal experiences in dealing with “the most vital and challenging issue” in both our Bahá’í and secular communities.

Feb. 19–21, continued March 26–28: “Turning on the Light,” a two-part workshop on creating and sustaining a conscious marriage, will be facilitated by Diane and Bill Rockloff and Nasrin and Mehran Bashiri. These two psychotherapists and their husbands have developed an effective program to assist couples psychologically, spiritually and practically—grounding all concepts in the Bahá’í writings. In addition to a variety of exercises designed to elicit self-reflection and an empathetic understanding of each other, group and individual counseling will be offered.

April 16–18: “The Spiritual Purpose of Women: Women’s Role in Advancing the Most Great Peace” will explore the role Bahá’u’lláh envisioned for women in our ever-advancing civilization. Workshops will also focus on the role of women in the family, community, personal growth and development. There will be time for meditation and reflection on the application of the Writings in our lives and discussion of achieving balance under the demands of multiple roles.

The Calendar on the back page of this issue lists the entire Bosch program for winter and spring. After a year of heavy El Niño rains, the wonderful warm and sunny weather we have been enjoying this year is a special treat! Come share in the beauty of nature and the loving service in a Bahá’í environment for both spiritual and physical rejuvenation. See you at Bosch! ♦

Participants in a recent Fundamental Verities program at Bosch enjoy a light moment during group discussion. Photo courtesy of Bosch Bahá’í School

Verities courses ‘unleash’ the friends

They say they’ve been “unleashed” and “inspired,” and they’re passing it along to the rest of us!

Students reported those reactions as they finished the first series of Fundamental Verities Training Institute Courses at Bosch Bahá’í School, which prepared them to train effective and systematic teachers of the Cause in their own communities.

Participants said they were empowered not only their work in class, but by the homework and practical application between sessions. One participant in her four-hour wait at the airport interviewed 15 people about their religious beliefs—and, of course, shared her Bahá’í beliefs as well!

This first series had 100 percent of its participants keeping their commitment to attend all sessions, spaced over three different weekends.

Tuition for this series of three sessions is free to participants recommended by a Local Spiritual Assembly, an Auxiliary Board member, a Regional Bahá’í Council or a regional training institute.

The program has received overwhelming material support from Spiritual Assemblies throughout the Western States. Continued financial support is essential to continue these training courses.

There is still room in the sessions being held March 26–28, April 16–18 and May 7–9, but the classes fill quickly. Contact Bosch for more information. ♦

Green Acre purpose: manifesting faith in action

Green Acre Bahá’í School 188 Main Street • Eliot, ME 03903 207-439-7200

The process of joyful learning, building loving communities and teaching with enkindled hearts are among Green Acre Bahá’í School’s winter-spring 1999 program topics. All programming is designed to inspire a greater manifestation of faith in action.

Feb. 12–14: “Finding Joy in Bahá’í Learning: A Seminar for Adults and Youth,” conducted by Dr. Dwight Allen. Be immersed in and learn to apply participative learning methods, including group activities, individual study and games with a purpose. The goal is for every participant to take home strategies for joyful teaching and learning, with at least one study session ready to share. Special ideas for College Clubs will be included.

March 5–7: Spiritual Retreat for the Fast for those age 15 and older. Time for prayer, reflection and retreat, plus sessions led by Dr. Tahereh Ahdieh on “The Life of the Soul.”

March 26–28: “Establishing Training Institutes: Teaching the Cause,” facilitated by Farah Rosenberg. Second in a series of Magdalene Carney Bahá’í Institute courses. Delve into the spiritual significance of teaching, clarify often-misunderstood ideas about it, define the attributes of a teacher, and develop approaches to personal teaching and collective efforts. Required: attendance at all sessions (Friday evening through Sunday afternoon) and purchase of course booklet. No children’s program.

March 26–28: Junior Youth Institute for those age 12–15. Facilitators Joycelyn Jolly and Clyde Herring plan an exciting weekend of learning, activity and fun to empower junior youth to be noble servants of humanity. Enrollment limited; closed-campus session.

April 9–11: “Citadel of Faith,” presented by Habib Riazati, examines the world-regenerating mission conferred upon the American Bahá’í community. Learn how these messages to the United States provide a unique perspective on world events, written as they were in the last decade of Shoghi Effendi’s life, when the flow of his guidance and inspiration reached its zenith.

April 9–11, continued April 16–18: Core Curriculum Teacher Training for the spiritual education of children. This training explores the concept of the “child-development-centered community” and introduces the Core Curriculum for ages 6–12.

April 16–18: “Work as Worship: Bahá’í Principles at Work,” presented by Chet Makoski, business owner/consultant. Investigate the Bahá’í teachings that affect and guide business managers and employees: regarding work, economic principles that bear on how we work and manage, employee and business practices, and Bahá’í responses to work situations inconsistent with the Faith’s principles. No children’s program.

April 30–May 2: “Spiritual Values and Development,” a weekend study intensive presented by Dr. Mona Grieser. The World Bank recently invited major religions to share views on applying spiritual values to development; this session reviews the Bahá’í document and works with actual project proposals to develop methods for application of spiritual values. May be of special interest to Assemblies contemplating social development programs. Contact registrar for extensive course overview and required readings. No children’s program.

Looking further ahead:

May 28–30: “The Spirit of Children”: second annual Conference on Children’s Literature and Art. On hand will be representatives from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust and Brilliant Star magazine.

May 28–30: Assembly Development Forum presented by members of the Office of Community Administration. Special rate for Assemblies that send three or more members.

June 4–6: “The Nature and Dynamics of Love,” Landegg Academy course presented by Dr. Hossein Danesh.

Ask about special discounts: 20 percent for those who register 30 days before a program, and 50 percent for those who have not attended a Green Acre program since June 1994. For further information or a program brochure, contact Green Acre. ♦ [Page 17]

Training programs empower communities to help transform the patterns of our lives

KEY PROCESSES IN COMMUNITY BUILDING: UPCOMING NATIONAL TEACHER TRAINING CENTER COURSES

Training programs from the National Teacher Training Center help communities establish a pattern of Bahá’í life to embrace growing numbers of interested people. Trainees can offer workshops under the sponsorship of their local or regional institutions.

The National Education Task Force regularly offers training programs on Race Unity, Marriage and Family Life, Parenting, and Teacher Training at the National Teacher Training Center. Contact the National Teacher Training Center at Louhelen Bahá’í School for more information or application materials.

Trainees in the Core Curriculum Teacher Training program at Louhelen engage in some of the plentiful hands-on activities. Photo by Jim Cheek

Feb. 5–8, continued June 4–6: Improving Marriage and Family Life. This will equip you to be a Marriage and Family Life trainer: to offer workshops on marriage both to married couples and to youth and adults preparing for marriage. Marriage workshops relate self-knowledge to success in marriage, develop the skill of consultation, explore roles and relationships within marriage, and offer strategies to solve problems and preserve marriages.

Feb. 12–15, continued June 4–6: Fostering Prejudice-Free and Truly Unified Communities. This will equip you to be a Race Unity trainer: to advance the process of entry by troops through offering workshops based on direct study of the Sacred Texts, training Bahá’ís and others in actions that foster true unity in diversity, and establishing loving, inclusive spiritual environments for addressing the most challenging issue in America: race relations.

These programs are designed to help to prepare a firm foundation of vibrant and loving community life, the foundation for raising up prejudice-free children who are capable of sustaining commitments of love and service to others throughout life.

Local communities respond warmly when the friends offer these workshops, as these written comments show:

• Cleveland, Ohio: “This program has awakened my spirit.”
• Atlanta, Georgia: “[A] most powerful, lovely and complete course... It is concise, challenging and thorough. The questions and exercises are meaningful and the use of writings is relevant and insightful.”
• Brownsville, Wisconsin: “I think that every youth should be encouraged, or even better obliged! to take this course. It really emphasizes the importance of marriage and helps to give important guidance about a topic that is the key to world peace.”
• Indianapolis, Indiana: “Made me realize the avenues of service to the Faith that I haven’t pursued consistently and challenged me to set goals for myself, particularly in the field of race unity. I’ve already written down details of how to start this pursuit.”
• Seattle, Washington: “The group shared from the heart on feelings about race unity.”

Louhelen Bahá’í School 3208 S. State Road Davison, MI 48423 810-653-5033

AYYÁM-I-HÁ AT LOUHELEN BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL:

Feb. 26–28: “Spiritual Generalship: The Guardian’s Planning and Leadership of the Army of Light,” presented by Dr. June Thomas. This unique family weekend explores the strategies used by the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, to mobilize believers in North America to exceed the goals of successive Plans, culminating with the sweeping victories of the Ten Year World Crusade. This course utilizes the Guardian’s step-by-step planning process to build the capacity of the friends, clarify vision, select strategies, encourage action, monitor success, and plan for follow-up. A festive celebration of Intercalary Days with the musical group Hearken and a full children’s program complete the weekend.

Volunteers needed at Green Acre

Be a part of the Green Acre Youth Service Corps staff at the first Bahá’í School of the Western world, located in Eliot, Maine (an hour from Boston).

• When? June 18 through August (or a full year!)
• Who? Any Bahá’í in good standing, age 18 or older
• How? Request and submit application as soon as possible
• For more information, contact: Jeannine Sacco, Green Acre Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903 (phone 207-439-7200, fax 207-438-9940, e-mail Email address omitted).

Georgia peaches

Children in the after-school tutorial program in Chamblee, Georgia, enjoy a class on the virtue of loving-kindness. The program has been a joyful experience for dozens of Bahá’í children and their friends, a U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office helper reports. For more information on the work of the Refugee Office, call 847-733-3525. Photo courtesy of U.S. Bahá’í Refugee Office

Wilmette Institute Update

The Wilmette Institute’s 1999 courses have begun!

WHAT’S GOING ON:

• More than 50 students signed up for “The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, 1853–63” and “Hinduism for Dialogue and Deepening.” The faculty for the Hinduism course includes Dann May, a Bahá’í with considerable experience teaching world religions; Dr. Anne Pearson, who holds a doctorate ‎is in in‎ Hinduism and has lived in India five years; and Dr. Ali Merchant, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India. Dr. Moojan Momen, author of The Bahá’í Faith and Hinduism, has agreed to participate and answer students’ questions about his book.

WHAT’S COMING UP:

• Registration has opened for “Judaism for Dialogue and Deepening” (March 1–April 30; $100). Faculty will include Michael Sours, author of several books about the Bible, and Dr. Maureen Stein, a Jewish scholar who teaches world religion courses. Students may also register for “Buddhism for Dialogue and Deepening” (May 1–June 30; $100) which will include Dann May, Anne Pearson and Dr. Moojan Momen among its faculty.

• Registration for the Spiritual Foundations for a Global Civilization opened Jan. 1, with the first student registering almost immediately. The three-week summer session in Wilmette, Illinois, runs July 16–August 6 and includes the following faculty and their subjects: Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, the establishment of world peace; Dr. Farhad Sabetan, economics from a Bahá’í perspective; Dr. Jena Khodadad, science and religion; Dr. Iraj Poostchi, the Bahá’í Faith and agriculture; Dr. Iraj Ayman, Bahá’í principles of education; Lili Ayman, the Bahá’í Faith and literacy; Ron Precht, use of the media; Dr. Phyllis Bernard and Dann May, conflict resolution.

• Local Spiritual Assemblies and registered groups have been mailed information on all Wilmette Institute courses and programs.
• Information is on the Internet (www.usbnc.org/wilmette).
• You may use the automated telephone line (847-733-3595) or call the registrar (847-733-3415).

[Page 18]

CALLS FOR RESEARCH PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS

Bahá’í conferences and events across the country, and even around the world, are calling for the contributions of knowledgeable Bahá’ís. Please read more about some of these conferences on this page.

ASSOCIATION FOR BAHÁ’Í STUDIES CONFERENCE, June 17–20 in Tempe, Arizona

• Theme: “Sacred Justice: Uniting the Human Family
• Deadline: Feb. 19 to submit proposals for a paper, program or artistic presentation.
• Emphasis: presentations integrating the theme of sacred justice as applied to every facet of life. Breakout and special interest groups should focus on the role and necessity of justice as applied to specialty areas such as science, agriculture and consultation/conflict resolution.
• Submit to: Nanci Aiken and Steven Gonzales, co-convenors; P.O. Box 41532, Tucson, AZ 85717-1532 (phone 520-620-1943, fax 520-621-8522, e-mail abs-na@magmacom.com).

CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY INSTITUTE FOR BAHÁ’Í STUDIES, Aug. 7–8 in Wilmette, Illinois

• Theme: “Revealing the Splendors of His Light: Exploring Spirituality in Bahá’í Life”
• Deadline: May 3 to submit an abstract or description of 250–500 words.
• Emphasis: This conference considers the role of spirituality, individually and collectively, in fulfilling the destiny of America.
• Submit to: Lynne Yancy, c/o Research Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 847-733-3548, e-mail ibs@usbnc.org).

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE organized by the Australian National Bahá’í Office for the Advancement of Women, Sept. 16–18 in Brisbane, Australia

• Theme: “Partnerships for the Next Millennium”
• Deadline: Feb. 30 for abstracts; please notify of your interest or intentions before then if possible. Those accepted will be notified by April 21.
• Emphasis: women’s issues from the perspectives of spirituality, cultural diversity, human rights and social justice, indigenous perspectives, global prosperity, education at all levels, communication and technology, business and economics, health and welfare, leadership and decision-making.
• Submit to: Program Committee, P.O. Box 934, Dickson, ACT 2602, Australia (phone 61-2-6241-9811, fax 61-2-6241-9811, e-mail p.committee@aus.bahai.org.au or p.committee@ozemail.com.au).
• If you plan to attend: Please contact the Office of Pioneering (phone 847-733-3508).

23RD AND 24TH ‘IRFÁN COLLOQUIA, sponsored by Haj Mehdi Arjmand Memorial Fund, Institute for Bahá’í Studies and Persian-American Affairs Office, Oct. 8–11 at Louhelen Bahá’í School, Davison, Michigan

• Deadline: June 30 for abstract of 250–500 words
• Emphases: English presentations (23rd colloquium): Bahá’í belief system/theology, writings of Bahá’u’lláh during the early ‘Akká period (1868–84), the Bahá’í Faith and other world religions. Persian presentations (24th colloquium): Bahá’í theology, writings of Bahá’u’lláh during the early ‘Akká period. Papers on other subjects may also be considered.
• Submit to: Dr. Iraj Ayman, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 847-733-3501, fax 847-733-3563, e-mail irfan@usbnc.org).

ASSOCIATION FOR BAHÁ’Í STUDIES CONFERENCE JUNE 17-20

Richard Thomas of East Lansing, Michigan, has been chosen to deliver the centerpiece lecture at the 23rd Annual Conference of the ‎Assocation Association‎ for Bahá’í Studies.

The conference, on the theme “Sacred Justice: Uniting the Human Family,” will feature the Association’s first “town meeting”-style program June 17. The evening meeting is expected to draw leaders of thought from many fields to consult on prevention of violence among youth.

The conference will prominently feature the art and music of the American Southwest, a region famed for inspiring artists, architects, writers and visionaries.

The association’s executive committee has decided to hold the Annual Conference on the third weekend in June starting this year, as that time is more convenient for university students and faculty.

Dr. Thomas, a professor in the history and urban affairs program at Michigan State University, will deliver the Hasan M. Balyuzi Memorial Lecture on “The State of Race Relations Within the American Bahá’í Community: Progress, Challenges, and Future Directions.”

He has concentrated his academic research and writing on race and ethnic relations, particularly in the 20th-century urban United States. A pioneer in study and analysis of models of racial unity, Dr. Thomas has written several books and articles and helped local authorities improve race relations in major cities of North America and Europe.

The annual lecture, named in honor of the late Hand of the Cause of God and author Hasan M. Balyuzi, has increasingly become a highlight of the conference.

Rooms at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel, the site of the conference, should be reserved directly with the hotel (phone 800-547-8705 or 602-894-1400). Rates for ABS conference attendees have been negotiated at $79 for a single room and $84 for double occupancy, and the hotel has free shuttle service to and from the airport.

Special air fares are available through United Airlines (Meeting ID# 525YT) and Air Canada (Event # CV991019). Please quote these event numbers so that ABS can assign free transportation for deserving scholarship applicants.

Register before April 1 for the best rates. For details contact the Center for Bahá’í Studies (phone 613-233-1903, ext. 107; hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST).

“REVEALING THE SPLENDORS OF HIS LIGHT: EXPLORING SPIRITUALITY IN BAHÁ’Í LIFE” AUG. 7-8

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in one of His many descriptions of the favorable conditions for rapid growth of the Faith in North America, referred to this continent, and particularly the United States, as the “home of the righteous, and the gathering place of the free” wherein “the splendors of His light shall be revealed, where the mysteries of His Faith shall be unveiled.”

This conference considers the role of spirituality, individually and collectively, in fulfilling the destiny of America. Experiential and theoretical explorations of this theme will pay particular attention to the ways in which spirituality effects social change, as the Universal House of Justice stated in its 1998 Ridván message, through “the power of the Covenant, the dynamics of prayer, the inspiration and education derived from regular reading and study of the Holy Texts, and the transformative forces that operate upon [one’s] soul as [one] strives to behave in accordance with the divine laws and principles.”

23RD AND 24TH ‘IRFÁN COLLOQUIA OCT. 8-11

The 23rd and 24th ‘Irfán Colloquia, in the English and Persian languages respectively, will both focus on the Bahá’í belief system (Bahá’í theology), and will be followed by a seminar on the writings of Bahá’u’lláh during the early ‘Akká period (1868–84). In addition, the English-language colloquium will include presentations on the Bahá’í Faith and other world religions.

The conferences are open to the Bahá’í public. While the talks will be of professional quality, a deepened Bahá’í should be able to follow them.

If you wish to attend, contact Louhelen Bahá’í School to register. Wilmette Institute students are encouraged to attend.

For more information contact Iraj Ayman or Robert Stockman at the Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 847-733-3501 for Dr. Ayman, 847-733-3425 for Dr. Stockman; fax 847-733-3563, e-mail irfan@usbnc.org or rstockman@usbnc.org).

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE: PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE NEXT MILLENNIUM SEPT. 16–18

Organized by the Australian National Bahá’í Office for the Advancement of Women, this conference has four main objectives:

• To celebrate the spirit of women and to honor their achievements.
• To recognize women as decision makers at all levels of society.
• To focus on education and communication as broad strategies for the advancement of women.
• To foster positive partnerships for progress.

Highlights will include keynote addresses, interactive sessions for participants and the opportunity to learn from and inspire each other. The conference will spotlight an exciting project on the recent history of Indigenous Australian women.

Cost of registration is yet to be finalized but will be no more than $250 (Australian). If you are a U.S. Bahá’í planning to attend, please contact the Office of Pioneering (phone 847-733-3508, e-mail ). [Page 19]

What’s important?

Liang read something very important to remember in the last Ridván Message. The Universal House of Justice said that in any of our Bahá’í activities, it is important to have certain things and to do certain things. Find out what these things are by solving the cryptograph below!

Do you want to be a PEN PAL?

Do you want to be a PEN PAL? Do you have something to submit to BRILLIANT STAR like photographs, stories, poems or drawings? Tell us what you are doing lately in your Bahá’í community!

