The American Bahá’í/Volume 30/Issue 10/Text

From Bahaiworks

[Page 1]


To the Baha'is of the world

Messages of the Universal House of Justice

November 26, 1999

pr loved Friends,

On this special day, when our hearts and thoughts are focused on the immortal example set by the life of the Centre of the Covenant, we pause to note, with feelings of deep gratitude, the current progress of the Divine Plan which He conceived, and to glance at the future beyond the four-year stage now rapidly coming to an end.

‘The accomplishments during this period are encouraging indeed. impressive network of training institut ona scale but dimly imagined at the start of the Plan has been established throughout the world. These nascent centres of learning have made significant strides in developing formal programmes and in putting into place effective systems for the delivery of courses. Reports indicate that the number of believers benefiting directly from training courses has climbed to nearly 100,000. Without question, the capacity of the worldwide community to develop its human resources has been distinctly enhanced.

The effects of this systematic approach






December 28, 1999

Be Friends,

In the course of the Four Year Plan, we have been reviewing those laws of the Kitab-i-Aqdas which are not yet universally applied, in order to determine wh of them it would be timely to implement now.

In every land we see a growing thirst for spiritual life and moral clarity. There is recognition of the ineffectiveness of plans and programs for human betterment which are not rooted in lives of spiritual awareness and ethical virtue. Who should be better equipped to satisfy this longing than those who are already inspired by the Teachings of Baha’u’llah and aided by His Power?

We have determined, therefore, that it









to human resource development are themselves felt in the lives of all three protagonists of the Plan—the individual believer, the institutions, and the local community. There has been an upsurge in teaching activities undertaken at the initiative of the individual. Spiritual Assemblies, Councils, and committees have grown in their ability to guide the believers in their individual and collective endeavours. And community life has flourished, even in localities long dormant, as new patterns of thought and behaviour have emerged. As we survey the Baha’f world, we see a greatly strengthened community, internally sound and notably reinforced. Its achievements in reaching the general public, governments and organi zations of civil society and in winning trust in all these circles are striking. Agencies specialized in external affairs, following a









12: MONTH PLAN RipvAN 2000-2001

Pada wy RIDVAN 2001-2006


well-defined strategy, have broadened the range of the Faith’s influence nationd internationally, and projects of and economic development, which seek the spiritual and material upliftment of entire communities, are penetrating society at the grassroots. The two stages in the unfoldment of the Divine Plan lying immediately ahead will last one year and five years respectively. At Ridvin 2000 the Baha’{ world will be asked to embark on the first of these two stages, a twelve-month effort aimed at concentrating the forces, the capacities and the insights that have so strongly emerged. The Five Year Plan that follows will initiate a series of worldwide enterprises that will carry the Baha’f community through the final twenty years in the first century of the







SEE NOVEMBER 26, 1999, PAGE 2

PLICATION OF LAWS O eae Ae)


s to deep is imperative for all the believe en their awareness of the ble: ferred by the laws which dir the devotional life of the indi thus, of the community. The essentials of these laws are known to all Baha'is, but acquiring greater insight into their significance must include carrying out all the divinely revealed aspects of their observance. These are the laws which pert to obligatory prayer, fasting and recitation of the Greatest Name ninety-five times a day.

Baha'u'llah asserts: “One who performeth neither good deeds nor acts of worship is like unto a tree which beareth no fruit, and an action which leaveth no trace. Whosoever experienceth the holy ecstasy of worship will refuse to barter such an act or any praise of











God for all that existeth in the world. Fasting and obligatory prayer are as two wings to man’s life. Blessed be the one who soareth with their aid in the heaven of the love of God, the Lord of all worlds.” The friends have long been familiar with the great importance which Baha'u'llah attaches to daily obligatory prayer and to the observance of the fas but a number of a of the law, si





remained to be made universal applicable. This step is now taken. Thus all elements of the laws dealing with obligatory prayer and fasting are, without any exception, now applicable.



SEE DECEMBER 28, 1999, PAGE 2



During 2000, Baha’is in the United States are being asked to deepen our — understanding of the Administrative Order with a yearlong f focused study _ of two important books of letters by the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi.

- See details, page 3 :




DecemBer 31, 1999

SHARAF/HONOR SULTAN/SOVEREIGNTY BAHAI ERA 156

VOLUME 30, NO. 10

“TLN°S*1-D°E:

‘Zraces which shall last forever’



THE NATIONAL FUND

Between May 1 and November 30, 1999

$15,750,000


cdiaicteiteeitilan ale aoai

3 for detai



“Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all

the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths.” —Baha’u'llah




[Page 2]NOVEMBER 26, 1999, continuen FRoM PAGE |


Faith’s Formative Age. These global Plans will continue to focus on advancing the process of entry by troops ration.

al that, during the one-year effort, national and regional institutes everywhere bring into full operation the programmes and systems that they have now devised. National communities should enter the Five Year Plan confident that the acquisition of knowledge, qualities and skills of service by large continget of believers, with the aid of a sequence of courses, will proceed unhindered. Ample attention must also be given to further systematization of teaching efforts, whether undertaken by the individual or directed by the institutions. In this respect, the International Teaching Centre has identified certain patterns of s tematic expansion and consolidation for relati geographical areas consisting of a manageabl of localities. Through the collaboration of Cou and National Spiritual Assemblies, several “ Growth Programmes” are being established in each continent. They will be carefully monitored during the ‘Twelve Month Plan and their methods will be refined so that this approach can be incorporated into subsequent Plans.

Strategies to advance the process of entry by troops cannot ignore children and junior youth, if the victories won in one generation are not to be lost with the passage of time. It is imperative, then, that at this point in












eecccccce





the process of systematization of the te definite steps be taken to ensure that the vis Sono U ey ry eat its younger ae z






to soe chy Gaerne community development. Thi vity should be taken to new levels of intensity during these twelve months and then be further raised in the yea after. That the programmes of most it world provide for the training of children’s cl: ers represents an element of strength. Spiritual Assemblies and Auxiliary Board members will need to mobilize these newly trained human resources to meet the spiritual requirements of children and junior youth.

The period of the Twelve Month Plan will be marked by great act society at large as the twentieth century draws to a close. Already keen interest is being shown by leaders of thought in the destiny of the coming generations, and we hope that the fervour of the Baha’i community, both in its internal operation and its interactions with society, will convey a sense of confidence in the future of humanity.

We will pray ardently in the Holy Shrines that Baha'u'llah will bless your exertions to bring the Four Year Plan to a triumphal conclusion.








‘The Universal House of Justice

DECEMBER 28, 1999, continuen From pace 1

COC CCCOC OOOO EEOEE OOOO OOOO ESOS OSE OOOO OOOEEEEOOOOOOOOOEDOOSOOS


We have also decided that it is timely for Baha’ every land to take to their hearts the words of the Kitabi-Aqdas: “It hath been ordained that every believer in God, the Lord of Judgment, shall, each day, having washed his hands and then bis face, seat himself and, turning unto God, repeat ‘Allih-u-Abha’ ninety-five times. Such was the decree of the Maker of the Heavens when, with majesty and power, He established Himself upon the thrones of His Names.” Let all experience the spiritual enrichment brought to their souls by this simple act of worshipful medi

‘The spiritual growth generated by ind | devotions is reinforced by loving association among the friends in every locality, by worship as a community and by service to the Faith and to one’s fellow human beings. ‘These communal aspects of the godly life relate to the law of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkér which appears in the Kitab-i-Aqdas. Although the time has not come for the building of local Mashriqu’l-Adhkars, the holding of regular meetings for worship open to all and the involvement of Baha'i communities in projects of

in



humanitarian service are expressions of this element of



KAREN BROOK, a Baha'i from Harvard, Illinois, was named a Bronze Tablet scholar at the University of Illinois. As one of the top 3 percent of graduates, she will have her name engraved on the 1999 Bronze ‘Tablet, displayed permanently in the Main Library.

NATEGHEH DABESTANI, a Bahd’i in Bel Air, Maryland, was named Employee of the Year at St. Joseph Medical Center, where she is registered nurse for post openheart surgery. She earlier received a “Spirit of St Francis” certificate from the medical center in praise of her attitude toward spiritual and physical care for patients—including one instance where she consulted with hospital officials to arrange rent payment for a patient who had just lost her son.

Wiiu1aM J. Morrison VII, an 18-year-old Baha’ from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, was recently given three top awards at his high school, including a scholarship for his continuing education in computer engineering. The criteria for all three awards, included character, leadership abilities, scholarship and service.


Baha’f life and a the Law of God. Baha'u'llah has written: “We have adorned the heaven of utterance with the stars of divine wisdom and holy ordinances as a bounty on Our part. Verily, We are the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous. O friends of God throughout the regions! Know ye the value of these days and cling unto whatsoever hath been sent down from God, the Most Great, the Most Exalted. Verily, He remembereth you in the Most Great Prison, and instructeth you in that which will cause you to draw nigh unto astation that delighteth the eyes of the pure in heart. Glory rest upon you and upon those who have attained unto that living ‘fountain which floweth forth from My wondrous Pen.”

It is our prayer at the Sacred Threshold that the greater attention to the spiritual heart of the Teachings which these laws express will enhance the devotion of the friend and attract to the Cau: piritually famished children.

further step in the implementation of






‘The Universal House of Justice


MICHAE MADDONI, a 17-yearold Baha’s in Colorado Springs, Colorado, received an honorary Bausch and Lomb science award, the only junior at his high school to do so. The award comes with a scholarship to the Rochester Institute of ‘Technology — in Rochester, New York.


Nana TOos!, a Baha’i from McKinney, Texas, who attends the University of North Carolina at Hill, was selected as one of the top 10 jow dents in the United States by the Scripps Howard Foundation. Based on academic merit and hard work in journalism, the award came with a $10,000 scholarship.


Jon R. Wurrrock, a Bahé’i and disc jockey at WHOW radio in Clinton, Illinois, was recently presented an Award of Merit from the Local Talent Organization of Nashville, Tennessee, for his work in promoting local recording artists and songwriters.



THE PW 1st er. Ue

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page 2 Tne AMERICAN BanA’l * ContinueD/EXCELLENCE December 31, 1999 [Page 3]PP HES E CON

Cultivating distinction A national program of focused study in 2000


Te




Media




responses roll in steadily

‘he numbers are in, and they show

Americans and the Bahé’{ community eagerly responding to the efforts of the national media initiative coupled with well-conceived, system= atic local plans aimed at advancing the process of entry by troops.

Nearly 3,000 seekers called 1-80022-UNITE during October, the first month of the stepped-up fall schedule f national broadcasts. The inquirers sponding to the 30- and 60-secon spots and the 30-minute video presentations on national televi





sion, as well as to local efforts utilizing the media products. Many inquiries on 1-800-22 UNITE and on the public Web site (www. hai.org) are made during the act ings on national television. For example: Programs and ads on the Bravo Channel, the WGN SuperStation, Black Entertainment Television and Court TV generated a consistent stream of calls by inquirers requesting information.

  • During each of the 40 times a spot

aired on the TV Guide Channel, an average of six seekers would call the 800 number. An average of four callers would contact the Baha'is each time a program was aired on the Odyssey Channel between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.! Statistics on Web site contacts were unavailable. But as a rule, the public Web site (wwwaus.bahai.org) receives as many contacts as the phone respon: tem. Selection of the networks was guided by audience market research and amount of money available for air time. But significantly, nearly half of all inquires were secondary responses,








SEE RESPONSES, PAGE 4

“...the coming of age of the human race must signalize, in its turn, the inauguration of a world civilization such as no mortal eye hath ever beheld. ...””

—Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahé’u’lldh, p. 206

% may occasionally catch a impse of a world civilization greater than any humanly con ceived, but in order to make this vision a reality, we must prepare spiritually. In our personal lives and in our communities, we must go through a transformative process before we expect to attract the hearts of humanity, before we can expect entry by troops.

The Guardian reminded us that the American Baha'i community n -- weed out, by every means in their power, those faults, habits, and tendencies which they have inherited from their own nation, and to cultivate, patiently and prayerfully, those distinctive qualities and characteristics that are so indispensable to








their effective participation in the great emptive work of their Faith.” —Shog] {ffendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 20 Cultivating distinction is what is called for. To help us in this process, the National Spiritual Assembly has asked for a yearlong study of two collections of letters addressed to the American Baha’ commuity by the beloved Guardian, Shoghi ndi: The World Order of Babd’w'lldb and he Advent of Divine Justice. ‘The primary aims of this period of study are to prepare ourselves more fully to welcome and teach new believers and seekers, and to further our own understanding that the foundation of the Administrative Order acquires its inspiration from none other than Baha’u'llah I











self. In contrast with social movements or




religious systems of the past, Baha'u'llah not only has enunciated certain universal principles, but has unfolded a set of laws,


established institutions, and provided for




THE FUND

May 1-Nov. 30, 1999

Contributions received by National Treasurer




Goal for entire year: $27,000,000,

Received since May 1, 1999: $9,781,903



36% of year’s

goal has been met


$8% of fiscal year has passed

April 30, 2000 4





SEE STUDY, PAGE 6


Spotlight on the conscientious


Baha'is of the United States and co-cl



Carl Murrell (middle left), United Nations alternate representative for the


Alfredo Sfeir Younis (right), representative of the World Bank to the U.N., who was honored at the Baha’i U.N. Offices in New York City for his contributions to the U.N. community. The reception was held Nov. 3 by the Values Caucus, which provides a forum for discussion of incorporating values in all aspects of the United Nations’ work. Photo courtesy of U.S. Baha'i U.N. Office

ir of the Values Caucus, greets

Total cash-basis revenues and expenditures

for Baha’ National Fund May 1-November 30, 1999

$12,211,66

Revenues (contributions, book sales, school fees etc.)


$14,602,286

Expenditures (operations, capital and debt payments etc.)




Critical projects that could no longer be deferred have forced our Baha'i national operations into a cash deficit.


Mail contributions to: National Baha’i Fund 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091-2800 Please write Baha’i ID # on check





91" Baha'i National Convention

+ April 27-30, 2000 + Sheraton Arlington Park + Arlington Heights, IL +

The National Spiritual Assembly looks forward to greeting

Last name:

First name:


the elected delegates at the 91st Baha’i National

Convention. The Convention will open Thursday evening,

Baha’i ID number:

Delegate/Visitor? (Please circle one)


April 27, and close midday Sunday, April 30.

Complete information on the Web: www.usbnc.org

Mailing address:


Delegates and Visitors may pre-register with this form or a

copy (separate copy for each person, please). Mail to:


Conventions Office, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette IL 60091

OR: Fax 847-869-0247

Day phone:

Evening phone:

E-mail:


OR: Register through www.usbnc.org

OR: e-mail

No phone registrations, please

ROOM RESERVATIONS AT THE SHERATON: Phone 847-394-2000 * Fax 847-394-9868

Please contact hotel directly by March 28 ¢ Ask for Bah:

4’i contract room rate



December 31, 1999

Tne American BanA‘i ¢ THe Seconp Front

page 3 [Page 4]

Media effort energizes Raleigh-Durham friends


aha’fs in the Raleigh-Durham area B: North Carolina have pulled together in a systematic plan sparked by Baha’i broadcasts and followed through by dedicated activity. Among early results: many seekers and two enrollments. In response to the Ridvin 156 B.E. (1999) message from the Universal House of Justice, the nine communities in the Research Triangle formed a joint media committee to develop a plan. “We already had a strong relationship with the communities in the area on other issues, and a core media team was in

RESPONSES,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Pecccccccccccccccccccs



made during times of day when no Baha’i programs and relatively few spot ads were being aired nationally.

“The quantity of responses is a combination of reaction to the national campaign and supportive local plans developed through a process of mature ideas, consultation with the in: i of the Faith and individual action and support,” said Ken Bowers, secretary of the National ‘Teaching Committee.

A campaign in Durham, North Carolina, is one of a dozen examples of communities that have mobilized and systematized their media efforts since Ridvan (see article above).

But the media effort itself merely opens the door, as the Universal House of Justice cautioned in its Ridvan 1988 message:

“Recognizing that the Spiritual Assemblies and their designated committees have devoted much to proclaiming the Faith through the mass media and sundry other means, that the enormous resources poured into such proclamation represents an investment in the teaching work which paves the way for the action of the individual teacher, and the publicity, however much it may arouse the public interest in the Cause, incapable of replacing personal teaching efforts, let the individual Baha’i renew his resolve to ‘arise and respond to the call of teaching.’ ”








place,” according to Eric Johnson, a ‘Triangle media committee member. “But once the national media campaign began, itjump-started our whole process ... and it has galvanized the Baha’fs in unified action.”

‘The friends consulted with the Southern Regional Baha’f Council and the National Teaching Office, selected public relations representatives from each community, and secured a sponsoring Assembly.

Surrounding communities ensured that regular teaching opportunities and regular devotions were planned in advance for



the two Baha’f centers in the area, and that the friends were united behind the effort with individual firesides.

In September the 30-second spots were aired. Then the 30-minute programs were broadcast on the local Fox affiliate in October. In November, the television exposure was supported with ads in local newspapers. In coming months, the television products will be aired on local public access cable television.

As a result of the Triangle Media Campaign, 30 inqu from the area called 1-800-22-U = during times



Always a favorite

the booth,


An attendant hands a “Teach This Generation to be Prejudice-Free!” bookmark to a visitor at the Baha’i booth in the annual New Jersey Education Association Convention Nov. 11-12 in Atlantic City. More than 26,500 bookmarks, pamphlets, coloring books and stickers were distributed at nized by the Ventnor community, which always attracts ‘with its Baha’-inspired materials.




Diverse cane inspire new videos

Le year, a lone new video production s available to support the friends’ teaching efforts.

By Ridvan, that number is expected to grow to nine videos—all produced to spark the teaching process along with the 30- and 60-second television commercials.

And one production in development, We Are One, met with amazing acceptance from its first focus-group audience.

That production, by Mare Said of Texas, features Dan Seals discussing aspects of the Faith, performing some of his songs, and interviewing Baha’is in various country settings. Jack McCants, a National Spiritual Assembly member, explains the station of Baha’u'llah in one segment.

As with all the recent national video efforts, We Are One is reviewed by nonBaha’{ focus groups, conducted by a nonBaha'i research firm. That lets the producers he reactions right away, free of any Baha’ bia

When an all-female focus group in

s, saw We Are One, the response For the first time in three years of testing, all members of the group eagerly stated they would call the 1-80022-UNITE number and check out the










www.us.bahai.org Web site.

‘The video is nearing final editing and should be ready in January.

More news will emerge in the next few weeks about more media campaign materials to join the videos The Power of Race Unity, The Power of Prayer and Family: The Seeds of World Peace. Productions near completion or far along in development:

  • An English-language version of a production for a Hispanic audience has tested

well and should be complete soon. The Spanish version is still in development.

1 Ama Baba, with Baha'is sharing stories

of why they joined the Faith, is scheduled

for a focus test in January.

Unity in Diversity is set for a focus group

test in January.

A video appealing to indigenous people is

scheduled for review in February.

Two Wings of a Bird, on the equality of

women and men, should be available in

early spring.

© Revolutionary Change, on race unity, is being developed for the Southern

Regional ‘Teaching Committee.

All but one of these videos are being. developed by independent Baha'i producers across America.












when programs weren't aired nationally. The campaign also has helped increase interest calls to the two local centers. Important aspects of the North Carolina effort are the growth in unity among the Baha’fs, an increase in the level of excitement, and the inspiration to undertake personal initiatives in teaching the Cause. The campaign will soon be augmented by the development of a Web site for Baha’is in the Triangle area. A nine-community newsletter, delivered to each Baha’f household, will keep the area community informed of the progress of the plan. #


How does your community apply for the 1-800-22-UNITE voice-mail program?

Local Spiritual Assemblies can register for a voice-mail box by either:

  • Filling out the “Seeker Retrieval

Voicemail

Application/Confirmation Form” sent to all communities in July 1999 (if you need a paper application form please call the 800UNITE office at 847-733-3497), or:

  • Accessing the Administrative Web

Site and taking the following steps: 1. Log onto the Administrative Web Site (www.usbnc.org).