Our upcoming themes:

• Dynamics of Prayer
• Study of the Holy Texts
• Inspired to Teach

Send mail to: Brilliant Star (Submissions) Managing Editor BRILLIANT STAR c/o Bahá’í Media Services 1233 Central St. - Evanston, IL 60201 tel/847.853.2355 · fax/847.256.1372

Ridván Cryptograph

Directions: Decode the following phrases/words by using the cryptograph. Match each lower-case letter in the inner circle of the cryptograph with the upper-case letter in the outer circle of the cryptograph. Have fun!

1. qjnaieppejc bwepd 2. lnwuan 3. inkilpejco kb pda okqh 4. zereja wooeopwjya

Activity by Treasurer’s Office

“Man’s merit lieth in service and virtue and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches.” Bahá’u’lláh (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p.138)

Answers: 1. UNREMITTING FAITH 2. PRAYER 3. PROMPTINGS OF THE SOUL 4. DIVINE ASSISTANCE

Tell Us about your Community!

The next special edition of Brilliant Star will talk about Bahá’í communities — groups of Bahá’í families and friends who make up one big family. Tell us about your community and what you like about it. What do you think makes a good community? Do you have a special story about how your community teaches the Bahá’í Faith? Can you picture or illustrate your idea or vision of a good community? Share your thoughts and drawings with us! Please include your age and Bahá’í community with your name.

BRILLIANT STAR SUBSCRIPTION FORM

Name ____________________________________________________________________

Bahá’í ID # ______________________________________________________________

Street ____________________________________________________________________

City & State _________________________________ Zip ________________________

Phone ________________________ E-mail ____________________________________

MARK YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

• ☆ $18 United States, one year (six issues)
• ☆ $32 United States, two years
• ☆ $18 All other countries, surface mail, one year
• ☆ $32 All other countries, surface mail, two years
• ☆ $28 Air mail, one year
• ☆ $52 Air mail, two years

Please enclose payment made out to Bahá’í Distribution Service. Canadian/International orders enclose international money order or bank cheque drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars. To charge your credit card account, give number, expiration date and name.

_____________________________________________________________________________ VISA/MC#/AMEX

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Total enclosed ____________________________________________________________

Mail to: Bahá’í Subscriber Service 4703 Fulton Industrial Blvd. • Atlanta, GA 30336 Fax: 404.472.0119 E-mail: _____________________________________________________________________

TAB/2.7.99 [Page 20]

A dedicated performing troupe takes it to the streets

BY RANDOLPH DOBBS

Last summer for one month, I had the bounty of accompanying a group of young Bahá’ís from the greater Los Angeles area on a teaching trip to Bulgaria.

In each city visited, the One World Dance Company broke records for attendance at a Bahá’í-sponsored activity in Bulgaria. Though only a handful of people enrolled, scores of souls were attracted to the Cause and thousands of Bulgarians received a favorable impression of the Bahá’í Faith.

The diverse group of 14 talented performers was selected from the L.A. Bahá’í Youth Workshop. Sina Mossayeb, the workshop’s coordinator, and his sister Mona of Temple City, California, joined Amy Gandomi of ‎Tuscon Tucson‎, Arizona, in planning and preparations and served as co-coordinators for the group.

As in previous Youth Workshop teaching trips, such as the Fruit of the Holy Year trip to Georgia in 1993 or last year’s Alaskan teaching trip, the plan of operation was to perform dance “demos” in the streets and pass out fliers and invitations to a “grand finale” later at a central location.

This larger performance would feature African and hip-hop dance and rap routines built around the theme of unity. The program promoted an anti-drug and anti-alcohol message and also tackled the issue of racial prejudice.

Among a number of factors in favor of this plan:

• Through satellite television, many Bulgarian youth have in the past two years grown to admire these styles of dance and music.
• Western culture has quickly become popular, and more or less anything American is viewed favorably.

To add another dimension, the American Bahá’ís learned some Bulgarian words and phrases. One dancer, Quddus Sinclair, learned enough of the language to perform a rap number in Bulgarian that brought roars and stomps of approval from the audiences.

Varna and Borgas were the locales chosen for the teaching campaign. The two cities proved to be very different environments, requiring flexibility and creativity in teaching strategies.

In Varna, after some difficulty with a “catch-22” bureaucracy, Mahnaz Funk (a pioneer with her husband, Sharaf) managed to schedule a meeting with the mayor, and the Bahá’ís gained a permit to perform on city streets. This was a big step in relations between the Faith and the local government, and drew sighs of relief from the local friends.

By contrast, in Borgas the permit was resolutely denied—quite a setback for a performing group that relies on street performances in lieu of paid advertising.

So the group decided to hit the disco scene. With Bahá’í interpreters in tow the dancers traveled to club after club, performing their demo and inviting people to the formal program later that week.

Justin Philbrow, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Bulgaria and the project’s overall coordinator in Borgas, helped organize teaching teams to hit the streets with posters and fliers. A public relations group was formed to pursue promotion through the media.

Here the project was abundantly blessed. Stories were printed in both major newspapers in Borgas, and radio and television stations covered the Bahá’í events.

Perhaps the thing that stands out most about the teaching trip is the Bulgarian Bahá’ís. Seemingly, a small army of young people is doing the heavy lifting of Bahá’í teaching in Bulgaria—most in their early to mid-20s, most women. All are intelligent, highly educated, radiant, spiritual and very independent-minded.

I picture them now in my mind’s eye linked arm in arm and walking along a shady boulevard in one of Bulgaria’s beautiful cities. With grace, with intelligence, with compassion, they seem destined to help gently lead their troubled country into the 21st century—under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh.

To contact the Los Angeles Bahá’í Youth Workshop, call 323-937-3976.

Randolph Dobbs is a Bahá’í in Los Angeles. ♦

Above: A musical dance program with an anti-drug and alcohol abuse message holds the attention of crowds at an outdoor theater in Varna, Bulgaria.

For a side trip, the traveling teachers hop a bus to tour the castle of former Romanian Queen Marie.

OBSERVATIONS IN BULGARIA

With a population of more than 8 million, Bulgaria is about half the size of Kansas and uniquely placed at a crossroads of the world.

As in other nations of the former Eastern Bloc, the Bulgarian people put their heart and soul into making the communist system work for most of this century.

Now the country is in transition from the centralized socialist system to a free-market economy, and the material quality of people’s lives has been suffering.

One can sense their disappointment and, on occasion, their anger. But the conscience of the country seems to be saying to the world, “Look, we have a distinct cultural identity and we wish to have equal prominence and prosperity with the other peoples of the world. We are not just an obscure country one passes through on the way to somewhere else.”

—Randolph Dobbs

HEROIC DEEDS OF SERVICE TO THE CAUSE: NATIONAL YOUTH CAMPAIGN

DEAR FRIENDS,

With a little over a year left in the Four Year Plan, pledges of heroism are funneling through our office. We have already received 195 pledges from American Bahá’í youth of all ages!

Our beloved institution, the Universal House of Justice, has asked the North American Bahá’ís 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.”

As lovers of Bahá’u’lláh, what choice have we but to show obedience and love, to do what is asked of us, and to demonstrate in the most tangible way possible that we have risen to the call? What a bounty to be able to give a gift to the House of Justice! A gift of service, of sacrifice, of heroism ... to show our beloved institution that we, the Bahá’í youth of North America, won’t linger or hesitate for one moment to do our part in fulfilling the goals of the Four Year Plan.

You have 15 months to participate in the campaign! We would be overjoyed to receive a letter or e-mail from you with the following information:

• What heroic deed of service to the Cause will you perform? If your heroic deed is of a private nature, you may describe it in a more general way that conveys the spirit of your efforts without including details.
• Why is this heroic for you?
• What other thoughts or quotes do you have related to heroism?
• Your name, age, address, e-mail, phone number.
• The date by which you expect to complete your heroic deed of service to the Cause.

Those who send in pledge sheets will be contacted some time later to see what was easy or difficult about converting their pledges into action (not to check up on them).

Please send your pledge to the National Youth Committee, c/o Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (e-mail ). ♦ [Page 21]“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” —Bahá’u’lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 14

TRUE WEALTH

What does “universal participation” really mean?

The Universal House of Justice explains that universal participation is: “... the dedicated effort of every believer in teaching, in living the Bahá’í life, in contributing to the Fund, and particularly in the persistent effort to understand more and more the significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation.” (Wellspring of Guidance, p. 38)

Why is universal participation in the Bahá’í Funds important?

Universal participation reminds us that every single one of us has an important role in bringing the healing message of Bahá’u’lláh to the world. Also, when we are unified in supporting the Bahá’í Funds, we will be abundantly blessed! The Universal House of Justice wrote in a message from September 1964, “Every believer can contribute to the Fund. Not all believers can give public talks, not all are called upon to serve on administrative institutions. But all can pray, fight their own spiritual battles, and contribute to the Fund. If every believer will carry out these sacred duties, we shall be astonished at the accession of power which will result to the whole body, and which in its turn will give rise to further growth and the showering of greater blessings on all of us.” (Wellspring of Guidance, p. 38)

In what ways can our unified support of the Bahá’í Funds “illuminate the whole earth?” Also, in what ways could you help the Bahá’í friends remember the importance of universal participation in the Bahá’í Funds? ◆

SOUTHERN YOUTH: GETTING SYSTEMATIC

The Victory Initiative, a first for the Southern Regional Youth Coordinating Team, involved youth from across the Southern States in activity that coupled individual initiative with systematic planning.

The team devised a plan for individual youth and youth groups to act in promoting the harmony of the races. The first component was that all participating youth present the statement The Vision of Race Unity to their principals, chancellors, deans etc., and recite the prayer revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for the Southern States every day of the initiative.

The second was for Bahá’í youth to engage in activities that would promote race unity and a Bahá’í perspective on race relations in any way they felt capable. This was intentionally left with a wide focus so youth could feel free to contribute in a way that matched their particular talents or capacity.

The following is a sample of the activities produced by youth participating in or inspired by the Victory Initiative:

• Cindy and John Santa (Ocala, Florida) hosted a fireside on race unity for youth.
• Roya Shahrokh (Denton, Texas) initiated a monthly dialogue on racism.
• Aaron and David Rhodes (Camp Hill, Alabama) participated in a Bahá’í play on racism.
• Katie Brodie (Hemingway, South Carolina) dedicated a week of her service at WLGI to the promotion of race unity.
• The Bahá’í Association of the University of North Carolina at Asheville held its second annual Rally for Race Unity.
• Dominion Rognstad (North Carolina), age 14, pledged to befriend more African-Americans as well as to say a prayer each day before bed.

GEORGIA: EFFORT FROM THE HEART REWARDED

Members of the Candles of Unity Bahá’í Youth Workshop in Georgia distributed pamphlets to their teachers and friends and encouraged them to attend a community fireside. This Workshop has only eight members. Their heartfelt and sincere response to this initiative was rewarded. Here in their words what happened:

“We had 24 non-Bahá’ís ... Our community has a regular monthly fireside and we are pleased when we have three seekers. This was astounding!” —Candles of Unity Workshop report

“We met early on the 22nd to deepen, say prayers, and to practice. At the appointed time people began to arrive. We had 24 non-Bahá’ís, the eight workshop members, and five adults from the community. Several of the non-Bahá’ís were adults and many were youth. Our community has a regular monthly fireside and we are pleased when we have three seekers. This was astounding!

“After the fireside, one of our members went to the home of two of the students who attended the performance to do homework. That ended up being another fireside. One of them talked seriously about wanting to become a Bahá’í. Her brother is also very interested but still has a few questions. Both are going to be talking to their parents and are going to try to start coming to the Workshop!

“Today one of the members visited to do homework again, and the girl said that this is what she needed right now and that she was going to talk to her mother to get her approval. Needless to say, our efforts to arise have been bountifully blessed. We are going to try to start having regular youth firesides.

“Thank you for asking us to do this. Without that push, we would have waited a good while before starting this regular fireside process.” ◆

See more on the process of developing the capacities of youth in the South: page 15.

Michigan youth put their energy where humanity has a need

For the third year, youth participating in the Ona Koppe Bahá’í School in Washington, Michigan, carried out a Thanksgiving food and clothing drive for families in need. Contributions have grown each year, and in 1998 they helped feed five families in downtown Romeo, Michigan.

Students helped gather cans, boxes, clothes, toys, stuffing and turkeys at their regular meeting for classes the Sunday before the holiday at a Bahá’í family’s home. The youth delivered each family enough food to last them for weeks after Thanksgiving. The children got to pick out toys, and even their pets were supplied with some treats.

“It turned out great this year, and the youth would like to thank everyone that helped out,” reported Adreanna Pankow, one of the participating youth. “They can’t wait for next year to make it even better!” ◆

Youth in Washington, Michigan, display the results of their Thanksgiving food drive.

The National Youth Committee would appreciate receiving copies of ALL BAHÁ’Í YOUTH PUBLICATIONS in the United States at our national office. Please forward a copy to the National Youth Committee, Bahá’í National Center, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201.

[Page 22]

THE PROJECTS

Twenty-one ongoing social and economic development projects were spotlighted in morning sessions during the seminar and conference that allowed everyone to get in the act. Five that operate within the United States are highlighted in this issue.

In each case, the project’s origin, goals, and methodology ‎was were‎ presented. Then listeners broke into small groups for lively discussion of specific aspects of the project.

After those groups reported the sum of their thoughts, a moderated panel of experienced practitioners and members of Bahá’í institutions offered its diverse perspectives.

The result was a wealth of input that organizers and their sponsoring Assemblies can use as their projects evolve.

Projects that operate outside the United States included the University Center for Rural Well-Being and Foundation for the Application and Teaching of Sciences (Colombia); International Cross-Cultural Alcohol Program (Alaska); Universidad Bolivariana (Chile); the Nancy Campbell Collegiate Institute (Canada); Markham Bahá’í Women’s Group “Platform for Action” (Canada); Badí School (Panama); Asociación Nucleo de la Universidad Rural (Costa Rica); Fundación UNIDA (Argentina); Maxwell Community Service Institute (Canada); Beyond Boundaries Foundation Inc. (Ecuador); Bahá’í Community Health Partnership (Guyana); Family Education Project (Bolivia); Anís Zunúzí Bahá’í School (Haiti); and Unidad Educativa Bahá’í Rural Pavon (Ecuador).

Beyond Boundaries, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, caught the eye of Dr. Raymond Rudolph of Savannah, Georgia, at last year’s conference. The breast surgeon had been attending the Orlando conference for years looking for a project for which he could volunteer his efforts.

After hooking up with Jaleh Joubine-Khadem and others representing the fledgling project, he accompanied them this past summer to consult with Ecuadorian Bahá’í institutions and to learn firsthand what people in the largely inaccessible Esmeraldas province, originally settled by shipwrecked Africans, needed in health care. They learned that many health problems exist in the region but that an effort to eradicate tuberculosis would be most beneficial, so that’s where the project is focusing its resources.

In addition to the five U.S. projects, two presentations were made by Ken Bowers, secretary of our National Teaching Committee: “The Dynamics of Migrant Populations” and “Urban Community Development.”

On the former topic, Bowers traced the roots of a fundamental demographic shift that is rapidly altering America’s racial balance; outlined some characteristics of today’s immigrants; noted significant implications for the Bahá’í community; and specified the challenges ahead in serving immigrant populations.

On the latter, he described how urban dwellers have become the majority for the first time in history and what this means for us, the agents of God’s Minor Plan, in terms of opportunities for the growth and development of the Cause of God.

U.S. PROJECT PROFILE: UNION FIDELITY DEVELOPMENT INC. FLORIDA

This new community development corporation, founded on Bahá’í principles and writings, is “the culmination of a dream with roots here at this conference,” explained Russell Ballew, one of the principals.

One community at a time—starting in Belle Glade, Florida—Union Fidelity aims to “promote processes that create individual spiritual, intellectual, and material net worth,” according to its mission statement.

Belle Glade has great wealth created from sugar cane—but concentrated in few hands, with most workers living in “crying poverty,” Ballew said. So Union Fidelity has assembled a team of real estate, design and construction, securities investment and education professionals to help people lift themselves from hopelessness.

A mixed-income subdivision is planned through a collaboration with more than 20 religious institutions in the community. Also envisioned are increased commercial entertainment opportunities and a diversification of employment.

Traditional prejudices of race and religion stand in the way of success, as does the targeted population’s poor credit standing. But Union Fidelity aims to teach residents the skills they need to find better jobs and manage their money more effectively.

U.S. PROJECT PROFILE: HEAVEN ON EARTH ARTS RESOURCE AND TEACHING SERVICE (HEARTS) WASHINGTON

The HEARTS task force began in 1996 with a mission to promote “greater use of the creative arts in the spiritual life and teaching work of the Faith” and to strengthen the “relationship between Bahá’í artists and the communities of the Pacific Northwest.”

HEARTS, based in northwestern Washington state, has published “Heart to Heart,” a booklet of suggestions for integrating the performing arts into Bahá’í functions. It also is developing a directory of artists and communities seeking artists, explained Dr. Leslie Asplund, one of the organizers.

Janice Gaines, another organizer, said the task force has aided preparations for two large events in the past year: an event in Kirkland, Washington, celebrating cultural diversity in the arts and a Race Unity Day event in Bellevue, Washington.

On a national level, HEARTS is working to foster development of the Bahá’í Association for the Advancement of Arts and Media (BAAAM). The nascent organization has created links with several other Bahá’í arts groups and plans to expand membership.

THE PROFESSIONAL TRACKS

Each afternoon—and some evenings—attendees had an additional way to make the seminar and conference interactive, through sessions of nine topical tracks: advanced concepts in development; advancement of women; agriculture, environment and rural development; business; education; health; indigenous peoples; law, justice and human rights; and peoples of African descent and race unity.

The meetings brought experts together with Bahá’ís who labor or have an interest in these fields and those whose development efforts need the assistance of people in particular fields.

The business track, for example, featured sessions in business ethics and human rights; management and leadership; entrepreneurship; and the digital revolution. It also gave interested attendees an opportunity—over pizza dinner—to discuss the future of the Bahá’í Business Forum for the Americas, a year-old group sponsored by Mottahedeh Development Services, the social and economic development arm of our National Spiritual Assembly.

Many such networking huddles took place over the course of the week. One even reached out beyond the conference, when a session of the agriculture, environment and rural development track was “broadcast” over the Internet.

Making development a part of Bahá’í community life

Local communities wishing to create social and economic development projects of their own have a resource for getting consultation started: a 10-step plan.

These steps evolved from an action plan developed at the 1997 SED conference in Orlando, under the umbrella of Mottahedeh Development Services, the development arm of the National Spiritual Assembly. Here are the 10 steps, with the proviso that not all steps pertain to every community and they don’t have to be taken strictly in this order:

1. Develop a vision of a pattern of Bahá’í community life. 2. Identify and prioritize issues (inside and/or outside the Bahá’í community). 3. Assess local resources. 4. Identify issues and champions (who can commit energy to sustain efforts). 5. Identify spiritual principles. 6. Assess lessons learned (from past Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í efforts). 7. Agree on an approach. 8. Set goals. 9. Design the project and implement it. 10. Evaluate and improve (after it has operated for a reasonable time).

DEVELOPMENT, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Many conference-goers, it can be assumed, previously thought social and economic development is something others do elsewhere—usually in the Third World. But they left Orlando possessing real tools with which they can consult in their communities on how to identify and help meet the needs of local Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís alike.

The words of keynote speaker Pierre J. Beemans of Canada also rang in their ears as they caught flights back to cooler climes. The development worker and devout Roman Catholic told the assemblage his longtime association with Bahá’ís in the field and his experience participating in this conference led him to conclude that adherents of the Faith “have a special vocation from God to work with others”—organizations, governments, and people of other religions—who are “waiting for something to bring them together.”

Even as twin dramas played out in the political world that week—air strikes on military targets in and around Baghdad, Iraq, and the vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach President Bill Clinton—seminar and conference participants kept their focus on building the new world.

Rolling up their sleeves, they studied and consulted on a range of ongoing projects; discussed ways to foster progress in nine professional fields; absorbed learned analyses of their emerging role in God’s Plan; and were inspired by performances covering a broad range of artistic expression.

Simultaneously, a program for children and youth ‎afford afforded‎ tomorrow’s social and economic development pioneers an opportunity to consider the same issues and to interact with speakers and artists from the adult program. [Page 23]U.S. PROJECT PROFILE: INTERCOMMUNITY SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, GREATER VIENNA/GREAT FALLS/MCLEAN, VIRGINIA

Early in 1997 seven Bahá’ís from three communities in northern Virginia were among 40 people trained as social and economic development facilitators by Mottahedeh Development Services, an agency of the National Spiritual Assembly.

After the three-day institute, the seven believers discussed carrying out an intercommunity project. Over the next few months their Assemblies consulted and deepened, then conducted a unity feast in which members of the three communities brainstormed on an issue to address. A secret ballot revealed the primary need to be nurturing the development of Bahá’í children.

A task force appointed to plan the project conducted focus group sessions with area Bahá’ís and presented its findings at a second unity feast. Further brainstorming focused the task force’s energies on creating a support group for single parents. Sessions of that group began in October and are ongoing, with participation from throughout the electoral unit.

Susie Clay and Janice Sadeghian, in presenting the project, said challenges have included: a complex relationship among three Assemblies, task force members’ time constraints, impatience of individual Bahá’ís with the process, communication conflicts between sexes and cultures, and how to build a distinctly Bahá’í endeavor that’s consistent with recognized scientific practice.

They said the project has successfully kept its focus local and nurtured “champions” within the community even as it has reached outside for assistance when needed.

U.S. PROJECT PROFILE: CORINNE TRUE JUSTICE CENTER, COLORADO/CALIFORNIA

This joint project of the Bahá’í Justice Society and the Denver Spiritual Assembly is the first of several community-based conflict resolution centers—Los Angeles is next—planned by the Justice Society, an agency of the National Spiritual Assembly.

The True Center, according to Steven Gonzales of the Phoenix, Arizona area, sees its role as spurring the revitalization of community life and laying a foundation for movement toward justice. It was incorporated in 1996 as a nonprofit entity and is based at the Denver Bahá’í Center.

Current activities include sponsoring conflict resolution training programs, conflict resolution services and peace study activities. True Center mediators have become involved as well in the “restorative justice” movement as volunteers for the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program of Denver.

Mediation, Gonzales said, is a natural arena for Bahá’ís because it is very much like consultation and creates opportunities to teach a receptive population of people who practice and support conflict resolution.

He said that as the True Center grows, its biggest challenge will be in increasing awareness by Bahá’ís of mediation’s potential within the community and as a field of social and economic development. To that end, the Center has trained 60 certified mediators and has begun advising Spiritual Assemblies on how to deal with difficult personal and legal issues.

U.S. PROJECT PROFILE: FAMILY UNITY INSTITUTE, GEORGIA

This venerable project has been around all of four years. Sponsored by Mottahedeh Development Services, it occupies part of the Bahá’í Unity Center in south DeKalb County, Georgia, and provides a channel for area Bahá’ís to broaden their community life.

Such programs as after-school tutoring, English-as-second-language classes, the Dawnbreakers Toastmasters Club, parenting instruction, a refugee women’s health initiative and music lessons benefit the primarily African-American community and nearby Asian and Hispanic immigrants.

The Star Program, which provides tutoring and a safe sports program for boys and girls, is a key activity. Nearly 50 youngsters are tutored Monday through Thursday afternoons by college students, then Friday they can play basketball. The public schools have fully bought into the program: Each child’s teacher signs off on the student’s homework plan.

The Toastmasters club, the institute’s first ongoing project, was chartered by several Bahá’ís. But by now, non-Bahá’ís far outnumber the friends and the club is No. 1 in Georgia.

Larry and Carole Miller and Charles Muhammad, who presented the project, noted that the capacities of individuals—new believers are some of the most active—and institutions have been built over time, with seed money garnered from agencies thrilled to see these services being provided. The effort has reinforced the teaching work and given the Faith great visibility in the community.

They said lessons learned include: the need to value different kinds of abilities; the benefit of input from the divine institutions; and the willingness of Bahá’í community members to “invest where the work gets done” so the Faith can move to a new level.

THE SPEAKERS

This year’s seminar and conference were short on plenaries and long on hands-on sessions, but some speakers were scheduled to help focus attendees’ thoughts on the Bahá’í principles involved in social and economic development and the progress being made in efforts aligned with those principles.

Talks included the keynote speech on “The Spiritual Dimensions of Development” by Mr. Beemans, vice president of corporate services for the International Development Research Center; “Why Social and Economic Development Is Everybody’s Business” by Dr. David S. Ruhe, former member of the Universal House of Justice; “Covenant-Centered Development: Heartbeat of Social and Economic Change” by Counselor Eloy Anello of Bolivia; “Instilling Bahá’í Development Concepts in Like-Minded Organizations” by William E. Davis, treasurer of our National Assembly; “Sharing Knowledge Across Cultures” by Glen A. Eyford, a member of Canadian Bahá’í International Development Services and the Canadian National Assembly; “Huqúqu’lláh and Social and Economic Development” by Vahid Hedayati; “Meeting Our Challenge at the Grassroots” by Hassan Abdel Fattah Sabri, former staff head at the Bahá’í World Center Office of Social and Economic Development; “Building Integrated Communities—Theoretical and Practical” by Dr. Elizabeth L. Bowen; and “Public Information and Social and Economic Development” by Bradley P. Pokorny, editor of One Country, the newsletter of the Bahá’í International Community.

In an emotional wrapup to the conference, Mr. Anello reflected on the nearly 30 years since he arrived in Bolivia as a pioneer after training in public health. The helplessness he felt in the face of the people’s overwhelming material poverty gradually gave way to hope, he said, as he was able to tap into the people’s spiritual wealth by applying the Bahá’í principles to their needs.

He likened Universidad Núr, which he helped found, to the biblical David’s sling and encouraged everyone participating in the Orlando seminar and conference to develop their own sling—in terms of experience and insights—with which to fell humanity’s problems.

THE PERFORMANCES

The arts contributed to the proceedings not as filler or entertainment but as an integral partner with the spoken word in cementing bonds across cultures and fostering the seminar and conference’s vision.

From the Inuit chanting and drumming of Greenland native Anaangaq Lyberth to dramatic readings by Canadian stage and screen actor Sandy Webster, performances connected hearts and minds.

Joining in the Jack Lenz-coordinated program were ever-popular children’s singer Red Grammer; the gospel-singing Gilmer family (Van, Cookie, Sean, and Kim); operatic vocalist Roya Bauman; Spanish singers and dancers; and the Maxwell International Bahá’í School Dance Workshop.

The Maxwell contingent, augmented by singer Lucy Shropshire and choreographer Laura Lee, opened the conference in eye-tearing fashion. Clad in native dress and bearing the flags of 44 nations and the United Nations, Maxwell staff and students paraded into the hall to a standing ovation. After the flags were posted, workshop members performed dances from many cultures to the hand-clapping, foot-stomping delight of everyone.

The performance was at once a glorious symbol of the Faith’s global reach and a sobering reminder of our responsibility to apply the Divine Physician’s remedy to a sick society. As were the seminar and conference as a whole. Fortunately, participants are that much better prepared after Orlando to execute that role.

A colorful Parade of Nations at the Development Conference, performed by students from Maxwell International Bahá’í School in Canada, culminated in a series of cultural dances including this one in the Japanese style.

Photo by Tom Mennillo [Page 24]

Cedar Rapids celebrates 60th with its trailblazing teacher

Iowa community uses occasion to spread the word further

BY BRUCE KOERBER

The traveling teacher who opened up Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to the Bahá’í Faith returned last fall to help the community celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Gayle Woolson, now of Evanston, Illinois, ventured to Cedar Rapids in 1938 in response to the national teaching plan based on the Tablets of the Divine Plan. She found numerous interested people; one, Marie Beals, accepted Bahá’u’lláh immediately.

Four years later, with the help of Marvin Newport and Ruth Moffett, there was entry by troops in Cedar Rapids as a group of 13 became Bahá’ís. At Ridván 1943, the city formed the first Local Spiritual Assembly in Iowa.

Woolson’s service, meanwhile, took her to Latin America, where she served from 1940 to 1970 in various capacities: member of several National Spiritual Assemblies, an Auxiliary Board member, and Knight of Bahá’u’lláh for the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador.

When Woolson arrived in Cedar Rapids for the anniversary celebration, Bahá’ís greeted her at the bus station and showered her with hospitality.

The next morning began a hectic schedule of media interviews, a Masonic High Twelve luncheon, a Coe College Religion Club address and a fund-raising dinner.

Succeeding days found her lecturing at the library, speaking at a fireside, saying prayers at the gravesite of Mrs. Beals, teaching children her technique for public speaking, and delivering a Spanish-language fireside at a local college.

All events were attended by Bahá’ís and people interested in the Faith. In her contacts, it was astonishing how often people mentioned they had visited the Bahá’í House of Worship.

Befittingly, as Gayle waited for her bus she continued to share the Faith, and again the House of Worship was a focal point of discussion. ♦

Children from Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls, Iowa, focus on Gayle Woolson as she demonstrates her technique for helping children memorize speeches. She was inspired to do this by the instruction of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “Encourage ye the school children, from their earliest years, to deliver speeches of high quality. ...”

Kingfisher’s Wing tour brings stimulus for teaching, community organization

Bahá’ís in three cities who recently hosted performances of The Kingfisher’s Wing have shared how their efforts brought the friends together, helped Spiritual Assemblies mature, and stimulated teaching.

Based on the story of Badí’, a young man who was martyred in service to Bahá’u’lláh, the play is developed and performed by Bill George and Styve Homnick.

BOULDER, COLORADO

An audience of 75 at the Boulder Public Library auditorium received the play enthusiastically.

At least two couples unfamiliar with the Faith attended because of newspaper announcements, and Bahá’ís attended from as far away as Fort Collins (a 75-minute drive) and Arvada.

One man who had grown up a Bahá’í said he had never cried about the story of Badí’ as he did during this performance.

A committee to plan the event was formed in early summer. Seven area newspapers were informed of the play and of the situation in Iran, as the performance was dedicated to Bahá’ís undergoing persecution.

Graphic design services for posters and programs were donated by a friend of a Bahá’í. The sister of a Bahá’í in India donated a portrait of Badí’, making it an international effort.

The small Boulder community called upon surrounding communities for help with finances, hospitality and a reception after the ‎perfomance performance‎.

Though tickets were sold at $10 each, the communities had to underwrite considerable cost to support the performers, rent the auditorium and professionally produce the programs and posters.

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI

A performance here provided a focus for two Bahá’í communities to work and teach together.

Local Bahá’ís said the event also gave everyone something to anticipate, a sense of uplift, and a better appreciation of what it may have been like for the early Bahá’ís.

DURANGO, COLORADO

Arranging the local performance of The Kingfisher’s Wing helped the community deepen and nurture a growing band of active seekers.

“What a joy and bounty it was to be able to take them to this marvelous enactment of so significant an event in Bahá’í history as the story of Badí’,” said local Bahá’í Oraea Varis.

“I could also see how the Bahá’í community at large was being assisted and educated as to how to make use of performing arts to benefit teaching and deepening efforts,” she said. “We certainly learned something about the possibilities of the use of the arts in the Faith.”

Varis said George and Homnick have acknowledged the risks of producing a religious play whose success relies on the efforts of often-struggling Bahá’í communities.

“Still, they were able to stay true to artistic excellence and appeal to a general audience. And, certainly, the bounties they and the Bahá’í communities have realized have outweighed these challenges,” she said. ♦

“[T]he Bahá’í community at large was being assisted and educated as to how to make use of the performing arts to benefit teaching and deepening efforts.”

—Oraea Varis, Durango, Colorado

Pittsburgh Bahá’ís have visible presence for Dalai Lama’s visit

The Bahá’ís of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and five other communities sponsored a table on the Faith at a recent visit to the area by the Dalai Lama.

As nearly 2,000 people entered through the tight security at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall near the University of Pittsburgh for the Tibetan Buddhist leader’s public talk, they encountered the Bahá’í information table.

All eyes immediately went to a large watercolor painting by local artist Barbara Curry that depicted a highly stylized fruit tree and featured a quotation from Bahá’u’lláh: “Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch.”

Many attendees stopped to talk and to pick up copies of the brochures “Nine Things You Know When You Are a Bahá’í” and “Bahá’u’lláh: God’s Messenger to Humanity,” along with an information sheet—taken from the National Spiritual Assembly’s public Web site—on the recent closing of the Bahá’í Institute of Higher Education in Iran.

The Dalai Lama’s visit clearly provided an opportunity to reach people who came with already open minds and open hearts to hear a message of hope for the future. The experience also made clear to Bahá’ís the work ahead for them.

“Responding to questions about where local Bahá’ís meet and whether or not there is a Bahá’í ‘church’ in Pittsburgh made me realize that we must prepare now in order for our communities to grow and to provide adequate consolidation of new believers into new teachers of the Faith who will, in turn, help to shoulder the responsibilities of the community’s growth,” said Curry, organizer of the display. ♦ [Page 25]

Indigenous destined for special bounty

The National American Indian Teaching Committee plans to publish articles regularly in The American Bahá’í. This first is from one of 15 regional task forces under the committee's direction.

WHY THE INDIAN?

"Attach great importance to the indigenous population..." the beloved Master told America, because when they follow the way of God these peoples "will become so illumined as to enlighten the whole world."

But the spiritual tradition of the Indian is old beyond history. Isn't the Bahá’í Faith the "Faith for today"? Why this glorious destiny for the Indian?

Some light is shed by a special letter to the Indian and Eskimo Bahá’ís of the American continent from the Hand of the Cause of God Rúhíyyih Khánum: "The red men have been singled out for a special promise by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, a promise that is in many ways unique, a deep promise the words of which you can never ponder upon sufficiently and which I believe you should commit to memory. You are, many of you I know, faced by heavy problems, injustice, poverty, lack of education. If you could see with the eye of the spirit you would see that this promise of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is like a rope put in the hand of a man who has fallen in deep water and cannot swim. If you hold to this promise it will pull you, perhaps not you yourself at once, but slowly and surely your children and grandchildren out of the water to safety and is this not better than just saving yourself alone?"

In these few words the Faith reveals the promises and the rewards to a people who are trying not only to salvage lands for their children but to regain a sincere spirituality that has been hidden for many years.

With the Four Year Plan to guide us, we must first educate ourselves in the ways of the Indigenous in order to integrate the ways of Bahá’u’lláh into their lives. When we reach this goal we will witness the brightest beacon ever seen guiding us to an incomprehensible Peace.

Study, pray and walk in balance.

—Submitted by Carlos M. Velazquez, Otomi Nation, Region 8 Indian Task Force (North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee) ✶

TEACHING SKILLS 10: DEEPENING A NEW BELIEVER'S KNOWLEDGE

Last in a series.

After a person declares belief in Bahá’u’lláh, the most vital part of teaching begins. The Universal House of Justice has written, "Deepening the knowledge of the new believer in the verities of the Faith is the most vital part of teaching...." (Promoting Entry By Troops #49) How do we effectively deepen new believers?

We read that "true consolidation is to ensure that the love of Bahá’u’lláh and devotion to His Faith are firmly rooted in the hearts of the believers; this is the essential foundation for the subsequent addition of increased knowledge of the Teachings and the development of the Bahá’í way of life." (Lights of Guidance, p. 593)

How should consolidation be carried out? Consolidation must be "prompt, thorough and continuing." (Promoting Entry By Troops #32)

New believers may be deepened through study and training classes. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote, "Amongst other things is the holding of the meetings for teaching so that blessed souls and the old ones from amongst the believers may gather together the youths of the love of God in schools of instruction and teach them all the divine proofs and irrefragable arguments, explain and elucidate the history of the Cause, and interpret also the prophecies and proofs which are recorded and are extant in the divine books and epistles regarding the manifestation of the Promised One, so that the young ones may go in perfect knowledge in all these degrees." (Tablets of the Divine Plan, p. 54)

The new believer should be encouraged to regularly and systematically read the Sacred Writings of the Faith. The Guardian, writing through his secretary, advised a believer on the importance and manner of deepening: "Shoghi Effendi hopes that you will exert all your efforts to deepen your knowledge of the literature of the Movement, until you become fully acquainted with its spirit and tenets. Unless you do obtain such a firm hold you will never be able to teach others and render real service to the promulgation of the Faith." (Deepening #102)

How specifically can we encourage the deepening of new believers? We may want to think about the following questions:

• What Bahá’í books can we suggest that the new believer study on his own?
• What aspects of the Faith are particularly important for the consolidation of new believers, and of this believer in particular?
• Would we be willing to meet regularly (e.g. once a week) with the new believer to study the Teachings together?
• Would we be willing to take the new believer to new believers' classes in our community or in nearby communities?
• Would we be willing to take the new believer to training institute courses?

Adapted from Raising the Call: The Individual and Effective Teaching (Palabra Publications, 1998). Used by permission of the author. ♦

Results from a fair in Washington

Norm and Nancy Larson help staff the Bahá’í booth at the 10-day Central Washington State Fair in Yakima during October. Four visitors to the booth asked how they could become Bahá’ís, and 20 others filled out interest cards requesting information on the Faith. The booth distributed more than 1,600 race unity posters, hundreds of pamphlets in English and Spanish and 2,000 children's coloring pages on the booth's theme "We R 1 Family." About 170 people entered a drawing for a Bahá’í T-shirt. Photo courtesy of Randie Gottlieb, Yakima, WA

‘Well-wishers of the Chinese people’

The Universal House of Justice tells us that reaching the Chinese is "one of the highest priorities." Thousands of Chinese students and scholars are living in the United States, sincere people of capacity who welcome genuine friendship and who are interested in new ideas. Their stay in the United States is often temporary, as is our opportunity to befriend them.

The Universal House of Justice advises us: "First, Bahá’ís are sincere well-wishers of the Chinese people, interested in contributing to the advancement of their culture and the progress of their country. We are interested in helping the Chinese people apply the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh to their own reality in order to solve important social issues." "[W]e should use this current opportunity to offer sincere friendship and hospitality to these Chinese visitors and to acquaint them with the progressive teachings of Bahá’u’lláh so as to foster in them a positive view of the Faith." (from letters dated Jan. 20, 1994 and April 19, 1989)

‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, "The Bahá’í teacher of the Chinese people must first be imbued with their spirit, know their sacred literature, study their national customs and speak to them from their own standpoint and their own terminologies." (Star of the West, Vol. VIII, p.37)

We do not have to be or to speak Chinese to befriend the Chinese. But how do we acquire these qualities identified by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá? The Chinese Teaching Task Force recommends that we learn from our Chinese friends!

One way to establish friendships with Chinese students is by becoming a Host Family. International students are away from their families, and like to have "family," especially an extended family or one with children, and even more so on holidays when other students go home.