2. Click on the 1-800-22-UNITE button with the red telephone on the left side of the main page.

3. Click on the menu option “Voicemail Box Application/Confirmation Form.”

4. Complete the application. Be sure to list all ZIP codes and city names your community wishes to cover. Please consult with any other communities in your area to make sure you're not attempting to take care of ZIP codes that other communities already have claimed.

5. When satisfied with the information given, press “Submit” and the


6. please allow 10-15 business days to receive your voice-mail box number and password, plus instructions on how to access your voice-mail box.

Seekers are distributed by matching their ZIP codes with those claimed by communities in their area.

800UNITE Office Phone 847-733-3497 E-mail


page 4

Tue American BAnA’i * SPREADING THE TEACHINGS

December 31, 1999 [Page 5]



“Let all the believers consider the extent to which they can use familial and ethnic ties to other regions of the world for the fulfillment of the global mission conferred on the recipients of the Tablets of the Divine Plan.” —Universal House of Justice, Ridvin 153 (1996) message to the Baha’is of North America

POSTCARD FROM GREECE

BY ANDREA ZIVARI-GIANNOGLOU, MONTCLAIR, Nj


ago our Auxiliary Board Jed me a letter from the Jorld Center urging ethnic Greeks to pioneer to Greece.

‘This letter planted a seed in our hearts, because Greece is the ancestral homeland of my husband, Panagiotis “Pete” Giannoglou, and he knows the language. But at the time we were expecting our first child.

Sometime later we contacted the Baha’f National Center with the intention of traveling teaching or even pioneering. While we were on pilgrimage three years ago, a member of the International Teaching Center gently encouraged us to pioneer in Greece. ‘Two years ago we went to a pioneering institute, while I was expecting baby No. 3. Finally, after corresponding with the National Spiritual Assembly of Greece, Pete planned a summer tip around the Greek Baha'i School.

Being the practical mommy, I dreaded the thought of traveling with three young children—Paul, 5; Lillian, 3; and Karl, 16 months. But Pete convinced me.

In Athens, we spent a few days overcoming our jet lag and introducing the children to the Parthenon, to the changing of the guard and to their Thea (Aunt) Theodora.

‘Then came the long drive through central Greece and a ferry trip across the Gulf of Corinth to the Baha’ School. Looking around the ferry I wondered if any Baha'is were on board. Sure enough, a man saw Pete's Baha'i ring and a friendship was forged with a Greek Baha'i family. What a



Web has resources for teaching Chinese

The Chinese Task Force of the National Teaching Committee has added resources for teaching the Faith to Chinese people onto ~ Administrative Web Site.

‘The site states goals and objectives in the areas of teaching, consolidation and proclamation among the U.S. Chinese. population. Special emphasis is put on — training of the friends and fepcingcam to those on college campuses.

Detailed information appears on:

+ Befriending Chinese people.

  • Getting started.
  • Elements of effective teaching.
  • Books and materials in Simplified

Chinese.

  • Concept of God in Chinese culture

and the Baha’{ Faith.

To access these pages, log on to the Web site (www.usbne.org) with your Baha’i ID number; click on the “NSA Departments” icon at left; follow links to the National Teaching Committee and the Chinese Task Force.@


relief to find a friend in a foreign country!

At Baha'i school it was as if we were celebrities. People Pete had corresponded with via their National Assembly were urging us to pioneer to Greece.

In this country of 11 million, there are about 200 Baha’is. Only two dozen are actually Greeks, the rest being pioneers from Iran, Germany, the U.S. and other countries. The law says you are Greek if your father is Greek, so if we moved there, the ethnic Greek population of Baha’is would increase by 20 percent!

During our travels we came on city after city with few or no Baha'is: We triéd to tactfully tell as many Greeks as we could about the Faith (there are laws against “proselytizing”). One taxi driver said he had seen pictures of the House of Worship in Wilmette belonging to a cousin who lives in Chicago. Another young man responded that as mankind progresses, it makes perfect sense that religion progresses as well. People on the

Sacred music festival puts spotlight

INFORMATION FROM GLORIA HERNANDEZ, LOS ANGI


A global feast of music dedicated to the ivine spirit was spread before Los Angeles in October. The Baha’is, by supporting and participating in the World Festival of Sacred Music—The Americas, gave the wider community a glimpse of “what the Baha’{ Faith is and what we’re about ... totally dedicated to service and unity,” in the words of volunteer Troy

Flowers.

‘The Bahd’{ Center was the site of two performance events out of the dozens staged for the Oct. 9-17 citywide festival:

  • Oct. 14: “My Heart is In the East,” a

much-welcomed display of musical soli darity between Jews and Arabs, featuring the California ensembles Za’atar and

Kan Zaman.

  • Oct. 16: “The Sounds of Oneness,” featuring The Jeffrey Barnes Baha’i Gospel

Choir.

Za’atar and Kan Zaman were brought together by Ivri-NASAWI, an organization dedieated to promoting understanding of Sephardic and Middle Eastern cultures.

Lillian Giannoglou, 3, does some drawing just outside her family’s room at the Greek Baha’i School last summer. The American family of Greek ancestry traveled there to teach the Faith as well as attending the school.

beach, cousins, drivers and even bureaucrats were told of the New Day.

A European Baha’{ dance workshop was touring Greece during our visit. Thanks to Pete’s family connections, the workshop gained permission to perform at the public square in Preveza.

We were told they had a roaring crowd, the best response of their entire Greek tour. The media came and a dance instructor was impressed.

With small children the three-week trip was not always easy. But we hope our small efforts to help spread the Cause of God will somehow be fruitful.

We would have to get over some big practical hurdles before pioneering to Greece. But if we Baha’is don’t teach there, how will the Cause of God spread? God willing, with a lot of prayers, He will aid our family to somehow get across that vast ocean, continent and sea to settle in Pete’s ancestral homeland for our beloved Faith. @

The two groups’ programs featured a range of Arab-Jewish and Sephardic sacred melodies as well as Muslim and Christian sacred music of the Arab world. Both groups spoke on the origin and evolution of their music, and in the spirit of unity Kan Zaman recited prayers of varied faiths including our own “Blessed Is the Spot.”

Before the performance, the host Baha’is provided a coffeehouse atmosphere for fellowship and bookstore browsing. One Turkish-Jewish member of the audience later commented about her conversation with a Muslim woman from Syria: “After five minutes, we felt like we had known each other forever.”

For the gospel choir’s Saturday night performance, the Baha’{ Center’s lobby was transformed into a gallery of AfricanAmerican art. Sharon Barnes coordinated the exhibit and also served as emcee.

From the opening song, a setting of the teaching prayer for the Western States, “The Sounds of Oneness” was an embrace of many cultures and races in music:

  • A generous selection of gospel singing,


Pioneering goal in sight!

nly about 100 more short- or

long-term pioneers are needed to arise by Ridvan, to achieve the U.S. goal of 1,200 international pioneers in the Four Year Plan.

‘The Universal House of Justice told us in its letter of June 27, 1993, to the Baha'is of the world, “There are still vast areas of the world where no Baha’fs have set foot. There are millions desperately thirsting for the Water of Life. There are countries where believers are laboring day and night to foster the growth of the tree of the Cause, and are in urgent need of reinforcements. It is our fervent prayer at the Sacred Threshold that stalwart, self-sacrificing friends will arise and that a wave of pioneers and traveling teachers will surge forth to raise the banner of the Cause and reinforce the cohorts of God in every Jand.”

The last two pioneering institutes

_ of the plan will be held : ¢ Jan. 13-17, Bosch Baha’i School. ‘© March 29-April 2, Baha’i National Center.

_ If you can arise and take even your

first steps toward pioneering, whether i 1 this plan or the next, or answer the to deputize someone to go in your please contact the Office of né immediately (phone 847-3508, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail

» My

t any international trips you ‘to promote the interests of ith, contact the Office of ng or use the form on page 27. lete list of goal countries for g will be published in ee





on LA. - Bahd's’

most based on Baha’f sacred writings and composed by John Barnes, musical director. Soloists included Kristin Barnes, Sandy Simmons-Williams, John. Barnes III, Tara Ellis and Joey Diggs. Powerful recitation by Rumi Fassy, Susan Haggerty and Nick Tate of Scripture verses from several faiths. “Humility,” a majestic combination of three art forms: singing by Ginger Grant, modern dance by Ann Nguyen and spoken word by ‘Tate, a renowned voice-over artist. Manoochehr Sadeghi presenting a virtuoso performance on the santour, a Persian hammered dulcimer. The Latin salsa beat of “Celebrate the Power of Love,” sung by KC Porter and featuring guest drummer Machito Sanchez. Other studio musicians and Baha’{ artists performing were J.B. Eckle, Bob Helwig, Kazoo Okoshi, Richard Peikoff and Romeo Williams.

“The opening ‘Prayer for the Western States’ [sung] by Walter Heath ... was

.

SEE FESTIVAL, PAGE 6


December 31, 1999

Tue AMERICAN Banh‘ SPREADING THE Teacnines page 5 [Page 6]

Still time to help with CEDAW

Br in the U.S. still have a special opportunity to continue to help the National Spiritual Assembly in its efforts to encourage the U.S. Senate to ratify CEDAW, a United Nations agreement setting international standards for the equal rights of women and men.

For 15 years the National Assembly has been urging the U.S. government to ratify various international human _ rights treaties. Now the Assembly is collaborat ing with more than 100 national organizations on U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The United States is the only democracy in the world that has not yet ratified CEDAW.

‘This treaty made news in October, when several congresswomen interrupted a org to pia with the chairman












oa ted from the ere incident a longtime en. Barbara Boxer on Nov. 19 introduced That resolution calls for hearings on CEDAW and for Senate action by March 8, Intern | Women’s Day.

Due to this recent movement and publicity, the National Assembly encourages Baha’is throughout the United States to act on the following:

Encourage your U.S. senators to cosponsor S. Res. 237. You can write to their Washington, DC, offices or reach them through the Capitol switchboard at 202224-3121. When writing to government officials, individuals may mention that they are Baha’is but should avoid quoting from the Baha’f writings.





wealth of information on CEDAW,



campaign to encourage CEDAW ratification, contact the National Spiritual

Assembly's Office of the Secretary for External Affairs (phone 202-833-8990, ).o

HUQUQU’LLAH


Above: A group of young Baha’is in Fort Wayne, Indiana, consulted on and organized their “Trick or Treat for UNICEF” outing in October. Baha’i children and youths nationwide participated in the annual fund-raising event for UNICEF, with the encouragement of the National Assembly’s US/UN Office in New York.

Right: Kailan Oliva, 6, takes collections for UNICEF in Vallejo, California, where Baha’is have participated in the UNICEF drive for 21 years.


On the streets for UNICEF





STUDY, continuen From Pace 3

FESTIVAL,

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5




overwhelming, audience member Dorothy Laidley. She added about Porter's performance, “And then we have a white European-American man singing gospel music in Spa

Counselor Wilm: s audience on the origin of A! American gospel music as an effort to transform incredible pain into a spiritual expression. “We invite all the different music to come together because we'll only be complete when we make the sounds of oneness,” she said.

Linda Almonte, a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly task force that coordinated Baha’{ participation in the festival, reflected: “This experience changed me. ... Working so hard and seeing everybody working so hard, being happy in that work and enjoying every minute of it was a whole other level of performance that I don’t feel I had ever achieved before and I don’t think I'll ever be the same.

John Barnes praised the inte: oration that brought the & and noted: “ ‘Abdu’l-Bal














collabnts into that » parts of -and

oing World Music was initiated by the D: and is scheduled to continue in Af

.


COCO ELEC OOOO EEE OEEEEE LORETO OOOOH EEO EEEE EEO OE OEE EELESEEEOOEEEELS

the foundation of a divine economy. Bahé’u'llah has inaugurated “a pattern for future society ... the one agency for the unification of the world.” (The World Order of Baha’u'lliéh, p. 19)

The focused study begins in January.

Specifically, the National — Spiritual Assembly would like the nation to devote three months to study of “The

Dispensation of Baha'u'llah,” followed by

three months studying The Advent of Divine Justice, then the last six months of the year studying the remaining letters of

THE RIGHT OF GOD

Payments to Huququ’lléh should be made to “The Baha'i Huqdqu’llih Trust” (please write your Bahé’i identification number on your check)

and sent to one of the Trustees:

  • Amin Banani,

394-5449, fax 310-394-6167, e-mail

  • Stephen Birkland,

Santa Monica CA 90402 (phone 310 ) Arden Hills, MN 7 12 (phone

651-484-9518, fax 651-415-1766, e-mail

  • Sally Foo,

671-9125, fax 609-671-0740, e-mail

  • Daryush Haghighi,

635-9602, e-mail

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 hos 609 ) Rocky River, OH 441 i (phone 440-333-1506, fax 440-333-6938, e-mail

  • Elizabeth Martin, P.O. Box 178, Winnsboro, SC 29180 ceusne: 803

)

Office of the Secretariat, Baha’i Huqtqu’llah Trust: Rocky River, OH 44116 (phone 440-333-1506, fax 440-333-6938, e-mail

)¢



The World Order of Babd’wllab.

‘The National Education and Schools Office ing its annual theme document, “ inction.” It will offer a b curricular framework for the study of Shoghi Effendi’s letters to the American Baha’{ community. To further reinforce ady, the permanent and regional Baha'i schools will offer courses on the themes found in these letters.

“The Dispensation of Baha’u'llah,” one of the seven World Order letters, delineates the spiritual truths underlying our Faith— the uniqueness of this Revelation, the relationship of the Baha'i Faith to past Revelations, the stations of each of the Central Figures, the significance of the Administrative Order and the roles of the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice.

‘The Hand of the Cause of God Horace Holley, long a National Assembly member, wrote, “[T]he (World Order) letters ... unfold a clear vision of the relation between the Baha'i community and the entire process of social evolution under the Dispensation of Baha'u'llah ... [and establish] the Baha’{ Administrative Order as the nucleus and pattern of the world civilization emerging under divine inspiration at this focal point of human history. ...

‘The document most directly related to






the life of the individual, The Advent of

Divine Justice, describes with astute accuracy the basic ills afflicting the American people. The Hand of the Cause of God



Paul Haney noted that this document provides a “clearer understanding of the true purpose of our Faith, of America’s spiritual destiny, and of the manner in which the individual believer is called upon to contribute to the achievement of this destiny. ...” The Advent of Divine Justice also specifies the human and social relationships that must be developed and integrated into everything we do.

Spirituality cannot be separated from the myriad roles we play in our daily lives. The beloved Guardian again clarified this point:

“We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us. ... Mi is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other and every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual reactions.

“No movement in the world directs its attention upon both these aspects of human life and has full measures for their improvement, save the teachings of Bah@’u'llah. And this is its distinctive feature. If we desire therefore the good of the world we should strive to spread those teachings and also practise them in our own life.” —Compilation of Compilations, vol. 1, pp. 84-85

We invite you to further “cultivate distinction” in your own life and in the life of your community by studying The World Order of Babi'u'llih and The Advent of Divine Justice.




pageé THE AMERICAN BAHA‘i * ContinueD —_ December 31, 1999 [Page 7]








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page8 Tne AMERICAN BanA’i * BanA’’ DistRiBUTION SERVICE December 31, 1999


[Page 9]“SERVICE




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December 31, 1999 Tue American Band‘i * Bans‘t DISTRIBUTION'SERVICE —_ page 9 [Page 10]

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TER

FESTA RTO TEP ITI

s



Iranian women and their challenge to achieve equality


publi National Spiritual Assembly’s Office of Women’s Affairs. To provide perspectives on gender equality through the eyes of women of diverse backgrounds, more such essays will be printed periodically in The American Bahd’i.

BY AZAR MOVAGH


lee is so much to speak of regarding the process of change for women in Iran. I can only touch the surface.

Prior to Islam, the condition of women in Persia was quite different. I do not know enough about “old Persia” to expound on it, but I do know women at times ruled the country, namely Queens Purandokht and Azarmidokht.

Although Islamic law raised the status of women and gave them rights, their worth was still considered to be only half of a man’s. A woman was secluded and completely covered so no men other than her father, brothers, husband or male children could see their faces.

In that society's view, a woman’s place was at home, raising her children and providing comfort to her husband. Women were subjected to loveless, arranged marriages, child marriages and polygamy. They were manipulated and controlled by their fathers, brothers, husbands and clerics.

Most women were illiterate and gained much of their knowledge through storytelling inside the home. Some were taught to read the Qur’én; others were schooled enough to enjoy

IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY

Remember those you love or honor them on their

special days



. with your gift to the National Baba Fund. Each gift sent with an “In Honor” or “In Memory” form will be beautifully acknowledged by the National Spiritual Assembly.

You may get these Treasurer's Office forms:

  • On the Web: Printable forms for

these special contributions are available on the Administrative Web Site (www.usbne.org).

  • Through the mail: Printed forms.

are available from the Office of the ‘Treasurer, 1233 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201 (e-mail

) SEKAI





» Dynasty

poetry. For hundreds of years this was the way of life for women in Persi:

During the reigns of two Qéjér shahs, Nisiri’d-Din (1848-1896) and Muzaffaru’d-Din (1896-1907), a constitutional movement grew. In 1906, a new House of Representatives opened and new electoral laws were ratified. These laws gave the right to vote to certain categories of people—princes, members of the Qajar tribe, the clergy, theology students, nobility, landowners etc. Women were excluded; Articles 3 and 5 ranked them alongside murderers, thieves and other criminals.




Laws change—somewhat

Though still veiled, many brightminded women contributed a great deal to the constitutional revolution. Yet even with a newly free press, few could express the condition of women. Still, there always have been women who could exhibit their equality to men despite severe limitations.

In 1920, a coup d’etat by Reza Pahlavi put an end to the Qajar dynasty. A few years later he became shah and proposed many laws to modernize the country. For example, the national dress for men became suits, ties and hats instead of cloaks and turbans. Women were ordered to discard the chador (traditional veil). To set’an example, Reza Shah told his queen and their two daughters to accompany him to a graduation ceremony without their chadors. But to fully modernize, the shah knew he had to remove the power of the clergy.

In 1941, Reza was exiled from Iran and Muhammad Reza was seated as shah. The clergy regained power and women once again wore their chadors. But within a few years, most women chose not to wear them. And actually, most Persian women later became very fashionable.



“There always have been women who could exhibit their equality to men despite severe limitations.”


Muhammad Reza ruled for 37 years and pushed for several drastic changes, including equal rights for women and men. People’s hearts and minds did not change overnight just because equality was mentioned on paper, yet the door was opened for women to progress and to express themselves through many fields: politics, science, art, music, literature, poetry and journalism.

The influence of revelation

Under such extreme limitations, the manifestations of the Bab and Bah@’u'lléh directly influenced women’s awareness of their status and their struggle to achieve recognition as equal citizens. The creative word of God influences the life of everyone, even those who are unaware of its source.

‘Tahirih, one of the Bab’s Letters of the Living, appeared without her veil during ‘the Conference of Badasht in 1848 and established the emancipation of women.

During the time of the Babis, women customarily remained unseen behind curtains. Yet throughout the persecutions, Babi women supported their men hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, like strong pillars. Zaynab cut her hair, and carried sword and gun when she joined the Babi men to fight in the upheaval at Zanjan.

Of thousands of devoted Babi women,

LETTERS FROM READERS

Decorum in devotions

‘To the Editors:

yas deeply concerned when I read the subject of consultation at the nal Convention (The American May 17, p. 19): The need for “blow out, kicking, id-the-floor-go” devotional






African-American who grew up in the church, where voluble emotionalism and physical responses often followed inspired preaching and/or praying, I think such forms of worship should be understood in context.

Although as a child I viewed them differently, I realize in retrospect that this type of service was a necessary and therapeutic release for a circumscribed people regularly subjected to all the humiliations and indignities which a racist society could inflict. “Talking back” could mean. loss of home, or employment, and even life (or arrest if one refused to give up to


a white person one’s paid-for seat on a public conveyance).

Safe within the walls of the a church, the week’s pent-up pai could explode into acceptable ey

As Baha'is, in our hands the exalted God, including a copious rev. powerful and transcendent p1 ing all our needs—physical, emotional, material.