What you can do:

• Contact the international student office of a local college or university.
• Offer to host a Chinese student. Then invite him or her to a home for dinner, showing them genuine Bahá’í hospitality and love.

We do well to remember ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's words: "Help to make them feel at home; find out where they are staying, ask if you may render them any service; try to make their lives a little happier." (Paris Talks, p.15). With trustworthiness and a little time, we will make lifetime friends.

With this simple, sincere and consistent beginning, we may create a network of friendship with many Chinese individuals and families that will enrich all our lives. Once we are aware of our new friends' concerns and interests, we may organize discussion groups or seminars on topics of interest, find ways to be of service to the Chinese community and, for those with genuine interest in the Writings of our Faith, invite them to join our study groups and teaching institutes, as well as other avenues of service and participation in Bahá’í community life.

"The East and the West must unite to give to each other what is lacking. This union will bring about a true civilization, where the spiritual is expressed and carried out in the material. Receiving thus the one from the other the greatest harmony will prevail, all people will be united, a state of great perfection will be attained, there will be a firm cementing, and this world will become a shining mirror for the reflection of the attributes of God." (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, pp. 21-22) [Page 26]

INTERNATIONAL BAHÁ’Í YOUTH SERVICE CORPS OPPORTUNITIES

he enthusiastic services of Bahá’í youth are needed all over the United States and the world. Through the hands-on pioneering experience in another culture, you can learn:

• How to reach new kinds of people with the message of Bahá’u’lláh.
• How to help them deepen their knowledge of the Faith and become its active supporters.
• How to teach children and youth or assist the administrative work of Bahá’í Institutions.
• About social and economic development projects.
• About proclaiming the Faith through the arts.
• About mobilizing the youth of a region or even a country.
• About sharing the teachings for which they thirst with fellow students and professors while studying overseas.
• Many more vital skills.

In a document compiled by the Bahá’í World Center, 79 countries list specific needs and opportunities for youth pioneers, including many excellent college study options. National Spiritual Assemblies and other institutions also continually write to our national community to advise of service opportunities, which serve as further examples of their diversity.

Due to space limitations, the following needs are summarized only from letters received from Bahá’í institutions overseas. More complete information is available through the Office of Pioneering or your Auxiliary Board member. (Primary languages in parentheses)

IF YOU CAN ARISE to meet one of these or other critical international needs, please contact your Local Spiritual Assembly for initial consultation and to receive a copy of the Pioneer/Bahá’í Youth Service Corps volunteer form. As you work toward your goal, the Office of Pioneering will also work closely with you. Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, e-mail )

AFRICA

Botswana (Tswana, English): John Robarts Long-Term Teaching Project and other projects. Detailed information available. Cameroon (French): Youth service organizer to help mobilize youth and further organize the youth service program. Ethiopia (‎Ahmaric Amharic‎, Italian, Arabic, English): Youth with office experience to assist the national Secretariat. Gambia (English): Assist the National Youth Committee and other national committees, as well as the national office, with their work throughout the country. Help the Permanent Institute, urban pre-school, or Rural Education Center. Madagascar (French): Long-term teaching project needs help in teaching and consolidation in rural villages, training children’s class teachers, social and economic development projects, editing the national bulletin. Tanzania (English, Swahili): Assist the Local Teaching and Training Nucleus in Dar es Salaam. Senegal (French): Olinga Teaching Project near Dakar needs French-speaking youth to help with teaching, children’s classes, activities for women and for youth. Abilities in drama welcome. South Africa (Afrikaans, Tswana, Xhosa, English): Check the New Web site listing youth service opportunities (www.icon.co.za/~mojdeh/service.htm). Zimbabwe (English): Help with the development of the permanent deepening institute and teaching the Faith in secondary schools.

AMERICAS

Alaska (English, indigenous languages): Several teaching projects plus summer Alcan youth institute programs. Belize (English, Spanish, indigenous languages): Caretaker of Bahá’í center and visitor’s center host needed. Bermuda (English): Youth needed to help with performing arts workshops. Bolivia (Spanish): Variety of opportunities from teaching projects in warm Santa Cruz to work with Radio Bahá’í or social and economic development projects in the cool highlands. Help with Youth Workshop development needed. Brazil (Portuguese): The School of the Nations needs volunteers to serve at the school, work with the Bahá’í community and assist with community development in the Brasilia-area favelas. Canada (English): The Maxwell International Bahá’í School has ongoing needs for volunteers in areas such as administrative, finance and personnel, gardening, student services, academic and facilities services. Chile (Spanish): Volunteers needed at Colegio Núr in Santiago to help with administrative and teaching work for six months to a year. Colombia (Spanish): Seven-week “year of service deepening course,” offering ideal preparation for Latin American service posts, offered twice per year at Ruhi Institute. Costa Rica (Spanish): Active Dance Workshop in San José open to more volunteers. Ecuador (Spanish): Project Badasht, teaching through planned Bahá’í activities in rural communities with full logistical and training support of the national and regional teaching committees. Many youth participants. El Salvador (Spanish): Variety of needs for volunteers at the Jamálíyyih Bahá’í Institute, New Garden Bahá’í Institute, Badasht Institute and Ridván School, as well as supporting other local youth efforts. Guadeloupe (French): Help with national office administration and the development of the training institute. Guatemala (Spanish): Rúhíyyih teaching project in Petén, located in the tropical rain forest and Mayan ruins area, needs youth to help with direct teaching, community development, children’s classes, deepening and training believers. Haiti (French): Serve at the Anís Zunúzí school teaching English, oral French, arts and crafts and other subjects. Jamaica (English): Helping youth workshops, teaching in rural areas, helping with the radio show and/or a television conference, with institutes and other training programs, teaching children’s classes, or administrative work at the National Center. Mexico (Spanish): The Furutan Project focuses on promoting the Cause among students and faculty of universities, the Edna Ford Continuous Teaching Campaign in Juárez on carrying the Message of Bahá’u’lláh to the Tarahumara Indians. Panama (Spanish): Project Muhájir, working to establish a model community to accelerate the process of entry by troops in an area of Panama City via teaching, children and youth classes and public school presentations. Venezuela (Spanish): Three “entry by troops projects” and an ongoing year of service program supported by local youth, incorporating proclamation, teaching, consolidation, theater, music and other aspects. Need six to 10 youth at a time for at least six months’ service. Knowledge of Spanish a must. Low living costs.

ASIA

Cambodia (Khmer, English, French): Coordinate movement of traveling teachers within Cambodia. Kazakhstan (Kazakh, Russian): Help the 200-plus Bahá’í youth of Kazakhstan develop Youth Workshops. Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz, Russian): Open new areas of the country to the Faith and work towards their development. Macau (Cantonese, Mandarin, English, Portuguese): Variety of ongoing opportunities at the increasingly renowned School of the Nations, as well as office administrative assistant needs. Thailand (Thai, English): The Santitham School, a social and economic development project of the National Spiritual Assembly of Thailand, needs dedicated volunteers for periods of at least six months. Other urgent needs in Asia: Contact the Office of Pioneering as soon as possible.

AUSTRALASIA

Cook Islands (Cook Island Maori, English): Visiting youth performance groups needed to help local youth reach a wider audience through drama, dance and music. Eastern Caroline Islands (Carolinian, English, Japanese): Youth teaching, development and consolidation work. Kiribati (Gilbertese): The Ootan Marawa Bahá’í School needs mature youth to serve as teacher aides, helping the school’s 30 students to learn English, and to help with various school-related social and economic development projects. Mariana Islands (Chamorro, Carolinian, English): The Marianas Bahá’í School on Guam offers service opportunities for one or two youth as teachers’ aides in the non-profit school guided by the National Spiritual Assembly. Marshall Islands (Marshallese, English): Teaching, development and consolidation work, continuance of dance/drama workshops. Samoa (Samoan, English): Guide at the temple, work with children at the Montessori Bahá’í School near the temple, help organize displays and Bahá’í literature at book sales, teach and deepen new believers, teach children’s classes, learn new songs with youth and other friends, and more. Solomon Islands (Pidgin, English): Drama, music and dance abilities needed for development of youth in villages. Tonga (Tongan, English): Youth to assist with development of existing youth workshop. Tuvalu (Tuvaluan, English): Encourage local youth and assist development of children’s classes. Vanuatu (French): Drama, music and dance abilities needed for development of youth in villages.

EUROPE

Europewide: European Bahá’í Youth Council project encouraging youth to serve in small teaching groups in European countries. Baltic States (Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, Russian): Muhájir Mass-teaching Project July-September. Belarus (Belorussian, Russian): Youth to serve at the National Office, preferably with computer skills, to staff Bahá’í centers and carry out teaching work, with option to study Russian simultaneously. Art and music especially effective in the teaching work. Belgium (French, Dutch): Two to three youth to serve half time in the national Secretariat and half in the Youth Secretariat. Bulgaria (Bulgarian): Dynamic youth to lend assistance to the work of the National Youth Committee and other work. France (French): Periodic needs for volunteers at the Office of Public Information of the Bahá’í International Community in Paris. Iceland (Icelandic, English): Urgent need for experienced Bahá’í Youth Workshop member with artistic and organizational ability. Lithuania (Lithuanian): Study engineering or medicine in English at Kaunas Medical Academy for an annual tuition equivalent to US$3,000! Malta (Maltese, English, Italian): Urgent need for youth to join teaching project aiming to establish the first National Spiritual Assembly of Malta by End Four Year Plan. Poland (Polish, some German): Dance workshop facilitator/coordinator, national office worker, community builder, carpenter needed. Switzerland (French, German): Periodic needs for volunteers at the office of the Bahá’í International Community and at the Bahá’í National Center in Geneva, as well as to live in goal towns near Zurich and Lausanne. ♦ [Page 27]

OVERVIEW OF THE NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

Adapted from a report to the Regional Bahá’í Councils submitted by the National Teaching Committee

In the Riḍván 153 message, the Universal House of Justice presents us with two challenges: the first, “to mount a campaign of teaching in which the broad membership of our community is enthusiastically, systematically and personally engaged, and in which the activation of an extensive training program will ensure the development of a mass of human resources”; the second, “to complete the construction projects on Mount Carmel....”

The National Teaching Plan encompasses activities at the national, regional and local levels. They are interlocking and mutually reinforcing. Together they provide a means for stimulating the energies of the friends in their individual and collective efforts, while also uniting them into a single, effective campaign of action.

• Nearly 80% of local community activity is in direct support of the campaign.
• The community as a whole is highly active and committed to teaching.

In sum, we have vast potential for growth based upon our own level of teaching activity and our increasing capacity to attract people to the Faith.

Advancing the Process OF ENTRY BY TROOPS

• FIRESIDES
• DEVOTIONAL GATHERINGS
• MEDIA
• VIDEO
• CHILDREN & YOUTH ACTIVITIES
• 800 NUMBER
• WEB SITES
• SERVICE PROJECTS
• NEIGHBORHOOD TEACHING
• VARIED PROCLAMATION LITERATURE DEVELOPMENT
• REGIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTES

EARLY RESULTS

• We have begun to reach beyond our traditional teaching methods.
• Community life is becoming more open and “seeker-friendly.”
• The people responding to our new outreach efforts not only define themselves as seekers, but also share many of the same characteristics of our present membership.

BASIC STRATEGIES OF THE NATIONAL PLAN

National-level activities include:

• Development of new materials for media.
• Ongoing research and testing with audiences.
• Capture and distribution of seeker information.
• Monitoring activities and developments within the Bahá’í community.
• Provision of strategic advice to various institutions, and communication of important news to the community.
• Development of training programs for specific needs, such as public information, Core Curriculum, etc.

Regional plans were described by the Universal House of Justice as comprising these strategies:

• Development of human resources.
• Promotion of individual teaching.
• Launching of campaigns of various kinds.
• Strengthening of local communities, Assemblies in particular.
• Establishment of local and regional projects.
• Assisting with traveling teachers and homefront pioneers.
• Distribution of literature and audio-visual materials.
• Holding of conferences.

We hope such activities will be tailored to directly support the national themes and media campaign. For example, Regional Bahá’í Councils can be quite helpful in encouraging local usage of the 800 number, monitoring local follow-up with seekers, increasing attention to relevant themes such as race unity and equality of women and men, and development of training programs that address relevant skills.

Local activities: Sustained patterns of local action, fostered by activities at the national and regional levels, should feature:

• Local use of media materials and other teaching and proclamation tools.
• A wide array of teaching activities such as firesides, public talks, campus activities etc.
• Regular devotional gatherings.
• Training and deepening.
• Effective functioning of Spiritual Assemblies.
• Increasing individual participation in community life and teaching.
• A broad foundation of community life, including Nineteen Day Feasts, social functions, youth and children’s programs, service projects, use of the arts etc.; adapted in each community according to local resources.

WHY USE MEDIA AS PART OF THE NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN?

The real value of the media efforts is to increase opportunities for individual teaching:

• We create awareness of the Faith.
• We give seekers easy access to us. How is this different than in the past?
• We use research to find people who are most likely to be interested in the Faith.
• We develop our message for each specific audience.
• We respond to seekers’ needs.
• We measure our success by how many people respond to our message. ♦

GROWING ROLE OF MEDIA

A few results from the National Teaching Committee Office’s survey conducted through our national public Web site (www.us.bahai.org). 534 people took the survey by December; 281 were not Bahá’ís.

• 47% of respondents who are not Bahá’ís say they first heard of the Faith through some form of media, as compared with 5% of the general Bahá’í community.
• 41% of the non-Bahá’ís say they had known of the Faith for one month or less, and 53% for six months or less.
• By contrast: Only 4% of the general Bahá’í population first heard of the Faith through the media.

UPCOMING MEDIA-RELATED ACTIVITIES

• Three new broadcast-quality video programs available by spring 1999
• New series of 30-, 60- and 120-second commercials

IN DEVELOPMENT:

• New video programs addressing different themes, including:
  • Program addressing indigenous peoples.
  • Introductory video in Spanish.
• Complementary training and dialogue materials for each new theme.
• Better seeker follow-up programs.
• The Office of Public Information is developing a plan to target the mainstream media by presenting newsworthy items for press coverage.
• Adapting current materials as interactive educational tools for the Internet. In the not-too-distant future we would like to have courses on the Faith, and on specific aspects of the Faith, available in this format to seekers and other interested people.
• The Bahá’í Publishing Trust is developing its plan for getting Bahá’í literature into the retail book trade.
• We are also working with the Regional Bahá’í Councils to develop test projects in specific areas, where media experiments will be done in conjunction with organized teaching campaigns.

The National Teaching Committee plans further surveys of the Bahá’í community. Issues include:

Interracial contacts and friendships Factors affecting fund contributions Individual involvement and satisfaction with Bahá’í community life

Issues related to the advancement of women Volunteering and activism Minority participation in community life Religious practices (prayer, deepening, etc.)

[Page 28]

THE RESEARCH BEHIND THE VIDEOS

The National Teaching Committee is sharing with the friends this research report with recommendations concerning Bahá’í-oriented programs made for national television. Independent researcher Eugene Telser based this report on focus group studies conducted since 1996. Members of the various groups were asked specific questions about their reactions to unfinished or finished versions of video programs developed for the national media, including The Power of Race Unity and The Power of Prayer as well as a series of 30-second ads. Many of Telser’s recommendations have been relayed to the friends through The American Bahá’í the past few months, as he has given preliminary reports to the Teaching Committee. A few of the main points are: Television can acquaint more people with the Bahá’í Faith more quickly, compared with the traditional person-to-person approach. The main purposes are to develop a positive public image of the Faith and get some people interested in finding out more—not to invite people to convert immediately. Spiritual seekers are only a small percentage of TV viewers. Video programs must communicate the fact that the Bahá’í Faith is a legitimate religion, and primarily express the spiritual character, joy and interaction of Bahá’ís and our communities. Similarities, rather than differences, and involvement with the mainstream of American life should be emphasized. We must not make people believe we think ourselves special or superior. If a production focuses on a particular subject—for example, race unity or gender equality—consider choosing stations that are highly watched by people likely to be interested in that subject. While spiritual seekers in this country tend to be mostly college-educated, mostly women and mostly Baby Boomers—and while youth also have shown positive response to videos broadcast so far—we should continue to look for ways to present the Bahá’í Message in a way that appeals to other groups.

SUMMARY AND OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH ABOUT PROPOSED VIDEO PRESENTATIONS OF THE BAHÁ’Í FAITH PREPARED FOR THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ‎BAHÁ’Í BAHÁ’ÍS‎ OF THE UNITED STATES BY EUGENE TELSER, AMERICOM RESEARCH, AND THE NATIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE DECEMBER 11, 1998

In this summary and overview we will attempt to synthesize the ideas developed in the series of five focus groups designed to assist the Bahá’í Faith in its development of video materials to be shown primarily on television. The videos have as their primary goal getting the attention of selected sectors of the general public, the “boomer” generation in particular. This accomplished, the next task is to provide the achieved audience with information about the tenets, principles and beliefs of the Faith. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to recruit people into the Faith.

The “boomer” cohort, according to published research, appears to include a significant body of so-called “seekers,” those who are looking for sources of spirituality and belonging. The demographic characteristics of this group are similar to those of recent enrollees in the Bahá’í Faith.

The focus group research began with video materials produced in early 1996. These dealt, mainly, with fundamental aspects of Bahá’í beliefs, of racial unity and the oneness of humankind. Modifications were made as a result of the groups discussions. Another group was conducted later in 1996 to test the revised video.

Based in part on what had been learned from all the groups conducted up to that time a newer video approach, on the same topic, was created. This video was examined in groups conducted in August 1997. An edited version of this video was aired with good to excellent response.

Because some elements of the second draft of the video had produced some negative as well as strong positive responses in the focus groups a new video was created that had both a new topic. Its main theme was the concept of the importance and power of prayer. This approach was evaluated in a fourth set of groups in summer 1998. The responses in those focus groups to this video were significantly more favorable than had been found to any of the versions of the earlier video.

A totally new approach with a third topic was evaluated in focus groups conducted in early fall 1998 dealing primarily with issues of female equality and rights.

Separate reports have been made on each set of focus groups. The potential strengths and weaknesses have been pointed out for the 30-minute videos as well as a series of “spots” which were shown at several of the groups’ sessions. In this overall evaluation, however, we will deal with what appear to be some of the global issues rather than the specifics of each of the video presentations.

Religions spread primarily through friendship and kinship contacts. Growth in the Bahá’í community overall has also depended on this natural and incremental process. It would appear, however, that there are limits to the rate of growth to be expected within this conventional framework.

Reaching beyond traditional boundaries will require greater reliance upon more impersonal mechanisms of public communications, particularly commercial media. This is especially true for an alternative faith such as the Bahá’í Faith given the restricted appeal of non-traditional religions repeatedly demonstrated in these focus sessions. Not only is the constituency for such an alternative abbreviated, it is also widely dispersed.

Growth beyond the traditional framework will require an efficient, knowledge-based methodology of outreach and recruitment, and more effective targeting. Commercial media are not merely extensions of individual and personal advocacy. Audiences for media are both less frequently available and less forgiving, and the logic of persuasion is frequently counter-intuitive.

The resources and intellectual effort invested in systematic audience analysis over several years, along with experimental broadcasts of new video materials, has broken new ground and yielded positive results. It has also highlighted the complexity of the challenge of accelerating response to Bahá’í programming among susceptible audiences.

The observations presented in this report are not hard and fast rules. Rather, they are thought-pieces, designed to stimulate discussion among those involved in extending the influence of the Bahá’í Faith in the United States and to suggest a positive framework for addressing seekers within the general populace.

While Americans are generally tolerant of religious diversity, it is important to keep in mind that the overwhelming majority are not candidates for conversion or religious switching.

The majority are happy and fulfilled in their current practice and not receptive to alternatives. There is a decided inclination among viewers on first encounter with a new religion to view it negatively and to be suspicious of its motives. Consequently, in each broadcast encounter it is as important to mitigate negative impressions as to impart information.

SOME OVERALL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT PROPOSED BAHÁ’Í VIDEO PRESENTATIONS

This set of observations and comments are an attempt to think through all we have learned since the inception of the focus group work in 1996. We have looked at and obtained reactions to a variety of approaches designed to tell the people about and then get them interested in finding out more about the Bahá’í Faith. The videos have included several to communicate the idea of racial unity and the oneness of humanity, telling about the worldwide reach of the Faith, emphasizing the importance of prayer, explaining the vital role the Bahá’í community plays in the lives of members, the importance to Bahá’ís of family, education, gender equality and social justice.

Despite criticism which viewers made about the videos and a variety of negative comments made about specific aspects, these programs also contain attractive and appealing ideas; ideas which might induce viewers to want to learn more about the Faith. Moreover, the ways in which the participants in the groups talked provide some insights into how people think about religion in general and about specific faiths as well.

Accordingly, we believe that there are a number of generalizations and observations which should be considered in proceeding with the further development of this program and informing and teaching the public about the Bahá’í Faith. They are, not necessarily in order of importance:

1. The videos must communicate the idea that the Bahá’í Faith is, in fact, a legitimate religion. The vast majority of people are not familiar with the Bahá’í Faith. Usually, their first impression is that the Faith may be a cult and not a religion at all. The primary communications task for the videos must be to overcome this starting impression in the time given.

2. The audience is primarily interested in the spiritual character of the people who are members. As a result, they want to see how the religion is practiced by individuals who can testify about its impact on their personal lives. They resist statements from spokespersons as self-serving. They are less interested in what we say than in what we do. It is important to show the principles in action.

3. It is important to recognize that, by and large, Americans who are believers in any fashion at all are monotheistic. Therefore, the videos must stress that [Page 29]

NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

Bahá’ís believe in one God, the same God in which Americans believe. Moreover, to strengthen this view it is necessary to indicate that there are written Bahá’í scriptures which tell of this and which can be examined.

4. There seems to be a broadly shared understanding about the purpose and role of religion in society. Public presentations must be sensitive to these cultural predispositions to be received favorably. Showing Bahá’í children engaged in positive, joyous activities, for example, is consistent with the view that religion must be concerned with the spiritual education of children. These images are generally well-received. Showing images from Bahá’í history which present the Faith in unfamiliar ways, on the other hand, consistently calls forth suspicion among viewers.

5. The audience seems more interested in what religions have in common than in the ways they are different. Their interest is practical. Of particular concern are aspects like the moral instruction of children, the strengthening of marriages and families, the personal and congregational practice of worship, and community life generally. In addressing these types of concerns the Bahá’í Faith can show it is part of the mainstream of religion while still placing a different emphasis upon some beliefs.

6. Stressing differences invariably stiffens resistance. Any criticism of another faith tradition or any expression of superiority or precedence leads to strong rejection and reinforces the impression of cult behavior.

7. It is important to demonstrate that Bahá’ís are happy with their beliefs and find joy in being of the Faith. Americans in the main reject stridency and severity in religious practice. Overly dour and serious presentations are also off-putting.

8. It is helpful to show how Bahá’ís relate to their fellows as well as to the community in general. The members of the Faith do not live in isolation from the civic world. It is important not to overstate the achievements of Bahá’ís. The ideal is to show that Bahá’ís are well-intentioned people who struggle to implement high ideals, but do not consider themselves morally superior.

9. The videos should resist the temptation to overtly emphasize conversion. Such attempts invite general hostility and are counterproductive. Even more importantly, it is off-putting even to people who are sympathetic because they feel that to make contact to investigate will cause them to be subjected to great pressure. It should be remembered that the overwhelming majority of viewers hold television preaching in low regard. The point is not lost on anyone that the underlying purpose of the videos is to generate interest and response. For most people the videos will be an introduction to the Bahá’í Faith and first impressions are lasting ones.

10. Aggressive statements on matters of faith appear to violate a common sense of religious propriety. Theological arguments of an exclusive character are perceived as hostile and parochial.

There is a growing disposition toward tolerance in matters of faith, but prerequisites are respect for the individual’s right to make personal religious choices, moderation in exposition and outreach, a sincere and spiritual outlook, and a visible sense of happiness and hospitality.

11. Seekers are people in transition. They are disappointed with aspects of past or present experience but they are deeply committed to the practice of religion. They are looking for solutions to problems they have actually experienced. They are necessarily in sympathy with much that they have experienced.

IN SUPPORT OF THE PLAN

Whether a small, regular gathering in Wauconda, Illinois (above), or a larger Spanish-language gathering in Aston, Pennsylvania, that draws interested people who were born in several Latin American countries (below), regular community firesides and public meetings are an essential local part of the National Teaching Plan, which is given a national proclamation element by the video broadcasts. Photo above by Vladimir Shilov; Photo below courtesy of Monireh Raika

12. The credibility of the Faith as a legitimate religion can be enhanced by stressing that it has a formal structure, perhaps different from other religions, but participatory nonetheless. People seem also intrigued by the absence of clergy. Also, the fact that it has existed for more than 150 years enhances its legitimacy.

13. Keep in mind that the audience of seekers represents a small percentage of total viewers. Expectations for response from any single broadcast should be moderated. It should also be remembered that many more people will be sympathetic than will respond immediately.

14. Whenever possible, it is helpful to offer testimonials from respected non-members who acknowledge and appreciate given Bahá’í contributions.

15. Interest in learning about the Faith may peak in individuals experiencing some personal crisis leading them to a renewed search for meaning or stability. Perhaps by looking at advertising approaches used by helping professions to get ideas about content and presentation styles.

16. Consider the value of the 30- and 15-minute formats for use within the Bahá’í community and by members of the Faith when telling about it to others.

17. Since the overall awareness of the Faith is at best minimal, recognize the long-term and ancillary values of airing the programs about the Faith. Creation of awareness requires either a saturation or a long-term approach.

18. Because of the differential response to the videos among men and women as well as persons of different ethnicity, consider making the media choices match with the video being aired. For example, if the video pushes hard on gender equality, it might be wise to air it where and when the audience is mainly female.

19. Consider the importance of attention-getting as well as educating the audience. This suggests a judicious mix of spots and longer (15-minute as well as 30-minute) videos might be appropriate. Moreover, more detailed videos might be valuable to be viewed at home by those who want the details. Examine what the political media people have learned: namely, that a series of spots, each representing a different idea, can over time tell a broad story.

20. Avoid the use of jargon and catch phrases that have no meaning to non-members.

COMMENTS ON METHODOLOGY

Each focus group study was conducted in a professional field service site. Over the course of time the composition of the audiences varied. They were recruited by telephone on a random basis, but according to quota characteristics. Criteria included race, gender, age, education and income. Recently we have also segregated groups by gender to see if responses are affected. Tests were conducted in metropolitan San Diego, Atlanta and Chicago.

Participants were not advised in advance about the nature of the test. The procedure was standard: the first phase of each test was spent gleaning specific information about the backgrounds and attitudes of the participants on various issues; the second phase in viewing the presentation; and the final phase in eliciting reactions. Participants were always asked, after viewing the presentations, whether they had ever heard of the Faith before, what their impressions were, and whether they would be likely to request more information if they had seen the presentation on television. They were also asked, among other things, in what ways the presentations might be changed for greater clarity and appeal.

The moderator of all of the tests was Mr. Eugene Telser. Mr. Telser has more than three decades’ experience in this field. Past positions include vice president at A.C. Nielsen Co. and research director for J. Walter Thompson Co.

PATTERNS OF RESPONSE

Those who respond favorably to the presentations have tended to share certain characteristics. They are primarily women, although many men also respond favorably. They tend to be racially diverse (slightly higher proportion of African Americans), but from a similar educational level (college or higher). They tend to be Baby Boomers and parents. Those who are not affiliated with a faith community are more prone to respond positively. They also tend to be “liberals” in social outlook.

These patterns are consistent with findings in published research on religious switching and conversion. This does not necessarily mean that others are not at all susceptible to the Bahá’í Message. Over the next few months testing for other audiences will be done. This will also involve newly developed materials; for example, a new video targeting rural, conservative Christian audiences will be tested in January 1999.

BROADCAST RESPONSE

Focus group tests have proven good predictors of broadcast response. One surprise, however, has been the relatively low level of response on the part of youth (25 and under). Focus group tests have not included many youth, but broadcast results do suggest a high level of receptivity among that population. [Page 30]

VINEYARD of the LORD

PHOTOS BY RUHI VARGHA

VIEW FROM THE PUBLIC: THE “EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD”

Several major newspapers in Haifa reported the opening to the public of Terrace 19, the uppermost terrace above the Shrine of the Báb, noting that the Bahá’í World Center honored the mayor’s request to open it although the project is yet to be completed. In its press release, the municipality particularly asked visitors to respect the sanctity of the place and maintain silence and cleanliness.

As a gesture of appreciation the Municipality of Haifa, under the aegis of Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, provided attractive coverage to the terraces as well as the buildings around the Arc in a recently released brochure on Haifa. Boldly titled “The Eighth Wonder of the World,” the brochure describes the following under the subtitle “Bahá’í Shrines and Gardens”:

“Splendidly set in the exquisite green Mount Carmel scenery, with its extensive flower beds, bushes, cypresses and cluster pines, the Bahá’í complex includes the Shrine of the Báb and two buildings in strongly neo classical style. The luxuriant gardens open out all around the golden domed Shrine, forming a shining landmark in the Mount Carmel landscape.”

Top: A nighttime view from the base of Mount Carmel shows a busy boulevard giving way to the lights marking the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb.

Bottom: Restoration is complete on gardens southwest of the Shrine of the Báb (see bottom photo, opposite page).

INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CENTER: MAGNIFICENCE EMERGES

The magnificent front portico of the International Teaching Center emerged when most scaffolding was removed, revealing the nearly-finished exterior marble work on this building that faces across the Arc and toward the Shrine of the Báb.

The front colonnade is an example of the great engineering finesse that has gone into this complex building. This row of columns forms a shallow curve at the entrance, but presents the illusion of a steeper curve because the columns are spaced progressively closer together the farther they stand from the center. That way, the portico harmonizes with the more circular entrance portico of the Center for the Study of the Texts, on the opposite end of the Arc.

To reduce the chance of damage from continuing construction, marble paving will be finished later on the floor and the steps leading to the entrance portico. In the meantime:

• Workers are preparing to install marble on the vaulted roof, one of the building’s most distinctive features.
• The main electrical system of the Teaching Center was to be operating by the beginning of 1999, along with air conditioning in selected areas of the building.
• Manpower was doubled to speed up interior work, especially to put up most of the interior walls by year’s beginning. The next step is plastering and painting the walls and putting up ceilings.
• Stone work is finished on the walls and columns in and around the Auditorium, and lighting and sound systems were being finalized. Installation began on the external wooden windows, after aluminum windows were finished on levels 1 through 3 and most steel doors and frames were installed in levels 1 through 6.

[Page 31]

TERRACES OF THE SHRINE OF THE BÁB: EVOLVING THROUGH THE GUARDIAN’S VISION

The resplendent golden-domed Shrine of the Báb has drawn to its majestic portals pilgrims and visitors alike since the structure was completed in 1953. While its unique architecture has attracted immense admiration, the gardens surrounding the Shrine have been equally praised. As work is completed on the Terraces—extending those gardens above and below the Shrine on a large scale—the results are drawing further accolades.

In laying out gardens around the Bahá’í holy places, Shoghi Effendi used his creative ability not only to enhance the serenity of the holy spot, but serve as a feast for the eyes as well. He selected trees, shrubs and flowers that could flourish in the climate of the Holy Land, some of them from outside the Middle East. In both the Haifa and the Bahjí gardens, he used cactus and other succulent plants with great imagination.

Over the past year the gardens around the main Terrace of the Shrine of the Báb were largely refurbished, with some plants and trees being replanted or replaced, ornaments and pedestals repaired, paths regraded and irrigation lines improved. As Hatzionut Avenue was rebuilt, large sections of the road needed to be integrated into the gardens along the main terrace. Linked to this work is the installation of electric and phone line ducts for the Arc, the Terraces and the Haifa Pilgrim House.

Some of the most intense activity took place in the southwest corner of the gardens surrounding the Shrine of the Báb, close to the courtyard of the Pilgrim House. This was an area where the Guardian used cacti and other drought-tolerant plants in the design. Four triangle-shaped sections were planted with red-tiled paths and lawns in between, appearing to radiate from a circle of plantings at one end. This unusual layout has always drawn admiring spectators. While preserving this design, project workers recently:

• Dug deep trenches, installed electric/phone ducts, and refilled the trenches.
• Improved lawns and flowerbeds.
• Regraded the surface of ochre-colored tile chippings covering the paths.

On the terraces above the Shrine, Terrace 14 is effectively ready for inner landscaping. The stone pools, floor paving, balustrades and columns are all in place. On Terrace 13 the curved stairs on the east side are finished, with similar work to be done soon on the west side. In the outer areas of Terraces 12 and 14 grass is in place on the slopes, while those of Terrace 13 have been planted with ground cover.

Slowly but surely Hatzionut Avenue is becoming transfigured. All the bridge supports have been cleared, traffic is flowing along the new lanes, and stone work on the face of the bridge is progressing speedily. Installation of pedestals and balustrades has begun on top of the bridge walls.

The Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb were built on the steep slopes of Mount Carmel—progressively steeper toward the crest of the mountain. Miles of pipes have been laid to help rainwater drain and to prevent waterlogging. Work was begun to connect these pipes to several manholes up to 36 feet deep behind the south retaining wall along Hatzionut Avenue, to make the system operational before winter rains begin.

Top: Two nearly completed buildings flank the seat of the Universal House of Justice at the Arc’s crest: International Teaching Center (left) and Center for the Study of the Texts (right).

Middle: Interior finishing progresses rapidly in the information and security building under Terrace 11.

Left: A photo from 1952 shows gardens southwest of the Shrine of the Báb (see bottom photo, opposite page).

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THE TEXTS: NEAR COMPLETION

Furnishing of the Center for the Study of the Texts gained momentum as the occupancy date approached. Furniture and work stations were ordered to meet the needs of the departments to move in soon, including partitions, desktops, chairs and carpets, as well as furniture for lounge areas, multipurpose rooms and small conference rooms.

The main entrance of the Center for the Study of the Texts begins at a high-ceilinged vestibule and leads into the foyer/reception area. Among decorations in both these chambers will be custom-designed chandeliers, one 8.5 feet across and the other 4.5 feet across. Made from textured cast glass combined with bronze details and supports, the chandeliers, along with matching wall sconces, are being manufactured in Canada. [Page 32]Classified notices in The American Bahá’í are published free of charge to the Bahá’í community. Because of this, notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no personal or commercial ads are accepted. Some of the opportunities have not been approved by the National Spiritual Assembly; the friends should exercise judgment and care in responding.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

IMMEDIATE NEEDS

Bahá’í Encyclopedia Project, Evanston: Full-time, self-motivated administrative assistant to support the project’s editorial team. Must be able to work with minimal supervision in a quiet, secluded environment. Must be able to organize the workload, establish priorities, and finish projects with professional, error-free results. Responsibilities include inputting editorial corrections from hard copy, assisting with research tasks, and maintaining a variety of files and records. Requires 60 wpm word processing, excellent computer skills (WordPerfect 8.0, Word 6.0, Access), very strong writing and editing skills, and sound judgment.

Bahá’í Media Services, Wilmette: Print Production Assistant for Bahá’í Media Services. Provides production support for The American Bahá’í and Brilliant Star magazine. Assists in design and layout of both publications. Works with printers and outside vendors to ensure smooth production of each issue; with freelance authors, illustrators, writers and designers to acquire content for both publications. Qualifications include a strong command of all phases of digital print production, including design, layout, photo editing, copy editing, production, and digital prepress; a minimum of two years’ experience with Quark Xpress and Adobe Photoshop in a newspaper, magazine or other print production environment; experience with Illustrator and Freehand; skill in verbal and written communication; ability to work with minimum supervision.

If interested, contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3427, fax 847-733-3430).

AT THE BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER

Education & Schools Coordinator. Provides input to and output of information which advances the understanding of issues pertinent to the function of the schools and institutes. Develops procedures, in conjunction with the Office of Human Resources, to advance the function of the permanent schools/institutes and their operations. Supervises development of curriculum and materials to support individual and community development. Background in educational administration and advanced education degree preferable.

Administrative Assistant, Education and Schools Office. A key position in the administrative functioning of the Education and Schools Organization (ESO), this person is the contact point both internally and externally. Responsible for administrative support of the office, the Education and Schools Coordinator, the Education Task Force, permanent schools and Administrators and Institute for Bahá’í Studies. Must be able to produce error-free documents; word processing 55-60 wpm. Must be able to organize the workload and establish priorities; strong organizational skills, strong database management and desktop publishing skills. Needs excellent verbal and written communication skills; we prefer familiarity with professional education vocabulary and procedures, and familiarity with Bahá’í Sacred Writings on education.

Program Assistant, Persian/American Affairs Office. Assists the manager of the Persian/American Affairs Office or the Program Coordinator in following up on the execution of programs and projects. Performs general office functions and related work. Monitors various related projects; handles incoming and outgoing correspondence in Persian and English; translates documents and letters as needed into and from Persian; handles records management. Needs written and oral communication skills in Persian and English; knowledge of Bahá’í administrative practices; familiarity with Iranian culture; English and Persian typing of at least 30 wpm; good knowledge of general office practices; ability to perform detailed work with frequent interruptions.

Accountant, Office of the Treasurer. Applicant should have strong interpersonal and analytical skills and be familiar with integrated PC-based accounting software. Experience in implementing internal control procedures is highly desirable. Must have degree in accounting or equivalent accounting experience. Some travel required. Must be able to maintain a sense of humor while working in a fast-paced, flexible environment. Appreciation for the importance of confidentiality essential.

Administrative Assistants. Several openings possible. Will initiate and coordinate clerical and secretarial functions required to implement administrative needs effectively. Must be deepened Bahá’í well-grounded in the spiritual principles and administration of the Bahá’í Faith. Must perform administrative duties in a mature, efficient and professional manner; must be familiar with computer word processing applications (Windows 95, Word, e-mail and various databases extremely helpful); good communicator, highly organized, confident and capable of working steadily, often on many things at once. Must be able to speak, read and write English.

If interested in any of these positions, contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3427, fax 847-733-3430).

Service opportunities at the Bahá’í World Center

THE MOUNT CARMEL PROJECTS, constructing the buildings and terraces of the Arc in Haifa, Israel, have the following opportunities for service:

• Gardeners/horticulturists. Needed at all levels of practical knowledge, from basic maintenance skills to advanced professional experience, including graduates in horticulture or related disciplines.
• Industrial/commercial plumber. Needs experience in all aspects of the trade, including drainage, fittings, etc.

To apply, please mail or fax résumé to Mount Carmel Projects, Project Manager’s Office, P.O. Box 155, 31 001 Haifa, Israel (phone 972 (4) 835-8237, fax 972 (4) 835-8437, e-mail ).