In the opening pages of our prayer books we are given the key to their use (‘Intone ... the verses of God. ...”) and guaranteed the results if we follow instructions. I believe those instructions are as applicable to community worship services as they are to individuals.

In the Universal House of Justice’s Aug. 27, 1989, message “To the Followers of Baha’u'llah,” reference is made to “a sense of decorum both in the presentation and reception of the devotional programme.” This is in specific reference to the Feast, but how much







history records only a few. The glorious names of the rest are kept in the Abha Kingdom.

Baha’i women, through the teachings of Baha’u'lléh, were ahead of their peers, especially in the early days when women’s lives and activities were limited. Later, women had greater chances to progress in every field, be it service, teaching, Baha’{ administration, or their professions. They showed outstanding abilities despite many obstacles.

Even during the Islamic revolution, when Baha’is were persecuted, imprisoned, executed and martyred, women not only were equal to men in courage, patience and dignity, but at times surpassed the men in strength and surprised friends and foes alike!



Growing up as a Baha'i

I was born and came of age in ‘Tehran, Iran. After receiving my medical degree from the University of Tehran, I came to the United States to specialize in anesthesiology at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

My parents each came from extremely fanatical Muslim families. My father became a Baha’i at age 24, and my mother—whose parents did not even send her to school—married my father at age 16, and two years later accepted the Baha’i Faith. She learned to read and write and gradually mastered the violin:

I lived with the general limitations that Islamic culture imposes on women in Iran. But thanks to Baha’u’llah and to my parents, within my family I never felt discriminated against because of my gender.

Equality is the right of women, bestowed on them by the Bab and Baha’u’llah. It inevitably will come to pass. If we are interested in peace, it is up to women to achieve equality and it is up to men to facilitate it. @

We welcome letters from readers (250-word limit, please), particularly on topics related to furthering the goals of the Four Year Plan.

  • The purpose of Letters from

Readers 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. Address letters to:

Editors, The American Baha'i, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 + e-mail

more so should it apply to community devotional meetings where non-Baha’is may be welcomed.

Nothing about the Bahé’i way of worship would suggest the kind of devotional meetings proposed at the convention, and I pray that no community will give serious consideration to this proposal.

Eloise Mitchell Flint, MI


page 10 THe AMERICAN BAnA’i * COMMENTARY AND LETTERS — December 31, 1999 [Page 11]

Justice center expands its world-embracing service

Te Rabbani Trust’s Social and Economic Development Conference for the Americas each year highlights a number of ongoing development Projects, partly to inspire Baha’is toward new dimensions in their service to humanity. The Tahirih Justice Center was one project held out for particular attention during the latest conference Dec. 16-19.

Acomplete report on that conference will appear in the next issue of The American Baha'i.


t's been just over five years since I ya Kassindja decided to fight deportation from the United States. to protect herself from forced marriage and female genital mutilation—common burdens for young women in her homeland of Togo. It’s been nearly that long since a Baha’{ law student stepped forward to help he: From that now-famous case, the Tahirih Justice Center arose as a new voice in largely untouched areas of women’s immigration rights.









Support and staff grows

As it handles a flood of cases in U.S. immigration courts, the Tahirih Center has gained enough support to increase its full-time staff to five—not to mention increasing the astonishment of everyone involved.

“T had always known that there were divine forces at work in the world and in my own personal life,” said center founder Layli Miller Bashir, “but my experiences with the center have caused me to appreciate the power of God ina whole new and much more meaningful way.”

The Tahirih Center has been sought for its expertise by numerous organiza





tions from the White House to CNN to Seventeen magazine. It has made presentations at high-level conferences on women’s rights, especially regarding immigration.

Recendly, a senior presidential adviser met with Bashir Smeal of the Feminist Majority, an international women’s rights foundation. They discus and even deadly women are treated in war-torn Afghanistan.




as well as Eleanor




Bah4'i administrative principles “Not only does the center attempt to ze Baha’u'llah’s vision of justice and equality for women around the world,” said Justin Greene-Roesel, a member of the board of directors, “it also integrates Baha’i administrative principles into the very fabric of the organization’s management.”

‘That includes prayer, consultation and a spirit of service and gratitude day to day, giving the center what GreeneRoesel calls “a special strength and resilience.”

An attorney with a Washington, DCarea firm, Bashir founded the Tahirih Justice Center as a legacy of Kassindja’s ground-breaking case, detailed in the best-selling book Do They Hear’ You When You Cry?

With legal services donated by more than 30 lawyers from several firms, the center has helped about 220 people over the past year. Many of those cases bring new directions in human rights to explore.

Though inspired by Baha’s princi ples, the Tahirih Center gets no major funding from Baha’{_ institutions. Largely, it maintains its growing staff with grants from the United Way, the Feminist Majority, the Meyer Foundation, the Sister Fund, the Mennonite Church and private corpo













Members of the Tahirih Justice Center staff (from left) Katy Parsi, director of programming and administration; Andrea Siemens, a paralegal; and Irena Lieberman, deputy director of legal services, go about the center’s business recently.

rations; revenues from sales of Do They Hear You When You Cry?, some individual contributions and even federal money from the Americorps youth service program.

Then there’s the annual fund-raising banquet, which last April drew many prominent Washingtonians and featured Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, founder of a Kennedy family human rights foundation, as keynote speaker. She emphasized the importance of immigrants and the need to embrace those who come to America seeking protection.


First lady's acknowledgment

Also, a message from first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was read at the banquet, saying in part:

“In too many places we fail to see the injustice done to women. ... I am grateful for organizations like the Tahirih Justice Center that are committed to providing legal, medical, and social services to women facing international human rights abuses.”


Some characteristics of the cases handled by the Tahirih Justice Center in the past year:

  • Main focus is use of immigration and

other foreign policy law to help women resist gender-based injustice. Clients include women, men and families from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin and Central America.

  • Cases involve protection from torture, political reprisal and child

abduction as well as violence against women.

Medical evaluations are often conducted, not only as part of paying attention to all aspects of a client’s well-being, but also to document physical signs of torture and other persecution.

For more information on the many exciting and ground-breaking initia~ tives and activities of the Tahirih Justice Center, see the Web site: www.tahirih.org ®

Update: five SED projects that received the national spotlight a year ago

BY TOM MENNILLO


VIRGINIA: INTERCOMMUNITY SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

ip U.S.-based social and economic development projects were showcased at the Rabbani Trust conference December 1998 in Orlando, Florida, as worthy examples of translating the Baha’f principles into active service for humanity. All five were profiled in The American Babd’t shortly afterward.

How are they doing a year later? All have progressed steadily along their original paths—often with a boost from the Orlando conference—and some have branched confidently outward.

‘They are: ¢ The Intercommunity Social and Economic

Development Project in northern Virgii

  • Union Fidelity Development Inc. in the Belle Glade

area of Flori ‘The Family Unity Institute in southern DeKalb County, Georgia.

The Corinne True Justice Center in Denver, Colorado.

HEARTS (Heaven on Earth Arts Resource and ‘Teaching Service) based in Washington state.





Input/inspiration from the 1998 conference: Consultation “motivated us to persist in our efforts,” said Susie Clay and Janice Sadeghian, who represent the Intercommunity project in Virginia. “We were encouraged to be patient and to accept that social and economic development is a process of crises and victories.”

Organizers also were urged to step back and “e)

ate our progress and r goals, and strategies,” Clay and Sadegh followed this advice and, using the services of a professional consultant, we held a retreat and began a very productive internal evalu ” As a result, “Some of the s that troubled us last year have diminished in importance. As we have increased our level of activity and become immersed in the work, interpersonal problems have dissipated, and enthusiasm and commitment have been strengthened.”










How it’s working: “Our first project, a support group for single Baha’i mothers, has met consistently throughout the year,” Clay and Sadeghian reported. “The numbers increased and two non-Baha’i women joined the group, a testimonial to the quality of the program and the need for the services.” They added that racial and ethnic and diversity is high among the families they serve.

“We have recently initiated a new project, a tutoring/mentoring program for children and youth,” the organizers said. “Baha’is who were not previously involved ... are now coordinating the new project.”

Also, “Our committee is committed to finding a center where we can hold our development activities. Holding our activities in homes constrains our ability to expand and to reach out to non-Bahda’is in the area.”









SEE SED PROJECTS, PAGE 12


December 31, 1999

Tre AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ PROMOTING THE PRINCIPLES page II [Page 12]

Long-distance course helps narrow the gap between women and men

The energetic presentation—covering the goals of the committee as well as the

INFORMATION FROM RICHARD MELLMAN, GAINESVILLE, FL

at_ was groundbreaking about

that study class Oct. 24 on the

statement Two Wings of a Bird: The Equality of Women and Men?

¢ The class met in Gainesville, Florida,

while the presenter was in San

Clemente, California. The lecture

platform was a speakerphone.

  • More men than women attended the

session, presaging the day yearned for by ‘Abdu’l-Baha when men “own” the equality of the sexes.

Cynthia Thomas, secretary of the National Committee for the Equality of Women and Men, gave the presentation via phone to a regular session of Sunday classes in Gainesville.

SED PROJECTS, continuen From pace 11



COLORADO/ CALIFORNIA: CorINNE TRUE JUsTICE CENTER

Input/inspiration from the 1998 conference: Steven Gonzales, until recendly director of the center, ‘4 are “stunned and excited” to discover that conflict resolution involves specific skills, training, national certification and professional associations.

They they ask “how they can bring conflict resolution to their local community and use to serve the Baha’ and the greater communities,” Gonzales said. How it’s working: “1999 has been a year of transition” for TJC Denver and of “exciting development” for a newcenter in Los Angeles, Gonzales said.

Each center is co-owned by the Local Spiritual Assembly and the Baha’f Justice Society, a membership-based agency of the National Assembly.

The L.A. center was awarded an American Bar Association grant to train public school children in peer mediation and peace studies. He said this exciting development was particularly poignant “as we helplessly watched the explosion of violence within our nation’s schools this year.”

Both centers explored plans to offer mediation training “to assist in the maturation of local Baha’f communities and to train Baha'is in skills they can offer to their local city and greater community.”

The Denver center also went beyond training programs to offer community services. The highlight was a February seminar by two TJC board members in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, at the request of the National Assembly of Venezuela. “The program, we were repeatedly told, attracted the largest number of seekers ever to a Baha’i program in Venezuela.”




GEORGIA: FAMILY UNITY INSTITUTE

content and uses of the National Assembly's statement—was _ well received by the nine men and eight women attending, including youths.

The Gainesville friends intend to take further advantage of this “fund-friendly” method of inviting experts to address their community.


Spiritual education classes among Hispanic families are part of the mission of the Family Unity Institute in north central Georgia.

Input/inspiration from the 1998 conference: The Family Unity Institute has used the feedback from Orlando participants to “strengthen and expand our existing programs,” said Carole Miller of project sponsor Mottahedeh Development Services. How it’s working: Miller said the Family Unity Institute, which at nearly 5 years old is a grandaddy of American Baha’i social and economic development, has continued its popular programs in the past year under the guidance of Mottahedeh Development Services, an arm of the National Spiritual Assembly, and the South DeKalb Spiritual Assembly.

‘These include STAR, which combines tutorial sessions and character development with basketball for at-risk African-American youths; ~he

Chamblee Project, which offers afterschool sessions and family development education to Asian and Hispanic immigrants; and the Umoja Soldiers Youth Program, which consists of Friday night basketball and facilitated discussion.

In addition, a computer literacy program that started as an individual initiative has been adopted by FUI.

Small grants and volunteer services have allowed the Institute to get this far. To take these projects into the future, Mottahedeh Development Services is seeking a grant for principal funding of renovations at the Baha’f Unity Center and computer acquisition.

This expansion, dubbed the Family 2000 Project, will allow FUI’s programs to serve a projected 350 people at a time, up from the present 125.

WASHINGTON: HEARTS (HEAVEN ON EARTH ARTS RESOURCE AND TEACHING SERVICE)

Input/inspiration from the 1998 conference: Leslie Asplund said she and fellow Ss were tt most feedback from the conference “was directed toward national and international iss

Institutions, parti provide more guidance for ar supportive input from arts organizations.

Communication between artist potential employers, especially through the Web, was brought up, Asplund said. “There was encouragement for involy






ing children and youth more ... and a call for more mentoring of developing artists by more experienced artists.” How it’s working: Asplund says se of the HEARTS project’s obje were put into practice in 1999. One was “to translate Heart To Heart [their guide booklet for Bab i ties] into i from a number of Ba







speaking countries, to publish that versic Arlother was “to a:



in 2000. ist Baha’ commu


nities in our region to better utilize the arts for teaching and service by helping them plan their programs, identify and contract with appropriate performers, and handle technical d Programs in which HE. ed assistan cluded: large Race Unity Day celebration at a local mall that included six hours of continuous entertainment by top tle-are: Dozier’s One Human Family Gospel Music Workshop, a weekend



‘ARTS provid





Part of the purpose is to help the friends gain perspective from Baha’fs in other parts of the country.

‘Thomas noted later that it may have been the first such presentation on behalf of the national committee that was attended by more men than women. The Gainesville organizers had publicized the class as “especially important for men.”


FLORIDA: UNION Fipetity DEVELOPMENT

Input/inspiration from the 1998 conference: Alphonso Milligan said he and Russell Ballew gained greatly from consultation in Orlando when they presented the Union Fidelity project. It aims to “create individual net worth” among rural African-Americans by improving their skills and the region’s housing and job base.

“We have taken steps to further involve people in structuring the community itself,”Milligan said.

How it’s working: Milligan said Union Fidelity Development is “still on track in all areas.”

‘The project’s original plan to erect 157 housing units on a 31-acre tract in Palm Beach County turned out to be infeasible, he says. But out of that experience came a success.

“About 120 customers expressed interest in home ownership,” says Milligan. “We’re helping them get mortgage-ready.”

And a new, “market-driven” initiative is taking shape to build 100 homes. Three lenders are interested in getting involved in various phases, Milligan said.

On the job front, he said, Union Fidelity has helped parents of Head Start students create an entity that will fill a need for substitute teachers. Not only can parents—many previously unemployed—take courses for certification, but through stock options they will own a stake in the enterprise.

Union Fidelity also is working to bring diversified employment opportunities to the area, Milligan said. A manufacturer of products using recycled wood has shown interest in locating in the area.

session that culminated in two public concerts at a 400-seat theatre. © Recruiting artists for an “arts weekend” at Brighton Creek ter. concert mentoring event called rsation with Red Grammer 1 Parker,” where the perform




RTS also worked with the Baha’f tion for the Advancement of Arts and Media on the Gospel workshop and the Red Grammer event.


page 12. THe AMERICAN BanA’i * PROMOTING THE PRINCIPLES


December 31, 1999 [Page 13]Zeaces which shall last forever The Four Year Plan

\ X Je’ve come a long way since Ridvén 1996.

With increasing systematization, we as Baha'i individuals, communities, and institutions have laid a foundation during the Four Year Plan for the Faith to gain adherents and hasten __ civilization’s advance.

The changed condition might not be evident to us on a day-to-day basis. We may feel we don’t always pray or read enough, teach all strata with audacity, consult or collaborate effectively, serve others.

But we’ve been empowered to do so. More knowledge and tools are within our grasp than ever:

  • Training ins

learning.

© Ruhi Institute workshops and study c

cles.

Core Curriculum-based courses.

Research about the people we’re trying

to reach and about our own communi

ty.

The national media initiative.

The 1-800-22-UNITE seeker respor








and other centers of


at








k


ching committees and


in foci of race unity and the equality of women and men. Devotional gatherings.

A blossoming cadre of artists. Galvanized children and youth. Assembly development modules. Stewardship and Development seminars.

Regional Baha’i Councils and_ their committees.

  • Social and economic development pro




ject And on and on. All this presaged a full year before

the Plan launched, when, in the Ridvan 152 (1995) message, the Universal House of Justice declared:



n Baha’i community already accelerating its activity that he National ‘Teaching Plan was unveiled in March 1997. A continuing quest for knowledge, on a ale never attempted before, has helped that plan’: strategies evolve. Visions for action have come clearer as the National Spiritual Assembly gains an ever-moredetailed picture of the Baha’{ communi and of the general population of those seeking spiritual answers.

t was to an Ameri










1996-2000: A book back

Members of the National Spiritual Assembly and Regional Baha’i Councils gather during the inaugural orientation of the four Councils—a high mark of the Four Year Plan in the United States. Photo by Ken Duszynski

“There shall be mobilized [at Ridvan 1996] a world-embracing campaign to ensure a befitting crescendo to the achievements of a century regarded by no less than ‘Abdu’l-Baha Himself as a period that will have ‘left traces which shall last forever.”

Broad strokes of the Supreme Body's

on were painted a half-year later in 2 letter dated Dec. 31 to the Baha’fs of the world:

“The Four Year Plan will aim at one major accomplishment: a_ significant advance in the process of entry by tro} to be achieved through marked progress in the activity and development of the individual believer, of the instituions, and of the local community. Keen tly









attention to all three will ensure a grea



nds nationwide


have been challenged, in a series of communications from the National “Teaching Committee, to take a broad view of the growth of the Faith in the United States. ‘That view takes in three crucial strategies: proclaiming the teachings wisely through the mass media to increase the number of people we reach; shaping some of our word-of-mouth and fireside teaching to take advantage of that proclamation; and developing the abilities of







expanded, bly united, vibrant and cohesive international community by the end of the twentieth century.”

The Plan took on sharp detail at Ridvan 1996.

‘To the Baha’fs of the world, the House of Justice wrote:

“Two main challenges face us: one is to mount a campaign of teaching in which the broad membership of our community is enthusiastically, systematic lly and personally engaged, and in which the activation of an extensive training program will ensure the development of a mass of human resources; the other is to complete the construction projects on Mount Carmel toward which every fice must be made to provide a liberal outpouring of material means. The twin









cri


Baha’s come and serve humanity.

to form communities that wel Beginnings As early as December 1995, the friends were blessed with guidance from the Universal House of Justice about the roles individuals, communities and institutions must play during the Four Year Plan to advance the process of entry by troops. And by Ridvan 1996 they had been given three tasks by the National Spiritual








sigeaygig Sipe tote deen ee the , ‘American Baha’i will examine all facets of the Four Year Plan, using _ asa lens the six “specific activities Troops,” adocument bythe = Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. This issue: ¢ enemas) marae sate

Part Il, Feb. 7, 2000: ie Se eee ah

Ce t prompt consolidation. Part Ill, March 2:

  • Goal-directed behavior. yeas
  • Relating the Faith to contempo- _

ee i

se people of keds | Also, international highlights. Part IV, April 9: Themes that have run through published Universal House of Justice messages and our National Spiritual Assembly’s messages and Feast letters during the Plan.




foci, if resolutely pursued, will foster conditions toward the release of pent-up forces that will forge a change in the direction of human affairs throughout the planet.”

A companion letter to the believers in North America proclaimed:

“... [T}here are opportunities for the advancement of the process of entry by troops, the like of which presently exist in no other place on earth.”

‘This multi-issue retrospective recalls many of the ways we have taken advantage of those opportunities during the Four Year Plan. @






PROPELLED BY A UNIQUE SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGE


Assembly for the first year of the Plan:

  • Double the active core of believers.

gage in study of the Ridvan messages.

tablish training institutes where fea’ ble.

In 1997, a strategy for the rest of the Plan was laid out for American believers in a document titled “A National Strategic Plan for Large-Scale Growth in the United States.”





SEE TEACHING PLAN, PAGE 14


December 31, 1999

Tue American BanA’i ¢ Four YEAR PLAN page 13 [Page 14]

RESEARCH:


Asse with the latest demographic esearch, the National Spiritual Assembly could be reasonably certain its teaching strategy was sound.

But a lot more would need to be known about Baha’is and non-Baha’is alike before the National Teaching Plan could be carried out with maximum impact.

Fortunately, with the cost of research coming down and new technologies coming on line, it would be easier and easier to generate a true picture of any situation.