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SKILLED WORKERS AT THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTER in Haifa, Israel:

Horticulturists • Archivists • Lawyers • Executive officers • Senior-level managers • Painters • Plumbers • Electricians • Book conservators • Accountants • Finance professionals • Translators • Librarians • Secretaries • Telecommunications engineers • Computer professionals

To send your résumé or CV to inquire about a position, contact: Office of Personnel, Bahá’í World Center, P.O. Box 155, 31 001 Haifa, ISRAEL (fax 972 (4) 835 8325, e-mail ).

AT BAHÁ’Í MEDIA SERVICES, WILMETTE

Associate Editor, Brilliant Star, part-time. Works with Managing Editor to coordinate and execute all phases of magazine development. Will compile, evaluate and edit assigned or submitted content; help contributors develop their work; help edit and proofread manuscript, proofs and layout; network with authors and artists to encourage and acquire content; conduct research for manuscript and art; respond to correspondence; assist with marketing and promotion. Needs excellent editing skills/judgment in children’s publishing (age range 6-12) plus strong command of writing and content development; minimum 1-2 years’ experience in writing, publishing and/or print production in children’s or educational publishing; excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to work with minimum of supervision under deadline pressure. Should be located within 100 miles of Evanston/Wilmette.

Administrative Assistant, Media Services. Supports day-to-day operations in the office; combines office work with unorthodox and unexpected requests to provide support for Media Services projects and personnel; responsible for procurement of and payment for goods and services; maintains budget; directs all incoming communications including faxes, e-mail, phone calls and mail to the staff; assists Media Archives library.

If interested in either position, contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3427, fax 847-733-3430).

AT WLGI RADIO BAHÁ’Í HEMINGWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA

Radio Coordinator to manage operation of the Bahá’í radio station. Will help formulate and implement plans for development of station operations, facilities and services; evaluate the station’s performance, especially in relation to its audience; supervise, recruit and evaluate personnel; formulate a budget; oversee communications within and outside the Bahá’í community; ensure compliance with laws and regulations; promote Bahá’í standards among station staff, volunteers and members of the community; and assume on-air shifts and other tasks. Required: 3 years radio management experience or 5 years related management experience, including financial; Bahá’í administrative experience; record of human relations and communications skills. Desired: Master’s degree in radio broadcasting or equivalent experience; wide-ranging knowledge/experience in all aspects of radio station operations; training in principles of Bahá’í Radio. If interested, contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3427, fax 847-733-3430).

AT THE BAHÁ’Í DISTRIBUTION SERVICE FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA

Shipping/Receiving Clerk. Responsibilities include pulling, picking and packing orders, inventory receipts and returns, warehouse organization and inventory disposition. Should have warehouse experience and knowledge of various shipping methods and regulations (primarily domestic). Should be detail-oriented and in good health.

Customer Service Representative. Will process phone, fax and electronic orders, respond to customer queries, maintain customer records, and handle correspondence. Should have strong communication skills, strong data entry skills, experience in telephone customer service or related work, pleasant voice and patient demeanor. Knowledge of Bahá’í literature is a plus.

Accounts Receivable/Payable Clerk, part-time. Will process accounts ‎payable and payable payable and receivable‎, maintain financial records, and have other accounting duties. Should have experience in accounting or bookkeeping.

If interested in any of these positions, please contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3427, fax 847-733-3430) or Ford Bowers (phone 800-999-9019 ext. 111).

AT GREEN ACRE BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL

Maintenance worker. Enthusiastic, industrious, spiritually motivated. General knowledge of custodial duties, building maintenance and repair, grounds work and mechanical systems helpful. High skill in interior/exterior painting a plus. Work environment requires a resourceful person dedicated to courtesy, meticulous attention to detail. Minorities, women encouraged to apply. Professional training available. Contact James M. Sacco, Co-Administrator, Green Acre Bahá’í School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903-1800 (phone 207-439-7200, fax 207-438-9940, e-mail ).

INTERNATIONAL

China: Numerous openings for English teachers and professionals willing to travel for service in this rapidly developing country. For more information contact Susan Senchuk (phone 847-733-3506, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail ).

PIONEERING / OVERSEAS

SOMETHING NEW! The Office of Pioneering has consulted on the best way to assist the friends considering international service, given our limited resources. After evaluation of the current situation and estimation ‎of of of‎ the future needs of the friends, the decision came a few months ago to change the jobs listings. We are listing all positions received from Bahá’í Institutions. In addition, a compilation of Web site and e-mail addresses for job searches will in future be a standard feature. It is our hope that this change will give you greater flexibility and resources.

BAHAMAS: Self-supporting couple to serve as caretakers for the National Center.

BELIZE: Couple or single individual to serve as caretaker for Bahá’í Center in Belmopan, national capital.

COSTA RICA: Full-time service for 6–12 months for Spanish-speaking, self-supporting (preferred) youth to work [Page 33]with Bahá’í Youth Workshop.

EASTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS: Custodian/caretakers (independent means).

GAMBIA: Permanent Institute manager.

HONDURAS: Elementary and secondary school teachers.

MACAU: The School of Nations needs qualified kindergarten, primary and secondary teachers.

SAMOA: Full-time caretakers for House of Worship with extensive practical skills (e.g. building maintenance, gardening, etc.); prefer those with independent means.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Self-supporting couple to serve as custodians of the Bahá’í Center in Honiara. Volunteer to train National Center office staff.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS: Great need for medical personnel including family physicians with a variety of specialties, internist, obstetrician, health care service manager, clerical officer, biomedical technician and medical records officer.

VENEZUELA: Self-supporting couple (preferable) to serve as caretakers of the Bahá’í National Center and assistants to the National Assembly secretary.

Pioneers are urgently needed in Mérida, a beautiful location in the Andes.

WESTERN CAROLINE ISLANDS: Custodian/caretakers (independent means).

For additional information regarding jobs and study abroad, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette IL 60091 (phone 847-733-3508, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail redacted email address).

If you live in:

• Northeast or Central States, contact Alex Blakeson (phone 847-733-3511).
• Southern States, contact Sherdeana Jordan (phone 847-733-3507).
• Western States, contact Aurore Ragston (phone 847-733-3512).

PIONEERING / HOMEFRONT

Homefront pioneers needed to re-form the Spiritual Assembly of Brookings, Oregon. On the state’s beautiful South Coast with a mild climate, it is often called the lily capital of the world. Spanish speakers who want to help teach the Faith are welcome; a large Hispanic population in the area needs to be reached. All replies are welcome. Housing for rent or purchase is available in all price ranges. For more information contact M. H. Tyler, P. O. Box 7112, Brookings, OR 97415 (phone 541-469-3280, fax 541-469-0343) or e-mail R. Katzakian (redacted email address).

Hickory, North Carolina, has five Bahá’í adults and we are seeking a few folks to come and strengthen our area! Hickory is a beautiful city nestled in the western foothills of North Carolina. We are just a rock’s throw from some of the most breathtaking views in the eastern United States. We are home to ‎Lenior-Rhyne Lenoir-Rhyne‎ College and to many furniture manufacturers. Cities within our range include Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Morganton and Asheville. We would welcome anyone who is interested in coming our way! If interested please contact Jon & Hope Everson at (phone 828-325-0588, e-mail redacted email address).

Enthusiastic, energetic, dedicated Bahá’ís needed to save an incorporated Assembly in jeopardy in the lovely desert resort city of Palm Springs, California. A response needed before Ridván. Various job opportunities in hospitality and service businesses. Contact: Bahá’í Faith, P.O. Box 4515, Palm Springs, CA 92263 (phone 760-327-8837).

Cortez, Colorado offers a great pioneer’s challenge and opportunity. A dedicated Spiritual Assembly is in jeopardy due to recent movement from the community. This small town in the Four Corners area is the hub of a farming/ranching county, near desert and mountains. Within 45 minutes of Durango (home of Fort Lewis College), Cortez is next door to the Ute and Navajo Indian Reservations. Contact Carole Hitti (phone 970-565-7910, e-mail redacted email address) or Nancy Hutcheson (phone 970-565-2684, e-mail redacted email address).

WANTED

The Race Unity Day Team in Springfield, Oregon, is seeking a fabulous professional logo for the event—at a bargain basement price. The Race Unity Celebration is growing every year, with increased community participation and bigger attendance by Bahá’ís and others. To enhance the 1999 celebration and continue this process of growth, we are offering $50 for a logo to be used on posters and T-shirts. For more information, please contact the Race Unity Day Team c/o the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Springfield, P.O. Box 635, Springfield, OR 97477 (e-mail redacted email address).

Are you a first-generation Bahá’í? Do you have an interesting story about how you found the Faith? I want to preserve these stories, as well as information on your Bahá’í life since then: pioneering, unusual service, etc. Think how important these stories can be in the future. I need enough information to compose a decent-size book chapter. Please submit information in writing to Rozario, redacted address, Las Vegas, NV. Final editing and decision on which stories to use rests with the writer.

ARCHIVES

The National Bahá’í Archives is seeking original letters written on behalf of the Guardian to the following individuals: Harry Clifford, John Clifford, Cordie C. Cline, Harriet M. Cline, Elizabeth S. Clinton, Nadine Close and Ethel Y. Closson. Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these Guardian’s letters is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-869-9039).

A series of biographical sketches of prominent African-American, Native American, Hispanic and Asian Bahá’ís is available for the use of local communities in observing Black History Month, Race Unity Day or other special events. There is also a partial chronology of U.S. race unity activities. Any community or individual wishing a set of these sketches may send a request with a mailing address to the National Bahá’í Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-869-9039).

YOUTH

The National Youth Committee needs your help in compiling contact information for local Bahá’í youth committees. A local youth committee—not a college club or a Youth Workshop—may be an informal, regular gathering of youth or a formal group appointed by an Assembly or other Institution to spark, plan and guide youth activities. If you are part of a committee, or know of one, please send a contact name, e-mail or mailing address, locality served, number of members and brief description of current activities to the National Youth Committee (e-mail redacted email address).

ASSESSMENTS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

rising to a new level in these areas that is significant. Assemblies at any level of functioning can benefit from this process.

Some Assemblies have reported that they took time during one or more of their meetings to complete the questions in this document. Others went on a retreat for this purpose. It is hoped that the length of the process will not prevent Assemblies from taking advantage of this valuable resource. The time invested results in more energized, effective and goal-oriented Spiritual Assemblies.

With the end of the Plan a little over a year ahead, Assemblies that are just completing the tool may want to give themselves a longer time frame for achieving goals. Assemblies that have previously done this self-assessment may want to look at their answers again to see if their plans or goals need to be adjusted.

The National Spiritual Assembly would appreciate receiving copies of the completed Self Assessment Tools as an aid to planning future Assembly development programs and materials.

Completed assessments should be sent to the Office of Assembly Development at 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL, 60021. If you have comments and questions, contact the office (phone 847-733-3490, e-mail redacted email address).

GRAND CANYON, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

For the second year, youth not only had a presence at the Grand Canyon Conference but were full participants in a parallel youth conference.

Dr. Ellis reminded the friends that unity across racial lines is a mandate from God, and reassured them “that if we stay to it, it will happen. Pray about it, talk about it, think about it. Then act and continue to act just as the House has told us. We will overcome.”

Bahá’ís who did not visit the local churches heard an inspiring presentation by Jena Khodadad, who spoke on the destiny of the American continent as the stage for the commingling of many populations.

Among other highlights:

• Counselor Tod Ewing addressed the youth conference, which also saw presentations by Nikan Sadeghzadeh, May Aklae, Jonathan Gandomi and Martha Yazdani, Walter Wagner, Ian Tong and Russ Coover, Jamaal Sneed, Brandon Bullock, Amy Gandomi and Ian Ostrom, Cheri and Walter Wagner, Kim Aiello, and the Eternal Flame.
• Jack McCants greeted the friends on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly and spoke on the importance of the Bahá’í Funds. He praised the extensive and precious contributions made by the Persian believers on the American continent.
• Dr. Khodadad, on behalf of the National Teaching Committee, encouraged the friends to take advantage of the national media campaign, focused at this stage on race unity.
• Smaller-group workshops on race unity were conducted in Spanish, Persian and English by Huerta, Lucas, LeNise Jackson Gaertner of California, Eric Dozier of South Carolina and Javidukht Khadem of Illinois.
• Dramatic, cultural and musical presentations added a special energy, with performers including Ladjamaya Mahoney of Colorado, Hessam Rahimian of Arizona, Muhtadia Rice of California, Lucas, and an impromptu gospel choir organized at the conference by Dozier.

The Mona Workshop from Monterrey, Mexico, provided a special lesson in persevering through difficulties. The members spent four hours getting across the Mexico-U.S. border, then had two flat tires just outside Phoenix. Only half the workshop arrived in time and they were unfamiliar with the stage or sound system. Yet they brought delight to the hearts of the audience with their powerful performance.

A grand evening performance by internationally recognized jazz star Doc Holladay and his band drew hundreds of guests of the Bahá’ís. The concert in tribute to Dizzy Gillespie at the Phoenix Civic Plaza Ballroom was co-sponsored by a local public radio station.

African-American Bahá’ís, who had driven from as far away as Georgia, stated they were pleased that they had done so. Bahá’ís from Indian reservations expressed their pleasure at being there. Spanish-speaking Bahá’ís, in this center of Spanish-speaking America, shared the experience of the conference with their Bahá’í brethren. And Persian believers, always happy to come to Phoenix in December, shone with love for everyone. There was a palpable glow of warmth and love at this 14th annual Grand Canyon Conference. [Page 34]

SEEKING YOUR RESPONSE

BAHÁ’Í SUBSCRIBER SERVICE 800-999-9019

World Order Summer 1998 issue: Your window to teaching, deepening, and external affairs

The Equality of Women and Men An editorial, an article, and poetry that invite you and your community to extend its consultation and deepening on practical applications of the National Spiritual Assembly’s statement Two Wings of a Bird and to share Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings on the equality of women and men with interested friends and organizations.

The editorial examines gains and challenges 150 years after Táhirih’s dramatic statement at the Conference of Badasht and after the Seneca Falls Convention.

Dr. Rhea Harmsen’s “Science in the Hands of Women” calls for profound changes allowing women’s voices to inform science’s agenda.

Fall 1998 issue, upcoming: Millennialism Subscribe now to make sure you receive a copy of the next issue, which will contain two articles examining aspects of millennialism.

Subscription type/fee: U.S. ($19/1 year, $36/2 years) Outside U.S. surface mail ($19/1 year, $36/2 years) Outside U.S. air mail ($24/1 year, $46/2 years) Single copies available on phone orders for $5 plus shipping/handling

One Country Published quarterly by the Bahá’í International Community Subscription type/fee: U.S. ($12/1 year, $22 / 2 years) Outside U.S. surface mail ($16/1 year, $30/2 years) Outside U.S. air mail ($20/1 year, $36/2 years)

Herald of the South Quarterly magazine published by the Bahá’ís of Australia and New Zealand Subscription fee: U.S. ($28/1 year, $50/2 years)

The American Bahá’í 10 times a year, available by subscription outside continental U.S. Subscription type/fee: Surface mail ($24/1 year, $45/2 years) Air mail ($32/1 year, $60/2 years)

For Brilliant Star subscription information, please see page 19 Use a separate copy of this form for each subscription

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YAMAMOTOS

That job brought the family to Madison in 1944. His skill and dedication later earned him appointment as Wisconsin state architect, in which position he oversaw the design, budget and construction of every structure except bridges built for the state.

Hifumi for many years devoted her time to their children, Steve, Diane, and JoAnn. Later, she worked for the Housing Office at the university.

After Shinji’s retirement in 1976, he served on the Examining Board for Architects and Construction Engineers and as a consultant for the restoration of Wisconsin’s State Capitol.

All the while, Shinji and Hifumi have been stalwart members of the Madison Bahá’í community. Their numerous contributions include graciously hosting many Feasts and Holy Day gatherings, extending hospitality to students, and regularly opening their home to individuals investigating the Faith.

Both also served many years on the Madison Spiritual Assembly. Remarkably, Shinji served continuously from 1944 until 1998, the majority of the time as treasurer.

Shinji’s professional expertise also enabled him to advise the National Spiritual Assembly on its properties, most notably as a member of the committee that oversaw restoration of the House of Worship in the 1980s.

INFORMATION ON YOUR INTERNATIONAL TEACHING TRIP

To record achievement of traveling teaching goals, the Office of Pioneering needs information on all international trips undertaken for the sake of promoting the interests of the Faith. This information is important whatever the level or amount of service and regardless of whether your trip was exclusively for service to the Faith or was combined with a trip for business, holiday, family, study or otherwise.

Just contact the Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3511, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail). Use the form below to respond by mail.

Special information: •Names and ID numbers of all Bahá’ís on each trip. • Names of each country visited, plus the one or two main localities, and date(s) of visit(s). •Main purpose of your travel. • Did you arise to meet the call of the Universal House of Justice for: Native Americans to teach in the circumpolar areas? Hispanic believers to teach in Latin America? African-Americans to teach in Africa?

Use a separate sheet as needed.

INTERNATIONAL TEACHING TRIPS Name Address City State, ZIP Country Daytime phone or e-mail Special information: City Phone E-mail [Page 35]

Singers face adventures in spreading teachings across former Soviet nations

BY SUZANNE M. ALEXANDER

“I’d go back in a minute,” said Margaret Greene of Strongsville, Ohio. She traveled for 25 days last summer to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The trip included high heat, dirty water, illness, border searches, long bus rides and language barriers.

Greene is a singer with the Northeast Ohio Bahá’í Choir who joined “Lights of Unity,” a performing arts tour sponsored by the Bahá’í institutions in Central Asia.

Performers under that umbrella also toured in other former Soviet republics, including Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. The programs were multi-media, with dance and a slide show.

All told, about 57 people from 18 countries performed in free concerts and shared the Bahá’í Faith. The enthusiastic audiences included diplomats, composers, U.N. personnel, professors, playwrights and families.

“We wanted to share our joy and uplift the hearts of people,” said Greene.

Conditions in most areas her group visited were bleak, with outhouses, scarce food, bombed-out areas and gunfire in the streets. And yet there were beautiful theaters!

In order to secure the safety of the performers, one concert in Tajikistan had armed security guards inside and out. “We’d look up in the balcony during the concert, and there were police with automatic weapons,” Greene said.

Songs were in English, Russian, Farsi and folkloric songs in the audiences’ languages. The choir director was Linda Safajou from the House of Worship in Sydney, Australia.

The concerts drew hundreds of people. Many had standing room only or turned people away. Bouquets of flowers were thrown onto the stages after the performances. People declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh at every event.

Although love and music touched people’s hearts, communication was often difficult. “It would be great to have an international language that everyone speaks,” Greene said. The TV, radio and press interviews especially difficult, as they were all done through a translator.

One border crossing, from Tajikistan to Uzbekistan, especially challenged the group. After a 23-hour trip, the bus was stopped repeatedly, it was 110 degrees Fahrenheit, there was no water, many passengers were ill and dehydrated and they were strip-searched.

Still, Greene said, “I wasn’t worried at all. I just didn’t have any fear. It was the assistance of God, having trust in Him.” When the soldiers were done with their duties, they relaxed and asked the group to perform. “They enjoyed the impromptu concert, and danced, clapped and accepted Bahá’í literature.

“Nothing like this had ever been done before in these countries,” said Greene, “and I had an opportunity to go where few Americans have ever been. We really spent time in the local communities as well, not just giving concerts.”

They attended Feasts, firesides and visited national centers. And made friendships that will last a lifetime. ♦

B•R•I•E•F•L•Y IN THE MEDIA

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A PERSONAL VIEW

A November 18 article in the Daily Trojan, student newspaper at the University of Southern California, viewed the recent closing of the Bahá’í “Open University” in Iran through the eyes of a USC student who came to the United States as a child.

Arghavan Rahimpour, a junior sociology major, told the reporter that when she was a toddler a bomb was thrown through a window of the family’s home in Ilam, Iran. It didn’t detonate, fortunately.

The article quoted Rahimpour and fellow Bahá’í Club member Barbara Duffey, a freshman creative writing major, about the universal right to education. It also outlined the steps the USC Bahá’í Club is taking to promote awareness of the recent events in Iran. ♦

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA: TROUBLES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The plight of the Bahá’ís of Iran was featured in a front-page article published by The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The newspaper’s coverage centered around talks given by Indiana native Lorana Kerfoot at the University of St. Francis and a public library. Kerfoot, a longtime pioneer, traced the history of the Faith and the ongoing persecutions of its members.

The article also quoted from U.S. State Department statements about the treatment of Bahá’ís. ♦

William Fountaine ‘walked the walk’

On Aug. 24, William Fountaine passed the baton of activism to his fellow Bahá’ís at age 88.

For years everyone who met him received a copy of a prayer for peace: “O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

His memorial service Sept. 20 in Willoughby, Ohio, where he had lived for 12 years, drew people of many faiths, ages and races.

When he spoke, people listened, because he “walked the walk”:

• He was the first president of the NAACP in East Liverpool, Ohio, more than 40 years ago, and helped integrate swimming pools for children.
• He was scoutmaster of a black Boy Scout troop.
• He helped organize the Steelworkers Union in Midland, Pennsylvania.
• He was a pioneer in developing the Conference of Religions in Cleveland, over the years holding leadership positions in the Second Baptist Church before embracing the Bahá’í Faith in 1953.
• He was a volunteer working with retarded children and mentor to countless children of all races.

His patience and positive outlook taught many about changing prejudice into bonds of friendship, and was known for the gift of “I just called to say I love you.”

“He was both gentle and a gentleman,” Suzanne Alexander wrote in a memorial tribute. “For years he would talk about heaven with a twinkle in his eye and his face lit up. You just knew he was already connected.” ♦

William Fountaine, at one time a union organizer, was a volunteer with children and a teacher of the Faith by word and example.

IN MEMORIAM

Jesus Amesquita Las Cruces, NM August 8, 1998	Albro T. Gaul Colorado Springs, CO November 10, 1998	Mable H. Sullivan Greenwood, SC November 28, 1998
Harold M. Amundson Puyallup, WA December 13, 1998	William Johnson St. Louis, MO November 26, 1998	Evelyn Tabor Kettering, OH November 21, 1998
Allen Borkenhagen Milwaukee, WI October 1, 1998	Elsie Martel Sequim, WA September 13, 1998	Ralph T. Thomas Olivette, MO August 5, 1998
Arthur P. Currier Palo Alto, CA November 14, 1998	Jean Kantola Martinez Clifton, CO November 9, 1998	Dorothy Treadwell West Richland, WA November 3, 1998
Frank Esposito Oxnard, CA November 11, 1998	Joanne M. McGlothlin Rio Rancho, NM November 29, 1998	Kathryn E. Williams Chicago, IL August 3, 1998
Charles G. Gipson Marysville, WA November 23, 1998	Varghaieh L. Mehdieh Tulsa, OK December 5, 1998	Edward M. Wininsky Sr. Hermitage, PA November 17, 1998
	George U. Sisson San Diego, CA December 9, 1998

[Page 36]

نهمین کنفرانس سالانه انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی

Ninth Annual Friends of Persian Culture Conference

چنان که در شماره‌های پیشین این نشریه به آگاهی دوستان رسید، نهمین کنفرانس سالانه انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی از ۲۷ تا ۳۱ می ۱۹۹۹ در هتل هالیدی این Holiday Inn O’Hare نزدیک فرودگاه اصلی شیکاگو تشکیل خواهد شد. موضوع اصلی این کنفرانس خانه و خانواده در فرهنگ ایرانی است.

دوستان می‌توانند برای رزرو کردن اتاق مستقیماً با هتل تماس حاصل نمایند و ذکر فرمایند که برای شرکت در Bahá’í Arts Festival اتاق لازم دارند. نرخ مخصوص کنفرانس که از ۲۷ تا ۳۱ می ۱۹۹۹ معتبر خواهد بود شبی ۸۱ دلار است. این مبلغ فقط برای کرایه اتاق است و شامل مخارج خوراک و نام‌نویسی نیست. در هر اتاق از یک تا چهار نفر می‌توانند بخوابند. رفت و آمد از فرودگاه O’Hare به هتل مجانی است. شماره تلفن هتل: ۶۲۵۰-۶۷۱-۸۴۷

نام‌نویسی از بعد از ظهر روز پنجشنبه ‎۲۷۲۷ ۲۷‎ می آغاز می‌شود. مبلغ نام‌نویسی تا آخر اپریل نفری ۳۵ دلار و پس از آن نفری ۴۰ دلار است. شروع جلسات کنفرانس عصر روز پنجشنبه و پایان آن ساعت دوازده ظهر روز دو شنبه ۳۱ می است. بمناسبت تقارن زمان کنفرانس با برنامة بزرگداشت سالروز صعود حضرت بهاءالله در مشرق‌الاذکار در ساعات ۲ تا ۴/۳۰ صبح شنبه ۲۹ می، صبح شنبه وقف وقت آزاد شده است و کنفرانس برنامه‌ای ندارد. بجای آن برنامة کنفرانس غروب یکشنبه که معمول بوده تا ظهر دوشنبه ادامه خواهد یافت.

از علاقه‌مندان دعوت می‌شود برای نام‌نویسی در کنفرانس برگ نام‌نویسی را تکمیل فرمایند و آن را همراه با چک نام‌نویسی در وجه Bahá’í Services Fund به دفتر امور احبای ایرانی/آمریکایی ارسال فرمایند. همچنین دوستان می‌توانند برای دریافت اطلاعات بیشتر در بارة کنفرانس با دفتر مذکور تماس حاصل نمایند.

اطلاعات در بارة برنامة خردسالان

برای شرکت خردسالان بهائی در نهمین کنفرانس سالانه موارد و شرایطی در نظر گرفته شده است که شرح آن در زیر درج می‌گردد:

• نونهالانی که مایل به اجرای برنامة هنری و خواندن شعر و نثر به زبان فارسی باشند باید والدینشان از قبل با هیأت برگزاری کنفرانس تماس حاصل نمایند.

• در طول برگزاری کنفرانس همه خردسالان کمتر از ۱۲ سال باید در قسمت خردسالان نام‌نویسی کنند. ناگفته پیداست که انتظار می‌رود نونهالان عزیز رفتار و اخلاق و شؤون بهائی را رعایت نمایند.

• معلمانی که برای بخش خردسالان انتخاب شده‌اند همگی از افراد با تجربه و حرفه‌ای و متخصص آموزش و پرورش خردسالانند.

• کنفرانس خردسالان شامل بخش‌های آموزشی و تربیتی و هنری ورزشی خواهد بود.

• حق نام‌نویسی کودکان برای سه روز کنفرانس نفری ۵۰ دلار است. در صورتی که دوستان مایل باشند اطفالشان را روزانه ثبت نام کنند، مبلغ نام‌نویسی روزی ۲۰ دلار خواهد بود.

• برای نام‌نویسی خردسالان باید دوستان برگة نام‌نویسی را به همراه چک در وجه Bahá’í Services Fund تا آخر ماه اپریل سال جاری به نشانی دفتر امور احبای ایرانی/آمریکایی ارسال دارند.

دوستان می‌توانند برای دریافت اطلاعات بیشتر با خانم آنیسا آذر در دفتر امور احبای ایرانی/آمریکایی تماس حاصل نمایند: شماره تلفن: ۳۵۲۸-۷۳۳-۸۴۷ شماره فکس: ۳۴۸۶-۷۳۳-۸۴۷ e-mail:

برگ نام‌نویسی
نهمین کنفرانس سالانه
انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی
۲۷ تا ۳۱ ماه می ۱۹۹۹

نام خانوادگی ..............................................................................

نام ..............................................................................................

نشانی............................................................................................

شهر ................................... ایالت ..........................................

کد پستی ......................... کشور ..........................................

شماره تلفن: ...............................................................................

مبلغ نام‌نویسی تا آخر اپریل نفری ۳۵ دلار و بعد از آن نفری ۴۰ دلار خواهد بود.

عده شرکت کنندگان .................................................................

نام شرکت کنندگان ...................................................................

..................................................................................................

..................................................................................................

..................................................................................................

مبلغ چک .......................................................................... دلار

شماره چک ................................................................................

لطفاً چک را در وجه Bahá’í Services Fund صادر فرمائید و به نشانی زیر ارسال دارید.

Persian/American Affairs Office Bahá’í National Center 1233 Central Street Evanston, IL 60201

حقوق‌الله

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

Dr. Amin Banani Santa Monica, CA 90402-3154

Mr. Stephen Birkland Arden Hills, MN ‎5511 55112‎-3756

Dr. Daryush Haghighi Rocky River, OH 44116-1124

برگ نام‌نویسی
برنامه خردسالان
نهمین کنفرانس سالانه
انجمن دوستداران فرهنگ ایرانی

نام و نام خانوادگی مادر ................................... شماره چک ..................................

نام و نام خانوادگی پدر .................................... مبلغ چک ....................................

نشانی ......................................................................................................................

نام و نام خانوادگی و سن خردسالان

۱. .................................................................... ............ سال

۲. .................................................................... ............ سال

۳. .................................................................... ............ سال

۴. .................................................................... ............ سال

شماره تلفن ............................................................................................................

[Page 37]می‌شود این رویه را حمل بر این کنند که امر مبارک یک "فرقه عجیب و غریب" است.

۷- برنامۀ ویدیوئی باید نشان دهد که بهائیان مردمانی خوشرو و شاد و آزاداندیشند و سعهٔ صدر دارند. عبوسی و "خشک مقدس" نمائی و زهدفروشی سبب استیحاش مردم می‌شود.

۸- باید نشان داد که بهائیان در "پیلهٔ" خود نمی‌تنند و اعضای یک جامعهٔ بسته و سر در خود نیستند و هر چند با هم کیشان خود ارتباط نزدیک دارند با این حال ارتباطشان با یکدیگر مانع از اختلاطشان با غیربهائیان نیست. پیام اهل بهاء باید این باشد که مردمی خیرخواه با آرمانهای عالیند که برای استقرار آن می‌کوشند اما هرگز خود را برتر از دیگران نمی‌دانند.

۹- باید توجه داشت که تاکید بر تغییر دین و مذهب سبب استیحاش مردم می‌شود. حتی کسانی که نظر مثبتی نسبت به امر مبارک دارند هنگامی که احساس کنند تحت فشار قرار گرفته‌اند نظرشان نسبت به اهل بهاء تغییر می‌کند. اکثر آمریکائیان برای "واعظان تلویزیونی" احترامی قائل نیستند و اگر رفتار مشابهی از اهل بهاء ببینند دلسرد می‌شوند و علاقه‌ای به کسب اطلاعات بیشتر نشان نمی‌دهند. فراموش نباید کرد که غرض از تهیه و پخش برنامه‌های ویدیوئی ایجاد علاقه در مردم است.

مجمع عرفان

‘IRFAN COLLOQUIA

بیست و سومین و بیست و چهارمین مجمع عرفان بترتیب بزبانهای انگلیسی و فارسی از ۸ تا ۱۱ اکتبر ۱۹۹۹ در مدرسهٔ بهائی لوهلن تشکیل می‌گردد. موضوع محوری هر دو کنفرانس اساس عقائد اهل بهاء است و به دنبال آن سمیناری هم در مورد آثار نازل از قلم اعلی در اوائل دورۀ عکّا (۱۸۸۹-۱۸۶۸) برگزار خواهد شد. بعلاوه، در بخش انگلیسی مجمع عرفان سخنرانیهائی در بارۀ دیانت بهائی و دیگر ادیان جهان ایراد خواهد گردید. شرکت در مجمع عرفان برای عموم احباء آزاد است. گرچه سخنرانیها در حد علمی است ولی برای هر بهائی عمیقی در آثار مبارکه قابل استفاده است. علاقه‌مندان می‌توانند برای شرکت در این جلسات، خود با مدرسهٔ بهائی لوهلن تماس بگیرند. محصلین مؤسسهٔ ویلمت را تشویق می‌کنیم که در این جلسات مجمع عرفان شرکت جویند.

برای اطلاعات بیشتر با جنابان دکتر ایرج ایمن و دکتر رابرت ستاکمن به شرح زیر تماس بگیرید:

Dr. Iraj Ayman or Dr. Robert Stockman Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 Phone(Dr. Ayman) 847-733-3501 (Dr. Stockman) 847-733-3425 Fax 847- 733-3563 e-mail:

انتشارات تازه

New Publications

دکتر مهاجر داستان زندگی و خدمات ایادی عزیز امر الله دکتر رحمت الله مهاجر نمودار عظمت و قدرت روحی و خلاق و عزم و ارادة متین در خدمت به امر الهی است.

زندگی دکتر مهاجر مانند نسیم لطیفی آغاز شد و به تدریج به باد و طوفانی عظیم امّا نه ویرانگر بلکه سازنده تبدیل گردید. دکتر مهاجر به همهٔ قارات جهان سفر کرد، دقیقه‌ای آرام نگرفت و عمر پر بار خود را به ابلاغ کلام الهی و هدایت همگان سپری نمود.

همسر ایشان سرکار خانم ایرن فروتن مهاجر که خود قدم به قدم همراه ایادی عزیز امر مبارک و در بسیاری از خدمات ایشان شریک بوده‌اند کتابی با عنوان دکتر مهاجر در شرح زندگانی آن ایادی خدوم به زبان انگلیسی تدوین و تألیف کردند.

این کتاب را خانم پریوش سمندری خوشبین به توصیهٔ مؤلّف محترم از زبان انگلیسی به زبان فارسی ترجمه کرده و مؤسسهٔ معارف بهائی در کانادا آن را منتشر نموده است. این کتاب سودمند حاوی تصاویر گوناگون و شرح داستانهای فداکاری و خدمت و وفا به آستان الهی در ۶۷۶ صفحه به چاپ رسیده است و در امریکا می‌توان آن را از مؤسسهٔ ایمجز اینترنشنال خریداری نمود: ۴۲۳-۸۷۰-۴۵۲۵ مطالعه این کتاب را به همۀ دوستان توصیه می‌کنیم.

نفحات فضل ۵ پنجمین مجموعه از سلسلة "نفحات فضل" به همت مؤسسهٔ معارف بهائی در کانادا به چاپ رسید. این مجموعه که برای صحیح خواندن و فرا گیری الواح و ادعیهٔ ‎مخصوصایام مخصوص ایام‎ ها، ایام صیام، و عید نوروز تهیه گردیده، مشتمل بر یک نوار صوتی با قرائت و اعراب صحیح و یک جزوه از متن بیانات مبارکه با معانی لغات است.

به منظور اینکه مطالب عربی این ادعیه و الواح بهتر فهمیده شود، مضمون فارسی قسمتهای عربی بیانات مبارکه نیز در این جزوه درج گردیده است تا دوستان عزیز بتوانند با کمک کتابچهٔ لغت نامه که در آخر این مجموعه نوشته شده است، معانی دقیق همهٔ قسمتهای این ادعیه و الواح مبارکه را فراگیرند. این مجموعه نیز توسط مؤسسهٔ ایمجز اینترنشنال Images International بفروش می‌رسد.

پنجاهمین سالگرد اعلامیهٔ حقوق بشر

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

احباء همواره تشویق شده‌اند که در فعالیتها و خدمات مربوط به بزرگداشت روز سازمان ملل متحد پیشقدم باشند. سال گذشته مقارن بود با پنجاهمین سال صدور اعلامیهٔ حقوق بشر توسط سازمان ملل متحد. برای بزرگداشت این رویداد در سراسر ایالات متحده در نظر گرفته شده بود که ۵۲ جلسه با عنوان "جلسات شهر" "Town Meetings" تشکیل گردد.

یکی از دو تن مسؤولان برگزاری مراسم مذکور آقای دیوید هینکلی اظهار می‌داشت که جامعهٔ بهائی یکی از ۸ سازمانهای غیر دولتی بود که در برگزاری "جلسات شهر برای بزرگداشت روز سازمان ملل متحد فعالیت جدی داشت.

به گفتهٔ آقای هینکلی، در بسیاری از موارد تا اواسط ماه نوامبر سال ۱۹۹۸ بهائیان تنها افرادی بودند که در برنامه‌ریزی جلسات مذکور دست داشتند و بعد دیگران نیز بدانان ملحق شدند. ایشان همچنین گفت که بهائیان شگرد ویژه‌ای دارند که می‌توانند افراد و گروه هائی که کار کردن با آنها دشوار است، ...ار کنند.

برخی از نقاطی که احباء در برگزاری مراسم بزرگداشت پنجاهمین سالگرد صدور اعلامیهٔ حقوق بشر فعالیت داشتند عبارت است از: اوکلند و لوس آنجلس و مانتری پی در کالیفرنیا، اشویل کانتی Ashville County در کرولاینای شمالی، سلایدل Slidell در لوئیزیانا، پورتلند در مِین، کمبریج در ماساچوست.

بزرگداشت روز جهانی زن

UN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

سازمان ملل متحد ۸ مارس را روز جهانی زن اعلام کرده است و هر سال مراسمی در آن روز برگزار می‌شود. محفل روحانی ملّی از جوامع محلّی و کلوپ‌های دانشگاهی درخواست کرده است که در بزرگداشت این روز به پا خیزند.

احباء می‌توانند از این فرصت برای ایراد سخنرانی و ادارهٔ کارگاه‌های مخصوص و تشکیل جلسات و هر آنچه بر محور موضوع زنان باشد فعالیت کنند. یاران می‌توانند از این فرصت برای بحث دربارهٔ بیانیهٔ محفل روحانی ملّی و آشنا ساختن دیگران با این تعلیم اساسی امر مبارک استفاده فرمایند. [Page 38]

شرح اجمالی نقشه ملی تبلیغی

اقتباس از گزارش لجنه ملی نشر نفحات خطاب به شوراهای ناحیه ای بهائی

OVERVIEW OF THE NATIONAL TEACHING PLAN

بیت العدل اعظم الهی در پیام رضوان سال ۱۵۳ بدیع اشاره فرمودند که "هدف نقشه چهارساله اقدامی اساسی یعنی پیشرفتی مهم در جریان دخول افواج مقبلین است. همان طور که قبلاً متذکر شده ایم چنین پیشرفتی باید از طریق افزایش فعالیت ها و اقدامات افراد احباء و مؤسسات امری و جوامع محلی تحقق یابد."

نقشه ملی تبلیغی حاوی فعالیت هایی در سطح محلی و ناحیه ای و ملی است. فعالیت های مذکور به هم پیوسته است و تأثیر متقابل در یکدیگر دارد و وسیله ای است که قوای احباء را در مساعی فردی و مجاهدات جمعی تشدید خواهد کرد و در عین حال کوشش های مذکور را به صورت برنامه احد و مؤثری وحدت خواهد بخشید.