Snapshot of U.S. Baha'is

An important piece of the puzzle was supplied when the first survey of the American Baha’{ community in six years was carried out in mid-1997.

A company not owned or operated by Baha’fs chose 2,000 names at random from all U.S. believers and polled them by telephone. About 650 of the friends agreed to participate.

The results were heartening: Compared to 1991, higher percentages of the friends said they mention the Faith to non-Baha’is at least once a week; mention the Faith several times a week; contribute to the Funds; and feel well informed about Baha’i activities.

Nearly 82 percent said they are involved in other teaching activities, usually firesides.

‘They derive personal satisfaction from reading the Writings (88 percent), daily prayer (82.6), being part of the Baha’f community (77.5) and teaching (77.2).

More than half reported being more enthusiastic about the Faith than when they joined and said being a Baha’i give: them support “to a great degree” in dealing with social i:

Reasons for enrolling were stated as: agreement with spiritual principles (84.6 percent); agreement with social principles (78.5); affinity for the Writings (76.4); love for one or more of the Central Figures (55); and esteem for Baha'is and/or their Baha’ teacher (40).

And 83 percent said they first heard of the Faith through an acquaintance or relative and few through public meetings or other proclamation.

What about new believers? A separate survey of 205 people enrolled during 1996-97 showed they were not neces





sues.






sarily clones of the general Bal lation.

Women were in the majority of this cohort. “Baby boomers” still accounted for nearly half the enrollments, but younger age ranges were up significantly.

The level of education of these latest enrollees was high. Many are in the caring professions. Half reported they are married.


popu




Path of the media initiative Research also was critical as the

national media initiative geared up. Early media campaigns in Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix and south Florida were instructive, of course. The Adlanta area reported that 5 percent of respondents were still attending events

several months after the broade ‘The experiment also showed that s\ tained teaching activity was respons’ ble for much of the 50 percent increa




se in enrollments from June to August 1997.

But the real eye-opener came when focus groups were convened to test the new Baha’i videos.

The painstaking pro aused the first video, The Power of Race Unity, to be revised several times before it was broadcast-ready.

Subsequent videos had higher initial approval ratings because producers had learned to root out jargon and any references that led viewers to perceive the Faith as: a cult; foreign; all talk, no deeds; believing itself superior; nonspiritual; or devaluing personal choice.




HOW OUR NATIONAL PROCLAMATION EFFORT FOUND ITS DIRECTION

Profile of the seekers y early 1999, it was clear the al media initiative had greatly cl the face of our seeker population.

A survey of 534 people on the public Web site showed that 47 percent of nonBaha'i respondents first heard of the Faith through the media. Only 5 percent of the current Baha’{ community had first heard of the Faith that way.

What’s more, 41 percent of nonBah: i for one month or k for six months or I

As the Four Yea into its stretch run.












veral more surveys were being conducted or drawn up, including a multiphase study of behav


iors, attitudes and perceptions within the American Baha’{ community. #



LOCAL GLIMPSES


rmed with instructions from the Universal House of Justice and the National Teaching Plan, vast numbers of Baha'is, munities and institutions made systematic plans in the past four years to advance the process of entry by troops. ‘These are but a few of the stories reported to The American Bad’ during that time. We only wish more could be included to demonstrate the breadth and spirit of the friends’ efforts.


isolated youths and children.



Wyoming

Waves of traveling teachers combined their efforts with thos believers to bring about the election of two Local Assemblies at Ridvan 1999. ‘This in a state where none had formed the year before, but believers kept the spirit up (as at a summer 1998 Unity Picnic in Laramie, above).

Word of the accomplishment brought delegates and visitors to the Baha’ National Convention to their feet in an emotional response.

Visits to the state by Bahd’is young and old not only brought the Teachings to hundreds of residents but also served to help solidify the Baha’ identity of


of Wyoming's


Forsyth County, Georgia Among those who inquired early in the Adanta media experiment were Deborah and James T. Jordan.

‘The nearly all-white county where they lived once was a symbol of racial hate and division. But change was in the air. And when Debbie, who had heard of the Faith years ago, read a Baha’i-written guest column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, she knew finally the Faith was just what they were looking for.

At a fireside in the home of Larry and Carole Miller, they viewed The Power of Race Unity and met a fellow Forsyth resident, Baha’f Steve Parker.

Soon, the couple were enrolled in the Faith. The following Ridvan, Forsyth’s first Local Assembly was formed.

Now the nascent institution is leading an intercommunity effort north of Atlanta to combine resources for enriched teaching, community life and service. @



TEACHING PLAN, continuen From pace 13

POPC OOEE OOOH OOO OEEOOOO OOOO OOOO OOO OS OOOH OOOH O OSS OS OOOH OOOO E OSES ESE EOOEOOOOOOEOELEOOEO®

‘The strategy’ underpinning was nonBaha'i research showing that a large number of “baby boomers,” AfricanAmericans, Asians and Hispanics are “actively searching for solutions to the challenging moral and spiritual questions of our time in an atmosphere of increasing social turmoil” and that many are finding the answers in religion.

In fact, according to the research, the concerns of th rching people remarkably parallel the issues Baha’is consider to be of great importance

Also discernible from studies was that









youths, women and leaders of thought might be particularly receptive to the Baha'i message.

The task would be to ascertain these potential seekers’ needs through welldesigned programs of research and to craft teaching approaches to address them.




Action follows research ‘To that end, lines of action were chosen: Design and implement a media campaign to proclaim the Faith to target audiences. The media campaign would use’ television, radio and the Internet,


helped by print advertisements, to reach groups seen as most likely to respond in large numbers. Rates of response would be




more about the Faith.

Develop and implement systematic, balanced teaching campaigns in target areas. This would focus on places where


enough to sustain a campaign of growth.

‘Teaching approaches would be tailored to each population, tested, refined, then sustained.


Several elements were seen as critical to




igned, multi to proclamation.

  • Regular devotional gatherings.
  • A wide variety of direct teaching

ties, such as firesides, public talks and campus activities ‘

raining and deepening for the believers

through training institutes and other

centers of learning.

eted approach







page 14 THe AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ Four YEAR PLAN

December 31, 1999 [Page 15]FOUR?YE

AKePLAN



MEDIA INITIATIV


Ez as the National Teaching Plan was ing introduced, its first test was being rolled out.

The vehicle: a 30-minute video, The Power of Race Unity. The venue: Atlanta, Georgia, considered ripe for growth because of its demographics and its strong Baha’f communities.

Over several months, National ‘Teaching Committee members consulted with Auxiliary Board members, Local Spiritual Assemblies and area individuals. Excitement was generated and all the necessary elements put into place to embrace interested souls. A task force was appointed to coordinate efforts.

When local broadcasts began in June 1997, the the campaign generated about 600 direct responses in its first two weeks.

Responses stayed consistently high. Dozens of seekers attended firesides, devotional meetings and other events. Within about three months, eight enrollments were directly attributable to the broadcasts and 23 to teaching efforts related to the campaign.


From Atlanta to the nation

By that point, the National Spiritual Assembly was confident the time had come to take its media effort nationwide starting in January 1998.

Cable television broadcasts of The Power of Race Unity would be supported by a public Web site, a toll-free telephone response line, new teaching literature and a national public relations campaign.

This initiative “builds on efforts already under way, and also lays a foundation for a new level of teaching in this country,” Robert C. Henderson, secretary-general of the National Assembly, said at the time. “This will truly be a national teaching campaign, one that will potentially involve every individual believer as well as all of the institutions.”

‘The aim, explained Ken Bowers, secretary of the National Teaching Committee, would be to enhance local efforts already under way:

“Mass media are not a substitute for individual teaching,” Bowers said, “but they can create unprecedented opportunities for the friends, both individually and collectively, to share the Faith with their countrymen.”

Bowers added, “There are three important things local communities should be





  • A rich array of other community activities, such as social activities, social and

economic development projects, youth programs and children’s classes.

  • Development of essential teaching and

deepening materials.

  • Local Assembly training and support.
  • Use of the arts.
  • Refined and more-effective Feasts.
  • Efficient systems of communication and

reporting.

  • Coordinated use of funds.

© Fostering of universal participation. Apply these models and approaches

DEVELOPMENT OF A POTENT VOICE TO REACH THE NATION

planning for in this campaign: local proclamation efforts, intensifying firesides, and devotional meetings. If at all possible, the proclamation efforts should focus on race unity, the theme of the video to be broadcast first.”

Equipped, the friends rally

Grassroots believers would have plenty of support in their pivotal role. In fact, the first national broadcasts were delayed until March 1998 to give the friends more time to gear up.

‘Tools they were handed included:

  • Copies of the video that could be shown

locally.

¢ The 1-800-22-UNITE _ telephone response line, which would route calls to

a participating Baha’i community near

the seeker.

  • A public Web site containing an introduction to the Faith, news and links.
  • Public information materials and advice.
  • Radio spots recorded at WLGI Radio

Baha’s.

  • Literature tied to the video's theme.

Later, race unity workshops created for communities’ use.

Heartening news came on the financial front. It was announced that a Baha’i couple had committed up to $300,000 overthree years to support media efforts.

Asa result of all this preparation, before the broadcasts even started 725 local communities contacted the National Teaching Office asking to be part of the media initiative. By rollout, that number was 1,100.

Many of these communities shared news of recent activities and their plans for the coming months. In nearly all cases, they were incorporating all the elements of

community life prescribed by the Universal House of Justice. First national broadcasts

Against that backdrop, The Power of Race Unity aired on the Odyssey Channel several times in late March and early April.

‘The first 10 days saw 6,000 people inquire about the Faith or attend a Baha’ event by invitation. Calls to 800-22UNITE totaled 3,000, and the Web site recorded 300 requests for information.

Also, the cost per response was well within expectations: $10, as compared to $50 at the beginning of the Adanta test and $18 as that experiment was refined.

The initiative’s shakedown cruise, on a

to other communities. Other Baha’i communities that show great potential would then gain special attention. Varied teaching methods would be used, and local and national institutions would strive to collaborate at an unprecedented level. Regional and local plans and individual action would flow from this national strategy. These would aim to guide individual souls, build a pattern of community life and foster the maturity of the institutions.


Looking further ahead Keeping new believers active and


LOCAL GLIMPSES



Santa Clarita, California ‘The Four Year Plan is the first in which the Internet has played a significant role.

Baha’is in Santa Clarita (above, at a park service project) ran television advertisements promoting the local Baha’i toll-free telephone line and Web site. The cable company was so impressed with the Web site that it offered to air the spots free for an additional period.

Users also like the Web site—it received more than 1,000 “hits” in the first two weeks.

West Virginia The Baha’f Faith is alive in this state, despite the Covenant-break_ ing that led to dissolution in 1997 of the Huntington Spiritual

Assembly. In fact, the Baha’fs of Huntington, Charleston and other

cities have turned up the heat of their activity so that at least two centers have opened and the Faith has become known to many more Mountain State residents than before. @




cable channel not even seen in many television markets, was a success.

By June, with -broadcasts on Black Entertainment Television added, the media initiative had led 63,000 souls to inquire about the Faith or attend a Baha’i meeting at the invitation of believers.

‘That month, a random survey of Baha’i communities indicated that 78 percent had developed and implemented teaching activities in conjunction with the national initiative.


involved in our communities is a key challenge the National ‘Teaching Committee spelled out in a December 1999 report, “Issues Pertaining to Growth, Retention and Consolidation in the United States.”

With an eye toward the next Plan, the report frankly acknowledges that even though the U.S. Baha’i community has grown phenomenally in the past 30 years, and currently shows “healthy vital signs,” the number of enrollments has slowly decreased in recent years.

Rather tha king into frustration, the committee recommends that we stay the




Other factors aiding the process of entry

by troops by mid-1998 included:

¢ Establishment of 18 regional training institutes.

¢ Intensive expert study and audience testing to find opportunities and refine proclamation and teaching materials.

¢ Racial unity’s emergence as a defining theme for American Baha’ activity.

  • Growing participation and enthusiasm

for teaching efforts at every level.

From building to performance

‘The second round of broadcasts marked. the end of a two-year building phase.

Next would be a performance phase to bring all these elements into a more systematic way of advancing the process of growth in the rest of the Plan.

Said the National Teaching Committee: “Tn successive waves over the next two years, this teaching campaign will impact the fundamental dynamics of community development and activism. It will create upwelling response from specified audiences and generate a new surge in awareness of the Faith among our fellow Americans. It will continue to stimulate an array of activities that over time will emerge as more permanent patterns of community action.”

In the new phase, broadcasts of The Power of Race Unity and several television spots would appear on such channels as VH-1, Odyssey, and E! Entertainment TV in October and November.

By mid-1999, two new videos—The Power of Prayer and Family: The Seeds of World Peace—and several short TV spot ads would enter the lineup, reaching a greater and more diverse audience than ever on such cable channels as WGN, Lifetime, Court TV, E!, Bravo and The International Channel. More videos are under development (see page 4).

Booklets supporting the themes of these videos were distributed. Hundreds of new firesides, devotional gatherings, social functions and social and economic development projects got under way.

Quick, efficient follow-up of seekers— and immediate deepening of new believers—gathered momentum. The 1-800-22-UNITE caller response system was streamlined so communities could subscribe free. Each would be assigned a voice mailbox and a password for dialing to hear messages.

course and endure the natural cycle of “cri sis and victory” that repeatedly has pro pelled “vast surges” of growth. It has

specific recommendations in these areas:

  • Achieving a new mindset about growth.
  • Continued development of local and

national outreach and follow-up.

  • Building our communities: dealing with

diversity of many kinds.

  • Development of training isntitutes.
  • Improving local stewardship.
  • Improving our discourse on teaching.

The leadership of Regional Baha’i

Councils. @


December 31, 1999

Tue American BanA’l * Four YeaR PLAN

page I5 [Page 16-17]FOUR*YEAR*PLAN Renee

Stoneman

sooner ot tetcetit



Emotional moments came as members of each Regional Baha’i Council were presented with an illuminated replica of a Tablet of the Divine Plan for its region. Photo by Vladimir Shiloy



Warm greetings by the National Spiritual Assembly at the Baha’i House of Worship set a spiritual tone. Photo by Vladimir Shilo


¢ budding of Regional Baha’f Councils, a new institution called into being by the

Universal House of Justice, tralization at center sta part of the Four Year Plan.

Each Council oversees one of the four regions of the continental United States defined by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in the Tablets of the Divine Plan—a division of duties that the House of Justice prai as “both wise and of profound spiritual significance

The Councils’ functions include helpout the National Spiritual ys agenda for the I Plan by devising regional teaching plans and overseeing projects those plans spawn.

Other Council duties include helping to establish strong Spiritual Assemblies and ove ig each October's Unit Conventions.

But months before the House of Justice sent the May 30, 1997, letters authorizing creation of those Councils, the National Assembly had started filling the need for action that more closely fits local conditions across the county.


put decenin the latter










Close

The atmosphere was often lighthearted as the newly formed Councils got together in the precincts of the Holiest House of Worship. Photo by Ken Duszynski














MOVING OUR CENTERS OF COORDINATION CLOSER fs HOME

First came the four Regional Teaching Committees Fe Regional Teaching

Committees, named in July 1996, were mandated by the National Assembly to “advance the teaching work by fostering the emergence and development of sustained patterns of proclamation, expansion and consolidation across their regions.”

It was foreseen that these committees, close to the grass roots, could expertly analyze and study the areas in their charge, provide strategic advice to the National Assembly through the National Teaching Committee and formulate, promote and execute regional teaching plans.

Several spheres of activity would be each Regional Committee’s ishing centers of learning, promoung individual teaching, launching campaigns, holding conferences, fostering _ collaboration, strengthening communities, coordinating traveling teaching, aiding distribution of materials to large-scale growth areas and developing human resources.





collaboration would be

required to carry out these aims. Auxiliary Board members and_ their assistants, permanent schools and institutes, training institute boards, Local Assemblies and groups and isolated believers would all have to be fully engaged.

With their charge, the committees rolled up their sleeves and got to work. By early 1997 each was laying a foundation so Baha’is across the region could share ideas and resources and arise to serve to a degree never before possible.

Western States: Lines of action included extensive analysis of both local Baha’i and non-Baha’i populations and of local Baha’{ activities; promotion of individual prayer; assistance to traveling teachers and homefront pioneers; Local Assembly formation; establishment of training institutes; and development of individual members’ expertise in specific realms. Also notable was the committee’s involvement in the pilot phase of LSAT, the Local Assembly automation project.

Central States: A campaign was launched to use the prayer for the region revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Baha. The

committee also moved to help ¢ establish regional training institutes and foster devotional meetings. To fuel local activity, the committee assembled reports from communities and turned them into a display shown off at National Convention and around the region.

Northeastern States: A regional teaching plan was formulated focusing on teaching through the arts, race unity, participation by youth and women, American Indian teaching, media initiatives and training institutes. Communication with believers was seen as critical to this effort, so the committee gathered a wealth of information on activities, resources, needs and receptive areas through a questionnaire.

Southern States: A regional teaching plan used quotations from the Writings to focus on the power of individual initiative. As part of this, a com pilation titled Unlocking the Power of —

Action was published and distributed. Also among this committee’s activities

were formulation of a vision statement and appointment of state teaching ae

committees.



page 16 Tie AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ Four YEAR PLAN

we

December 31, 1999

n Dee. 12-14, 1997, the National Spiritual Assembly had the pri lege of giving the four Regional Baha’ Councils an orientation and loving lift-off, only months after the Universal House of Justice had authorized the Here are a few images from that weekend, which was galvanized by special messages from the Universal ¢ and the presence of many of the Continental Counselors for the Americas.




for




Left: At Foundation Hall in the Baha’i House of Worship, members of the newly elected Councils gathered with Counselors, National Assembly members and staff.

Photo by Ken Duszynski

New level of commitment:

Regional Baha'i Councils Just as all these regional initiatives were hitting their stride, the baton passed to a brand-new divine institution,

the Regional Baha’i Council.

These four Councils represented “a historic step,” in the words of the Supreme Body, that can “augment the stimulating effect of the decentralization” the National Assembly had already set in motion.

Elections for the first Councils were held on the anniversary of the Birth of Baha’w'llah in 1997, with all members of Local Assemblies eligible to cast ballots. In December, the National Assembly lovingly took the Councils under its wing in the presence of the Continental Board of Counselors in a meeting at the Baha’i House of Worship.

In such an atmosphere, the new Councils began their work. By Ridvan 1998, each had set committees or work groups in motion and begun planning revolving around an emphasis on individual transformation, teaching and training.

When the Councils again met with the National Spiritual Assembly in June 1998, their regional teaching goals were

fully formed.


LOCAL GLIMPSES



Rochester, New York Active teaching efforts in this city have been confirmed in a big way as Baha’isponsored concerts on the theme “Celebration of the Oneness of Humanity” have drawn audiences of 500 in 1998—then 800 a year later.

In each case, area Baha’ is worked for months to produce the programs to help galvanize the entire community. ‘The concerts have served as opportunities to exercise loving hospitality and invite attendees to future events.







was forced

up despite Left: Tod Ewing and other members of the Continental Board of Counselors for the Americas provided inspiration and encouragement to the gathering. Photo by Ken Duszynski

a permanent were born.


Knoxville, Tennessee led to victory when the National Spiritual Assembly

national youth training conference in July 1997.

Enter the Assemblies of Knoxville and Knox County, which quickly put together a teacher-training workshop for ages 12 to 30 and were rewarded when 100 young Baha’fs showed

matching their number. After three days of sessions, the youths fanned out A over the area in groups to spread the message. A large number of seekers showed up for firesides (one later declared). And a brand new Baha'i Youth Workshop and

to cancel a

Spiritual

temperatures

movement”

by Auxiliary Board under sponsorship

teaching team Central, Georgia.



Georgia and Alabama

“systematic process for nurturing the Baha’i youth in these states was launched in April 1998

Assembly of Fulton County

Components of the move ment include engagement, training, change, encouragement and review. The tools have been four biannual retreats designed to energize and prepare the young believers for teaching, and other activities in the meantime such as Ruhi study circles. @

members p of the



Western States: Six initial strategies included developing collaboration with the Assemblies and the friends; supporting the strengthening of Local Spiritual Assemblies; devising a region-wide youth program while promoting collective endeavors by the youth; enhancing, nurturing and networking regional training institutes; improving Unit Convention quality and attendance; and accelerating expansion and consolidation efforts, and fostering initiatives aimed at reaching all strata of the diverse human family.