نتایج اولیه

• جامعه امری به مرحله ای ورای روش های تبلیغی سابق رسیده است.
• حیات جامعه معتدل تر شده و در ارتباط با مبتدیان پذیراتر گردیده است.
• افرادی که به کوشش های اخیر پاسخ داده اند خود را رسماً مبتدی و متحری حقیقت می دانند و بسیاری از خصائص اعضای جامعه امری را دارا هستند.
• تقریباً ۸۰ درصد فعالیت های جوامع محلی مستقیماً حامی نقشه ملی است.
• به طور کلی جامعه امری جامعه ای فعال و در زمینه تبلیغ امر الهی متعهد است.

در مجموع باید گفت که بر اساس میزان فعالیت های تبلیغی و ظرفیت بیشتر برای جلب افراد به امر مبارک استعداد زیادی برای پیشرفت وجود دارد.

اساس نقشه ملی تبلیغی

نقشه ملی تبلیغی در سطح ملی شامل فعالیت های زیر است:

• تهیه مطالب جدید برای رسانه ها
• ادامه آزمایش و پژوهش درباره گروه های ویژه
• گردآوری اطلاعات درباره متحریان و توزیع آن
• نظارت فعالیت ها و تحولات در داخل جامعه امری
• راهنمائی تشکیلات گوناگون در زمینه روش تبلیغ و ابلاغ اخبار مهم به جامعه امری
• تهیه برنامه های آموزشی ویژه در زمینه های مورد نیاز مانند روابط عمومی و تهیه برنامه درسی

مشاورین قاره ای نقشه تبلیغی در سطح ناحیه ای را شامل فعالیت های زیر دانسته اند:

• گسترش منابع انسانی
• تشویق تبلیغ فردی
• طرح و اجرای نقشه های گوناگون
• تقویت جوامع محلی به ویژه محافل محلی
• تأسیس مشروعات محلی و ناحیه ای
• کمک به مبلغان سیار و مهاجران داخله
• توزیع آثار امری و مواد سمعی - بصری
• برگزاری کنفرانس های گوناگون

لجنه ملی نشر نفحات امیدوار است که فعالیت های فوق به صورتی اجرا شود که مستقیماً پیرو نقشه ملی و برنامه های رسانه ها باشد. به عنوان مثال شوراهای ناحیه ای می توانند در مورد تشویق مردم به استفاده از شماره تلفن مجانی جهت دریافت اطلاعات درباره امر مبارک و زیر نظر گرفتن ادامه ارتباط با متحریان و توجه به مسائلی چون وحدت نژادی و جز آن منشاء اثر مهمی باشند.

اقدامات مستمر در سطح محلی که تحت تأثیر برنامه های ملی و ناحیه ای است باید شامل نکات زیر باشد:

• استفاده از مواد تهیه شده برای رسانه ها جهت تبلیغ
• اقدام به فعالیت های گوناگون و گسترده تبلیغی مانند تشکیل بیوت تبلیغی و جلسات اعلان عمومی و تبلیغ در کالج ها و دانشگاه ها
• ترتیب جلسات دعا و مناجات به طور منظم
• تشکیل جلسات کارآموزی و ‎ترید تجدید‎ معلومات
• کارکرد مؤثر محافل روحانی محلی
• افزایش شرکت عمومی یاران در حیات جامعه و فعالیت های تبلیغی
• تقویت حیات جامعه از طریق ضیافات نوزده روزه و برنامه های ویژه نونهالان و جوانان و استفاده از هنرهای گوناگون

استفاده از رسانه ها در نقشه ملی تبلیغی

استفاده از رسانه ها امکانات تبلیغ افراد را افزایش می دهد بدین ترتیب که:

• نسبت به امر مبارک در مردم ایجاد آگاهی می کند
• به آسانی در دسترس مبتدیان و متحریان قرار می گیرد

روش کنونی با آنچه از پیش صورت می گرفت تفاوت دارد بدین ترتیب که:

• از روش های پژوهشی استفاده می شود تا دانسته شود چه کسانی نسبت به امر مبارک علاقه نشان می دهند
• پیام های امری با توجه به گروه های ویژه ای تهیه می شود
• به نیازهای متحریان پاسخ داده می شود
• میزان توفیق در ابلاغ امر مبارک را می توان اکنون اندازه گرفت.

برنامه های ویدیوئی برای تبلیغ امرالله

همان گونه که به آگاهی دوستان رسیده است لجنه ملی نشر نفحات با همکاری یک سازمان پژوهشی تحقیقاتی در زمینه چگونگی اثربخشی نوارهای ویدیوئی درباره امر بهائی به عمل آورده است.

این برنامه های ویدیوئی را به گروه های ویژه ای که اعضایشان بدون ترتیب خاصی انتخاب شده اند، نشان می دهند و بازتاب بینندگان را ثبت می کنند و آنگاه اطلاعاتی را که فراهم آورده اند مورد بررسی و تجزیه و تحلیل قرار می دهند. سپس در برنامه های ویدیوئی تجدید نظر می کنند و تغییراتی بر اساس بررسی و یافته های قبلی در آن صورت می دهند تا ارائه آن تأثیر شدیدتری در بینندگان ایجاد نماید.

مختصری از نتایج بررسی های مذکور و پیشنهادهایی که برای تهیه و ارائه برنامه های ویدیوئی داده شده است در زیر درج می گردد:

۱- برنامه های ویدیوئی باید نشان دهد که امر بهائی یک دین مشروع و معقول و حقیقی است. اکثر مردم با امر مبارک آشنائی ندارند و عکس العمل اولیه آنان پس از شنیدن نام امر بهائی این است که امر مبارک یک فرقه عجیب یا یک مذهب خرافی است. یکی از ‎اهدف اهداف‎ اصلی ویدیوها باید رفع این سوء تفاهم باشد.

۲- بینندگان معمولاً مایلند بدانند که خلق و خوی اهل دین چیست و دین چه تأثیری در رفتار و حیات اخلاقی پیروان آن داشته است. از این رو مطالبی که توسط سخنگو یا نماینده آن دین اظهار می شود معمولاً مورد اعتماد بینندگان نیست چه که آن اظهارات را از جمله "تبلیغات" تلقی می کنند. به طور کلی مردم بیشتر ناظر به رفتارند تا گفتار.

۳- امریکائیانی که خود را اهل ایمان می دانند همگی به خدای یکتا اعتقاد دارند. ویدیوها باید در وهله اول این مطلب را مورد تأکید قرار دهد که بهائیان هم به همان خدا معتقدند. بهترین راه برای اثبات این مدعا استفاده از نصوص الهی در این خصوص است.

۴- به طور کلی امریکائیان برداشت خاصی از هدف و کارکرد دین دارند. در ارائه ویدیوها باید حکمت به کار برد و این برداشت را مورد نظر داشت. مثلاً نشان دادن اطفالی که با شادی و خوشروئی در کلاس های درس اخلاق آموزش می بینند اثر مثبتی بر بینندگان دارد زیرا با برداشت آنان از هدف دین که باید از لحاظ روحانی و اخلاقی اطفال را پرورش دهد مطابقت دارد. در عوض نشان دادن تصویرهائی از قدمای امر در محیط و ظاهری نامأنوس اثری منفی در بینندگان دارد.

۵- بینندگان بیشتر مایلند نقاط مشترک ادیان را دریابند. بدین ترتیب تمرکز بر مسائلی چون تربیت روحانی و اخلاقی کودکان و اهمیت خانواده و تقویت روابط خانوادگی و دعا و مناجات و شرکت در جلسات دینی بیشتر مورد پسند قرار می گیرد.

۶- تأکید بر تفاوت های ادیان و به ویژه انتقاد از ادیان دیگر یا ذکر برتری دینی نسبت به دین دیگر همواره باعث سردی بینندگان می شود و باعث [Page 39]

New communities founded—with 620 enrollees

A remote district of Bangladesh bordering India, which “was yet deprived of the bounty of having heard the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh,” proved to be highly receptive as the first extensive teaching project there opened 30 villages to the Bahá’í Faith.

In the Joypur Hat district, seven believers worked closely with two Auxiliary Board members during July through September and ushered 620 souls into the Faith, immediately held a five-day course on “Reflections of the Life of the Spirit,” and organized study circles among the new friends.

“There was instant and enthusiastic response from the participants comprising men and women, young and old, schoolteachers, as well as people with little formal education, and Bahá’ís from different religious backgrounds,” says a report from the Continental Board of Counselors. “But for everyone the systematic study of the Holy Writings was a new experience that taught them to see the spiritual teachings in the light of practical situations in their lives.”

The Bahá’í Faith had not yet been taught to any extent in Joypur Hat, even though the district is part of the ‎Rajhashi Rajshahi‎ Zone, which is home to a large concentration of Bahá’ís.

Before the teaching project got going, a Bahá’í from within the zone introduced the Faith to authorities in Joypur Hat, which “paved the way for the teaching work to go forward smoothly,” the Counselors reported.

Once the new believers enrolled in a village, they were immediately supplied with deepening sessions and some were invited to participate in institute courses facilitated by five trained tutors.

A number of new enrollees have been identified for training as tutors to maintain the study circles. “In this way a chain reaction will start which will enable further teaching and training to take place in these villages,” the Counselors reported. ◆

TEACHING

• Liberia: Official agencies are inviting the Bahá’í community to help uplift the population in various ways. In October, the government-owned ELBC radio network asked to take part in its weekly talk show on religious issues, Unity of Faiths. “The ELBC representative had hardly left [the meeting] when a representative of KISS FM, owned by the president of Liberia, came in to request that the ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ record a local meditation to be aired every morning and evening,” the national Bahá’í newsletter reported.

Also, the National Education Ministry has invited representatives of the Faith to join Christians and Muslims in assembling a nationwide curriculum on religious and moral teachings.

• India: An impression from one of the 694,000 visitors to the Bahá’í House of Worship from July through September, found in the guest book: “The architecture of the Temple is excellent and shows the extreme of human capabilities if under the united religions of the world. This appears to be the creation of God’s imagination. ... The unity of religions can make the world as beautiful and clean as the Lotus.”

• Poland: A group of four Bahá’ís representing three nationalities and four religious backgrounds traveled to open the northwestern city of Gorzów to the Faith, visiting first the local television and radio stations and newspapers to arrange interviews and publicity for their public meetings. The deputy mayor and the district’s deputy governor were presented with the Peace Message of the Universal House of Justice, and Bahá’í books were presented to libraries. Among initial results, one couple joined the Faith and several other people became highly interested. ◆

EDUCATION

• Switzerland: More than 230 Bahá’í scholars, artists, musicians and other friends participated in a weeklong conference at Landegg Academy, paying tribute to the life and work of the Hand of the Cause of God Abu’l-Qásim Faizí. Organized by the Friends of Persian Culture Association of Europe, the conference featured “stories of his many years of selfless service in the field of pioneering, of his several meetings with the Guardian and of his remarkable publications including 70,000 letters of encouragement to believers all over the world—particularly those in remote areas.” ◆

Health effort in Zambia

Friends gather for a basic family health course and a women’s health program at the Bahá’í Institute in Mwinilunga, Zambia. Photo via Bahá’í International News Service

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

• United Kingdom: U.S. first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was presented with a gift of the Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh in appreciation for the American government’s defense of the Bahá’ís in Iran, during an international conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on advancing the role of women in the life of society. Two Bahá’í women were delegates to the British-U.S. government-sponsored conference, and the presentation was made on behalf of the Association of Bahá’í Women in Britain.

• Australia: Two members of the Continental Board of Counselors, David Chittleborough and Manijeh Reyhani, met with and presented Bahá’í literature to the governor of Western Australia, who urged them to encourage Bahá’ís to work with religious leaders in promoting moral education in public schools. ◆

Bermuda marks 50th anniversary

Bermuda Gov. Thorold Masefield cuts the ribbon for the Bahá’í National Center, as National Assembly Chairman Derick Symonds and children look on.

Marking the 50th year of Bahá’í presence in Bermuda, the Bahá’í community officially opened its renovated National Center on Nov. 13, with dignitaries in attendance including Gov. Thorold Masefield, Premier Jennifer Smith and Bishop Kurtz of the neighboring Roman Catholic Church.

Just before cutting the ribbon, the governor noted the warm family spirit of the gathering and the importance to Bermuda of the Bahá’í principles of unity, tolerance and service. The gathering was also addressed by Counselor Wilma Ellis, who said the Bahá’í National Center is dedicated to all of Bermuda.

William Roberts attended as representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and made a presentation to the Bermuda Bahá’í community. ◆

Namibian project benefits children

When Mel Chester, a Bahá’í pioneer from Los Angeles, began the Mondesa Project in and around his town of Swakopmund, Namibia, he provided meals for about 200 children every Saturday. He would gather donations of food from restaurants and grocery stores, and support other costs through money donations from the community.

“Mel is now feeding over 500 children on Saturdays and more on school holidays,” a report from an individual states. “There is a health clinic where volunteers from the community come to serve these children soup and bread.”

Chester’s project has been written up often in the Namib Times. Last summer, the Mondesa Clinic was visited by wives of the leaders of four countries who were in the area for the Southern Africa International Development conference. “Queen Magwaza of Swaziland—moved by the moment—made a donation of $510 [Namibian] to the project and gave her best wishes,” the report said.

Within a month the project received a larger donation by a town councillor, who challenged her colleagues to contribute.

The report states that Chester is also regularly arranging breakfast for about 60 elderly people once a week.

“There is also a group of street children that are provided porridge every morning and are given soap and cloth. ... Mel also collects flour sacks from the flour mill, and some women calling themselves the Busy Bees make them into dresses and shirts for the children.” ◆ [Page 40]

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 831-423-3387; fax 831-423-7564; e-mail . Green Acre Bahá’í School, phone 207-439-7200; fax 207-438-9940; e-mail . Louhelen Bahá’í School, phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-7181; e-mail . Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute, phone 803-558-5093; fax 803-558-9136; e-mail . Native American Bahá’í Institute, phone 520-587-7599; fax 520-521-1063; e-mail .

FEBRUARY

12–14: “Finding Joy in Bahá’í Learning,” seminar for adults and youth, at Green Acre.

12–15: “Racism/Race Unity: Two Sides of the Same Coin” at Bosch.

15: Interfaith Brotherhood /Sisterhood Breakfast, 10 a.m.–noon, Teaneck, NJ. Featured speaker: Dr. David Ruhe. For tickets, information and hotel accommodations, contact Spiritual Assembly of Teaneck, Teaneck, NJ 07666 (phone 201-837-3638).

19–21: “Turning On the Light: Creating and Sustaining a Conscious Marriage,” a two-week-end course at Bosch. Part 2 is March 26–28.

26–28: Family Session at Louhelen.

MARCH

5–7: “Rendezvous of the Soul,” spiritual retreat for the Fast, at Bosch.

5–7: “The Life of the Soul,” spiritual retreat for the Fast for ages 15 and older at Green Acre.

19–21: “Bahá’u’lláh: The Ancient Beauty” at Louhelen.

26–28: “Fundamental Verities of the Bahá’í Faith,” training course at Bosch. Participants must be referred by an institution; must also attend sessions April 16–18 and May 7–9.

26–28: Two programs at Green Acre: “Establishing Training Institutes: Teaching the Cause”; Junior Youth Institute, ages 12–15 (enrollment limited).

26–28: “Ethics and Spirituality in Medicine” at Louhelen.

30–April 3: Spring Children’s Academy for grades 4–6 at Bosch.

APRIL

2–4: Youth Eagle Institute for ages 15 and up at Louhelen.

9–11: Persian language training at Louhelen.

9–11: “Citadel of Faith” at Green Acre.

9–11: Core Curriculum Teacher Training at Green Acre; should attend second session April 16–18.

9–11: Virtues Project at Bosch.

16–18: “The Spiritual Purpose of Women: Women’s Role in Advancing the Most Great Peace” at Bosch.

16–18: “Work as Worship: Bahá’í Principles at Work” at Green Acre.

23–24: Youth Study Weekend: “Creating 21st Century Badi’s” at Bosch. For youth ages 15 and up.

30–May 2: “Spiritual Values and Development” Training Intensive at Green Acre. Readings required.

30–May 2: Two programs at Louhelen: Spiritual Empowerment Institute for ages 12–15 and Institute for Local Spiritual Assemblies.

MAY

7–9: Parent-Child Weekend at Louhelen.

8–9: Duluth (Minnesota) Conference, theme: “An Irresistible Movement Toward Global Unity and Peace”; co-sponsored by Spiritual Assembly of Duluth and William Sears Teaching Institute. Call 218-254-3101 (e-mail).

20–23: Wellness conference at Louhelen, sponsored by BNASAA.

21–23: “Love, Power and Justice: A Workshop on Moral Authenticity” at Louhelen.

28–30: “The Spirit of Children” Conference on Children’s Literature and Art at Green Acre.

28–30: Assembly Team Development at Green Acre. Call registrar if your Assembly is interested in participating.

28–30: Conference of Núr: “Achieving Your Heart’s Desire,” on teaching, transformation and establishment of the Lesser Peace; ‎ElizabethtownCollege Elizabethtown College‎, Elizabethtown, PA. Sponsored by Spiritual Assembly of Harrisburg. Contact Mark Dunmire, Harrisburg, PA 17104 (phone 717-232-9163, e-mail).

28–31: “Health Topics for a New Millennium: Combining Traditional and Alternative Care” at Bosch. Hosted by Health for Humanity, Southern California Chapter.

ARE YOU A PRINT PRODUCTION OR GRAPHIC DESIGN PROFESSIONAL LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE?

Now is the time to put your valuable skills directly to work for His Cause and His servants! The Bahá’í National Center urgently seeks a print production specialist to assist with The American Bahá’í and Brilliant Star magazine.

See page 32 for details.

Service Opportunities

To find out about service opportunities at the Bahá’í World Center and the Bahá’í National Center, see pages 32–33.

Photo Caption

A few of the shining faces of students in Bahá’í children’s classes in Mundelein, Illinois. Photo by Vladimir Shilov

Mailing Label Information

BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER 112 LINDEN AVE WILMETTE, IL 60091-2849

FEBRUARY 7, 1999 MULK/DOMINION • B.E. 155

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

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

A. NAME(S)
1. _________________________________ ID# ________________
2. _________________________________ ID# ________________
3. _________________________________ ID# ________________
4. _________________________________ ID# ________________

B. NEW RESIDENCE ADDRESS	C. NEW MAILING ADDRESS
Street Address ____________________	Street Address ____________________
Apartment # (if applicable) ________	Apartment # (if applicable) ________
City ___________________________	City ___________________________
State ____________ Zip code ______	State ____________ Zip code ______

D. NEW COMMUNITY	E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER
Name of new Bahá’í Community ______	Area Code Phone Number ______ Name ______
Moving Date ______________________

F. WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER(S)
Area Code Phone Number ______ Name ______	Area Code Phone Number ______ Name ______

G. WE RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES BECAUSE:	H. I WOULD LIKE A COPY
[ ] we do not have the same last name. We do not want extra copies, so please cancel the copy for the person(s) and ID number(s) listed above. [ ] the last names and addresses on our address labels do not match. We have listed above the full names of family members as they should appear on the national records, their ID numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive only one copy.	[ ] Our household receives only one copy of The American Bahá’í. I wish to receive my own copy. I have listed my name, ID number and address above.