Southern States: The five challenges identified by the Council were feeling a personal spiritual connection to Baha'u'llah; having a clear sense of mission; teaching with confidence and courage and acquiring effective teaching skills; nurturing an environment that is loving and accepting and embraces diversity of all kinds; and ensuring effective and sustained collaboration between the twin arms of the Baha’{ Administrative Order.

Northeastern States: The National ‘Teaching Plan was tailored to the needs of the region. The regional plan focused on raising the spiritual dedication and action of the individual believers and Local Spiritual Assemblies. Individual prayer, deepening, meditation, teaching and service were emphasized.


Central States: The Council set goals to create and refine expansion and consolidation projects; enhance the teaching effort among racial minorities and youth; strengthen and support efforts to promote racial unity and the equality of men and women; promote an increase in Fund contributions and develop regional economic resources; and increase efforts to train human resources in the fundamental verities of the Faith, with emphasis on developing teachers.




Strides forward in 1999

On the anniversary of the Declaration of the Bab in 1999, Local Spiritual Assemblies again gathered to elect members of the four Councils.

Great progress had been made in an incredibly short time, and each Council could report at Ridvan strides in several arenas, some potentially far-reaching.

Western States: The Council developed a working draft for intercommunity collaboration and chose Montana, a large area with a small Baha’{ community, to be its testing ground. A landmark statewide meeting was followed up with creation of a state committee and the launching of several “beta” projects designed to boost activity and confidence among Montana believers.





Southern States: A campaign called “Date with Destiny” aimed to develo te of mind through pursuit in growth, challen; ach







believer into the Faith; t goal of 5,000 participants it ute courses; and servi rablishing 50 new socia nomic development proje

Northeastern States: The Council undertook a campaign to encourage evolutionary growth. It employed five methods: an ongoing attempt to recog nize and acknowledge every meritoriou: deed; a series of “love letters”; extensive avel by the Council throughout the establishment of trust and coopion among the Council, Local emblies and individuals; and establishment of an orderly means for individuals to express their creative energies.

Central States: Efforts included finding ways to systematically and energetically pursue the teaching work among the region’s American Indians. The Council has looked into the challenges and immediate conditions of the Indian teaching work through meetings in two states, then consultation with the National American Indian Teaching Committee. #



training ith a goal and eco












.December 31,1999

Tue AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ FouR YEAR PLAN

page 17

[Page 18]FOUR*YEAR?P

A


Twin Foc


ew could have been surprised when

race unity and gender equality emerged as twin foci of the Four Year Plan in the United States.

The American Baha’ community's leadership on both fronts shone brightly as the Plan dawned.

Wide dissemination of the National Spiritual Assembly's statement The Vision of Race Unity had heightened public awareness of the Faith’s tenets on the oneness of the human family, as had Baha’i-sponsored race unity activities.

Bahd’u'llah’s teachings on the equality of women and men were having impact on the loftiest summits, such as the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.

Within the Baha’{ community, conferences in Charleston, South Carolina, on race unity and Louisville, Kentucky, on gender equality in early and mid-1996 addressed how we as individual nities and institutions could “live the life” ata more spiritual level.









Race unity

‘The new National Teaching Plan’s core strategy was crystal clear: “The issue of race is fundamental to all consideration of proclamation, expansion and consolidation. Our actions should reflect this priority.”

Lines of action were formulated to implement programs for interracial understanding; develop and apply a vision for race unity in the community; foster a greater involvement in the life of society; and reach leaders of thought.

At the same time, a National AfricanAmerican ‘Teaching Committee was appointed to specifically reach AfricanAmericans.

Race unity also was at the forefront when the national media initiative was launched. The first video, The Power of Race Unity, invited people of every race and background to investigate the Baha’ Faith in their local communities.

“We must prepare ourselves to be living witnesses to the truths ‘Abdu’l-Baha tirelessly championed,” the National Spiritual Assembly reminded us in a December 1997 statement addressed to

the American Baha’f community.



f the Four Year Plan aimed at building

a solid foundation for embracing troops, consider training to be the mortar. Without it, no such effort can long hold together.

At Ridvan 153, the Universal House of Justice called on all North American believers, “new and veteran, to embark upon a systematic study of the fundamental verities of the Revelation of Baha’u’llah.”

‘This study, the Supreme Body said, would enable the friends to build knowledge and skills that Baha’ institutions can channel into more effective and more spirit-filled service, teaching






LOCAL GLIMPSES


Sutton, Nebraska

This tiny Baha’i community—two adults—started something when it presented the National Assembly's Two Wings of a Bird: The Equality of Women and Men to city leaders.

‘The presentation to the city clerk and the mayor's mother in this town of under 1,350 led to two articles in local newspapers and an extensive feature a month later in the Hastings Tribune. @


San Francisco, California, Baha'is took extra steps to make meaningful presentations of the Two Wings statement to city officials.


Denver, Colorado

Bahd’is from metropolitan Denver and other areas in Colorado played a very visible role in the President's Initiative on Race when it held town meetings in Denver in early 1998.

More than 30 Baha'is attended the meetings. They were allotted several seats in the special section reserved for groups that were known for com


mitment to race healing.

During the public comment segments, individual Baha’is spoke passionately of the need for race unity in the United States and the importance of spirituality in curing the disease of racism.

‘The comments of several Baha’is were reported by local and national media outlets. @



Against the backdrop of President Clinton’s national initiative on race, the National Assembly appealed to Bahéa’i Assemblies, groups and isolated believers to host thousands of public gatherings “for open discussion of the requirements of race unity.”

‘Tools designed to stimulate neighborhood race unity dialogues soon followed as a complement to The Power of Race Unity. These workshops took participants through a process of familiarization with the Writings, understanding their role in race unity, developing skills to organize gatherings, and becoming an active promoter.




Gender equality Completion, after an exhaustive process, of the National Assembly's state ment Tivo Wings of a Bird: The Equality of

Women and Men signaled the beginning of a major proclamation and teaching campaign on equality.

‘The statement’ unveiling at Ridvan 1997 was met with great enthusiasm. A



and community activities.

The primary tool would be training institutes. Our National Spiritual Assembly and its agencies—particularly the National Teaching Committee and Office of Education and Schools— began work immediately on establishing institutes and developing training curricula.

The Wilmette Institute already had been created to operate on a national scale. In August 1999, the institute graduated the first class of its four-year program “Spiritual Foundations for a Global Civilization.” Equipping studehts to teach the Cause and steeping




new national committee—later named the National Committee for the Equality of Women and Men (NCEWM)—was charged with channeling that energy.

‘The committee plotted a strategy to distribute Tivo Wings and foster broad discussion of it within and outside the Baha’f community. A complementary goal was to help raise up a new generation committed to gender equality.

Meetings were held nationwide to identify the needs of communities and encourage them to take action. A national training seminar helped Baha'is develop speaking and facilitation skills for use in gender equality activities.

Youth were not left out of the equation. A project dubbed One Voice focused the efforts of college clubs on promoting the equality of women and men and raising awareness about the Faith’s commitment to that agenda.

And the Office of External Affairs coordinated Baha’{ involvement in the campaign for U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All


them in service are central to the Wilmette Institute's mission.

Early in the Plan the National Assembly, in phases, appointed boards for regional training institutes across the country. By mid-1998, 18 regional institutes had been established in the Adanta area; Florida; North Texa: North Carolina; metro Di New York; Boston; St. Louis area; Minneapolis area; Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee; New Mexico; Arizona; Colorado; Oregon; Washington/North Idaho; and Southern California.

Add to that hundreds of local training institutes, as well as ongoing centers of






RACE UNITY AND GENDER EQUALITY PROVIDE MAIN THEMES FOR U.S.


Forms of Discrimination Women (CEDAW).

A new impetus came soon after, with the National Assembly's creation of an Office of Women’s Affairs headed by Juana Conrad. Its mission was to participate in activities designed to promote equality and to advise the National Assembly on issues and trends dealing with women.

The office's first act was to survey how Baha'i communities were using Two Wings. The concern, said Conrad, was that the Assembly “didn’t see it receiving the same attention as the statement on race unity.”

A fresh effort to infuse the equality statement and its theme of a true partnership between women and men into American discourse was launched in December 1998.

A total of 100,000 copies of the statement had been distributed since the state~ ment’ publication, and Baha’is had held numerous deepenings, training sessions and public meetings on equality.

But a more focused campaign was needed, said the National Assembly. Each local institution was asked to present Two Wings to its municipality's mayor and city council, and each believer was asked to ponder how our communities could become true models of equality.

Sharing of the statement was focused on March, Women’s History Month. Packets prepared by NCEWM for Assemblies and campus clubs contained sample letters and other resources they could us

Galvanized Baha’is responded enthusiastically. By mid-July, 166 localities had reported on their actions, and such highprofile efforts as one in San Francisco cheered the friends.

‘To keep up the momentum, Assemblies in state capitals later were asked to present the statement to their governors during September. Other communities were encouraged to consult on ideas for

Against













Meanwhile, a new nationwide training program on equality graduated its first 19 trainers in May, and a se women’s seminar in June helped the Office of Women’ Affairs plan fature projects.


NEW FOCUS ON SKILLS TO BOOST TEACHING AND SERVICE

learning such as the permanent schools and institutes and about three dozen regional schools.

Core Curriculum and Fundamental Verities courses developed by the National Teacher ‘Training Center, as well as materials developed for the Ruhi Institute, have played a major role in helping institutes imbue new and veteran believers with deeper understanding of—and greater enthusiasm for—the Baha’{ teachings.

By Ridvin 1999, the National Assembly could report that fully half the American believers had taken at least one training institute course.



page 18 Tre AMERICAN BanA’i ¢ Four YEAR PLAN

December 3


999 [Page 19]

ETHNIC COMMITTEES


“es four ethnic teaching committees and task forces—Chinese, AfricanAmerican, Latin-American and American Indian—could sum up their message in one sentence: If we but arise to teach, they'll be right beside us.

‘Their labors during the Four Year Plan have yielded a bounty of materials, networks and wisdom essential to expansion and consolidation.



American Indian Teaching Committee

The fervent hope of Indian Baha that American believers will come to understand the native peoples’ long tradition of spirituality and potential to spiritualize the entire world.

Native people are all around us in cities and towns as well as on reservations, they say, and are receptive to the me: if i is presented wisely.

Perhaps the greatest buzz at this past spring’s Baha’i National Convention surrounded release of Protocols for American Indian Teaching, a handbook containing general principles and specific guidelines for bringing the ‘Teachings to the indigenous of this continent.

The 24-page document grew from years of consultation with many believers Among other purposes, it is meant to help prevent well-meaning teachers of the Faith from accidentally offending the people they are trying to reach.

Publication of the booklet was one of the American Indian Teaching Committee’s 29 goals for advancing the process of entry by troops during the Four Year Plan.

Another major project is the Tree of stitute curriculum, a training program for Indian believers and those interhing American Indians. It nears publication.

‘The committee also conducts major conferences on Indian teaching and guides the efforts of regional American Indian teaching committees. ical to the committee’s work deepening of new believers, especi the Covenant, so they c: tiny to become leaders not only wi Baha’i community but in the wider society as wel

Early in the Plan, the “Breaking Loose” conference in Lyons, Nebraska, brought together Counselor Jacqueline Left Hand Bull, a representative of the National ‘Teaching Committee, three members of the American — Indian aching Committee and 100 to 200 Baha’ nificant as well were a gathering of indigenous believers in Florida and celebration in 1998 of the 50th anniversary of the formation of the first all-Indian Local Spiritual Assembly on the Omaha Reservation.





















African-American Teaching Committee ince its creation two years ago, the African-American ‘Teaching Committee has aimed to bring African-Americans of every stratum into the Faith—and help make them feel welcome.




» that end it produced a manual, Exploring the Historical and Spiritual Significance of Being a Person of African Descent in the Baha'i Faith, that encourages study and teaching.

This loving and practical gift to the friends was compiled by race relations scholar Richard ‘Thomas of Michigan State University.

‘The manual includes excerpts from the Writings and from literature, plus many biographical sketches. It also has exercises and a facilitator’s guide for group study.

The committee sees the workbook as a primary teaching tool for local events, conferences and proclamation activities across the country.



Latin-American Task Force

‘The Latin-American ‘Task Force is riding a groundswell of interest throughout the United States in teaching this population—seen as world-bridging because many Spanish-descended people in the Ameri also have indigenous and African bloodlines.

‘There is no “prescription” for teaching Hispanics. The committee has focused on helping the friends form working groups with solid plans of action and obtain the resources—material and human—they need in the field.

A bilingual prayer book is being added to the array of Spanish-language teaching and deepening materials available. This








LOCAL GLIMPSES


Snohomish County, Washington The hub of teaching in the Snohomish County Southwest Bah: community near Seattle is a monthly dinner fireside sponsored by the Local Assembly and supported by all the friends.

The monthly event features a dinner served with “hospitality and the spirit of the Faith.” Next is a multicourse spiritual repast: music,




prayers, a talk focusing on spiritual subjects, and sharing of literature.

Guests sign a book and indicate whether they want to receive a periodic flier announcing upcoming Baha’{ events.

Complementary efforts include weekly follow-up firesides, a weekly Sunday school, “diversity dinner” nights and consistent deepening of new believers. @






Charlotte, North Carolina, friends have been wot gains since about 60 new believers, mostly Spanish-speaking, were enrolled into the Faith within a few months. Spanish-speaking year-of-service youths spearheaded early efforts to confirm these believers into community life. They are deepened in their homes, involved in weekly firesides and devotional gatherings and offered English classes and information about social services.


ig to consolidate their



Another tool the committee has developed is a body of knowledge relevant to id non-Baha’s people of African




Focusing on four pilot citi

Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles and East St. Louis, Illinois—the committee has offered this data to the National ching Committee, the Regional Baha’i Counc and Local Spiritual Assemblies. Collaboration with the Regional Councils has brought into existence regional African-American teaching committees or task forces to aid in the teach








m for teaching this popula


tion been generated through workshops at the Baha’ National Convention and the Association for


Baha'i Studies and through direct contact with the National Youth Committee and college’clubs.

gift-quality book presents English and Spanish translations of selected prayers side by side.

‘Trained teachers also have emerged in larger numbers during the Plan, thanks to institutes employing Ruhi and Core Curriculum materials. They are augmented by traveling teachers, especially “snowbirds” heading south for winter or school breaks.

Why all the interest? There’s nothing like success, apparently.

Patient, long-haul efforts in such areas as Charlotte, North Carolina, and ornia, have borne The new Hispanic believers have risen, in turn, to share the message with family and friends.

Now their Baha'i S are rapidly being transformed into gatherings of true cultural sharing, and others across the country—particularly in








fruit.





STRIVING TO ADD DIVERSITY AND INFUSE RENEWED SPIRIT


is and Illine 1.

Florida, —see their own potenti

In this quest, communities and their institutions are being brought together by the task force to systematize the teaching work.

For example, in Florida a regional committee was named to work under a Local Spiritual Assembly in cooperation with an Auxiliary Board member.

As the initiative expanded, a planning and teaching conference was held at the Magdalene Carney Baha’i Institute. Later, a second conference was held there—carried out entirely by the regional committee. The ball is rolling.





Chinese Teaching Task Force

More than 1 million Chinese live in America. today. They are in every major metropolitan area and college campus.

To teach them, the friends must become imbued with the Chinese spirit, know the Chinese sacred literature, study the Chinese customs and speak to them from a Chinese standpoint using Chinese terminology.

Enter the Chinese Teaching ‘Task Force to promote this process of teaching and consolidation.

During the Plan, the task force has participated in Chinese teaching activities in everal communities, conducted workshops, planned and facilitated confers, established communications networks, and implemented an institute study process.

As a result, the Baha’i Distribution Service has become the central source of books and materials in simplified Chinese.

Now, through consultation with the Regional Bah s, the friends in many more cities are preparing to teach this population.

Ina meeting between the Northeastern Regional Baha’i Council and represer ives of the task force, for example, the Council learned the importance of demoassociations,

s, newspaper articl participation in cultural festivals, inv: tions to scholars, the importance of the family unit in teaching and the availability of study materials for Chinese audiences.

The task force also corresponded with the Regional Baha’{ Council for the Southern States about its questions and ‘The task force provided the Council with materials, human resource contacts, guidelines on important elements of befriending the Chinese and suggestions for ways to get started in reaching this element of the population.

In response to the Council’s request for a statement of its vision, the task force expressed that this vision includes an emphasis on the institute process, namely the establishment and development of Il study groups focused on the tive Word and community servic

In the planning stages is a process for establishing regional training for study group facilitators, using materials developed for the Chinese.















concerns.









December 31, 1999

Tne American BanA’l ¢ Four YEAR PLAN page 19 [Page 20]Do you have something

k to SHARE with BRILLIANT STAR, like PHOTOgraphs, stories, poems, or DRAWings? We invite everyone to sendin submissions for our upcoming themes:

The Harmony of Science and Religion

The Time Capsule


“the Are projects



Send mait to: Brilliant Star Baha’i Media Services

- 1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201 wee Sty

Contact us at telephone: 847.853.2354 fax: 847.256.1372

Or e-mail us at



For subscriptions to

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or see page 27 to subscribe.


TvNOd “St LAID “ZT SAOT “F1 GOS YOs FACT TT ONINYOW ‘eT XIWva ‘OF


u


__—*

rry! Liang ‘needs your help. Liang is eee some important things he wants to share with Baha’i kids but he needs some assistance. Would you kindly help him unscramble the words and figure out the important principles and facts about the Baha’i Faith? Thank you for helping!

frinciples:

TeV ON deiacss, 2. This will illuminate the whole world! 3. When we share the Baha'i Faith, we are 4. To be used to help humanity so that no one is hungry or homeless.

5. How many Regional Baha'i Councils exist in the United States?

6. Service to humanity is to God.

7. Our way to talk to God.

8. Supporting the Baha'i Faith helps the entire

9. Where in the United States is a Baha'i House of Worship located?

10. People of all races belong to one human

11. Inspiration for taking care of our money.

12. Baha'i Institutions area ___ from Baha'u'llah to the world.

13. It is important for us to read the Baha'i writings every and evening.

14. Contributing to the Baha'i Funds shows God this emotion.

15. Women and men are



Clues: (u nsclamble these (or the answels) x

Hae EA: 6. SIVEERC 11. OVLE OFR ODG 2. UTINY 7. PARREY 12. GFTI 3. TINGCHAE 8. WLORD 13. MIRNONG 4. MYEON 9. WMTILETE 14. LEVO 5. FUOR 10. FIMAYL 15. EALUQ ALLAWTIM 6 aOIANaS 9 ONIHOVAL '€ aTYom °8 unos ’s ALINA ‘@ WAAVUd “2 AANOW "> aOVAd “I isIomsUy



page 20 THe AMERICAN BAHA’i ¢ BRILLIANT STAR Kip’s CORNER

December 31, 1999


[Page 21]





the youth >

| Universal House of Justice, Ridvén 153 B.E. (1996) letter to the Baha’is of North America

Heroic Deeds:

How our Supreme Institution responded

x 18 months the National Youth Committee, through the Heroic Deeds campaign, strove to encourage our beloved youth to perform sacrificial deeds for the Cause.

Hundreds of youths responded, submitting powerful and amazing pledges. ‘The National Youth Committee compiled these pledges and sent them as a gift to the Universal House of Justice. Our hearts are filled with joy as we share with you the response from the Universal House of Justice to our National Spiritual Assembly.

Dear Baha’i friends, The Universal House of Justice was delighted to receive your letter dated 26 July 1999 enclosing a letter from your National Youth Committee together with a list of American Baha’i youth who have pledged a wide range of “heroic deeds of service”, and we are to assure you of its ardent prayers in the Holy Shrines that these youth may attain their heart’s desire in service to the Faith. With loving Baha’i greetings, Department of the Secretariat


C.H.1.C.S. POWER: COUNTERING CORRUPTION

BY LAURA HARLEY, ST. PAUL, MN.


“ are a group of loving and

nurturing, spiritually aware women. We are dedicated to advancing the intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of young girls through adolescence into adulthood. We use the strength and inspiration we draw from Bahé’u’llah, as well as our life experiences to provide unwavering support, unconditional love and spiritual solutions to the challenges facing women in our community.”

That is the mission statement of C.H.LC.S. (Courageous Handmaidens In Corrupt Society), a support network formed three years ago by several collegeage women in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who wanted to help young Baha’{ women gain a sense of unity and a greater understanding of their importance.

Bombarded with images

Atschool, at work, with friends and in the media, young women are constantly exposed to images that tell them to look a certain way and to focus their energy on attracting men. They are told they are inferior to men and are discouraged from having confidence and reaching their goals.

CH. . challenges young Baha’i women to tune out these negative messages while trying to live in accordance with Baha’{ standards. At retreats, deepenings, firesides and devotional gather




Want to know more about C.H.I.C.S. or



Cee roca

ings, young women deepen their knowl edge about:

  • The high station Baha’u’llah bestows

on women.

¢ Heroic women in Baha’ history.

¢ Their own strengths and capacities.

  • Listening to one’s intuition.
  • Self-esteem and the nobility of the

soul.

  • Creating boundaries within relationships, identifying unhealthy relationships and being assertive.

© Dealing with peer pressure.

  • How to teach the Baha’f Faith.

The Baha’{ writings are the basis, but they also draw from sociological books such as Reviving Ophelia or School Girls.

Discussion and social activities help form strong bonds of friendship. Those bonds help provide support when a young woman is challenged and needs a Baha’{ friend or mentor with whom she can consult and create solutions.

The response from the Baha’f community has been overwhelming. Young women really enjoy and look forward to the retreats. Their parents express great




happiness and gratitude that C.H.I.C.S. gives their daughters love, support and education in this difficult age.

Core members were originally hesitant to call the group C.H.LC.S. But parents and daughters like the name because it provokes conversation and gives a positive connotation to a usually demeaning term.

There is a great need in the Baha’f community to support and strengthen Baha’i youth. We feel groups like C.H.LC.S. are an essential part of the process of achieving the equality of women and men.

“Glory to all womankind”

Abdu’l-Baha has stated, “The individual woman should, today, follow a course of action which will be the cause of eternal glory to all womankind, so that all women will be illumined. And that lieth in gathering to learn how to teach, in holding meetings to recite the verses, to offer supplications to the kingdom of the Lord of evident signs, and to institute education for girls.”

Based on our results and the encouragement we have received, we strongly encourage older youths to create groups to serve their younger Baha’i sisters and brothers.

We must act now to help create a strong generation that will lead us into the future and teach the world, by example, about the transforming power of the Baha’f Faith and the equality of women and men. @




Gaining inspiration for campus action

Baha’ college students take a little time out at the Baha’i Campus Association weekend at Bosch Baha’i School Oct. 29-31. Co-sponsored by the National Youth Committee and the Western States Regional College Club and Regional Youth Development desks, the event saw nearly 80 participants discussing the importance of social activism and spiritual revolution, and how to gain significant victories for the Faith on America’s college campuses.

Photo by Nancy Wong





“Wealth is praiseworthy in the highest degree, if it is acquired by an individual’s own efforts and the grace of God, in commerce, agriculture, art and industry, and if it be expended for philanthropic purposes. Above all,

if a judicious and resourceful in

—‘Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 24

dual should initiate measures which would universally enrich the masses of the people, there could be no undertaking greater than this, and it would rank in the sight of God as the supreme achievement, for such a benefactor would supply the needs and insure the comfort and well-being of a great multitude.”





Youth Committee!

ERVIC TO HUMANITY

Have you put the Baha’i teachings into action through social activism or community service? Tell us how! Contact the National


National Youth Committee Baha’i National Center 1233 Central St. Evanston, IL 60201

phone 847-733-3499 e-mail


December 31, 1999

Tne American BanA‘i ¢ Ciassiriep/Continuep _ page 21 [Page 22]

‘That East and West may embrace’

Gathering advances steps locally toward real unity

rand ideas for unity often work only when you pay attention to imple things. For the Baha’is of

Skol Illinois, on Nov. 7, that meant pomegranates and roses—and sharing and loving.

t evening one family arranged a gathering of serenity, purity and love that helped many of the friends feel new closeness between. East and West, an inspiration for service to the Cause of God.

In recent Skokie has attracted several Baha’i families who had escaped persecution in Iran. These cherished friends often spent years in countries bordering Iran, patiently enduring hardship and even confinement as they waited for visas to enter the United States.

But when they get together with the American friends, new challenges to patience and courage arise. American culture and language are strange to the refugees. One Persian believer said, “In my country I couldn’t say I was Baha’f or teach the Faith. But now I’m in a wonderful country where I can speak and say I'm a Baha’ and teach, but now no one understands my language.”

‘The language barrier can also come between Baha’fs. Many in Skokie were unaware, and surprised to find out, that their community had new arrivals who had recently endured such hard times.

Jonathan Ellis, a Baha’i youth in Skokie, was concerned. He asked his parents if more could be done to create unity. At Feasts, he said, we really don’t get to know our fellow Baha’is—we just say a few prayers, have a cookie and a glass of punch and go home.

So his parents, Gwen and Caswell,







ears,






The Unity Gathering Nov. 7 in Skokie,



inois, brought together friends of Persian

and Western origin for an evening of sharing. Photo by Puran Stevens

consulted. They decided to have a “unity gathering” at their home, where the Iranian brothers and sisters could share stories of coming to America, and their new American friends could share things about their lives. Everyone has a story!

An agreeable date was chosen. Invitations in English and Persian were mailed, and the friends shared news of the gathering by word of mouth.

Pomegranates and other fruits, special Tranian cookies and ghand (sugar cubes) for Persian tea were a few of the treats enjoyed that evening. The hosts decorated their home with ornaments and arranged flowers to complement the colorful foods on reception tables. All this was a prelude to the real meaning of the evening: to really get to know each other.

After a warm welcome, the family conducted a program based on an extract from one of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Tablets of the Divine Plan. It seemed to have been revealed for just such a spiri tual union: “Consider! The people of the East and the West were in the utmost strangeness. Now to what a high degree they are acquainted with each other and united together! ... God is powerful over all things.”

Then the guests were invited to tell of experiences and difficulties along their paths to the United States. One said that while she was fleeing Iran, she was forced to jump from one truck to another—both moving. Another woman told of spending most of her pregnancy in i 1 spoke her 5-year-old child was playing in front of them.

On leaving, each guest received a long-stemmed rose.

Since that evening, Skokie believers have been heard to say they have been elevated by the loving feelings of a Baha’f youth for his spiritual brothers and sisters.

‘That gathering proved to be a good beginning for bonding of hearts. It will not be the last. @


Latin-American committee consults with its ‘family’

“family gathering” held by the ‘egional Latin-American Teaching Committee for the Central States encouraged a group of go-area believers to “arise in the name of Babi and put on the armor of His love,” in the words of Baha’u’llah.

The call to action in our Sacred Writings was a springboard for consultation on ways the friends may reach the hearts of the many Hispanic believers in the greater Chicago area with the healing message of Baha'u'llah.

Morris ‘Taylor, member of the Regional Baha’{ Council of the Central States, and Gayle Woolson, Knight of Baha'u'llah and longtime pioneer, reminded the gathering that many Hispanics in this country prefer to speak English—taking away a language barrier—and that the point of teaching is to reach each individual’s heart.

Latin-American culture, they noted, puts great importance on relationships, family and devotion to Christ.

“We must be in motion if Baha’u’llah is to guide us, and be assured that the seemingly limited efforts we are making today will affect millions of souls tomorrow, many of whom are eagerly awaiting the imminent return of their Lord,” the committee reported.








The Committee encourages believers to arise and teach in other areas of the Central States with a growing Hispanic population. For information, contact: Regional Latin-American Teaching Committee Mary Martinez, Secretary

Unit 1A Chicago, Illinois 60613 E-mail °

Training institutes are key in the process of entry by troops

Region by region

Contacts in each region of the country for more information: Central States Lynn Wieties, Council secretary Phone 573-364-9618 E-mail Northeastern States

Joel Nizin, Council secretary Phone 201-652-6385 E-mail

Southern States Mahyar Mofidi Phone 919.858.7070 E-mail

Western States Charleen Maghzi, Council secretary Phone 415-759-1996 E-mail

aking your mark, advancing the rocess of entry by troops, systematic striving—all these memorable phrases from our Supreme Body, the Universal House of Justice, appear in recent Ridvén messages. All these phrases refer to specific processes, including training and the support of training institutes. Establishment of training programs is a crucial piece in the process of developing human resources. And developing human resources, we are told, is critical to g the process of entry by troops. stitutes, created under the supervision of the National Spiritual Assembly and the Regional Baha’s x are designed to advance the process of entry by troops in the United States. The Universal House of Justice confidently expects us “to make an en getic response to the call” for parti tion in training institutes and other centers of learning.








The boards of the regional training institutes, in consultation with the Regional Baha’ Councils, have created balanced programs that incorporate the national training programs of the United States, programs created locally, and programs proved to be successful in other parts of the world.

Regional or local training institutes’ programs are succeeding because they are truly transformative—they have the capacity to connect hearts to Baha’u’llah rapidly, and perhaps more deeply than any other process. That is precisely what the Universal House of Justice is referring to when they advis titute programs to imbue “hearts with a deep love for Baha’u’llah—a love from which stems a desire to submit oneself to His Will, to obey His laws, to heed His exhortations and to promote His Faith.” —Ridvan 1996 message to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bangladesh, India etc.


A recent training program participant wrote, “[T]his program has enriched and changed my life beyond all imagination ... to all of you who make this possible— thank you!”

Again in the most recent Ridvin message, the Universal House of Justice guarantees us that when a training institute and a Regional Baha’{ Council interact closely, “the stage for a galvanic coherence of the processes effecting expansion and consolidation” that will enable “growing numbers of the world’s people to find the Object of their quest







you to intensify your individual and collective exertions in the teaching field and will result in a commensurate acceleration in the expansion of your communi ties.” —Ridvin 1996 message to Cambodia, Hong Kong etc. #


page 22 Tne AMERICAN BanA’i * CONSOLIDATING THE VICTORIES

December 31, 1999 [Page 23]






WHWITTNEEHORE


Youth and energy

W: at is the value of attending sesions at the Baha’s schools? Let’s consider some examples from Louhelen Baha’i School.

After a recent Junior Youth Institute, a youth from Farmington Hills, Michigan, met with her Local Spiritual Assembly to consult on starting a race unity project at her middle school. After the meeting, four Baha’{ youths who attend that





school met to decide on steps to make this a reality.

Another youth from the same session reported, “I feel like I can be myself at Louhelen. I love the prayers and discussions and being with all these Baha’is! It’s easy to tell my friends about the Faith after I’m here!”

Other responses from youths:

“The teachers were awesome! I’m really shy and it really helped how the teacher kept reminding that he loved us.”

“We talked about how we could go back and make a difference. It was hard NOT to learn.”

“I love Louhelen and the spiritual atmosphere. It is my spiritual escape.”

“I would change: Zilch, zip, nada!”

Upcoming sessions Jan. 21-23: “Developing Patterns of Community Life” with Mottahedeb Development Services, Dr. Beth Bowen, Marzieh Carmody. —_ Mottahedeh


Development Services, a social and economic development agency of the National Spiritual Assembly, ‘provides step-by-step training in skills need development as part of a local or regional plan for growth. This training program goes over the entire process: developing a n; identifying issues, resources and spiritual principles; setting goals and designing a project; and evaluation.

Feb. 25-27: — “Bahd’i-Centered Management Principles Saal Practice” with Dr. Larry Miller. This course for Baha’{ businesspeople, or those interested in applying Baha’i principles to other management situations, explores how ethical business practice and successful management approaches include both judgment and the application of spiritual principles. Participants practice applying honesty, service, justice, unity and world citizenship to the world of business while developing skill in consultation.






Love sparks teaching

Ice one is in love with Baha’w’'ll4h, teaching others about the Baha’ Faith is a joyous, natural expression of that love.

A fundamental mission of Baha’i schools is to help every believer become a teacher. So imagine the delight at Bosch when someone who felt defensive about teaching went through training and then said, “I am now empowered to offer the f a precious jewel.”

aT is one of many victories that resulted from a decision more than a year





ago to offer courses on the Fundamental Verities.

‘The first part, “To Serve the was offered by Auxiliary ber Marsha Gilpatrick over three weekends without charge—helped



by th generous Assemblies in the Western States.

About 80 friends have gone through all nine sessions of this special training. Comments from a few of the 20 friends who completed the course over the Nov. 12 weekend reveal newfound courage and confidence to teach the Faith.

“J plan to host a musical fireside/dinner in my home and invite my close friends,” said one. “There’s so much ‘to share; Baha’u'llah has answers to our life’s problems.”

As these trainees in turn facilitate Fundamental Verities courses for local communities, a new energy appears in the





" community and. re: of the loving,


friends are moved to discover the joy of teaching: “I am more forthcoming about being a Baha'i and telling my friends about the Faith.”

Upcoming program Feb. 18-21: “Racial Unity: The Foundation of World Peace” with Charlotte - Kahn, LeNise JacksonGaerter, Fernando Huerta and Cynthia Barnes-Slater. Participants will learn better how to celebrate different races and cultures and create a home and community that appreciate the unique contribu tions of all of God’s peoples. #

An exercise at a recent Assembly Team Development Weekend at Bosch Baha’i School saw a “community building” activity help all participants toward cooperation on a project that was carried out in complete silence. Photo courtesy of Bosch Baha'i School

Po

1995

Wilmettelnstitute

Major changes in Spiritual Foundations program

tarting in May, the Wilmette Institute’s four-year “Spiritual Foundations for a Global Civilization”


program is undergoing major changes

so that more people can participate and

students can focus on particular interests.

Shorter residential session. Each year’s required summer residential session will be two weeks, not three.

Reorganized home study. The new home-study schedule allows students to take Wilmette Institute distance-learning courses (no extra charge) to focus their study on particular areas of interest.

The schedule for 2000-01:

  • May I-July 20: Reading to prepare for

summer residential session.

  • July 29-Aug. 12: Residential session.
  • Mid-August-September: Completing

take-home exam or final project.

  • October 2000-April 2001: Giving

firesides, deepenings and study classes about materials learned; taking distance-learning courses.

Reduced tuition. Tuition will be $700, down from $825. Lodging and meals at Kendall College, the tentative location, will add about $500.

Registration is open. Contact the Institute for a brochure or catalog with more details.

Upcoming distance learning

Zoroastrianism for Deepening and Dialogue, March 1—April 30, $100

The Revelation of Baba’w’'llab, Early ‘Akké Period, 1868-77, April 1-Sept. 30, $225

Islam for Deepening and Dialogue, June 1-Aug. 30, $150

Registration and information

  • 24-hour info line 847-733-3595
  • Registrar 847-733-3415
  • Web site www.wilmetteinstitute.org
  • E-mail ad



Fresh vision of goals

He about approaching the new millennium with a fresh vision of what you'd like to accomplish, as well as encouragement to maintain noble goals?



can more directly snare te Word of God, or what special part youths can play in advancing the process of entry by troops?

Winter courses at Green Acre Baha’i School aim to help us become systematic in our teaching and arrange our lives to achieve the goals of the Divine Plan.

Jan. 21-23: “Choosing a Noble Goal: Transformation & Goal-Setting” with Brian Kurzius. This exploration of Baha’i writings will help participants identify personal priorities and set “noble goals” for the months and years ahead. Classes will be offered for ages 3-14.

Jan. 21-23: Fireside Retreat for Seekers and New Believers \ed by Mary K. Makoski. This cozy weekend by the fire side will share Bah’f spiritual

the station of Bahéu’llah and the Faith’s history and relationship to other religions in a setting rich with Baha’ history.

Feb. 4-6: “Finding Joy in Baba’i Learning,” for youths 15 and older, with Dwight Allen. This institute will help youths deepen their spiritual understanding and learn creative, joyful ways to share it with others.

March 23-26: “Arising to Serve,” part of the “Establishing Training Institutes” series with Farah Rosenberg. Based on Book 2 of the Ruhi Institute series, this focuses on skills and attitudes required to deepen new believers, how to introduce Baha’f ideas into casual conversation, and teaching as sharing the Word


Sea asia} of God. Prerequisite: Ruhi Institute Book 1 course. Materials fee: $5. ‘

March 31-April 2: “Removing Obstacles from the Seeker's Path: Reaching Atheists, Materialists and Others Who Avoid Religion” with Holly Hanson. Baha'u'llah said it is inherent in everyone to be attracted to the City of God, but there can be obstacles in the path to this City. Classes for ages 3-10 included.

March 31-April 2: Spiritual Empowerment Session for junior youths. Activities and opportunities to discuss unique challenges the bearers of the Name of God face in this Day. Note: Junior youths must be housed with parent or approved sponsor. Enrollment is limited. #


December 31, 1999

‘Tre AMERICAN BAHA’i * CONSOLIDATING THE VICTORIES page 23 [Page 24]


Baba’é are published free of charge to the Baha’i 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




Av THE BAHA'I NATIONAL CENTER EVANSTON, ILLINOIS

Executive Assistant, National Teaching Office. Helps National ‘Teaching Committee secretary: Coordinates projects related to National ‘Teaching Plan; helps develop reports; communicates with other agencies; prepares articles for The American Babd’i. Needs bachelor’s degree; knowledge of Baha’i writings/administration; project management experience; writing, speaking, analytical skills; word processing, spreadsheet, desktop publishing, Internet skills. Some travel required. International Consultant, Office of Pioneering (2 positions). Recruits, counsels, trains and dispatches international pioneers, youth volunteers and traveling teachers; assists current volunteers and those returning to the States. Needs excellent communication and organizational skills and computer/word processing skills; office experience preferable, Should understand crosscultural interactions, international affairs ete. Staff Producer, Media Services. Full range of video/audio production tasks, especially writing/development of Babd’s Newsreel. Will keep day-to-day production process in order; research, gather news, write and edit finished Newsreel stories, at times without assistance; help develop network of correspondents; arrange for duplication/distribution. Needs knowledge/experience in all production aspects of broadcast journalism; flexibility, organizational skills, familiarity with Baha’f administration. Assistant Coordinator, Southeast Asian Program, U.S. Babd’s Refugee Office. Helps support teaching and consolidation activities: prepares correspondence; monitors/reports on programs throughout the country; coordinates annual Southeast Asian Baha’ Conference; pre






pares printed and audiovisus Southeast Asian Baha'is;



writes, compil

out Southeast Asian Helpers Bulletin. Two-year commitment expected; travel may be required. Conservation Coordinator, Conservation. Does inspection, recordkeeping, testing, research for

Conservation Program at Baha’ House of Worship; maintains Conservation Team information systems; manages some projects; must work at heights. Needs three years’ experience in engineering technology or conservation/ preservation work; degree in engineering technology, museum science or related field; skill in sketching, word processing.

Maintenance Team Leader, Properties. Will manage facility/building maintenance and engineering staff to provide timely services at mi mal costs; plan, estimate, schedule maintenance requests and projects; assure that all equipment and buildings are efficiently and effectively maintained. Needs at least five years’ experience in all areas of building maintenance (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, cleaning etc.) with three to five years as a maintenance manager; valid driver's license; supervisory command of English.




URGENT NEEDS :


Office of the Treasurer, Evanston: Assistant Controller. Responsible for National Spiritual Assembly financial operations: budget and cash management, reporting and control. Maintains relationships with department heads. Needs high degree of honesty and integrity; five years’ experience as controller of mid-sized corporation or not-for-profit entity; bachelor’s degree in accounting (CPA preferred); experience in all areas of financial operations. Must be organized, skilled in communication, able to function in fast-moving, consultative environment.

Office of the Treasurer, Evanston: Coordinator I. Uelps devise strategies for increasing regular participation in Baha’{ Funds and contribution levels; helps Local Assemblies apply principles underlying Fund contributions; helps administer Weekend Visit Program; helps prepare and present training materials. Must be well-grounded in the fundamental verities of the Faith; skilled in written/oral communication; able to coordinate many tasks; should have bachelor’s degree in human service field, experience in program design and management. Louis G. Gregory Baba’i Institute, Hemingway, SC: Administrator. Responsible for Institute development, programming, operation and maintenance with its new mandate, including service to its local community and a focus ‘on social and economic development. Must have proven administrative abilities (planning, coordination, budgeting, staff and volunteer management); in-depth understanding of Baha’{ teachings, administration and community life; commitment to behavior that meets Baha’i standards and serves as a positive model. Human Resources, Evanston: Receptionist (part-time). Warm, hospitable, gracious style is desired in order to make each caller or visitor feel their contact with the Baha’{ National Center has been pleasant and helpful. A retired person will find this a rewarding opportunity. Will train. All are invited to apply and/or submit names of possible candidates.

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

wen Clayborne, coordinator of the Office of Human Resources of the Baha’i

National Center, will be attending the Zia Baghdadi Conference in Augusta, Georgia, on Feb. 11-13. She is sincerely interested in talking to any believers interested in beginning a dialogue on a “systematic approach” to human resources development as called for by the Universal House of Justice.

She is also very interested in interviewing candidates for the following positions: Administrator, Louis Gregory Baha’i Institute; Assistant Controller, Treasurer’s Office; Program Coordinator I, Treasurer’s Office; General Manager, Baha’i Publishing Trust; Manager, Baha'i Distribution Service.

If you would like to interview for one of those positions during the Zia Baghdadi Conference, please call the Human Resources Office ahead of time (phone 847-733-3426 or 847-733-3427). Information is available on the confer


ence itself (phone 800-214-9498, Web site www.scescape.net/bahai).



Maintenance Technician, Properties. Your proven experience in building maintenance (clectrical, plumbing, mechanical etc.) may qual


fy you for outstanding opportunities. Superb buildings, great environment to work Clerk, Mail Services. Handles incoming/outgoing mail; carries out shipping, receiving, distribution, storage duties. Must be



computer-literate, especially in Microsoft Office programs. Must spe needs valid driver’ . Administrative assistant (part-time), US. Babi’ Refugee Office. Prepares correspondence to refugees and to Baha'i, government and other agencies involved in refugee resettle read and write English;


ment. Develops reports, maintains records, helps process Southeast Asian Baha’ refugees. Helps compile and write the Southeast Asian Helpers Bulletin, articles for The American Baba't and other publications. Needs proven ability to work with confidential information, strong




skills writing and speaking English.

OFFICE OF INFORMATION SERVICES Applications developer. Provides high-level analysis, design, implementation of information systems. Familiar with variety of technologies: Visual tools, database and Web tools.

Network Administrator/Engineer. Responsible

for configuration, maintenance and security of all computer networking infrastructure (LAN and WAN) inchiding servers, cabling, routers,


switches and NICs. Maintains documentation of network and se LSAI Support. Coord for LSAI project. Provides training and support for LSAT. Handles initial requests for support, escalates support issues to help desk when nec up and structure.



rates support activities



essary. Develops training-related mat assists promotion and education. Database administrator. Coordinates database development. Responsible for Enterprise SQL server including security rights, table design, normalization. Responsible for design and


Is,

implementation of user and departmental applications as front ends to SQL using MS Access, VB or other tools as determined.

At BaHA'l PUBLISHING TRUST Wiumerre, IL

General Manager. Responsible for creation and execution of publishing agenda, policies; communication with other departments; smooth operation, product quality and financial results of publishing enterprise. Acts as its public and legal spokesperson. Helps achieve National Spiritual Assembly's wishes to ensure that authoritative texts and related Baha’f material

are available to Baha'is; and to develop a presence for Baha’ literature in retail bookstores and libraries. Needs high-level skills in communication, organization, consultation, presentation, negotiation, problem-solving; expertise in publishing and business management, including financial, personnel and marketing; eet changing deadlines and establish while holding firm to a long-term goal; bachelor’s degree, publishing experience, knowledge of Baha’ literature and principles. Editorial Assistant, Will assist editors: edit and evaluate manuscripts for mechanics, substance,

abi



y to


prio

organization; consult with editors and authors; help select photographs; write jacket and backcover copy; help prepare manuscripts and elec tronic files. Needs liberal arts degree; knowledge of Baha’ writings/literature; strong communication, organization and problemsolving skills; computer and typing competency; abilities to work in a consultative environment without constant supervision and to meet deadlines while juggling multiple projects; skill in writing, editing, critiquing manuscripts; trade publishing experience.

At BAHA'I DistRIBUTION SERVICE Futon County, GA

Manager: Will oversee general direction, policies/strategies, interdepartmental collaboration, business operations; ensure high level of service to the community, performance of financial mandates and safeguarding of employee welfare; recruit, train and develop personnel; coordinate marketing/customer service, buying, information services and fulfillment. Needs high-level skills in communication, organization, consultation, presentation, negotiation, problem-solving; expertise in publishing and business management/marketing; abi



meet changing deadlines and establis ties; knowledge of Babs literature and princi ples; bachelor’s degree; five years’ experience in business management/development, specifically

priori


in personnel and financial management; knowledge/experience in distribution or publishing.

If interested in any of these Baba’t National Offices posts, contact the Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3427, fax 847-733-3430).

AT Green Acre BAHA'l SCHOOL Eulor, MAINE Assistant Facilities Coordinator. Helps with

inspections, preventive and routine mainte


nance, exterior and interior repairs. Must have


proven skills in housekeeping and maintenace of buildings, equipment, vehicles and grounds. Receptionist/Office Assistant. Receives phone, e-mail; fax communications; greets vis the office in a courteous, efficient m



Administrative support for co-admii registrar and program coordinator; helps bookstore manager with sales and inventory.

If interested in either position, please contact Jim Sacco, co-administrator, Green Acre Baha’ School, 188 Main St., Eliot, ME 03903 (phone 207-439-7200, e-mail is

LOUHELEN BAHA’t SCHOOL DAVISON, MICHIGAN Outreach Coordinator, National Teacher ‘Training Center. Will support implementation of Core Curriculum programs in local communities and otherwise support the work of the National ‘Teacher ‘Training Center. Needs for SEE CLASSIFIED, PAGE 25


page 24 Tne American BanA’i* CLassiriep — December 31, 1999 [Page 25]


Dale McCall was steadfast teacher in New Jersey

Dx Florence McCall was among the founding members of the Spiritual Assembly of Willingboro, New Jersey, on which she served for almost 30 years starting in 1970. She passed to the next world Oct. 1,

1999, at age 76.

Born Darlene Florence Weaver in Pennsylvania, she spent childhood in Winnipeg, Manitoba. A few years after her family returned to the United States, she 17 in West Chester, Pennsylvania. She soon began to travel and teach, giving

became a Baha'i at age

her first public talk at age 18.

Baha'is. @

_ Avie Gordon, educator, served

Faith for decades in N. Carolina

In 1951 she married John H. McCall. The couple raised two children and served Baha’f communities in West Chester and York, Pennsylvania, and San Antonio, ‘Texas, before moving to Willingboro.

In her nearly five decades as a Baha'i, Dale held numerous firesides in her home and witnessed many joyous declarations. She also was public information representative for the Willingsboro community for years.

She is survived by her former husband, their two children and three grandchildren, most of whom are

She became a Baha’i first Assembly in North Carolina was formed in Greensboro. She was highly respected as a teacher of children’s classes, where she joyfully shared her love of the Faith and her many talents as a profes Avvie Morrow Gordon, a longtime member of her state’s first-ever Local Spiritual Assembly, passed away on July 17, 1999, in Greensboro, North Carolina. She was 94.

oe

in 1945, two years after the

sional educator.



FE. Karen Anderson Encinitas, CA October 16, 1999

Wallace D. Baldwin Sarasota, FL Oct. 31






William G. Carr Davis, CA Oct. 1, 1999

Carol L. Clark Waterloo, 1A

1999 Oct. 23, 1999

Bess Bates Clarence W. Dawkins ton, VE Portland, OR Oct. 16, 1999 July 12, 1999


IN MEMORIAM




William Delaney Joplin, MO Nov. 4, 1999

Maria A. Lauwereys Chicago, IL October 14, 1999

‘Tom Macy Rochester, MN Nov. 12, 1999

Portis


Mamie F. Midget Saratoga, CA October 4, 1999

Lynne Q. McBride Fort Lauderdale, FL Se January 1996

Keith B. Nelson d, OR Nov. 16, 1999


Jennie L. Rice Sarasota, October 18, 1999



Jan. 15, 1999

Harold B. Secrist Apple Valley, CA Nov. 7, 1999

Bessie C. Sims o, Novato, CA June 20, 1999

Sonja M. Richmond Louise D. Sweeney stopol, CA Escondido, CA October 18, 1999

Bobbye A. Taylor October 23, 1999 Beaverton, OR

Fizolah Valapour Charleston, SC Nov. 13, 1999"

Eva Walker Covina, CA Oct. 16, 1999


Pernetta Wigfall Fremont, CA October 23, 1999



CLASSIFIED, continuen From pace 24



mal or informal educational experience; famil iarity with Core Curriculum trait


prog:


experience training children, youths and adults. Properties Associate. Open in June. Full range

skilled maintenance for Louhelen’ faci



and manual labor, to care



and grounds year


round. Needs experience and training in any or all of the following: carpentry, construction, plumbing, clectrical, HVAC, grounds etc.

If interested in either position, contact Rick or Barbara Johnson, Louhelen Baha’s School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 810653-5033, e-mail

the Web site (www.louhelen.org).


) or see

Across THE COUNTRY Administrative Assistant, Regional Baba’t Council-West, San Francisco, CA. Clerical/ ‘organizational tas!


filing, processing correspondence, phone duty, ordering supplies etc. Needs skills in computer word processing/data entry and gen ciency, initiati maintain confid:





al office tasks; patience, effittention to detail, ability to tiality and work with mininowledge of Baha’s teachings and administration; at least high school diplo


mal supervision;

ma. Must have access to regular transportation . Contact Regional Baha’f Council for the Western States,

San Francisco, CA 94127 (fax 415-759-1991, e-mail »

n San Franci


PC Hardzware/Software Configuration,

Information Services. Positions can be paid or


voluntary. Need ability to replace and install parts and/or software in PCs, then reconfigure system. We are looking for people living near, or willing to travel to, Baha’f schools, institutes, offices and communities in all parts of the country to perform these services when the need arises and scheduling permits. A few days’ orientation/training at Baha’{ National Center is requested. Contact Office of Human Resources, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3427, fax 847-733-3430).

eeeccecceccecccecccocs

INTERNATIONAL hina: Numerous openings for English teach


ers



professionals willing to trav


for serFor

vice in this ra


idly developing count n contact Susan Senchuk (phone 847-733-3506, fax 847-733-3509, email ).


PIONEERING / OVERSEAS


‘The Office of Pioneering is eager to assist the friends preparing for international service. ‘To that end, the Office will post service opportunities related to the needs of other national Babé’t institutions, For international job and study opportunities, we will provide Web sites, e-mail addresses and other resources. For more information regarding jobs and study abroad, please contact the Office of Pioneering, Baha'i National Center, 1233 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847733-3508, e-mail ).


PIONEERING / HOMEFRONT


Southport, North Carolina, is a perfect retirement community by the ocean, less than an hour from Wilmington. The area i

primed for entry by troop are familiar with the Bah ic for the poor started by a Baha’i ing WLGI



Many residents Faith through a


medical cl


doctor, and also through he Radio Baha'i. Employ the nuclear power plant, hospital



tion. Please contact the Spiritual As: Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28401-4724 (phone 910-762-7074).

Beautiful Kootenai County, Idabo, is just one adult shy of re-forming its Spiritual Assembly for the first time in 13 years. Only 30 miles from Spqkane, Washington, Kootenai County is a vibrant and rapidly growing resort area. Enjoy winter skiing, river or lake boating, hunt


ing and fishing, world-class golf while teaching


waiting souls. 208-765-260


contact Kyle Helmhout (phone e-mail \.


WANTED


ouths face, and am asking young people to write me about their most vital concerns. relationship with par ents, peer pressure, goals and aspirations, role models, spirituality, courtship/marriage or others. You may elaborate, but please keep your entry to one page. Confidentiality respecte

you may write anonymously. My goal is to write something that may be of help to youths. Please contact Hoda Mazloomian, .

Evanston, IL 60202 (phone 847-425-1476, email ).

ARCHIVES


‘The National Baha’ Archives is seeking original letters written on bebalf of the Guardian to the following:


Plsa ‘Tudor De Pierrefeu, Elodie De Wendt, Grace Decker, Letha Deemer, Rena Demastus, Betty Dempster, Betty J. Dent, Dorothy Dent, Vera Deppe, Walter Deppe,


Margaret Detwiler and Wandeyne Deuth. Anyone knowing family members or relatives who might have these Guardian’ letters is. asked to contact the National Baha’ Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611 (phone 847-853-2359).


‘The National Baha'i Archives is seeking photographs of the following to add to its collection: Marion Jack, Dizzy Gillespie, Seals and Crofts, Alain Locke, Robert Abbott, Lutfu’llah Hakim, Paul Thiele, Mathew Kaszab. Anyone with photographs they could donate is asked to send them to the National Baha’f Archives, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201-1611. Please identify the photographs if possible.


BRIEFLY

San Francisco, California

A little piece of the 1986 International Baha'i Peace Conference resurfaced Oct. 3 at a high-profile program on human development and disarmament, sponsored by several U.N.-affiliated nongovernmental organizations.

On less than a week's notice, the San Francisco Baha’is—working with producer Charles Nolley, formerly of U.S. Baha'i Media Services—arranged for a segment of the video about the 1986 conference to be shown at the October program.

The video, showing a montage of dances from around the world with Red Grammer’s song “Listen” in the background, was requested in turn to be aired by a local cable TV program.

Held at the Herbst Theatre—where the United Nations charter was drafted— the program contained two panel discussions that included such luminaries as actors Mike Farrell and Shelley Fabares, comic Will Durst, and physicians Helen Caldicott and “Patch” Adams.


Sherwood, Oregon

Tt was after years of volunteer service on Holy Days at the Sherwood Senior Center that the Baha'is here were invited spontaneously to say the blessing at the beginning of lunch Oct. 20.

When a youth read the well-loved short unity prayer (“Unite the hearts of Thy servants. ...”), it was the first time most residents of the center had heard the words of Baha’u’llih. The Baha’is were thrilled when people started asking questions, and one expressed interest in an upcoming youth workshop performance.

‘The Baha’is were known and trusted at the center because of service done regularly during Holy Days. In this case, they were washing windows during the Anniversary of the Birth of the Bab. #




December 31, 1999

Tne American Ban’i * In Memoriam/Ciassiriep/News _ page 25 [Page 26]

TREASURERS: NOT JUST MONEY-COUNTERS — Baha’i Faith

Weekend Visit refreshes a gathering of local treasurers on their spiritual role

ocal treasurers from Oregon, Illinois, Oklahoma, Washington,

Virginia and Missouri attended the first of anew series of Treasurers’ Weekend Visits Oct. 7-10 at the Baha'i National Center and the Baha’i House of Worship. Sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly, it was facilitated by members of the Office of the Treasurer. The following was edited from notes on the visit compiled by Fred Delgado, treasurer of the Spiritual Assembly of Portland, Oregon. Keep an eye out for scheduling of future sessions. For more information, contact the Office of the Treasurer (phone 847733-3472, e-mail finance @usbnc.org).

at is a local Baha’{ treasurer's job? Answers from National Spiritual Assembly members at the Treasurer's Weekend Visit in October were clear: It’s an opportunity to encourage spiritual transformation, not an accounting post.

These words cannot adequately reflect the content or tone of our personal experiences during this visit—the prayers each morning at the House of Worship; the interaction with the beloved National Spiritual Assembly; or the one-to-one contact with the treasurer and other National Assembly members.

‘The controller and staff of the Office of the Treasurer supported us as we worked through an extensive agenda aimed at sharing an understanding of an expanded







role of a local treasure: William Rober nal treasurer, dispenses love with bear hugs, and we all manner of expression. He ality of being ution, and the new skills we can learn for spiritual e tion and development of the comm ‘The true work of a treasurer is itual work. To the degree that we are ourselves spiritualized, our work as treasurers will help the friends in their spiritual transformation. All Baha’is, Roberts said, should be encouraged to deepen their spiritual identities and strengthen our loving bonds with the Covenant. Jack McCants, another National Assembly member, eloquently urged local treasurers to work toward communing with the soul of the Mai Progress in the development of the will not happen, he warned, unless local treasurers develop spiritually. Assemblies need to educate the friends in spiritual principles involved in aeanes to pay fee if eo










eof Fastices a education “is amount to cons depriving en of the spiritual accruing from giving in the path of C Roberts encouraged us to see every gift to Baha'u'llah as a | act.

Treasurers always should encourage the friends in their sacrifices during these challenging years, especially when




poe CLIP OR COPY THIS FORM

so many are giving a great portion of their material means for the growth and consolidation of the F members and their able resources for edu tion of the friends.

A treasurer does not need accounting skills. If necessary, this portion of the work can be delegated.

‘Treasurers on the visit we Is that the activities of the Faith supported by the National Fund are sized according to the money available: “We shrink to fit.” ‘The shortfall in National Fund revenue reduces the means available for the Baha’i International Fund, for help with the international work of the Faith, and in general for work to be accomplished at this critical time in the development of the Faith. Those who serve at the various departments at the National Center all face heavy workloads, which means their responses to the friends take longer than they would like.





Readings for local treasurers suggested at the Treasurer’s Weekend Visit:

  • ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Christmas Eve 1912 talk

, at the Salvation Army Center, found in ” Star of the West.

  • The Promulgation of Universal Peace,

pages 250-253.

  • Unfolding Destiny, pages 406-407.
  • The World Order of Bahd’u’ll

four pages. #











____ | prefer that someone contact me by telephone.

Mail form to: Development Department, Office of the Treasurer, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201

‘TAB 12/31/99

“the execution of 3 E

the provisions ofa} E

will causes the : ___Please send me a free copy of The Writing of a Will :

spirit of the b ;

deceased to Uwe would like more information on planned giving methods: :

ieineqnthe Abhd ___Providing for the Baha’i Faith in my will :

ree nea __ Making a gift of securities E

Kingdom. ___Making a gift of real estate :

—trom aletteron ; ___Making a gift through life insurance :

pebaih of Shoght 3 Receiving income from my gift: i

Effendi Charitable Gift Annuities :

___Charitable Remainder Trusts :

| This eight-page brochure from the Office of the Treasurer: Name : _ contains some Baha’i teachings and practical advice on: 3 Spouse's Name (if Baha’) 3

  • Importance and advantages of a will : :
  • Five steps to creating a successful will 3 Address S

Checklist for preparing a will Fa é Burial instructions iol :

  • Bequests to the Baha’i Faith 25 Ti 3

isa nominal charge for ordering these brochures in. 3 ae : :

3 Telephone :

Email F



has input into U.S. survey

FF: four years Baha’is have been sitting down with Roman Catholics, Southern Baptis Methodists, Mus! people from about 30 other faith traditions to design the most comprehensive survey of religious congregations in the United States.

This effort, “Faith Communities Today” (FACT), is aimed at a better understanding of religious communities’ role in serving the larger society.

Baha’ involvement in FACT is a project of the National Spiritual Assembly, and the survey is to be sent to all Local itual Assemblies in January. Each




Assembly secretary is asked to look for the survey, fill it out and mail it back to the Baha’f National Center; or to complete a form on a special Web site.

by

Organized the Hartford (Connecticut) y’s Center for ocial and Religious Research, the project is funded through a $1.5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment.



A “comprehensive portrait”

FACT has brought together more than 40 religious bodies representing 95 percent of all worshipers in the United States. Baha’is were invited to take part in the planning process four years ago— an indication of the continuing emergence of the Faith of Baha’u’llah from obscurity.

The project’s mission statement envisions “the first comprehensive portrait of congregations in the United States.” Along the way, project organizers hope to “complete a genuinely cooperative interfaith research project unparalleled in the breadth of participating religious groups and the number of participating congregations ... and to develop and implement plans for utilizing th research results in ways that appropriate within each participating group to strengthen congregations and the structures that support them.”





Aspects of religious life

‘The survey will address spiri organizational vitality of variety and style of worship, level of community members’ participation and breadth of community activi

One challenge of the project has been to adapt the questionnaire to consider unique aspects of the Baha’i Faith. Unlike any other participating group, Baha'is operate without clergy and hold regular “worship” meetings every 19 days instead of weekly.

‘The process has deepened interfaith dialogue, as the Baha’is involved had the opportunity to educate, and learn. from, people from other religious bodies. #




page 26 THe AMERICAN BAnA‘i * ADMINISTERING THE CAUSE December 31, 1999 [Page 27]

BAHA'I SUBSCRIBER SERVICE ¢ 800-999-9019

World Order

Now available: Spring 1999 issue Defining Moments

¢ “Who Is Writing the Future? ns on the ‘Twentieth Century” ¢ Ahang Rabbani’s “The Conversion of the Great Uncle of the Bab”

  • Aden Lauchner’s “Albert Killius: Photographer of ‘Abdu’l-Baha”


Your window to teaching, deepening and exter


al affa





Coming: Summer 1999—Special Issue on Religious Freedom World Order sury ‘o the attempt to close of the Baha’f Institute for Higher

Education in Iran, and larger issues about religious freedom in a world community.



ys global respons




  • Robert H. Attack on the Bahé’s Institute for Higher Education in Iran”

© Ghangiz Geula anne Geula and John Woodall: “Health Care in a Perse: Subscriptions:




Community: The Case of the Bah Wilma Ellis: “Rel

Robert Hariman: “Radic

US—$I9 / year, $36 / 2 years Outside US. surface mail— $19 / year, $36 / 2 years

Outside U.S. air mail— $24 / year, $46 12 years

ious Freedom

Detachment in Erasmus’ Praise of

ws Juan Cole’s Modernity and



Amin Banani r



SPIRIT RUN


Crying out for race unity *

ated, ethni


e youth will set out on a across North America, raisII for race unity and carrya special message to the indigenous peoples of this continent.






then message of Baha’u’llah across the country on foot.

Carrying a sacred message across the nation

Please help us:

  • Pray for the project’s success.
  • Identify potential youth runners.
  • Spread the word.

For more information on the project and its deputization fund: Phone 206-276-4549 Web site www.spiritrun.org Sponsored by National American Indian Teaching Committee



A Century of Light: Who is Writing the Future?

24th annual Conference of the

Aug. 31-Sept. 3, 2000

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Delta Meadowvale Hotel (near Toronto International Airport) More details will be published as they become available.


the Millennium

Single copy: $5 plus shipping/handling


Brilliant Star

Bimonthly children’s magazine by the U.S. National Assembly Subscriptions: U5.—$18 / year, $32 / 2 years Outside US. surface mail—$18 / year, $33 / 2 years Outside US. air mail—$28 / year, $52 / 2 years Single copy: $3.50 plus shipping/handling See page 20 for Kid’s Corner


The American Baha’i

10 times a year; available by subscription to Baha’is outside the continental U.S. Subscriptions: US.—$24 / year, $45 / 2 years Outside US. surface mail—$32 / year, $60 / 2 years Single copy: $3 plus shipping/handling



One Country

Quarterly about development by the Baha’i International Community Subscriptions: US—$12 / year, $22 / 2 years Outside US. surface mail—$16 / year, $30 / 2 years Outside US. air mail—$20 / year, $36 / 2 years Single copy: $3.50 plus shipping/handling

Herald of the South

Quarterly by National Assemblies of Australia and New Zealand Subscriptions: US.—$28 / year, $50 / 2 years Outside U.S.: Contact Herald of the South,

173 Mona Vale Rd., Ingleside NSW 2101, Australia;

e-mail Single copy: $8 plus shipping/handling

Association for Baha’i Studies © www.bahai-studies.ca

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 847-733-3508, fax 847-733-3509, e-mail »






Use the Multipurpose Form below to respond by mail, Special information (use a separate sheet as needed):

  • Names and ID numbers of all Baha’fs on each trip.
  • Names of each country visited, plus the one or two main localities, and



Use a separate copy of this form for each subscription Which publication? Send to: Address City State, ZIP

Country Daytime phone or e-mail


Sold to (if different from recipient):


date(s) of visit(s).

  • Main purpose of your travel.
  • Did you arise to meet the call of the Universal House of Justice for:

Natiye Americans to teach in the circumpolar areas? Hispanic believers to teach in Latin America? African-Americans to teach in Africa? ®


| MULTIPURPOSE FORM

For which event or activity?

Cup or Copy as NEE


ED






Address Name. City State, ZIP tidress Country Is this a gift subscription? (Circle one) Y N City State, ZIP Home phone Fax Phone E-mail

Work phone E-mail


Check/money order payment must be in U.S. dollars from U.S. bank, payable to Baha’i Distribution Service. Do not combine subscription ents wi nts for back issues or other single items. Georgia residents inch darter get oer

Exp. date

Credit card # (if applicable)


Cardholder signature


Phone orders: 800-999-9019 ¢ E-mail orders: Mail orders: Baha’i Subscriber Service, .

4703 Fulton Industrial Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30336-2017 ‘TAB 12/31/99




Special information (please include dates if reporting international teaching trip):








TAB 12/31/99


December 31, 1999

Tue AMERICAN Ban’ * SEEKING YOUR RESPONSE _ page 27 [Page 28]

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Persian/American Affairs Office 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201

Tel: (847)733-3528, Fax (847)733-3486 Email:

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presentations and discussions, on a variety of topics, some of which will be in coordination with the

youth program. A few sessions are devoted to workshops on Persian cuisine, Persian folk dances, Persian Calligraphy and the like. Other activities of the conference include: Tour of the Baha’ historical sites in Chicago, daily visit to the Baha’i House of Worship during the lunch break, youth sessions, special program for children ages 3 to 11, a bookstore and an arts exhibit, and the Persian sessions. olhrsles 9 qdgwls -% Spm IT MEALS 5 te Al Lee dame Je SH aT JL Lk te GUIS Ie 9 eg 9 Se wlalye LS g\Ssrty,9 ree age QUT wiylo bs 59 oS lias epee ule! So de Li Ser i li ls L tod ore wb Sod ALS ay lel GLEN gpl 35 52 gars! bob asl OIG eyo 5 BY dat Gob & HS Yl sport abode UT gSaw 3! Olfogs toby -Y bys 99 Was aS see ob Si 51 Sts & 2 lel Saad Hind Jats el WY si LAS he jah lend acne GUT sje ay Sey 9 52,5 ool tye inal 5 EF Glee, 5 ole wel eS sates WET 5 2 oly aS -T By Fl Soa le od ole able Le eds wy bl yl6r,5 seul, bob 99 Gomiy GIOLD! oul slaosloss 39 wkd AANGS TI Gall aS OL >


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Page 28 Tne American BanA’i ¢ Persian

December 31, 1999 [Page 29]

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December 31, 1999

Tue American BanA’i * Persian page'29 [Page 30]

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page 30) 9 THe American BanA’i ¢ PeRsiAN

December 31, 1999 [Page 31]ERATION


Traveling teaching opportunities: teaching projects abroad Belize: Baha'i Regional Institute for

.

‘Training and Empowerment. Botswana: John Robarts Long-Term

.

‘Teaching Proje



Cameroon: ‘Teaching projects, including ed with a regional institute center for training new believers. Canada: Ongoing teaching projects. Democratic Republic of Congo: Nine zonal teaching projects. Ecuador: Project Badasht, expansion oa if consolidation project. El Salvador: Deepening and social and_ economic development projects at the Badasht Institute, Jamaliyysh Institute New Garden Baha'i Institute. Ls French Guiana: “Sparks of Peace” Perk de la Caraibes Teaching Project, especially. interested in French speakers and/or people experienced in theater, dance workshops, visual arts and music, to train a organize youths for proclamation shows. iermany: Dr. Muhijir Project, lenge tional teaching project. Guatemala: Ongoing teaching, consolidation/deepening, and human resource development projects at the Rihiyyih Project, Chimaltenago Shiraz Project the National Network of Insti Hungary: Békéscaba Long-Term ig Project and a p idation program where Roma Ivory Coast: Various teaching p Jamaica: Ongoing teaching and dation efforts; summer youth project, Liberia: Quddtis Project. Madagascar: Roddy Lutchmaya ‘Term Teaching Project. Mexico: Furiitan Project, lege campuses, and an exchange se s

with the Huasteca Potosina.


one aff


















regions. Especially looking for a

youth workshops and children’s classes.

Solomon Islands: One to three months

assisting a Baha’ Youth Workshop, teach

\g, and developing creative youth activitics in rural villages.

  • Zambia: Rural teaching projects.



Conferences, Schools and Events Germany: The National Spiritual Assembly of Germany is looking for experienced, dedicated, mature Baha'is to serve as exhibition representatives at the Baha’ exhibition during Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany. Volunteers are asked to give at least 2 weeks’ service sometime between June and October. The Baha’ exhibition is ina highly floor of the “ Kazakhstan: Almaty will host its first International Winter School Jan. 21-26; theme: “On the Threshold of the 21st Century.”




.

For more information:

.. about these or other international events, projects and opportunities for traveling teachers, please contact the Office of Pioneering, 1233 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201 (phone 847-733-3508, fax 847~ 7333509, e-mail »



TERN TIONAL -NEWS

emaferciee brings together friends from northernmost regions of globe

he first-ever Circumpolar Baha’i Conference brought representatives. of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway, and the United States and the Jouncil of Lapland together with Auxiliary Board members and friends from 10 communities in the Canadian North. Held Sept. 24-26 in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, the conference focused on developing new ways to link Baha’i communities over the top of the globe and on reaching the hearts of all the peoples in the re; Challenges facing Baha’is in the cire polar areas include recovery from the gering m, human rights violations, environmental degradation, addressing racism, establishment of gender equality, youth development, _ social scourges such as alcoholism and family abuse, and the pressures of conformity.











‘The importance of prayer and devotional meetings to help meet those challenges


was stressed. Other methods discussed for strengthening a feeling of real community included:


approach that aims to move s toward Baha’u'lléh, rather than just individuals. Those who are the only Baha'is in their families often face estrangement.

  • Deputization and increased travel

among the various countries, to multiply resources for te cine, community




  • Strengthening communication ties all

across the circumpolar region. apport from other Baha’{ communities. “The warm atmosphere of the venue supported the development of new bonds of love and collaboration among the delegates and enhanced our visions of growth,” participants reported. #



.






Singing for future video


The choir of the Baha’i House of Worship in Apia, Samoa, moves out into the Temple gardens during camera sessions in August for an upcoming series of video programs. Baha'i International News Service photo



EDUCATION


  • Mexico: The annual summer school

in Aguascalientes July 30-Aug. 1 gained an infusion of love, harmony and energy from the National Teaching Campaign’s “Impulse 99—Nonstop Action” youth teaching project, which had resulted in 23 enrollments in five cities across the country.

Attended by 134 people including many new believers and seekers, the school reportedly was marked by “the great eagerness of the friends to learn more about the Word of Baha’u'llah.”

‘The July teaching project operated in three phases: deepening youths on the institute and teaching processes, putting the knowledge into practice through direct teaching, and a program of spiritual enrichment. Organizers reported great enthusiasm and commitment among youths and cooperating Assemblies.

ARTS


¢ Austria: The Baha’ Faith was a visible source of inspiration at the Intern tional Chamber Music Festival Aug. 14—Sept. 19 in Horn. A concert titled “Unity in Diversity—Music and Word” saw prominent Austrian artists read from the Holy Writings of the Baha’f Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism between movements of works by Mozart and Schubert.

Further proclamation of the Faith took place during “Composers in Residence,” a presentation that included two Baha’i musicians: Italian pianist Alfredo Speranza, who introduced his new work “Toccata della nuova Era,” and American cellist Gwendolyn Watson, an expert in musical improvisation.

Violinist and conductor Bijan Khadem Missagh, a Baha’, is the festival’s founder and artistic director. #






TEACHING



thiopia: Three new Baha’is insouthern Ethiopia were jailed three days for teaching the Faith in their hometown.

‘That sacrifice was rewarded not only when a court released them with permission to teach the Faith peaceably, but so when news of the trial attracted such interest that many people investigated the Faith—and 33 more embraced the Cause within four months.

‘The episode began when a young man found the Faith in the capital, Addis Ababa, and shared it with two close friends when he returned to his homeland near the Kenyan border.

Though advised to use caution in spreading the ith, the young men could not contain their enthusiasm. Soon some townspeople banded together to oppose the Faith and arranged for police to arrest the three.

They were charged with creating havoc by spreading a strange religion with “unfamiliar” materials. But the court re’ 1 the three, declaring that the Faith is world-renowned and wellestablished i

In August, with their ranks grown to 36, the town’s new Baha’is met and—not knowing it would be better to wait until April 21—elected a Local Spiritual Assembly. They mediately collected a subst sum to launch the local Fund. The National Spiritual Assembly said it was delighted to receive the new community’ four-page report. © India: More than 750,000 people visited the Baha’{ House of Worship at New Delhi in June, July and August, and people from near and far are expressing love and appreciation for this Lotus Temple. Some comments from visitors, with the places they live:

“I bring all of my relatives and friends here. It is a very peaceful place and I have a spi attachment to it.” (India)

“Beautiful architecture, an island of peace in a busy sea.” (U.S.)

“{I] was moved by the devotion and the belief in the unity of religions.” (Kenya)

“The Temple is beautiful, but also is inspiration for peace and love in our world.” (Cuba)

“This place is open, friendly and gives space for my belief.” (Switzerland)

“It’s a sacred place, a good place to stay

on your own and think everything over. ‘Thank you.” (Kazakhstan) Angola: Five Baha’i communities were revitalized and more than 200 people came into the Faith after seven courageous teachers ventured into remote parts of Benguela province from July through September.

‘Travel in the war-torn country is difficult, with many people afraid to leave their villages. The friends put their trust in Bahé’u'lléh and went first to accessible communities with Local Assemblies, then to more distant localities.

‘They taught the Faith, held children’s classes, and invited interested people to take a course prepared by the Enoch Olinga Permanent Institute. Most of the new Baha'is participated in a course on basic verities of the Faith and 118 believers attended follow-up training. #




















December 31,1999 THe AMERICAN BanA’l * INTERNATIONAL NEWS

page 3! [Page 32]



423-3387; fax 831-423-7564; e-mail

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly _ School, phone 207-439-7200; fax 207-438-9940; e-mail of its agencies at the Baha’i National Center, please phone 847-869-9039 and ask for the relevant department. Numbers and e-mail addresses for the permanent Bahé’ schools and institutes are: Bosch Baha’f School, phone 831» Green Acre Baha’i

fax 843-558-9136; Email

Louhelen Baha'i School, phone 810-653-5033; fax 810-653-7191; e-1nail - Louis G. Gregory Baha’s Ins

(NaBD, phone and fax 520- 587 BP e-mail | :


phone 843-558-5093; . Native nena’ Baha’ Institute .



aE Ty




- a 21-23: Social and Econom’ Facilitator training by MDS at Louhelen (session 4). 21-23: Two programs at Green Acre: “Choose a Noble Goal”; Seekers and New Believers Retreat. 21-23: Colorado East Winter School, “The Role of the Community in the Process of Entry by Troops”; Estes Park, CO. With Carolyn Staples and Valerie Dana. Deposit/pre-registration by Dec. 16. Registrar: Don Brayton (phone 719-687-3351, email ).




Part 2: Every ession continues . Recommendation by an ry Board member


Feb. 4-6 and Feb. 25. Assembly, RTI or Auxil





embly Team Development at Bosch.

owa Winter School, “Love, Faith and

S Your Mark!”; West Des Moines, IA. With Curtis Russell. Hotel accommodations available (800-792-5688); reserve by Jan. 12 for rate. Registrar: / T, West Des Moines, IA 50265 hone 515-224-4966, e-mail





Baha’i Conference, “Teaching tle Rock, AR. With David m: phone 870-553-7513 before 10


21-24: Parent Facilitator training at Louhelen (session continues June 2-4).

28-30: Assembly Team Development at Bosch. ocial and Economic Development Facilitator training by MDS at two locations: Louis Gregory Institute (session 1) and NABI.



FEBRUARY

4-6: ‘Two programs at Green Acre: “Special Days” Child/Parent Weekend; “The Joy of Learning” institute for youth.

4-6: Two programs at Bosch: “Effective Teaching: What Christians and Baha’fs Believe about Christ”; Ruhi Book 1 course, “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit.”

11-13: Institute for Married Couples at Louhelen.

11-13: Valentine’s Weekend for s at Bosch. < tone Conference for Youth, near

1 by Assembly of San Marcos/andl'Aguila/del Ciclo’ Regional Training Institute. Registrar: Jeff Kester (e-mail




Co-spons



Islam and the Bah ith” at Louhelen.

North Dakota W School, Mayville,

ND, with Beatriz Cur Rosalin Chrest, Minot, ND 58703 (phone 701 839-1015), t ’

wow seuiner training

sion continues ica 19-21).

ial Unity: The Foundation of World

Peace” at Bosch.

25-27: “Baha’i-Centered Management Principles

and Practice” at Louhelen.

25-27: “The Dawn-Breakers, Part 1” at Bosch.









BAHA’{ NATIONAL CENTER 112 LINDEN AVE WILMETTE, IL 60091-2849




3-53 omits a Bosch.

17-19: Seekers’ Weekend at Bosch.

24-26: Family Naw-Riz celebration at Louhelen. 25-27: Two programs at Bosch: “The Dawn-Breakers, Part 2”; Ruhi Book 2 course, “Arising to Serve” (Book 1 course is required).

29-April 2: Pioneer/BYSC/SITA Institute at Baha'i National Center.

31-April 2: “Baha’i Marriage and Family Life” at Bosch.

31-April 2: “Fundamental Verities Part 3: A New Civilization” at Bosch; session continues April 28-30 and May 19-21. Recommendation b RTI or A 31-April

Louhelen.







“at BAMA NATIONAL OFFICES


Assis} Control on Coordinat tant ler * itor sblications:

Pil fe Pabjiting Truss * Editorial Assistant + istribution fice Cakes Louis Gregory Institute: Coordinator AND MORE! See Pages 24-25


When 20 youths at | the Great Plains Baha’i School in Nebraska painted a mural on the theme of race unity at the Malone Community Center in Lincoln, the community service was part of several days of prayer, deepening and consultation.


DECEMBER 31, 1999

SHARAF, SULTAN + B.E. 156


‘To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving mailing label to: Membership Office, Bal acquiri

ing. (This also updates the National Center's database.)

must be filled in. Ph




mes, new address and , 60201-1611. If aac Tea RESaS ee



‘A. NAME(S) ie 1D# 1D# <i 3. = 1D# 4 sd oe. 1DW



B. NEW RESIL


ADDRES:


C. NEW MAIL


Street Address

wrtment # (if applicable)


Street Address

Apartment # (if applicable)

LING ADD!












Gi Sea Zip code State D. NEW COMMUNITY E. HOME TELEPHONE NUMBER Name of new Baha'i Community Moving Date ‘Area Code Phone Number Name FE WORK TI PHONE NUMBER(S) Area Code Phone Number Name Area Code Phone Number Name




G. WE REC) XTRA COPIES BECAUSE: we do not have the same last the last names and addresses name. We do not want extra El ‘on our address labels do not

copies, so please cancel the copy for match. We have listed above the

the person(s) and ID number(s) full names of family members as

listed above. they should appear on the national records, their ID numbers, and the corrections so that we will receive ‘only one copy.








H. 1 WOULD LIKE A COPY

Our household receives only copy of The American I wish to receive my own



Baba’ copy. I have listed my name, ID number and address above.




Tue American BanA’i

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